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Introduction: There is a distinct unmet need in structured, curriculum based, unbiased education in neuromodulation. Current teaching is through sporadic industry workshops, cadaver courses and peer proctorship. The COVID pandemic has created a unique opportunity where online platforms have enabled education to be delivered remotely in both synchronous and asynchronously. The William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University, London, UK have initiated University based accreditation- Post Graduate Certificate in neuromodulation (PGCert) that provides candidate a qualification in one academic year through part-time study. Method(s): The program underwent rigorous staged university approval process (figure 1). To ensure market feasibility, two short proof of concept CPD programs "Executive Education in Neuromodulation (EEPIN)" were delivered in 2021. These courses attracted 87 candidates across Australia, Singapore, India, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland, and UK. The faculty includes key opinion leaders that will deliver the program ensuring the candidates gain academic background and specialist skills to understand safe practice of neuromodulation. The PGCert advisory board has been established to ensure strict governance in terms of content and unbiased delivery confirming ACCME guidance. In order to obtain PGCert, candidates are required to complete 4 x 15 credit modules (60 credits). The four modules include Anatomy & Neurophysiology;Patient care and Procedurals skills;Devices and available technology;Intrathecal drug delivery for cancer and non-cancer pain. The modular nature of the program is designed to provide cumulative knowledge, from basic science to clinical application in line with the best available evidence. The modules comprise nine lectures, spreading over three consecutive days, followed by a written assignment with 40 direct contact hours in each module. The webpage can be accessed at Results: The anonymous data from EEPIN reported on Likert scale 1-5: Objectives defined 30.6% - 4 and 69.4% -5;Relevance of topics 10.2%- 4 and 89.8% -5;Content of presentations 22.4%- 4 and 77.6% -5;Organization 24.5% -4 and 69.4% -5;Candidate faculty interaction 14.3% -4 and 81.6% -5. 97% of the EEPIN candidates recommended the program to others whilst 81.8% expressed their strong interest to enroll for university-based post graduate qualification if offered. Conclusion(s): This PGcert Neuromodulation is a unique, university accredited program that provides qualification in neuromodulation with access to a flexible online e-learning platform to discuss and exchange ideas, share knowledge in candidate's own time. This will support the ongoing need for formal curriculum-based education in neuromodulation. Disclosure: Kavita Poply, PHD: None, Phillippe Rigoard: None, Jan Kallewaard, MD/PhD: None, FRANK J.P.M. HUYGEN, MD PhD: ABBOTT: Speakers Bureau:, Saluda: Consulting Fee:, Boston Scientific: Consulting Fee:, Grunenthal: Speakers Bureau:, Pfizer: Speakers Bureau:, Ashish Gulve, FRCA, FFPMRCA, FFPMCAI, DPMed, FCARCSI, MD, MBBS: None, Ganesan Baranidharan, FRCA: None, Sam ELDABE, MD, FRCA, FFPMRCA: Medtronic: Consulting Fee:, Medtronic: Contracted Research:, Mainstay Medical: Consulting Fee:, Saluda Medical: Consulting Fee:, Boston Scientific: Contracted Research:, Saluda Medical: Contracted Research:, James Fitzgerald, MA,PhD: St Jude Medical: Consultant: Self, Medtronic: Consulting Fee:, UCB: Contracted Research:, Merck: Contracted Research:, Serge Nikolic, MD: None, Stana Bojanic, BSc MBBS FRCS (SN): Abbott: Contracted Research:, Habib Ellamushi: None, Paresh Doshi, MS MCh: None, Preeti Doshi, MBBS, MD, FRCA: None, Babita Ghai, MBBS, MD, DNB: None, Marc Russo, MD: Presidio Medical: Ownership Interest:, Saluda Medical: Ownership Interest:, Boston Scientific: Contracted Research: Self, Mainstay