RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN RHEUMATOLOGIC PATIENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN POLAND

BackgroundBefore the COVID-19 pandemic it was estimated that nearly 70% of the population is deficient in vitamin D - 25(OH)D <20ng/ml in Poland [1]. The percentage was expected to increase due to indoor isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vitamin D has a positive effect on the condition of the bones, affects the course of autoimmune diseases, the course of neurological diseases, in type 2 diabetes, vitamin D supplementation improves glucose tolerance and reduces insulin resistance [2,3,4].ObjectivesThe aim of the retrospective study was to determine what percentage of rheumatology clinic patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency and whether this condition is effectively treated.MethodsIn January 2023, a retrospective analysis of the documentation of 172 patients treated at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic in Bełżyce (Poland) in 2022 was conducted.ResultsResults: The mean age of the 172 patients whose documentation was analyzed was 60.43 years (min 19, max 88). There were 132 women (76.8%) and 40 men (23.2%) in this group. The mean concentration of vitamin D was 25.57ng/ml±SD11.9 (min 5.7, max 75, Me 22.8). Vitamin D deficiency was found in 44% (serum concentration <20mg/ml), suboptimal concentration (20-30ng/ml) in 31%, optimal concentration (30-50ng/ml) in 21%, and high concentration (>50ng/ml) ml) in 4%. All those with a deficit or deficiency (75 people) were prescribed cholecalciferol in a dose of 20,000 units orally, 1 capsule twice a week after breakfast for 2 months [5]. Patients with optimal vitamin D levels were advised to take a dose of 2,000 units per day. Among the patients with deficit or deficiency, 48 people came for a follow-up visit to check the level of vitamin D (64% of the group with too low vitamin D concentration;28% of the entire group whose documentation was analyzed). In the follow-up examination, the mean concentration of vitamin D was 37.14±9.8ng/ml (min 28, max 84, Me 35.3). Therefore, a statistically significant increase in the concentration of vitamin D in the blood was noted (p<0.05). In the group of people who came for the follow-up examination, there were 35 women, whose mean age was 60.7 years and 13 men (mean age 68.2 years).Conclusion:1. During the COVID-19 pandemic in the group of outpatient rheumatology patients, 75% had a deficiency or suboptimal level of vitamin D.2. Treatment with cholecalciferol in a dose of 20,000 IU twice a week orally for 2 months is effective treatment of vitamin D deficiency.3. Too low percentage of patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency come for visits and check-ups.References[1]Hilger J., Friedel A., Herr R.. A systematic review of vitamin D status in populations worldwide. Br J Nutr. 2013;9: 1023.[2]Karczmarewicz E., Czekuć-Kryskiewicz E., Płudowski P. Effect of vitamin D status on pharmacological treatment efficiency-impact on cost- effective management in medicine. Dermatoendocrinology, 2013;5: 299-304.[3]Zhu J., Bing C., Wilding J.P.H. Vitamin d receptor ligands attenuate the inflammatory profile of IL-1β-stimulated human white preadipocytes via modulating the NF-κB and unfolded protein response pathways Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2-18, 503: 1049-1056.[4]Luan W., Hammond L.A. Vuillermot S. Maternal vitamin d prevents abnormal dopaminergic development and function in a mouse model of prenatal immune activation. Scientific Reports 2018;8 (1) article numer 9741.[5]Płudowski P., Karczmarewicz E. i wsp. Witamina D: Rekomendacje dawkowania w populacji osób zdrowych oraz w grupach ryzyka deficytów.Wytyczne dla Europy Środkowej 2013 r. Standardy Medyczne/Pediatria 2013, 10, 573-578 (in Polish).Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

