Productive Aging During COVID-19 - Lessons from WH SeniorLink

Introduction: According to the National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering, even before the pandemic, 24% of Americans 65+ were considered socially isolated, and 43% of adults 60+ were lonely. Both experiences are associated with serious physical and mental health problems, including increased risks of dementia, stroke, depression, and suicidal ideation. As older adults engage in stricter social distancing to protect themselves from COVID-19, their risk of social isolation and loneliness is heightened. According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 46% of adults 65+ reported that the worry and stress caused by pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. In order to combat this unique challenge, we must employ innovative, flexible solutions that adapt to the shifting circumstances and an uncertain future. Method(s): WH SeniorLink has developed an innovative program for integrating friendly visiting, mutual aid, needs assessment and case management, all delivered remotely by trained volunteers. The program was conceived, developed and executed since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions and has grown to become a fully fledged 501(c)(3) organization, and is a model of flexible service delivery during this unusual time. The program operates through a volunteerism-mutual aid model. Volunteers are trained using online modules and quizzes and supervised by a licensed social worker, including training on needs and risk assessment. Volunteers are then matched with an older adult with similar interests and language preferences to provide friendly weekly phone calls, care packages and letters. Older adults with higher needs are referred to WH SeniorLink's service navigation program which operates using the online platform, Apricot, and is staffed by masters level social work interns and supervised by licensed social workers. Service navigation involves conducting comprehensive assessments and identifying resources and referrals. Older adults who express interest are also paired with each other to provide social support. Barriers to program development have included identifying consistent funding sources and volunteer attrition. Result(s): Data shows 169% growth in contacts made with older adults between May and October, with 2.5 times more older adults served in November than in May. Initial responses to the Dejong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and qualitative data collection reflect that older adults continue to feel lonely and isolated in the midst of the pandemic, but that WH SeniorLink is helping. By placing emphasis on empowering older adults to form sustained relationships with volunteers and their peers, WH SeniorLink encourages reciprocal relationships through which older adult participants are valued for their experiences and contributions. Conclusion(s): The mission of WH SeniorLink is to strengthen community ties and improve health outcomes among older New Yorkers by providing social-emotional support and connection to essential services. WH SeniorLink was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to the myriad of new challenges faced by older adults including greater risk of social isolation and increased disconnection from essential services. However, we recognize that the pandemic has only exacerbated a problem that began long before, and older adults are at risk of being left behind in the coming months and beyond. Funding(s): WH SeniorLink is funded by a starter grant from Columbia School of Social Work and subsequent crowdfunded donations.Copyright © 2021

Assessment of Psychological Needs in an Egyptian Sample of Healthcare Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: The current study aims to identify the psychosocial needs of frontline Healthcare Workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the factors contributing to their psychosocial well-being. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey designed specifically for the aim of this study. Data was collected from 315 frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Up to 90 % of the responders reported a range of symptoms related to psychological distress such as worry, insomnia, lack of motivation, negative thoughts, inability to achieve goals, and burnout. Psychological support, religion-based support, communicating with family, and good sleep are among the stress-relieving factors most mentioned by HCWs. The change in work conditions and increased awareness of the need to use different strategies to overcome stress was associated with decreased levels of perceived stress among health care providers. Conclusion: The change in work conditions, the increased awareness of HCWs to their needs, and the use of different strategies to overcome were associated with decreased levels of perceived stress among HCWs. The increased number of working hours per day and younger age of the participants were the only significant independent variables detecting the need for psychological support. This research is a call for designing and implementing tailored needs-based interventions that address the different aspects of HCWs' well-being during public health emergencies. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Arab Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Arab Federation of Psychiatrists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Bridging the gap: the challenge of mitigating health inequalities in lung cancer

