Continuing work in times of COVID-19: Protection measures in the workplace for health professionals.

BACKGROUND: The arrival of COVID-19 in Brazil and the accelerated process of dissemination/contamination added to the evolution of the clinical picture of the disease, and the saturation of the capacity of health services, creating new challenges for researchers, governments, and professionals involved in the occupational health area. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to systematize and synthesize the proposals adopted by the legislation and by the Brazilian State, with a focus on worker protection and guaranteeing a safe work environment for the performance of their professional activities. METHODS: This is qualitative bibliographical research of the narrative literature review type, developed from October 2020 to June 2021 in legislation databases using the strategy: "COVID-19" AND "coronavirus/coronavirus" AND "worker health" on official Brazilian government websites. RESULTS: The lack of an emergency plan for efficient actions to respond to the epidemic caused and is still causing the daily deaths of workers. CONCLUSION: There is a need to guarantee the effectiveness of national and international policies and norms that have been neglected by the Brazilian government.

Incident notification and patient safety in times of a pandemic

Objective: To review notification of incidents that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory descriptive quantitative study. A total of 1,466 notifications to risk management of a private hospital were analyzed from September 2020 to September 2021. Descriptive statistical analysis was used, applying Pearson's chi-square test or the likelihood ratio test. The margin of error used was 5%. Results: Communication failure (358 -24.5%), probe and catheter use failure (232 -15.9%) and article and equipment use failure (132 -9.1%) were identified as prevalent incidents. The notifiable circumstance totaled 55.9% of reports, and, of these, 33.4% were communication failure. Adverse events were 416 (28.6%), and fall was related to mild damage (43.9%), health care-associated infections, to moderate harm (31%), and medication use failure (50%), to severe harm and death. Conclusion: Communication failure was the most reported risk circumstance, followed by medication use failure as an adverse event with severe harm. The nursing unit showed the possibility of a greater number of adverse events, while in Intensive Care Units, the degree of harm from adverse events was higher.

Social marketing in front of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Notorious is that, over just over 100 years, marketing has undergone changes, especially in the conceptual area, causing confusion in the correct use of expressions and use of these expressions. Knowing how to differentiate societal marketing from social marketing it is important for them to be used in order to achieve the objectives that are conceptually proposed to them. Societal marketing focuses on accepting a product, while social marketing is focused on a cause that can produce a change in social behavior. Given the problem of the pandemic that has plagued the world since December 2019, the importance of social marketing in the attempt to cause changes in the behavior of citizens. This theoretical essay aims to show the importance of social marketing in the face of the PANDEMIC of COVID-19. It also aims to clearly conceptualize societal marketing and social marketing, as well as to show the social problem caused by the new corocavirus.

N95 masks: skin changes in health professionals in northern Brazil / Máscaras N95: alterações de pele em profissionais de saúde do norte brasileiro / Mascarillas N95: alteraciones en la piel de profesionales de salud en el norte de Brasil