HOW TO MAKE A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

BackgroundVirtual presentations have become increasingly common due to the COVID-19 pandemic and advancements in technology. However, it is not yet clear how to effectively use artificial intelligence (AI) in virtual presentations to enhance their effectiveness.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the current state of AI in virtual presentations and to develop practical guidelines for using AI to enhance the effectiveness of virtual presentations.MethodsChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot [1]. The final version contains information up to years of 2021. We wrote to ChatGPT: "I want to submit a study for the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2023. Title: "How to make a virtual presentation using artificial intelligence?”. Prepare a summary consisting of background and objectives sections for me.”. The texts generated by ChatGPT were transferred to another virtual platform to be converted to audio and video. The text in the background and objectives sections in this was voiced by the speaking avatar [2].ResultsChatGPT wrote the background and objectives part of this . As the authors, we have not made any changes in order to be objective. Thanks to another artificial intelligence, the content in this text was voiced by an avatar and turned into a video (Figure 1).ConclusionIn the near future, artificial intelligence will be used more effectively in the preparation and presentation of scientific articles. In this way, artificial intelligence will help scientists to use their time more efficiently. Developing technology also offers equal opportunities for scientists with social phobia and visual or speech disabilities.References[1]GPT-3 [Software]. Retrieved from https://openai.com/[2]synthesia. Retrieved from https://synthesia.ai/Figure 1.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE THERAPY DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC

BackgroundDuring the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the biggest concerns of rheumatologists and rheumatology patients has been whether the risk or severity of the disease will increase with immunosuppressive therapy. Some drugs have been reported to be associated with adverse Covid19 outcomes [1,2]. Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is a drug that has been used in rheumatology practice for many years. There is not enough data in the literature on the frequency or consequences of COVID-19 while receiving CYC therapy.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to examine the frequency and outcomes of Covid19 in patients who received CYC therapy during the Covid19 pandemic.MethodsThe files of patients who received CYC therapy protocol between March 2020 and March 2022 at Başkent University Faculty of Medicine Ankara Hospital, Rheumatology outpatient clinic were retrospectively reviewed. In our clinic, CYC therapy is administered as an intravenous treatment protocol of 500 mg three times every 10 days, then 500 mg every two weeks. Although the cumulative dose varies depending on the disease and the patient, it is usually planned to be at least three gram. The diagnosis of Covid 19 was made in the patients with clinically compatible radiology and SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results.ResultsA total of 36 patients received CYC during the specified period. CYC indications were ANCA-associated vasculitis in 12 patients, interstitial lung disease associated with undifferentiated connective tissue disease in 5 patients, SLE in 5 patients, scleroderma in 4 patients, Sjögren's syndrome in 4 patients, Behçet's disease in 1 patient, vasculitis associated with sarcoidosis in 1 patient, rheumatoid vasculitis in 1 patient, leukocytoclastic vasculitis in 1 patient, polymyositis in 1 patient and Takayasu disease in 1 patient.The median age (q1-q3) was 62 (52-68) years. Covid19 infection was detected in only 3 patients (8%) during the CYC therapy protocol. The median cumulative CYC dose for these patients was 3.5 g. One out of 3 patient was hospitalized for Covid 19 pneumonia. There was no death due to Covid19.ConclusionIn this study, it has been shown that CYC therapy was safe during the Covid19 pandemic period.References[1]Samanta J, Naidu G, Deo P, Mittal S, Prasad CB, Das D, Dhir V, Sharma SK, Ramachandran R, Rathi M, Nada R, Minz RW, Jain S, Sharma A. Managing ANCA-associated vasculitis during COVID-19 pandemic: a single-center cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int. 2022 Dec;42(12):2159-2166.[2]Singh N, Madhira V, Hu C, Olex AL, Bergquist T, Fitzgerald KC, Huling JD, Patel RC, Singh JA. Rituximab is associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective, nationally sampled cohort study from the U.S. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2023 Feb;58:152149.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