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, together with the cost-of- living crisis, have shone a light on health inequalities running through our society - not least in UK lung cancer. Lung cancer has the widest deprivation gap of all cancers. Despite published data about socio-economic factors, the amount of evidence available about other health inequalities is poor. Method(s): The Bridging the Gap report is the output from a Health Inequalities focus-group meeting of the UKLCC's Clinical Advisory Group in June 2022. These opinions were supplemented by views and information gathered from 15 interviews with leading lung cancer and health inequalities experts, from across the four UK nations in August/September 2022. Further desk research and literature reviews were carried out over the same period. Result(s): The report calls for a 'comprehensive' approach to data collection on health inequalities - to bridge gaps in current knowledge, improve outcomes and ensure people with lung cancer have equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care - wherever they live and from whatever background. Key recommendations include: * Extending the remit of the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA) to collect more data on ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and other health inequality factors - such as gender, religion and disability. * Establishing a single, coordinated data strategy, compiling evidence on health inequalities at local, regional and national levels. * Introducing a Personal Care and Access Card scheme, carried by the patient, combining their Holistic Needs Assessment information with their personal treatment and care plan to facilitate transfer of information between hospitals and specialists. * Disease awareness campaigns targeted to address local needs and communities. Conclusion(s): The UKLCC believes that - with the implementation of these recommendations and support from policy makers, commissioners and clinicians - we can successfully mitigate health inequalities in lung cancer and have further impact on lung cancer outcomes. Report accessible here: www.uklcc.org.uk/our-reports Disclosure: No significant relationships.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

The relationship between individual characteristics and practice behaviour within an adaptive arithmetic learning program

Background: Although research on mathematics learning programs has taken off in recent years, little is known about how different person characteristics are related to practice behaviour with such programs. When implementing a mathematics learning program in the classroom, it might be important to know whether students with specific characteristics need more encouragement to make use of this learning opportunity. Objectives: Using a supply‐use model, we analysed the predictive power of students' cognitive characteristics (prior mathematics knowledge), personality traits (conscientiousness), motivational‐affective characteristics (mathematics self‐concept and mathematics anxiety), and family background characteristics (socioeconomic status and migration background) for practising with an adaptive arithmetic learning program. Methods: We used longitudinal data from 203 fifth graders from seven non‐academic‐track schools in Germany. Practice behaviour, measured by completed tasks in the learning program, was recorded weekly for every student over a period of 22 weeks. Results and Conclusions: The results of our multilevel analyses showed that mathematics anxious students practised less with the program. We did not find any relationship with the other characteristics. Takeaways: Our results suggest that mathematics anxious students need more encouragement when practising with a mathematics learning program;otherwise, they do not get the chance to benefit from the use. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The use of mathematics learning programmes in mathematics education has recently intensified.It is important that students practice with such learning programmes regularly over a longer period of time in order for them to achieve learning success.Students differ in their mathematics learning behaviour. What this paper adds: Little is known about how person characteristics are related to practice behaviour with mathematics learning programmes.Students may differ in their use of a mathematics learning programme, which is why cognitive characteristics, personality traits, motivational‐affective characteristics, and family background characteristics may affect students' practice behaviour. Implications for practice: Mathematics anxious students practiced less with a mathematics learning program, and need more encouragement to benefit equally from the implementation in school.Teachers should keep in mind that after the initial enthusiasm, practice with a programme may decrease over time, especially after school holidays.

Management of medical equipment in the Brazilian public health system (SUS), historical situation and the context of the pandemic COVID-19: a cut for lung ventilators.

Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to analyze the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) efforts in the management of medical equipment, with a specific approach for lung ventilators in the pandemic scenario of COVID-19. Methods: The methodology included a review of the normative framework and literature on technological management and research on the database of the Ministry of Health. Results: As a promoter for acquiring medical equipment, the MoH role is highlighted and added to this competence; its function as the coordinator of the National Policy on Health Technology Management (PNGTS). According to the PNGTS the MoH has to support health managers in the implementing, monitoring, and maintaining health technologies. The scenario of lung ventilators in the pandemic was discussed, with research to verify demands, offers, installed capacity, and investments. In less than one year, the Ministry of Health acquired several pulmonary ventilators, 8.55 times greater than the annual averages of equipment acquired from 2016 to 2019. So far, there is still no maintenance plans or strategy of management for that equipment, especially in a post-pandemic scenario. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that the Ministry of Health needs to improve health technology management systems. On the scale of the Policy, it is necessary to commit to permanent and long-term actions to ensure sustainability and reduce the technological vulnerabilities of the SUS.

