Virtually the Same? Evaluating the Effectiveness of Remote Undergraduate Research Experiences.

In-person undergraduate research experiences (UREs) promote students' integration into careers in life science research. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted institutions hosting summer URE programs to offer them remotely, raising questions about whether undergraduates who participate in remote research can experience scientific integration and whether they might perceive doing research less favorably (i.e., not beneficial or too costly). To address these questions, we examined indicators of scientific integration and perceptions of the benefits and costs of doing research among students who participated in remote life science URE programs in Summer 2020. We found that students experienced gains in scientific self-efficacy pre- to post-URE, similar to results reported for in-person UREs. We also found that students experienced gains in scientific identity, graduate and career intentions, and perceptions of the benefits of doing research only if they started their remote UREs at lower levels on these variables. Collectively, students did not change in their perceptions of the costs of doing research despite the challenges of working remotely. Yet students who started with low cost perceptions increased in these perceptions. These findings indicate that remote UREs can support students' self-efficacy development, but may otherwise be limited in their potential to promote scientific integration.

Twin pandemics, intertwined (intergroup) solutions: Support for mitigating racism benefits vaccine hesitancy.

The present research examines the potential that support for efforts aimed at mitigating systemic racism might have beneficial consequences related to vaccination attitudes (e.g., vaccine willingness). Specifically, the present research examines the hypothesis that Black Lives Matter (BLM) support is related to reduced vaccine hesitancy, and that prosocial intergroup attitudes are a theoretical mechanism. It tests these predictions across social group lines. Study 1 examined state-level indicators tied to BLM protests and discourse (i.e., Google searches, news reports) and COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among US adult racial/ethnic minority (N = 81,868) and White (N = 223,353) respondents. Then, Study 2 investigated, respondent-level, BLM support (measured at time 1) and general vaccine attitudes (measured at time 2) among US adult racial/ethnic minority (N = 1,756) and White (N = 4,994) respondents. It tested a theoretical process model that included prosocial intergroup attitudes as a mediator. Study 3 tested a replication of the theoretical mediation model using a different sample of US adult racial/ethnic minority (N = 2,931) and White (N = 6,904) respondents. Across studies and social groups (i.e., racial/ethnic minority and White respondents), as well as controlling for demographic and structural covariates, BLM support and state-level indicators were found to be related to lower vaccine hesitancy. And, Studies 2-3 provided some evidence that prosocial intergroup attitudes are a theoretical mechanism; the studies provided evidence of partial mediation. Holistically, the findings have the potential to advance understandings of how support and discourse related to BLM and/or other anti-racism efforts can be associated with positive public health outcomes such as reductions in vaccine hesitancy.

UNEQUAL LOSS: DISPARITIES IN RELATIONAL PROXIMITY TO A COVID-19 DEATH AMONG US OLDER ADULTS

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated communities of color in the U.S. at disproportionate rates. Racial-ethnic and language disparities in COVID grief may be even more extreme than those in individual mortality. We drew on the National Social Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) COVID Study, a supplement to the nationally-representative longitudinal survey. The analytic sample consisted of 2,554 community-dwelling older adults in the U.S. interviewed between September 2020 and January 2021. We used descriptive analysis to evaluate disparities by race/ethnicity/language subgroups in relational proximity to a COVID-19 death (aquaintaince < friend/family member < household member < spouse) and multiple logistic regression to evaluate disparities in experiencing at least one COVID-19 death in one's social network. English-speaking, Non-Hispanic Black and Latino older adults were over-represented in every category of proximity to a COVID-19 death, but overrepresentation in proximity to a COVID-19 death was greatest among Spanish-speakers of any race. Although Spanish-speaking respondents were only 4.6% of the full sample, half of the respondents who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were Spanish-speakers. Disparities by language and race/ethnicity persisted even with the inclusion of controls for age, sex, marital status, education, and nativity. The most extreme disparities in closeness to COVID-19 death were experienced by Spanish-speakers of any race/ethnicity. It is unclear if this disparity is driven by language alone or the intersection of language and nativity and associated systemic vulnerabilities. Observed disparities could also reflect variation by language and immigrant identity in network size and structure, including connections to relatives in other countries.

Direct streaming of acute surgical patients to an advanced nurse practitioner-led service: A prospective audit of a pilot service to improve patient flow

Aims: The ongoing uncertaintyofThe COVID-19 pandemic and recovery to re-establish elective services presents a major challenge to The NHS. Patient flow and bed capacity is now a priority for acute hospitals. We have implemented a new service model aimed at improving patient flow from A&E, where acute surgical patients are triaged and referred directly to The Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANp) team for assessment and management. A criterion based on The presenting complaint and clinical observations was developed to identify suitable patients. The utilisation of this service was audited for its safety and impact on The Emergency General Surgical provision. Method(s): The setting is a busy University Teaching Hospital with a diverse catchment population of 75,000. A prospective audit identified The number of patients utilising The new care pathway and details of any adverse events or delays in treatment identified. All patients presenting with a General Surgical condition were included. Result(s): Between August and December 2021, 361 patients were referred directly from A&E (81% within first 2 hours of presentation) to The surgical ANp team for assessment. of these, 85 (24%) were admitted for Emergency treatment and 276 (76%) were discharged The same day for either ambulatory or outpatient follow-up, or back to Primary Care. There were no adverse events identified during The audit period. Conclusion(s): Direct streaming of acute surgical patients within a defined criteria to an ANp-led service is safe and effective in helping to improve patient flow and experience within an acute care model.

