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Background and aim: The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has made a global public health disaster. Little information is known about how to combat this infection. Therefore, preventive health measures that can reduce the severity and progression of this disease are needed. Some dietary supplements and herbal products have antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it may be used to enhance immunity and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. In this study, we reviewed selected supplements that may play a key role in the prevention and management of COVID-19 (e.g. vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc), and that was to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes toward them by the adult population in Jordan. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study design, in which an online questionnaire was conducted and distributed on different social media websites. People who are above 18 years old were included in this study. Demographic, Attitudes, and knowledge data were collected and then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 23). Results: In this study, (62.8%) of participants became more concerned with their health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (49.2%) of them used dietary and herbal supplements to protect themselves from the coronavirus. In addition, (18.5%) of participants reported that they had used these supplements for a while and then stopped. Conclusion: The findings of our study provided evidence that the general population in Jordan has a reasonable level of knowledge and acceptance of dietary and herbal supplements used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some instructors to delve more deeply into the use of Web 2.0-based teaching tools and others to start using them for the first time. This article presents the results of a survey in which 1,344 Spanish university professors and 3,930 Italian professors participated, from all fields of knowledge. The objective is to assess whether university professors perceive that the use of web 2.0 tools will increase in the coming years and thus alter the way they teach after the face-to-face classroom teaching system has been restored. The results show that the perception of change is fairly high and this perception depends mainly on psychographic characteristics, such as attitude, perceived usefulness, social norms, and affective commitment to teaching. Similarities and differences between the two samples of university professors are discussed.
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During the global covid-19 pandemic, most of higher education institutions (heis) were forced to migrate to an e-learning methodology in order to continue their academic activities. At the same time, the student complaint behavior (scb) increased due to new experiences of dissatisfaction or non-satisfaction. In this context, and seeking to ensure student satisfaction, heis have managed this behavior in the same form that companies do with their customers. Therefore, we present a critical analysis on the generic and standardized approach in the literature and practice to understanding and managing scb in the same way as customer complaint behavior (ccb) is man-aged. A review of the literature on the theories and studies related to scb and ccb and the student/ customer treatment debate are presented, highlighting the complexity of higher education (he) service, which is considered a pillar of development due to its social value. The authors argue the suitable application of the Service-Dominant Logic (sdl), specifically its value co-creation premise, as well as the principles of the Service Ecosystem theory to differentiate scb from ccb. This may allow heis to continue to ensure student satisfaction through the management of their complaints without compromising educational quality and service sustainability. The reflection hereby presented is limited to the Latin America region educational contexts and their structures. © 2023, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.
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HEMOCOVID-19 is a multi-center trial aiming to assess the microvascular and endothelial health of severe COVID-19 patients in the intensive care using near-infrared spectroscopy. Here, we present the preliminary results, showing that peripheral microcirculatory alterations are associated with the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome. © 2022 The Author(s).
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Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic transformed cancer care, with oncologists trying to balance the benefits of SACT against the risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality. Our study compares the demographic and treatment characteristics of BC patients treated at Guy’s Cancer Centre during the first wave of the pandemic with the same period in 2019. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all BC patients who received SACT from 1 March 2020 until 31 May 2020 and compared the demographic (age, ethnicity, socioeconomic and performance status), cancer (stage) and SACT characteristics (type, intent and line of treatment) with those from the same period in 2019. Results: In 2020, 571 BC patients received SACT during the study period, compared with 595 in 2019. Demographic characteristics were equally balanced between both years. The cancer stage, type of treatment and treatment paradigm were also similar (stage I–III: 49.8% versus 50.9%;chemotherapy: 29.8% versus 30.8%;palliative treatment: 49.9% versus 46.6%, in 2020 and 2019, respectively). However, a larger proportion of patients received first-line palliative treatment in 2020 compared with 2019 (38.6% versus 14.8%). The overall mortality rate was 3.15% in 2020 versus 4.36% in 2019. 11 BC patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020. From these patients, 10 were receiving chemotherapy and 7 were treated with palliative intent. 9 patients developed severe pneumonia and there was 1 COVID-19-related death. Conclusion: Our study shows that there were no significant differences in patient characteristics during the first wave of the pandemic, compared with a similar period in 2019, although numerically fewer patients were treated in 2020 and there was a focus on first-line palliative treatment, rather than subsequent lines. Moreover, it demonstrated that SACT during the pandemic was relatively safe. However, this study might not reflect the decrease in the number of new referrals owing to the pandemic.
