Factors Modulating Fallow Period of Aerosol-Generating Dental Procedures in a Clinical Setting

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in amended regulations and guidelines governing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene to ensure the protection of both patients and clinicians from transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These guidelines include changes in personal protective equipment and, under some guidelines, the institution of a fallow period after any aerosol-generating procedure (AGP). This study aimed to investigate the effect of both ventilation and 4-handed dentistry in clinical practice with patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) by air polishing, ultrasonic and hand instrumentation in a closed operatory. We studied 34 patients during SPT using either 2-or 4-handed dentistry in an operatory with either 0 or 20 additional air changes/h (ACH). Under clinical conditions, 20 additional ACH are adequate to eliminate aerosols produced during an SPT and before the cessation of the AGP. The presence of an assistant had no significant effect on the time needed for aerosol particles to return to baseline values following the AGP. This study supports the efficacy of 20 additional ACH during the process of AGP, but does not support the need for an extended fallow period or 4-handed dentistry to provide additional high-volume evacuation throughout the procedure.

Toward Understanding COVID-19's Economic Impact on Black Women in U.S. Higher Education

Black women pursued graduate and professional school, post-degree options, and employment at a time when their economic future and livelihood were unknown. The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) complicated what many Black women were already experiencing. Guided by critical race feminism, the purpose of our exploratory study was to highlight how and to what extent COVID exacerbated Black women's economic trajectories via their financial obligations, financial support, and financial stability. We offer two implications for practice: disrupting systemic oppression/inequities and developing a critical awareness of Black women's economic precarity. © 2022 NASPA.

Patient perspectives on nipple-areola complex micropigmentation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Micropigmentation is a well-recognised option for nipple-areola complex reconstruction, as part of the breast reconstruction pathway for patients following mastectomy. As a part of delayed breast reconstruction, this treatment was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS: To assess the views of patients regarding micropigmentation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether their attitudes to seeking out this part of the reconstructive journey had been altered. METHODS: A questionnaire undertaken with 53 patients between August & September 2020 attending the Micropigmentation clinic. FINDINGS: 81.1% of patients reported COVID-19 had not impacted their decision, with a similar proportion happy to proceed with the treatment at the time of questioning. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of nipple-areola complex to our patients' reconstructive journey.

Building destination resilience to multiple crises to secure tourism's future. (Special Issue: Where to from here? COVID 19 and the future of tourism.)

The devastating impacts of recent Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the immediacy of climate change impacts and accelerated social, economic and environmental change which will shape the future of tourism. Moving away from single foci approaches to tourism risk management, this paper examines the vulnerability and resilience factors of tourism destinations to multiple crises. Using a whole system destination vulnerability/resilience assessment, two case studies inform priorities for building future resilience to multiple crises at organisational and destination levels. Based on critical reflection, a simplified, multi-level destination resilience framework for interdisciplinary tourism researchers and managers is proposed.

Tracking Graduate Admissions During COVID-19: Year One

COVID-19 has disrupted nearly all aspects of global society, with severe impacts on many people around the world. In 2020, supported by the APS Innovation Fund, we began a study to document and understand how COVID-19 has affected graduate admissions in physics, with a focus on the ways in which students and departments have been impacted. In this Work in Progress paper, we report on the first year of this study, which collected data from the 2019-2020 admissions cycle. We collected survey data from Directors of Graduate Study (DGS) and from students who applied to physics graduate school in this cycle (including students who did and did not begin graduate school in 2020), as well as conducted follow-up interviews with students and faculty to better understand the breadth of experiences of individuals affected. Four themes emerged from this first year of data: shifts in international/domestic representation, program resilience as a key distinguishing feature during COVID, the breadth of student experiences in 2020, and concerns about the expectations for the future. © 2021, American Association of Physics Teachers. All rights reserved.

Impact of COVID-19 on society of urologic oncology fellowship operative volumes and surgical education

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of healthcare including surgical training. The impact on resident and fellow education has yet to be measured. Urologic oncology is unique given potential risks associated with delaying surgery. Nevertheless, at many institutions, COVID-19 led to cancellation of surgeries, changes in scheduling practices, and discussions regarding best surgical approach for cases that were unable to be postponed. Our objective was to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) fellowship operative volumes in the 2019-2020 academic year. METHODS: Deidentified operative case logs from graduating SUO fellows were obtained from the SUO Education Committee. Cases are stratified by surgery and open or minimally invasive (MIS) approach. Case logs from fellows undertaking their clinical year in 2019-2020 were compared to the three prior years using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test. RESULTS: Thirty-five SUO fellows completed their clinical training in 2020. Median total cases performed by fellows in 2020 was 172 vs. 191 in prior 3 years, p=.44 with no significant difference in proportion of open vs MIS cases. There was no significant difference in number of MIS retroperitoneal lymph node dissections (RPLNDs), open nephrectomies, open or MIS cystectomies or prostatectomies in 2020 compared to prior years. The median number of open RPLNDs was higher in 2020 (11 vs. 8, p=0.02) while MIS nephrectomies were performed less often (24.5 vs 36, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: SUO fellow oncologic operative volumes in 2020 were minimally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the data was limited by inclusion of only oncologic cases and lack of information on location of fellowship programs. Furthermore, the graduating 2020 SUO fellows completed the first 8-9 months of their clinical training prior to the start of the pandemic. More research is needed to determine the impact of prolonged shutdowns on trainee education and on benign disease case volumes.

Burns and plastic surgery nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Reflective account and experiences

Since the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge faced by the world and one that all health professionals are facing. The impact of COVID-19 on patients receiving and accepting healthcare services has changed over the past few months. identified within our burns network was a change in the mechanism of burn injuries in children for example, an increase of steam inhalation burns has been seen (Brewster et al, 2020) and an overall change in the approach to burn care. This paper is an initial glance at what was identified at an acute setting during the first wave of pandemic.