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Development of the Student Wellbeing Connect (SWBC) service was a response to increased student support needs in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Due to the government-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, students often faced complex psychosocial and wellbeing issues (Dodd et al., 2021). Two years on from its inception, the case management service has become a core component of La Trobe University's Student Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion services responding to the complex and compounding factors that can impact the wellbeing and success of university students. Varying psychosocial needs can underly a student's presentation to a counselling service;thus, the case management service complements the counsellor's role by providing practical-based interventions. The focus of the service on practical issues has provided an alternative support model for students who do not identify as primarily requiring mental health or counselling support. This has opened service provision to a broader cohort of students. Using a multi-disciplinary, strength-based, and person-centred case management approach, students work collaboratively with Wellbeing Coordinators to identify internal and external supports to address their needs through psychosocial assessments and implementation of goal-focused planning. SWBC acts as a safety net within the university setting if/when psychosocial difficulties are impacting the student's experience, academic performance, and wellbeing. This paper will outline the operational and service provision framework for providing case management to tertiary students. © 2023, Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association. All rights reserved.
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Introduction and Aim: Previously tension-type headache (TTH) was found to be highly prevalent among the general population worldwide, but the current data available were limited. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many life changes occurred to adapt to the situation, students started e-learning from home and their sleep quality (SQ) might be influenced. Physiotherapy and nursing students were studied as they are rarely being studied by researchers, information about them was very limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TTH, SQ and the type of correlation between the two during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted by sharing the online questionnaires composed of 2 main components: (i) Questionnaire formulated from diagnosing criteria for TTH of ICHD-3 (ii) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), to PS and NS students from higher education institutions in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Result(s): A total of 259 respondents were recruited in the study. The prevalence of TTH was 76.8% and SQ had a mean score of 5.12, which indicated poor SQ among PS and NS students, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Correlation between TTH and SQ was proved to be significant in this study (p=0.032, rs =0.133). Conclusion(s): High prevalence of TTH and poor SQ among PS and NS students during the COVID-19 pandemic was determined. There is a weak positive correlation between TTH and SQ during COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2023, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. All rights reserved.
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The restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the switch from in-person to online teaching, including the teaching of foreign languages in 2020-2022. This study uses the feedback of students who have studied English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in virtual and classroom settings. The aim is to investigate the benefits and limitations of each approach for language acquisition in ESP for sport and health sciences. A questionnaire to ascertain students' experiences was distributed to 60 students in sport and health sciences who studied ESP at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education. It was found that online and face-to-face studies of ESP in sport and health sciences tended to facilitate the acquisition of different language skills. In the questionnaire, students reported consistent progress in the study of vocabulary and reading the texts related to their area of study during both online and face-to-face studies, but less improvement was reported in the areas of grammar and speaking skills. Overall, synchronous online live classes would facilitate the steady and continuous development of all language skills if supplemented by continuous support from the teaching personnel, regular offline meetings or classes, and access to specially designed online resources.
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Background: The abrupt change to distance learning due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposed great challenges on tertiary education. While aspects such as mental health and stress exposure have been investigated, little research has been conducted regarding the impact of distance learning on students' health behaviors. This article investigates the influence of the teaching mode (in situ vs. distance) on students' physical activity and nutrition. Methods: A retrospective questionnaire study was conducted comparing two student cohorts who had attended the same course in two subsequent years. One group had participated in situ before the pandemic, while the other one participated via distance learning during the pandemic. A total of 79 questionnaires were submitted by students belonging to the latter and 51 by students of the former group. Data were compared regarding differences in students' health behavior. Results: Findings indicate that online classes facilitated the pursuit of physical activities and healthy eating. Students with in situ teaching felt restricted in their exercise activities. Findings for healthy nutrition are similar. Conclusion: Students in distance learning found themselves in a more flexible learning environment and in a position to allocate their time resources more autonomously. Student health promotion in face-to-face teaching settings should be improved and the opportunities presented by distance learning utilized. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Der/die Autor(en), exklusiv lizenziert an Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature.