Resumo Objetivo Identificar os fatores associados ao uso de máscara N95 relacionados a alterações de pele entre profissionais de saúde do Norte do Brasil durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico realizado na região Norte do Brasil no período de outubro a dezembro de 2020, com 1.684 profissionais de saúde que atuaram na assistência à saúde durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Os participantes foram convidados via mídias sociais e as informações coletadas eletronicamente foram armazenadas na plataforma Survey Monkey. Foi usada estatística descritiva para caracterização da amostra, testes de associação (Qui-quadrado), com nível de significância estatística em p < 0,05. Os fatores associados ao uso de máscara N95 relacionados a alterações de pele foram determinados por Regressão Logística Binária, nível de significância de 5% (α = 0,05). Resultados Profissionais de saúde do sexo masculino apresentaram 1,708 mais chances de ter alterações de pele. Outros fatores como, o período de troca de máscara N95, ter atuado em hospital de campanha para COVID-19, terapia intensiva, urgência e emergência e ter recebido alguma capacitação ou curso sobre o COVID-19 foram considerados protetores ao desenvolvimento de alterações de pele, enquanto os principais motivos de troca de máscara N95 foram a umidade, perda de vedação, contaminação, danificação (rasgo). Conclusão Concluiu-se que profissionais de saúde do sexo masculino apresentaram mais chances de ter alterações de pele relacionadas ao uso de máscaras N95. Destacaram-se os fatores protetores e torna-se relevante a realização de estudos de intervenção a fim explorar medidas para prevenção destes tipos de lesões.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar los factores asociados al uso de la mascarilla N95 relacionados con las alteraciones en la piel entre profesionales de salud del norte de Brasil durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos Estudio multicéntrico realizado en la región Norte de Brasil, en el período de octubre a diciembre de 2020, con 1.684 profesionales de salud que actuaron en la asistencia a la salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Se convocó a los participantes a través de las redes sociales y la información recopilada electrónicamente fue guardada en la plataforma Survey Monkey. Se utilizó la estadística descriptiva para la caracterización de la muestra, pruebas de asociación (Ji-cuadrado), con un nivel de significación estadística de p < 0,05. Los factores asociados al uso de la mascarilla N95 relacionados con alteraciones en la piel fueron determinados por regresión logística binaria, nivel de significación del 5 % (α = 0,05). Resultados Profesionales de salud de sexo masculino tuvieron 1,708 más posibilidades de presentar alteraciones en la piel. Otros factores como el intervalo de tiempo entre los cambios de mascarillas N95, haber trabajado en hospitales de campaña para COVID-19, cuidados intensivos, urgencias y emergencias y haber realizado alguna capacitación o curso sobre COVID-19 fueron considerados protectores del surgimiento de alteraciones en la piel, mientras que los principales motivos para el cambio de la mascarilla N95 fueron la humedad, la pérdida del sellado, la contaminación y daños (rotura). Conclusión Se concluye que los profesionales de la salud de sexo masculino presentaron más probabilidades de tener alteraciones en la piel relacionadas con el uso de mascarillas N95. Se destacaron los factores protectores y resulta importante la realización de estudios experimentales con la finalidad de explorar medidas para la prevención de este tipo de lesiones.

Abstract Objective To identify the factors associated with N95 mask use related to skin changes among health professionals in northern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a multicenter study carried out in northern Brazil, from October to December 2020, with 1,684 health professionals who worked in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited via social media and the information collected electronically was stored on the Survey Monkey platform. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, association tests (chi-square), with statistical significance level at p < 0.05. Factors associated with N95 mask ruse elated to skin changes were determined by Binary Logistic Regression, significance level of 5% (α = 0.05). Results Male health professionals were 1.708 more likely to have skin changes. Other factors such as the N95 mask change period, having worked in a COVID-19 field hospital, intensive care, urgency and emergency and having received some training or course on COVID-19 were considered protective against the development of skin changes, while the main reasons for changing the N95 mask were humidity, loss of seal, contamination, damage (tear). Conclusion We concluded that male health professionals were more likely to have skin changes related to N95 mask use. The protective factors were highlighted and it is relevant to carry out intervention studies in order to explore measures to prevent these types of injuries.

[COVID-19 emergency operations center: experience of the Rio de Janeiro municipality, BrazilCentro de operaciones de emergencia en respuesta a la COVID-19: la experiencia del municipio de Rio de Janeiro]. / Centro de operações de emergência na COVID-19: a experiência do município do Rio de Janeiro.

The present report describes the implementation of an emergency operations center to coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following the public health emergency management framework proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), this temporary center (COE COVID-19 RIO) started operating in January 2021. The report is organized along five themes: legal framework; structure, planning, and procedures; institutional articulation; health information for decision-making; and risk communication. Major advances obtained with the initiative include improvements in governance for the management of COVID-19, increase in the synergy among sectors and institutions, improved information sharing in relation to COVID-19 prevention and control measures, innovation in epidemiologic analyses, and gains in transparency and decision-making opportunities. In conclusion, even if conceived at an advanced stage of the pandemic in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the COE COVID-19 RIO has played a relevant role in shaping the city's responses to the pandemic. Also, despite its temporary character, the experience will leave a lasting legacy for the management of future public health emergencies in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

