Global Evidence of Pandemic Effects on Educational Disruption

The article provides a vivid illustration of the challenges faced by the education sector during the pandemic. Education disruptions have increased stress and anxiety in students and their families. In addition to this, schools in rural areas and underdeveloped countries failed to provide the necessary equipment and facilities to help the students proceed with online classes. These articles have relied on secondary data and information to understand various concepts and theories. In order to combat these consequences, a worldwide initiative called REDS was formed to analyze the opinion of students and individuals connected with the education sector and remodel the system for combating the challenges posed by the pandemic. The study proceeded with the help of thematic analysis. © 2023 EDP Sciences. All rights reserved.

Relative Effectiveness of Vaccination and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions on COVID-19 Infection and Deaths in the US

Objectives: To examine the relative effectiveness of vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on COVID-19 infection, reproduction rate, and deaths in the US. Method(s): Retrospective national-level US data were obtained from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT dataset). We performed time-trend analyses from December 2020 to December 2022 to observe how the values of policy variables and the number of COVID-19 new cases and deaths changed over time. The policy variables included (1) the number of people fully vaccinated per 100 of the total population (referred to as vaccination rate) and (2) the stringency index (a proxy for NPIs since it is a composite measure based on nine response indicators including school closures, workplace closures, stay-at-home requirements, and travel bans). We also performed multivariable linear regression to examine the associations between the policy variables and the COVID-19 reproduction rate. Result(s): Based on the time-trend analyses, the number of people vaccinated started to rise since March 2021, while the stringency index had steadily declined since early January 2021. A decrease in new COVID-19 cases and deaths was also observed during these three months (January to March 2021). However, despite a higher vaccination rate than in early 2021, new COVID-19 cases and deaths peaked in late 2021 and early 2022, suggesting that some NPIs might still be needed. The multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the reproduction rate of COVID-19 was negatively associated with the stringency index (coefficient = -0.010, 95% CI -0.013 to -0.005) and vaccination rate (coefficient = -0.005, 95% CI -0.009 to -0.001), after controlling for time covariates. Conclusion(s): The study highlighted the importance of NPIs in reducing new COVID-19 cases and deaths even when vaccination was in progress. Further research accounting for other factors is needed to disentangle the effects of NPIs and other measures from vaccination campaigns.Copyright © 2023

Zero Suicide Quality Improvement: Developmental and Pandemic-Related Patterns in Youth at Risk for Suicide Attempts

The Zero Suicide (ZS) approach to health system quality improvement (QI) aspires to reduce/eliminate suicides through enhancing risk detection and suicide prevention services. This first report from our randomized trial evaluating a stepped care for suicide prevention intervention within a health system conducting ZS-QI describes (1) our screening and case identification process, (2) variation among adolescents versus young adults, and (3) pandemic-related patterns during the first COVID-19 pandemic year. Between April 2017 and January 2021, youths aged 12-24 years with elevated suicide risk were identified through an electronic health record (EHR) case-finding algorithm followed by direct assessment screening to confirm risk. Eligible/enrolled youth were evaluated for suicidality, self-harm, and risk/protective factors. Case finding, screening, and enrollment yielded 301 participants showing suicide risk indicators: 97% past-year suicidal ideation, 83% past suicidal behavior;and 90% past non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Compared to young adults, adolescents reported more past-year suicide attempts (47% vs. 21%, p <.001) and NSSI (past 6 months, 64% vs. 39%, p <.001);less depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use;and greater social connectedness. Pandemic onset was associated with lower participation of racial-ethnic minority youths (18% vs. 33%, p <.015) and lower past-month suicidal ideation and behavior. Results support the value of EHR case-finding algorithms for identifying youths with potentially elevated risk who could benefit from suicide prevention services, which merit adaptation for adolescents versus young adults. Lower racial-ethnic minority participation after the COVID-19 pandemic onset underscores challenges for services to enhance health equity during a period with restricted in-person health care, social distancing, school closures, and diverse stresses.Copyright © 2023 Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's learning and wellbeing: Evidence from India.

We study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated school closure on primary school children's learning and mental wellbeing in Assam, India. Using a comprehensive dataset that tracked and repeatedly surveyed approximately 5000 children across 200 schools between 2018 and 2022, we find that children lost the equivalent of nine months of learning in mathematics and eleven months in language, during the pandemic. Children lacking resources and parental support experienced the largest losses. Regular practice, teacher interaction, and technology were associated with less learning loss. Over the same period, children's psychological wellbeing improved. Our research provides valuable insights for designing post-emergency programs.

