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Undergraduate students enrolled in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Planning (CAU) must develop competencies in Geomatics and Topography (G&T) as part of their learning process. During this time, theoretical concepts are traditionally taught with field practice using specialized tools such as a theodolite, laser level, and total station. Due to the environmental restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional field practice (TFP) was suspended, preventing access to equipment and study areas. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR), have been explored in the last decade for educational purposes. This paper studies the benefits of using these tools for developing G&T skills. This research aimed to assess students' learning outcomes using a traditional G&T teaching method and a new methodology based on Virtual Field Practice (VFP) for CAU students. The methodology provides a virtual study area for the CAU student by integrating point clouds derived from photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning. It also assesses their learning results and compares them against a control group using a validated instrument. Findings suggest continuing with fieldwork for a greater understanding and correct application of G&T concepts by students, and using virtual models as an efficient way to complement the acquisition of spatial information in the teaching-learning process. Until the publication of this article, we found no evidence in the literature at the undergraduate level of applying exercises like those proposed. © 2023 IEEE.
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Background: timely recognition of certain risk factors helps to identify COVID-19 infection at an early stage, which, together with interdisciplinary and intersectoral participation, allows for the implementation of better strategies and reduction of morbidity and mortality.Objective: to determine the risk factors related to the appearance of COVID-19.Methods: a case-control study was carried out, which included patients treated at the Turcios Lima Community Polyclinic, in Pinar del Rio, from 2020 to 2021. The sample selection was random 3:6 (3000 positive cases of COVID-19/6000 controls without the disease), matched by age and sex. Statistical analysis was based on a multivariate strategy, calculation of the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and the Chi Square test, with a statistical significance level of p<0.05.Results: the most frequent risk factors were: male sex (X2=8.5900;p<0.001), urban residence (X2=509.03;p<0.001) and occupation as a student or worker (X2=199 .93, p<0.001);as well as personal medical history of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, bronchial asthma, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Conclusions: although sex, place of residence, occupation, and personal medical history were identified as risk factors related to COVID-19, information about the impact of other factors is still limited and requires further study.
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OBJECTIVE: To describe interventions included in the implementation of a multidisciplinary Geriatrics Program that gives support to nursing homes, in coordination with Primary Care and Public Health, in collaboration with other hospital departments. METHODS: An observational descriptive study was conducted in an area that includes 60 nursing homes with nearly 4600 residents from June 1 st, 2020 to October 1 st, 2021. The program consists of different interventions including Telemedicine and support of a Geriatric Consultation Liaison Team. An estimation of avoided costs through these interventions was carried out. RESULTS: The activity recorded was 11502 telephone calls, 2247 e-mails, 313 visits to these centres in where 4085 patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. During this period of time 442 patients received intravenous therapy in their nursing homes, including 7541 different types of medication which 5850 of them were antibiotics. According to the Diagnosis-related-Group (DRG) of the patients that received intravenous treatment in their nursing homes, was estimated a cost reduction of 1,500,00 and a total of 2800 days of hospital stay avoided. In the group of 198 patients that received video consultation was estimated reduction of costs of 37,026. A hospital multidisciplinary care team focused on the nursing home patients was created. CONCLUSIONS: This program improves continuity of nursing homes patients care and to enhance communication and coordination among Primary Care, Hospitals and Public Health services and secondarily, reducing hospital costs.