A Needs Assessment of Older Bangladeshi Immigrants in New York During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Though immigrants from Bangladesh are a fast-growing and under-resourced immigrant community in the United States, little has been studied about their overall health and social needs. Older immigrant adults from Bangladesh are at increased risk for adverse effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have existing risk factors for isolation including language barriers and more recent immigration. This study examined measures of health and connectedness amongst 297 South Asian adults in New York City who were 60 years or older using a phone-based survey instrument. Surveys were conducted from August 2021 to April 2022. We found that immigrants from Bangladesh were more likely to report a higher effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial and food insecurity and faced significantly higher levels of loneliness than South Asian immigrants from other countries. Our findings suggest that older immigrants from Bangladesh disproportionally face social isolation compared to older immigrants from other South Asian countries and our study encourages further research and intervention for this immigrant subgroup.

Between Protection and Empowerment COVID-19: Haiti's Older People's Perception and Behavior

By proposing a dialogue between the findings of a Rapid Needs Assessment of older people and COVID-19 in Haiti and different components of the human security framework and UN policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on older persons, this chapter contributes to two ongoing and interconnected efforts to inform the global COVID-19 response and build-back-better initiatives: (1) efforts to make older people visible in COVID-19 response and recovery and (2) efforts to inform COVID-19 response through the lenses of the human security framework. While older people are all too often left behind and left out, the Rapid Needs Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of older people in Haiti carried out by HelpAge International and Church World Service (CWS) in 2020 was a first step to make them visible. The study was carried out by CWS in collaboration with four local organizations in a context marked by a prolonged national political crisis, worsening food security situation, rise in insecurity and gang violence, and an above-average hurricane season. A total of 240 people in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and in the remote rural Northwest department was interviewed between July 28 and August 13, 2020. The assessment resulted in the report "COVID-19 Rapid Needs Assessment of Older People, September 2020.” This chapter summarizes the respondents' views on the themes of the COVID-19 awareness and behavior, food and income, health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), as well as the initial feedback received from Haitian civil society representatives and participant rural NGOs. It concludes that a serious and sustained effort is required from member states and organizations to operationalize the full promise of the human security approach to older people, especially in fragile states and developing countries where human insecurities predate COVID-19, are systemic and interconnected. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer 2022.

An assessment of information needs and workflows for emergency service providers and caregivers of children with medical complexity.

BACKGROUND: The goal of Project Austin, an initiative to improve emergency care for rural children who are medically complex (CMC), is to provide an Emergency Information Form (EIF) to their parents/caregivers, to local Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Departments. EIFs are standard forms recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that provide pre-planned rapid response instructions, including medical conditions, medications, and care recommendations, for emergency providers. Our objective is to describe the workflows and perceived utility of the provided emergency information forms (EIFs) in the acute medical management of CMC. METHODS: We sampled from two key stakeholder groups in the acute management of CMC: four focus groups with emergency medical providers from rural and urban settings and eight key informant interviews with parents/caregivers enrolled in an emergency medical management program for CMC. Transcripts were thematically analyzed in NVivo© by two coders using a content analysis approach. The thematic codes were combined into a codebook and revised the themes present through combining relevant themes and developing of sub-themes until they reached consensus. RESULTS: All parents/caregivers interviewed were enrolled in Project Austin and had an EIF. Emergency medical providers and parents/caregivers supported the usage of EIFs for CMC. Parents/caregivers also felt EIFs made emergency medical providers more prepared for their child. Providers identified that EIFs helped provide individualized care, however they were not confident the data was current and so felt unsure they could rely on the recommendations on the EIF. CONCLUSION: EIFs are an easy way to engage parents, caregivers, and emergency medical providers about the specifics of a care for CMC during an emergency. Timely updates and electronic access to EIFs could improve their value for medical providers.

