ABSTRACT
Adults used to be the largest online student population before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the number of online students multiplied during the pandemic, and now includes the complete conglomeration of all student groups. Due to their longer experience of online education, adult students continue to provide valuable insights on how to enhance online learning for other higher education students. This article reports the results of phenomenographic research on the qualitative differences in the ways of experiencing learning by fifteen adult students enrolled in two online postgraduate programmes. The analysis on in-depth, participant-led interviews demonstrated that online learning is conceptualised in three ways: as an investment, as a process that brings structure, and as a process that enables and empowers an individual. The results of this study are of particular importance for those who are concerned with introducing online learning to the higher education curricula. The paper argues that the stigma of online education being the second choice, maintained in the educational research literature, should be replaced by a holistic approach to education as a process that organically incorporates the online educational elements into higher education. Focusing on how adult students experience online learning provides a broader and deeper understanding of adopted effective practices and the variety of online learning opportunities and outcomes for other students' groups. Insights based on the results of this study are summarised. © 2024, Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Repetitive quarantines and social restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have negatively affected the population health in general, and the control of hypertension (HTN) in particular. Aim. To evaluate the control of HTN in the Russian population during the COVID-19 period based on the results of screening for HTN May Measurement Month 2021 (MMM2021). Material and methods. During May-August 2021, 2491 participants from 11 Russian regions took part in the screening. Participation was voluntary without restrictions on sex. All participants were over 18 years of age. During the screening, blood pressure (BP) was measured three times using automatic and mechanical BP monitors. In addition, a questionnaire was filled out on behavioral risk factors, comorbidities and therapy. HTN was diagnosed with systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/ or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg and/or taking antihypertensive therapy. The questionnaire included questions about prior COVID-19, vaccinations and their impact on the intake of antihypertensive drugs. Results. The analysis included data from 2461 respondents aged 18 to 92, of which 963 were men (39,1%). The proportion of hypertensive patients was 41,0%, while among them 59,0% took antihypertensives and 30,9% were effectively treated. In comparison with pre-pandemic period according to MMM2018-2019, the higher proportion of HTN patients in the Russian sample was revealed during MMM2021 (41,0% vs 31,3%, p<0,001) with a comparable proportion of patients receiving antihypertensive therapy (60,7% vs 59,0%, p=0,05) and treatment efficacy (28,7% vs 30,9%, p=0,36). Monotherapy was received in 44,7% of cases, while dual and triple combination therapy — in 30,9% and 14,1%, respectively. The majority of respondents (~90%) did not adjust their antihypertensive therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion. According to HTN screening in Russia, there is persistent ineffective control of HTN, which may be due to both the worsening pattern of behavioral risk factors, limited access to healthcare during COVID-19, and the inertia of physicians and low adherence of patients due to the asymptomatic HTN course in the majority.
ABSTRACT
Objective COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory tract, but reports of acute pancreatitis occurrence in patients with COVID 19 suggest possibility of direct injury of pancreatic gland by this virus. Methods We present observation of patient with acute necrotizing pancreatitis and concomitant COVID-19. SARSCoV2 infection was diagnosed 5 days before initiation of ANP with bilateral pneumonia. He was admitted with persistent multi-organ failures and injuries over 50% of pancreas. Results Biochemical changes included prolonged prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, elevated fibrinogen and D-dimer concentration, hypertriglyceridemia with normal amount of platelets. Diffuse erosive hemorrhage from pancreas occurred on 6th day from onset as result of coagulopathy and several laparotomic interventions were necessary for control of it. Despite intensive therapy this patient died due to progressed ARDS. Conclusion Development of ANP in patients COVID-19 carries risk of erosive hemorrhage from pancreas due to coagulopathy. Precise monitoring of coagulation and fibrinolytic activity in such patients is indicated.