(Re)defining the Teaching-Learning Process During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Portuguese Experience

In mid-March 2020, following the decision reached by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portuguese government ordered the closure of schools. This resolution presented a great challenge: to transform classroom activities into online sessions using digital technologies for thousands of students in primary, secondary and higher education. If we can consider that this challenge was met, proving the ‘visionary' character of Connectivism, it is necessary to highlight the adaptation of teachers and students to the new world of virtual classes. In order to assess the ‘Teaching Practices in the Time of the Pandemic, ' as well as the opinion of teachers on face-to-face, blended or online classes, a Likert-type questionnaire was applied. The results are presented and discussed here. The main conclusions reaffirm the preference for the face-to-face model, articulated with distance learning practices. The lack of contact with students and colleagues, the heavier workload and stress, the worsening of inequalities among students and inhibition of collaborative work are the most focused problems with online teaching. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Effects of Public Health Interventions against Covid-19 in France

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and vaccines have been used by many countries to manage the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite numerous studies, considerable uncertainty remains about the effects of these public health interventions due to data quality issues and methodological challenges to estimating effects. However, producing accurate and precise estimates of the effects of these interventions is of utmost importance for the preparedness of any new epidemic. Method(s): We developed a population-based mechanistic compartmental model that includes the effect of NPIs on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and the effect of vaccination on the transmission and the rate of hospitalization. Our statistical approach estimated all parameters in one step, thus accurately propagating uncertainty, and representing spatial heterogeneity. We fitted the model to all available epidemiological data (hospital admissions and occupancy, cases, and deaths) from March 2020 to October 2021 in France. Hence, we estimated the time-varying transmission rate, and derived the effect of NPIs through an integrated regression model. We simulated counterfactual scenarios of the interplay of NPIs and vaccine availability and rollout with the same model. Result(s): We found that the first lockdown reduced transmission by 84% (95% CI [83-85]) and was more effective than the second and third lockdowns (reduction of 75% [72-77] and 9% [6-13], respectively). A 6pm curfew was more effective than an 8 pm curfew (transmission reduction of 69% [67-70] vs. 50% [48-53]). School closures had a smaller effect on transmission (15% [12-19]). By the end of the study period, the protection conferred by vaccines against hospitalization and against infection, considering viral variants and population vaccine coverage, ranged between 69-92% and 29-40%, respectively. In a scenario without vaccines, we predicted 209% (95% PI [34-520]) more deaths and 346% [101-798] more hospitalizations throughout the study period. Conversely, if an effective vaccine had been available after 100 days, 65% [36-80] deaths and 72% [45-84] hospitalizations could have been averted. Conclusion(s): Our results provide reliable effect and uncertainty estimates of each NPI and demonstrate that NPIs and vaccination synergistically reduced COVID-19 transmission, hospitalization, and deaths. This emphasizes the importance of stringent NPIs and a high vaccination rate to prevent further epidemic resurgences and control other emerging respiratory infectious diseases.

Risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in people's lifestyles, mainly in healthy eating habits and behaviors. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the association of eating habits, family eating behaviors, lifestyles, and perception of nutritional status with the risk of overnutrition in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 661 Chilean children and adolescents. The study tool was an online self-report questionnaire taken during the COVID-19 lockdown. We observed overnutrition in 37.5%. Habits such as sleeping the recommended number of hours by age group and having healthy family behaviors decreased the risk of overnutrition by 49.0% (OR= 0.510, p= <0.001) and 10.8% (OR= 0.892, p= 0.01), respectively. Parents' perception of weight gain during the pande-mic, the distortion of nutritional status and the health risk of their children's nutritional status increased 4.8 (OR= 4.846, p= <0.001), 8.5 (OR= 8.580, p= <0.001) and 3.8 (OR= 3.826, p= <0.001) times, respectively, the risk of overnutrition in children and adolescents. In conclusion, the COVID-19 lockdown and school closures may have affected lifestyles. In addition, the role of parents in the perception of nutritional status and family eating behaviors is fundamental since they could be a predictor of the risk of overnutrition. These findings propose further research to design plans and programs to avoid the consequences related to overweight and obesity.Copyright © 2023, Sociedad Chilena de Nutricion Bromatologia y Toxilogica. All rights reserved.