Changes in dental and medical visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. children aged 1-17 years.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously impacted the U.S. healthcare system, but no study has examined the impact of the pandemic on utilization of dental care among U.S. children. Changes in past-year dental versus medical visits and perceived unmet health needs between 2019 and 2020 among U.S. children aged 1-17 years were examined. METHODS: National and state representative, cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Children's Health conducted during June 2019-January 2020 (i.e. pre-pandemic, n = 28 500) and July 2020-January 2021 (i.e. intra-pandemic, n = 41 380) were analysed. Any past-year visit and perceived unmet needs (i.e. delay or inability to receive needed care) were reported by the parent proxy. Weighted prevalence estimates were compared using two-tailed chi-squared tests at p < .05. Poisson regression analyses were used to explore the relationship between having dental and/or medical unmet needs during the pandemic and indicators of poor health and social wellbeing. RESULTS: Between 2019 and 2020, a significantly reduced prevalence of past-year medical (87.2%-81.3%) and dental visits (82.6%-78.2%) among U.S. children aged 1-17 years (all p < .05) were observed. Correspondingly, perceived unmet needs increased by half for dental care (from 2.9% in 2019 to 4.4% in 2020) and almost one-third for medical care (from 3.2% to 4.2% in 2020). Subgroups with the highest prevalence of unmet dental need included those with low socio-economic status, living with their grandparents, uninsured and living with a smoker. CONCLUSIONS: Unmet health needs increased in general but increased more for dental than for medical care among U.S. children aged 1-17 years. Enhanced and sustained efforts will be needed to deliver targeted services towards disadvantaged segments of the population to narrow existing disparities.

Smart welfare and slow digital poverty: the new face of social work

The arrival of the pandemic which has affected the entire world, in addition to spreading fear due to the initial inability to manage the health crisis, has increased the fluidity and uncertainty in today's society. The system of social security itself has not only changed its contents, combining primordial material welfare with a relational type of well-being, but also its form. We have gone from the more conventional form of face-to-face relationships to the more innovative methods making us talk about e-welfare with the use of digital technology. If on the one hand the latter has removed the space-time barriers, connoting itself as smart welfare, on the other hand it has generated a digital divide, with the creation of the digitally poor. During the pandemic, schools, health care and social services have had to invent new operational methods on an experimental level by using cutting-edge organisations to meet their new needs. The aim of the article is therefore to shed light on these changes which are taking place by highlighting the operational and ethical implications of digitalisation in order to find a new approach to social work which has been seen as 'a beacon in the night of the pandemic'. L'avvento della pandemia che ha coinvolto l'intero globo, oltre a disseminare paura per l'iniziale incapacità di gestione dell'emergenza sanitaria, ha acuito le caratteristiche di fluidità e di incertezza della società attuale. Lo stesso sistema di protezione sociale ha cambiato non solo i suoi contenuti, affiancando al primordiale benessere materiale (welfare) un benessere di tipo relazionale (wellbeing), ma anche le sue forme. Si è passati da quelle più classiche che richiedevano esclusivamente un rapporto face to face a quelle più innovative che fanno parlare di un e-welfare che contempla l'uso del digitale. Quest'ultimo, se da un lato ha consentito l'abbattimento delle barriere spazio-temporali, connotandosi come smart welfare, dall'altro, ha generato un digital divide, facendo nascere il povero digitale. In piena pandemia la scuola, la sanità, il servizio sociale per fronteggiare i bisogni nuovi hanno dovuto inventare modalità operative inedite o agite solo a livello sperimentale da organizzazioni all'avanguardia. Scopo dell'articolo è pertanto quello di porre in luce questi cambiamenti in atto, evidenziando le implicazioni operative ed etiche del processo di digitalizzazione per ripensare ad un nuovo volto del lavoro sociale che ha rappresentato "un faro nella notte pandemica".

How psychological first aid can help nurses to cope: An intervention strategy that helps nurses deal with distressing or traumatic incidents, or crisis situations

Psychological first aid (PFA) is an intervention strategy to support people in severe distress following crisis events. These traumatic events might include natural disasters, accidents, violent crimes or trauma experienced in nursing work, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

