COVID-19 in babies: Knowledge for neonatal care.

Infection is a leading cause of death worldwide in babies under one month of age who are more susceptible to sepsis due to immature host defence mechanisms. Usually, babies may become acutely unwell from infective pathogens due to specific differences in their respiratory and immune systems. However, with the COVID-19 virus, the focus of this paper, it appears that the neonatal population is not significantly affected in the same way as adults. That said, knowledge about this novel virus is rapidly emerging. Therefore, it is vital that neonatal nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals are adequately informed and educated about the potential impact on neonatal practice. This review paper draws upon key findings and themes from a selection of recent literature to provide an overview of current knowledge on COVID-19 and the implications for care within the neonatal field. The discussion focuses on the nature of COVID-19, its pathophysiology and transmission relevant to maternal and neonatal care. This is followed by implications for practice; namely, maternal issues, the importance of human breast milk, neonatal care relating to parenting and specific management before a final review of the current World Health Organization guidance.

Quality Measure Concepts for Inpatient Rehabilitation That Are Best Understood From the Patient's Perspective.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify inpatient rehabilitation quality-of-care concepts that are best understood from the patient perspective. DESIGN: We conducted 12 focus groups with 95 former patients, caregivers, and rehabilitation clinicians and asked them to describe high-quality inpatient rehabilitation care. METHODS: We independently reviewed the focus group transcripts and then used an iterative process to identify the quality measure concepts identified by participants. RESULTS: Based on participants' comments, we identified 18 quality measure concepts: respect and dignity, clinician communication with patient, clinician communication with family, organizational culture, clinician engagement with patient, clinician engagement with family, rehabilitation goals, staff expertise, responsiveness, patient safety, physical environment, care coordination, discharge planning, patient and family education, peer support, symptom management (pain, anxiety, fatigue, sadness), sleep, and functioning. CLINICAL RELEVANCE TO THE PRACTICE OF REHABILITATION NURSING: Rehabilitation nurses should be aware of the quality-of-care issues that are important to patients and their caregivers. CONCLUSION: Important patient-reported domains of quality of care include interpersonal relationships, patient and family engagement, care planning and delivery, access to support, and quality of life.

The implications of face mask wearing for babies and families during the COVID-19 pandemic: A discussion

COVID-19 has changed the way that newborn babies are cared for within the neonatal setting, and infants in the first year of their lives, due to the introduction of social distancing and the wearing of face masks to limit the spread of the infection. Potential implications of these practices exist, related to the normal development of attachment, face processing and recognition by the infant, and connections with others. This paper discusses the importance of face-to-face interactions in relation to these within the context of developmental theory. Mask wearing can potentially impact relational communication, requiring us to change our current ways of working. The possible implications of decreasing face-to-face interactions for the infant and relational communication are discussed, along with key recommendations for both parents and health professionals to mitigate the potential long-term effects on development related to human connection and attachment.

A framework for navigating post-doctoral career opportunities for PK-12 educators post-COVID-19 pandemic

