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Su Z, Bentley BL, McDonnell D, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, Šegalo S, da Veiga CP, Xiang YT. The dangers of having only one pandemic exit strategy. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:1007-1012. [PMID: 38636311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When it comes to pandemic response, preparation can be the key. Between 2020 and 2024, the fast-paced development of COVID-19-often compounded by pubic policies' failures to reflect the latest reality and the public's divergent reactions to the pandemic and the policies-means that society should prepare for exit strategies that can reflect the reality of the pandemic and the interests of the people. Yet oftentimes societies only have one exit strategy with limited scope. This paper investigates the dangers of having only one pandemic exit strategy for pandemics like COVID-19. METHODS Analyses were based on a review of the literature on COVID-19 exit strategies and our own research. The PubMed literature search focused on two concepts-"COVID-19″ and "exit strategy"-and was limited to peer-reviewed papers published between 2020 and 2024 in English. RESULTS A total of 31 articles were included in the final review. Analyses showed that existing studies on COVID-19 exit strategies often focused on using the modelling method to gauge one exit strategy. Exit strategies were often discussed in the context of implementing, easing, or lifting specific pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions. Staged and country-wide coordinated exit strategies were also discussed in the literature, both of which were often deemed as comparatively rigorous options compared to single or stand-alone exit strategies. Drawing on the overall development of COVID-19 and our own research, we presented and discussed the importance of having multiple exit strategies that are considerate of all possible pandemic trajectories, diverse interests of the public, and the communication challenges officials might face in introducing or implementing pandemic policies. CONCLUSION This paper underscored the importance of having multiple exit strategies for societies to prepare for pandemics. The insights of this study can help inform health policies so that they can more comprehensively and compassionately protect the needs and wants of the "public" in public health, particularly in grave times like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Barry L Bentley
- Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK; Collaboration for the Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, South East Technological University, R93 V960, Ireland.
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan; School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
| | - Junaid Ahmad
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Sabina Šegalo
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Claudimar Pereira da Veiga
- Fundação Dom Cabral - FDC, Av. Princesa Diana, 760 Alphaville, Lagoa dos Ingleses, Nova Lima, MG 34018-006, Brazil.
| | - Yu-Tao Xiang
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.
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Chisty ZA, Li DD, Haile M, Houston H, DaSilva J, Overton R, Schuh AJ, Haynie J, Clemente J, Branch AG, Arons MM, Tsang CA, Pellegrini GJ, Bugrysheva J, Ilutsik J, Mohelsky R, Comer P, Hundia SB, Oh H, Stuckey MJ, Bohannon CD, Rasheed MAU, Epperson M, Thornburg NJ, McDonald LC, Brown AC, Kutty PK. Immune response kinetics to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination among nursing home residents-Georgia, October 2020-July 2022. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301367. [PMID: 38625908 PMCID: PMC11020945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the immune response kinetics to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination is important in nursing home (NH) residents, a high-risk population. METHODS An observational longitudinal evaluation of 37 consenting vaccinated NH residents with/without SARS-CoV-2 infection from October 2020 to July 2022 was conducted to characterize the immune response to spike protein due to infection and/or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Antibodies (IgG) to SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike, nucleocapsid, and receptor binding domain protein antigens were measured, and surrogate virus neutralization capacity was assessed using Meso Scale Discovery immunoassays. The participant's spike exposure status varied depending on the acquisition of infection or receipt of a vaccine dose. Longitudinal linear mixed effects modeling was used to describe trajectories based on the participant's last infection or vaccination; the primary series mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was considered two spike exposures. Mean antibody titer values from participants who developed an infection post receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were compared with those who did not. In a subset of participants (n = 15), memory B cell (MBC) S-specific IgG (%S IgG) responses were assessed using an ELISPOT assay. RESULTS The median age of the 37 participants at enrollment was 70.5 years; 30 (81%) had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 76% received Pfizer-BioNTech and 24% Moderna homologous vaccines. After an observed augmented effect with each spike exposure, a decline in the immune response, including %S IgG MBCs, was observed over time; the percent decline decreased with increasing spike exposures. Participants who developed an infection at least two weeks post-receipt of a vaccine were observed to have lower humoral antibody levels than those who did not develop an infection post-receipt. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that understanding the durability of immune responses in this vulnerable NH population can help inform public health policy regarding the timing of booster vaccinations as new variants display immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeshan A. Chisty
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Deana D. Li
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Melia Haile
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Hollis Houston
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Juliana DaSilva
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rahsaan Overton
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Amy J. Schuh
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jenn Haynie
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Goldbelt C6, LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jacob Clemente
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alicia G. Branch
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Melissa M. Arons
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Clarisse A. Tsang
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gerald J. Pellegrini
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Julia Bugrysheva
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Justina Ilutsik
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Goldbelt C6, LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Romy Mohelsky