University of British Columbia Nepal Sickle Cell Project Status Report 2015-2020

Purpose of Study In 2015 the University of British Columbia partnered with Creating Possibilities (CP), a charitable organization located in Dang, Nepal. Each year, a team of medical students is sent to assist CP in the long term management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in rural Western Nepal. Due to COVID-19 limitations, we were unable to travel to Nepal this year for the field component of our project. Instead, we took this opportunity to reflect on the project as a whole and create a project status report, outlining the past five years of work. The purpose of this report included: summarizing overall project progress, identifying future project directions, and improving communication amongst project stakeholders. Methods Used To create the project status report, our team reviewed all project documents since 2015. We also conducted virtual interviews with previous team leads to clarify questions and fill in gaps. Project progress was assessed by comparing activities completed to date to the project's initial three main objectives. Summary of Results The first objective of characterizing the prevalence of SCD among the Tharu population is currently ongoing. Since 2015, we have conducted large-scale screening of the Tharu population, with 4483 individuals having been screened by our team. Thus far, a hemoglobin S prevalence of 9.3% has been estimated. Our second objective of identifying barriers to SCD management is also ongoing. Since 2016, yearly focus groups and needs assessments have been conducted with community members and health workers. Common themes of barriers included accessibility, financial limitations, and education. Finally, our third objective of implementing sustainable solutions for long term detection and management of SCD still needs to be addressed. Conclusions Screening and needs assessments will continue as we progress toward addressing our first two objectives. Following consultation with experts and a literature review, we have identified a pilot newborn screening program for SCD as the first step in addressing our third objective.

National assessment of school resources in cystic fibrosis care centers

Background: Assessment of the prevalence and correlates of educational risk and school support needs of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is limited. Educational support for people with CF has become even more pressing with the onset of COVID-19 and the dramatic changes seen in the education system nationally. Method(s): A cross-sectional needs assessment survey for pediatric and adult CF center care team members across the United States was distributed to assess student and family school needs, resources, services offered, and current processes for identification of concerns and intervention. Care teams were asked to complete the survey as a group or specify respondents who routinely provide school support. Result(s): The survey was sent to 3684 individuals within the CF care center network, on April 1, 2022, with a closure date of April 22, 2022. Preliminary results at time of this submission include 56 survey responses, completed primarily by social workers (40%) and physicians (23%), representing approximately 20% of all centers. Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported that their center administered a screening tool to assess general school functioning routinely or as needed. Specific school topics most widely assessed included need for CF care (treatments and medications) to occur at school (73%), concerns about emotional and behavioral functioning in the school setting (70%), CF daily care burden affecting school attendance and performance (63%), and CF-specific needs in university settings (63%). According to the care team report, families most often asked for help with school accommodations related to ability to carry enzymes (74%), carrying awater bottle (50%), additional bathroom passes (43%), and ability to step out of the classroom as needed for gastrointestinal problems (50%). Nurses, program coordinators, and social workers are the team members addressing school needs most often (55%, 42%, and 90%, respectively). Sixty-two percent of respondents reported having access to a hospital-based teacher for education support during inpatient stays, 10% had access to school services or educational support, and 5% had access to someone with a background or training in education or teaching (other than hospital-based teacher) for ambulatory care. Upon closure of the survey, the above data will be updated, and more complete identification of current resources and future needs will be described at the 2022 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Conclusion(s): This survey will be the most comprehensive assessment to date of ongoing school services at CF centers nationally. Results will be used to identify specific areas of need to guide development of a roadmap addressing proactive monitoring of school functioning and resources in the CF care modelCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Use of the HESPER Web to Assess Perceived Needs Immediately After Multiple Disaster Events in Fiji.

OBJECTIVE: In January 2022, Fiji was hit by multiple natural disasters, including a cyclone causing flooding, an underwater volcanic eruption, and a tsunami. This study aimed to investigate perceived needs among the disaster-affected people in Fiji and to evaluate the feasibility of the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER Web) during the early stage after multiple natural disasters. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a self-selected, non-representative study sample was conducted. The HESPER Web was used to collect data. RESULTS: In all, 242 people participated. The number of perceived serious needs ranged between 2 and 14 (out of a possible 26), with a mean of 6 (SD = 3). The top 3 most reported needs were access to toilets (60%), care for people in the community who are on their own (55%), and distress (51%). Volunteers reported fewer needs than the general public. CONCLUSIONS: The top 3 needs reported were related to water and sanitation and psychosocial needs. Such needs should not be underestimated in the emergency phase after natural disasters and may require more attention from responding actors. The HESPER Web was considered a usable tool for needs assessment in a sudden onset disaster.

