ABSTRACT
e-Employee Discipline is the electronic and remote conduction of employee discipline procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a quantitative descriptive study that focused on assessing and analyzing the implementation of e-Employee Discipline Procedure. Convenient purposive sampling technique was assigned to 150 employees who were employed during COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila as the respondents in this study. Furthermore, a survey was utilized to gather quantitative data. Moreover, a one-on-one interview using the data gathered in the statistical result was utilized to gather qualitative data. The demographic profile, majority are male (60%) who age 22 to 25 years old (34%), who are college graduates (48.7%), having an entry level job position (46.7%) and working in art/media/communication industry (35.3%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents find that the implementation of the e-Employee Discipline Procedure as fair and effective in terms of proper documentation procedures, handling of confidentiality, safety and security ( = 4.64;σ = 0.68). However, the challenge is that the respondents moderately agree that the procedure of employee discipline that is conducted remotely is somehow a bit far off with what is usually done in the office (face-to-face) ( = 4.38;σ = 1.30). The absence of physical touch and non-verbal cues like tone of voice, body language and hand gesture are something that the respondents are longing for. Pandemic really detached people from the warmth of each other. Conducting employee discipline which oftentimes has dealt with emotions remotely finds the respondents longing for the physical presence of being heard. © 2023 ACM.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the consequences of COVID-19 is the incidence of mucormycosis in the jaws and subsequent osteomyelitis in patients with undiagnosed or uncontrolled comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus and associated immunosuppression. Case Report: A 52-year-old male patient with a history of COVID-19 two months ago presented a painful ulcerative lesion of insidious onset in the palatal raphe measuring approximately 2 mm. He referred to numbness of the palatal region of one month of evolution. During the physical examination, purulent content, multiple pustules in the anterior maxillary buccal mucosa, and mobility of upper anterior teeth were observed. The CT revealed isodense bilateral images in maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses, bone sequestrations, and partial loss of anterior vestibular cortical bone. Laboratory tests revealed no abnormality, except for HbH1c: 10.2gr/dl. The patient was hospitalized for control of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Maxillary incisional biopsy was performed, and microscopic analysis showed a mixed inflammatory infiltrate, fibrin deposits with eosinophilic and birefringent ribbon-like hyphae, branched at right angles, compatible with maxillary osteomyelitis secondary to mucormycosis. The treatment started with antifungal and intravenous antibiotics, followed by surgical cleaning under general anesthesia. The patient progressed favorably. Conclusion(s): Immunosuppression resulting from COVID-19 and/or uncontrolled systemic diseases can condition the appearance of rare opportunistic microorganisms causing infections such as mucormycosis. Early diagnosis and treatment make a difference in the morbidity and mortality of patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 patients may experience lon-lasting symptoms from weeks to even months. Aim: To evaluate long-term cognitive impairment based on the severity of symptoms of COVID-19 infection in a primary health system setting. Material and methods: From a database of 363 patients, 83 cases aged 47 +or- 15 years, (58% females) were selected from June to August 2020. In patients who survived the virus, 24 infection-related symptoms were collected to create three severity clusters (mild, moderate, and severe). The follow-up time was at least seven months. Comparing the first two clusters with the severe cluster, the existence of brain fog and risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and hypothyroidism) were analyzed. Results: Thirty-one patients (37%) had persistent symptoms lasting up to 240 days. Fifty-one patients (61%) experienced brain fog. Concentration was affected by symptom severity (odds ratio [OR] 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-10.46, p = 0.02). Short- or long-term memory loss was not affected. Moreover, symptom severity was related to brain fog (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.05-9.51, p = 0.04). Patients with persistent symptoms had a concentration impairment associated with severity patterns (OR 24.3, 95% CI 1.73-340.11, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Brain fog is associated with symptom severity in COVID-19 survivors and lasts for more than eight months.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic's complexity made it difficult to understand the epidemiological impacts of health interventions, primarily masks and vaccines. Compartmental models alone, which are frequently employed, fall short in evaluating complex systems and heterogeneity of individuals, thus limiting research on these control measures. This study aims to explore the effects of health interventions on Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread using agent-based modeling and simulation. The SEIR framework of compartmental models is employed along with the specific interventions implemented with NetLogo. Exploring the different scenarios demonstrated that respirators and medical masks, for the types of masks, and Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, for the brands of vaccines, are the most effective in reducing infection curve peaks, total infection, and death, when used uniformly. The model can be further extended to comprehend other scenarios and combinations of different control measures for effective planning and policymaking in mitigating the effects of COVID-19. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the health and living conditions of the world's population. In educational matters, social confinement forced the transition from a face-To-face modality to a virtual scheme supported by the use of information technologies and the Internet. This represented a challenge to access quality education at all levels, especially for the most vulnerable population groups, such as intercultural university education aimed at the indigenous population. Objective: To describe the perception that teachers of an intercultural university in southeastern Mexico have, regarding the impact that the adoption of a virtual and distance educational practice has had on the quality of education due to Covid-19. Methodology: Descriptive and cross-sectional quantitative research. The information was collected through the application of structured questionnaires consisting of 27 questions and 41 items, which were applied to a universe of 34 teachers from the seven degrees offered by the university. Results: It was found that the pandemic negatively affected the university intercultural educational process, accentuating the inequity in access to technological means for quality education. © 2022 Universidad de La Habana. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The 151 edition of Revista Chasqui addresses as a central theme the Trends and innovation in higher education in communication from the Covid-19, where contributions are presented that open the dialogue on the opportunities and dilemmas that the digital transformation poses to educational systems , in order to identify new practices that incorporate the treatment of big data, the use of technological tools and hypermedia narratives in a new profile of communication and journalism studies.
ABSTRACT
To develop emergent literacy skills, preschool children need to be supported by adults in a rich and stimulating environment. During the first lockdown due to the SARS-CoV2 virus, there were several social, family, technological, and individual barriers to promote family literacy and emergent literacy. In the present study, we aimed to provide insight on the relationship between family literacy practices and emergent literacy skills among preschool children after the first confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. This study included 102 participants, which consisted of parents (90.2% mothers) and one preschool child per parent. Results showed evidence of a higher frequency of training and teaching activities than family literacy playful activities. There were statistically significant differences in emergent skills, according to the frequency of family playful activities and family training and teaching activities. Results suggest that different family literacy practices are significantly correlated to all the emergent literacy skills evaluated.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Real-world evidence studies regarding the effectiveness and safety of disease-modifying therapies are useful for clinical practice and for assessing the risk-benefit of some health policy interventions. Objective(s): To evaluate safety and effectiveness outcomes in year 1 and year 2 in patients receiving antiCD20 monoclonal antibodies. Method(s): Longitudinal observational study of MS patients under regular care at the Programa de Esclerosis Multiple UC in Chile who received at least one dose of ocrelizumab or rituximab between June 2018 and April 2022. Result(s): A total of 229 patients were included, 219 using Ocrelizumab and 10 using Rituximab. 163 patients had relapsingremitting MS (RRMS), 68% female, mean age at antiCD20 34.3+8.5 years, mean disease duration 5.6+5.4 years, and median baseline EDSS 1.5(0-6.0). 35 had primary progressive MS (PPMS), 54% female, mean age at antiCD20 47+12 years, mean disease duration 6.3+6.3 years and median EDSS 4.0(1.0-7.0). 31 had secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 64% female, mean age at antiCD20 50.4+9.7 years, mean disease duration 16.4+10.1 years and median EDSS 6.0(1.0-7.0). Before antiCD20, mean annualized relapse rate (ARR) was 0.7+0.5 for RRMS, and 0.2+0.4 for PPMS and SPMS patients, and MRI activity (newT2/Gd+) was observed in 84.8% of RRMS, 60% of PPMS and 40.7% of SPMS patients. Mean ARR in years 1 and 2 was 0 in RRMS and PPMS, 0.05+0.2 in year 1 and 0 in year 2 for SPMS. NewT2/Gd+ in years 1 and 2 were observed in 11.4% and 8.3% in RRMS, 21.4% and 0 in PPMS, and 0 in SPMS. Year 1 and 2 EDSS progression was observed in 0% and 3.6% of RRMS, 0 and 15.4% in PPMS, and 18.1% and 21.4% in SPMS. Years 1 and 2 NEDA3 was obtained in 82.6% and 94.6% of RRMS, 70% and 87.5% of PPMS and 90% and 87.5% of SPMS. Infusion Reactions were observed in 35% during the first dose, decreasing with each infusion (13.5% in the fourth infusion), all were considered mild. The most frequent year 1 adverse event were COVID-19 (n=5), upper tract infection (n=4), diarrhoea (n=4) and urinary tract infection (n=4). The most frequent year 2 adverse events were COVID-19 (n=4) and skin infection (n=3). One patient with previous history of breast cancer developed a tumour recurrence during the second year of treatment. Conclusion(s): This study supports robust effectiveness outcomes in a real-world cohort, with a consistent safety profile in patients receiving care at a specialized MS Unit.