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Patricia Comer
- A.G. Rhodes Wesley Woods Heath and Rehab, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Hyungseok Oh
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Stuckey
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Caitlin D. Bohannon
- Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Ata Ur Rasheed
- Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Monica Epperson
- Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Natalie J. Thornburg
- Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - L. Clifford McDonald
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Allison C. Brown
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Preeta K. Kutty
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Baron-Franco B, Ollero-Baturone M, Ternero-Vega JE, Nieto-Martín MD, Moreno-Gaviño L, Conde-Guzmán C, Gutiérrez-Rivero S, Rincón-Gómez M, Díaz-Jiménez P, Muñoz-Lopez JJ, Giménez-Miranda L, Fernández-Nieto C, Bernabeu-Wittel M. Survival Impact of an On-Site Medicalization Program in the Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in 11 Nursing Homes. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6517. [PMID: 37892655 PMCID: PMC10607111 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The elderly admitted to nursing homes have especially suffered the havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic since most of them are not prepared to face such health problems. METHODS An innovative coordinated on-site medicalization program (MP) in response to a sizeable COVID-19 outbreak in three consecutive waves was deployed, sharing coordination and resources among primary care, the referral hospital, and the eleven residences. The objectives were providing the best possible medical care to residents in their environment, avoiding dehumanization and loneliness of hospital admission, and reducing the saturation of hospitals and the risk of spreading the infection. The main outcomes were a composite endpoint of survival or optimal palliative care (SOPC), survival, and referral to the hospital. RESULTS 587 of 1199 (49%) residents were infected, of whom 123 (21%) died. Patients diagnosed before the start of the MP presented SOPC, survival, and referrals to the hospital of 83%, 74%, and 22.4%, opposite to 96%, 84%, and 10.6% of patients diagnosed while the MP was set up. The SOPC was independently associated with an MP (OR 3.4 [1.6-7.2]). CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 outbreak, a coordinated MP successfully obtained a better rate of SOPC while simultaneously reducing the need for hospital admissions, combining optimal medical management with a more compassionate and humanistic approach in older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bosco Baron-Franco
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Manuel Ollero-Baturone
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | | | | | - Lourdes Moreno-Gaviño
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | | | - Sonia Gutiérrez-Rivero
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Manuel Rincón-Gómez
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Pablo Díaz-Jiménez
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Juan José Muñoz-Lopez
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Alta Resolución de Utrera, 41710 Seville, Spain
| | - Luis Giménez-Miranda
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Nieto
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Máximo Bernabeu-Wittel
- Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
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Wong E, Barbre K, Wiegand RE, Reses HE, Dubendris H, Wallace M, Dollard P, Edwards J, Soe M, Meng L, Benin A, Bell JM. Effectiveness of Up-to-Date COVID-19 Vaccination in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Nursing Home Residents - United States, November 20, 2022-January 8, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023; 72:690-693. [PMID: 37347711 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7225a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Nursing home residents have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; their age, comorbidities, and exposure to a congregate setting has placed them at high risk for both infection and severe COVID-19-associated outcomes, including death (1). Receipt of a primary COVID-19 mRNA vaccination series (2) and monovalent booster doses (3) have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in this population. Beginning in October 2022, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) defined up-to-date vaccination as receipt of a bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose or completion of a primary series within the preceding 2 months.* The effectiveness of being up to date with COVID-19 vaccination among nursing home residents in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection is not known. This analysis used NHSN nursing home COVID-19 data reported during November 20, 2022-January 8, 2023, to describe effectiveness of up-to-date vaccination status (versus not being up to date) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among nursing home residents. Adjusting for calendar week, county-level COVID-19 incidence, county-level social vulnerability index (SVI), and facility-level percentage of staff members who were up to date, up-to-date vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection was 31.2% (95% CI = 29.1%-33.2%). Nursing home residents should stay up to date with recommended age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccination, which now includes an additional bivalent vaccine dose for moderately or severely immunocompromised adults aged ≥65 years to increase protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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5
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Dolberg P, Lev S, Even-Zahav R. "Let me touch him": Perceptions and experiences of family caregivers of nursing home residents during the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel. J Aging Stud 2023; 64:101115. [PMID: 36868607 PMCID: PMC9902284 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Older adults in nursing homes were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitations in nursing homes were restricted. The present study examined the perceptions and experiences of family caregivers of nursing home residents during the COVID-19 crisis in Israel and their coping strategies. Online focus group interviews were held with 16 family caregivers of nursing home residents. Three main categories were identified through Grounded Theory techniques: (a) Anger and decreased trust in nursing homes; (b) Perception of the residents as victims of the nursing home policy; (c) Coping strategies at different levels. The outbreak redefined family caregivers' understanding of their role. Practical implications include making the voice of the family caregivers heard, identifying effective coping strategies, and creating a dialogue between family caregivers, nursing home managements, and staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pnina Dolberg
- Department of Social Work, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel.