HELLENIC LEAGUE'S AGAINST RHEUMATISM'S SCHOOL OF HEALTH EDUCATION

BackgroundThe more time healthcare professionals spend with patients the better the health outcomes become. Therefore, education seems to play a crucial role for the quality of life not only for the patients but also for the health care costs and the future cost projections that depend on the health outcomes of everyone.ObjectivesAim of the School of Health Education is to give the opportunity to participants to familiarize themselves with frequently used terminology in everyday clinical practice, to become accustomed in using the common medical language when describing their symptoms to their doctors so that they will have a common ground. Basic goal of this education is for every patient to understand a bit more about concepts such as medications, adverse events, pharmacovigilance etc.MethodsInteractive live events, of approximately 2hour duration, have already take place in 15 cities of Greece. In the year 2020 COVID restrictions did not allow for such events to be organized. The project will start again during 2023. Speakers in the events were: rheumatologists, general physicians, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, gynecologists, clinical pharmacologists and others.ResultsOver 1800 patients, caregivers, members of the public, stakeholders, members of the local authorities, healthcare professional and others participated in the live events. Handouts and printed material from HELAR/ELEANA were given to participants as well an evaluation form to complete. The events generated a lot of press locally and nationally, with 4 press conferences, 25 press releases, 18 TV interviews and 10 radio interviews.ConclusionPublicity and participation in the events showed that patient education is quite important for the patients and the local communities. Since 2020 and the COVID pandemic there has been a shift towards public health issues and health education creating a unique opportunity for HELAR/ELEANA's School of Health Education to be adapted and become once more available for the patients living with an RMD. This time the new version could be either a virtual version or a live version for many more patients, caregivers and the public to be able to attend.AcknowledgementsHellenic League Against Rheumatism is grateful to Dimitrios Kouvelas, MD, BPharm, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Head of the Dept of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for his precious scientific contribution, implementation and for being the main speaker voluntarily.The School of Health Education was awarded the bronze prize by the Health Care Business Awards in 2019.Disclosure of InterestsKATY ANTONOPOULOU: None declared, ATHANASIA PAPPA: None declared, DIMITRIOS KOUVELAS Consultant of: DEMO, STILVI, Nadia Malliou: None declared, Katerina Tsekoura: None declared, MACHI SALAMALIKI: None declared, EVANGELIA OIKONOMOULA: None declared, KATERINA ROUSTA: None declared.

Reflecting on Hybrid Events: Learning from a Year of Hybrid Experiences

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden shift to virtual work and events, with the last two years enabling an appropriated and rather simulated togetherness - the hybrid mode. As we return to in-person events, it is important to reflect on not only what we learned about technologies and social justice, but about the types of events we desire, and how to re-design them accordingly. This SIG aims to reflect on hybrid events and their execution: scaling them across sectors, communities, and industries;considering trade-offs when choosing technologies;studying best practices and defining measures of "success"for hybrid events;and finally, identifying and charting the wider social, ethical, and legal implications of hybrid formats. This SIG will consolidate these topics by inviting participants to collaboratively reflect on previous hybrid experiences and what can be learned from them. © 2023 Owner/Author.

"We Are Teaching and Learning with Each Other": Improving mentoring in higher education through ongoing training

This article examined ongoing mentoring training. This qualitative study analyzed interview responses from 20 mentors from 13 international locations in a global higher education initiative to determine how ongoing training affects mentors' abilities to assist higher education students in achieving their educational goals. The study results showed the benefits from ongoing mentoring training, including mentors better understanding their roles and responsibilities, mentors gaining knowledge, and mentors receiving ongoing support. Results also showed the importance in ongoing mentoring training of volunteer mentoring needs and mentoring training creativity. Furthermore, the study showed that ongoing training positively impacted mentors, that it identified contributing mentor volunteers, and that ongoing training advanced effective mentoring practices. The study also contributed findings to the literature including that mentors themselves contributed to best training practices, volunteer mentors may need more mentoring training, and ongoing mentoring training showed global transferability. As institutions of higher education take greater initiative and demonstrate innovation in providing structured ongoing training for mentors, mentors can be more knowledgeable and confident in their mentoring skills and students will have increased opportunities for success. Implications for practice or policy: COVID-19 highlighted the need for effective mentoring in higher education. There is potential for transferability of mentoring training practices in global organizations by higher education leaders. The study recommended identifying opportunities for developing creative and improved best practices in mentoring, such as mentorto- mentor training sessions and just-in-time WhatsApp training. Volunteer mentors may have unique needs to consider in mentoring programs. Best practices will also include strengthening mentor confidence, understanding roles and responsibilities, and providing answers to mentor questions. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Telehealth in Cystic Fibrosis. A systematic review incorporating a novel scoring system and expert weighting to identify a 'top 10 manuscripts' to inform future best practices implementation.