ABSTRACT
T his paper presents a new mathematical feedback model to demonstrate how direct observations of the epidemiological compartments of population could be mapped to inputs, such that the social spread of the disease is asymptotically subdued. Details of the stabilization and robustness are included. This is a pivotal restructuring of modelling the control of corona virus from the current models in use world-wide which do not utilize feedback of functions of epidemiological compartments of population to construct the inputs. Although several vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) massive vaccination would take several years to reach herd immunity in most countries. Furthermore, the period of efficacy of the vaccination may be approximately one year only resulting in an unending vaccination. Even during the vaccination, there would be an urgent need to control the spread of the virus. When herd immunity is reached without feedback control and vaccination is discontinued, there could be new surges of the disease. These surges of disease could be prevented in appropriately designed stable feedback models. Moreover, extensive testing, contact tracing, and medical treatment of those found infected, must be maintained. © 2021, Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Embodied transnationalism is characterized by intimate experiences of human-made political borders that define, limit, and restrict flows of the "Other." In the Quarantined Across Borders collection, contributors from immigrant and diasporic backgrounds address the material and discursive differences in how they experience the pandemic in terms of a public health crisis and public policy response that intersects racialized gender, class, citizenship status, and profession.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Hip fractures in the elderly are common injuries that need timely surgical management. Since the beginning of the pandemic, patients with a proximal femoral fracture (PFF) experienced a delay in time to surgery. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate a possible variation in mortality in patients with PFF when comparing COVID-19 negative versus positive. Methods: This is a multicentric and retrospective study including 3232 patients with PFF who underwent surgical management. The variables taken into account were age, gender, the time elapsed between arrival at the emergency room and intervention, pre-operative American Society of Anesthesiology score, pre-operative cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and 10-day/1-month/6-month mortality. For 2020, we had an additional column, “COVID-19 swab positivity.” Results: COVID-19 infection represents an independent mortality risk factor in patients with PFFs. Despite the delay in time-to-surgery occurring in 2020, no statistically significant variation in terms of mortality was detected. Within our sample, a statistically significant difference was not detected in terms of mortality at 6 months, in patients operated within and beyond 48 h, as well as no difference between those operated within or after 12/24/72 h. The mortality rate among subjects with PFF who tested positive for COVID-19 was statistically significantly higher than in patients with PFF who tested. COVID-19 positivity resulted in an independent factor for mortality after PFF. Conclusion: Despite the most recent literature recommending operating PFF patients as soon as possible, no significant difference in mortality was found among patients operated before or after 48 h from diagnosis. © 2022 Published by Scientific Scholar on behalf of Journal of Musculoskeletal Surgery and Research.