| | - Sagit Lev
- School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
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Estabrooks CA, Duan Y, Cummings GG, Doupe M, Hoben M, Keefe J, Poss JW, Song Y, Squires JE, Wagg A, Norton PG. Changes in Health and Well-Being of Nursing Home Managers from a Prepandemic Baseline in February 2020 to December 2021. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:148-155. [PMID: 36584970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate changes in mental health and well-being (eg, quality of work life, health, intention to leave) among nursing home managers from a February 2020 prepandemic baseline to December 2021 in Alberta, Canada. DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A random sample of nursing homes (n = 35) in urban areas of Alberta was selected on 3 strata (region, size, ownership). Care managers were invited to participate if they (1) managed a unit, (2) worked there for at least 3 months, and (3) worked at least 6 shifts per month. METHODS We measured various mental health and well-being outcomes, including job satisfaction (Michigan Organizational Assessment Questionnaire Job Satisfaction Subscale), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-exhaustion, cynicism, efficacy), organizational citizenship behaviors (constructive efforts by individuals to implement changes to improve performance), mental and physical health (Short Form-8 Health Survey), burden of worry, and intention to leave. We use mixed effects regression to examine changes at the survey time points, controlling for staffing and resident acuity. RESULTS The final sample included 181 care managers (87 in the pre-COVID survey; 94 in the COVID survey). Response rates were 66.9% and 82.5% for the pre-COVID and COVID surveys, respectively. In the regression analysis, we found statistically significant negative changes in job satisfaction (mean difference -0.26, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.06; P = .011), cynicism (mean difference 0.43, 95% CI 0.02-0.84; P = .041), exhaustion (mean difference 0.84, 95% CI 0.41-1.27; P < .001), and SF-8 mental health (mean difference -6.49, 95% CI -9.60 to -3.39; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Mental health and well-being of nursing home managers worsened during the pandemic, potentially placing them at risk for leaving their jobs and in need of improved support. These findings should be a major concern for policy makers, particularly given serious prepandemic workforce shortages. Ongoing assessment and support of this understudied group are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Estabrooks
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Yinfei Duan
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Greta G Cummings
- College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Malcolm Doupe
- Max Rady College of Medicine, Community Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Matthias Hoben
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; School of Health Policy & Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Janice Keefe
- Department of Family Studies & Gerontology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey W Poss
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuting Song
- School of Nursing, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Janet E Squires
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adrian Wagg
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter G Norton
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Dubendris H, Reses HE, Wong E, Dollard P, Soe M, Lu M, Edwards JR, Pilishvili T, Rowe T, Benin A, Bell JM. Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Case Incidence Rates Among Residents in Nursing Homes by Up-to-Date Vaccination Status - United States, October 10, 2022-January 8, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023; 72:95-99. [PMID: 36701262 PMCID: PMC9925132 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7204a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Nursing home residents have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19; older age, comorbidities, and the congregate nature of nursing homes place residents at higher risk for infection and severe COVID-19-associated outcomes, including death (1). Studies have demonstrated that receipt of a primary COVID-19 mRNA vaccination series (2) and monovalent booster doses (3) is effective in reducing COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in this population. Public health recommendations for staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination have been revised throughout the pandemic response, most recently to include an updated (bivalent) booster dose, which protects against both the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2 and recent Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 (4). However, data on the effectiveness of staying up to date, including with bivalent booster doses, are lacking among nursing home residents. CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) analyzed surveillance data to examine weekly incidence rates of COVID-19 among nursing home residents by up-to-date vaccination status (receipt of a bivalent booster dose or completion of a primary series or receipt of a monovalent booster dose within the previous 2 months [i.e., not yet eligible to receive a bivalent booster dose]).* Up-to-date vaccination status among nursing home residents remained low throughout the study period, increasing to 48.9% by the week ending January 8, 2023. During October 10, 2022-January 8, 2023, the COVID-19 weekly incidence rates (new cases per 1,000 nursing home residents) among residents who were not up to date with COVID-19 vaccination were consistently higher than those among residents who were up to date. Moreover, the weekly incidence rate ratios (IRRs) indicated that residents who were not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines had a higher risk for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 than their up-to-date counterparts (IRR range = 1.3-1.5). It is critical that nursing home residents stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and receive a bivalent booster dose to maximize protection against COVID-19.