The ongoing development and integration of telehealth within CF care has been accelerated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with many centres publishing their experiences. Now, as the restrictions of the pandemic ease, the use of telehealth appears to be waning, with many centres returning to routine traditional face-to-face services. For most, telehealth is not integrated into clinical care models, and there is a lack of guidance on how to integrate such a service into clinical care. The aims of this systematic review were to first identify manuscripts which may inform best CF telehealth practices, and second, to analyse these finding to determine how the CF community may use telehealth to improve care for patients, families, and Multidisciplinary Teams into the future. To achieve this, the PRISMA review methodology was utilised, in combination with a modified novel scoring system that consolidates expert weighting from key CF stakeholders, allowing for the manuscripts to be placed in a hierarchy in accordance with their scientific robustness. From the 39 found manuscripts, the top ten are presented and further analysed. The top ten manuscripts are exemplars of where telehealth is used effectively within CF care at this time, and demonstrate specific use cases of its potential best practices. However, there is a lack of guidance for implementation and clinical decision making, which remains an area for improvement. Thus, it is suggested that further work explores and provides guidance for standardised implementation into CF clinical practice.

Making the shift to virtual professional learning

This qualitative research involved the development of 12 weeks of twice-weekly virtual maker professional learning (PL) sessions for K-12 and post-secondary educators at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sessions were developed by four researchers from a maker lab in Ontario, Canada that moved entirely online in March 2020. The research question driving the study was: what are best practices related to virtual maker professional learning? Findings and implications related to this question include: a) technical issues should be anticipated and addressed in advance of each session;b) simple, hands-on activities are most effective for online maker professional learning;c) collaboration are pivotal to a rich online maker professional learning experience;d) using free, virtual tools is imperative for equitable access and learning;and e) adaptability is key when working with a diversity of learners/teachers from varied subjects and divisions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19's Impact on the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance: Challenging Times and Resilience from Its Members.

The worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenged conservation organizations. The lack of tourism has benefited or negatively affected wildlife organizations in various ways, with several primate sanctuaries struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and to keep providing for their inhabitants. In addition, the genetic similarity between great apes and humans puts them at higher risk than any other species for the transmission of COVID-19. PASA is a non-profit organization comprising 23 sanctuaries, and cares for many species of primate, including African great apes. In light of the pandemic, we aimed to understand the direct effects of COVID-19 on PASA management throughout three time periods: before (2018-2019), at the start of (2019-2020), and during (2020-2021) the pandemic. We collected data via annual surveys for PASA members and ran Generalized Linear Mixed Models to highlight any significant differences in their management that could be linked to COVID-19. Our findings demonstrated no particular impact on the number of primates rescued, employees, or expenses. However, revenues have been decreasing post-COVID-19 due to the lack of income from tourism and volunteer programs. Nonetheless, our results reveal a form of resilience regarding the sanctuaries and the strategy applied to maintain their management. Consequently, we emphasize the specific impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and its repercussions for conservation work. We discuss the difficulties that sanctuaries have faced throughout the crisis and present the best measures to prevent future outbreaks and protect biodiversity.