Medical: Contracted Research: Self, Medtronic: Contracted Research: Self, Nevro: Contracted Research: Self, Saluda Medical: Contracted Research: Self, Presidio Medical: Contracted Research: Self, Freedom Ne ro: Ownership Interest - Own Stocks: Self, Lungpacer: Ownership Interest - Own Stocks: Self, SPR Therapeutics: Ownership Interest - Own Stocks: Self, Lawrence Poree, MD,MPH,PHD: Medtronic: Consulting Fee: Self, Saluda Medical: Contracted Research: Family, Nalu Medical: Contracted Research: Family, Gimer Medical: Consulting Fee: Self, Nalu Medical: Consulting Fee: Self, Saluda Medical: Consulting Fee: Self, Nalu: Ownership Interest:, Saluda Inc: Ownership Interest:, Alia Ahmad: None, Alaa Abd Sayed, MD: Medtronic, Abbott, SPR and StimWave: Consulting Fee:, Salim Hayek, MD,PhD: None, CHRISTOPHER GILLIGAN, MD MBA: Persica: Consulting Fee: Self, Saluda: Consulting Fee: Self, Mainstay Medical: Contracted Research: Self, Sollis Therapeutics: Contracted Research: Self, Iliad Lifesciences, LLC: Owner: individuals with legal ownership in a company:, Vivek Mehta: NoneCopyright © 2023
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From October 22 to 23, 2021, the 16th National Postgraduates Symposium on Environmental and Occupational Medicine was successfully held in Central South University, sponsored by the Editorial Board of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Xiangya School of Public Health of Central South University, and co-organized by School of Public Health of South China University and Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association. Keeping in view the outbreak of COVID-19, the symposium was held in the form of "offline+online". More than 100 teachers and students from more than 30 universities and research institutions across China attended the conference. A total of 114 excellent papers were submitted to this conference. Focusing on the theme of "Research and practice: Healing the schism", young scholars' forum as well as postgraduates' academic exchanges at the main venue and four parallel sessions were launched. This conference not only provided an excellent platform for postgraduate students in the field of environmental and occupational medicine nationwide to share academic trends and exchange academic research, but also expanded the influence of the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine.Copyright © 2021, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. All rights reserved.
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Objectives: To find out the personal, professional, and educational challenges in training by the post-graduate residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the three tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Method(s): This was a web-based cross-sectional study conducted among the postgraduate residents of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the three main teaching hospitals of Peshawar, from 1st April 2020 to 31st July 2020. A structured survey using Google forms was distributed among 98 postgraduate residents through emails and social media platforms. The challenges faced and their severity was assessed using the Likert Scale. Results were analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Result(s): Total number of participants was 98, with 99% being female. The mean age was 28.3+/-1.8 years. Their worst fear was of the family getting infected (86.7%). Their greatest challenge was the inability to practice social distancing due to the nature of their work (85%) amidst a lack of PPEs (51%). Their training suffered due to inadequate opportunities for elective surgeries (78%). Conclusion(s): Post-graduate residents in Gynaecology/Obstetrics faced substantial personal, professional, and educational challenges while training during the covid-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2023, Khyber Medical College. All rights reserved.
