ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has impacted different socioeconomic aspects of our societies and represents a global health problem. The different rates of infection are heavily influenced by host genetic factors such as the variability in the HLA region. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of specific HLA alleles in the Bulgarian population that contribute to COVID-19 progression. 76 Bulgarian patients (median age 59.4;range 25-84) with COVID-19, separated into 3 groups based on the severity of the infection, were included in the study. All patients were typed at allele level for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1, and -DPB1. Data from a representative Bulgarian population control group of young individuals (n = 540;median age 28,5;range 18-38) with unknown infectious status was used for comparison. Among the patient group, HLA-A*23:01 (OR = 3.16;p = 0.016), and DQB1*05:03 (OR = 3.1;p = 0.0009) showed positive association with moderate course of COVID-19, whereas DRB1*07:01 (OR = 2.54;p = 0.018) was associated with more severe disease. We found that A*01:01 (OR = 1.82;p = 0.018), B*35:03 (OR = 2.22;p = 0.011), B*40:06 (OR = 23.59;p = 0.0001), and DRB1*14:01 (OR = 3.37;p = 0.015) strongly correlate with the disease progression and could be considered as high-risk alleles. Furthermore, A*02:01 (OR = 0.4;p = 0.02), and DQB1*03:01 (OR = 0.47;p = 0.025) were predominantly found in asymptomatic patients and controls and probably exert a protective effect. Population-based and intra-individual variability of the HLA complex could partially explain the different courses of COVID-19. Despite some limitations, our preliminary data shows that some HLA alleles may be associated with a more severe course of the SARS-Cov infection, while others could possibly be considered protective. This work was supported by grant KP06DK1/13, 2021, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT
One of the biggest challenges raised by the global pandemic is the transition from face-to-face learning to digital environment learning. The aim of this survey is to study the impact of distance learning on the application of modern methods of training medical professionals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous online survey was conducted among 392 students from the Medical University of Plovdiv in 2021. It was structured in three panels: organisation of distance learning, assessment of training in a pandemic and personal assessment of the situation. Some of the results of the research related to the application of modern methods for training of medical special-ists to increase the effectiveness of the learning process in a pandemic environment are presented. The most commonly used interactive methods are: presentation – 91.58%;small group work and team work – 90.56%;independent work in 85.96%;simulated situations, trainings, situational tasks, cases, clinical case research – 87.24%;discussions – 50.76%;brainstorming – 17.6%. Almost half of the surveyed students 48.5% would like to study in a hybrid programme, distance – 19.4% and face-to-face – 27.6%. The main weaknesses of the training are putting the student in a passive state in the learning process and insufficient mastering of practical exercises and habits. © 2023, Scibulcom Ltd.. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 peritraumatic distress index (CPDI) self-report questionnaire was designed to measure peritraumatic psychological distress in a pandemic emergency. AIM: The aim of the study was the validation of Bulgarian COVID-19 peritraumatic distress index (CPDI) questionnaire and its application to measure psychological distress level in Bulgarian population. METHOD(S): The study was conducted among 42 adults from February 2022 to March 2022. The average age of respondents participating in the validation of COVID-19 peritraumatic distress index (CPDI) questionnaire is 40.88 +/- 13.309, women being predominant-71.4% (n = 30), as well as individuals with higher education-69% (n = 29). Following the preliminary instruction, all participants filled out the online Bulgarian version of the questionnaire anonymously 2 times within a period of 2 weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Cronbach's alpha, and Corrected Item-Total Correlation. RESULT(S): The CPDI instrument was linguistically validated according to a standard procedure (8) and cross-culturally adapted (9) into Bulgarian in several stages. The overall Cronbach's alpha for the Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) questionnaire is 0.940. Almost all corrected item-total correlations exceeded the accepted cut off of 0.30 indicating each item was related to the overall scale except for Q5 "I feel sympathetic to COVID-19 patients and their families." CONCLUSION(S): The Bulgarian version of the questionnaire reveals good reliability and cross-cultural validity and can be applied widely for measuring the prevalence of psychological suffering and distress in the pandemic emergency. Copyright © 2022 Rumyana Stoyanova, Anna Mihaylova, Petya Kasnakova, Desislava Bakova, Stanislava Harizanova, Zlatina Zheleva, Tanya Deneva, Delyana Davcheva, Elka Toseva.
ABSTRACT
Primary care is the basis of numerous attempts and initiatives applied in health reforms in recent years. One of them is the introduction of e-health, which will not only facilitate the work of the general practitioners (GPs) and increase the quality of the offered health services but also protects the environment because it reduces the amount of used medical supplies that require specialised disposal. The aim of the present study is to examine the attitudes towards the application of e-health among GPs in Bulgaria. 381 GPs participated in our study voluntarily, anonymously and without preselection. Most of the respondents knew what the term "e-health" included. GPs work in conditions of partially introduced e-health. They were interested in its application and were ready to actively participate in its development and final implementation in their practice. Around half of the surveyed GPs feared legal regulation (49.6%), followed by difficulties in using technology (47.5%), as well as lack of technical knowledge (35.4%). Less than 1/3 were afraid of misuse of personal information (28.9%). E-health has significant potential to address many of the challenges facing primary care in today's healthcare environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and implementation of e-health not only in Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT
This article discusses the opportunities of information and communication technologies for providing pharmaceutical care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The global COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a reorientation of the concept of providing health care to large-scale implementation of information technologies to improve the quality of medical and pharmaceutical services for the population. It had a significant impact on pharmacy, which necessitated changes in the management of pharmaceutical care for patients. Rapid and urgent measures were taken by the pharmacists, who found themselves at the forefront. Telepharmacy has proven to be a successful solution in the fight against the virus in the conditions of physical distance. The introduction of modern information and communication technologies worldwide will create significant advantages for more efficient use of resources and management of pharmaceutical care.