The use of innovative approaches to strengthen health system resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: case studies from selected Commonwealth countries.

This article is part of the Research Topic 'Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict'. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and limitations of many health systems and underscored the need for strengthening health system resilience to make and sustain progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), global health security and healthier populations in tandem. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commonwealth countries have been practicing a combination of innovative integrated approaches and actions to build health systems resilience. This includes utilizing digital tools, improvements in all-hazard emergency risk management, developing multisectoral partnerships, strengthening surveillance and community engagement. These interventions have been instrumental in strengthening national COVID-19 responses and can contribute to the evidence-base for increasing country investment into health systems resilience, particularly as we look toward COVID-19 recovery. This paper gives perspectives of five Commonwealth countries and their overall responses to the pandemic, highlighting practical firsthand experiences in the field. The countries included in this paper are Guyana, Malawi, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Given the diversity within the Commonwealth both in terms of geographical location and state of development, this publication can serve as a useful reference for countries as they prepare their health systems to better absorb the shocks that may emerge in future emergencies.

AAPM task group report 273: Recommendations on best practices for AI and machine learning for computer-aided diagnosis in medical imaging.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and specifically in deep learning (DL) techniques, have enabled broad application of these methods in health care. The promise of the DL approach has spurred further interest in computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) development and applications using both "traditional" machine learning methods and newer DL-based methods. We use the term CAD-AI to refer to this expanded clinical decision support environment that uses traditional and DL-based AI methods. Numerous studies have been published to date on the development of machine learning tools for computer-aided, or AI-assisted, clinical tasks. However, most of these machine learning models are not ready for clinical deployment. It is of paramount importance to ensure that a clinical decision support tool undergoes proper training and rigorous validation of its generalizability and robustness before adoption for patient care in the clinic. To address these important issues, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Computer-Aided Image Analysis Subcommittee (CADSC) is charged, in part, to develop recommendations on practices and standards for the development and performance assessment of computer-aided decision support systems. The committee has previously published two opinion papers on the evaluation of CAD systems and issues associated with user training and quality assurance of these systems in the clinic. With machine learning techniques continuing to evolve and CAD applications expanding to new stages of the patient care process, the current task group report considers the broader issues common to the development of most, if not all, CAD-AI applications and their translation from the bench to the clinic. The goal is to bring attention to the proper training and validation of machine learning algorithms that may improve their generalizability and reliability and accelerate the adoption of CAD-AI systems for clinical decision support.

Access to care: age as a criterion of exclusion? The explicit and tacit forms of ethical recommendations in the COVID era

The allocation of resources and the choices involved in such decisions is an ongoing issue in healthcare. But the COVID crisis boosted the visibility of this subject while exacerbating it, since a central concern of the epidemic was the vital issue of access to intensive care. With the prospect of a highly serious risk of shortage, the fate of elderly patients immediately became a key aspect. In particular, the question was asked if age could be a criterion from excluding individuals from intensive care units. In France, the answer to this question was overwhelmingly "No". Contrary to other countries, France refused to set a threshold age for access to intensive care. Supporting this decision, administrative authorities and learned societies issued numerous recommendations reasserting ethical principles based on equality, dignity and social justice. These texts gave the impression of continuity despite the crisis. Relating in varying degrees to the seting of standards - the recommendations all strove to guide the behaviour of the various medical decision-makers -, this corpus deserves to be studied from a legal standpoint with a view to identifying principles that come under pressure in crisis situations such as the COVID pandemic. Because while the texts conscientiously reminded readers that discriminating on the basis of age is forbidden, an indirect discrimination based on exactly that criterion can be read between the lines. And while age is combined with other specific situations or characteristics (with a thought for the residents of retirement homes), these texts can even lead to the true exclusion of the most vulnerable individuals from the general healthcare system. © 2022 Dares. All rights reserved.