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Cárdenas Soriano P, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Forjaz MJ, Ayala A, Rojo-Perez F, Fernandez-Mayoralas G, Molina-Martinez MA, de Arenaza Escribano CP, Rodriguez-Rodriguez V. Validation of the Spanish Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in Long-Term Care Settings. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16183. [PMID: 36498256 PMCID: PMC9741095 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the main psychological impacts of the actual pandemic, especially among the population groups with higher mortality rates. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) has been used in different scenarios to assess fear associated with COVID-19, but this has not been done frequently in people living in long-term care (LTC) settings. The present study is aimed at measuring the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the FCV-19S in residents in LTC settings, following both the classical test theory (CTT) and Rasch model frameworks. The participants (n = 447), aged 60 years or older, were asked to complete the FCV-19S and to report, among other issues, their levels of depression, resilience, emotional wellbeing and health-related quality of life with validated scales. The mean FCV-19S score was 18.36 (SD 8.28, range 7−35), with higher scores for women, participants with lower education (primary or less) and higher adherence to preventive measures (all, p < 0.05). The Cronbach’s alpha for the FCV-19S was 0.94. After eliminating two items due to a lack of fit, the FCV-19S showed a good fit to the Rasch model (χ2 (20) = 30.24, p = 0.019, PSI = 0.87), with unidimensionality (binomial 95% CI 0.001 to 0.045) and item local independency. Question 5 showed differential item functioning by sex. The present study shows that the FCV-19S has satisfactory reliability and validity, which supports its use to effectively measure fear in older people living in LTC settings. This tool could help identify risk groups that may need specific health education and effective communication strategies to lower fear levels. This might have a beneficial impact on adherence to preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Cárdenas Soriano
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Albacete, ES-02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Carmen Rodriguez-Blazquez
- National Centre of Epidemiology and Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Institute of Health, ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria João Forjaz
- National Centre of Epidemiology and Health Service Research Network on Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC) and Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Carlos III Institute of Health, ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Ayala
- Department of Statistics, University Carlos III of Madrid, and Health Service Research Network on Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Carlos III Institute of Health, ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fermina Rojo-Perez
- Grupo de Investigacion Sobre Envejecimiento (GIE), IEGD, CSIC, ES-28037 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Axenhus M, Frederiksen KS, Zhou RZ, Waldemar G, Winblad B. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality in people with dementia without COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:878. [PMCID: PMC9675075 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03602-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Significant mortality amongst vulnerable populations, such as people living with dementia, might go undetected during pandemic conditions due to refocus of care efforts. There is an urgent need to fully evaluate the pandemic impact on mortality amongst people living with dementia in order to facilitate future healthcare reforms and prevent deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any significant difference in mortality amongst people with dementia without COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years. Methods A literature search was conducted in 5 databases. The relative risk ratio and confidence interval was used to estimate the change in mortality rates amongst people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The I2 value was used to assess heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Pooled analysis of 11 studies showed that mortality amongst people living with dementia was significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic for people with dementia without COVID-19. Mortality risk increased by 25% during the time period studied. Subgroup analysis was not performed due the low number of included studies. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that people with dementia had a significant increased mortality during the pandemic even if they did not have COVID-19. People with dementia should participate in efforts that reduce general social spread and pandemic impact on healthcare system such as vaccinations, mask mandates, and testing. These results have clinical implications as preventing direct COVID-19 infection is not enough to adequately protect people living with dementia from increased mortality. Measures to limit social spread of infections and help support patients should also be a focus for clinicians. Further research should focus on the identification of mechanisms and other explanations for increased mortality as well as contributing factors such as living in care homes and differences between countries with various pandemic strategies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03602-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Axenhus
- grid.465198.7Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristian Steen Frederiksen
- grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDanish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robin Ziyue Zhou
- grid.465198.7Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Gunhild Waldemar
- grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDanish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDept. of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bengt Winblad
- grid.465198.7Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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10
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Zhang XS, Charland K, Quach C, Nguyen QD, Zinszer K. Institutional, therapeutic, and individual factors associated with 30-day mortality after COVID-19 diagnosis in Canadian long-term care facilities. J Am Geriatr Soc 2022; 70:3210-3220. [PMID: 35906882 PMCID: PMC9353371 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Canadian long‐term care facility (LTCF) residents experienced higher death rates compared to other countries during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This cohort study analyzes the individual, therapeutic, and institutional factors associated with death in LTCFs. Methods Institutional data for 17 LTCFs in Montreal, Canada were obtained from local administrative registries. Individual data for 1197 residents infected by SARS‐CoV‐2 between February 23 and July 11, 2020 were obtained through chart reviews. A multivariable modified Poisson regression model, which accounted for LTCF clustering, was used to identify resident and facility covariates associated with 30‐day mortality after COVID‐19 diagnosis. Results Severe shortage of licensed practical nurses (RR 2.60 95% CI 1.20–5.61) and medium‐sized facilities compared to smaller‐sized facilities (RR 2.73 95% CI 1.23–6.07) were associated with 30‐day mortality. Later COVID‐19 diagnosis (RR 0.98 95% CI 0.97–0.99 per additional day) was associated with survival. Individual risk factors for death included age (RR 1.33 95% CI 1.23–1.45 per additional 10 years), male sex (RR 1.46 95% CI 1.24–1.71), functional impairment (RR 1.08 95% CI 1.04–1.12 per unit increase of SMAF), as well as a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (RR 1.31 95% CI 1.04–1.66) and neurocognitive disorder (RR 1.31 95% CI 1.01–1.70). Among severe cases, anticoagulation was associated with survival (RR 0.70 95% CI 0.51–0.96). Conclusions This study identified practical nurse shortages and facility size as institutional risk factors for COVID‐19 death. Anticoagulation was associated with survival among severe cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Sophie Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Caroline Quach