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One way to curb the spread of COVID-19, an infectious coronavirus disease that first emerged in China in 2019, has been a pedagogical shift from face-to-face to virtual learning. Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), in particular, adopted blended learning that combines face-to-face with virtual learning. Although blended learning was established before COVID-19, its effectiveness during this pandemic is little known. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate blended learning for the sciences and mathematics programmes at GZU during COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021. A survey involving 45 students from two schools at GZU and a focus group discussion comprised nine staff members were conducted. Data were analysed using SPSS, the Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths inquiry, and the Context, Input, Process and Product model. Threats observed included the high cost of technological gadgets, while opportunities included the development of twenty-first- century skills. In the internal environment, inadequately equipped laboratories and poor Internet connectivity were some of the major weaknesses. Examples of strengths were the highly qualified staff. Strategies to enhance the effectiveness of blended learning included investing in broadband and establishing virtual laboratories. Overall, blended learning effectively achieved the objectives of the two schools. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.
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Higher education has not been immune to the widespread disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, commonly known as COVID-19. Colleges have quickly evolved and adapted to this new normal, from leaving campuses to investing in online instruction and assisting students and staff remotely. However, international lockdowns have had a devastating effect on graduating high school students who had planned to study abroad. According to a survey by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a highly revered annual publication of global ranking for educational institutions, more than 48% of Indian students intending to study abroad changed their minds because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aims to discuss how the pandemic affected students' decision-making on a wide range of factors. The study's goals are to determine whether the coronavirus affected college students' plans to study abroad, including how it influenced the students' interest in pursuing their higher education and how factors such as financial breakdown, parental emotion, and fear of the pandemic have impacted students' intentions to study overseas. The research will collect and analyze primary data quantitatively to test the hypothesis and provide solid evidence for the goals. The study's findings reveal that students' perspectives differed, suggesting that some students considered deferring their overseas education plans in response to the worsening epidemic. In contrast, others embraced the option of studying online, either in India or Abroad (by enrolling in hybrid or roaster classes).Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Within the context of the Kingdom of Bahrain, this case study applies a realist lens to analyse a new policy approach to education reform. Called the ‘Tertiary Action Plan' (TAP), the design and consultation of this policy process provides an example of a different more Agile policy approach. Critics of traditional linier policy processes highlight that they do not consider the cultural, social and economic complexities of the policy context. This has become particularly important within the future skills agenda driven by the fourth industrial revolution and post-COVID recovery. Interviews with policy experts directly involved at a senior level in the TAP process highlight key themes that describe the ‘different' approach. These themes include whole system change and different rhetoric used to describe education ‘transformation' rather than reform;focusing on educational and labour market outcomes over delivering KPIs;and high-level integrated collaboration and responsibility. The conclusion and recommendations state that there is some evidence of Agile policy making, but this could be made more explicit by ensuring realist evaluation and monitoring principles are added to the implementation of the various TAP initiatives. © 2023, Gulf Research Centre Cambridge.
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Aims: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant rise in mental ill-health has been observed globally in young people, particularly amongst those in their final years of secondary school. The students' negative experiences coincide with a critical transitional period, which can subsequently disrupt milestones in social and educational development. This study aims to use innovative population-level data to map the impact of the pandemic on students entering higher education. Method(s): Tertiary education application data for Victorian students were obtained from the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre both pre-pandemic (2019/2020) and pandemic (2020/2021). Prevalence of mental health special considerations were compared between cohorts across geographical areas and applicant demographic subgroups. Relative risk regression models were used to understand the role of different risk factors. Result(s): The rate of mental health special considerations increased by 38% amongst all applications (pre-pandemic: 7.8%, n = 56 916;pandemic: 10.8%, n = 58 260). The highest increases were observed amongst students in areas with severe lockdown experiences and areas impacted by 2019/2020 black summer bushfires. The increases were higher amongst year 12 students and students with other preexisting risk factors (e.g., physical condition, learning disability). However, interestingly slightly higher increases were observed in areas with higher socioeconomic status, which is potentially related to inequality in mental health service access. Conclusion(s): As the consequences of mental health difficulties and academic disruption in youth can be long-lasting, it is critical to establish a mental health supportive framework both in and outside of higher education to facilitate young people's recovery from the pandemic.