ABSTRACT
The research analyzes the impacts of tourism in the Villa de Zaachila, Oaxaca, considering community perceptions and their relationship with sustainable development in the context of COVID-19. A five-point Likert-type scale was used, over a threeyear period, considering time variables (before, during, and after) related to the pandemic and its link with social, economic, and environmental issues. Representative local stakeholders in the tourism sector were interviewed using qualitative convenience sampling. Community tourism operators' perception of tourism activity was erroneous, as they considered it irrelevant. However, they were indirectly dependent on the consumption of goods and services by visitors from outside the community. Changes and adaptations were made at the community level that made it possible to cope with the pandemic and identify the importance of tourists to the community's economy and development. The authors conclude that perceptions play a significant role in the analysis of reality and in the success of any community tourism project to achieve development objectives. © 2022 Interciencia Association. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
SESSION TITLE: Impact of Health Disparities and Differences SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 11:15 am - 12:15 pm PURPOSE: Vulnerable patients, including minorities and underserved populations whose care relies on public hospitals, have limited access to advanced cardiac or respiratory care in shock centers or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-capable hospitals, especially when socioeconomic or insurance barriers play a role in patient selection. Our aim is to describe the implementation of an ECMO program for cardiac and respiratory failure during the COVID-19 pandemic in the largest public health system in the country, as a strategy to mitigate healthcare disparities and improve access to care for minorities. METHODS: We collected clinical, demographic and socioeconomic data of all patients undergoing ECMO at Bellevue Hospital Center, the shock and ECMO center for New York City’s Health and Hospitals’ network. This public health system includes 11 Hospitals and provides care to 1 million New Yorkers. The decision to proceed with ECMO took place with a multidisciplinary team discussion, which was also in charge of providing longitudinal care during their hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were included [30 veno-venous (VV) ECMO, 19 venoarterial (VA) ECMO, including 9 extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)] from April 1st, 2020 to March 30th, 2022. The median age was 42.6 years, 57% were male, 38% were Hispanic, 35% African American, 14% white, 6% Asian and 8.2% had other ethnicities;33% were uninsured, 49% lived below the poverty level reported for New York City and 20% were undocumented. Level of education was 8th grade or less in 2.1%, high school in 24.5%, ≤ 2 years of college in 10.2%, >4 years of college in 12.2% and unknown in 51%. ECMO survival was 56% for VV ECMO, 44% for VA ECMO and 33% for ECPR. Survival to discharge was 56% for VV, 33% for VA and 33% for ECPR. One VV ECMO patient was bridged to lung transplant, there were no patients bridged to LVAD or heart transplant. Bleeding complications occurred in 3 patients (6%) and there were no procedural related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our multidisciplinary ECMO program demonstrates feasibility to provide care to underserved and vulnerable populations with outcomes comparable to the national average, despite the challenges related to the potential limitations in bridging strategies for such patients. While socioeconomic and insurance status have a key role in bridging options for ECMO, they should not be a major determinant in denying patients advanced cardiopulmonary support if clinically indicated. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Access to advance cardiorespiratory therapies including ECMO for vulnerable populations is a present need and is feasible with a multidisciplinary team DISCLOSURES: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with Zoll Please note: 3 years Added 04/04/2022 by Carlos Alviar, value=Honoraria No relevant relationships by Fariha Asef No relevant relationships by Sripal Bangalore No relevant relationships by Samuel Bernard No relevant relationships by Lauren Bianco No relevant relationships by Nishay Chitkara No relevant relationships by Jennifer Cruz No relevant relationships by Michael DiVita Research support relationship with Eurofins Viracor Please note: 12/1/2021 ongoing Added 12/23/2021 by Randal Goldberg, value=Grant/Research Support No relevant relationships by Kerry Hena No relevant relationships by William Howe No relevant relationships by Norma Keller no disclosure on file for Ma-Rosario Mertola;no disclosure on file for Thor Milland;No relevant relationships by vikramjit mukherjee No relevant relationships by Kayla Nunemacher No relevant relationships by Mansi Patel No relevant relationships by Radu Postelnicu No relevant relationships by Deepak Pradhan No relevant relationships by Vito Stasolla no disclosure on file for Amit Uppal;No relevant relationships by Susan Vlahakis No relevant relationships by Kah Loon Wan no disclosure on file for Victoria Yunaev;
ABSTRACT
Problems and manifestations of Bilingual Intercultural Spaces (BIS) in rural areas of Peru as a consequence of social isolation due to Covid-19, are addressed and it seeks to stablish the ways non-face-to-face teaching process is managed. The study is focused on the Peruvian Amazon native communities in which the emergency educational program, "I learn at home", created by the Peruvian government in the context of the current global pandemic, is taught. The methodology is based on the interpretive paradigm with a qualitative approach, case study as design. It used the semi-structured interview technique and the questionnaire as an instrument. The sample includes interviews with eleven teachers of Intercultural Bilingual Education corresponding to Ashaninca, Shipibo Conibo, Nomatsiguenga and Yanesha cultures. For data processing, the NVivo software was used, which allowed the identification of follow-up, accompaniment, feelings of commitment, adversity, and integration. The conclusions of the study highlight that the monitoring and accompaniment of teachers from a BIS perspective are essential to achieve non-face-to-face learning in contexts affected by Covid 19, and there is evidence of inattention from educational authorities in rural areas of such cultures.
