ABSTRACT
Public health measures promoting compliance of COVID-19 vaccination requires understanding of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study explored the KAP and risk factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination, including changes in preventive practices before and after vaccination in a high-income country, Singapore. An online cross-sectional study among Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 21 years and older was conducted from July to August 2021. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions using RStudio version 1.4.1106 was performed to assess associations between demographic factors, KAP, and vaccination status. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A total of 869 respondents completed the survey. Individuals with higher knowledge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.00, P = 0.024), perceived efficacy (aOR = 1.19, P = 0.004), perceived safety (aOR = 1.20, P = 0.005), and willingness to uptake (aOR = 1.55, P < 0.001) scores were more likely to be vaccinated. There was a significant increase in the use of proper handwashing techniques among the vaccinated group before and after vaccinations. The governmental risk communication approaches have been useful in instilling high levels of vaccine knowledge. High levels of good attitudes about and knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination were associated with a high level of vaccination practices. Good perceived vaccine efficacy and confidence in government were also associated with positive vaccine uptake. This study paves the way for more targeted government measures to be implemented to improve vaccination rates of COVID-19 booster vaccines in a high-income country like Singapore.
ABSTRACT
Background During COVID-19, anti-Asian discrimination increased in attention. Hate and unfair treatment are related but do not completely overlap. We expect those who report a hate incident would also report race-based unfair treatment, yet feelings of social desirability or self-blame may lead to under-reporting of unfair treatment. Objectives To describe reporting of an experience of race-based hate but not an experience of race-based unfair treatment among Asians in California and explore the association between this reporting discordance with (1) serious psychological distress, (2) forgoing needed medical care, (3) increased household interpersonal conflict, and (4) feeling unsafe in their neighborhood. Methods We used the 2020 California Health Interview Survey's AANHPI COVID Module, conducted weighted descriptive and multivariate analyses, and computed adjusted relative risks (RR). The multivariate models controlled for Asian subgroup, age, gender, immigrant status, education level, poverty, and English proficiency. Results Among Asians who reported race-based hate (6.9% overall), 62.4% reported not experiencing race-based unfair treatment. Compared to Asians not reporting a hate incident, this “discordant” group was more likely to experience serious psychological distress (RR = 6.9), forgo necessary medical care (RR = 2.4), increased household interpersonal conflicts (RR = 2.7), and feel unsafe in their neighborhoods (RR = 3.0). The “concordant” group did not post significant effects for severe psychological distress nor forgoing necessary medical care. Discussion Most Asians reporting hate did not report race-based unfair treatment, and this group is most affected by the consequences of a hate incident. We indicate future directions for research and policy.
ABSTRACT
AimsStudies of thalamic structure and function in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) suggest it may play a role in key aspects of the clinical syndrome. This study examined thalamic changes across PSP phenotypes investigating (i) thalamic atrophy (ii) thalamic functional connectivity and (iii) the relationship between thalamic structural and functional connectivity changes with clinical severity.MethodsParticipants92 participants with PSP [63 PSP-Richardson's Syndrome (RS), 24 PSP-cortical, 5 PSP-subcortical] and 104 age-matched controls were recruited from the Cambridge Centre for Parkinson's Plus Disorders cohort. Clinical assessments and imaging were conducted within 1 year of diagnosis.Structural AnalysisThalamic volumes (TVs) were obtained using FreeSurfer. Bayesian multiple regression (brms, R) was used to model (i) mean TVs (ii) group differences in mean TVs (iii) relationships between Z-standardised clinical scores and TVs with age, gender, and total grey matter as covariates.Functional AnalysisVoxel-wise seed-based functional connectivity of the thalamus used the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Expert Analysis Tool (FEAT) in FMRIB's Software Library (FSL). Inter-group differences and relationships between clinical scores and functional connectivity for each group were assessed using a general linear model with age and gender as covariates.ResultsStructural AnalysisTVs for all PSP subgroups were smaller than controls. No differences between PSP subgroups were detected. There was evidence for a relationship between TVs for the entire PSP group and Revised Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACER) scores [ß = 0.28, 95% credible interval (CI) = 0.04–0.53]. Subgroup analysis showed evidence for a relationship between ACER scores and TVs in PSP-RS [ß = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.09–0.57] and PSP-cortical [ß = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.12–0.83] phenotypes. A negative influence of TVs on total PSP rating scale scores was found for the PSP cohort a whole [ß = −0.51, 95% CI = −1.00 – −0.02].Functional AnalysisPSP patients as a group showed decreased thalamic functional connectivity in higher cortical regions. Subgroup analysis revealed decreased connectivity in those areas compared to controls but in distinct distributions and magnitude. Increased thalamic connectivity with the middle temporal gyrus correlated with ACER scores for PSP patients as a group and in the PSP-cortical subtype.ConclusionThalamic volume loss is a prominent aspect of PSP and is associated with a wide network of changes in functional connectivity that may be distinct between PSP subtypes. Changes in thalamic structure and function predict clinical severity, particularly in PSP-RS and PSP-cortical subtypes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The protracted COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for a sustainable telemedicine practice. OBJECTIVE: To understand patient perceptions toward teledermatology. METHODS: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study of 942 dermatology patients or their caregivers between June 2020 and April 2021. RESULTS: Multivariate regression found that youth, increased computer use, willingness to show body areas over photo/video, perceived quality of teledermatology, demand for social distancing and to reduce commute were associated with willingness to use teledermatology. The willingness to use teledermatology declined with the easing of COVID-19 movement restrictions, and 48.5% reported a poorer experience with teledermatology than with in-person consultations. Qualitative data from 26 interviews showed that willingness to use is influenced by pragmatic considerations, emotional factors, and data privacy concerns. These were moderated by the patient's perception of disease severity and need for an accurate diagnosis. LIMITATIONS: Lack of data prior to the pandemic and during the initial lockdown period. CONCLUSION: The willingness to use teledermatology is influenced by circumstantial factors, technology literacy, views toward teledermatology, and factors driving the purpose of consultation. The declining willingness to use teledermatology with the easing pandemic, lower willingness to pay full in-clinic prices, and poorer experience compared with in-person consultations highlights the need to optimize this mode of delivery.