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Geriatric Assessment , Nursing Homes , Aged , Community Health Services , Humans , Patient Care Team , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Dwelling is a fundamental factor for mental health. Lockdowns, established to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, forced millions of people to take shelter in their homes, enhancing the need to understand the characteristics of the dwelling that promote psychological restoration. In this paper, we analyze the relationship between some perceived conditions of dwelling habitability (appreciation of the physical environment, visible nature, crowding, and privacy) and their effect on psychological restoration through the concept of the perceived restorativeness of dwelling. An online survey was carried out with the participation of 478 Mexican adults. Physical environment, visible nature, crowding, and privacy showed significant correlations with the perceived restorativeness of housing and psychological restoration itself. However, only privacy showed an effect on psychological restoration in structural modelling. We propose that privacy is fundamental to improving dwellings' restorativeness and restoring their inhabitants, and experts should consider it when designing housing spaces. However, more evidence is needed to generalize beyond the context of lockdowns. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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The objective of this study is to identify the usage of ICT tools among social educators within their professional activity. Technology among social educators is currently a very up-to-date topic. This is a professional group with its own characteristics that are different from those of teachers or other professionals in formal education. A mixed sequential two-phase method was proposed for the study: both quantitative and qualitative. In the first phase, the EdSocEval_V2 questionnaire was applied to a sample of 504 social educators from 17 autonomous communities. In the second phase, four focus groups were formed. The results presented reduced and basic usage of ICT: in management and administrative tasks and for communication with conventional tools. The COVID-19 pandemic has likewise increased the need for the use of ICT in socio-educational interventions, although their use for intervention among these groups is still very scarce. Training in and raising awareness of ICT among professionals for social interventions are priorities, as is the construction of a referential framework for professional training. © 2023 by the authors.
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Introduction: At the third year of the pandemic in Chile, the reported cases of COVID-19 reached 4,769,638 and 61,725 deaths (1.4%), with 93% of the population with a complete vaccination schedule (17,686,528). Aim: The purpose of this study is a brief communication on the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on maternal, perinatal and prematurity mortality in Chile. Method: The national database of the Informatics Department of the Ministry of Health of Chile (DEIS), and the information reported from the official WHO website were used. All births, general and fetal deaths from January 1990 to September 2022 were included. A comparison is made between the basic maternal and perinatal indicators of the last 30 years and those of the years of the pandemic. Results: From March 2020 to September 2022, approximately 61,000 people died in Chile with a diagnosis associated with COVID-19, 17% of the general mortality for the period (approx. 364.000 deaths). An acceleration in the historical trend towards a decrease in the overall birth/death ratio was observed from 1.9 pre-pandemic to 1.4 during the third year of the pandemic. Maternal Mortality Ratio in 2020 (28.1 × 100,000) increased compared to 2019 pre-pandemic (19.1) or the simple historical trend line projected for 2020 (18.0) by 56%. Prematurity under 37 weeks of gestation increased from 8.5% (2019) to 9.5% for the years 2021 and 2022. Neonatal mortality in the first 28 days remained stable at 9 per thousand births during the 3 years of the pandemic and fetal mortality (>21 weeks) had a slight increase to 4.7 per thousand (year 2020) in relation to 3.4 in 2019. Conclusions: In Chile, an increase of approximately 56% in maternal mortality occurred in the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In the second year, a significant increase in late prematurity and a slight increase in fetal mortality were observed. These findings have been reported in the reviews and latest updates of the year 2022. © 2023
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The lockdown situation has exposed citizens to a profusion of information about COVID-19, both official and unofficial, with different sources and varying degrees of reliability. Uncertainty spurs the search for information since the health of citizens depends on it. This study explores the mediation processes involved in building trust in actors linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and media consumption on the prevention measures that citizens take for their care. A representative sample of 1211 Mexican citizens was subject to the study. Among the main results is that citizens are very informed about COVID-19, engage in considerable media consumption, and have substantial institutional trust, particularly in non-governmental organizations. Regarding prevention measures, these are associated with people's trust in health sector employees. Likewise, regarding the acceptance of both true and fake news, the study showed that these are related to the preventive measures people take to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. © 2022 Contratexto. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Consultation of minor ailments and direct product request are frequent in community pharmacy in Spain, although every pharmacy offers the service following their own criteria. Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) and referral criteria agreed between community pharmacists (CPs) and general practitioners (GPs) are needed to deliver a safer service. Referral criteria set the limits of action for each healthcare professional (CPs and GPs) when managing patients. Following the positive findings of an impact study, a roll out was required to translate the evidence-based approach into usual practice. Objective(s): The aim was to characterise the referrals between CPs and GPs through a Minor Ailment Service (MAS, service offered in community pharmacy following the SOP). Method(s): A 12-month pragmatic study with hybrid effectiveness-implementation design was planned from October 2020 in Spain. The co-designed MAS service had several components: agreed SOP with GP scientific organisations, protocols for ailments divided into five groups (dermatological, digestive, related to pain, upper respiratory tract related and others) including referral criteria, information technology (IT) based consultation protocol and training before and during the study. Patients were followed up by pharmacists after ten days of the service. All data were collected through an IT system (SEFAC eXPERT) as a by-product of service delivery and implementation. Outcomes for the first fifteen months (up to December 2021) are shown. Result(s): 1246 pharmacists from 24 provinces in Spain were trained having a reach of 14083 consultations. 1858 (13.2%) patients were referred to the GP. 2193 referral criteria were detected, most patients referred had one single referral criteria (n = 965, 80.8%). Referral criteria detected were red flags such as temperature over 38degreeC, dyspnoea, etc. (n = 846, 39.5%);patients' age (n = 398, 18.6%), symptom duration (n = 361, 16.9%);patients' treatments for other health problems different than the minor ailment consulted (n = 263, 12.3%);other patients' health problems (n = 186, 8.7%) and others (n = 85, 4.0%). Minor ailments more frequently referred were joint pain (n = 190, 10.2%), cough (n = 106, 5.7%), dermatitis (n = 104, 5.6%) and heartburn (n = 63, 3.4%). Conclusion(s): High-risk patients (patients with symptoms/condition that do not appear to be minor ailments) can be assessed by CPs and referred to be evaluated and diagnosed by GPs. The use of co-designed management protocols strengthened the identification of red flags in patients suffering minor ailments to be referred when necessary. Joint pain and cough were two of the minor ailments more frequently referred, which could be a result of the study being undertaken during COVID19 pandemic. CPs can perform clinically, referring patients and acting as a triage point through MAS to increase patients' safety.
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Lung ultrasound has become one of the most promising medical techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of pneumonia, which is one of the main complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite this, the lack of trained personnel in lung echography has restricted its use worldwide. Computer aided diagnosis could help reducing the learning curve for less experienced technicians and, therefore, extending the use of lung ultrasound more quickly, while reducing the exam duration. This work explores the feasibility of real-time image processing algorithms for automatic calculation of the lung score. A clinical trial with 30 patients was completed following the same protocol of acquiring saving 3 seconds videos of different thorax zones. Those videos were evaluated by an experienced physician and by a custom developed algorithm for detecting A-lines, B-lines, and consolidations. The concordance between both findings were 88% for B-lines, 93.4% for consolidations and 70.2% for A-lines, reducing the acquisition time using the ULTRACOV prototype [1] by more than half compared to a conventional scanner. The good agreement of the results proves the feasibility of implementing real-time algorithms for aided diagnosis in lung ultrasound equipment. © 2022 IEEE.
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The coronavirus pandemic has led to an exceptional number of critical care hospitalizations followed by extended recovery periods that necessitate familial support. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study aimed to examine the strategies used by families to adjust to the caregiving role. Semi-structured interviews of patients who had been recently discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (n=16) along with their family caregivers (n=16) were thematically analyzed. Three major themes were identified that highlight how family caregivers adapt to the caregiving role following an ICU COVID-19 related hospitalization including 1) engaging the support of family and friends, 2) shifting responsibilities to accommodate caregiving, and 3) managing one's emotions. Additional themes more specifically related to managing COVID-19 care included: 1) managing infection control, 2) care recipient's need for independence, and 3) managing support services. Flexibility and sufficient support allowed family caregivers to manage their new caregiving role and function optimally.