Mapping the Needs of Different Groups of Athletes of the City of Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia During Crisis Situations (Covid – 19 and Earthquake) – Athlete Perspective

This paper was created as part of the project "Trešnjevka Wrestlers for Civil Society Sports Organizations (SOCD) in Crisis Situations.” with a specific ambition – to pursue improving the capacity of civil society organizations to respond to the needs of the local community in crisis situations. For this purpose and as one of the project activities, the mapping of the needs of different groups of athletes and sports workers of the City of Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia during the crises of Covid – 19 and the earthquake is carried out. This research used a qualitative approach that includes focus group pre-research. To ensure broad coverage of the researched topic and for the purpose of heterogeneity, research deliberately focused on 17 different groups of sport. The structure of pre-research participants who were selected intentionally from 17 sports resulted in a total of 17 athletes. All respondents are athletes and adults who have consented to participate in the survey. Qualitative research was conducted through pre-questionnaires and semi-structured interviews and the survey was guided from February to April 2022. Each athlete belonging to a defined sports community (club or federation) was examined separately. Respondents were introduced to the aim of the research and general questions asked and were also informed about the confidentiality of the answers. Collected data materials were processed by comparative analysis. Alternate observation of the responses, similarities and differences among them, and according to the superior aspect of the research (improving the capacity of civil society organizations to provide an effective response to the needs of the local community in crisis situations) along with the intensity of life quality for athletes managing sport during the pandemic, led to the following question: What needs have been identified by different groups of athletes of the City of Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia during crises (Covid – 19 and earthquakes)? The most frequent declarations are associated with impaired training continuity or suspension of training due to epidemiological measures and earthquake-damaged infrastructure, cancellation of the competitions and a decrease in motivation. © Masaryk University. All Rights Reserved.

Educational Needs of People in Mazandaran Province about COVID-19 in 2020: An Internet-Based Study.

Background and purpose: Considering the global spread of COVID-19, it seems that correct information obtained from reliable sources and training based on the need for self-care behaviors are useful solutions to reduce the harm caused by the disease. This study aimed at assessing the educational needs of people in Mazandaran province about COVID-19. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, 1220 people were recruited via convenience sampling in 2020. A researcher-made questionnaire was administered and information such as demographic characteristics, disease condition, and educational needs for COVID-19 were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and parametric tests, correlation, analysis of variance, and t-test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.34 ± 8.74. Educational level included diploma (42.5%) and university education (38.9%). About 73.3% of the participants were women. According to findings the main sources of information about COVID-19 were social networks (68.4%), satellite programs (20.9%), Ministry of Health notices (8.1%), national media (1.6%), other sources (0.6%), and family members (0.4%). Online methods were the most desirable educational methods (94.6%) reported by the people living in Mazandaran province. The overall mean score for educational needs was 3.89±0.96. The educational need for the disease (3.76±0.84) and self-care needs (4.03±1.07) indicated high needs for educational trainings and significant differences between these areas (P=001). Conclusion: In this study, social networks and media were the primary sources of information about COVID-19. Designing and implementing self-management and self-care training programs could improve the health of people in Mazandaran province and prevent the spread of COVID-19. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (JMUMS) is the property of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Organization Development Interventions to Improve Leadership, Communication, Support, Career Development and Justice of Generation Y & Z: A Case Study of China

This research is mixed-method research aiming at identifying and prioritizing the Organization Development interventions to improve leadership, communication, training & development, support, and justice. Research design, data and methodology: The research also utilizes a needs assessment to examine the differences between the current and expected situations. The target respondents comprise generation Y and Z from both Zhejiang province, China. During the COVID-19 period, the researcher obtained 22847 responses from Zhejiang province, using convenient and purposive sampling. Results and conclusions: The quantitative findings show a significant difference between the current situation and the expected situation regarding leadership, communication, training & development, support, and justice (p < 0.05). According to the PNImodified value, the top three dimensions needing improvement are justice, support, and communication. The five open-ended questions' coding results revealed that respondents were dissatisfied with their organizations' five dimensions' current situation.

