ABSTRACT
Issue The aim of the Horizon 2020 unCoVer project (Unravelling Data for Rapid Evidence-Based Response to COVID-19) is to coordinate research expertise in utilising Real World Data (RWD) to investigate the underlying risk factors for COVID-19 infection and severity, the effectiveness of treatments and the impact on health systems. RWD is particularly useful in a dynamic health context as it is relevant, timely, and more ecologically valid. Pooling clinical databases and integrating epidemiological principles and powerful biostatistical tools optimises resources and fully exploits routinely-collected data. Description of the problem RWD sharing poses new practical and ethical challenges to research. The unCoVer network has developed a federated data platform to access diverse databases for advanced analytics. This data access process entails GDPR, and regulatory and ethical nuances. The use of large-scale data from heterogeneous sources across multiple jurisdictions for research purposes presents a complex systems challenge. Effects & Lessons A dedicated team of unCoVer network members is responsible for addressing these challenges. Here, we describe the ethical and regulatory aspects of RWD sources, the role of the Data Protection Authorities and the Data Protection External Authority Board (DP-EAB) of the Uncover project, and the documentation involved, including a data processing agreement and a data transfer agreement. We provide an overview of the main principles for sharing RWD whilst maintaining integrity and security and how this translates into procedures to protect the rights, security, and well-being of human research participants. This represents a practical framework for researchers. Key messages Sharing RWDs presents new practical and ethical challenges for research where large-scale datasets from heterogeneous sources across multiple jurisdictions must be arranged in a structured manner. Using the Uncover project framework, heterogeneous data can be shared and harmonized in a standard manner. This framework can be used in future RWD projects to generate real-world evidence.
ABSTRACT
The unprecedented emergence of COVID-19 has disrupted education and has led to the rise of e-learning. The shift from the traditional delivery of instruction to online learning brings about varying perceptions that necessitates attention and exploration. This study examined nursing students' attitudes towards e-learning in two selected nursing schools in the Philippines. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design with 111 nursing students in a public and a private nursing school as study participants. The data were collected via an online survey tool and were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The results indicated that most nursing students had intermediate computer competency (74.8%) and somewhat stable internet connection (66.7%). They generally had negative (40.5%) and ambivalent attitudes (30.6%) towards e-learning. The nursing students considered e-learning to be impersonal and to lack feeling (80.18%) and that it results in less student-teacher interaction (75.66%). There were no significant differences (p > .05) in the e-learning attitude according to the type of school, gender, ownership of a computer, level of computer competency, stability connection and internet usage. Although not statistically significant, those students with stable internet connections appear to have a better attitude towards e-learning. Ambivalence and negative attitudes seem to dominate nursing students' attitudes towards e-learning in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing schools must rectify the negative attitudes of students towards e-learning and must take measures to improve students' experiences in the virtual learning environment to ensure that effective learning is never compromised amid the health crisis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Assessing the current understanding of future health care workers about the COVID-19 is very important in order to identify gaps that affect their perceptions and responses, which they can integrate into the people in the community. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 of student nurses in Manila, Philippines. Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 314 individuals from October 2020 to December 2020 to evaluate the association of different factors to knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Mest, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data gathered. Results: The survey revealed that the respondents have a mean knowledge score of 18.76 (SD = 1.64), a mean score for attitude of 26.58 (SD = 2.71) and a mean score for practice of 4.26 (SD = 0.93). A significant different were noted in terms of year level with level 3 having a higher mean score (M = 19.01, F = 2.696, p = 0.046) compared to other levels and type of school, with public university students having a higher level of knowledge (M = 18.97, t = 2.070, p = 0.039). In terms of attitude, females have higher mean scores (M = 26.85, t = -2.630, p = 0.009 and students from public university have higher scores (M = 2.81, t = -4.406, p = 0.000) than students from private university. For practice, a significant difference was noted in terms of year level, with level 3 students having a higher mean score (M = 4.42, F = 3.180, p = 0.024) compared to other year levels. Conclusion: Filipino student nurses have a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and are mainly optimistic about controlling the pandemic. Nevertheless, having constant reminder from the authorities and health care professionals are the solution to aid public knowledge and comprehension relating to COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: Studies have shown that resilience has a buffering effect on mental health problems. However, the influence of resilience on the impact on the Quality of Life (QoL) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been well documented. Objective: This study examined the influence of resilience on the COVID-19 impact on QoL among nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was utilized. Three hundred and forty-five students of a government-funded nursing school in the Philippines responded in the web-based survey. Data were gathered using two adopted instruments from 18 to 31 August 2020. Test for differences and correlational analyses were performed. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic had a moderate impact on the QoL of nursing students. The COVID-19 impact on QoL significantly varied with sex and the nearby presence of COVID-19 cases. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant moderate inverse relationship between psychological resilience and the impact of COVID-19 on QoL. Conclusion: Resilience has a protective influence on the impact on QoL concerning main areas of mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the factors and developing interventions that build the resilience of students is a focal point of action for nursing schools.