Impact of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquisition and chronic infection at a single pediatric cystic fibrosis center

Background: As cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease progresses, the airways become colonized with opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa secondary to airway surface liquid depletion. Acquisition of P. aeruginosa is associated with decline in lung function and increase in treatment burden and mortality. In October 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), a highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) for individuals aged 12 and older with one copy of the F508del CFTR mutation. ELX/TEZ/IVA increases the amount of and function of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the respiratory epithelium, increasing mucociliary clearance (MCC) and reducing static airway mucous, a major trigger for chronic infection and inflammation. Method(s): A retrospective analysis of inhaled tobramycin (iTOB) prescriptions prescribed between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, was performed. This captured data before and after ELX/TEZ/IVA approval at Children's Mercy Kansas City (CMKC). The number of individuals with new P. aeruginosa acquisition was determined by identifying electronic prescriptions for iTOB eradication courses. An eradication course was defined as a first lifetime prescription for iTOB or a new prescription for iTOB submitted at least 1 year after a previous prescription. The number of individuals considered chronically infected with P. aeruginosa was determined by identifying individuals receiving chronic iTOB prescriptions and confirmed by respiratory cultures indicating chronic infection based on the Leeds criteria (P. aeruginosa recovered in >=50% of airway cultures in the previous 12 months). Result(s): Eradication courseswere prescribed to 34 individuals in 2016 (15% of people receiving care at CMKC). The number of eradication prescriptions declined in 2020 and 2021, with only 15 (7%) individuals prescribed eradication therapy in 2020 and 12 (5%) in 2021. A similar pattern was observed for prescriptions for chronic infection. In 2016, 57 individuals (25% of our patient population) were receiving iTOB for chronic P. aeruginosa infection. Reductions were seen in 2020 and 2021, with 28 (13%) and 20 (9%) individuals prescribed chronic therapy, respectively. The number of individuals prescribed iTOB for P. aeruginosa eradication and chronic infection per year is represented in Figure 1.(Figure Presented)Conclusions: CMKC experienced a decrease in the number of courses of iTOB prescribed over the last 6 years. HEMT use is associated with greater MCC and anti-inflammatory effects affecting the airway microbiome. The decrease in respiratory cultures growing P. aeruginosa likely reflects these phenomena. A confounding factor is the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and widespread use of HEMT. Clinic closures and implementation of telemedicine limited in-person patient visits during 2020 and 2021. Despite limited in-person visits, the average number of respiratory cultures per individual at CMKC in 2020 was 3.5, which is consistent with previous years.Wewere able to obtain frequent surveillance cultures through implementation of a drive-through respiratory specimen collection process. Hence, the decrease in number of iTOB courses cannot be attributed to a decrease in frequency of respiratory cultures, although we cannot assess the impact of school closures and a decrease in social gatherings on new P. aeruginosa acquisition or chronic infection. Looking at all these variables, the widespread use of HEMT likely played a significant role in reducing new P. aeruginosa acquisition and chronic P. aeruginosa infection.Copyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Measuring caregiver stress and perceived self-efficacy during a worldwide pandemic

