COVID-19-specific adult basic life support guideline strategies for chiropractors and other healthcare providers to maximize the safety and efficacy of resuscitation: a commentary.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of an unprecedented novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-C0V-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has created new scenarios in basic life support (BLS) management. According to current evidence, SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted airborne in aerosol particles during resuscitation. Research evidence found an alarming global increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers are legally obliged to respond to cardiac arrest as soon as possible. Chiropractors will likely encounter potential exercise-related and non-exercise-related cardiac emergencies at some point in their professional lives. They have a duty of care to respond to emergencies such as cardiac arrest. Chiropractors are increasingly involved in providing care, including emergency care, for athletes and spectators at sporting events. Also, exercise-related cardiac arrest in adult patients may occur during exercise testing or rehabilitation with exercise prescriptions in chiropractic and other healthcare settings. Little is known about the COVID-19 BLS guidelines for chiropractors. Knowledge of the current COVID-19-specific adult BLS guidelines is essential to developing an emergency response plan for the on-field and sideline management of exercise-related cardiac arrest and non-athletic, non-exercise-related cardiac arrest. MAIN TEXT: Seven peer-reviewed articles on the COVID-19-specific BLS guidelines, including two updates, were reviewed for this commentary. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national and international resuscitation organizations recommended interim COVID-19-specific BLS guidelines with precaution, resuscitation, and education strategies. BLS safety is paramount. A precautionary approach with the bare minimum of appropriate personal protective equipment for resuscitation is recommended. There was disagreement among the COVID-19 BLS guidelines on the level of personal protective equipment. All healthcare professionals should also undergo self-directed BLS e-learning and virtual skill e-training. The summarized COVID-19-specific adult BLS guideline strategies and protocols are tabled, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This commentary provides a practical overview and highlights current evidence-based intervention strategies of the COVID-19-specific adult BLS guidelines that may help chiropractors and other healthcare providers reduce BLS-related exposures to SARS-CoV-2 and the risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and maximize the efficacy of resuscitation. This study is relevant to and impacts future COVID-19-related research in areas such as infection prevention and control.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody response after Moderna vaccine booster on healthcare providers.

INTRODUCTION: As an endeavor to control SARS-CoV-2 infection, the Moderna vaccine booster was given to healthcare workers to prevent reinfection and reduce the risk of complications from COVID-19. A heterologous booster vaccine is also thought to provide better protection against the current SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. However, research that evaluates the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine booster and the resulting SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentration is needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the Moderna vaccine booster and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection before and after the Moderna vaccine booster. RESULTS: A total of 93 healthcare providers who received Moderna vaccine booster were included in the study. Examination of antibody concentration 3 months after the booster showed an average concentration of 10081.65 U/mL. There was an increase in antibody concentration before the booster and 3 months after, from a median of 1.7 U/mL to 9540 U/mL. Every subject showed a statistically significant increment of antibody concentration 3 months after the booster (p < 0.01). Thirty-seven (39.8%) subjects received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine and were confirmed to have COVID-19 with the Delta variant. After the booster, 26 (28%) subjects were infected with the Omicron Variant. Among the subjects who received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine and were confirmed with COVID-19, 36 (30.1%) had mild symptoms, and 1 (1.1%) was asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Heterologous Moderna vaccine booster effectively increases antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 variants and shows mild symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

Training for virtual care: What do the experts think?

Introduction: Virtual care has expanded during COVID-19 and enabled continued access to healthcare services. As with the introduction of any new technology in healthcare delivery, the preparation of healthcare providers for adopting and using such systems is imperative. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experts' ascribed opinions on healthcare providers' continuing professional development (CPD) needs in virtual care. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of key informants representing Canadian provincial and national organizations with expertise in virtual care delivery. Results: Three main areas of knowledge, skills, and abilities that would be most helpful for healthcare providers in preparing to adopt and use virtual care were identified. The use of technology necessitates knowledge of how to integrate technology and virtual care in the practice workflow. This includes knowing how to use the technology and the privacy and security of the technology. Providers need to be able to adapt their clinical skills to virtual care and build rapport through good communication with patients. Virtual care is not appropriate for all visits, therefore providers need to understand when an in-person visit is necessary with respect to the nature of the appointment, as well as contextual factors for individual patients. Finally, providers need to adapt their examination skills to virtual care. Discussion: Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care will have a continuing role in enhancing continuity of care through access that is more convenient. Key informants identified barriers and challenges in adopting and using virtual care effectively, fundamental knowledge, skills and/or abilities required, and important topics and/or educational experiences to guide CPD program development on virtual care for healthcare providers.