The field of education is constantly changing, and with the current COVID-19 pandemic, it will undoubtedly change the way education systems operate in the future. This chapter covers several key topics related to navigating post-doctoral career opportunities for PK-12 educators. Educators are in a unique position to contribute to research in the field in which they have a plethora of experiences. With a major focus on student outcomes, there is a critical need to understand factors that directly impact learning such as parent involvement, socio-economic status, technology, and student behavior. Using an ethnographic approach, the authors provide insight into challenges post-doctoral professionals may face in attempts to enhance their professional identity. These narrative accounts shed light on not only the role of mentors but the desire to contribute to the body of research through the development of research agendas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Public opinion on sharing data from health services for clinical and research purposes without explicit consent: an anonymous online survey in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: UK National Health Service/Health and Social Care (NHS/HSC) data are variably shared between healthcare organisations for direct care, and increasingly de-identified for research. Few large-scale studies have examined public opinion on sharing, including of mental health (MH) versus physical health (PH) data. We measured data sharing preferences. DESIGN/SETTING/INTERVENTIONS/OUTCOMES: Pre-registered anonymous online survey, measuring expressed preferences, recruiting February to September 2020. Participants were randomised to one of three framing statements regarding MH versus PH data. PARTICIPANTS: Open to all UK residents. Participants numbered 29 275; 40% had experienced an MH condition. RESULTS: Most (76%) supported identifiable data sharing for direct clinical care without explicit consent, but 20% opposed this. Preference for clinical/identifiable sharing decreased with geographical distance and was slightly less for MH than PH data, with small framing effects. Preference for research/de-identified data sharing without explicit consent showed the same small PH/MH and framing effects, plus greater preference for sharing structured data than de-identified free text. There was net support for research sharing to the NHS, academic institutions, and national research charities, net ambivalence about sharing to profit-making companies researching treatments, and net opposition to sharing to other companies (similar to sharing publicly). De-identified linkage to non-health data was generally supported, except to data held by private companies. We report demographic influences on preference. A majority (89%) supported a single NHS mechanism to choose uses of their data. Support for data sharing increased during COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Support for healthcare data sharing for direct care without explicit consent is broad but not universal. There is net support for the sharing of de-identified data for research to the NHS, academia, and the charitable sector, but not the commercial sector. A single national NHS-hosted system for patients to control the use of their NHS data for clinical purposes and for research would have broad support. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN37444142.

If the public can vaccinate, why not students? Review of a student nurse placement in a mass vaccination centre.

Delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine has been made possible in part through the use of mass vaccination centres (MVCs). The primary legal framework underpinning the MVC programme is a national protocol enabling registered and non-registered healthcare workers to contribute to the safe and effective administration of the vaccine. The national protocol provided a vehicle for an innovative supervised student nurse placement within an MVC in south Wales. This placement, for undergraduate pre-registration student nurses, formed part of a service improvement project. Through student feedback prior to, and following, the short placement, the learning was unequivocal in terms of knowledge and skills acquisition related to safe and effective vaccine administration, with students providing clear feedback on the positive nature of the placement experience. A placement within an MVC offers a rich educational experience for student nurses, which as yet appears to be underutilised across the UK.

Difficulty and help with activities of daily living among older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults who live alone and have difficulties in activities of daily living (ADLs) may have been more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about pandemic-related changes in ADL assistance (such as home care, domiciliary care) and its international variation. We examined international patterns and changes in provision of ADL assistance, and related these to country-level measures including national income and health service expenditure. METHODS: We analysed data covering 29 countries from three longitudinal cohort studies (Health and Retirement Study, English Longitudinal Study of Aging, and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe). Eligible people were aged ≥50 years and living alone. Outcomes included ADL difficulty status (assessed via six basic ADLs and five instrumental ADLs) and receipt of ADL assistance. Wealth-related inequality and need-related inequity in ADL assistance were measured using Erreygers' corrected concentration index (ECI). Correlations were estimated between prevalence/inequality/inequity in ADL assistance and national health-related indicators. We hypothesized these measures would be associated with health system factors such as affordability and availability of ADL assistance, as well as active ageing awareness. RESULTS: During COVID-19, 18.4% of older adults living alone reported ADL difficulties (ranging from 8.8% in Switzerland to 29.2% in the USA) and 56.8% of those reporting difficulties received ADL assistance (ranging from 38.7% in the UK to 79.8% in Lithuania). Females were more likely to receive ADL assistance than males in 16/29 countries; the sex gap increased further during the pandemic. Wealth-related ECIs indicated socioeconomic equality in ADL assistance within 24/39 countries before the pandemic, and significant favouring of the less wealthy in 18/29 countries during the pandemic. Needs-related ECIs indicated less equity in assistance with ADLs during the pandemic than before. Our hypotheses on the association between ADL provision measures and health system factors were confirmed before COVID-19, but unexpectedly disconfirmed during COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an unequal (and in some countries, partly needs-mismatched) response from countries to older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings might inform future research about, and policies for, older adults living alone, particularly regarding social protection responses during crises.

Breastfeeding in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A discussion paper.

