Learner and Advisor Perceptions of Online Advising During a Pandemic

In this article, the authors describe two research studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the perceptions of online advising from the perspective of learners and learning advisors working in a self-access centre at a university in Japan. Advising is a one-to-one reflective dialogue between a learner and a learning advisor with the purpose of promoting learner autonomy. Advising normally takes place in person, and this article explores user perceptions and whether advisors are able to create an autonomy-supportive climate in a synchronous online setting. Although participants in both studies acknowledged challenges, overall online advising was conducted effectively, with learning advisors anticipating the needs of learners and utilising online tools accordingly. Although initially nervous about attending online sessions, learners felt positive emotions during and after the online session and felt supported by learning advisors.

National assessment of school resources in cystic fibrosis care centers

Background: Assessment of the prevalence and correlates of educational risk and school support needs of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is limited. Educational support for people with CF has become even more pressing with the onset of COVID-19 and the dramatic changes seen in the education system nationally. Method(s): A cross-sectional needs assessment survey for pediatric and adult CF center care team members across the United States was distributed to assess student and family school needs, resources, services offered, and current processes for identification of concerns and intervention. Care teams were asked to complete the survey as a group or specify respondents who routinely provide school support. Result(s): The survey was sent to 3684 individuals within the CF care center network, on April 1, 2022, with a closure date of April 22, 2022. Preliminary results at time of this submission include 56 survey responses, completed primarily by social workers (40%) and physicians (23%), representing approximately 20% of all centers. Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported that their center administered a screening tool to assess general school functioning routinely or as needed. Specific school topics most widely assessed included need for CF care (treatments and medications) to occur at school (73%), concerns about emotional and behavioral functioning in the school setting (70%), CF daily care burden affecting school attendance and performance (63%), and CF-specific needs in university settings (63%). According to the care team report, families most often asked for help with school accommodations related to ability to carry enzymes (74%), carrying awater bottle (50%), additional bathroom passes (43%), and ability to step out of the classroom as needed for gastrointestinal problems (50%). Nurses, program coordinators, and social workers are the team members addressing school needs most often (55%, 42%, and 90%, respectively). Sixty-two percent of respondents reported having access to a hospital-based teacher for education support during inpatient stays, 10% had access to school services or educational support, and 5% had access to someone with a background or training in education or teaching (other than hospital-based teacher) for ambulatory care. Upon closure of the survey, the above data will be updated, and more complete identification of current resources and future needs will be described at the 2022 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Conclusion(s): This survey will be the most comprehensive assessment to date of ongoing school services at CF centers nationally. Results will be used to identify specific areas of need to guide development of a roadmap addressing proactive monitoring of school functioning and resources in the CF care modelCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Reframing Self-Access: Reviewing the Literature and Updating a Mission Statement for a New Era

This paper documents part of the process of preparing to fully reopen the physical Self- Access Learning Center (SALC) in a university in Japan after being somewhat interrupted during two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-access is becoming increasingly complex, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary and it is necessary to revisit SALC mission statements periodically, particularly after major events or changes. A group of language educators working at the university examined literature and theories from a range of perspectives in order to inform the future directions of the SALC. In a series of meetings over a one-semester period, one or two team members led a guided discussion based on some key papers, talks or other resources related to eight themes. After a semester of such discussions, they returned to the mission statement and re-examined it, making it more theoretically robust and specific, acting as a guide for SALC services for a new era. © 2022 by the authors.

The impact of covid-19 on the pharmaceutical supply chain

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the everyday lives of people and businesses around the world, and a field greatly affected has been the United States pharmaceutical supply chain. This global pandemic has made preexisting issues within the supply chain’s structure more glaring than before with people’s lives being at risk. Demand for drugs is at least equivalent and likely higher in this current health setting. If companies are not providing the appropriate medications to their customers, then it can be the difference between life and death for some. To investigate the challenges behind the supply chain, the analysis was focused on problems before COVID-19, such as the lack of transparency, burdensome regulations, and logistical issues due to improper distribution. An investigation on how COVID-19 has impacted each specific part of the pharmaceutical supply chain leads to a discussion on what recommendations could be implemented to fix the presented issues. The U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain is a complex, global system that has become increasingly more challenging to navigate because of COVID-19. Shortages need to be mitigated, and the inevitability of a future vaccine for the virus needs to follow a proper logistics and distribution model to ensure its success. © IEOM Society International.

Developing communication tools for CF patients during a pandemic

Background: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CF Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) was forced to shutter operations as usual and find new ways to communicate with the 235 pediatric patients and their families. In-person appointments and direct communication were decreased to minimize possible exposure to COVID-19. Information had to be shared in varying ways to answer questions for fearful patients and caregivers, as well as provide tools to empower them at home. Method: A virtual town hall was held in April 2020 that featured three providers who discussed information about COVID-19, how it affected both the inpatient and outpatient settings for our patients with CF, methods to cope with the stresses of living through a pandemic, followed by a Q&A with the webinar participants. A second virtual town hall was held in May to continue communication with patients and families regarding the effects of COVID-19 on current practices at CCHMC. A link to a recording of the town halls was emailed to all families and recordings and pertinent information were also posted on the CCHMC COVID-19 website. Another town hall is scheduled for June 2, 2020, and the CF Center anticipates holding these at least once a month moving forward. Just prior to the pandemic outbreak, the CF Center at CCHMC created a Pulmonary Exacerbation Scoring (PES) tool which enabled patients and caregivers to provide an objective score to signs and symptoms of a CF exacerbation. This tool is individualized for each patient, contains a list of each person's home maintenance respiratory medications, and helps families identify their child's baseline to know when symptoms increase. The PES tool was emailed to each patient/caregiver to empower and encourage them to continue care at home during this pandemic. A video, created by a parent partner, was included in the email to explain how to utilize the PES tool. Two social workers initiated patient-family communication by sending out an email of resources (CF-specific, med/food delivery, rent/mortgage/ food/utilities aid, etc) available to our patients in our tri-state region. Following this, several CF care members created and distributed informative videos concerning their respective fields. Our school liaison specialist offered tips to set up the caregivers for success with remote learning. The psychologist proffered two videos: one video was a COVID-19 specific video to address fear and anxiety, while the second video addressed mental health resources offered through CCHMC. Our physical therapist presented different ways patients and families can engage in activities while also under quarantine. Outcome: To date there have been 236 views of all recordings distributed. Families prior to the CF town hall webinar expressed concerns regarding COVID-19 and its effects on operations, but once the town hall was complete, felt that their concerns had been addressed. Verbatim feedback after the town halls included: “Great job everyone! This was really great! Dr. Chris did such a great job answering questions that I have nothing else!” and “This is truly an unbelievable time for all of us and all of you at Cincinnati Children's. I fully trust all of your decisions.”.