Examining the role of community resilience and social capital on mental health in public health emergency and disaster response: a scoping review

The ability of the public to remain psychologically resilient in the face of public health emergencies and disasters (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) is a key factor in the effectiveness of a national response to such events. Community resilience and social capital are often perceived as beneficial and ensuring that a community is socially and psychologically resilient may aid emergency response and recovery. This review presents a synthesis of literature which answers the following research questions: How are community resilience and social capital quantified in research?; What is the impact of community resilience on mental wellbeing?; What is the impact of infectious disease outbreaks, disasters and emergencies on community resilience and social capital?; and, What types of interventions enhance community resilience and social capital?A scoping review procedure was followed. Searches were run across Medline, PsycInfo, and EMBASE, with search terms covering both community resilience and social capital, public health emergencies, and mental health. 26 papers met the inclusion criteria.The majority of retained papers originated in the USA, used a survey methodology to collect data, and involved a natural disaster. There was no common method for measuring community resilience or social capital. The association between community resilience and social capital with mental health was regarded as positive in most cases. However, we found that community resilience, and social capital, were initially negatively impacted by public health emergencies and enhanced by social group activities.Several key recommendations are proposed based on the outcomes from the review, which include: the need for a standardised and validated approach to measuring both community resilience and social capital; that there should be enhanced effort to improve preparedness to public health emergencies in communities by gauging current levels of community resilience and social capital; that community resilience and social capital should be bolstered if areas are at risk of disasters or public health emergencies; the need to ensure that suitable short-term support is provided to communities with high resilience in the immediate aftermath of a public health emergency or disaster; the importance of conducting robust evaluation of community resilience initiatives deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

952 In-Patient Trauma Surgery in COVID-19 Positive Patients Carries A Significantly Higher Mortality Risk When Compared to In-Patient Covid-19 Negative Patients and Day Case Trauma Patients

Introduction

Covid-19 caused many service changes, yet Trauma surgery continued throughout. We compare mortality rates from In-Patient (IP) and Day Case (DC) trauma patients and compare the mortality rates of patients who tested positive or negative for Covid-19.

Method

We reviewed all trauma admissions that underwent surgical intervention in both our IP and DC services during 31 days from March 23^rd 2020. We recorded their sex, age, operation, Covid-19 symptoms, Covid-19 test results and mortality. The findings were compared between the groups.

Results

In total 127 patients underwent surgery (66 IP; 61 DC). There were 6 deaths (9.1%) within the IP group and 0 deaths in the DC group (p = 0.006). In the IP group 8 patients (12.1%) tested positive for Covid-19 of which 4 died (50%) compared to the remaining 58 patients (87.9%) of which 2 (3.4%) died (p < 0.001). A higher mortality rate was observed in patients with symptoms but a negative Covid-19 test (6.7%) than patients in whom a test was never indicated (2.3%).

Conclusion

Covid-19 positive patients requiring in-patient admission for trauma surgery have a significantly higher mortality rate than both in-patient admissions that were Covid-19 negative or asymptomatic and patients that were treated with Day Case Trauma surgery.

890 Predictive Factors for Mortality Following Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery in The Covid-19 Pandemic. The Manchester Equation

Introduction

Covid-19 caused many service changes including limitations on operations due to potential increased mortality risk to patients. We report our findings from Trauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) surgical mortality through this period and the effectiveness of using a scoring system (The Manchester Equation) to predict likelihood of mortality.

Method

We reviewed all T&O admissions that underwent surgical intervention during the height of the pandemic. We recorded numerous factors for each patient including mortality and Covid status. From this we created a scoring system which is the product of Covid status, Anaesthetic type, Medical co-morbidities and other medical factors and ASA Score. We then analysed the findings to determine whether the score could be predictive of mortality rate.

Results

Of 123 patients undergoing surgery 6 deaths were observed (mean score of 51.3) compared to 117 patients surviving (mean score 31.9), p = 0.001. A score of less than 32 carried a 0% chance of death whereas a score of 32 or more resulted in a 14.6% mortality rate (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The Manchester Equation can be used to help predict the mortality rate of T&O surgery in the presence of Covid-19 and may be useful for clinical decision making and consent purposes.

Prioritisation in speech and language therapy departments in Scotland and Malaysia

This study investigates how prioritisation in health services have influenced speech and language therapy (SLT) services in Scotland in prioritising their caseload. Additionally, it evaluates how current prioritisation systems may contribute towards the development of the SLT service in Malaysia. Health, education and social agencies in Malaysia were contacted and a literature review was conducted. Information on prioritisation systems used in Malaysia was unavailable. Prioritisation systems from seven SLT departments within Scotland were investigated, of which three SLT managers took part in semi-structured interviews. The findings show that prioritisation is influenced by a combination of factors and that the principles could only be applied to the Malaysian SLT service if consideration is given to the political, economical, social, geographical and cultural factors.

Expressive pragmatic skills in pre-school children with and without Down's syndrome: parental perceptions

Parental perceptions of the pragmatic skills of six pre-school children with Down's syndrome were compared to those of six children without cognitive impairment. Children were matched for language comprehension age on the Reynell Developmental Language Scale and parents were interviewed using the Pragmatics Profile of Early Communication Skills. Data from the parental interviews was analysed taking a qualitative approach, using the technique of content analysis. The results showed that the children with and without Down's syndrome had many similarities in reported behaviours and responses In addition, five out of the six children with Down's syndrome had some skills which were more advanced than their matched pairs. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed. The evidence suggests that children with Down's syndrome have a normal range of pragmatic skills and communicative intentions compared with children of similar levels of comprehension functioning at an early pre-school level.

A content analysis of the professional journal of the British Society of Speech Therapists. I: The first 10 years. Spotlight on 'Speech' 1935-1945

The 24 editions of the professional journal 'Speech' published between 1935-1945 were examined by use of content analysis. The use of this approach enabled an in-depth survey of the professional, clinical and political issues of the period which saw the beginning of speech and language therapy as a profession. Two main areas were focused upon: the development of the professional body and the authored papers which appeared in the journal. 'Speech' at that time can be viewed as a blend of today's 'European Journal of Disorders of Communication' with today's 'Bulletin'.