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University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences have established a unique medical imaging teaching and testing laboratory in collaboration with Oulu University Hospital in a European Regional Development Fund -project. Virtually implemented medical imaging devices (CT, MRI, radiography) are unique features of the lab. Many of the virtual tools have been developed by the universities themselves. One of the virtual tools implemented during the project is the CTlab simulator, which can be widely used in computed tomography training for all professionals who use radiation in their work. The CTlab provides fast, comprehensive, and efficient solutions for numerical CT simulations with low hardware requirements. The simulator has been developed to introduce the basic operations and workflow behind the CT imaging modality and to illustrate how the polychromatic x-ray spectrum, various imaging parameters, scan geometry and CT reconstruction algorithm affect the quality of the detected images. Key user groups for the simulator include medical physics, engineering, and radiographer students. CTlab has been created with MATLAB's app designer feature. It offers its user the opportunity to select the virtual imaging target, to adjust CT imaging parameters (image volume, scan angles, detector element size and detector width, noise, algorithm/geometry specific parameters), to select specific scan geometry, to observe projection data from selected imaging target with polychromatic x-ray spectrum, and to select the specific algorithm for image reconstruction (FBP, least squares, Tikhonov regularization). The CTlab has so far been used at a postgraduate course on computed tomography technology with encouraging feedback from the students. At the course, teaching of CT modality were performed by using the simulator, giving students unlimited opportunity to practice the use of virtual imaging device and participate demonstrations remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Using CTlab in teaching enhances and deepens the learning experience in the physics behind computed tomography. CTlab can be used remotely (https://www.oulu.fi/fi/projektit/laaketieteellisen-kuvantamisen-opetus-ja-testilaboratorio-0), which makes teaching and training of CT scanner usage successful regardless of time and place. The simulator enables more illustrative and in-depth teaching and offers cost-effectiveness, versatility, and flexibility in education. CTlab can also be used to support teaching in special situations, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic when simulator is utilized remotely to perform teaching-related demonstrations flexibly and safely.Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
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Background: Covid-19 has dramatically changed everyday life across the globe. Otorhinolaryngologists were at the forefront of being exposed to the virus. As the virus evolved so did the practice of otorhinolaryngology in the country. Some innovative tacks for protecting otorhinolaryngologists and improving patient care were put into our practice by many doctors. Assessment of these techniques will help us to overcome the difficulties if a similar situation arises in the future. Material(s) and Method(s): An online survey was conducted among Indian otorhinolaryngologists. The invitation to participate in the survey was circulated among otolaryngology consultants and postgraduates all over India through multiple modalities on social media. The survey consisted of 4 sections with a total of 24 questions, related to covid vaccination status, changes made in practice, OPD (outpatient department) consultations during the lockdown period, and modifications done in outpatient and operation theatre setups. Google forms were kept open for one month. Result(s): There were changes in outpatient and operation procedure management like screening of patients before treatment and surgery, patient health care declarations, vaccination status, improvisation done in the methods of sterilization of ENT instruments, endoscopes, case selection of elective OT (operation theatre) cases. This paper aims to give a brief overview of current knowledge about the impact of covid 19 on otolaryngology practice using the best available evidence. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 had made crucial changes in ENT practice forever which will help otorhinolaryngologists in the better care of patients if a similar situation arises in the future.Copyright © 2022, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.
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The COVID-19 pandemic diverted medical education within dermatology towards technology-enhanced learning (TEL) delivery. Concurrent societal movements also raised awareness of racial inequalities in health outcomes. This has been highlighted as a priority within dermatology research and education (Guckian J, Ingram J, Rajan N, Linos E. Dermatology is finally talking about race. Br J Dermatol 2021;185: 875-6). The British Association of Dermatology acknowledges that 'the education of undergraduate and postgraduates. . .needs to be updated to better include skin of colour' (https://www.bad. org.uk/healthcare-professionals/inclusivity-and-representation). Numerous distance courses in this domain have been piloted, but there is little published evidence regarding efficacy or sustainability. This study evaluated whether TEL methodologies can facilitate effective and sustainable ethnic dermatology education. The study explored the existing competence and confidence of a cohort of dermatology trainees towards managing dermatology conditions affecting skin of colour, specifically central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) and keloid scarring. The short- and long-term impact of TEL interventions upon trainees' confidence and competence of managing these conditions was investigated. A prospective cohort study was designed and included 14 dermatology registrars and regional fellows across Yorkshire. A Zoom teaching session was provided, covering keloid scarring and CCCA, supported by a 'flipped-classroom' approach via pre-reading materials. Survey methodology was used;three questionnaires were circulated: presession (survey 1), postsession (survey 2) and 6 weeks afterwards (survey 3). These featured multiple choice questions gathering data regarding participant knowledge and questioned confidence and competence. Multiple-choice questions were normed by 15 external trainees to ensure suitable difficulty. Presession, 64% participants felt that, on completion of specialty training, they would be competent in treating patients with ethnic skin. Ninety-three per cent believed that formal outcomes related to ethnic dermatology should be included in the curriculum. Postsession, 42% strongly agreed that the teaching course would change their practice. Fifty per cent felt that the teaching content was 'somewhat new'. Average knowledge scores demonstrated an initial rise then fall (survey 1: 5.67/10;survey 2: 7.83/10;survey 3: 6.36/10). Despite an innovative TEL education session, trainee knowledge did not significantly improve and improvement did not prove sustainable 6 weeks after teaching. Trainees were not confident in adopting newly acquired knowledge on skin of colour into their practice. Results show that the benefit of providing TEL education on ethnic dermatology may prove transient, and there is disparity in the perceived and actual benefit of ethnic dermatology education. Systemic solutions may be warranted, combining both education and human factors, including tackling systemic injustices and social inequalities.