En el presente artículo se describe la experiencia al establecerse un centro de operaciones de emergencia (COE) para coordinar la respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19 en el municipio de Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). Siguiendo el modelo de gestión de emergencias de salud pública promovido por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), este centro temporal se activó en enero del 2021. El informe se estructuró con base en cinco ejes temáticos: marco legal; estructura, planes y procedimientos; articulaciones institucionales; información en materia de salud para sustentar las decisiones; y comunicación sobre riesgos. Entre los principales avances relacionados con esta iniciativa cabe destacar los adelantos en cuanto a la gobernanza para organizar la forma de enfrentar la COVID-19, el aumento de la sinergia entre los sectores y las instituciones correspondientes, un mayor intercambio de información sobre las medidas de prevención y control de la enfermedad, innovación en los análisis epidemiológicos, mayor transparencia en la toma de decisiones y decisiones tomadas de manera más oportuna. Se llegó a la conclusión de que este COE, a pesar de que había sido establecido en una fase avanzada de la pandemia en la ciudad, tuvo un papel importante en la estructuración de la respuesta. Sin embargo, a pesar de su carácter temporal, la experiencia demostró ser un importante legado para enfrentar futuras emergencias de salud pública en el municipio de Rio de Janeiro.

Performance of health plan operators: before and during the pandemic

Objective: To analyze the economic-financial and operational performance of Health Plan Operators (HPO), before (3Q2018-4Q2019) and during the pandemic (1Q2020-2Q2021) under the theory of institutional isomorphism. Method: This is descriptive documentary research that uses statistical techniques to compare medians (Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis) and correlation (Spearman) between performance and socioeconomic indicators, considering the five Health Plan Operators (HPO) with the largest number of beneficiaries. Results: A statistically significant reduction was observed, after the beginning of the pandemic, for the indicators of profitability, expenses, cost variation, and financial result. On the other hand, there was a growth in current liquidity and an increase in the mean receipt timeframe of payments (CRPM) and event payment (PMPE). The performance comparison shows that in the pandemic, profitability and PMPE were no longer significantly different. As for the association between the variables, the unemployment rate shows the highest number of relationships with the performance indices. Theoretical/methodological contributions: Highlights the performance of the five largest OPS, considering the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic period, considering that these companies can be directly affected by the potential increase in demand for health care by their beneficiaries. By the theoretical prism of institutional isomorphism, these companies are references for the sector.

Evaluation of the risks associated with the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during a professional football club's training in Brazil

COVID-19 is an infectious disease with respiratory transmission caused by the new coronavirus. Due to the high viral transmissibility, sports activities were severely impacted all over the world and in Brazil football was paralyzed for about four months. The objective of this study was to identify the activities with the highest risk of Covid-19 transmission in a professional soccer club in Rio de Janeiro based on a cross-sectional study with a semi-quantitative emphasis. The results showed that physical training showed a greater number of touches (105) with a high prevalence of hand on the ball (94%). The antibody search found that 24,2% tested positive for IgG during the study. During the training phase, no cases of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between players and staff were identified. It is believed that biosafety measures and the individual and collective commitment of everyone to social isolation and hygiene measures are an important strategy for the viability of sports activities.

Dynamics and Heterogeneity of the Lung Immunopathology in Severe COVID-19

Background: The key impact of SARS-CoV-2 is its ability to cause a life-threatening infection in the lung. Aim(s): Using spatially resolved multiplex imaging the present study decodes the immunopathological complexity of severe COVID-19. Method(s): Autopsy lung tissue from 18 COVID-19 patients was used to map immune and structural cells in acute/exudative, intermediate and advanced diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) through multiplex immunohistochemistry and spatial statistical analyses. Cytokine profiling, viral, bacteria and fungi detection and transcriptome analyses were also performed. Result(s): All cases displayed concomitant patterns of DAD. The spatially resolved multiplex data revealed intricate patchworks of mm -size microenvironments representing distinct immunological niches. In-depth analysis of DAD areas revealed that the temporal/spatial DAD progression is associated with expansion of adaptive immune cells, macrophages, CD8 T cells, fibroblasts, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Viral load correlated positively with acute DAD and negatively with disease/hospital length. Cytokines correlated mainly with macrophages and CD8 T cells. Pro-coagulation and acute repair markers were enriched in acute DAD whereas intermediate/advanced DAD had a molecular profile of elevated humoral and innate immune responses and extracellular matrix production. Conclusion(s): Our unraveling of the spatio-temporal immunopathology in COVID-19 cases exposes the heterogeneous dynamics of acute viral infection and subsequent responses that occur side-by-side in the lungs. This complex disease feature has important implications for disease management and development of novel immunemodulatory treatments.