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.,Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ), Montreal, Canada
| | - Quoc Dinh Nguyen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kate Zinszer
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
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11
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Zhang Q, Li S, Liu J, Chen J. Global Trends in Nursing-Related Research on COVID-19: A Bibliometric Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:933555. [PMID: 35923953 PMCID: PMC9339968 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.933555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly impacted healthcare, especially the nursing field. This study aims to explore the current status and hot topics of nursing-related research on COVID-19 using bibliometric analysis.MethodsBetween 2019 and 2022, publications regarding nursing and COVID-19 were retrieved from the Web of Science core collection. We conducted an advanced search using the following search query string: TS = (“Novel coronavirus 2019” or “Coronavirus disease 2019” or “COVID 19” or “2019-nCOV” or “SARS-CoV-2” or “coronavirus-2”) and TS = (“nursing” or “nurse” or “nursing-care” or “midwife”). Bibliometric parameters were extracted, and Microsoft Excel 2010 and VOSviewer were utilized to identify the largest contributors, including prolific authors, institutions, countries, and journals. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the knowledge network, collaborative maps, hotspots, and trends in this field.ResultsA total of 5,267 papers were published between 2020 and 2022. The findings are as follows: the USA, China, and the UK are the top three prolific countries; the University of Toronto, the Harvard Medical School, the Johns Hopkins University, and the Huazhong University of Science & Technology are the top four most productive institutions; Gravenstein, Stefan, and White, Elizabeth M. from Brown University (USA) are the most prolific authors; The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is the most productive journal; “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “nurse,” “mental health,” “nursing home,” “nursing education,” “telemedicine,” “vaccine-related issues” are the central topics in the past 2 years.ConclusionNursing-related research on COVID-19 has gained considerable attention worldwide. In 2020, the major hot topics included “SARS-CoV-2,” “knowledge,” “information teaching,” “mental health,” “psychological problems,” and “nursing home.” In 2021 and 2022, researchers were also interested in topics such as “nursing students,” “telemedicine,” and “vaccine-related issues,” which require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Xiangya Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shenmei Li
- Department of Nursing, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Liu
| | - Jia Chen
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Jia Chen
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12
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Ninteau K, Bishop CE. Nursing Home Palliative Care during the Pandemic: Directions for the Future. Innov Aging 2022; 6:igac030. [PMID: 35832204 PMCID: PMC9273407 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Palliative care addresses physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering that accompanies serious illness. Emphasis on symptom management and goals of care is especially valuable for seriously ill nursing home residents. We investigated barriers to nursing home palliative care provision highlighted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the solutions nursing home staff used to provide care in the face of those barriers. Research Design and Methods For this descriptive qualitative study, seven Massachusetts nursing home directors of nursing were interviewed remotely about palliative care provision before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Before the pandemic, palliative care was delivered primarily by nursing home staff depending on formal and informal consultations from palliative care specialists affiliated with hospice providers. When COVID-19 lockdowns precluded these consultations, nursing staff did their best to provide palliative care, but were often overwhelmed by shortfalls in resources, resident decline brought on by isolation and COVID-19 itself, and a sense that their expertise was lacking. Advance care planning conversations focused on hospitalization decisions and options for care given resource constraints. Nevertheless, nursing staff discovered previously untapped capacity to provide palliative care on-site as part of standard care, building trust of residents and families. Discussion and Implications Nursing staff rose to the palliative care challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit with great effort. Consistent with prepandemic analysis, we conclude that nursing home payment and quality standards should support development of in-house staff capacity to deliver palliative care while expanding access to the formal consultations and family involvement that were restricted by the pandemic. Future research should be directed to evaluating initiatives that pursue these aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacy Ninteau
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christine E Bishop
- Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Masters JL, Wilkinson LR, Kelly CM, McKelvey M, Ghazi Saidi L, Hill TL, Drozd D, Wu H, O’Brien T. COVID-19 and the Vulnerabilities of Community-Dwelling Other Adults: Findings From a Statewide Survey of Home-Delivered Meals Recipients*. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2022; 8:23337214221086465. [PMID: 35382451 PMCID: PMC8977429 DOI: 10.1177/23337214221086465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19’s impact on community-dwelling older adults, especially those in rural
and underserved areas, as well as those who are homebound, is of interest to
policy makers and clinicians, now and in the future. This study aims to examine
the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults
with the greatest social and economic needs residing in a mostly rural state.
