Evaluating the Feasibility and Usability of the Disposable Intubation Drape (I-Drape).

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several protective barrier enclosures were developed to protect healthcare providers during airway manipulation. A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) created a barrier, the disposable intubation drape (I-Drape), that addressed limitations in range of motion. A nonrandomized, quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was used to evaluate I-Drape usability. CRNAs implemented I-Drape up to three times. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze the primary outcome: time (in seconds) to successful intubation. An online survey was used to evaluate secondary outcomes of interest: users' perceptions of features such as usability, visibility, and durability. We recruited 23 CRNAs as participants for 59 trials. Overall successful intubation and first-pass success rates were 96.6% and 93.2%, respectively. Time to successful intubation did not significantly decrease (ß = -9.16, P = 0.323) or differ significantly among types of laryngoscopy device and years of experience was not a significant factor. Overall, users favorably rated I-Drape with respect to usability, visibility, durability, and feature utility. This study demonstrated the functionality, success rate, and acceptability of I-Drape. I-Drape can be used safely and efficiently with any type of laryngoscopy device by providers with various experience levels.

Identification of county-level health factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in the United States.

Many studies have investigated causes of COVID-19 and explored safety measures for preventing COVID-19 infections. Unfortunately, these studies fell short to address disparities in health status and resources among decentralized communities in the United States. In this study, we utilized an advanced modeling technique to examine complex associations of county-level health factors with COVID-19 mortality for all 3141 counties in the United States. Our results indicated that counties with more uninsured people, more housing problems, more urbanized areas, and longer commute are more likely to have higher COVID-19 mortality. Based on the nationwide population-based data, this study also echoed prior research that used local data, and confirmed that county-level sociodemographic factors, such as more Black, Hispanic, and older subpopulations, are attributed to high risk of COVID-19 mortality. We hope that these findings will help set up priorities on high risk communities and subpopulations in future for fighting the novel virus.