Exploring virtual care clinical experience from non-physician healthcare providers (VCAPE).

COVID-19 has caused an urgent implementation of virtual care (VC). Most research has focused on patient and physician experience with virtual care. Non-physician healthcare providers have played an active role in transitioning to virtual care, yet little is known about their experiences. This study explored their lived experiences in caring for patients virtually. Forty non-physician healthcare providers from local hospitals, community, and home care settings in Kingston, ON, Canada, participated and included nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, registered dietitians, social workers, and speech-language pathologists. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews between February and July 2021 and were analyzed thematically. The study was guided by organizational change theory. Four themes were identified from the data: 1) Quality of care, 2) Resources and training, 3) Healthcare system efficiency, and 4) Health equity and access for patients. Providers suggested that VC increased patient-centredness and had clear benefits for patients. Participants had little to no training in conducting patient care, virtually stating this as a key challenge. They believed that VC increased the efficiency of the healthcare system and was more proactive. Despite concerns regarding inequities across healthcare, participants reported that VC could improve equity as long as patients had access to technology. The study highlights the urgent need to support all healthcare providers in delivering optimal patient-centred care. We should leverage some of the advantages offered by VC to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery, reduce provider burnout, and increase capacity across organizational systems.

Healthcare Providers' Experiences of Caring for Patients With COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) affected healthcare workers (HCW) in ways more than increasing the volume of patients needing care. Increased numbers of patients at younger ages required support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Providing this care requires an interdisciplinary team. AIM: This study explored the experiences of HCW caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO. METHODS: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconferencing, and transcript comparison was used for the analysis. FINDINGS: Open coding of the data generated 7 categories including (1) fearing the unknown, (2) confronting challenges in patient and/or family interactions, (3) encountering barriers to providing care, (4) facing moral distress, (5) working through exhaustion, (6) persevering by strengthening teamwork, (7) and acknowledging frustration with non-believers. DISCUSSION: HCW balanced pessimism and optimism while caring for patient with COVID-19 on ECMO. They used negative experiences caring for these patients to strength teamwork and bonding among peers. CONCLUSION: The practice implications for caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO include viligance by clinician and organization to protect the wellbeing of healthcare providers, particularly in ICU and ECMO units were moral distress and burnout can be high.

From another perspective: narrative medicine and healthcare providers' narratives during the COVID-19 pandemic

Contrasting COVID-19 is widely debated but often treated from a clinical or, at most, managerial perspective. Less attention is instead assigned to a narrative view of the problem. However, the stories of those who combat this pathogen teach us the need to use storytelling strategies to counteract the effects of the disease on patients and its consequences on healthcare providers. This contribution aims to address the COVID-19 issue from the perspective of narrative medicine, first by defining it and then by reporting some healthcare professionals' experiences. It intends to highlight the importance that medicine has not only on the patient but also on healthcare professionals. It offers a brief review of some of their narratives, focusing on experiences with different tones and struggles and emphasizing the importance of narrative in one's work in supporting patients. In addition, this contribution also aims to reason that not everything can be solved with words, as they help but do not solve everyday problems.

