Impact of COVID-19 on rural and nonrural recovery housing in the United States

This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on recovery housing (RH), an important resource for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). A cross-sectional survey was disseminated electronically between June and July of 2020 to RH owners and operators affiliated with Oxford House or the National Alliance of Recovery Residences nationwide. The survey intended to develop an understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on RH in terms of (a) resident housing access, (b) mitigation strategies to reduce COVID-19 spread, (c) RH financials, and (d) health and well-being of residents and staff. Impacts were assessed among all houses in the sample and then by rurality of RH location (rural vs. nonrural). Among 1,419 respondents, only 4.6% reported positive COVID-19 cases, and 85% reported having implemented centers for disease control-recommended policies. More than half (59%) reported financial impacts, and close to half (49%) reported COVID-19 had "a lot of impact" on residents attending meetings. Rural RH represented only 9% of respondents and a greater fraction of rural RH respondents reported spending more on all COVID-19 expense categories compared to nonrural RH respondents. Compared to nonrural RH, rural RH were significantly more likely to report having a process for evaluating COVID-19 (p = .007), wearing masks (p = .047), taking temperatures (p = .042), and spending more on food due to COVID-19 (p = .015). With SUD rates and the associated morbidity and mortality from SUD continuing to rise, addressing the financial viability of RH, an important resource supporting individuals in recovery is crucial. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study suggests that recovery housing, an important resource for individuals seeking or in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD), is proactive in ensuring resident safety during national emergencies such as COVID-19. The most prominent impacts found in this study were financial (for the recovery home) and residents' ability to attend mutual aid recovery support meetings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Factors associated with parents' willingness to enroll their children in trials for COVID-19 vaccination.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken an unprecedented global toll and vaccination is needed to restore healthy living. Timely inclusion of children in vaccination trials is critical. We surveyed caregivers of children seeking care in 17 Emergency Departments (ED) across 6 countries during the peak of the pandemic to identify factors associated with intent to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Questions about child and parent characteristics, COVID-19 expressed concerns and parental attitudes toward participation in a trial were asked.Of 2768 completed surveys, 18.4% parents stated they would enroll their child in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine and 14.4% would agree to a randomized placebo-controlled study. Factors associated with willingness to participate were parents agreeing to enroll in a COVID-19 vaccine trial themselves (Odds Ratio (OR) 32.9, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (21.9-51.2)) having an older child (OR 1.0 (1.0-1.01)), having children who received all vaccinations based on their country schedule (OR 2.67 (1.35-5.71)) and parents with high school education or lower (OR 1.79 (1.18-2.74)). Mothers were less likely to enroll their child in a trial (OR 0.68 (0.47-0.97)). Only one fifth of families surveyed will consider enrolling their child in a vaccine trial. Parental interest in participation, history of vaccinating their child, and the child being older all are associated with parents allowing their child to participate in a COVID vaccine trial. This information may help decision-makers and researchers shape their strategies for trial design and participation engagement in upcoming COVID19 vaccination trials.

Caregiver willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: Cross sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: More than 100 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in development since the SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence was published in January 2020. The uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine among children will be instrumental in limiting the spread of the disease as herd immunity may require vaccine coverage of up to 80% of the population. Prior history of pandemic vaccine coverage was as low as 40% among children in the United States during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. PURPOSE: To investigate predictors associated with global caregivers' intent to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, when the vaccine becomes available. METHOD: An international cross sectional survey of 1541 caregivers arriving with their children to 16 pediatric Emergency Departments (ED) across six countries from March 26 to May 31, 2020. RESULTS: 65% (n = 1005) of caregivers reported that they intend to vaccinate their child against COVID-19, once a vaccine is available. A univariate and subsequent multivariate analysis found that increased intended uptake was associated with children that were older, children with no chronic illness, when fathers completed the survey, children up-to-date on their vaccination schedule, recent history of vaccination against influenza, and caregivers concerned their child had COVID-19 at the time of survey completion in the ED. The most common reason reported by caregivers intending to vaccinate was to protect their child (62%), and the most common reason reported by caregivers refusing vaccination was the vaccine's novelty (52%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of caregivers intend to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, though uptake will likely be associated with specific factors such as child and caregiver demographics and vaccination history. Public health strategies need to address barriers to uptake by providing evidence about an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine's safety and efficacy, highlighting the risks and consequences of infection in children, and educating caregivers on the role of vaccination.