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Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of conditions characterized by a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. IBDs can lead to extraintestinal manifestations that concern articulations, skin, liver, kidneys and eyes. Given the complexity of the diseases, patient affected by IBD are monitored by a multi-disciplinary team whose IBD nurse becomes one of the main figure. In 2018, the University of Udine fostered the post-graduate IBD nurse education programme called "IBD nurse case manager", with the aims to a) promote high standards of clinical practice and research initiatives;and b) educate active members of the multi-disciplinary professional network both at national and international level. Method(s): A retrospective observational study has been conducted in 2022. All patients who attended the IBD clinic for administration of biological therapy, gastroenterological visits, training for subcutaneous therapy administration, follow-up for clinical studies (also via calls and/or emails) were included. Descriptive statistic has been used to describe the activity of the IBD clinic from 2018 to 2021 Results: From the 1st of January 2018 to the 31st of December 2021, a total of 1,114 patients (47% females;average age of 45 years) were admitted to the IBD clinic. Outpatient visits were 701 in 2018 and 679 in 2019, while 639 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 708 in 2021;from 2020 to 2021 there was an increase of 11% of activities. The number of drug administrations increased by 35% from 2018 (n=353) to 2019 (n=475);also, these endovenous therapies were not modified in 2020 (n=487, +3%) and in 2021 (n=476, -3%). The number of education sessions for subcutaneous therapy decreased by 15% from 2018 (n=30) to 2019 (n=26);then, the number increased by 34% from 2019 to 2020 (n=35) and by 135% from 2020 to 2021 (n=83). Follow-up appointments for clinical studies decreased by 60% from 2018 (n=26) to 2019 (n=11), then, the number increased by 100% from 2019 to 2020 (n=22) and decreased by 20% during 2021 (n=17). In 2020, virtual visits were implemented, with an increase of 458% of phone calls in 2021 (n=1,329) compared to 2020 (n=290). Conclusion(s): Data show that qualified nurses may improve IBD pathways and increase the IBD clinic activities with high quality standards of care. In addition, motivation, satisfaction and willingness to continue education training were perceived among nurses. The collaboration between the University of Udine and the Hospital of Udine showed encouraging results that can be replicated in similar contexts.