Resilience of Home Health Care Providers in the Digital Era: A Scoping Review

Due to the unforeseen global crises in recent years, especially COVID-19, the demand for home health care services (HHC) has increased significantly. For maintenance of the capability and function of an HHC provider in the face of unforeseen events, its resilience drivers need to be explained properly. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the resilience factors of home health care providers and the role of new digital technologies in its improvement. In this study, articles from Scopus and Web of Science were reviewed and analyzed in a scoping review given the keywords of the research. After the studied databases were screened, seventeen articles on the research topic were identified and analyzed to obtain the results of the research. The findings demonstrate that the resilience of an HHC provider consists of several dimensions, which include pre-activity, organizational culture, monitoring and evaluation, human resource empowerment, knowledge-based management, and extra-organizational contexts. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Change in depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental health problems among healthcare workers globally. However, studies from low- and middle-income countries on this matter were minimal. This study assessed the change in depression prevalence during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among healthcare providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted surveys among healthcare workers in Addis Ababa at two-time points, September 2020 and October 2021. A total of 577 study participants were randomly selected based on registers obtained from professional associations. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing technique was used for data collection. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential factors associated with depression. Result: The prevalence of depression among healthcare workers was 2.3% (95% CI [1.1-4.8]) in Time 1 and 6.5% (95% CI [4.1-10.1]) in Time 2; nearly a three-fold increase in Time 2 compared to Time 1. The most frequently reported symptoms at both times based on the PHQ-9 item were having poor energy, sleep problem, and anhedonia, while reported suicidal ideation was less than 5%. Depression showed a positive and significant association with a positive COVID-19 test result (AOR 7.25 95% CI [1.32-39.4]) in Time 1, and with being a female healthcare provider (AOR 3.96 95% CI [1.08-14.51]) and lack of COVID-19 related policy or guidelines at the workplace (AOR 3.22 95% CI [1.11-9.35]) in Time 2. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among healthcare workers tripled during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Panic reaction to positive COVID-19 test result seems to have a negative effect at the beginning while lack of disease-specific prevention guidelines and comprehensive psychological interventions for healthcare providers had an adverse effect on the mental health of health workers.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an online cancer screening training programme for healthcare providers in the public sector in India: learnings from a hub and spoke model perspective.

Introduction: This article elicits our experiences and strategic approaches to ensure the sustainability of the online capacity-building programmes for healthcare providers (HCPs) in comprehensive cancer screening through the 'Hub and Spoke' model during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: During the first wave of COVID-19, training for three cohorts of medical officers (MO) (Batch-A) was ongoing (May-December 2020). The Indian health system abruptly shifted focus towards containing the COVID-19 spread, leading to new challenges in conducting training courses. A new five-step strategic approach for cohort MO-14 (Batch-B) was adopted to spread awareness about the importance of cancer screening and the roles and responsibilities of HCPs in the implementation and conduct of practical sessions in their states in collaboration with their respective state governments. We also adopted social media - WhatsApp for official communication. Results: Enrolling Batch-B following the new strategic approach reduced refusals by 25% and dropouts by 36% compared to Batch-A. Course compliance and completion was a significant 96% in Batch-B. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic opened a window of opportunity to understand the need for vital changes to improve the quality of our hybrid cancer screening training. Inclusion of the state government in planning and implementing the changes, awareness among HCPs about the importance of training and responsible acceptance of cancer screening, district-wise approach, use of social media in sharing course materials and conducting in-person training in the respective state have demonstrated significant impact on the quality of the training and in scaling-up of cancer screening. Prolonged mentorship, robust Internet connectivity for providers and training on handling gadgets and online video communication would profoundly benefit remote training programmes.A well-devised backup system is essential for training programmes during unforeseen eventualities such as the COVID pandemic.

TURKISH DIALYSIS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS' PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Objective: COVID-19 has been a stressful experience for healthcare providers (HCPs) and created additional distress for dialysis HCPs due to patients' higher risk of infection, symptom severity, and death. This study aims to investigate Turkish dialysis HCPs' levels of psychological difficulties during COVID-19's initial outbreak. Materials and Methods: The study has recruited physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers in dialysis centers. The participants completed an online survey that includes the screening questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The study conducts the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis H test, Spearman correlation, and linear regression analyses. Results: The study involves 953 respondents, with nurses making up the majority (n=465, 48.8%), followed by healthcare workers (n=402;42.2%) and physicians (n=86;9%). HCPs' most significant concerns were getting infected with COVID-19 and transmitting the disease to their loved ones. Single participants, those without children, those who had trouble finding equipment, and those worried about being able to find equipment in the future, being in contact with COVID-19 (+) people, those whose tobacco and alcohol use increased, and those who declared sleep, appetite, and/or somatic problems had higher DASS-21 scores. When compared respectively to healthcare workers and physicians, nurses were found to be more worried about getting COVID-19 (94.6% compared to 90.6% and 84.7%;p < 0.001), experience equipment shortages (52.9% compared to 29.4% and 26.3%;p<0.001), have sleep (62.2% compared to 43.5% and 34%;p<0.001) and somatic problems (58.4% compared to 50% and 28.2%;p<0.001), and higher DASS-21 scores (Range=5-21 compared to 3-15 and 0-12;p<0.001). Conclusion: Worries and lifestyle changes associated with the outbreak are seen to have been be related to psychological difficulties. An adequate level of knowledge, self-protection, and social support are essential issues for HCPs. While this study recommends that HCPs express and share their worries, institutions should also focus on the psychological status of their staff and provide immediate interventions. © 2023 The authors.