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Background/Purpose: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect in Canada, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 children. Adolescents with CHD (AWCHD) must learn to independently manage their disease and transition to adult care, yet many young Canadians fail to attend an adult CHD clinic. Patients who do not receive follow-up care have increased risks of requiring urgent interventions and hospital admission. Interventions designed to support coping and self-management are key strategies to improve the ability of AWCHD to manage their health and successfully transition to adult care. Peer support is one intervention that has been shown to improve health outcomes and symptoms in people with chronic disease, however no study to date has examined the role of peer mentorship in supporting AWCHD. This project tailored an existing virtual peer-to-peer mentorship program (iPeer2Peer© (iP2P) program) to meet the needs of AWCHD. The study aims were twofold: (1) To determine whether the iP2P program can be sustainably integrated into clinical practice within the CHD Transition Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, and (2) To examine the impact of the iP2P program on self-management and quality of life. Methods/Results: A prospective feasibility study of the iP2P CHD program was conducted to determine whether the program could be integrated and sustained in practice (primary outcome) and to examine program effectiveness (secondary outcome). A mixed methods design was used to measure feasibility of implementation (i.e. acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, etc.) and effectiveness of the iP2P CHD program (i.e. self-management and transition readiness, quality of life, perceived social support, etc.). Semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine program satisfaction and engagement. At the time of submission, 8 peer mentors had been successfully recruited and completed the 3-day training program. Early analysis of implementation outcomes demonstrated that identification and recruitment of suitable mentors may be more challenging in this population than previous groups. This may be related to factors such as range of disease severity and the nature of co-occurring developmental, social and mental health challenges in this population. Conclusion/Implications for Practice: There is an urgent need to implement virtual support interventions as the COVID-19 pandemic has limited opportunities for AWCHD to receive social support. Preliminary results suggest that the iP2P CHD virtual peer support program can be feasibly implemented within the CHD Transition Program. Peer mentor recruitment and training is feasible, and participation in the peer mentorship program is of interest to both mentors and mentees. Copyright © 2022
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Background: COVID-19 can present neurological complications of the central nervous system. Ischemic-type strokes have been reported in this population. Neurological rehabilitation participates in the functional recovery and improvement of the quality of life of these patients.
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This work focuses on the communication flows related to COVID-19 generated in Latin America by Facebook users during the first half of 2020. The main objective is to analyze the information shared in relation to three main categories: (a) government actions related to public health and safety, (b) society's reactions to the emergency, and (c) the vision of the post -pandemic future. The methodology used in this work is content analysis, from which a study corpus was analyzed, to identify and generate categories on the topics addressed in the information flows. Frequency distribution tables were used to ponder the diffusion weights of each thematic category. The results provide, from an exploratory level, evidence on the impact of social networks in the pandemic context, not only in a positive way, but also generating uncertainty, protests, and repression through the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories.
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Background: Patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are at increased risk for poor outcomes when compared to the age matched non-ACHD population and require specialist care to optimize outcomes including well-being and survival. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare provision across Canada with reduction on in person evaluations. The effect of the COVID-19 restrictions on ACHD care including clinic evaluation, diagnostic and procedures in Canada has not been well characterized. Methods and Results: All Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Network affiliated ACHD centers were contacted and asked to collect data on outpatient clinic and procedural volumes for the 2019 and 2020 calendar years. A survey was sent to each site detailing questions on clinic and procedural volumes and wait times pre and post pandemic restrictions. Descriptive statistics were used with student t test to compare groups. Pre-pandemic (2019) there were 19326 ACHD clinic visits across Canada with 296 (1.5%) being virtual. During the first year of the pandemic (2020) there were a similar number of total clinic visits 20532, however 11412 (56%) visits were virtual p< 0.0001. Total procedural volumes for ACHD care are presented in figure 1. Pre-pandemic mean estimated clinic waiting times (in months) for non-urgent consults were: 5.4 + 2.57 vs. pandemic wait time 6.5 + 4.22, p=0.65, for elective ACHD cardiac surgery 6.0 + 3.46 vs.7.3 + 4.59, p=0.47, for ACHD electrophysiology procedures 6.3 + 3.33 vs 6.7 + 3.27 p=0.72, for ACHD percutaneous intervention 4.6 + 3.89 vs 4.4 + 2.33 p=0.74. Conclusion(s): During the pandemic, despite social distancing restrictions, the use of virtual clinics visits have helped to maintain continuity in ACHD clinical care. The procedural volumes and wait times for consultation, percutaneous and surgical interventions were not delayed. [Formula presented] Copyright © 2022
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The article analyzes the social policies that characterize the daily life of Venezuelans between 2003 and 2022;particularly the state guidelines of the social missions were studied. Methodologically, a descriptive-analytical and documentary study of the Venezuelan State policies was carried out based on the social action plans and programs designed for the protection of the population, in contrast with the results of the Living Conditions Survey, 2021. The findings point out that the Social Missions lost coverage since 2017;the Coronavirus pandemic and the gasoline shortage gave way to a new social policy based on direct transfers and distribution of food bags. In conclusion, the missions and large social missions implemented by the national government to provide the greatest welfare to the Venezuelan population have disappeared in the face of waste, corruption and lack of investment, monitoring and follow-up of the same.
