Teaching Epidemiology Online (Pandemic Edition).

In response to the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many universities are encouraging or requiring online instruction. Teaching an epidemiology course online is different in many respects from teaching in person. In this article, we review specific approaches and strategies related to teaching epidemiology online during the pandemic and beyond, including a discussion of options for course format, grading and assessment approaches, pandemic-related contingencies, and the use of technology. Throughout this article we present practical, epidemiology-specific teaching examples. Moreover, we also examine 1) how the lessons learned about the practice of epidemiology during the pandemic can be integrated into the didactic content of epidemiology training programs and 2) whether epidemiologic pedagogy and teaching strategies should change in the long term, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has served to heighten our awareness of concerns related to student health and safety, as well as issues of accessibility, equity, and inclusion. Our goal is to present a practical overview connecting pandemic-era online teaching with thoughts about the future of epidemiologic instruction.

Geotechnologies applied in epidemiological studies on cases of covid-19: a narrative review / Geotecnologias aplicadas em estudos epidemiológicos sobre os casos de covid-19: revisão narrativa / Geotecnologías aplicadas en estudios epidemiológicos sobre casos de covid-19: revisión narrativa

Background and objectives: the applied geotechnologies are essential in helping the development of epidemiological studies that aim to identify and distribute health events in specific populations and territories, in addition to verifying the factors that influence the occurrence of these events, intending to apply the evidence in strategies of disease planning and control as in the covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to present the scientific evidence that has been produced on geotechnologies applied in epidemiological studies on cases of covid-19. Methods: this is a descriptive narrative literature review (NLR). To guide the study, the following research question was elaborated: what has been studied about applied geotechnologies in epidemiological research on covid-19 cases? The search was carried out in October 2021, using the descriptors Geographic Information Systems AND Covid-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 AND Epidemiology AND Spatial Analysis, in Virtual Health Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Portal CAPES. Complementarily, a search was carried out for epidemiological bulletins and booklets on the Brazilian Ministry of Health website. Results: nineteen sources of information were selected that fit the objectives for the discussion construction, with three categories of analysis being listed: Geotechnology application; Information management; Challenges of epidemiological studies that use secondary data. Conclusion: geotechnology use in epidemiological studies on covid-19 in identifying areas at risk for the infection spread was such remarkable.(AU)

Justificativa e objetivos: as geotecnologias aplicadas são essenciais para auxiliar o desenvolvimento de estudos epidemiológicos que visam identificar e distribuir eventos de saúde em populações e territórios específicos, além de verificar os fatores que influenciam a ocorrência desses eventos, pretendendo aplicar as evidências em estratégias de planejamento e controle de doenças como na pandemia de covid-19. Este estudo teve como objetivo apresentar as evidências científicas que vêm sendo produzidas sobre geotecnologias aplicadas em estudos epidemiológicos de casos de covid-19. Métodos: trata-se de uma revisão de literatura narrativa descritiva (NLR). Para nortear o estudo, elaborou-se a seguinte questão de pesquisa: o que tem sido estudado sobre as geotecnologias aplicadas na pesquisa epidemiológica dos casos de covid-19? A busca foi realizada no mês de outubro de 2021, utilizando os descritores Geographic Information Systems AND Covid-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 AND Epidemiology AND Spatial Analysis, na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, Scopus, Web of Science, Portal CAPES. Complementarmente, foi realizada busca de boletins e cartilhas epidemiológicas no site do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Resultados: foram selecionadas dezenove fontes de informação que se enquadram nos objetivos para a construção da discussão, sendo elencadas três categorias de análise: Aplicação da geotecnologia; Gestão da informação; Desafios dos estudos epidemiológicos que utilizam dados secundários. Conclusão: o uso da geotecnologia em estudos epidemiológicos da covid-19 na identificação de áreas de risco para a propagação da infecção foi notável.(AU)