Background: Anxiety and depression levels are significant in caregivers of young people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) [1]. Literature also shows that perceived self-efficacy (a person's beliefs about their capabilities) is lower in caregivers of children with chronic illness;particularly with increased stress, lack of resources, or ambiguity related to illness course [2,3]. There are few studies looking at the effects of the pandemic on self-efficacy in caregivers and children. Given the national distress, school closures, and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team aimed to investigate effects on caregivers of young PwCF (<=18) at our CF center, particularly their perceived stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Method(s): An anonymous survey using REDCap was developed to look at descriptive features of caregiver demographics, number of children in the home with CF, and perceptions related to COVID-19 and how it affected their lifestyle. Caregivers completing the survey rated their current stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The PROMIS self-efficacy tool, a validated measure of perceived self-efficacy, was incorporated into the survey. Most response options were on a Likert scale. The survey was available electronically through hyperlink and a QR scan code. Result(s): Of 17 caregivers who responded to our initial survey, 82% reported that COVID-19 had significantly affected their lives, 41% experienced financial hardship, 53% were feeling "more" or "much more" anxious, 76% were feeling angrier, and 94% reported "more" or "much more" stress than before the pandemic (Figure 1). Many respondents were worried about spreading illness to their children or being unable to care for their child. Perceived self-efficacy scores were average to high in most caregivers, indicating confidence in their abilities to manage difficult situations. Respondents were more likely to be female and well educated and have private insurance. (Figure Presented) Figure 1. Responses to difference in current perceived stress level before and durring the pandemic Conclusion(s): This is the first known descriptive study to look at effects of a worldwide pandemic on caregivers of young PwCF. It also is one of few studies examining caregiver perceived self-efficacy in CF. It was limited by the number of responses, skewed demographics of those who responded, and being administered at a single CF center. We found that caregivers of PwCF at our center are experiencing higher rates of stress, anxiety, and anger. This did not seem to affect their perceived self-efficacy, although therewas no pre-pandemic measurement.We learned thatwe need to find ways to reach a larger demographic and those who are underrepresented. This study shows the need to better understand caregiver emotional distress, especially during times of ambiguity. Understanding caregiver stress and perceived self-efficacy has the potential to provide insight for the medical team on supportive ways to abate negative outcomes in young PwCFCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Home Schooling during the COVID-19 Pandemic An Assessment of Malaysia's PdPR Programme

Governments worldwide have introduced various programmes to facilitate distance learning in home settings during the COVID-19 school closure. However, given cross-country variations in state capacity, these schemes differ significantly in design, delivery and coverage. Within-country variation in poverty and home conditions also create added challenges for home-schooling programmes. Therefore, case studies examining country-specific initiatives are necessary. To this end, this paper examines the Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran di Rumah (PdPR) in Malaysia, an upper-middle-income country with high Internet coverage and a low level of extreme poverty. Data come from a purposefully designed nationwide social media survey on secondary school children conducted in January 2021. Under the PdPR scheme, the government created various technology-based platforms to ensure online learning. By way of studying children's participation in educational activities during school closure, this paper presents a descriptive assessment of PdPR. We first develop a conceptual framework to summarize the initiative. Then we examine the scheme in three aspects: the regularity of online lessons offered by school authorities;the extent of use of specific components and the medium of access of PdPR by learners;and their subjective evaluation of and difficulties faced with online schooling. Data confirm a significant socio-economic divide by income and location in access to EdTech as well as home support provisions. Most importantly, online lessons are irregular, and a significant proportion of students find online programmes challenging to follow. Given the dissatisfaction, most prefer to return to onsite education once schools reopen.

A Data-Driven Context-Aware Health Inference System for Children during School Closures

Many countries have implemented school closures due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has inevitably affected children's physical and mental health. It is vital for parents to pay special attention to their children's health status during school closures. However, it is difficult for parents to recognize the changes in their children's health, especially without visible symptoms, such as psychosocial functioning in mental health. Moreover, healthcare resources and understanding of the health and societal impact of COVID-19 are quite limited during the pandemic. Against this background, we collected real-world datasets from 1,172 children in Hong Kong during four time periods under different pandemic and school closure conditions from September 2019 to January 2022. Based on these data, we first perform exploratory data analysis to explore the impact of school closures on six health indicators, including physical activity intensity, physical functioning, self-rated health, psychosocial functioning, resilience, and connectedness. We further study the correlation between children's contextual characteristics (i.e., demographics, socioeconomic status, electronic device usage patterns, financial satisfaction, academic performance, sleep pattern, exercise habits, and dietary patterns) and the six health indicators. Subsequently, a health inference system is designed and developed to infer children's health status based on their contextual features to derive the risk factors of the six health indicators. The evaluation and case studies on real-world datasets show that this health inference system can help parents and authorities better understand key factors correlated with children's health status during school closures. © 2023 ACM.