Knowledge, Perception, and Reporting Practices of Healthcare Providers about Adverse Events Following the COVID-19 Vaccination in Iraq

Routine vaccination activities, such as detection, reporting, and management of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs), are generally handled by healthcare providers (HCPs). Safe vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) were introduced to control the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practice of HCPs in Iraq about reporting adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, and their association with sociodemographic variables. The study was a cross-sectional study that was carried out between August and September 2021 at the COVID-19 vaccination centers in Iraq. This study used an online and paper-based questionnaire, which was distributed among HCPs (physicians and pharmacists) in COVID-19 vaccination centers. A total of 117 pharmacists and physicians responded to the survey. Two-thirds of respondents were pharmacists. The majority of the respondents (49.6%) had fair knowledge levels on AEFIs. The perception of 43% of the participants was very good, whereas the perception of 28%, 23%, and 6% of the participants was fair, good, and poor, respectively. The reporting practice of HCPs was inadequate in 53% of respondents. The number of pharmacists who had good knowledge of AEFIs was significantly higher than that of the physicians. The age group (30-39) years of HCPs was significantly associated with more positive perception towards AEFIs. The number of pharmacists that had good perception was significantly higher than that of the physicians. Furthermore, HCPs aged 30 to 39 years had significantly higher reporting practices than other age groups. The study highlighted that the HCPs working at the COVID-19 vaccination centers have low knowledge of AEFIs. On the other hand, HCPs had more positive perception towards reporting AEFIs. Education programs and reference materials are needed to increase their awareness about AEFIs.Copyright © 2022 University of Baghdad - College of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

Technology is not the problem: A case study on perspectives of healthcare providers on remote collaborative mental health care in a university student health center

University student health centers play an important role in addressing mental health problems among college students as they serve as an 'entry point' into receiving healthcare. Adopting a collaborative care approach allows healthcare providers to address complex healthcare needs in college students and provide better quality care due to the exchange of knowledge and expertise among various healthcare providers (Donnelly et al., 2021;Knowles et al., 2015). However, collaboration had to be adapted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and providers had to adapt to this by collaborating mental health care remotely. While extensive research has been conducted on collaborative care, little research has explored the perspectives of healthcare providers on collaborating remotely, especially in a university student health center population. A multi-method, single-case study approach was adopted to explore the perspectives of healthcare providers on remote collaborative mental health care in a university student health center population. Healthcare providers who collaborated mental health care remotely completed a questionnaire that measured the strength of the collaborative relationship with mental health providers, followed by an interview. Data from the questionnaire was used to complement findings from the interview. Qualitative findings suggest that healthcare providers perceived that (1) there was more collaboration under the same entity, (2) collaboration is challenging when providers are working under separate entities, (3) collaboration is valuable, and that (4) in-person collaboration is preferred but remote collaboration is just as effective. Quantitative results suggest that while collaboration was challenging for healthcare providers, they believed that they were able to continue providing high quality care to patients. Findings from this study shed light on the collaborative care process when providers worked under the same versus separate entities. Further, technology was believed to be just as effective as in-person collaboration and was able to circumvent the challenges from working under separate entities and the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Technology acceptance model among nurses and other healthcare providers during the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic: a comparative cross-sectional study

Aim: The study aimed to explore differences in usefulness and the ease of use of electronic health records (EHRs) as perceived by nurses and other healthcare providers (HCPs) during the 2019 coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Jordan. It also aimed to investigate the association of gender, marital status, age, educational level, experience, and experience of using EHRs in predicting the technology acceptance model (TAM) of EHRs among the same selected group. Design: A comparative cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience sample of 90 nurses and 96 HCPs completed the technology acceptance model survey. The response rate for nurses was 60%, compared to 64% for HCPs. The study was conducted from May to July 2020. Results: The study found that, generally, both nurses and other HCPs perceived high levels of usefulness and ease of use of EHRs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Other HCPs perceived higher levels of usefulness (86%) and ease of use (76.5%) of EHRs than nurses (79.5% and 73.5%, respectively) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Statistical differences were noted between both groups (p < 0.05). Marital status and experience in using EHRs were found to be associated with TAM among nurses. There were no associations of TAM among other HCPs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Due to the nature of nurses' work, the implementation and acceleration of the use of EHRs during the Covid-19 pandemic could be expected to encounter certain obstacles. © 2022 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery.