Justificación y objetivos: las geotecnologías aplicadas son esenciales para ayudar al desarrollo de estudios epidemiológicos que tengan como objetivo identificar y distribuir eventos de salud en poblaciones y territorios específicos, además de verificar los factores que influyen en la ocurrencia de estos eventos, con la intención de aplicar la evidencia en estrategias de planificación y control de enfermedades como en la pandemia de covid-19. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo presentar la evidencia científica que se ha producido sobre geotecnologías aplicadas en estudios epidemiológicos sobre casos de covid-19. Métodos: se trata de una revisión descriptiva narrativa de la literatura (NLR). Para orientar el estudio se elaboró la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿Qué se ha estudiado sobre geotecnologías aplicadas en la investigación epidemiológica de casos de covid-19? La búsqueda se realizó en octubre de 2021, utilizando los descriptores Sistemas de Información Geográfica Y Covid-19 O SARS-CoV-2 Y Epidemiología Y Análisis Espacial, en Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, Scopus, Web of Science, Portal CAPES. Complementariamente, se realizó una búsqueda de boletines y folletos epidemiológicos en el sitio web del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil. Resultados: fueron seleccionadas diecinueve fuentes de información que se ajustan a los objetivos para la construcción de la discusión, siendo enumeradas tres categorías de análisis: aplicación de la geotecnología; Gestión de la información; Retos de los estudios epidemiológicos que utilizan datos secundarios. Conclusión: el uso de geotecnología en estudios epidemiológicos sobre covid-19 para identificar áreas en riesgo de propagación de la infección fue tan notable.(AU)

Impact of digital transformation on tropical health / Impacto de la transformación digital en la salud tropical

La Transformación Digital (TD) es todo un proceso que busca optimizar la relación usuario­organización, mejorando así los procesos y el desempeño. Con la llegada de la pandemia COVID-19 a principios del año 2020, cuando fue necesario acelerar la inclusión de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC) para continuar ofreciendo los servicios sanitarios, se constituye el sistema peruano de TD como un sistema funcional; con normas, principios y procedimientos; y con técnicas e instrumentos para ordenar las actividades del sector público y con miras a su optimización. Se planteó una investigación de carácter descriptivo para conocer el impacto de la transformación digital en la salud tropical del Perú. Para ello se determinaron el impacto en la gestión de datos, gobernanza, e intercambio de conocimiento e innovación digital de 4 enfermedades metaxénicas y 3 zoonóticas seleccionadas a partir del análisis de los distintos componentes de la sala virtual de situación de salud del Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Prevención y Control de Enfermedades del Perú. Los datos fueron analizados bajo el Sistema de Información para la Salud (IS4H) de la OPS que permitió valorar la interoperabilidad de los procesos relacionados con la categorización de estas nosologías. Para todos los factores evaluados: gestión de datos, innovación, gestión y gobernanza y gestión e intercambio de conocimiento, los resultados, en general, estuvieron alrededor de la media (3 puntos, en una escala del 1 al 5), siendo el valor más alto (3,3 puntos) para la gestión y gobernanza, y el valor más bajo (2,7 puntos) para la innovación. Se necesita un enfoque más holístico en la salud pública para asegurarse de que se proporcione una respuesta eficaz frente a las enfermedades tropicales. Si los sistemas de salud se colocan en el medio de la acción, esto permitiría tener mayores posibilidades de hacer frente a estas enfermedades mediante el uso adecuado de las herramientas modernas que logren complementar el enfoque tradiciona(AU)

Digital Transformation (TD) is a whole process that seeks to optimize the user-organization relationship, thus improving processes and performance. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020, when it was necessary to accelerate the inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to continue offering health services, the Peruvian DT system was established as a functional system; with norms, principles and procedures; and with techniques and instruments to order the activities of the public sector and with a view to their optimization. A descriptive investigation was proposed to know the impact of digital transformation on tropical health in Peru. For this, the impact on data management, governance, and exchange of knowledge and digital innovation of 4 metaxenic and 3 zoonotic diseases selected from the analysis of the different components of the virtual health situation room of Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Prevención y Control de Enfermedades of Peru. The data were analyzed under PAHO's Information System for Health (IS4H), which made it possible to assess the interoperability of the processes related to the categorization of these nosologies. For all the factors evaluated: data management, innovation, management and governance, and knowledge management and exchange, the results, in general, were around the average (3 points, on a scale from 1 to 5), with the highest value being highest (3.3 points) for management and governance, and the lowest value (2.7 points) for innovation. A more holistic approach to public health is needed to ensure that an effective response to tropical diseases is provided. If health systems are placed in the middle of the action, this would allow them to have greater possibilities of dealing with these diseases through the appropriate use of modern tools that manage to complement the traditional approach(AU)

Epidemiological profile of death resulting from Covid-19 in a municipality in southwest of Paraná / Perfil epidemiológico de óbitos decorrentes da Covid-19 em um município do sudoeste do Paraná / Perfil epidemiológico de las muertes por Covid-19 en un municipio del suroeste de Paraná

Introdução: No final do ano de 2019 surgiu na China uma doença infectocontagiosa de característica respiratória e alto grau de disseminação até então desconhecida. No Brasil o primeiro caso de Covid-19 foi confirmado no final de fevereiro de 2020 e a primeira morte em meados de março. Segundo dados da plataforma Coronavírus Brasil, em 17 de março de 2021, houve registro de 11.603.535 casos confirmados e 282.127 óbitos. Objetivo: Descrever o perfil de pessoas que morreram tendo como causa básica do óbito a Covid-19, em um município do Sudoeste do Paraná, entre os anos de 2020 e 2021. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, documental de caráter quantitativo que foi realizado na prefeitura municipal de Francisco Beltrão. Resultados: Houve prevalência de óbitos em pacientes do sexo masculino, idosos, com presença de alguma comorbidade associada, sendo hipertensão a mais citada (50,8%). Os sintomas mais prevalentes foram tosse (74,4%), dispneia (56,3%) e saturação < 95% (48,3%), necessitando ainda de hospitalização em algum período da doença (94,1%), sendo os leitos de Sistema Único de Saúde os mais procurados (74,4%). Quanto à taxa de ocupação 49,6% dos casos necessitou apenas de leitos de enfermaria e 42% unidades de terapia intensiva. Discussão: Diversas pesquisas apontam que o sexo masculino é o mais acometido por condições graves de saúde, devido à demora na busca de assistência médica. No que se refere à idade, neste estudo, a prevalência de óbitos se deu entre 71 e 75 anos (15,1%) o que justifica que o envelhecimento é um fator de risco elevado para complicações da doença. Durante a análise dos dados, notou- se que grande parte dos pacientes que tiveram como desfecho o óbito, possuíam algum fator associado, dentre os mais citados, verificou-se a Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (50,8%) Diabetes Mellitus (24,8%), doenças cardiovasculares (23,9%) e obesidade (14,7%). No que diz respeito à hospitalização, nesse estudo notou-se que 74,4% da amostra foram hospitalizadas em leitos de SUS, 18,5% em hospitais particulares e 7,1% não possuíam essa informação. Conclusão: É possível observar a importância do estudo epidemiológico para identificar o perfil da população em risco, podendo auxiliar no planejamento do atendimento, rastreamento e controle da doença, além de conhecer a evolução da patologia, a fim de buscar ações adequadas para seu enfrentamento.

Introduction: At the end of 2019, a previously unknown infectious disease with respiratory characteristics and a high degree of dissemination emerged in China. In Brazil the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in late February 2020 and the first death in mid-March. According to data from the Coronavirus Brazil platform, as of March 17, 2021, 11,603,535 confirmed cases and 282,127 deaths were recorded. Objective: To describe the profile of people who died with Covid-19 as the underlying cause of death in a city in southwestern Paraná between the years 2020 and 2021. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, documental, quantitative study carried out at the Francisco Beltrão City Hall. Results: There was a prevalence of deaths in male patients, elderly, with the presence of some associated comorbidity, hypertension being the most cited (50.8%). The most prevalent symptoms were cough (74.4%), dyspnea (56.3%) and saturation < 95% (48.3%), requiring hospitalization in some period of the disease (94.1%), and the Unified Health System beds were the most sought (74.4%). As for the occupancy rate, 49.6% of the cases required only ward beds and 42% intensive care units. Discussion: Several studies show that men are the most affected by serious health conditions, due to the delay in seeking medical assistance. Regarding age, in this study, the prevalence of deaths was between 71 and 75 years (15.1%), which justifies that aging is a high risk factor for disease complications. During data analysis, it was noted that most patients who died had some associated factor, among the most cited were systemic arterial hypertension (50.8%), diabetes mellitus (24.8%), cardiovascular diseases (23.9%) and obesity (14.7%). Regarding hospitalization, in this study it was noted that 74.4% of the sample were hospitalized in SUS beds, 18.5% in private hospitals, and 7.1% did not have this information. Conclusion: It is possible to observe the importance of the epidemiological study to identify the profile of the population at risk, which can help in planning care, tracking and control of the disease, besides knowing the evolution of the pathology in order to seek appropriate actions for its confrontation

Introducción: A finales del año 2019 apareció en China una enfermedad infecto- contagiosa de característica respiratoria y alto grado de diseminación desconocida hasta entonces. En Brasil se confirmó el primer caso de Covid-19 a finales de febrero de 2020 y la primera muerte a mediados de marzo. Según los datos de la plataforma Coronavirus Brasil, hasta el 17 de marzo de 2021, había 11.603.535 casos confirmados y 282.127 muertes. Objetivo: Describir el perfil de las personas fallecidas con Covid-19 como causa subyacente de muerte en una ciudad del sudoeste de Paraná entre los años 2020 y 2021. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio transversal, descriptivo, documental de carácter cuantitativo que se realizó en la prefectura municipal de Francisco Beltrão. Resultados: Hubo una prevalencia de muertes en pacientes masculinos, de edad avanzada, con presencia de alguna comorbilidad asociada, siendo la hipertensión la más citada (50,8%). Los síntomas más prevalentes fueron la tos (74,4%), la disnea (56,3%) y la saturación < 95% (48,3%), requiriendo hospitalización en algún periodo de la enfermedad (94,1%), siendo las camas del Sistema Único de Salud las más solicitadas (74,4%). En cuanto a la tasa de ocupación, el 49,6% de los casos sólo necesitaban camas de sala y el 42% unidades de cuidados intensivos. Discusión: Varias investigaciones señalan que el género masculino es el más afectado por las condiciones de salud graves, debido al retraso en la búsqueda de asistencia médica. En cuanto a la edad, en este estudio, la prevalencia de muertes se produjo entre los 71 y los 75 años (15,1%), lo que justifica que el envejecimiento sea un factor de riesgo elevado para las complicaciones de la enfermedad. Durante el análisis de los datos, se observó que la mayoría de los pacientes que fallecieron tenían algún factor asociado, entre los más citados estaban la Hipertensión Arterial Sistémica (50,8%), la Diabetes Mellitus (24,8%), las enfermedades cardiovasculares (23,9%) y la obesidad (14,7%). En lo que respecta a la hospitalización, en este estudio se observó que el 74,4% de la muestra estaba hospitalizada en camas del SUS, el 18,5% en hospitales privados y el 7,1% no tenía esta información. Conclusión: Es posible observar la importancia del estudio epidemiológico para identificar el perfil de la población en riesgo, pudiendo ayudar en la planificación de la atención, el rastreo y el control de la enfermedad, además de conocer la evolución de la patología, con el fin de buscar las acciones adecuadas para su enfrentamiento.

Biological risks, working conditions and psychological effects of COVID-19 in nursing personnel / Riesgos biológicos, condiciones de trabajo y efectos psicológicos del COVID-19 en personal de enfermería

Los profesionales de enfermería están relacionados con la atención directa del paciente con Covid- 19, dejándolos expuestos a riesgos biológicos y condiciones de trabajo modificadas que podrían causar efectos psisociales significativos. Como objetivo, se realizo una revisión bibliográfica para determinar las condiciones de trabajo y efectos psicológicos del COVID-19 en personal de enfermería durante el período 2020-2021. El estudio fue descriptivo, con una muestra de 39 articulos resultantes de la aplicación criterios de exclusión, las fuentes de datos utilizados fueron: EBSCO Host, Hinari, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online, Library, Redalyc, SciELO; se incluyó la búsqueda de palabras clave mediante los tesauros en DeCS y MeSH, las cuales se formularon ecuaciones con los operadores boléanos AND y OR con descriptores de búsqueda como: WorkingCondition/Labor condition, Covid-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ Coronavirus Infections, Nurse emotions/emotion/emotions/emotional/Feelings/Regrets, Nurse/nurses/nursing, y Method/ Methodology/ Model. Como resultado, a nivel de riesgo biológico, las condiciones inseguras repercutían en deficiencia y escases de equipos de protección personal, infraestructura y equipamiento, así mismo, las condiciones laborales a nivel organizacionales aludían a ausencia de políticas y directrices, bajos salarios, carga e inestabilidad laboral, además de esto, los efectos psicológicos del COVID-19 en personal de enfermería se pudieron evidenciar de manera positiva a través de decisión, motivación y orgullo y, negativa con ansiedad, depresión, estrés, inseguridad, molestia y temor. Como conclusión, es indispensable ofrecer infraestructura, condiciones y equipamiento al personal de enfermería, además de actividades de descanso para disminuir el estrés y la presión que generan agotamiento y efectos psicosociales(AU)

Nursing professionals are related to the direct care of patients with Covid-19, leaving them exposed to biological risks and modified working conditions that could cause significant psychosocial effects. As an objective, a bibliographic review was carried out to determine the working conditions and psychological effects of COVID-19 on nursing personnel during the 2020-2021 period. The study was descriptive, with a sample of 39 articles resulting from the application of exclusion criteria, the data sources used were: EBSCO Host, Hinari, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online, Library, Redalyc, SciELO; the search for keywords was included using the DeCS and MeSH thesauri, which were formulated with Boolean operators AND and OR with search descriptors such as: WorkingCondition/Labor condition, Covid-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ Coronavirus Infections , Nurse emotions/emotion/emotions/emotional/Feelings/Regrets, Nurse/nurses/nursing, and Method/ Methodology/ Model. As a result, at the level of biological risk, the unsafe conditions affected deficiency and scarcity of personal protective equipment, infrastructure and equipment, likewise, the working conditions at the organizational level alluded to the absence of policies and guidelines, low wages, workload and instability. In addition to this, the psychological effects of COVID-19 on nursing staff could be evidenced positively through decision, motivation and pride, and negatively with anxiety, depression, stress, insecurity, annoyance and fear. In conclusion, it is essential to offer infrastructure, conditions and equipment to nursing staff, as well as rest activities to reduce stress and pressure that generate exhaustion and psychosocial effects(AU)

Key concepts in clinical epidemiology: reporting on the accuracy of continuous tests.

Many clinical diagnostic tests, such as the joint fluid white blood cell count, produce results on a continuous scale, rather than a mere positive or negative. The accuracy of such tests is often reported as a positive and negative likelihood ratio at each of several potential cutoff points (e.g., ≥25,000/µL vs. not, ≥50,000/µL vs. not; ≥100,000/µL vs. not).  This Key Concepts article reviews the definition of a likelihood ratio and explains why the practice of dichotomizing the test is problematic. Instead, it proposes that such continuous scales be divided into multiple intervals (e.g., 0-25,000, >25,000-50,000, >50,000-100,000, >100,000) and each interval be given its own likelihood ratio.  This practice not only aligns with clinical common sense and practice but also enables a more accurate estimate of the updated risk of disease, given a pre-test risk.

On the Need to Revitalize Descriptive Epidemiology.

Nearly every introductory epidemiology course begins with a focus on person, place, and time, the key components of descriptive epidemiology. And yet in our experience, introductory epidemiology courses were the last time we spent any significant amount of training time focused on descriptive epidemiology. This gave us the impression that descriptive epidemiology does not suffer from bias and is less impactful than causal epidemiology. Descriptive epidemiology may also suffer from a lack of prestige in academia and may be more difficult to fund. We believe this does a disservice to the field and slows progress towards goals of improving population health and ensuring equity in health. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak and subsequent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have highlighted the importance of descriptive epidemiology in responding to serious public health crises. In this commentary, we make the case for renewed focus on the importance of descriptive epidemiology in the epidemiology curriculum using SARS-CoV-2 as a motivating example. The framework for error we use in etiological research can be applied in descriptive research to focus on both systematic and random error. We use the current pandemic to illustrate differences between causal and descriptive epidemiology and areas where descriptive epidemiology can have an important impact.

How Brazil can hold back COVID-19. / Como o Brasil pode deter a COVID-19.

This article presents the strategies and actions adopted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to hold back COVID-19. The response to the disease was immediate and occurred prior to the first case being detected in Brazil. Provision of information and communication to the population and the press was adopted as a fundamental strategy for addressing the epidemic. Guidance provided to the population has been clear, stressing the importance of coronavirus transmission prevention measures. Efforts have been directed towards strengthening health surveillance and health care, as well as boosting research, development and innovation. Actions have targeted human resource training and expanding coverage afforded by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). Protecting health workers is a priority. All SUS health workers, managers and directors are dedicated to preserving the health and life of each and every Brazilian citizen.