How greater data access will make civil engineering and construction more productive

Remote-working and other innovative technology developed during the Covid-19 pandemic is now helping the civil engineering and wider construction industry to save money and create new high-value, data-driven jobs. In the UK this is being driven forward by bodies such as the Construction Data Trust and Project Data Analytics Taskforce. This paper explores how data has empowered the construction sector during Covid-19 and the role of the industry in harnessing this work for future collective benefit in a post-pandemic recovery.

Life in Lockdown: supported self-management of IBD increases disease control through My IBD Care

IntroductionMyIBD Care is a mobile phone application delivering digital therapeutics and remote monitoring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The app provides a library of self-management content, direct messaging with clinical teams, and a range of clinically validated disease-measures.During the first wave of the COVID pandemic many IBD patients were forced to shield due active disease or medication. In response to this we developed situationally relevant behavioral science-based courses to alleviate the increased risk of patients developing anxiety or depression due to isolation. Our two courses focussed on maintaining healthy relationships and exercise. The courses were created using the same behavior-change framework as existing courses in the app.MethodsFifteen MyIBD users participated in a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ‘Life in Lockdown’ courses. We assessed changes in mental health (GAD-7) and disease control (IBD-Control) using patient-reported outcome measures delivered through the app.ResultsPatients scored significantly higher on the IBD-control questionnaire following completion of either the 4 or 5-day courses, indicating that they feel more control over their disease following the intervention (median score 5 vs 8.5, p<0.002). We observed non-significant improvement in self-reported anxiety and depression levels, a 17% improvement in self-reported wellbeing, along with an increased level of physical activity, and feelings of social connection.ConclusionsThese measurable improvements following a short course highlight the need for supported self-care for people with IBD during uncertain times. Future work will investigate the effectiveness of non-lockdown-related courses on self-management of IBD in app users.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidance for management of inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting unprecedented pressures on healthcare systems globally. Early insights have been made possible by rapid sharing of data from China and Italy. In the UK, we have rapidly mobilised inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centres in order that preparations can be made to protect our patients and the clinical services they rely on. This is a novel coronavirus; much is unknown as to how it will affect people with IBD. We also lack information about the impact of different immunosuppressive medications. To address this uncertainty, the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) COVID-19 IBD Working Group has used the best available data and expert opinion to generate a risk grid that groups patients into highest, moderate and lowest risk categories. This grid allows patients to be instructed to follow the UK government's advice for shielding, stringent and standard advice regarding social distancing, respectively. Further considerations are given to service provision, medical and surgical therapy, endoscopy, imaging and clinical trials.