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Introduction: HEADS: UP is a psychoeducational self-management intervention to help stroke survivors cope with symptoms of anxiety and depression. During COVID 19 the HEADS: UP (Helping Ease Anxiety and Depression after Stroke) pilot randomised controlled trial (protocol: NCT04985838) was adapted at short notice for online delivery. The Project Advisory Group (PAG) or Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement group comprising 5 stroke survivors, a family member, and 2 stroke health professionals provided first-hand experience and advice to help develop resources required to enable stroke survivors negotiate the technology and 'get online'. Method(s): The PAG met 4-6 weekly online with HEADS: UP researchers;interim contact was by phone and email. They tested, advised, and offered personal reflections on/experiences of i) research processes e.g. online screening/recruitment, data collection and ii) intervention delivery e.g. suitability of Zoom for weekly HEADS: UP sessions, and accessibility of an online community platform, Padlet. Result(s): The PAG helped improve accessibility of pre-existing HEADS: UP research and intervention materials e.g. study Welcome Packs. Their 'hands-on' experiential approach also informed development of novel resources e.g. How to use Padlet. PAG members reported benefiting from their reciprocal relationship with researchers: "Everything changed after COVID . . . working online with HEADS: UP made me feel . . . important!" Their input enabled participants to successfully navigate online screening/ recruitment, complete research questionnaires online, and take part in the online course (if randomised to the intervention). Conclusion(s): The PAG's first-hand experience and advice enhanced HEADS: UP online research processes and intervention delivery for stroke survivor participants.
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Background: Canada is currently on target to reach the 2030 WHO goal of HCV elimination. Continued high rates of treatment initiation are required to meet this goal. Novel models such as Tayside, Scotland pharmacy-based HCV screening and treatment have proven successful to engage people who use drugs (PWUD) in HCV therapy with a simplified, task-shifted cascade of care. This study seeks to determine whether these successes can be replicated at community pharmacies in Victoria BC. Method(s): Four community pharmacies known to work with PWUD and provide opioid agonist therapy (OAT) were trained to provide consent and perform point of care HCV antibody screening and given a standardized tool kit of resources. They were supported by a study nurse to link to HCV RNA testing when antibody positive patients were identified, with initiation of HCV treatment offered to those found to be RNA positive. Qualitative interviews were conducted with five pharmacy staff to explore their experiences with HCV testing and treatment and the feasibility of pharmacists in HCV care cascade. Result(s): Pharmacy staff completed 200 HCV OraQuick tests: 64 tested positive for HCV antibodies: 26 people were HCV RNA negative, 23 previously treated and 3 self-cleared, 2 bloodwork is pending. Of the 26 RNA positive participants, 2 are pending treatment start, 24 people have started treatment, with 12 achieving SVR. While treating identified people has been successful, less than half of projected OraQuick tests have been completed. Although the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic was a fundamental barrier incorporating HCV testing at pharmacies, stigma related to HCV and illicit drug use continues to impact this process. Pharmacists described feeling hesitant about approaching participants, especially after receiving negative responses from clients about HCV testing. Some worried their relationship would change with clients as asking about HCV implied risky drug use. Conclusion(s): This innovative pharmacy-based approach found people with limited connection to primary health care to test and treat HCV but requires more training and support to be more widely feasible.
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The English SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has been affected by the emergence of new viral variants such as B.1.177, Alpha and Delta, and changing restrictions. We used statistical models and the agent-based model Covasim, in June 2021, to estimate B.1.177 to be 20% more transmissible than the wild type, Alpha to be 50-80% more transmissible than B.1.177 and Delta to be 65-90% more transmissible than Alpha. Using these estimates in Covasim (calibrated 1 September 2020 to 20 June 2021), in June 2021, we found that due to the high transmissibility of Delta, resurgence in infections driven by the Delta variant would not be prevented, but would be strongly reduced by delaying the relaxation of restrictions by one month and with continued vaccination. This article is part of the theme issue 'Technical challenges of modelling real-life epidemics and examples of overcoming these'.