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This paper highlights the changes in the unemployment rate across different age cohorts among young people in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study observes that the youth unemployment rate increased at a much higher rate in urban areas both for male and female youth during the initial phase of pandemic. To understand the severity of the effects of pandemic on unemployment across different age groups among the youth, this study enquires into the nature and causes of unemployment among them. The probit estimates of unemployment function for the youth reveals that the likelihood of youth being unemployed is less in upper age cohorts within the young age range. An inverse relationship is observed between general education and employment among the youth in the Indian youth labour market. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.
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When the World Health Organization formally declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, health care and education institutions around the world changed forever. COVID-19 had a significant impact on the clinical supervision of radiographers through severe restrictions to their clinical placement and the necessary conversion to online education delivery.1 The past impacts of COVID-19 have led to current problems in radiography practice including a wide gap in students' theory to practice. In order to address these past impacts and champion future change to prevent similar events from occurring, an analysis of the literature was performed to assess how COVID-19 has adversely impacted the three domains of clinical supervision in radiography. Formative supervision was negatively impacted by COVID-19 as studies reported reduced skill acquisition and preparedness for workforce from not only reduced clinical hours, but also the competing demands on supervisors.2 The 'restorative' domain of supervision was adversely impacted by reports of increased mental health issues among radiography students due to stress, isolation and the financial burden of COVID-19.3 The last domain impacted was 'normative supervision' from the lack of mental and financial support for students reported in multiple comprehensive studies. These highlighted the gap in communication between students, supervisors and universities.4 This unresolved organisation systemic issue requires higher education institutions and tertiary hospitals to better collaborate on structured pathways to support students through future pandemics. To champion change, we must honour the past impacts of COVID-19 on supervision to encourage further research towards improved supervision practice and better prepare for similar future pandemics.
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Objectives: To examine patients' telehealth usability during COVID-19 in Dubai. Method(s): A cross-sectional retrospective study adopted Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). A total of 64,173 participants who used telehealth services during 2020 - 2021 were recruited from the electronic medical record to participate in electronic survey from October to December 2022. The survey was administered through DHA text messaging system. The survey examined participants' characteristics and the six domains of TUQ with a Likert scale. Frequency, percentage, and weighted mean score percentages were used as descriptive statistics to analyze this data. Result(s): A total of 1,535 participants completed the survey. The overall TUQ showed the mean age of users was 43.37 years (+/-11.67 SD). More than half of the users were females (65.21%), the majority were married (74.46%), of a UAE nationality (83.58%), had higher education (56.68%), and were currently working (57.13%). Consultations and COVID-19-related concerns (45.14%), medication refills (19.80%), and laboratory tests (18.24%) were the main reasons for telehealth visits. Weighted means of TUQ six domains were usefulness (87.11%), ease of use and learnability (86.98%), interface quality (85.73%), interaction quality (86.44%), reliability (79.48%), and satisfaction and future use (86.44%). Conclusion(s): Our study revealed high levels of usability and willingness to use telehealth services as an alternative modality to in-person consultations among the participants of the survey. Our results support the implementation of telehealth services in DHA;however, further studies are required to understand the applicability of telehealth after COVID-19 and how to further improve satisfaction.Copyright © 2023
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Objectives: The use of virtual care has accelerated since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the differences in patient characteristics between new and existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients that utilized virtual care. Method(s): Adult patients (age318 years) with T2DM who had a virtual care (phone or video) visit between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022 from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse were identified. The date of the first virtual visit was defined as the index date. Patients were required to be continuously insured at least 1 year prior to their index date (baseline) and at least 90 days of follow-up coverage. T2DM patients were categorized as newly diagnosed and as existing T2DM patients based on whether a diabetes diagnosis was observed in the baseline or not. Result(s): A total of 1,864,203 unique T2DM patients were eligible, with18.5% identified as newly diagnosed and 81.5% as existing T2DM patients. On average, newly diagnosed T2DM patients were younger than existing T2DM patients. Majority (54.5%) of newly diagnosed T2DM patients were commercially insured compared to only 38.6% existing T2DM patients. Among the existing T2DM patients, 61.2% were White, 17.9% Non-Hispanic Black, 12.7% Hispanic and 8.2% others. Of this population, 12.7 % had a household income >= $125,000, 13.3% had at least a Bachelor's degree, and 80.3% reside in a metropolitan area. For the newly diagnosed T2DM cohort, 59.7% were White, 15.3% Non-Hispanic Black, 13.4% Hispanic, and 11.6% others. More of the newly diagnosed T2DM cohort had higher household income, higher education, and resided in a metropolitan area compared to patients with existing T2DM. Conclusion(s): T2DM patients that used virtual care were heterogenous in terms of their baseline characteristics. This underscores the emerging trend that virtual care can potentially play a complementary role in managing patients with diabetes.Copyright © 2023