Covid-19 Technology Assessment Service

Purpose: As the COVID-19 emergency evolved, a wide range of 'new' technology based solutions were offered to meet clinical and occupational health needs in Europe. This technology extended beyond the standard medical devices usually deployed in clinical settings, and therefore required rapid assessment of suitability for use in hospitals. Here we describe a hospital-based COVID-19 technology assessment service (www.misa.ie/researchdevelopment/ bioengineering-lab/technology-assessment) that was developed and share our experience of its implementation. Material(s) and Method(s): A scientifically grounded assessment service was established to evaluate specific technological solutions. This service was led by a team of 2 Senior Medical Physicists and 1 Senior Clinical Engineer, with each assessment drawing on pan-hospital expertise and a specialist technology evaluation infrastructure. Each solution was evaluated using a standardized agile process: 1) user centric needs assessment;2) applicable literature and international standards review;3) balanced risk-benefit assessment;4) initial device functionality and usability assessment;5) in-depth device technical testing and safety assessment;6) rapid communications and detailed reporting;7) support for local clinical implementation/ installation with on-going evaluation. Evaluations were described in the form of short Bulletins with a webpage developed to share these findings internationally. Result(s): To date, a diverse range of technological systems and innovative solutions were evaluated, including thermal cameras for mass temperature screening, baby monitor devices for isolation room communications, augmented reality systems, a varied range of thermometers, and connected health technologies for remote working and clinical testing. Substantial variability in quality and standard of systems on offer was identified, with potential patient risks highlighted and mitigated. Critical success factors of the assessment service identified include: a central focus on the impact of solutions on both patients and staff, accessible local scientific and technical expertise supporting real-world testing and user feedback, an agile process which was responsive to high levels of uncertainty and a rapid communications process that was adaptive, responsive and connected both locally and nationally. Conclusion(s): Emergency situations, while challenging, are a huge stimulus for healthcare system-wide changes where barriers to technological innovation are significantly reduced, providing significant opportunities for adoption of new and innovative solutions. While there is a need for timely and practical technology assessments during an acute emergency, these should still be grounded in well-established scientific and safety principles that prioritize the health and safety of patients, staff and the public. A hospital-based COVID-19 technology assessment service has provided a practical and successful solution to this challenge.Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Standardized and Concise End-of-Life (EOL) Care Toolkit for Medical Residents in a Teaching Hospital: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study (Sch409)

Outcomes: 1. Assess baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices on EOL non-pain symptom management among internal medicine residents in a teaching hospital using a cross-sectional survey. 2. Develop a standardized inpatient EOL non-pain symptom management educational toolkit for internal medicine residents. Introduction: With palliative care gaining traction as a vital specialty to help patients living with serious illnesses comes the need for further training of healthcare professionals. Frontline providers such as medical residents can benefit from end-of-life (EOL) care training in symptom management. Method(s): There are three phases (over a period of 4 years) to this study: (1) administration of a needs assessment survey of baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices on EOL non-pain symptom management;(2) development and implementation of a standardized inpatient EOL symptom management toolkit;and (3) a comparison of pre-and postassessment after the educational intervention. Result(s): The baseline survey had 66 participants. There were six non-pain symptoms that were elicited as important for further education and training. These were anorexia, nausea/vomiting, dyspnea, oral secretions, myoclonus, and delirium. Competency-based comfort and confidence levels were assessed using a Likert scale (1-5), with the highest number as the most comfortable. The residents were noted to be more comfortable with EOL communication compared to symptom management. Furthermore, residents who had had previous EOL care experiences with patients were more comfortable in symptom management. The educational intervention implemented at a later time revealed that there was an improvement in posttest scores for EOL symptom management. Discussion(s): This study highlights the needs and gaps in EOL symptom management training for medical residents. The implementation of a standardized inpatient EOL symptom management toolkit might serve as a potential intervention to address the needs and narrow gaps in medical training. This can serve as a possible template for other institutions to integrate an EOL care curriculum in medical residency. Limitations of the study include a small sample size, implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic, variable participant response rate, and interrupted timelines. The next steps include ongoing training for all residents, long-term follow-up postintervention, and institutional buy-in.Copyright © 2023