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COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Models, Statistical , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Systems AnalysisABSTRACT
Background and aims: Canada is currently on target to reach the 2030 WHO goal of HCV elimination. Continued high rates of treatment initiation are required to meet this goal. Novel models have proven successful to engage populations who use drugs (PWUD) in HCV therapy with a simplified, task-shifted cascade of care: Tayside, Scotland pharmacy-based HCV screening and treatment has demonstrated excellent outcomes and progress towards local HCV elimination. The EPIC Study seeks to determine whether pharmacybased treatment successes can be replicated at community pharmacies in Victoria BC. Method: Four community pharmacies known to work with PWUD and provide opioid agonist therapy (OAT) were provided training sessions to equip staff with a standardized tool kit of resources. In fall 2020, pharmacy staff were trained to provide verbal informed consent and perform point of care HCV OraQuick antibody screening. Pharmacies were supported by a study nurse to link to HCV RNA testing when antibody positive patients were identified, with initiation of HCV treatment offered to those found to be RNA positive. (Figure Presented) Figure: (: THU296): Antibody responses after the COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AILD and healthy controls. (A-B) The seropositivity rate (A) and titers (B) of anti-RBD-IgG in patients with AILD and healthy controls. (D-E) The seropositivity rate (D) and titers (E) of NAbs in patients with AILD and healthy controls. The distribution of anti-RBD-IgG (C) and NAbs (F) antibody titers over time in patients with AILD and healthy controls. AILD, autoimmune liver disease;anti-RBD-IgG, spike receptor-binding domain IgG antibody;NAbs, neutralizing antibodies. The study nurse worked with pharmacy staff to strategize adherence and support as needed by study subjects. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with five pharmacy staff to explore their experiences with testing and monitoring HCV treatment and the feasibility of involving pharmacists in the HCV care cascade. Results: To date pharmacy staff completed 171 HCV OraQuick tests finding 53 tested positive for HCV antibodies: 23 people were HCV RNA negative, (20 previously treated and 2 self-cleared), 8 unk/LTF. Of the 22 RNA positive participants, 1 is pending treatment start, 21 people have started treatment, with 8 achieving SVR. While great success has been achieved in treating identified people, less than half of projected OraQuick tests have been completed. Although the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic was a fundamental barrier incorporating HCV testing at pharmacies, stigma related to HCV and illicit drug use continues to impact this process. Pharmacists described feeling hesitant about approaching participants, especially after receiving negative responses from clients about HCV testing. Some worried their relationship would change with clients as asking about HCV implied risky drug use. Conclusion: This innovative and novel approach to HCV therapy in PWUD attempted to use a pharmacy-based approach to find people with limited connection to primary health care to test and treat HCV. Increased training of pharmacy staff related to stigma around drug use and HCV is required both before and ongoing for successful integration of pharmacy-led HCV testing and treatment in Canada.
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INTRODUCTION: The U.S. healthcare system remains vulnerable to crisis and troubled by resource inequities. Uneven distribution and scarcity of critical care (CC) clinicians is one example: COVID19 overwhelmed many hospitals with critically ill patients forcing some clinicians to provide care beyond their normal scope of practice and level of comfort. METHODS: The National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network (NETCCN) was developed to address this problem by providing on-demand access to CC experts. NETCCN was funded by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act;as a collaboration between the U.S. Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS ASPR), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). NETCCN focused on rapid development and deployment of technology platforms that were simple and user-friendly, cyber-secure, and HIPAA compliant, and only required a cellular connected mobile device. This federally funded resource allowed local non-CC caregivers to consult with CC experts. RESULTS: NETCCN has deployed to six states/territories, eight hospitals and cared for hundreds of patients in locations unfamiliar with managing critically-ill patients. While limited in scope, the NETCCN experience highlights key challenges and successes to address or sustain moving forward. Fear commonly prevented wider acceptance and use of NETCCN support. Clinicians fear judgment when asking questions;hospital administrators fear violating laws or disrupting “normal” practice patterns;and provider groups fear loss of market share. Despite laws that permit expedience during disaster conditions, major policy barriers, particularly local credentialing and privileging processes, hinder the use of tele-CC consultation solutions. Finally, lack of consistent federal, state, and local telehealth policies, especially for in-patient and e-consult services, caused confusion and prevented wider deployment of NETCCN. CONCLUSIONS: A federal capability that provides telemedicine support to hospitals or communities in crisis as part of a disaster response system is feasible, but policy barriers and cultural expectations impede rapid adoption.
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Background: Stigma and poor linkage to care, amplified in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, are significant barriers for treating hepatitis C (HCV) in vulnerable patients, reducing our ability to implement a rapid test and treat (TnT) strategy with minimal monitoring within a simple patient cascade, as currently available HCV therapies would allow us to do This real-world analysis evaluates our ability to implement this approach in both general (GP) and vulnerable (VP) populations Methods: HCV-infected patients from 32 clinical cohorts in 8 countries treated with sofosbuvir/ velpatasvir without a history of decompensation or prior NS5A-inhibitor exposure were included in this analysis The VP included prisoners, homeless patients and patients with mental disorders Time to treatment (TT) between the most recent HCV RNA measurement and treatment initiation was estimated based on available data Results: A total of 2449 patients were included, 937 in GP (58% males), 1512 (72% males) in VP (59% with mental disorders, 31% homeless, 10% imprisoned) Mean age [standard deviation] was 55 [14] and 50 [14] years in GP and VP respectively Genotype 3 was observed in 35% and 33% respectively, compensated cirrhosis confirmed in 20% and 18% of GP versus VP. The median TT [MTT, interquartile range] was 55 days [23- 107] in GP and 60 days [27-132] in VP The longest MTT of 66 days [32-134] was observed in patients with mental disorders MTT was 63 days [29-149] in prisoners and 27 days [13-71] among the homeless Only 13% of GP and 8% of VP were treated the same day of diagnosis, and 70% of GP and 63% of VP were treated within 3 months In patients with mental disorders only 4% were treated the same day of diagnosis Cure rates were high and consistent with previously reported cure rates Conclusion: MTT varies across HCV patient groups, from over 6 months to 1 day This analysis shows that a quick treatment start is possible, both in general population and in vulnerable populations, supporting the feasibility of a TnT approach in all populations New strategies should be considered to engage patients with mental disorders in this model of care more effectively.