The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Maternal and Fetal Wellbeing in New Mexico.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to affect the vasculature, including placental changes. Insults to the placenta, especially in the first and second trimester, can affect placental functionality with a resultant impact on fetal growth and wellbeing. Thus, we explored the relationship between antenatally acquired maternal COVID-19 infection and neonatal birth characteristics. A retrospective chart review was completed using the University of New Mexico electronic medical record system. ICD-10 codes were used to identify individuals that had a positive pregnancy test and positive COVID-19 screening test between 1 March 2020 to 24 March 2021. Chi-square and nonparametric Wilcoxon analyses were used, with p < 0.05 considered significant. A total of 487 dyad charts was analyzed, with 76 (16%) individuals identified as being COVID-19-positive (CovPos) during pregnancy. CovPos mothers were significantly more likely to deliver via a cesarean section compared to CovNeg mothers (33% vs. 20%, p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in gestational age at delivery, with infants born to CovPos individuals born at an earlier gestational age than those born to CovNeg individuals (37.6 vs. 38.5 weeks; p < 0.01). Our findings showed differences in maternal and infant characteristics following COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Additional investigations are required to further delineate these relationships with a focus on potential long-term impacts on the neonate.

Predictive Factors of Positive E-Learning Experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical schools and residencies have utilized electronic learning (e-learning). Factors such as internet access, age, degree of introversion/extroversion, and propensity to adopt new technologies impact attitudes toward e-learning. This study investigates family medicine educators' satisfaction, effectiveness, and feasibility perceptions of e-learning, characterizes demographic factors impacting attitudes, and identifies which aspects of e-learning are important to educators. METHODS: In fall 2020, a cross-sectional survey via the 2020 Council of Academic Family Medicine's (CAFM) Educational Research Alliance (CERA) general membership survey was conducted. Members of CAFM-affiliated associations were invited by email to participate. RESULTS: The response rate for the survey was 20.1% (n=862). Of the respondents, 40.4% (n=311) reported satisfaction with e-learning, 47.8% (n=368) found e-learning feasible, and 24.2% (n=186) reported e-learning met their educational goals. No differences were found in satisfaction, feasibility, or effectiveness scores according to generation, introvert/extrovert status, or technology adopter status. Interactive capabilities were the most important factor for e-learning satisfaction (55.9%) and effectiveness (62.0%). Sufficient time was the most frequently selected factor for ease of adoption. Baby Boomer respondents reported platforms not user-friendly, insufficient prior experience as the greatest obstacle more frequently than other generations, and insufficient time less frequently than other generations. Otherwise, rankings of e-learning factors were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with and perceived feasibility and effectiveness of e-learning varies among family medicine educators. No differences were found in satisfaction, feasibility, or effectiveness scores according to generation, introvert/extrovert status, or technology adopter status. Respondents consistently ranked interactive capabilities most important for e-learning satisfaction and effectiveness. More research is needed to compare student and learner perspectives regarding e-learning.

A Comprehensive COVID-19 Daily News and Medical Literature Briefing to Inform Health Care and Policy in New Mexico: Implementation Study.

BACKGROUND: On March 11, 2020, the New Mexico Governor declared a public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Mexico medical advisory team contacted University of New Mexico (UNM) faculty to form a team to consolidate growing information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its disease to facilitate New Mexico's pandemic management. Thus, faculty, physicians, staff, graduate students, and medical students created the "UNM Global Health COVID-19 Intelligence Briefing." OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we sought to (1) share how to create an informative briefing to guide public policy and medical practice and manage information overload with rapidly evolving scientific evidence; (2) determine the qualitative usefulness of the briefing to its readers; and (3) determine the qualitative effect this project has had on virtual medical education. METHODS: Microsoft Teams was used for manual and automated capture of COVID-19 articles and composition of briefings. Multilevel triaging saved impactful articles to be reviewed, and priority was placed on randomized controlled studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, practice guidelines, and information on health care and policy response to COVID-19. The finalized briefing was disseminated by email, a listserv, and posted on the UNM digital repository. A survey was sent to readers to determine briefing usefulness and whether it led to policy or medical practice changes. Medical students, unable to partake in direct patient care, proposed to the School of Medicine that involvement in the briefing should count as course credit, which was approved. The maintenance of medical student involvement in the briefings as well as this publication was led by medical students. RESULTS: An average of 456 articles were assessed daily. The briefings reached approximately 1000 people by email and listserv directly, with an unknown amount of forwarding. Digital repository tracking showed 5047 downloads across 116 countries as of July 5, 2020. The survey found 108 (95%) of 114 participants gained relevant knowledge, 90 (79%) believed it decreased misinformation, 27 (24%) used the briefing as their primary source of information, and 90 (79%) forwarded it to colleagues. Specific and impactful public policy decisions were informed based on the briefing. Medical students reported that the project allowed them to improve on their scientific literature assessment, stay current on the pandemic, and serve their community. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 briefings succeeded in informing and guiding New Mexico policy and clinical practice. The project received positive feedback from the community and was shown to decrease information burden and misinformation. The virtual platforms allowed for the continuation of medical education. Variability in subject matter expertise was addressed with training, standardized article selection criteria, and collaborative editing led by faculty.