Development of a national cystic fibrosis patient and caregiver experience of care survey

Background: Since 2015, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) has collected and reported experience-of-care (XoC) data. Data collection was discontinued with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021, CFF convened a steering committee of a person with cystic fibrosis (CF), caregivers, and clinicians to develop a XoC survey to help understand and improve the XoC at CFF accredited programs. Method(s): Using prior CFF patient and family XoC surveys (2015-2020 pediatric and adult versions) [1,2] and a telehealth survey created in 2020 [3], draft pediatric and adult versions of the survey were developed. The steering committee and CFF leaders conducted three rounds of reviewand revision. After the surveys were professionally translated into Spanish, and the CFF Spanish Speakers Committee reviewed them, the surveys were programmed into Qualtrics for data collection. The data collection process was piloted with selected programs before a national launch. Result(s): Pediatric and adult surveys were developed in English and Spanish. The surveys cover in-person and telehealth (phone/video) visits and visits that are a mix of in-person and telehealth. The topics include interactions with care team members, relationship-centered care, care planning, shared decision-making, overall quality of care, race and ethnicity, gender identity, infection, prevention and control, quality of the virtual connection, and experience with remote monitoring. People with CF (PwCF) and their families are invited to complete a survey once every 6 months by text or email. PwCF and family contact data (email and mobile phone number) are stored in CFF's CFSmartReports Patient and Family Tool. After a clinic visit, contact data are electronically transferred to the Qualtrics platform to trigger a survey invitation. Responses are anonymous and reported back to programs via an electronic dashboard in near-real time. The data collection process was tested with three pediatric and three adult care programs for 3 weeks before the national launch on October 25, 2021. More than 2,000 PwCF and their families have completed a survey. Conclusion(s): The new XoC surveys offer PwCF and their families an opportunity to share feedback about their in-person and virtual care experiences. Efforts are underway to create a national report for dissemination and to engage programs with the data reported in their dashboards to celebrate what PwCF and their families appreciate about their care and to work together with them to improve gaps.Copyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Policymaker and Practitioner Perceptions of Parks for Health and Wellbeing: Scoping a Holistic Approach

Urban parks provide a multitude of health benefits for citizens navigating the challenges of 21st-century living. And while this is well known by both scholars and practitioners, there is less understanding about the differential impacts of park size, type of facilities, community accessibility, and management. This is the central concern of the research reported here, which is a part of a larger project titled 'Better Parks, Healthier for All?' funded under the UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research Scheme 2019. Within this broader context, the current paper discusses the results of a focus group to better understand how different park qualities promote physical and mental health. Using a COVID-safe research approach, we brought key park providers, park policymakers, and green and open space designers from New South Wales, Australia, together to participate in an online focus group in May 2021. The recruitment was based on the domain expertise and practitioner knowledge of the issues at hand. The ensuing discussion canvassed three areas of interest: What is park quality? How is park quality associated with health? How can we assess park quality and its ability to deliver health outcomes? A thematic analysis of the group's deliberations reveals a very holistic appreciation of park quality. The ability of a park network to provide a range of health outcomes is central to this view, with each park playing a role in delivering different benefits across the network. Our findings indicate that there are many opportunities to enhance the myriad of benefits and multiple ways to gain them. Co-design is essential to ensure that parks best suit the local context and provide relevant benefits to all stakeholders. In this way, local communities can gain ownership and enhanced agency in relation to using and enjoying their parks. We conclude that delivering locally networked parks and associated spaces for community health and wellbeing are essential in the broader context of global environmental sustainability.

Mino Bimaadiziwin Homebuilder Program's Impact on Sustainable Livelihoods Among Youth in Garden Hill and Wasagamack First Nations: An Evaluative Study

The Mino Bimaadiziwin Homebuilders postsecondary education pilot project built Indigenous youth capacity and houses in two remote Anishinini reserves—Garden Hill and Wasagamack. To evaluate this community-led project, a sustainable livelihood assessment holistically measured the impact on 45 of the 70 (64%) Homebuilder students and the community. The community benefited by gaining three culturally appropriate houses built from local lumber and employment opportunities for Anishinini instructors. A longitudinal survey found five of the six livelihood assets improved sta-tistically and significantly, including satisfaction with social relationships, cultural awareness, in-come and ability to pay bills, housing safety, and human development. Students reported better relations with their families and neighbourhood. Most (85%) of the 70 Homebuilder students earned postsecondary certificates either in forestry, homebuilding, or both while obtaining a training sti-pend, which elevated their incomes. These positive outcomes occurred despite project underfunding, COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, climate change events, and inequitable housing policies under the Indian Act. Based on this project's success, we recommend investing in Indigenous-led postsecond-ary education in community homebuilding projects. However, to attain equitable housing and human rights, a plan is needed to overturn the Indian Act keeping Indigenous people "wards of the state” and their land in trust. © 2023 Canadian.

Myocardial Injury Is Not Associated with Mortality in Severe Covid-19

Background Biochemical markers of cardiac injury and strain are proven indicators of severe COVID-19. Whether enzyme elevation is a product of cardiopulmonary strain versus myocardial viral injury is not well defined. CARDIO-COVID is a registry designed to study COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs with evidence of cardiac injury. Methods Inclusion criteria for the CARDIO-COVID registry are PCR positive test for SARS-CoV2, ICU admission and either elevated troponin, elevated NT-proBNP/BNP, or new onset heart failure. Registry contains 1328 cases from 16 centers in the US, Canada, and Europe. 838 cases were included for analysis. Cases were collected between March 2020 - May 2021. Multivariate regression analyses were performed. Results Patients were 51.3% male, average age of 67.4 years and 32% Caucasian. 63% had pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Morbidity and mortality were common: 40% died, 50% underwent intubation, 20% required renal replacement therapy, and 5% had cardiac arrest requiring CPR. New onset arrhythmias were common (26%), but VT/VF was rare (4.8%). Cardiovascular complications were minor drivers of morbidity: 4.8% had ACS requiring catheterization, 8.0% had new onset heart failure (median EF 43% (IQR 31 - 47.75%), 4.4% had a CVA, and 6.7% had PE. Of patients who died, 65% died from hypoxemic respiratory failure, 10.5% from septic shock, 9.3% from PEA, and 3.1% from cardiogenic shock. Modeling showed insignificant increased odds of death in patients with MACE (p-value 0.22, OR 1.94 CI 0.67 - 5.82). Age (p-value 0.005) and intubation (p-value 0.001, OR 5.8 CI 2.1 - 18) were strongest predictors of death. Every increase in age by one year was associated with 5% increase in odds of death. Degree of cardiac enzyme elevation was not associated with MACE, death, or intubation. Conclusion While elevated cardiac enzymes are common in severe COVID-19, cardiac complications are not common drivers of mortality. Respiratory failure and septic shock are leading causes of death. These findings suggest that in severe COVID-19 cardiac enzyme elevation usually reflects cardiopulmonary strain from respiratory distress rather than myocardial injury portending cardiac failure or death.Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation

DIVAS - DC Pink Divas Intervening Virtually to Advance Saving Lives: Assessing the impact of digital behavioral health breast cancer education program for Black women

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer. Thirty years of increased awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment access contributed to a 40% decline in breast cancer deaths. Yet, in 2021, more than 281,550 new cases of invasive and 49,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women. Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer - the highest breast cancer death rate across racial and ethnic groups. Today, the Black-white breast cancer mortality gap persists, and Black metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients have a poorer prognosis. The pandemic exacerbated breast cancer disparities. In 2020, delays and avoidance contributed to an 85% breast cancer screening drop while MBC patients' risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 elevated. Therapy interruptions and abandonment increased, and conversely, clinical trial enrollment decreased. COVID-19 has accelerated the digital platform shift to telemedicine, online psychosocial support programs, virtual patient navigation, and digital engagement across the oncology care continuum. DC Pink Divas Intervening Virtually to Advance Saving Lives (DIVAS) is an award-winning evidence-based training, outreach, and patient navigation program developed to address the educational needs of Black early-stage, MBC breast cancer patients, survivors, and caretakers and provide strategies to educate, empower and impact women by increasing breast health knowledge, decreasing gaps in screenings and access, increasing awareness of MBC to ensure that where a woman lives, will not determine if she lives through a 1-year commitment of attendance in 8 cohort-based education modules where Black breast cancer mortality is highest. The DIVAS Health Behavioral Change Model adapts the Precaution Adoption Process Model, Health Behavior Model, and Social-Ecological Model. DIVAS implements innovative virtual outreach programs, training, and intervention strategies to empower Advocates to educate peers, providers, and policymakers. 3 Cohorts of Black women impacted by breast cancer trained as Lay Breast Health Advocates from 2011, 2020, and 2021 (N = 57;77.5 % 45 years or younger;36.7% early-stage 0-II, 50% late stage III-IV, 10.3% caretakers) self-reported their lifestyle behaviors, breast cancer diagnosis, breast health education, social media use, and interest in a digital-based lifestyle intervention. Participants completed pre-and post-surveys, interviews, and journaling over 10.5+ hours of education modules to understand their breast health, provider-related challenges, and community-related resources. Findings provide evidence that cohort-tailored education is a successful method of supporting Black women in a behavioral-health intervention. The provision of printed culturally attuned information along with the digital-based instruction from a Black woman health care provider or public health expert is effective in helping Black breast cancer survivors transition into patient empowerment, improve QOL and contribute to better patient outcomes. After the intervention and completion of breast health modules, participants reported increased: self-efficacy in communicating with providers (70%) and self-efficacy in making treatment decisions (70%) self-confidence (85%), and a decrease in lifestyle risk factors (87%). Patient-centric behavioral health interventions in breast cancer education must be advanced digitally to address the pandemic's compounded crisis. DC Pink Divas provides insights to combat rising disparities by educating, empowering, and mobilizing Black lay breast health advocates to improve outcomes. Collaborative digital interventions across the care continuum to improve awareness, access, adherence, infrastructure, culturally attuned training, and support are evidencebased methods for navigating the cancer care transformation accelerated by COVID-19 to advance breast health equity. (Table Presented).

Spaces of Exclusion and Neglect: The Impact of COVID-19 on People With Disabilities in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, and Uganda

This research investigates how COVID-19 has affected experiences of people with disabilities in low- and middle-income contexts. A qualitative approach was used to collect data as the pandemic progressed from 75 participants in Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, and Uganda. The research aimed to be inclusive of people with disabilities by asking the participants directly about their perspectives with a narrative interview method being employed to gain each person's unique insights. A participatory thematic analysis of the data, followed by a spatial analysis process, produced rich and highly individualized accounts of the spatiocultural experiences relating to how people with disabilities had occupied both private and public space during the pandemic. Differing factors, such as the dominant culture, gender, a person's impairments, and the social environment, are shown to shape people's experiences. Across cultures, COVID-19 is shown to have presented new challenges for people with disabilities while preexisting disadvantages have been exacerbated. © The Author(s) 2023.

Using Cross-Cultural Collaboration to Establish a Working Coalition for An Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Program

Coalitions and collaborations with African Americans in the United States are often between people with equal humanity but unequal power. Endeavors between historically harmed communities and representatives of systems that continue to harm them frequently lead to intentional and unintentional miscommunication, mistrust, and distrust. The causes for health inequity are complex and should include consideration of systemic racism. In most standard public health models, departments typically take the lead and invite select members of the community to help. This article describes a collaboration that took place in Marin City, California, between African American churches, the department of public health, and community-based organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This example focuses on the value of African American history and cosmology as a foundation for respectful cross-cultural collaboration in implementing a COVID-19 vaccination effort. A cross-cultural collaborative model was developed for use by this coalition to guide the development and implementation of community response teams. Unique and shared responsibilities provided by the coalition partners are examined. Humanistic principles, including empathy, positive regard, trust, and grace, are held as central to the model when planning, implementing, and evaluating activities undertaken by cross-cultural coalitions. Sustainability issues are considered concerning staffing, funding, and public policy. © The Author(s) 2023.

The impact of telesensors on neurosurgical service demand: A cohort cost-effectiveness analysis from institutional and patient perspectives

Introduction: Implantable telemetric intracranial pressure sensors (telesensors) enable routine, non-invasive ICP feedback which can assist with clinical decision-making and attribution of pressure-related symptoms in patients with CSF shunt systems. Here, we aim to characterise telesensor cost-effectiveness and impact on service demand. Methods: A single-centre, retrospective, cohort study and costeffectiveness analysis of 80 patients (78% Female;30% IIH, 22% Chiari malformation, 48% other) with MScio® (Christoph Miethke) telemetric ICP monitors. Service demand in the two years before and after implantation were retrieved from the centre's electronic patient record system. Intentionally, data did not overlap with the COVID-19 pandemic period. The frequencies of hydrocephalusrelated neurosurgical admissions, outpatient clinics, and scans were recorded along with A&E, neurology, and ophthalmology encounters. Tariffs were used to compare expenditure before and after implantation. Results: Significant reductions were seen in the frequencies of neurosurgical admissions (1.9/year to 0.6;p < 0.001), ICP monitoring (0.4 to 0.01;p < 0.001), and CT scans (0.5 to 0.3;p = 0.013) following implantation. There were also significant reductions in the proportion of patients requiring admissions (91% to 45%;p < 0.001) and ICP monitoring (30% to 3%;p < 0.001). There were non-significant reductions in other invasive procedures, neurology encounters, and A&E admissions. Overall, there was a £341 (SD = 1069) per patient per year saving (22% reduction in included costs). Conclusions: From an institutional perspective, the implantation of telesensors contributes to a reduction in service demand and a net financial saving. From a patient perspective, fewer appointments, invasive procedures, and radiation exposures suggest an improvement in patient experience and safety.

The impact of telesensors on neurosurgical service demand: A cohort cost-effectiveness analysis from institutional and patient perspectives

Introduction: Implantable telemetric intracranial pressure sensors (telesensors) enable routine, non-invasive ICP feedback which can assist with clinical decision-making and attribution of pressure-related symptoms in patients with CSF shunt systems. Here, we aim to characterise telesensor cost-effectiveness and impact on service demand. Method(s): A single-centre, retrospective, cohort study and costeffectiveness analysis of 80 patients (78% Female;30% IIH, 22% Chiari malformation, 48% other) with MScio (Christoph Miethke) telemetric ICP monitors. Service demand in the two years before and after implantation were retrieved from the centre's electronic patient record system. Intentionally, data did not overlap with the COVID-19 pandemic period. The frequencies of hydrocephalusrelated neurosurgical admissions, outpatient clinics, and scans were recorded along with A&E, neurology, and ophthalmology encounters. Tariffs were used to compare expenditure before and after implantation. Result(s): Significant reductions were seen in the frequencies of neurosurgical admissions (1.9/year to 0.6;p < 0.001), ICP monitoring (0.4 to 0.01;p < 0.001), and CT scans (0.5 to 0.3;p = 0.013) following implantation. There were also significant reductions in the proportion of patients requiring admissions (91% to 45%;p < 0.001) and ICP monitoring (30% to 3%;p < 0.001). There were non-significant reductions in other invasive procedures, neurology encounters, and A&E admissions. Overall, there was a 341 (SD = 1069) per patient per year saving (22% reduction in included costs). Conclusion(s): From an institutional perspective, the implantation of telesensors contributes to a reduction in service demand and a net financial saving. From a patient perspective, fewer appointments, invasive procedures, and radiation exposures suggest an improvement in patient experience and safety.

Acute Isolated Diastolic Hypotension and History of Substance Abuse in the Development of Delirium

INTRODUCTION: In a prior analysis, delirium was seen more often in patients with at least one incident of IDH in the first 48 hours compared to those who remained normotensive (8.1 vs 3.0%). Here we explored events over the entire hospital stay and focused on a subpopulation of patients with a history of substance abuse (SA). Their treatment would include a narcotic or benzodiazepine, as potential vasodilators they could increase the likelihood of IDH. METHOD(S): We performed Aa retrospective chart review of patients >18 years with blunt trauma, Glascow Coma Scale >= 14 and head/neck Abbreviated Injury Score <= 1 admitted to our Level I trauma center from 8/1/16 to 4/1/20, to avoid potential confounding from COVID-19., was doneperformed. This study focused on two groups: normotensive (systolic blood pressure (SBP) >100 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >60) throughout their stay and IDH (SBP > 100 and DBP < 60) at any point during their admission. We compared them these two groups on the occurrence of delirium after an IDH episode using. The statistical comparisons were done using chi-square tests and logistic regressions, which included other patient characteristics associated with IDH and delirium. RESULT(S): A total of 1656 patients met inclusion criteria and were assessed for delirium (613 normotensive and 1043 IDH). As hypothesized, delirium was significantly more likely in the IDH than in the normotensive group (5.1 vs 1.5%;p < 0.001). As predicted patients with SA history were more likely to have IDH (62.2 vs 56.0%) and were more likely to develop delirium (6.2% vs. 3.4%) although these differences were not statistically significant. The IDH effect on delirium was significant only for patients without SA history and SA history was significant for delirium only in the normotensive group (both p <.0.001). The effect of IDH and its interaction with SA remained significant in multivariate analysis. Age also remained an independent risk factor for delirium. CONCLUSION(S): These results confirm our prior work on the association of IDH and delirium and suggest that SA has an impact on IDH. Surprisingly, these two factors do not appear to compound each other. This pattern remains significant in a multivariate approach. More exploration of the interaction of substance abuse on IDH and other factors is needed.

Long COVID disease among symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients: A multi-centric descriptive study

Introduction: According to WHO, 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms and that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis is considered as post COVID-19 syndrome or long COVID. Objective(s): Objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence various symptoms in post COVID syndrome/long COVID cases within 3 months from the recovery or infection. Method(s): This multicentric hospital based cross sectional study was done among 113 Long COVID cases of 567 previously infected COVID-19 subjects at COVID clinics in Telangana (Hyderabad, Nalgonda) and Madya Pradesh (Indore), India for 1 year during January to December 2021. Data was entered into Microsoft exceland results were displayed by numbers and frequencies only. Result(s): Among long COVID study population the mean age was 43 years, with male predominance (57.5%) and more than half of subjects were having co-morbidities, hypertension being the commonest (35.4%). Majority had moderate illness (40.7%) managed at home (60.2%) initially. Fatigue (67.3%), body pains (38.1%) and shortness of breath (29.2%) were common post COVID symptoms. Conclusion(s): Present study found that, increasing age, co-morbidities and initial severity of the disease are found to be risk factors for post COVID complications. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Healing Right Way RCT: Novel interventions to enhance the cultural security of rehabilitation services for Aboriginal Australians with brain injury

Background: Access to rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people following acquired brain injury (ABI) is frequently hindered by challenges navigating: i) complex medical systems, ii) geographical distances from services and iii) culturally insecure service delivery. Healing Right Way is the first randomised control trial (RCT) to address these issues in partnership with multiple health service providers across Western Australia (WA). Aims: To outline the multicomponent Healing Right Way intervention by providing case studies, and describing challenges, facilitators and implications for rehabilitation services. Method: This stepped-wedge cluster RCT involved four metropolitan and four regional sites across WA. Aboriginal adults hospitalised for ABI were recruited from 2018-2021. Intervention components comprised ABI-related cultural security training (CST) for hospital staff, and employment of Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinators (ABICs) to support ABI survivors for six months post-injury. The primary outcome was quality of life (measured with Euro QOL-5D-3L VAS) at 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes included participants' overall function and disability, anxiety and depression, carer strain, and changes to service delivery across the 26-week follow-up period. Detailed process and cost evaluations were also undertaken. Results: 108 participants were recruited from the participating sites. The CST was delivered across all eight participating hospitals with 250 hospital staff trained. ABICs supported 61 participants, 70% residing in regional, rural or remote areas. Challenges to implementation of the intervention included impacts from COVID-19 responses, hospital staff turnover and availability, recruitment of people with traumatic brain injury and methods for maintaining contact with participants and next-of-kin across locations. Collaboration with Aboriginal health providers and community networks were invaluable to maintaining contact with participants during follow-up, as was telehealth and research partnerships. Discussion/Conclusions: This landmark trial provides a novel multicomponent intervention in an underserviced population to inform muchneeded service improvements for Aboriginal people with ABI across metropolitan and rural settings.

The Gap Between Breast and Bottle, What Are the Disparities in a Large Community Hospital in Southern West Virginia?

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is recognized as the ideal feeding method for infants. Newborns receiving formula inhospital are at higher risk for early breastfeeding cessation. Among infants born in 2017, CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, 2020, reported the rate of breastfed infants receiving formula before two days of age as 15% in West Virginia (WV). We aimed to determine factors associated with in-hospital formula supplementation of breastfed newborns at a large community hospital in Southern WV. We hypothesized that disparities exist in supporting women to exclusively breastfeed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 500 randomly selected charts of infants born 09/01/2019-09/1/2020. Full-term infants with a recorded maternal decision to exclusively breastfeed were included. Exclusion criteria were prematurity, NICU admission, maternal diabetes, and infant hypoglycemia. Factors associated with formula supplementation were compared between mothers exclusively breastfeeding and those who were not at the time of discharge. Results: Of the reviewed charts, 70% of birth mothers desired to exclusively breastfeed. 211 infants met all inclusion criteria. 70% were delivered via vaginal delivery;52% were induced. Of the included newborns, 41% were supplemented with formula. 32% of mothers met with lactation consultants prior to formula supplementation. Top reasons for formula supplementation were mother request (45%) and newborn difficulty latching (22%). Median time of first supplementation was 20.0 hours (range:0.5-54). 12% of the supplementation occurred within 6 hours and 96.5% within 2 days of age. Rates of formula supplementation did not increase during the nurses' night shift or at nurses' shift change. Exclusive breastfeeding at discharge was associated with higher education level (p=0.002), tobacco abstinence (p=0.03), prior births (p=0.04), and increased maternal age (p=0.02);with every 1 year increase in maternal age, there was 7% decrease in supplementation. No statistically significant associations were present between exclusive breastfeeding at discharge meeting with a hospital lactation consultant, maternal race, marital status, induction need, or neonatal characteristics (p>0.05). When controlling for confounders of maternal age, marital status, tobacco use, and lactation consultation, Cesarean delivery (odd ratio: 2.0,1.03-4.2, 95% confidence interval), primiparity (2.6, 1.4-4.8), and not completing high school (12.5, 1.6-96.5) predicted formula supplementation. Exclusive breastfeeding discharge rates remained relatively steady over the 12 month study period, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: At our center, formula supplementation rate of 41% in the first two days of age appears higher than the state's rate using the CDC report card. Mother request and newborn difficulty latching are the top reasons for formula supplementation. Median age of supplementation was 20 hours. Lactation consultations were not universal and disparities existed for breastfeeding mothers supplementing with formula. Addressing maternal disparities is essential to enhance newborn health equity. Our study's findings will be used to develop prenatal and postnatal interventions to maximize hospital breastfeeding support and minimize formula supplementation.

Prioritizing Engagement of a Diverse Student Cohort in Online Hydrology Learning at the University of Western Australia

Like most water education institutions worldwide, hydrology instructors at the University of Western Australia (UWA) had to rapidly adapt traditional teaching strategies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. With diverse student cohorts, including a large fraction of international students prevented from reaching Australia by travel restrictions, key requirements from this transition were to create supportive, inclusive online educational settings, and to maximize student engagement in their courses. Here, we draw on experiences in four hydrology courses to illustrate how we used a holistic approach spanning course structure, content delivery, active learning experiences and authentic assessment to protect these key pedagogical requirements during the transition to online learning. Some aspects of this approach—for example, creating an online “virtual watershed” in lieu of field trips—required sophisticated technology to support online innovation. Other aspects, however, relied primarily on existing features in learning management systems such as Blackboard and on re-organization of course structure and communication approaches to support online learning, with minimal need for new technology or software. The outcomes in these courses as measured by student engagement, enrolment and self-reported satisfaction were positive, with student evaluations remaining similar to those of pre-pandemic levels. Previous interest in running flipped classrooms and familiarity with technology among instructors and students were helpful in enabling the transition. While content-delivery may remain in an online mode for hydrology classes at UWA long term, opportunities to re-introduce field work, laboratories and other face-to-face active learning activities are eagerly awaited by instructors and students alike. Copyright © 2022 Thompson, Bourke, Callow and Hipsey.

Reimagining Social Work Placements in the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how social work education is provided, and these changes are particularly pronounced in field education. Globally, the introduction of restrictions on mobility and social interaction have contributed to the cancellation, postponement and early termination of social work field placements. Accrediting bodies, social work field education departments and industry partner agencies have needed to rapidly adapt how placements are conceptualised and provided. This article examines the experiences of agencies who have continued to provide student placements throughout the pandemic. Interviews were conducted with placement supervisors employed at twelve human services agencies partnering with a university social work department in Melbourne, Australia. Whilst experiencing challenges, agencies outlined how they adapted to the environment to enable meaningful student placement experiences. This article contributes to an ongoing discussion around the trajectory of social work field education and the significance of agency-based placements in this evolution. This article examines the experiences of industry partner agencies who have continued to provide student placements throughout the pandemic. Interviews were conducted with placement supervisors employed at twelve human services agencies partnering with a university social work department in Melbourne, Australia. Whilst experiencing challenges, agencies outlined how they adapted to the environment to enable meaningful student placement experiences. This article contributes to an ongoing discussion around the trajectory of social work field education, and the significance of agency-based placements in this evolution. Rather than separating field education from industry, we suggest that as educators we can learn from industry about how to adapt field education to the changed context that our graduates will be working in.

PROTECTING THE CITIZEN: POLITICAL JOURNALISTS AS GATEKEEPERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

The gatekeeping function of political journalism has never been as important. What has become known as the ‘infodemic’, the spread of spurious and false claims, has shown itself a threat to public health and well-being. Journalism is uniquely placed to reassert its role as arbiter within the information environment. We argue that professional standards must be central to the work of journalism, empowering them to ensure they determine what is news, who are the credible sources and rebalance their attention away from the loudest and most controversial voices to create a more pluralist news environment to inform and educate citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the problematic nature of disinformation, we argue journalists must protect citizens from being misinformed, from making unwise choices, so protecting the overall health of democracies. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, James Morrison, Jen Birks and Mike Berry.