An evaluation of the quality of life of families of children with autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the disease resulting from infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The response to the COVID-19 pandemic in many parts of the United States was to combat the spread of the virus through multiple methods, including stay-at-home orders, requirements to work from home, and children being unable to attend schools in person. Many families endured losses in income due to the stay-at-home orders. As children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often thrive on routines and predictability, this abrupt disruption in their everyday routine may have been especially stressful (Mostafavi, 2020), possibly exacerbating the distress of their caregivers during this time. Parents of children with ASD were faced with managing the stress of the pandemic without the usual support and structure previously provided by the child's school, for example. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of families of children with ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of children with ASD completed an online survey, which comprises the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL) (Hoffman et al., 2003), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9;Spitzer, 1999), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7;Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, & Lowe, 2006), as well as questions pertaining to changes in the child's behavioral and academic functioning following the transition from in-person learning. It was hypothesized that families would not report high QoL, that there would be a positive correlation between support from the school and FQoL, a positive correlation between support from the school and changes in the child's functioning, and inverse correlations between FQoL and parental anxiety and depression. Data from 249 caregivers of children with ASD were analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics, bi-variate Pearson's r correlations, or one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) along with frequencies and percentages for categorical demographic variables. Results indicated that most parents reported satisfactory FQoL, neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction with the support from the child's school, and no changes in the child's functioning. However, greater reports of anxiety and depression were associated with reports of lower FQoL. Further research in this area could offer more insight into factors contributing to satisfactory FQoL in families of children with ASD during a pandemic or other major life-disrupting event. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

A feasibility study of a school-based asthma programme in Malaysia conducted during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Asthma is a common non-communicable disease among children that may require urgent treatment during school hours. We developed a school-based programme to improve children's asthma control. Aim(s): To assess the feasibility of the programme. Method(s): The mixed-methods study was conducted in October 2020 in a Malaysian primary school. Despite COVID19 restrictions we delivered sessions to children with asthma and their parents, and school staff and, measured participation rate and explored views on the programme. Result(s): We identified 34 children with asthma (3.7% of school population). The session for school staff received good participation 55/62 (88.7%) and feedback (>80% scored good/excellent). In mid-October, COVID-19 forced national school closure so sessions for children with asthma and their parents were conducted remotely, and sessions for the whole school were abandoned. Only 14/34 (41.2%) children with asthma attended the remote sessions as 9/34 parents were uncontactable;11/34 of parents declined children's participation because they lacked internet facilities or timing was inconvenient. Children enjoyed the interactive methods (e.g. videos, games) used to deliver messages. Parental participation was minimal (4/14;28.5%). Conclusion(s): The school-based intervention was feasible, though restricted by the pandemic. Although remote health programmes gained popularity during the pandemic, widespread use could disadvantage children from lower socio-economic backgrounds who had limited access to the electronic devices/ and the internet.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Online Distance Learning Experience of Malaysian University Students towards COVID-19: A Cross Sectional Study

Some new norms need to be adapted due to COVID-19 pandemic period where people need to wear masks, wash their hands frequently, maintain social distancing, and avoid going out unless necessary. Therefore, educational institutions were closed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. As a result of this, online education was adapted to substitute face-to-face learning. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Malaysian university students' adaptation to the new norms, knowledge and practices toward COVID-19, besides, their attitudes toward online learning. This study was conducted from January to February 2021 and included a sample of 500 Malaysian university students. For data collection, all students were asked to fill in a questionnaire that was developed based on previous literature, using Google Forms. 498 students completed the questionnaire (response rate 99.6%). Malaysian Ministry of Health was the main source (83.73%) that students refer to when looking for information on COVID-19. Only 40% of the participants had good overall knowledge about COVID-19;such knowledge was influenced by the students' field of study. The current practice towards COVID-19 was good only by 26.1% of participating students;such practice was influenced by the ethnic groups. Additionally, 60% of participated students agreed that COVID-19 can be successfully controlled. About one-third of participants had positive attitudes toward online learning. The major challenges facing students during online learning include distraction of the learning environment (80%), unstable internet connectivity (75%), lack of motivation (70%), limited technical skills (41%), and limited broadband data (34%). In conclusion, the knowledge and practice toward COVID-19 was good in less than half of Malaysian university students. Attitudes to the controlling of COVID- 19 were positive, while the attitudes toward online learning were neutral among most of the Malaysian university students. Challenges toward online learning are diverse and include both technical and student-related problems.Copyright © 2022 University of Baghdad - College of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

The Psychological Effects of Coronavirus on Children in the Perception of Arab Israeli Parents Sample

