Exploring healthcare workers' perspectives of video feedback for training in the use of powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of COVID-19, many healthcare workers (HWs) in Australia requested access to powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) for improved respiratory protection, comfort and visibility. The urgency of the response at our hospital required rapid deployment of innovative training to ensure the safe use of PAPRs, in particular, a video-feedback training option to prepare HWs for PAPR competency. AIM: To explore the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of video-feedback in PAPR training and competency assessment. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 HWs, including clinicians from Intensive Care, Anaesthetics and Respiratory Medicine, at a large teaching hospital in Australia. FINDINGS: Participants believed that the use of video-feedback in PAPR training was feasible, acceptable and useful. They described a variety of benefits to learning and retention, from a variety of ways in which they engaged with the personal video-feedback. Participants also described the impact of reviewing personalised practice footage, compared to generic footage of an ideal performance. CONCLUSION: By conceptualising video-feedback using a pedagogical approach, this study contributes to knowledge around optimising methods for training HWs in PPE use, particularly when introducing a new and complex PPE device during an infectious disease outbreak.

Taking the Temperature of Distance Learners: Does University Climate Influence Perceptions of Belonging in a Distance Education Environment?

AIM: This study aimed to gain an understanding of how students' perceptions of belonging are impacted by their observations of the cultural/racial climate and diversity and inclusion in a distance education environment. BACKGROUND: Studies have evaluated students' perceptions of belonging and racial climate in a physical environment; there is a gap in understanding those perceptions within a distance education environment. METHOD: In 2019, an online survey was administered to distance learning students from four academic programs at a national university that provides education services in all 50 states. RESULTS: Results of a multiple linear regression analysis showed that students' perceptions of university inclusion and diversity efforts, experiences related to language barriers, and advisors played a significant role in students' perceptions of belonging, F(4, 205) = 52.96, p < .000, with an R2 of .51. CONCLUSION: Supporting an equitable distance learning environment should be a paramount objective for universities.

Fulminant Bacillus cereus food poisoning with fatal multi-organ failure.

This case represents a rare fulminant course of fried-rice associated food poisoning in an immunocompetent person due to pre-formed exotoxin produced by Bacillus cereus, with severe manifestations of sepsis, including multi-organ (hepatic, renal, cardiac, respiratory and neurological) failure, shock, metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis and coagulopathy. Despite maximal supportive measures (continuous renal replacement therapy, plasmapheresis, N-acetylcysteine infusion and blood products, and broad-spectrum antimicrobials) and input from a multidisciplinary team (consisting of infectious diseases, intensive care, gastroenterology, surgery, toxicology, immunology and haematology), mortality resulted. This case is the first to use whole genome sequencing techniques to confirm the toxigenic potential of B. cereus It has important implications for food preparation and storage, particularly given its occurrence in home isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.