ABSTRACT
For years the health systems of the world have maintained a com-plex organizational structure that responds to their health needs based on their internal characteristics. Currently, the pandemic put the health systems of the entire world to the test;Various interpersonal, community operational strate-gies - pre-hospital, hospital, isolation and quarantine were applied, and Ecuador was no exception, but despite this nothing is enough. To analyze the relation-ship between the management and response capacity of health systems, in times of COVID-19. A systematic review was carried out in the Scopus, Pub med and Google Academic databases under the terms: "Health systems", "COVID - 19", "response capacity", "health policies", "pandemic", at the global, regional and local levels. A critical analysis of the bibliography found was carried out, of a to-tal of 30 articles that met the search and selection criteria, most of the articles mentioned the importance of Primary Health Care (PHC) applied at all levels under various approaches in addition to the use of novel and proactive technolo-gies. The health systems were put to the test during the pandemic, each of them responded according to their management capacity and sustainability, it was evidenced that there is no method that allows to deal effectively with stochastic situations, so the only thing that What could be done was to shovel the various components of the pandemic, the interleaved mitigation and suppression meth-ods are a promising element under novel modalities such as Tics.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic declared by the WHO has affected many countries rendering everyday lives halted. In the Philippines, the lockdown quarantine protocols have shifted the traditional college classes to online. The abrupt transition to online classes may bring psychological effects to college students due to continuous isolation and lack of interaction with fellow students and teachers. Our study aims to assess Filipino college students' mental health status and to estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to online learning, and social media use on mental health. In addition, facilitators or stressors that modified the mental health status of the college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, and subsequent shift to online learning will be investigated. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Mixed-method study design will be used, which will involve: (1) an online survey to 2,100 college students across the Philippines; and (2) randomly selected 20-40 key informant interviews (KIIs). Online self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) including Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Brief-COPE will be used. Moreover, socio-demographic factors, social media usage, shift to online learning factors, family history of mental health and COVID-19, and other factors that could affect mental health will also be included in the SAQ. KIIs will explore factors affecting the student's mental health, behaviors, coping mechanism, current stressors, and other emotional reactions to these stressors. Associations between mental health outcomes and possible risk factors will be estimated using generalized linear models, while a thematic approach will be made for the findings from the KIIs. Results of the study will then be triangulated and summarized. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Our study has been approved by the University of the Philippines Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB 2021-099-01). The results will be actively disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed journals, social media, print and broadcast media, and various stakeholder activities.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Education, Distance , Social Media , COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Mental Health , Pandemics , Philippines/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Students/psychologyABSTRACT
This work aimed to evaluate social vulnerability based on popu-lation characteristics as a means to indicate the possible intra-ur-ban spaces with greater chances of dispersion and contagion by COVID-19. Based on variables that explain social characteristics and increase the vulnerability of individuals, information from IBGE was selected, treated by factor analysis and mapped, accord-ing to the adaptation of the methodology developed by the Centre for Social Studies in Coimbra. The scale of coverage chosen was that of census sectors, from three municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil. The analysis resulted in 21 variables that make it possible to classify five dimensions of the vulnerability of the populations, indicating the places where actions to prevent contagion should be more incisive, given the population character-istics, and the vulnerability of urban peripheries was evidenced. The grouping of information expressed social dimensions that de-note aspects auxiliary to understanding the territory and social vul-nerability on a local scale. The methodology demonstrated can be easily adopted in different scales and regions of Brazil, and also in other countries. This study will make it possible to make decisions aimed at avoiding contagion, and to subsidize with information the elaboration of plans for the gradual resumption of economic and social activities.