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We present the HEMOCOVID-19 study spanning four countries and eight hospitals where near-infrared spectroscopy is utilized to evaluate microvascular and endothelial health of severe COVID-19 patients at the intensive care. © 2021 SPIE. All rights reserved.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease threatening the world with a rapid increase in cases and deaths since it was first identified in December 2019. Adequate knowledge, practice, and attitudes (KPA) toward COVID-19 among physicians at the frontline defense against the COVID-19 pandemic may enhance their ability to avoid the risk of self-infection, decrease mortality, and provide adequate medical care service in this pandemic. This study aimed to assess KPA toward COVID-19 among physicians in Jordan and Palestine. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using an online survey conducted from 10 April to 26 April 2020 among Jordan and Palestine physicians. Invitations were sent to physician groups on Facebook and WhatsApp. This survey contains 36-items, divided into four main sections to assess the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practice, and attitude about COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 454 physicians participated in this study. The mean score of basic knowledge was 4.4 ± 0.8 (range 2-4). There were significant differences between basic knowledge mean scores among physicians in different professional degrees and physicians in various health sectors (P=0.0315, P=0.0137, respectively). The mean scores of self-protection measures, were 6.1 ± 1.1 (range 3-7) and measures if physician self-suspected of COVID-19 were 9.9± 1.1 (range 5-11). The mean score of attitudes toward COVID-19 was 41.5 ± 3.3 (range 21-45) and significantly related to the age and different experience years (P=0.0022, P=0.0077, respectively). CONCLUSION: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, physicians from Jordan and Palestine showed adequate KPA toward COVID-19. There was a significant difference in knowledge level and attitude between physicians. Policymakers and physicians should keep continuous educational activities, training, and follow-up updates during this pandemic.
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Objectives: Analyze the outcomes of our series of patients with COVID-19 supported with ECMO during pandemic and to identify the variables associated with outcomes. Methods: Prospective observational study including all the COVID-19 patients with ECMO support in the ICU of the VHUH from 15 March to 30 July. ECMO was considered if PaO2/FIO2 <80 mmHg, refractory to prone position, and/or PaCO2 >80 mmHg and pH <7.25 for >6h. Continuous variables expressed as median (ICR) and categorical variables as number (percentage). Differences in variables were analyzed using Chi Square test or T-test, as appropriate. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of ICU mortality. Results: Twenty-four patients [55 (46-57) years, 58% male, BMI 32.1 (27-35)] with a PaO2/FIO2 of 66 (60-71) mmHg received ECMO support, 23 (96%) venovenous. Mechanical ventilation (MV) time prior to cannulation ranged from 1 to 17 days. Fifteen (63%) patients suffered hemorrhagic complications and 12 (48%) thrombotic events. These complications were not associated with a significant increase of mortality (P=1.0 and P=0.6, respectively). Eighteen (75%) patients could be decannulated and 16 (67%) were discharged alive from the ICU. Longer time on MV before cannulation was associated with a higher risk for ICU death (OR 1.31 [ICR 1.11-1.67];p=0.02). We found an association between age and mortality, but it did not reach significance (OR 1.05 [ICR 1.0-1.25];p= 0.36). Conclusions: ECMO may be useful in those COVID-19 patients with refractory hypoxemia. Time on MV prior to cannulation should be considered when indicating the technique.