Recognizing Value from Virtual Reality During Design – Case-Study Example of a Wastewater Utility's Approach to and Use of this Technology

Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services for 1.7 million people in southeast Virginia. Since 2017, HRSD has used Virtual Reality (VR) design reviews on more than 20 projects because of how accessible VR makes designs to every level within an organization, including the operations and maintenance staff responsible for maintaining the completed project. However, VR is not necessarily appropriate for all projects. This paper uses a recent HRSD project to show how HRSD approaches the use of VR, to what extent it is used, and how HRSD focuses on the operation and maintenance aspects of the designs during reviews. The paper also highlights features of the VR software, design-review best practices, limitations of two-dimensional design, how standard details can be incorporated into the model, and the added value from use of the internet-based, real-time reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person meetings were impossible. Copyright © 2022 Water Environment Federation.

Trauma-informed higher education workplaces: A literature review crosswalk analysis

Trauma is an ongoing reality of life. Mass shootings, adverse childhood events, and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected every workplace. Within higher education, students, faculty, staff, and administrators have experienced traumatic stress. The purpose of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to compile evidence-based best practices and create a trauma-informed (TI) model explicitly for higher education grounded on the current TI workplace models. The project addresses which models and evidence-based programs of the TI workplace have been used in the past 21 years and how these practices connect to higher education organizations. A crosswalk analysis between standard TI workplace practices aligned with the higher education context constructs a framework for higher education TI workplaces. The project's implications may take practitioners beyond the broad implementation and evaluation procedures required to sustain a TI workplace initiative toward more tangible approaches for higher education leadership to implement a TI culture. As a result of the SLR, higher education professionals may be able to apply the novel higher education TI practices to develop a culture that acknowledges employees' traumatic experiences and adopts evidence-based TI practices to support their wellbeing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Best practices in online education during covid-19: Instructors' perspectives on teaching and learning in higher education

By the end of 2019, the World Health Organization was informed about the first unknown pneumonia cases, later labeled the COVID-19 global pandemic. Based on Mezirow's transformative learning theory, COVID-19 has been the trigger event that challenged adult learners' values, beliefs, and expectations in higher educational institutions. The study sought to identify best practices across American higher education institutions (HEIs) to adapt their teaching approach to the online environment. It answered the question, "What are the best practices for higher education instructors to adapt their teaching approach to online environments?" This study uses a systematic literature review and an online survey for data collection across HEIs in the United States. The web-based questionnaire includes fixed-choice, closed-ended, and open-ended questions in four sections: demographic information, attitudes about online education, online teaching and learning strategies, and challenges. The study follows ethical procedures, thematic analysis, and discussion of the findings in the context of existing literature to outline best practices in online higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Inactivation of Pathogenic Microorganisms on Polymeric Materials through Ozonation

Ozone-based technologies have been evaluated to inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces. However, the vast diversity of information makes it difficult to establish common ground for determining the best practices for using this technology. The objective of this work is to evaluate the success of N95 mask decontamination by ozonation, determining the specific parameters for process control. To quantify the effectiveness of the process, a disinfection protocol was initially developed based on two bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius), followed by another disinfection assay using the murine hepatitis coronavirus (MHV-3), in a laboratory-scale prototype. Ozone is an effective candidate for use against SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses to disinfect personal protection equipment (PPE). © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

How to Accompany Inclusion? Elements of Protection and Good Practices in Socio-Occupational Insertion Programmes