Breastfeeding offers one of the most fundamental global health benefits for babies. Breastmilk is lifesaving, providing not only nutrition but immunologic benefits and as such is strongly supported by the World Health Organization and leading healthcare associations worldwide. When the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, the impact of the restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease created challenges and questions about provision of safe, quality care, including breastfeeding practices, in a new 'normal' environment. Mothers were temporarily separated from their babies where infection was present or suspected, parents were prevented from being present on neonatal units and vital breastfeeding support was prevented. This discussion paper provides an overview of essential areas of knowledge related to practice for neonatal nurses and midwives who care for breastfeeding mothers and babies, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest global guidance. Three areas will be discussed; the protective benefits of breastfeeding, keeping breastfeeding mothers and babies together and supporting mothers to breastfeed their babies. Finally, care recommendations are presented to serve as a summary of key points for application to practice for neonatal nurses and midwives.

The Impact of the Anti-Vaccination Movement and Vaccine Hesitancy on the Health of the Child

Few topics in medicine have been studied more thoroughly than vaccines. The science is clear on the public and global health benefits of vaccinations;however, the topic still results in vigorous discussion about their efficacy, safety, and possible adverse effects. Anti-vaccination groups and conspiracy theorists have found a place in the online world and on social media sites to spread misinformation. Parents want the best for their children, but when they are influenced by the anti-vaccination movement, the health of their children when not vaccinated can be compromised. They also present a risk to the health of others in the community. Health professionals, including nurses, have a responsibility to educate themselves and others about the science of vaccination, and take active steps to dispel misinformation.

Education response to COVID 19 pandemic, a special issue proposed by UNICEF: Editorial review.

This editorial paper presents 11 papers related to the special issue proposed by UNICEF on the Education Response to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic provoked an education emergency of unprecedented scale. At its onset in February 2020, school closures were announced in the worst-hit countries. At the peak of the crisis, 90 per cent of learners worldwide had had their education disrupted. Some learners, especially those from the most marginalised population groups, were put at risk of permanent dropout, provoking long-term and significant negative effects on children's life-long wellbeing and the socio-economic development of their communities and countries. This special issue, which received contributions from UNICEF staff and various researchers, focuses on the impact of school closures, the effectiveness of remote learning solutions, equity implications, the mitigation of learning loss and notions around re-opening better. Different research perspectives and evidence is gathered to help strengthen policy considerations and future planning. The conclusion emphasizes building on the innovative solutions generated by the response to the crisis to make education systems more resilient, whilst also reinforcing the focus on equity and inclusion so that pre-existing disparities are not exacerbated in the future.

Developing Nursing Knowledge on COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Review

Aim. To review and discuss recent literature on the specific nature of COVID-19 in children and adolescents compared to the adult population. Background. The COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to the health and well-being of all people around the world. A significant proportion of adults require hospitalization, some developing severe life-threatening complications. However, although children can carry and transmit the virus, they typically do not develop severe disease, and the incidence is lower compared to adults. Design. An integrative literature review, prepared using the PRISMA-ScR reporting checklist. Methods. Using Arksey and O'Malley's framework, relevant databases were searched for articles published in English since the pandemic onset in March 2020 through August 2020. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and selected articles were thematically analyzed. Results. Four themes were identified and discussed relating to the potential care implications for children and adolescents: 1) the differing immune system in children, 2) the presentation of COVID-19 in children and adolescents, 3) vascular disease as a response to COVID-19, and 4) global policy changes relevant to COVID-19 in children and adolescents. Conclusion. The incidence, severity, and presentation of COVID-19 in young children differs to that of adults. Less is known about the disease pattern in adolescence. A new condition named as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has emerged, about which we are still learning globally. Although perhaps not affected severely, children may still be vulnerable to the secondary consequences of policy changes (e.g., school closures, social distancing). Relevance to clinical practice. It is vital to address the significant global issues and contribute a pediatric and adolescent nursing perspective to the rapidly emerging body of evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge and understanding of the disease impact in children and adolescents are essential to offering optimum support and care to this patient group.

Corrigendum: Creativity, Resilience and Resistance: Black Birthworkers' Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2021.636029.].