ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore vaccine acceptance and recommendation behaviors among clinical dental students and their faculty who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. The study was conducted among previously infected dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) in an academic setting to evaluate their willingness to accept vaccines and recommend them to family and patients. Logistic regression was conducted to determine significant variables associated with vaccine attitudes. Among 316 personnel 62 indicated previous infection (19.6%). Personnel who were willing to take the vaccine, or recommend it to patients, or to family were: 67.7%, 87.1%, and 85.5% respectively. Vaccine acceptance was significantly associated with vaccine awareness and number of long-term COVID-19 complications (P=.003,.033 respectively). Vaccine recommendation to family, and patients was significantly associated with vaccine awareness only (P=.005,.006 respectively). It is concluded that some previously infected academic dental personnel are unwilling to accept COVID-19 vaccines or recommend them to others. This was mainly due to lack of vaccine awareness. Efforts directed at increasing COVID-19 vaccine awareness are warranted by dental schools in collaboration with Ministry of Health authorities. It is also necessary to closely monitor, and provide support to personnel affected by long COVID. © 2022,Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
The demographics in the Arab world are expected to go through a change in the coming decades. It is projected that the older population in Qatar will increase. Access to and use of information communication technology (ICT) by older persons and their caregivers has rarely been discussed. This study exposes the perspectives of the policy-level stakeholders and non-profit organizations working with older persons regarding the access and use of ICT. Through focus groups, the study investigates existing services and identifies the challenges encountered within the ICT Ecosystem. The study also attempts to explore their personal perspectives toward the access and use of older persons and their caregivers to ICT Thematic analysis was employed to capture the main themes emerging from exchanges with the stakeholders. Five themes emerged to stress the importance of existing efforts, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the extent of technology acceptance. The findings revealed the extent of partnership between the different institutes when providing the different services, conducting raising awareness activities, and training campaigns, and supporting the technology acceptance. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for stakeholders on ways to address the digital gap. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Since the declaration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), it has been a challenge to the whole medical community. Researchers and clinicians have been trying to explain and explore its mechanism and pathophysiology to get a better understanding of this disease, as it has exhausted the healthcare resources and has impacted human life in general. Many tests have been developed including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the virus and rapid diagnostic testing in patients based on IgM/IgG serology. But owing to variable sensitivity and specificity of these tests, it has created a challenging situation to proceed with the further management plan. We are reporting a case series where we experienced the dilemma of diagnosing COVID-9 disease in our patients and further plan of care.