We examined the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic on the psychosocial, behavioral, and cognitive functions of Arab Israeli children aged 3–12 years. The findings of an online cross-sectional survey indicated that, as reported by the parents (N = 267), during the Coronavirus pandemic, most of the children expressed more behavioral and concentration problems. Almost 85% of the children felt more bored, and more than 50% were sadder, more reluctant, more frustrated, and felt lonely. Moreover, almost half of the children had sleep difficulties and tended to eat more than before. Boys and elementary school children were more vulnerable. The findings highlight the susceptibility of the children to the psychosocial consequences of Coronavirus and underline the need for interventions. © 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Social class, COVID-19 and care: Schools on the front line in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic

Schools have a duty of care to children that extends beyond educational performance to include wellbeing and welfare. Yet, research has highlighted the tensions that arise when ‘care' and ‘learning' are treated as binaries, especially when schools operate within unequal socio-­economic conditions. Extended COVID-19 school closures brought these issues into sharp relief, highlighting the central role of schools as a front line service in the lives of poorer children. This paper provides qualitative insights into the classed experiences of extended school closure and the role and response of schools through the eyes of parents, teachers and principals in Ireland. We frame these responses in the context of the provision of a careful education, exploring the role of normative and affective relations in teaching and learning. Questions are posed in relation to schools as care regimes and the ‘mission creep' between educational and welfare provision in schools serving poorer children. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Insights from a catholic school's transition to distance learning during covid-19

ABSTRACT Drawing upon 15 semi-structured interviews with teachers at a Catholic school in the British city of Hull, we offer new qualitative insights on the effects of students' unequal access to digital tools when switching to distance learning in the context of COVID-19 school closures. During the 2020-2021 academic year, this school serving pupils from highly dissimilar socioeconomic backgrounds distributed 300 laptops to students who did not own any digital learning device. It emerges that students with limited access to devices suffered negative impacts on their academic performance, and that this effect also applied to students who had access to a mobile device and hence did not receive a laptop. Our interviews also suggest that having to share a device with another family member leads to more absenteeism and a fall in academic attainment. Low parental involvement is shown to have negative effects on students' attainment, particularly for children from deprived backgrounds. Finally, poorer students are seen to become isolated from peers, with diminishing social skills throughout lockdowns due to their lack of access to digital tools. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Remote learning through a mobile application in gifted education

During the school closure in the COVID-19 pandemic, students with special needs including gifted students faced many challenges in terms of educational support. The Turkish Ministry of National Education released a mobile app named "I am special, I am in education" to overcome these challenges. This study aimed to explore how gifted children perceived the experience of learning through this mobile app. Using a phenomenological design, the data were collected from 10 gifted students through focus group interviews and student journals. An inductive approach was used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that although gifted students referred to this experience as weird and different, they also stated that using the app helped their learning. They foregrounded that the app needed improvements and a section for live interaction with other gifted students and teachers to increase their motivation. This study suggests some implications for mobile app developers, educators, and parents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

School Closure and Children in the Outbreak of COVID-19.

School closure and home confinement are two of the measures of lockdown chosen by governments and policymakers all over the world to prevent and limit the spread of the infection of COVID-19. There is still an open debate about the real effect of school closure on the reduction of risk of infection on children and the risk of infection on with other age groups (parents, grandparents and others). There is an agreement on the effect of school closure in reducing and delaying the peak of the outbreak. In this Editorial, starting from the ongoing Italian experience, we discuss direct and indirect effects of school closure on children's psychological health and learning. We also highlight the need for an "on peace time" planning of measures and strategies necessary to face the direct and indirect effect of this outbreak and other outbreaks, on children's psychological health.

Pediatric emergency healthcare utilization during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Tokyo.

BACKGROUND: Various public health interventions have been implemented against the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We investigated changes in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization during the current pandemic. METHODS: Based on data on outpatient healthcare visits to one pediatric emergency department in Tokyo, Japan, the descriptive, cross-sectional study compared the number of emergency department visits in 2020 to the number in the previous 3 years. Data were extracted from the electronic triage reporting system. The primary outcome was the number of emergency department visits. The characteristics of patients by age group were also investigated. RESULTS: A 40.6% reduction in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization was observed during the study period, with the greatest decrease occurring in the number of visits for fever. However, while the number of patients with a complaint with an exogenous cause decreased, the proportion of these patients increased. Although social activities in the greater community have now almost normalized, and only a slight increase in the number of patients with fever has been reported, the number of emergency department visits remains lower than in previous years as of this writing. CONCLUSIONS: Public health interventions led to a reduction in emergency department visits, thereby allowing time to redistribute health-care resources.