Using a self-administered survey, we collected data from 1852 home-delivered
meal recipients, age 60 years and older, served by Nebraska’s eight Area
Agencies on Aging. Results highlight three areas of importance: social
connections, healthcare access and utilization, and technology. We found that
while most older adults maintained social interaction, despite the restrictions
imposed by the pandemic, feelings of loneliness persisted or even increased,
with 35% of respondents feeling lonelier because of the pandemic. Our findings
further reveal that 42% of older adults skipped or postponed healthcare visits
during the pandemic, although the majority expressed interest in using
telehealth. Finally, the rural‐urban divide was evident in our data, with less
than one-half of respondents (45%) having access to reliable internet.
Suggestions on how to prepare the most vulnerable people for similar crises are
included.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Toni L. Hill
- University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA
| | - David Drozd
- Community Health Development Partners, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Heng Wu
- University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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14
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Rodrigues NG, Han CQY, Su Y, Klainin‐Yobas P, Wu XV. Psychological impacts and online interventions of social isolation amongst older adults during COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. J Adv Nurs 2022; 78:609-644. [PMID: 34625997 PMCID: PMC8661520 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM To summarise the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults during COVID-19 and review the benefits and limitations of online interventions used to combat social isolation. DESIGN A scoping review was performed. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was performed from October 2020 to January 2021 in seven electronic databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. A hand search of the reference lists of included papers and WHO publications was performed. Grey literature search was carried out from Scopus, ProQuest Dissertation and Google Scholar. REVIEW METHODS Studies were screened, appraised and extracted independently by two reviewers. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise data, which were presented in a descriptive manner and organised into categories and themes. RESULTS Totally, 33 studies were included. Four themes and eight sub-themes emerged: (1) negative impacts and experiences of older adults during social isolation, (2) adopting coping behaviours in the midst of COVID-19, (3) online interventions to combat the consequences of social isolation, (4) barriers to online intervention. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an emotional toll on older adults' psychological wellbeing and has highlighted the untapped strengths of older adults facing isolation. Online interventions, which could be a new normal in the COVID era, were beneficial in combating social isolation. Strategies by various stakeholders were recommended to tackle the barriers of online interventions. IMPACT With the COVID-19 pandemic still in progress, this review provides insights on the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults. Nurses in the community and long-term care facilities could adopt strategies and online intervention to better support the older adults, contribute to a stronger COVID-19 response and support system, and an overall better road to recovery from this crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Grace Rodrigues
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Claudia Qin Yun Han
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Ya Su
- Faculty of Health SciencesHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Piyanee Klainin‐Yobas
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Xi Vivien Wu
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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15
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Kim SJ, Hollender M, DeMott A, Oh H, Bhatia I, Eisenberg Y, Gelder M, Hughes S. COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Skilled Nursing Facilities in Cook County, Illinois. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:564-572. [PMID: 35184576 PMCID: PMC9109520 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221074381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on older adults residing in skilled nursing facilities. This study examined the pathways through which community and facility factors may have affected COVID-19 cases and deaths in skilled nursing facilities. METHODS We used structural equation modeling to examine the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in skilled nursing facilities in Cook County, Illinois, from January 1 through September 30, 2020. We used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the number of resident COVID-19 cases and deaths, number of staff cases, facility-level characteristics, and community-level factors. RESULTS Poorer facility quality ratings and higher numbers of staff COVID-19 cases were associated with increased numbers of resident COVID-19 cases and deaths. For-profit ownership was associated with larger facilities and higher resident-to-staff ratios, which increased the number of staff COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, skilled nursing facilities with a greater percentage of White residents were in areas with lower levels of social vulnerability and were less likely to be for-profit and, thus, were associated with higher quality. CONCLUSIONS For-profit ownership was associated with lower facility quality ratings and increases in the number of staff COVID-19 cases, leading to increased resident COVID-19 cases and deaths. Establishing enforceable regulations to ensure quality standards in for-profit skilled nursing facilities is critical to prevent future outbreaks and reduce health disparities in facilities serving racial and ethnic minority populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sage J. Kim
- Division of Health Policy and
Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago,
IL, USA,Sage J. Kim, PhD, University of Illinois at
Chicago, School of Public Health, 1603 W Taylor St #781, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | | | - Andrew DeMott
- Institute for Health Research and
Policy, Center for Research on Health and Aging, University of Illinois at Chicago,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Haewon Oh
- Division of Health Policy and
Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago,
IL, USA
| | - Ishan Bhatia
- School of Public Health, University of
Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yochai Eisenberg
- Department of Disability and Human
Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael Gelder
- Department of Disability and Human
Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Susan Hughes
- Institute for Health Research and
Policy, Center for Research on Health and Aging, University of Illinois at Chicago,
Chicago, IL, USA,Division of Community Health Sciences,
School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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16
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Estrada LV, Harrison JM, Dick AW, Luchsinger JA, Dhingra L, Stone PW. Examining Regional Differences in Nursing Home Palliative Care for Black and Hispanic Residents. J Palliat Med 2022; 25:1228-1235. [PMID: 35143358 PMCID: PMC9347389 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Approximately one-quarter of all deaths in the United States occur in nursing homes (NHs). Palliative care has the potential to improve NH end-of-life care, but more information is needed on the provision of palliative care in NHs serving Black and Hispanic residents. Objective: To determine whether palliative care services in United States NHs are associated with differences in the concentrations of Black and Hispanic residents, respectively, and the impact by region. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis. The outcome was NH palliative care services (measured by an earlier national survey); total scores ranged from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicated more services). Other data included the Minimum Data Set and administrative data. The independent variables were concentration of Black and Hispanic residents (i.e., <3%, 3-10%, >10%), respectively, and models were stratified by region (i.e., Northeast, Midwest, South and West). We compared unadjusted, weighted mean palliative care services by the concentration of Black and Hispanic residents and computed NH-level multivariable linear regressions. Setting/Subjects: Eight hundred sixty-nine (weighted n = 15,020) NHs across the United States. Results: Multivariable analyses showed fewer palliative care services provided in NHs with greater concentrations of Black and Hispanic residents. Fewer palliative care services were reported in NHs in the Northeast, for which >10% of the resident population was Black, and NHs in the West for which >10% was Hispanic versus NHs with <3% of the population being Black and Hispanic (-13.7; p < 0.001 and -9.3; p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: We observed differences in NH palliative care by region and with greater concentration of Black and Hispanic residents. Our findings suggest that greater investment in NH palliative care services may be an important strategy to advance health equity in end-of-life care for Black and Hispanic residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah V Estrada
- Center for Health Policy, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - José A Luchsinger
- Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lara Dhingra
- MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Patricia W Stone
- Center for Health Policy, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, USA
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17
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Rosca A, Balcaen T, Lanoix JP, Michaud A, Moyet J, Marcq I, Schmit JL, Bloch F, Deschasse G. Mortality risk and antibiotic use for COVID-19 in hospitalized patients over 80. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 146:112481. [PMID: 35062049 PMCID: PMC8712262 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients over 80 years of age are more prone to develop severe symptoms and die from COVID-19. Antibiotics were massively prescribed in the first days of the pandemic without evidence of super infection. Antibiotics may increase the risk of mortality in cases of viral pneumonia. With age and antibiotic use, the microbiota becomes altered and less protective effect against lethal viral pneumonia. Thus we assessed whether it is safe to prescribe antibiotics for COVID-19 pneumonia to patients over 80 years of age. METHOD We conducted a retrospective monocentric study in a 1240-bed university hospital. Our inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥ 80 years, hospitalized in a COVID-19 unit, with either a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab or a CT scan within 72 h after or prior to hospitalization in the unit suggestive of infection. RESULTS We included 101 patients who received antibiotics and 48 who did not. The demographics in the two groups were similar. Overall mortality was higher for the group that received antibiotics than for the other group (36.6% vs 14.6%,). According to univariate COX analysis, the risk of mortality was higher (HR = 1.98 [0.926; 4.23]) but non-significantly for the antibiotic group. In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors of mortality were an increased leukocyte count and decreased oxygen saturation (HR = 1.097 [1.022; 1.178] and HR = 0.927 [0.891; 0.964], respectively). CONCLUSION This study raises questions about the interest of antibiotic therapy, its efficacy, and its effect on COVID-19 and encourages further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Rosca
- Service of Pharmacy, University Hospital Amiens-Picardie, France.