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Undergraduate clinical dermatology teaching in our hospital was delivered pre-COVID-19 to fourth-year medical students via an objective structured clinical examination-style circuit education session, with preselected live patients displaying important clinical presentation signs. A combination of posters, quizzes and interactive stations (e.g. topical therapy application and cryotherapy demonstration) were also used. Feedback for this consultant-delivered clinical teaching session was always excellent. However, this format did not lend itself easily to virtual teaching when COVID-19 forced immediate changes to undergraduate teaching delivery. A particular, understandable anxiety specifically reported by students was the loss of 'hands-on' clinical teaching with patients. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, a significant number of our face-toface clinics continued and so to harness these clinical teaching opportunities, both live and recorded patient video interactions were arranged. With local university and health-board approval, we obtained written patient consent to record consultations and used secure portals offered by Microsoft Office 365 to display live videos or recorded consultations using a secure NHS Microsoft Teams group, which allowed storage of these teaching videos within its One Drive application. To mimic a 'hands-on' patient interaction, a head-mount (temporal), wireless, 4 K camera was used to mirror the view of the clinician. For skin lesion consultations, ring lamp and dermoscopy magnification examination could also be included (additional still images could also be added retrospectively to any offline video edit). Full-skin examination and general dermatology findings, such as rash pattern and distribution, were highlighted. Some surgical procedures were also recorded, including local anaesthesia infiltration, skin excisions and curettage, as well as cryotherapy administration and topical therapy application. Despite novice use of this teaching technique, video quality was good and feedback excellent, with students appreciating the efforts made to provide interactive clinical teaching during an unprecedented time. Limited existing literature highlighting the use of such teaching models has mainly come from its application in postgraduate surgical specialty intraoperative teaching. We hope the merits of these techniques can be applied to current undergraduate dermatology teaching methodology. We plan to continue to record further clinical consultations to expand our existing teaching video portfolio and are likely to continue to use this as an adjunct resource in our undergraduate teaching delivery. Depending on student feedback, we may consider future professional video recording methods from our university and medical illustration colleagues.
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Introduction: Community acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in low income settings is different from that in the high income settings. Infections, poisoning, toxic envenomations and pregnancy related AKI are common. Kidney biopsy is seldom performed in these patients unless atypical clinical course or features are present. We have established a prospective cohort of patients with CA-AKI at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in India. We present the spectrum of kidney biopsies in patients who underwent kidney biopsy in this cohort. Method(s): The study is a single centre, prospective, observational cohort study of patients with CA-AKI at PGIMER. Patients aged >12 years and with a diagnosis of CA-AKI are eligible for enrolment. Patients with underlying CKD, urinary tract obstruction, COVID 19, malignancy or heart failure are excluded. Clinical and laboratory data are recorded at baseline. Follow up visits are scheduled at 1 and 4 months after hospital discharge. Kidney biopsies are done only in those patients who have atypical clinical course or features (e.g. persistent kidney dysfunction despite other clinical improvement, strong clinical suspicion of dominant glomerular involvement or interstitial nephritis etc.). We present the spectrum of histopathological diagnoses that were recorded in such patients till date. Result(s): Till now, 646 patients have been included in the cohort. The leading causes of CA-AKI are sepsis (52%), obstetric complications (14%), envenomation (8%), nephrotoxic drugs (6%) and poisons (3%) (figure 1). 18.4% patients had died after CA-AKI. At >=3 months after CA-AKI, 16.3% patients had not recovered completely with persistent eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2. 44 patients had undergone kidney biopsy in this cohort. Incomplete recovery, and clinical or diagnostic dilemmas were indications for doing kidney biopsy. The leading clinical diagnoses in this subgroup were sepsis (23%), nephrotoxic drugs (23%), envenomation (9%), obstetric causes (6.8%) and others (25%). Acute interstitial nephritis, acute tubular necrosis and acute cortical necrosis were most common histologic diagnoses (table 1). Combinations of various histologic features were not uncommon. Pigment casts were recorded in 13 patients. 4 patients had acute cortical necrosis, 2 being after post-partum AKI and one each due to acute gastroenteritis and unknown animal bite. Glomerular involvement were recorded in 8 patients (table 1). Thrombotic microangiopathy was present in 4 patients. In this subgroup of patients who underwent kidney biopsy, 3 (7%) had died and 8 (18%) had eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 at >=3 months. Figure 1: Causes of CA-AKI in patients [Formula presented] Table 1: Histologic diagnoses in kidney biopsies in CA-AKI cohort. [Formula presented] Conclusion(s): Acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis, alone or in combination with other findings, were the most common histologic diagnoses in indication kidney biopsies in CA-AKI. Adverse outcomes (mortality or progression to CKD) are common after CA-AKI. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023