The Hidden Crisis: Understanding Potentially Morally Injurious Events Experienced by Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers (HCPs) may be at elevated risk for moral injury due to increased exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying PMIEs experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical first step for understanding moral injury in HCPs. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of the work-related PMIEs experienced by HCPs in Canada during the pandemic. METHODS: Canadian HCPs completed an online survey between February and December 2021 about mental health and functioning, including demographics and the Moral Injury Outcome Scale (MIOS). We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of PMIEs described extemporaneously by HCPs in the open-text field of the MIOS. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-four (N = 124) HCPs were included in analysis. Eight PMIE-related themes were identified, comprising patients dying alone; provision of futile care; professional opinion being ignored; witnessing patient harm; bullying, violence and divided opinions; resources and personal protective equipment; increased workload and decreased staffing; and conflicting values. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding broad categories of PMIES experienced by Canadian HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to enhance cultural competency surrounding their experiences which will aid the development of targeted prevention and intervention approaches.

The SEED Wellness Model: A Workplace Approach to Address Wellbeing Needs of Healthcare Staff During Crisis and Beyond.

Workplace wellness has gained new meaning and significance in the healthcare workforce in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers across the world have carried the burden of responding to the public health crisis by having to work under new pressures and constantly changing environments, take on additional shifts, risk their own health and lives, and cope with the ongoing psychological and emotional strain. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a workplace wellness model applied across hospitals in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, a regional area in New South Wales, Australia. The description of the development, components, and lessons learned from the SEED Wellness Model illustrates one possible solution about how to provide better care for the staff thus not only preventing staff burnout and turnover, but also creating lasting organizational benefits. The detailed model description can assist in developing a larger and more rigorous evidence-base to improve staff wellness in healthcare settings, both within Australia and internationally.

Health care providers' preparedness and health care protection against the third wave of COVID-19 pandemics in a resource-limited setting in Southwest Ethiopia: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the provision of quality health care during the COVID-19 pandemic depends largely on the health of health care providers. Health care providers as frontline caregivers dealing with infected patients play a significant role in limiting the outbreak of the disease by implementing safety and prevention practices. However, low and middle-income countries experience barriers to preparedness due to limited resources. Methods: an institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 326 health care providers from August 10-25, 2021 in Gurage zonal public hospitals. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A pretested self -administered structured questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The data were entered into the Epi-data 3.1 and exported to Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis. Both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were presented. Results: this study showed that 53.1%, of health care providers, had adequate preparation against COVID-19 pandemics. The finding showed that monthly income, occupation, and working experience were found to be significantly associated with health care providers' preparedness. Nearly one-quarter (24.8%), 28.3%, 34.5%, and 39.8% of health care providers had access to facemasks, alcohol sanitizer, glove, and isolation gowns respectively. Conclusion: the levels of health care providers' preparedness and health care protection against the third wave COVID-19 pandemic were found to be low. Based on our findings, the government and other stakeholders should design interventions to increase health care providers' preparedness to respond to the ongoing pandemic and purchase an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to protect the health care providers.

Psychosocial Challenges of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic Among Frontline Health Care Providers and Their Coping Mechanisms at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Southwestern Uganda.

Background: As a novel global health pandemic, Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-2019) has posed various challenges to frontline healthcare providers (FHCPs). This study explored the social and psychological challenges of COVID-19 to the FHCPs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, southwestern Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach. Participants were purposively selected, consented, and interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were entered into NVivo 10 software and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Fourteen FHCPs with diverse roles, including 8 men, were interviewed. Participants' median age was 38 years (range: 26-51 years) and eleven of them were married. The subjects' experiences were explored in relation to perceived social and psychological challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and coping mechanisms in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The social challenges identified were burnout, domestic violence, and a financially constrained environment. A further, psychological challenge was anxiety, as well as fear and distress. FHCPs responded with a variety of coping mechanisms, including situational acceptance, religious coping, coping through emotional support of others, and bulk purchase of supply-constrained basic necessities. Conclusion: FHCPs experienced numerous social and psychological challenges, which negatively affected their quality of life amidst a wavering pandemic. As the pandemic rages on, creative and low-cost psychosocial interventions for FHCPs are needed, possibly including more formal peer support, and an improved flow of information about ongoing infectious disease control interventions, so FHCPs feel more knowledgeable about what is ahead.