| | - Thibaut Balcaen
- CHU Amiens, Medical Information Department, F-80000 Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Lanoix
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Amiens-Picardie – Hôpital Nord, Place Victor Pauchet, 80000 Amiens, France,UR 4294 AGIR, Université Picardie Jules Verne, CURS, Rond point Pr Cabrol, 80000 Amiens, France
| | - Audrey Michaud
- Department of Clinical Research, Amiens Picardy University Hospital, 80054 Amiens, France
| | - Julien Moyet
- Department of Geriatric medicine, University Hospital Amiens-Picardie, France
| | - Ingrid Marcq
- Groupe de Recherche sur l'Alcool et les Pharmacodépendances INSERM UMR1247, Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Santé CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, CHU Sud, Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Luc Schmit
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Amiens-Picardie – Hôpital Nord, Place Victor Pauchet, 80000 Amiens, France,UR 4294 AGIR, Université Picardie Jules Verne, CURS, Rond point Pr Cabrol, 80000 Amiens, France
| | - Frederic Bloch
- Department of Geriatric medicine, University Hospital Amiens-Picardie, France,Laboratory of Functional Neurosciences EA 4559, University of Picardie – Jules-Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Guillaume Deschasse
- Department of Geriatric medicine, University Hospital Amiens-Picardie, France
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18
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Su Z, Meyer K, Li Y, McDonnell D, Joseph NM, Li X, Du Y, Advani S, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, da Veiga CP, Chung RYN, Wang J, Hao X. Technology-based interventions for nursing home residents: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e056142. [PMID: 34853115 PMCID: PMC8638465 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A growing number of technology-based interventions are used to support the health and quality of life of nursing home residents. The onset of COVID-19 and recommended social distancing policies that followed led to an increased interest in technology-based solutions to provide healthcare and promote health. Yet, there are no comprehensive resources on technology-based healthcare solutions that describe their efficacy for nursing home residents. This systematic review will identify technology-based interventions designed for nursing home residents and describe the characteristics and effects of these interventions concerning the distinctive traits of nursing home residents and nursing facilities. Additionally, this paper will present practical insights into the varying intervention approaches that can assist in the delivery of broad digital health solutions for nursing home residents amid and beyond the impact of COVID-19. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Databases including the PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus will be used to identify articles related to technology-based interventions for nursing home residents published between 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2021. Titles, abstracts and full-text papers will be reviewed against the eligibility criteria. The Cochrane Collaboration evaluation framework will be adopted to examine the risk of bias of the included study. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses procedures will be followed for the reporting process and implications for existing interventions and research evaluated by a multidisciplinary research team. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION As the study is a protocol for a systematic review, ethical approval is not required. The study findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD 42020191880.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- School of Nursing, Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kylie Meyer
- School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Yue Li
- Health Services Research & Policy (HSRP) PhD & MS Programs; Director of Research, Division of Health Policy and Outcomes Research (HPOR); Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Nitha Mathew Joseph
- Department of Under Graduate Studies, Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoshan Li
- Program of Public Relations and Advertising, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Du
- School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Shailesh Advani
- Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junaid Ahmad
- Department of Public Health, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | | | - Roger Yat-Nork Chung
- School of Public Health & Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine (RY-NC) and Institute of Health Equity (RY-NC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Xiaoning Hao
- Director of Division, Division of Health Security Research, China National Health Development Research Center, National Health Commission, Beijing, China
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19
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Su Z. Rigorous Policy-Making Amid COVID-19 and Beyond: Literature Review and Critical Insights. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:12447. [PMID: 34886171 PMCID: PMC8657108 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Policies shape society. Public health policies are of particular importance, as they often dictate matters in life and death. Accumulating evidence indicates that good-intentioned COVID-19 policies, such as shelter-in-place measures, can often result in unintended consequences among vulnerable populations such as nursing home residents and domestic violence victims. Thus, to shed light on the issue, this study aimed to identify policy-making processes that have the potential of developing policies that could induce optimal desirable outcomes with limited to no unintended consequences amid the pandemic and beyond. Methods: A literature review was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus to answer the research question. To better structure the review and the subsequent analysis, theoretical frameworks such as the social ecological model were adopted to guide the process. Results: The findings suggested that: (1) people-centered; (2) artificial intelligence (AI)-powered; (3) data-driven, and (4) supervision-enhanced policy-making processes could help society develop policies that have the potential to yield desirable outcomes with limited unintended consequences. To leverage these strategies' interconnectedness, the people-centered, AI-powered, data-driven, and supervision-enhanced (PADS) model of policy making was subsequently developed. Conclusions: The PADS model can develop policies that have the potential to induce optimal outcomes and limit or eliminate unintended consequences amid COVID-19 and beyond. Rather than serving as a definitive answer to problematic COVID-19 policy-making practices, the PADS model could be best understood as one of many promising frameworks that could bring the pandemic policy-making process more in line with the interests of societies at large; in other words, more cost-effectively, and consistently anti-COVID and pro-human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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20
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Spangler KR, Patil P, Peng X, Levy JI, Lane KJ, Tieskens KF, Carnes F, Klevens RM, Erdman EA, Troppy TS, Fabian MP, Leibler JH. Community predictors of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Massachusetts: Evaluating changes over time using geospatially refined data. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2021; 16:213-221. [PMID: 34761531 PMCID: PMC8652977 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for targeted local interventions given substantial heterogeneity within cities and counties. Publicly available case data are typically aggregated to the city or county level to protect patient privacy, but more granular data are necessary to identify and act upon community-level risk factors that can change over time. METHODS Individual COVID-19 case and mortality data from Massachusetts were geocoded to residential addresses and aggregated into two time periods: "Phase 1" (March-June 2020) and "Phase 2" (September 2020 to February 2021). Institutional cases associated with long-term care facilities, prisons, or homeless shelters were identified using address data and modeled separately. Census tract sociodemographic and occupational predictors were drawn from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey. We used mixed-effects negative binomial regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs), accounting for town-level spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS Case incidence was elevated in census tracts with higher proportions of Black and Latinx residents, with larger associations in Phase 1 than Phase 2. Case incidence associated with proportion of essential workers was similarly elevated in both Phases. Mortality IRRs had differing patterns from case IRRs, decreasing less substantially between Phases for Black and Latinx populations and increasing between Phases for proportion of essential workers. Mortality models excluding institutional cases yielded stronger associations for age, race/ethnicity, and essential worker status. CONCLUSIONS Geocoded home address data can allow for nuanced analyses of community disease patterns, identification of high-risk subgroups, and exclusion of institutional cases to comprehensively reflect community risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith R Spangler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Prasad Patil