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Objective: During COVID-19 pandemic, people have practiced one or more self-medication (SM) for prevention of the disease. This requires monitoring and evaluation to see the pattern of medicine used. Hence, in this study, we evaluated the prevalence and pattern of SM in various group of people. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted as an online survey on individuals who were in contact through mobile phone from October 2020 to March 2021. A pre-structured questionnaire-based Google form that contain questions related to SM practiced was prepared and circulated on social media application and email. Submitted forms were analyzed using Microsoft excel. Result(s): Out of 779 forms, 775 (99.4%) filled completely were considered in result. Majority (52%) of participants were in the age group of 20-40 year. Six hundred and fifty-two (84%) participants had taken medication, out of which 40% were modern medicine users and rest 44% had used other than modern medicine. In modern medicine, Vitamin C was taken by 72% and in other group, lemon water was taken by 99% of participants. The prevalence of SM was highest among urban population (43%) with education up to postgraduation (53%). Health worker (57%) were highest among users. SM advice was received by doctors in 60% participants with belief of effectiveness against COVID-19 infection. Conclusion(s): SM was practiced by half of the participants that includes modern as well as other than modern medicine. It was mainly seen among people with higher education and who are associated with health-care system.Copyright © 2023 The Authors.
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INTRODUCTION Healthcare workers (HCWs), at the heart of the unparalleled crisis of COVID-19, face challenges treating patients with COVID-19 . The psychological burden and overall wellness of HCWs has received heightened awareness showing high rates of burnout, psychological stress, and suicide. HCWs experience emotional exhaustion, which may lead to medical errors, lack of empathy in treating patients, lower productivity, and higher turnover rates. AIM To determine the impact of COVID-19 on HCWs including (Consultants, Postgraduate students-both medical and naturopathy, Interns and Nursing staff) and to identify the potential risk factors . METHOD A web based cross-sectional study done in SDM, Dharwad was done among 50 participants to identify the main mental health outcomes that include Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia and Distress using Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scale , Insomnia severity index and The impact of event scale-revised. RESULT Out of 50 participants , 38(76%) were in age group of 26-30 years,31 (62%) were females and 28(56%) were Post graduates,10 (20%) Interns and 10(24%) Nursing staff. This study found that mod-severe GAD was seen in 6 % participants,2 % had high PTSD & mod-severe Depression was seen in 3 (6%) & 1(2%) had mod Insomnia CONCLUSION It is thus very important to assess the prevalence of psychological manifestations in the HCWs and help them to adequately cope with stressors to function adequately.
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Background: Little is known on the relative influence of demographic, behavioural, and vaccine-related factors on risk of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim(s): To determine risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection after primary and booster vaccinations. Method(s): We did a prospective population-based study in SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated UK adults, including data up to Feb 3, 2022. We built two Cox regression models to explore associations between sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, pharmacological, and nutritional factors and incident SARS-CoV-2 infection after a primary course of vaccination and after a booster dose. Finding(s): 1017 (6.4%) of 15,804 fully vaccinated participants and 697 (6.1%) of 11,382 boosted participants reported breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. A primary course of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (ChAdOx1) vs BNT162b2 was associated with higher risk of post-primary infection (adjusted HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.39-1.87). This effect remained after an mRNA booster dose (1.24 [1.04-1.49] for ChAdOx1 + BNT162b2 and 1.44 [1.07-1.92] for ChAdOx1 + mRNA1273, vs BNT162b2 + BNT162b2). Older age was associated with lower risk of infection after primary (0.96 [0.96- 0.97] per year) and booster (0.97 [0.96-0.98]) vaccinations, while lower educational level (1.71 [1.38-2.12] post primary and 1.47 [1.11-1.95] post booster for primary/secondary vs postgraduate) and at least three weekly visits to indoor public places (1.37 [1.15-1.64] post primary and 1.54 [1.21-1.96] post booster vs no visits) were associated with higher risk. Conclusion(s): Vaccine type, socioeconomic status, and behaviours affect risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection following a primary schedule and a booster dose.