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In the community of inquiry (CoI) frameworks, a meaningful learning with technology in higher education requires interaction of social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence. However, it is challenging to create a CoI within an online teaching and learning (OTL) environment especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when educators are forced to conduct it. This paper proposes three innovative approaches for such a community to enhance active learning during synchronous OTL, specifically You Talk for engaging students, Resource Pool for facilitating feedback, and Classroom Meet for recreating the classroom environment. The three approaches were implemented by independent instructors for their respective undergraduates in synchronous online class. The treatment groups show significantly better academic performance than the control groups for all the three innovative approaches. The students from the treatment groups strongly agree that these innovative approaches promote active interaction, enhance attainment of the learning contents, deliver the course contents effectively, assure satisfaction and engage students actively during OTL. It suggests that either approach to engaging students, or facilitating feedback, or recreating the classroom environment serves as teaching presence to support the social presence of the students and therefore creates cognitive presence among them. © 2023, Asian Journal of University Education. All Rights Reserved.
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The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated sharply the increasing interaction between scientific and technological know-how/capability and international relations. The pandemic forced the closure of schools across the Caribbean, including tertiary institutions. Many colleges and universities turned to technological tools and altered their pedagogy to enable continuity of teaching and learning. One such institution was The University of the West Indies (UWI) which faced many challenges and introduced adaptations to address this issue. As UWI continues to manoeuvre in the pandemic, it remains important to understand the impact of the pandemic on the University and the efficacy of actions taken to tackle the pandemic. This chapter will also highlight some of the issues that universities should address as they re-envision post-COVID-19 education. The pandemic provides a rare opportunity to reshape tertiary education so that the framework readily facilitates assessing different teaching and learning styles/formats, inclusive curricula, and the online challenges. This study was done by looking at the measures put in place at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how we deliver care to people with cystic fibrosis (CF) across the spectrum of disease severity. Because of lockdowns and avoiding exposure to COVID-19 by limiting inperson clinic visits, clinical care has pivoted from standard practices to virtual care in combination with in-person traditional visits. This approach has allowed patients to be monitored and treated in a timely manner. Such virtual visits have the advantage of reducing the time commitment for clinic visits because the patient does not have to travel to and from the hospital, but virtual care lacks the ability to conduct a physical examination and to obtain objective and standardized testing of key measurements known to be associated with health outcomes in CF. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitude of patients to virtual delivery of care and their comfort level with such care. Method(s): This is a prospective, cross-sectional survey of adults with CF who are followed at St. Michael's Adult CF Center in Toronto, Canada. An online survey was created using SurveyMonkey to assess attitudes toward and satisfaction with virtual care. The survey was emailed to participants and included the Canadian CF Registry ID;a reminder email sent a week later. Baseline demographic and clinical data were obtained from the Canadian CF Registry and presented as median (range) or proportions as appropriate. Questions using a 3-point Likert scale will be categorized into agree, neutral, and disagree. Result(s): A total of 210 participants (53.0% female) completed the survey (median age 37.8, range 19.2-78.9). Median age of diagnosis was 2.2, 95.7% were Caucasian, 76.0% had completed post-secondary education, 63.0% were employed and 11.0% were students, 75% were pancreatic insufficient, 39.0% had CF-related diabetes, and 12.4% were post lung-transplant. Median percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 65.8% (range 17.9-126.9%), and median body mass index was 23.6 kg/m2 (range 15.5-45.7 kg/m2). Eighty-one percent of respondents had had a virtual visit before completing the survey. Sixty percent of respondents felt that in-person visits were the preferred way of completing a medical assessment, and 27.0% preferred virtual visits. Seventy-three percent felt it was important for the virtual visit to occur at the booked time, 59.0% had concerns that their lung function was not assessed during virtual visits, 46.0% felt they were losing the benefits of allied health team assessments with virtual visits, and 40.0% worried that their health would decline if primarily seen virtually. Just over half of respondents wanted to continue with virtual visits in some capacity after the pandemic. The optimal proportion of in-person visits was felt to be 50.0%. More than 85% of respondents were comfortable with technology (phone or computer) and had reliable access to the Internet to conduct virtual visits. Seventy percent of people would like to have access to a home spirometer, but cost was a barrier. Conclusion(s): From the patient's perspective, in-person visits were still the preferred way to complete a medical assessment, which seemed to be driven by concerns over lack of methods for assessment, particularly lung function, and access to the multidisciplinary team. Home spirometers, if freely available, might increase comfort with virtual appointments.Copyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved
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Background: The Cystic Fibrosis Legal Information Hotline (CFLIH) provides information on legal issues affecting people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Since 1998, it has provided the CF community with confidential information on health insurance, Social Security, employment, and education. Method(s): The CFLIH tracks each call according to the age of the person with CF, the caller's relationship to the person with CF, and the subject matter of the call. Result(s): The CFLIH received 10 870 calls in 2021;63% were related to a person with CF aged 18 and older and 37% to a child younger than 18;55% were from a person with CF, 7% more than in 2020;and 22% of calls came from CF centers. Of the 2444 calls from CF centers, 95% were from nonphysician staff and 5% from physicians. Twenty-two percent were from a parent of a person with CF, and 1% of callers were the spouse or someone with another relationship to the person with CF. Fifty-seven percent of calls were related to Social Security benefits, 9% more than in 2020. These calls were evenly divided between Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Sixteen percent of calls were related to benefits and coverage under a private or public health benefit plan: 34% of these related to private health benefit plans and 66% related to public health benefit plans. Of the public benefit plans, 53% related to Medicare and 47% to Medicaid. Nine percent of calls were related to CF in primary, secondary, and higher education, 22% more than in 2020, and 18% were related to employment. Conclusion(s): Total calls in 2021 stabilized after a record high of 13 405 in 2020. The surge in calls that began in 2020 was driven by problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued into 2021. Calls in 2021 exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, calls related to Social Security were 9% higher than in 2020. The increase in Social Security calls is attributed to persons with CF becoming unable to work because of the progression of CF symptoms, many of whom are not eligible for CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy. Calls also increased from those whose health had improved with CFTR modulator therapy who sought information about maintaining Social Security or health insurance while returning to work. The increase in Social Security calls is also attributed to an increase in the number of Social Security beneficiaries undergoing reviews of their disability status by the Social Security Administration. Employment calls continued to be higher than pre-pandemic levels. Remote work during the pandemic tended to help workers with CF maintain employment. Return to in-person work raised concerns about workplace safety, reasonable accommodations, and other workplace issues. Loss of employment with reasonable accommodations for CF was a common experience. The CFLIH increased health equity by helping maintain health coverage for vulnerable members of the CF community, which avoids disruptions in coverage and care. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the CFLIH continues to be a reliable source of information in obtaining Social Security benefits, health insurance, employment, and safe access to educationCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved
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Background: Recent findings from the UK Biobank revealed that healthy adults who later became infected with SARS-CoV-2 had lower brain volumes in regions involved in risk-taking behavior and olfaction compared to individuals who did not become infected. We examined if similar pre-existing differences in brain regions correspond to SARS-CoV-2 infection among people with HIV (PWH) receiving suppressive ART. Method(s): Participants included adult Thai MSM enrolled in the acute HIV (AHI) cohort (RV254/SEARCH010) in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants underwent 3T MRI and clinical assessments (i.e., HIV disease metrics, cognitive testing, and self-reported mood and substance use). ART initiation occurred within 5 days of the MRI (median=same day). Regional brain volumes were summed across hemispheres and corrected for head size. Brain volumes and clinical indices were compared between participants with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and those without a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 following ART initiation. Machine learning was utilized to identify variables at the time of enrollment into the cohort that predicted subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection status. Result(s): 112 participants were included in the analysis. All study participants achieved viral suppression after ART and received SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Fifty-four participants became infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the observation period (median=79 weeks from ART initiation). Study participants who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 after ART had lower volumes at the time of enrollment in several subcortical brain regions with the most pronounced effect in the pallidum (p=.025). There were no associations between brain volumes and ratings of mood, demographics, or HIV disease indices. SARS-CoV-2 infection was two-fold higher among individuals who reported use of amyl nitrites (i.e., poppers) during chemsex. Machine learning with repeated cross validation revealed that lower orbital and medial frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, pallidum, vermis, and olfactory volumes, worse motor function, and higher education collectively predicted co-infection status (average AUC of 85%). Conclusion(s): Study findings point toward a risk phenotype for SARS-CoV-2 infection among PWH defined by pre-existing differences in brain volumes relevant to risk-taking behavior, emotion, and neuroHIV as well as behavioral factors such as inhalant use and lack of social distancing during chemsex. (Table Presented).