Labour insertion is an area of socio-educational intervention that can contribute to the social inclusion of different individuals and groups. Based on a literature review on protective elements in socio-occupational integration processes, and taking into account especially the situation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in the years 2020-2022, in this study we have identified, through 109 questionnaires and 21 group interviews with socio-educational agents, which of these elements are present in integration projects currently being developed in 4 Latin American countries, and we have explored how they define 'good practices' in this area and what effective actions exist. The results, explained by country (Brazil, Spain, Colombia and Mexico), indicate that three types of protection elements are considered in the different socio-educational projects: development of personal and professional competences;support from the family and social context;and institutional elements related to socio-occupational intermediation and social support interventions. In relation to good practices, the technical agents working in insertion projects associate this term with methodological characteristics of their intervention (accompaniment, empathy, personalisation) and/or with the achievement of results (quality of life, empowerment, employability). They identify new challenges that have arisen during the pandemic, such as digital literacy or mental health, and illustrate with some examples of successful practices they are developing. The article ends with a mention of the socio-educational approach in socio-labour insertion programmes and the presentation of two proposals for further study. © 2023 Sociedad Iberoamericana de Pedagogía Social. All rights reserved.

The Virtual Doctor Is In: The Effect of Telehealth Visits on Patient Experience

COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of telehealth. With this shift comes a need for empirically based research regarding the effect of telehealth on patient experience. The present study employed an online survey (N = 996) examining whether a patient's perceptions of a telehealth visit predicts (a) the likelihood that they will schedule a future telehealth visit, and (b) their recall of clinical information. Participants viewed a video of a real clinician delivering information on a COVID-19 antibody test, and responded to demographic, socioemotional, and cognitive items. We found that for every 1-point increase in an individual's satisfaction with their interaction with the doctor, they were.73 times more likely to revisit the doctor (p < .01). These results provide insight for researchers and medical professionals regarding patient perceptions of virtual encounters and suggest best practices to consider as we further integrate telehealth. © 2022 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.

Residential Environments for Older Persons: A Comprehensive Literature Review (2005-2022).

BACKGROUND: Independent noninstitutional and institutional residential long-term care environments for older persons have been the subject of significant empirical and qualitative research in the 2005-2022 period. A comprehensive review of this literature is reported, summarizing recent advancements in this rapidly expanding body of knowledge. PURPOSE AND AIM: This comprehensive review conceptually structures the recent literature on environment and aging to provide conceptual clarity and identify current and future trends. METHOD AND RESULT: Each source reviewed was classified as one of the five types-opinion piece/essay, cross-sectional empirical investigation, nonrandomized comparative investigation, randomized study, and policy review essay-within eight content categories: community-based aging in place; residentialism; nature, landscape, and biophilia; dementia special care units; voluntary/involuntary relocation; infection control/COVID-19, safety/environmental stress; ecological and cost-effective best practices; and recent design trends and prognostications. CONCLUSIONS: Among the findings embodied in the 204 literature sources reviewed, all-private room long-term care residential units are generally safer and provide greater privacy and personal autonomy to residents, the deleterious impacts of involuntary relocation continue, family engagement in policy making and daily routines has increased, multigenerational independent living alternatives are increasing, the therapeutic role of nature and landscape is increasingly well-documented, ecological sustainability has increased in priority, and infection control measures are of high priority in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Discussion of the results of this comprehensive review sets the stage for further research and design advancements on this subject in light of the rapid aging of societies around the globe.

Doubling down on best practices: reflecting on teaching physiology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we pass the third anniversary of the World Health Organization's declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic, it is beneficial to reflect upon how physiology education adapted to the challenges of the pandemic. At the initial stages of the pandemic, many educators were faced with the challenge of quickly transitioning to emergency remote teaching (ERT), requiring shifts in teaching methodology and laboratory structure to adapt to the pandemic normal. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the efforts made by the community of educators associated with the American Physiological Society during the pandemic to encourage best practices in teaching, maintain course and program goals during ERT, and innovate in physiology education. We also highlight diversity, equality, and inclusion work that was produced as the scientific community recommitted to tackling systemic and structural inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and brought to the forefront by the Black Lives Matter movement. Finally, we examine the potentially long-lasting effects of the pandemic on education from both the student and faculty standpoints and how doubling down on what we learned can be beneficial to the future of physiology education.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This literature review examines and categorizes the repository of publications in physiology education that occurred during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic.