The macroeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: A SIR-DSGE model approach.

This paper proposes a susceptible-infected-removed dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (SIR-DSGE) model to assess the macroeconomic impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreak. The parameters of the SIR setting are calibrated to COVID-19 data from China. Using the model, we illustrate how the pandemic could result in consumption and output loss. We show that a combination of quarantine policy and random testing of the uninfected is effective in reducing the number of infected individuals and outperforms the alternative scenarios in which only one of the policies is implemented. Moreover, the economic impacts of both policies are evaluated. Compared with the decentralized equilibrium, we find that the Ramsey social planner allows output to decrease more substantially during the pandemic, in exchange for a faster economic recovery.

Adventure therapy for child, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to examine the evidence on adventure therapy (AT) intervention for child, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancer patients in order to inform the design of future research and clinical practice. METHODS: This review included studies that tested the AT intervention among child and AYA cancer patients. Nine electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBase, Medline via EbscoHost, OpenGrey, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed) were searched for English-language published studies using a quasi-experimental design, one-group pre-test-post-test experimental study design, or randomized controlled trial (RCT) from 1981 to May 2020. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists for RCTs and for Quasi-Experimental Studies by two researchers independently. A narrative synthesis of intervention characteristics and related health-related outcomes was performed. RESULTS: Eight papers from seven studies were included in the review, namely four RCTs, two quasi-experimental study papers, and two one-group pre-test-post-test experimental study papers. Studies varied in the components and duration of AT. Medium to high methodological quality of included studies was noted in all study designs. Results showed the positive effects of AT on the physical activity, fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life of child and AYA cancer patients. CONCLUSION: AT is a promising intervention that may improve a number of health-related outcomes in child and AYA cancer patients. Evidence-based AT interventions should be developed and incorporated as part of supportive care for the target population.

Exploring the Synergic Effects of Nursing Home Work on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nursing Assistants.

Little is known about how nursing assistants (NAs) perceive the nature of their work and how their work contributes to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This qualitative study addressed these gaps. Twenty-four NAs with WMSDs working in four nursing homes participated in semistructured focus group interviews. Their WMSDs were not limited to the lower back but involved several body parts. The risk factors for WMSDs included physical, psychosocial, organizational, and personal factors as well as coworkers and clients. However, it is the synergistic effects of long work hours without sufficient rest, work even with musculoskeletal pain because of staff shortages, ineffective management with insufficient prework training and inadequate equipment maintenance, and an aging workforce with strong commitment to resident care that play a crucial role in WMSDs among NAs working in nursing homes. The study found that multidimensional intervention strategies using engineering, administrative, and personal controls should be developed to reduce WMSDs among NAs working in nursing homes.

An ethnographical study on the academic experiences of Chinese male nursing students.

Because there have been very few recent studies focusing on the nursing studies of Chinese male learners in Hong Kong, this paper reports some findings on the educational experiences of such students from a local university, giving them a chance to voice out their concerns and express their feelings. In this qualitative ethnographical study, 18 second- to fourth-year male nursing students were recruited by purposive snowball sampling and invited to participate in individual semi-structured interviews for the collecting of data. The taped recordings were transcribed and translated. Following this, five themes were identified for content analysis. The findings of this study suggest that people would be more likely to accept male nurses; and male nursing students would be more able see their role as nurses with the acceptance of some feminine subjects in the nursing curriculum. This study provided male nursing students the chance to express their thoughts and experiences on nursing education, which will suggest further modifications to the curriculum design and implementation.

Gender differences in the academic and clinical performances of undergraduate nursing students: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Nursing is often regarded as a female-dominated profession. Many nursing curricula are received by mainly female students. It is uncertain how male students behave in this environment of nursing education in hospitals and universities. This article aimed to review gender differences in the academic and clinical performances of undergraduate nursing students. DESIGN: A systematic review was assessed and different themes were extracted by inductive approach. DATA SOURCES: A search strategy was carried out for the period 2006-2011 utilising six computerised databases: Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Wiley Online Library. REVIEW METHODS: Research studies were included and screened by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. All articles in English that met our aim were selected and relevant results were abstracted and thematised. RESULTS: Fifty-five articles were included. Five themes were generated from the literatures, including the differences of academic, clinical, psychological, nursing profession identity and health concept between male and female nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: Both genders performed similarly in different aspects. Most studies revealed that the clinical placement satisfaction of male students was similar to that of female, despite the negative experiences the former faced during obstetric placement. Further research is needed to examine the gender differences in studying and make changes in the nursing curricula to accommodate with male students.