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Background: Rampant chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine poisoning in Nigerian hospitals following suggestions of its possible efficacy in the treatment and prevention of the newly emerged COVID-19 disease informed this survey. Objective(s): The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of the Nigerian populace on the use of chloroquine in the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): This cross-sectional study was done by administering an electronic questionnaire created using Google Docs, through social media cascade methods including the WhatsApp application software to capture data on chloroquine use between April 20 and June 20, 2020. Result(s): Six hundred and twenty-eight people responded to the questionnaire (response rate 99.2%, mean age 41.05 +/- 12.3) from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria with 556 (88.5%) having tertiary level education. Only 21 (3.3%) of the respondents took chloroquine for treatment or prevention. Respondents from the North-west geopolitical zones used chloroquine 5.8 (95% CI: 1.55, 21.52, p=0.02) more times than other zones while the age group 20-29 were 8.8 times more likely to use chloroquine than any other age group (95% CI: 3.53, 21.70, p = 0.00). Female respondents were 2.3 times more likely to use chloroquine than the males (OR 2.26 95% CI: 0.90-5.68;p=0.08) and those in the income bracket of N75,000-99,000, 2.5 times more than other income groups. Conclusion(s): Young adults, North-western geopolitical zone, and female gender should be target groups for education on rational chloroquine use. The danger of chloroquine overdose should be communicated to the general population in Nigeria.Copyright © 2023 Olukosi AY et al. Licensee African Health Sciences.
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Background and Aims: The covid-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress in the fight to end tuberculosis. So, the discovery of new drugs as antituberculosis is very much needed. Our previous studies have shown that the extract of Centella asiatica is able to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and requires further research. The aims of this study is to prove the effect of Centella asiatica inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rat model tuberculosis. Method(s): The protocol in this study was approved by the veterinary ethics committee of Airlangga University. The rat tuberculosis model was induced by intrathecal injection of a suspension of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37 Rv. Twenty-eight tuberculosis rat were randomly divided into four groups. Groups 1,2, and 3 were treated with ethanol extract of Centella asiatica at 375 mg/kgBW, 750 mg/kgBW and 1500 mg/kgBW, and the fourth group was the control group. Centella asiatica extract is administered orally via an intragastric feeding tube for two weeks, once daily At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed by cervical decapitation. The left lung tissue was taken aseptically and cultured on Middlebrook 7H10. Result(s): The results showed that there was no bacterial growth on the culture media in the group that received Centella asiatica extract at a dose of 750 and 1500 mg/kg BW. Conclusion(s): The conclusion in this study, that Centella asiatica extract inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at doses of 750 and 1500 mg/kg BW. We thank the Directorate of Research and Community Services, the Directorate General of Higher Education, and Ministry of Education and Culture in Indonesia for the financial supportCopyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
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This paper reports on empirical results from a study that investigated first-year mathematics students' preparedness for, and response to, online learning. With the appearance of COVID-19 in 2020, lecturers were forced to make sudden changes to the established face-to-face learning environments, and students were expected to adapt to these changes. The idea of a blended learning environment is not new, and students globally have demanded flexibility in mathematics learning environments for some time. However, the idea of a sudden change in environments, particularly to fully online, was new to most lecturers and students. Key aspects in an online environment are students' ability to self-regulate their learning, and the availability and accessibility of technological resources. Quantitative data from the self-developed questionnaire were collected early in 2021, at a public university in South Africa, from a large sample over several modules. Results indicate students are partially prepared for learning fully online, with significant effect on performance. © 2023 by the authors;licensee Modestum. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)..