Differentially expressed genes in Diffuse Alveolar Damage (DAD) patterns of COVID-19

Severe COVID-19 induces DAD, a condition with temporal-spatial heterogeneity. We determined the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the histological patterns of DAD. Twelve fatal COVID-19 cases were classified in acute DAD (n=5) and intermediate/advanced (IA) DAD (n=7). Autopsy lung RNA was extracted from COVID-19 and 4 control cases. RNA sequencing was performed on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Enrichment analysis was performed with clusterProfiler using Genome-wide annotation for Human R package. GO terms and KEGG pathways were considered enriched if adjusted p<=0.05. Principal component analysis showed that IA-DAD samples were grouped, while acute DAD samples were scattered. The differential expression analysis between these two groups and the control cases revealed: 261 DEGs in the acute DAD (143 Up- and 53 Down-regulated), 244 DEGs in the IA- DAD tissues (67 Up- and 116 Down-regulated), and 61 DEGs were shared between them (45 Up- and 16 Downregulated). Patients with acute DAD had up-regulated genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, blood coagulation, megakaryocytes differentiation/regulation, and platelet degranulation/activation. Patients with IA-DAD had DEGs related to immunoglobulins and extracellular matrix. The shared up-regulated DEGs between both patterns are involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. We selected 3 DEGs in each DAD pattern for validation by realtime PCR. There were no differences in acute DAD DEGs, but DEGs overexpressed in intermediate DAD (COL3A1, IGLV3-19, IGHV1-58) were significantly higher. Genes related to thrombotic events occur at the acute stage of DAD, whereas immunoglobulin production and remodeling occur at later stages of DAD.

Correlation between lung inflammatory cells, viral load and cytokines in fatal COVID-19

SARS-CoV2 infection induces a complex interaction between virus and host immune system, activating multiple inflammatory pathways and leading to hyperinflammation, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), ARDS, and multiorgan failure. We aimed to correlate the quantification of viral load, inflammatory cells and cytokines in lung tissue of fatal COVID-19. We assessed inflammatory cells by multiplex immunohistochemistry, cytokines by Luminex xMAP Assay and viral load by real time PCR in autopsy lung tissue of 18 COVID-19 patients. Correlations were considered statistically significant if p<0.05. Macrophages correlated with IL-1beta (r=0.54), IL-10 (r=0.5), IFN-alpha2 (r=0.72), IFN-gamma (r=0.6), CCL20 (r=0.5), TGF-beta1 (r=0.6), TGF-beta2 (r=0.6). CD4+T cells correlated with CCL20 (r=0.6), MDC/CCL2 (r=0.53), CCL17 (r=0.5), IP-10 (r=0.6), CXCL9 (r=0.6). CD8+T cells correlated with IL-1beta (r=0.54), IL-4 (r=0.63), IL-6 (r=0.7), IL-8 (r=0.63), IL-10 (r=0.6), TNF-alpha (r=0.6), IFN-gamma (r=0.74), CCL20 (r=0.7), TGF-beta1 (r=0.7), TGF-beta2 (r=0.56), TGF-beta3 (r=0.54), MDC/CCL2 (r=0.7), CCL17 (r=0.64). Langerin dendritic cells (DC) correlated with symptom onset to death interval (r=0.6), hospitalization length (r=0.65), mechanical ventilation (MV) length (r=0.6), ICU stay (r=0.6), exudative DAD (r=-0.5), viral load (r=-0.6). Myeloid DC correlated with symptom onset to death interval (r=0.8), hospitalization length (r=0.8), MV length (r=0.8), ICU stay (r=0.8), exudative DAD (r=-0.5), viral load (r=-0.7). Viral load correlated with symptom onset to death interval (r=-0.7), hospitalization length (r=-0.8), MV length (r=-0.7), ICU stay (r=-0.8), exudative DAD (r=0.6). There is a complex temporal inflammatory modulation in severe COVID-19.

"Vem pra rua” ou "fica em casa”?

This article addresses the use of public spaces by organized movements that led thousands of people to the streets between March 2015 and March 2016 and culminated in the President Dilma Rousseff impeachment. It starts from the premise that although the organization of these manifestations occurred through social networks, it was in the appropriation of public space by respective groups that they took place. In a timider way, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the protesters returned to the streets in 2020. For the research, we used the theoretical contribution of urban space structuration and its symbolic dimension, followed by the compilation of information regarding protests published at major newspapers in circulation. The balance shows that the location of social manifestations followed the symbolic logic of urban space structuration, where the group opposed to the impeachment had its space of demonstration associated with the main center of cities and the groups that demanded the withdrawal of President Roussef occupied the spaces identified with the reproduction of financial capital and/or elite housing. This logic was maintained during the demonstrations that took place in 2020. © 2022 Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.