Telehealth Readiness of Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess and explore the telehealth readiness of healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in a government healthcare facility in Saudi Arabia between August and October 2020. The Telehealth Readiness Assessment (TRA) tool was used. RESULTS: A total of 372 healthcare providers participated in this study. Their mean age was 35.5 years (SD = 10.46). The majority of respondents were female (65.6%), nurses (68.0%), married (60.2%), and non-Saudi nationals (64.2%). The analysis shows that healthcare providers generally had moderate-to-high telehealth readiness. Of the five domains, financial contributions had the lowest rating among nurses and physicians, 63.4% and 66.1%, respectively. Gender (ß = 7.64, p = 0.001), years of experience in the organization (ß = 11.75, p = 0.001), and years of experience in the profession (ß = 10.04, p = 0.023) predicted the telehealth readiness of healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: The telehealth readiness of healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia showed moderate to high levels. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a catastrophic threat to both patients and healthcare providers. Assessing telehealth readiness should include both patients and healthcare provider factors. A better understanding of the factors of organizational readiness, particularly healthcare providers, could help avoid costly implementation errors.

Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Introduction: Virtual care has expanded during COVID-19 and enabled continued access to healthcare services. For many healthcare providers, the adoption of virtual care has been a new experience in the provision of healthcare services. The purpose of this survey study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences with virtual care during COVID-19. Methods: A web-based survey-questionnaire was developed by applying Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation and distributed to healthcare providers (physicians, nurses and allied health professionals) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to explore virtual care experiences, satisfaction and continuing professional development (CPD) needs. Analyses included descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of survey responses. Results: Fifty-one percent of respondents (n = 432) indicated they were currently offering virtual care and a majority (68.9%) reported it has improved their work experience. Telephone appointments were preferred over videoconferencing by respondents, with key challenges including the inability to conduct a physical exam, patients' cell phone services being unreliable and patients knowing how to use videoconferencing. Majority of respondents (57.5%) reported quality of care by telephone was lower than in-person, whereas quality of care by videoconferencing was equivalent to in-person. Main benefits of virtual care included increased patient access, ability to work from home, and reduction in no-show appointments. Key supports for adopting virtual care included in-house organizational supports (e.g., technical support staff), local colleague support, and technology training. Important topics for virtual care CPD included complying with regulatory standards/rules, understanding privacy or ethical boundaries, and developing competency and digital professionalism while engaging in virtual care. Discussion: Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care will have a continuing role in enhancing continuity of care through access that is more convenient. Survey findings reveal a number of opportunities for supporting healthcare providers in use of virtual care, including CPD, guidelines and resources to support adaptation to virtual care provision (e.g., virtual examinations/assessments), as well as patient educational support.

Long-term support referrals to enhance food security and well-being in older adults: Texas physicians and nurses on what works.

Aim: Senior participation in the congregate meal programs (CMPs) has alarmingly declined over the past decade in Texas as elsewhere in the nation. The purpose of this survey study was to identify the possible reasons for this decline from the viewpoint of the Texas physicians and nurses who are key in coordinating care and ensuring food security for the vulnerable older Texans by referring them to community-based long-term support services (LTSS). Subject and methods: The methodology adopted was an online panel survey of physicians and nurses from rural and urban Texas counties. Structured multiple-choice and open-ended questions primarily focused on provider referral processes, reasons for connecting older clients to CMPs, perceptions about various aspects of these programs, possible reasons for the decline in participation, suggestions to make the programs an integral part of the community-based LTSS referral system, and how to address the COVID-19 pandemic constraints on the programs. Results: As a majority of the healthcare providers surveyed were unaware of the CMPs in their communities, the study spotlighted an urgent need for a better-coordinated referral process centered on strategic marketing and awareness-building about the CMPs, including an extensive healthcare provider education component as well as an overall improvement in meal quality and variety. Conclusion: The study highlights a need for additional research so decision-makers better understand how to best disseminate information to healthcare providers to improve the referral mechanisms, increase the referrals, and enhance the overall CMP program quality to benefit the vulnerable food-insecure older adults.