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The Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) was considered in 1987 by the Council of Europe as the first European cultural route. Since then, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world have walked through the traditional cultural landscapes of this corner of Europe seeking their own personal journey, an experience of introspection that, at least in theory, demands disconnecting from the world. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has meant the greatest crisis in tourism in contemporary times, especially in mass destinations, revitalizing by contrast other forms and tourist places, such as cultural routes. From the political objective of economic and social recovery, public administrations are promoting the digitalization and use of new technologies in the dissemination and management of the Camino de Santiago as a cultural and tourist product. According to all the plans and projects planned, in the next years not only the mobile device will be a tool to help carry out the Way, it will become essential to achieve a completely satisfactory experience. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Introduction Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment resistant schizophrenia. In patients treated with clozapine, COVID-19 infection may result in complications including an increased risk of pneumonia, clozapine toxicity, and disruption to clozapine treatment by COVID-19 induced lymphopenia. Objectives We report 5 cases of elevated clozapine levels occurring in patients with COVID-19 infection who had been previously managed for several years on stable doses. Methods Subjects: 48 admitted patients to a long-stay psychiatric unit. COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive nasopharyngeal swab for viral ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2. Hematological controls between March and April 2020. Results 16 patients (33%) treated with clozapine.18 patients (37’5%) had COVID-19 infection, of which 5 (10’4%) were treated with clozapine. Results are presented in table 1. Increases in plasma clozapine levels were observed in all cases (49’38 to 307.5%). We don’t have the clozapine levels of a patient who presented a pneumonia requiring admission and treatment in the general hospital. Two cases of neutropenia were observed, of which one had to discontinue treatment with clozapine. In the other three patients the dose of clozapine was reduced and they did not present haematological or intoxication complications that required further adjustments. Conclusions Covid-19 infection is associated with increased serum clozapine levels by probably multifactorial mechanisms (systemic infection, reduced smoking). Importance of full clinical assessment of suspected COVID-19 infection in clozapine treated patients, including assessment clozapine level, and full blood count. The general recommendation is to reduce the dose of clozapine in this patients.
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Introduction Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment resistant schizophrenia but adverse reactions to clozapine include neutropenia. Patients with COVID-19 infection frequently experience lymphopenia, but not neutropenia.The impact of clozapine treatment in the presence of COVID-19 is unknown Objectives Show 2 cases of neutropenia in patients treated with long-term clozapine during COVID-19 infection. Methods Subjects: 48 admitted patients to a long-stay psychiatric unit. COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive nasopharyngeal swab for viral ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2. Hematological controls between March and April 2020. Results 16 patients (33%) treated with clozapine.18 patients (37’5%) had COVID-19 infection, of which 5 (10’4%) were treated with clozapine;2 presented neutropenia. 1- 56-year-old woman diagnosed with schizophrenia on clozapine since 2009. Begins to have a dry cough and fever with positive COVID-19 swab (day 0). Slight leukopenia without neutropenia was observed on day 1. On day 7, neutropenia was observed with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 1100. We decided to suspend clozapine and to initiate daily hematological controls. The ANC on day 8 was 970. Over the next few days the ANC will progressively improve until neutropenia resolved (day 22). 2- 55-year-old woman who required a transfer to a general hospital because of respiratory complications from COVID-19. She presented significant leukopenia (1’01x 10