Homeless population and COVID-19: Reflections in light of nursing theories

Background: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness caused by a novel human coronavirus. Due to the accelerated spread of the virus, health authorities have advocated social distancing. Homeless people have difficulties meeting this requirement due to a lack of access to fundamental rights such as housing, education, and health. The epistemological bases of nursing theories contribute to under-pinning the care provided to these people. Objective: To reflect on the health care of the homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic in light of five nursing theories. Main topics under analysis: The theories of Nightingale, Roy, Horta, Peplau, and Henderson have care approaches focused on the basic needs of homeless people who require immediate interventions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Nursing theories provide scientific support to caring for the homeless population based on physical, biological, and social aspects through intersectoral partnerships that can promote care during and after the pandemic. © 2022, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra. All rights reserved.

Telework during the Covid-19 pandemic and the work-nonwork conflict

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between telework and teleworkers' characteristics and the work-nonwork conflict (WNWC) in the Brazilian context, investigating time spent in eight nonwork dimensions and the more affected dimensions. Design/methodology/approach: The study was quantitative and descriptive. A survey was conducted with 299 professionals' teleworking in Brazil. Data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and analysis of variance. Findings: Results show diversified interests other than work and family among teleworkers, variation within the affected nonwork dimensions in the WNWC, and that teleworkers' WNWC is negatively associated with time flexibility and manager support and positively associated with individual preference for segmentation as a boundary management strategy. Research limitations/implications: The study highlights the need to include more nonwork aspects in telework studies to influence organizational practices. The main limitation is the nonprobabilistic sample. Practical implications: Knowing more about teleworkers' WNWC will help organizations improve lives by implementing practices and building a cultural environment that preserves nonwork time. Social implications: The study reinforces demands from new family arrangements and an aging society: organizations have to prepare to have teleworkers who want or need to dedicate time to interests besides family or children. Originality/value: It progresses towards a broad understanding of nonwork besides family to understand teleworkers' WNWC. © 2023, Erica Custodia de Oliveira.

Skin lesions associated with the use of N95 respirators among health professionals in Brazil in 2020. / Lesiones cutáneas asociadas con el uso de respiradores N95 en profesionales de la salud de Brasil durante 2020.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the prevalence of skin lesions and factors associated with the use of N95 respirators among health professionals in Brazil. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted with 11,368 health professionals using a respondent-driven sampling method adapted for online environments. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between the "skin lesions with the use of N95 respirators" variable and gender, professional category, workplace, training, COVID-19 diagnosis, and availability of sufficient and high-quality Personal Protective Equipment. RESULTS: the prevalence of skin lesions was 61.8%. Women were 1.203 times (95% CI: 1.154-1.255) more likely to develop a lesion than men. The chances of skin lesions in psychologists (PR=0.805; 95% CI: 0.678-0.956) and dentists (PR=0.884; 95% CI: 0.788-0.992), were lower when compared to Nursing professionals. Professionals with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and working in the Intensive Care Unit have an increased chance of presenting skin lesions (PR=1.074; 95% CI: 1.042-1.107); (PR=1.203; 95% CI: 1.168-1.241), respectively. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of skin lesions caused by the use of N95 respirators was 61.8% and was associated with female gender, professional category, workplace, training, COVID-19 diagnosis, and availability of sufficient and highquality Personal Protective Equipment. (1) The overall prevalence of skin lesions was 61.8%. (2) The most affected professional category was Nursing. (3) Women were more likely to develop skin lesions than men.

Excess mortality from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate excess mortality in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to January 2022). METHODS: Ecological study using secondary data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System, having the city of Rio de Janeiro as the unit of analysis. Excess mortality was estimated by the difference between the mean number of all expected deaths and the mean number of observed deaths, considering the 2015-2019 period. The quantile regression method was adjusted. The total value of cases above that expected by the historical series was estimated. Among all deaths, cases of COVID-19 and Influenza as underlying causes of death were selected. The ratio between excess mortality and deaths due to COVID-19 was calculated. RESULTS: We identified an excess of 31,920 deaths by the mean (increase of 26.8%). The regression pointed to 31,363 excess deaths. We found 33,401 deaths from COVID-19 and 176 deaths from Influenza. The ratio between the verified excess mortality and deaths due to COVID-19 was 0.96 by the mean and 0.95 by the regression. CONCLUSION: The study pointed to large excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro distributed in waves, including the period of the Influenza outbreak.