BEHAVIORAL INSIGHTS FOR ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION AND COVID-19 VACCINATION IN KYRGYZSTAN

Routine immunization rates in Kyrgyzstan have fallen recently [1], and vaccine hesitancy is rising. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue. Several studies stress the importance of social norms in public health interventions, as they are a major behavioral determinant. For example, a study in Kyrgyzstan found that perceived attitudes of those in one's social network regarding COVID-19 immunization were important determinants of vaccine acceptance [2]. Campaigns targeting norms have been shown to be more effective than communication initiatives focusing solely on individual-level variables. However, most communication efforts tend to only address individual variables. We aimed to find the gaps in social and behavioral research surrounding immunization and vaccine hesitancy in Kyrgyzstan by reviewing and analyzing literature with the social ecological model. Of the 27 grey literature documents reviewed, only 13 reference social norms;6 refer to vaccination, and only 3 identify social norms as an important factor in vaccine messaging. 9 documents focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, and only 4 of them identify social norms as an important behavioral influence. Only 1 of the 7 Kyrgyzstan-specific documents discusses social norms. In the academic literature, only 3 articles provided empirical evidence of social norms and vaccination, and the 2 specific to Kyrgyzstan did not mention social norms. Several resources emphasize how social norms are an important behavioral determinant.Most behavioral research in Kyrgyzstan has focused on individual and interpersonal factors, thus social norms research is necessary to design more effective communication campaigns to promote COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization.

Social Connections During Physical Isolation: How a Shift to Online Interaction Explains Friendship Satisfaction and Social Well-Being

Measures implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19 have included stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and self-isolation, all of which have limited in-person interactions. Given the key role of technology in maintaining social connections during this period, the current study examined the experiences of young adults who shifted from predominantly offline to online interaction with friends during COVID-19. Specifically, we investigated whether changing from interacting predominantly with friends in-person to interacting predominantly with friends online (conceptualized as a major change in context of interaction) was associated with lower social well-being (i.e., greater loneliness and lower social connectedness), and examined whether perceived changes in friendship satisfaction as a result of the pandemic mediated these effects. Participants (N = 329;68.1% female) were Australian young adults, aged between 17 and 25 years (Mage = 20.05 years, SD = 1.97). Data were collected between April 15th and May 24th, 2020, during the nationwide lockdown in Australia. Results indicated that for young adults who primarily interacted offline with friends prior to COVID-19 (as compared to those who interacted predominantly online or equally online and offline before the pandemic), the shift away from face-to-face interactions was associated with a greater perceived reduction in satisfaction with friendships, which, in turn, was associated with greater loneliness and lower social connectedness. Our results highlight the need to consider how young adults adjust to changes in contexts for engaging with friends and how they maintain meaningful social interactions with others during times of extended physical isolation. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Cyberpsychology is the property of Masarykova Univerzita, Fakulta Socialnich Studii and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Virtual Surgical Subinternships: Course Objectives and a Proposed Curriculum.

BACKGROUND: Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, patient care and medical education have faced many significant changes. The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgery officially recommended halting all student rotations and interviews for the year. This change has unfortunately fallen squarely at the onset of a vital season for education and recruitment of plastic surgery subinterns. This article presents a curriculum for a single institution's virtual surgical subinternship to help inspire ideas and inspiration for programs developing their own virtual subinternships. METHODS: The goals for the virtual surgical subinternship are focused on student preparation for residency and remain similar to those outlined by the core competencies for in-person rotations. The first virtual subinternship in plastic surgery modeled after the curriculum presented was offered as a 2-week course starting May of 2020. RESULTS: The components of the curriculum include a self-study syllabus, virtual case reviews, virtual suture laboratory, educational teleconferences, participation in research, and mentorship meetings. The 2-week course has approximately 25 hours of conferences and teaching, involving direct interaction with residents and faculty, and approximately 15 hours of self-directed learning. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this was the first virtual subinternship offered for rising fourth-year medical students. They strongly encourage other residency training programs to offer similar virtual learning opportunities for medical students, particularly for those without access to a home plastic surgery training program. The curriculum presented in this article is simply to provide ideas, inspiration, and a potential framework for programs wishing to create similar virtual learning opportunities.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Integrated Pediatric Primary Care: Placing "How" in the Context of Now

The integration of behavioral health services into pediatric primary care settings has expanded rapidly in recent years, and pediatric psychologists have played a prominent role in this development. As integrated care becomes mainstream, there is a growing need to develop and disseminate pragmatic strategies for maximizing the reach and impact of behavioral services in primary care. This special issue in includes papers focused on 4 central themes: understanding and increasing engagement with integrated primary care services, identifying barriers and facilitators to implementation, reducing health disparities, and workforce development. In this introduction to the special issue, we preview each of these contributions and consider their implications in the context of the 2 great pandemics of our time: COVID-19 and systemic racial injustice. The work included in this special issue provides clear examples of strategies clinicians can use to analyze and improve their clinical services, articulates methods of adapting interventions to particular patient populations, and sets a roadmap for the future of integrated primary care psychology.

The Girlhood Project Pivoting our Model with Girls During COVID-19

The Girlhood Project (TGP) is a community based, service-learning/research program that is part of the undergraduate course at Lesley University called "Girlhood, Identity and Girl Culture." TGP works with community partners to bring middle and high school girls to Lesley's campus for nine weeks as part of intergenerational girls' groups that are co-facilitated by Lesley students (also referred to as TGP students). TGP fosters the development of feminist leadership, critical consciousness, voice, and community action, and activism in all participants. In this article, we describe how we adapted TGP's model to a virtual and synchronous platform for students during COVID-19 and supported their learning competencies. We reflect critically on this experience by centering the voices and perspectives of girls, students, and professors.