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Background: Prospective population-based studies investigating multiple determinants of pre-vaccination antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 are lacking. Aim(s): To study factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Method(s): We did a prospective population-based study in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-naive UK adults recruited from May to November 2020, without a positive swab test result for SARS-CoV-2 prior to enrolment. Information on 88 potential sociodemographic, behavioural, nutritional, clinical, and pharmacological risk factors was obtained through online questionnaires, and combined IgG/IgA/IgM responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein were determined in dried blood spots. Result(s): 1696 (15.2%) of 11,130 participants were seropositive. Factors independently associated with higher risk of seropositivity included frontline health/care occupation (adjusted OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.48-2.33), international travel (1.20, 1.07-1.35), number of visits to shops and other indoor public places (>=5 vs 0/week: 1.29, 1.06-1.57, Ptrend=0.01), BMI >=25 vs <25 kg/m2 (1.24, 1.11-1.39), South Asian vs White ethnicity (1.65, 1.10-2.49), alcohol consumption >=15 vs 0 units/week (1.23, 1.04-1.46), sex hormone therapy (1.25, 1.02-1.52), and use of vitamin D supplements (1.16, 1.03-1.30). Postgraduate degree (vs primary or secondary level: 0.82, 0.67-0.99), light physical exercise (0.80, 0.70-0.93, for >=10 vs 0-4 h/week), passive smoking (0.59, 0.37-0.95), and prescribed paracetamol use (0.70, 0.52-0.96) were independently associated with lower risk. Conclusion(s): Our findings confirm ethnic, occupational, and lifestyle determinants of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and identify additional risk factors.
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Background: Health-care providers, particularly pediatric dentists, highly depend on electronic media. This survey attempts to assess how they have taken to e-media to keep themselves abreast of the current situation and use it efficiently. Objectives: To determine attitudes, awareness, and practices of e-media usage among pediatric dental professionals and postgraduate students in pediatric dentistry during the COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 958 pediatric dental practitioners and postgraduate students in pediatric dentistry from throughout India participated in a descriptive cross-sectional survey. An investigator-designed questionnaire comprising 23 close-ended questions related to the usage and various aspects of e-media before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Younger generations of pediatric dentistry are more active in the use of e-media. Dentists between the ages of 30 and 50 years are more likely to utilize social media in their profession than dentists above the age of 50 years. For academic purposes and patient communication, e-media was the most popular choice. Conclusion: The Indian pediatric dentistry profession has grown significantly with the use of e-media. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Objective: the research was aimed at verifying the incidence of soft skills in academic procrastination. Method(s): the study was causal correlational, with a sample of 352 graduate stu-dents, who were evaluated with the CPA Academic Procrastination questionnaire and the Soft Skills questionnaire, which were submitted online in Google Forms, with prior informed consent. Result(s): The results evidenced an inverse association between soft skills and academic procrastination;furthermore, a low but significant incidence (-,369**) was found between the variables under study. Conclusion(s): A low but significant inverse incidence of the antecedent variable on the consequent variable was found.Copyright © 2022, Venezuelan Society of Pharmacology and Clinical and Therapeutic Pharmacology. All rights reserved.
