2
|
Hoerger M, Kim S, Mossman B, Alonzi S, Xu K, Coward JC, Whalen K, Nauman E, Miller J, De La Cerda T, Peyser T, Dunn A, Zapolin D, Rivera D, Murugesan N, Baker CN. Cultivating community-based participatory research (CBPR) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: an illustrative example of partnership and topic prioritization in the food services industry. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1939. [PMID: 37803311 PMCID: PMC10559526 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16787-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an illustrative example of COVID-19 pandemic community-based participatory research (CBPR), we describe a community-academic partnership to prioritize future research most important to people experiencing high occupational exposure to COVID-19 - food service workers. Food service workers face key challenges surrounding (1) health and safety precautions, (2) stress and mental health, and (3) the long-term pandemic impact. METHOD Using CBPR methodologies, academic scientists partnered with community stakeholders to develop the research aims, methods, and measures, and interpret and disseminate results. We conducted a survey, three focus groups, and a rapid qualitative assessment to understand the three areas of concern and prioritize future research. RESULTS The survey showed that food service employers mainly supported basic droplet protections (soap, hand sanitizer, gloves), rather than comprehensive airborne protections (high-quality masks, air quality monitoring, air cleaning). Food service workers faced challenging decisions surrounding isolation, quarantine, testing, masking, vaccines, and in-home transmission, described anxiety, depression, and substance use as top mental health concerns, and described long-term physical and financial concerns. Focus groups provided qualitative examples of concerns experienced by food service workers and narrowed topic prioritization. The rapid qualitative assessment identified key needs and opportunities, with help reducing in-home COVID-19 transmission identified as a top priority. COVID-19 mitigation scientists offered recommendations for reducing in-home transmission. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has forced food service workers to experience complex decisions about health and safety, stress and mental health concerns, and longer-term concerns. Challenging health decisions included attempting to avoid an airborne infectious illness when employers were mainly only concerned with droplet precautions and trying to decide protocols for testing and isolation without clear guidance, free tests, or paid sick leave. Key mental health concerns were anxiety, depression, and substance use. Longer-term challenges included Long COVID, lack of mental healthcare access, and financial instability. Food service workers suggest the need for more research aimed at reducing in-home COVID-19 transmission and supporting long-term mental health, physical health, and financial concerns. This research provides an illustrative example of how to cultivate community-based partnerships to respond to immediate and critical issues affecting populations most burdened by public health crises.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hoerger
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, University Medical Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Louisiana Cancer Research Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Seowoo Kim
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Brenna Mossman
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah Alonzi
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Kenneth Xu
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - John C Coward
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kathleen Whalen
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nauman
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, USA
| | - Jonice Miller
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tracey De La Cerda
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tristen Peyser
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Addison Dunn
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Dana Zapolin
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Dulcé Rivera
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Navya Murugesan
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Courtney N Baker
- New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) Pandemic Food Collaborative, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lasagna A, Cassaniti I, Arena F, Bergami F, Percivalle E, Comolli G, Sarasini A, Ferrari A, Cicognini D, Schiavo R, Lo Cascio G, Pedrazzoli P, Baldanti F. Persistence of Immune Response Elicited by Three Doses of mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in a Cohort of Patients with Solid Tumors: A One-Year Follow-Up. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076731. [PMID: 37047704 PMCID: PMC10095115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role and durability of the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in cancer patients one year after receiving the third dose have to be elucidated. We have prospectively evaluated the long-term immunogenicity of the third dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in 55 patients undergoing active treatment. Neutralizing antibody (NT Ab) titers against Omicron variants and total anti-trimeric S IgG levels were measured one year after the third dose. Heparinized whole-blood samples were used for the assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). Thirty-seven patients (67.3%) showed positive total anti-trimeric S IgG one year after the third dose. Looking at the T-cell response against the spike protein, the frequency of responder patients did not decrease significantly between six and twelve months after the third dose. Finally, less than 20% of cancer patients showed an undetectable NT Ab titer against BA.1 and BA.5 variants of concern (VOCs). Underlying therapies seem to not affect the magnitude or frequency of the immune response. Our work underlines the persistence of humoral and cellular immune responses against BNT162b2 in a cohort of cancer patients one year after receiving the third dose, regardless of the type of underlying therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angioletta Lasagna
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Irene Cassaniti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Arena
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Federica Bergami
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Percivalle
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuditta Comolli
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonella Sarasini
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ferrari
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Cicognini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberta Schiavo
- Microbiology Unit, Hospital Guglielmo da Saliceto, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Giuliana Lo Cascio
- Microbiology Unit, Hospital Guglielmo da Saliceto, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrazzoli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostics and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|