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiaojing Peng
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan I Levy
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin J Lane
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Koen F Tieskens
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fei Carnes
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - R Monina Klevens
- Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Erdman
- Office of Population Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - T Scott Troppy
- Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Patricia Fabian
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica H Leibler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Su Z, Cheshmehzangi A, McDonnell D, Šegalo S, Ahmad J, Bennett B. Gender inequality and health disparity amid COVID-19. Nurs Outlook 2021; 70:89-95. [PMID: 34774306 PMCID: PMC8410638 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Gender inequalities could lead to grave human and economic consequences, especially amid global health crises of the coronavirus 2019's (COVID-19) scale. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities women face and introduced new challenges that are unprecedented to society at large. Adverse effects of COVID-19, compounded by unintended consequences caused by public health policies such as lockdowns (e.g., delayed or canceled health services), have forced women to face issues ranging from COVID-19 infections and deaths, prolonged unemployment, to unparalleled scale and severity of domestic violence. However, though women face a canopy of debilitating challenges, there is a shortage of research that examines health solutions that can mitigate, if not offset, challenges women experience amid COVID-19. In this paper, we aim to shed light on why timely solutions are needed to mitigate gender inequalities and health disparities women face amid COVID-19 promptly. Furthermore, we underscore the imperative for cost-effective interventions that could shed light on the current health crisis and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment; Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, China; Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8530, Japan
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Sabina Šegalo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
| | - Junaid Ahmad
- Prime Institute of Public Health, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Bindi Bennett
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, Australia
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22
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Su Z, McDonnell D, Bentley BL, He J, Shi F, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, Jia P. Addressing Biodisaster X Threats With Artificial Intelligence and 6G Technologies: Literature Review and Critical Insights. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e26109. [PMID: 33961583 PMCID: PMC8153034 DOI: 10.2196/26109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With advances in science and technology, biotechnology is becoming more accessible to people of all demographics. These advances inevitably hold the promise to improve personal and population well-being and welfare substantially. It is paradoxical that while greater access to biotechnology on a population level has many advantages, it may also increase the likelihood and frequency of biodisasters due to accidental or malicious use. Similar to "Disease X" (describing unknown naturally emerging pathogenic diseases with a pandemic potential), we term this unknown risk from biotechnologies "Biodisaster X." To date, no studies have examined the potential role of information technologies in preventing and mitigating Biodisaster X. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore (1) what Biodisaster X might entail and (2) solutions that use artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging 6G technologies to help monitor and manage Biodisaster X threats. METHODS A review of the literature on applying AI and 6G technologies for monitoring and managing biodisasters was conducted on PubMed, using articles published from database inception through to November 16, 2020. RESULTS Our findings show that Biodisaster X has the potential to upend lives and livelihoods and destroy economies, essentially posing a looming risk for civilizations worldwide. To shed light on Biodisaster X threats, we detailed effective AI and 6G-enabled strategies, ranging from natural language processing to deep learning-based image analysis to address issues ranging from early Biodisaster X detection (eg, identification of suspicious behaviors), remote design and development of pharmaceuticals (eg, treatment development), and public health interventions (eg, reactive shelter-at-home mandate enforcement), as well as disaster recovery (eg, sentiment analysis of social media posts to shed light on the public's feelings and readiness for recovery building). CONCLUSIONS Biodisaster X is a looming but avoidable catastrophe. Considering the potential human and economic consequences Biodisaster X could cause, actions that can effectively monitor and manage Biodisaster X threats must be taken promptly and proactively. Rather than solely depending on overstretched professional attention of health experts and government officials, it is perhaps more cost-effective and practical to deploy technology-based solutions to prevent and control Biodisaster X threats. This study discusses what Biodisaster X could entail and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and managing Biodisaster X threats by AI techniques and 6G technologies. Future studies could explore how the convergence of AI and 6G systems may further advance the preparedness for high-impact, less likely events beyond Biodisaster X.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Barry L Bentley
- Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jiguang He
- Centre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Feng Shi
- Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence, Shanghai, China
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China
- Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Junaid Ahmad
- Prime Institute of Public Health, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Peng Jia
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology, Hong Kong, China
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23
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Su Z, McDonnell D, Liang B, Kue J, Li X, Šegalo S, Advani S, Flores BE, Wang J. Technology-based health solutions for cancer caregivers to better shoulder the impact of COVID-19: a systematic review protocol. Syst Rev 2021; 10:43. [PMID: 33526095 PMCID: PMC7849615 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01592-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, partially owing to their compromised immune systems and curbed or cut cancer healthcare services caused by the pandemic. As a result, cancer caregivers may have to shoulder triple crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, pronounced healthcare needs from the patient, and elevated need for care from within. While technology-based health interventions have the potential to address unique challenges cancer caregivers face amid COVID-19, limited insights are available. Thus, to bridge this gap, we aim to identify technology-based interventions designed for cancer caregivers and report the characteristics and effects of these interventions concerning cancer caregivers' distinctive challenges amid COVID-19. METHODS A systematic search of the literature will be conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus from the database inception to the end of March 2021. Articles that center on technology-based interventions for cancer caregivers will be included in the review. The search strategy will be developed in consultation with an academic librarian who is experienced in systematic review studies. Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles will be screened against eligibility criteria developed a priori. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses procedures will be followed for the reporting process. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 has upended cancer care as we know it. Findings of this study can shed light on evidence-based and practical solutions cancer caregivers can utilize to mitigate the unique challenges they face amid COVID-19. Furthermore, results of this study will also offer valuable insights for researchers who aim to develop interventions for cancer caregivers in the context of COVID-19. In addition, we also expect to be able to identify areas for improvement that need to be addressed in order for health experts to more adequately help cancer caregivers weather the storm of global health crises like COVID-19 and beyond. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020196301.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- School of Nursing, Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, R93 V960, Ireland
| | - Bin Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 10010 China
| | - Jennifer Kue
- School of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Xiaoshan Li
- Program of Public Relations and Advertising, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai, China
| | - Sabina Šegalo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Shailesh Advani
- Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 21100 USA
| | - Bertha E. Flores
- School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Nursing, Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
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