ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the direct medical costs of patients with post COVID-19 condition in a Colombian insurance company with more than 2.5 million affiliates. Method(s): We conducted a bottom-up cost-of-illness study of adults with persistent symptoms after at least three months of hospital discharge due to COVID-19. We surveyed patients that were hospitalized between March 2020 and August 2021. We asked about healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), which included laboratories and images, medications, consults, rehospitalizations, and others, associated with post COVID-19 condition. The answers were verified using the company's outpatient and inpatient service authorization records. Costs were estimated from the third payer perspective and expressed in American dollars using an exchange rate of 1USD$=3,743COP. Result(s): We included 202 participants, 51.5% were male, mean age of 55.6 years old, 49% had a comorbidity (41.9% hypertension), and 46 patients (22.8%) required an intensive care unit. A total of 159 (78.7%) patients reported at least one symptom after discharge. Of these, 132 (65.3%) persisted with at least one symptom during the telephone survey. Seventy-five (47.2%) of the 159 patients with persistent symptoms reported HCRU. Of these, 93.3% consulted a physician (mean consultations: 2.1 SD 1.1;mean consultations with specialists: 2.4 SD 2.0), and 9.3% were re-hospitalized. The average direct medical costs of post COVID-19 condition were US$824 (95%CI 195-1,454). Costs in outpatient were US$373 (95%CI 158-588), and in inpatient, US$3,285 (95%CI -167-6,738). Conclusion(s): It is crucial to follow up and identify patients discharged from the hospital who persist with symptoms after three months since we observed a greater HCRU, including prolonged recovery therapiesCopyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Online learning keeps on growing and being explored during this pandemic. Most of the tertiary institutions here in the Philippines have shifted from face-to-face to online instructions in all courses including physics subjects. The conduct of physics classes through virtual classrooms has its advantages and presents some challenges that are why it is important to understand the perspective and experiences of students. This study aimed to describe the experiences of students in learning physics in a virtual classroom, specifically their experiences in preparation, learning management, opportunities, and challenges they have encountered. There were four themes that emerged in this study: Technological Preparations, Self-Preparations, Challenges in Online Learning, and Leaning Management and Opportunities. It was realized in this study that students were prepared to take online classes both in terms of their technological and personal aspect. Despite their preparations, they encountered challenges such as network issues, time constraints, and distractions in their learning environment at home. However, students were optimistic, so, they saw opportunities in these challenges to improve their technological skills, time management, and maximized online resources for better understanding of physics concepts. It is recommended for future research to explore the experiences of teachers in teaching online physics classes. © 2021 International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE). All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The study aim was to detect the level of willingness to accept vaccination against COVID-19. Methods A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried out. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes;3,344 (28.5%) referred to a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive, giving an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95% CI: 491-778). Regarding attitude to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or were neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P < .05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and this also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P < .05. Conclusion The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that would allow control of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Objetivo Colombia diseñó y adoptó un plan de vacunación contra la COVID-19. El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la disposición para aceptar la vacunación contra esa enfermedad de personas de 80 y más años. Métodos Se realizó una encuesta telefónica a 11.721 personas de 80 y más años, afiliadas a una aseguradora de salud, en la que se indagó sobre la intención a recibir la vacuna. Los respondientes fueron los afiliados o sus familiares o cuidadores. Resultados El promedio de edad fue 85,0 años (SD: 4,5), sin diferencias entre sexos;3.344 participantes (28,5%) refirieron el antecedente de haberse realizado una prueba diagnóstica previa de COVID-19 y 73 resultaron positivos. La incidencia acumulada de infección por SARS-CoV-2 desde marzo de 2020 fue de 622,8 por 100.000 personas (IC95%: 491-778 por 100.000). Respecto a la actitud hacia la vacunación contra la COVID-19, uno de cada 4 respondientes se abstuvo de opinar o se manifestó neutro. Cuando el respondiente era un familiar, la aceptación de la vacuna era del 60,4% (IC95%: 59,5-61,3) con diferencias por sexo: entre los hombres era del 62,2% (IC95%: 60,8-63,6) y en mujeres del 59,2 (IC95%: 58,0-60,3), con p<0,05. Cuando el respondiente fue el potencial receptor de la vacuna, la aceptación de la vacuna fue del 61,7% (IC95%: 59,4-64,0) y también difería por sexos: 70,2% en hombres (IC95%: 66,9-73,5) y 55,1% en mujeres (IC95%: 52,0-58,3), con p<0,05. Conclusión La relativamente baja aceptación de la vacunación contra la COVID-19 en Colombia plantea retos importantes para lograr el control de la pandemia. Objective Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The study aim was to detect the level of willingness to accept vaccination against COVID-19. Methods A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried out. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes;3,344 (28.5%) referred to a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive, giving an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95% CI: 491-778). Regarding attitude to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or were neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P<.05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and this also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P<.05. Conclusion The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that would allow control of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The aim study was to know the willingness to accept the vaccination against COVID-19. Methods: A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results: The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes; 3,344 (28.5%) referred a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive for an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95%CI: 491-778). Regarding the attitude with the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or was neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women of 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P < 0.05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P < 0.05. Conclusion: The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that allows control of the pandemic.