Are Health Information Systems Ready for the Digital Transformation in Portugal? Challenges and Future Perspectives.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to reflect on the challenges of Health Information Systems in Portugal at a time when technologies enable the creation of new approaches and models for care provision, as well as to identify scenarios that may characterize this practice in the future. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A guiding research model was created based on an empirical study that was conducted using a qualitative method that integrated content analysis of strategic documents and semi-structured interviews with a sample of fourteen key actors in the health sector. FINDINGS: Results pointed to the existence of emerging technologies that may promote the development of Health Information Systems oriented to "health and well-being" in a preventive model logic and reinforce the social and management implications. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality of this work resided in the empirical study carried out, which allowed us to analyze how the various actors look at the present and the future of Health Information Systems. There is also a lack of studies addressing this subject. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The main limitations resulted from a low, although representative, number of interviews and the fact that the interviews took place before the pandemic, so the digital transformation that was promoted was not reflected. Managerial implications and social implications: The study highlighted the need for greater commitment from decision makers, managers, healthcare providers, and citizens toward achieving improved digital literacy and health. Decision makers and managers must also agree on strategies to accelerate existing strategic plans and avoid their implementation at different paces.

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Scientific Production on COVID-19 and Vaccines.

This bibliometric analysis aims to analyze the global scientific production of COVID-19 and vaccines. First, a search for scientific articles was performed using the advanced query in the Web of Science™ database, more precisely in its core collection, on 18 February 2023. Data from 7754 articles were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package and the Biblioshiny application. The evaluated articles were published mainly in 2022 (60%). The scientific journals that published the most about COVID-19 and vaccines were "Vaccines", "Vaccine" and "Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics". The University of Oxford was the most productive institution, with the authors of the articles mainly originating from the United States, China and the United Kingdom. The United States, despite having carried out the most significant number of collaborations, published mainly with local researchers. The 15 most cited articles and the KeyWords Plus™ evidenced the focus of the published articles on the safety and efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19, as well as on the evaluation of vaccine acceptance, more specifically on vaccine hesitancy. Research funding came primarily from US government agencies.

Development of an online teaching-focused professional development program for junior teaching staff

CONTEXT The ongoing coronavirus pandemic required us to quickly adapt and familiarise ourselves with new skills and technologies in the shift to online teaching. Irregular communication due to extended lockdowns has meant that while knowledge on effective online teaching has been developed, this knowledge has not been properly disseminated to our junior teaching staff. As they operate predominantly in student-facing positions, it is essential that our junior staff be equipped with information on best practice in online teaching as well as with an awareness of the resources available to support them. PURPOSE OR GOAL To address the gap outlined above, we developed a new professional development program for our junior teaching staff, focusing mainly on online teaching. The goal was to share our collective knowledge on best practice in online teaching, and to demonstrate how various technologies could aid in promoting active learning in an online setting. The program also aimed to initiate a community of practice around teaching and the online teaching space. APPROACH OR METHODOLOGY/METHODS In designing our program, we considered student feedback from previous semesters, and more recent feedback on the online teaching experience from 2020. The final program covered the following topics: general advice, navigating Zoom and physical setup for online teaching, online tools for active learning, engagement within teaching teams, online feedback, and blended synchronous learning. Tools and technologies showcased in the program were embedded in the delivery to allow first-hand experience. ACTUAL OR ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES An exit survey indicated that in general, participants found the program useful, with an average rating of 8.27 (out of 10). The top areas that participants indicated that they would like more assistance were quizzes and tools for active learning (31%), providing feedback to students (22%), and blended synchronous learning (20%). Zoom (12%) and the physical setup for online teaching (15%) did not rank highly, in line with our observation that a large percentage of participants had some prior experience with online teaching in 2020. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS/SUMMARY In summary, we piloted a professional development focused mainly on online-teaching for junior staff. The program was well-received, and the collected feedback will used for implementation and improvement of future run. Copyright © Lionel Lam, Raquel de Souza, Catherine Sutton, Eduardo Araujo Oliveira, Glen Currie, Ryan Hoult, Leila Meratian Esfahani, Leigh Canny, Christopher Honig, and Gavin Buskes, 2021.