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The COVID19 pandemic resulted in lock-downs and reduction of social interactions to reduce the risks of disease transmission. Routine medical services were affected and telemedicine was rapidly adopted for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of many chronic diseases including hypertension. We look at the considerations for the design and set-up of telemedicine for the management of hypertension. Many aspects need attention in order to ensure a safe, reliable, and effective program. Many regulatory agencies developed guidelines, advisories, regulations, and legislation to manage telemedicine. We examine some of these guidelines and their differences in South East Asian countries. Often, the professional clinical service standards in telemedicine are maintained by the state medical boards or councils. Additional training or certification and licensure is needed prior to providing telemedicine services. In-person visits are required when remote consultations cannot meet the professional clinical standards. Because telemedicine can traverse national boundaries, different regulators differ in their approach to the provision of telemedicine services to overseas patients. Nonetheless, the doctor must meet the same standard of care for overseas patients. Also, practice insurance will need to explicitly cover the practice of telemedicine especially for overseas patients. Besides the professional clinical standards, telemedicine differs by technology platforms, communication devices, software, and blood pressure monitoring devices. These varied devices and software require further evaluation of technical standards for safety, reliability, data privacy, storage, transmission, and licensure. Some of the guidelines also cover the need for quality improvements and technology upgrades. Regardless, there have been many studies of telemedicine in hypertension covering many aspects of care. Some can be simpler telemonitoring of blood pressure to highly sophisticated ones with devices linked to personal communicators (usually cellphone) with feedback to healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists) and tagged to clinical interventions to improve the control of hypertension. Reviews of these studies show that hypertension telemedicine programs are effective but the evidence may be available in different practice settings and patient types, thus, complicating the design and recommendations. Therefore, it is important to review the type of practice and patients, determine which aspects are lacking to be targeted, and designing a good program. A good program will lead to better clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, lower cost, reduced manpower for delivery of care, and convenience all round. Clinical practice guidelines and undergraduate and postgraduate medical training need to encompass telemedicine for the future.
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Objectives: Early investments in new diagnostic technologies that allow for rapid and decentralized testing were critical in reducing SARS-CoV-2's detrimental health and economic effects. This study evaluates public knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. Methods: An online descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire was used in this study. The final study population included all contacted national and resident adults, age 18 and over, who were willing to engage in the study. The survey was divided according to participants' demographic information and 11 questions assessed the respondents' understanding of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify the factors influencing respondents' knowledge of and attitudes toward the acceptability of self-testing kits for COVID-19 and their willingness to use these kits. Key findings: A total of 876 respondents participated in the study and completed the whole questionnaire. The average knowledge score on the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19 was 70.2%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [69.1%, 71.4%]. Participants who were postgraduate, female and vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as employees and older participants, were jointly highly associated with higher levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Moreover, participants who had been infected with COVID-19, were vaccinated against COVID-19 or were female, employees, older, Western or Arabic were jointly highly associated with positive attitudes about the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Conclusions: The majority of the respondents have acceptable levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Nonetheless, future studies should consider the issues of pre- and post-test counselling, false negative results and the sale of unregulated testing kits. Additional information should be communicated so that people can make informed decisions and be protected from possible abuse of COVID-19 self-testing kits when they become available in pharmacies.
ABSTRACT
Background Online learning can play a vital role in the process of teaching and learning during Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, learners' satisfaction is extremely important in effective implementation of the online learning, especially at institutions where it is newly adopted. Objective To assess satisfaction towards online learning and its predictors among students at Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur. Method A web-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 434 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various academic programs who had participated in the online classes started during this COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire consisting of 31 items (5-point Likert scale) covering four major student satisfaction domains (learners' dimensions, technological characteristics, instructors' characteristics and course management and coordination) was distributed to the students using Google Form. Result More than half (53.5%) of the students were satisfied with the online learning, while 29.7% gave neutral views. Bivariate analyses found that all four domains scores were positively correlated with each other as well as with the students' overall satisfaction towards learning. In multivariate analysis, female gender [aOR: 2.72, p = 0.013], WiFi as internet modality for learning [aOR: 3.36, p = 0.001) and learners' dimension score [aOR: 1.27, p<0.001] were the significant predictors of students' satisfaction. Conclusion Although recently adopted, the satisfaction of the students towards online classes appears good, and prioritizing the identified predictors and working on the weak links could assist in enhancing students' satisfaction and better outcomes. Copyright © 2020, Kathmandu University. All rights reserved.