Twitter Analysis of Health Care Workers' Sentiment and Discourse Regarding Post-COVID-19 Condition in Children and Young People: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact, with millions of cases and deaths. Research highlights the persistence of symptoms over time (post-COVID-19 condition), a situation of particular concern in children and young people with symptoms. Social media such as Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X) could provide valuable information on the impact of the post-COVID-19 condition on this demographic.

OBJECTIVE

With a social media analysis of the discourse surrounding the prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people, we aimed to explore the perceptions of health care workers (HCWs) concerning post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people in the United Kingdom between January 2021 and January 2022. This will allow us to contribute to the emerging knowledge on post-COVID-19 condition and identify critical areas and future directions for researchers and policy makers.

METHODS

From a pragmatic paradigm, we used a mixed methods approach. Through discourse, keyword, sentiment, and image analyses, using Pulsar and InfraNodus, we analyzed the discourse about the experience of post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people in the United Kingdom shared on Twitter between January 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, from a sample of HCWs with Twitter accounts whose biography identifies them as HCWs.

RESULTS

We obtained 300,000 tweets, out of which (after filtering for relevant tweets) we performed an in-depth qualitative sample analysis of 2588 tweets. The HCWs were responsive to announcements issued by the authorities regarding the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The most frequent sentiment expressed was negative. The main themes were uncertainty about the future, policies and regulations, managing and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people, vaccination, using Twitter to share scientific literature and management strategies, and clinical and personal experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

The perceptions described on Twitter by HCWs concerning the presence of the post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people appear to be a relevant and timely issue and responsive to the declarations and guidelines issued by health authorities over time. We recommend further support and training strategies for health workers and school staff regarding the manifestations and treatment of children and young people with post-COVID-19 condition.

Acceptability of HPV Vaccines: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Summary

In 2006, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved for use as an effective intervention for reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer; however, its successful implementation is dependent on acceptability. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the reasons that favor or do not favor the acceptability of HPV vaccines.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-summary of qualitative research on 16 databases. A total of 32 articles that considered the perspectives of vaccine users, their parents, and the professionals who care for them were reviewed. Synthesis was conducted as described by Sandelowski and Barroso.

RESULTS

We used inductive and deductive methods to obtain a total of 22 dimensions, out of which three issues stood out that should be considered to improve acceptability and are formed by three groups of study, namely, information about the vaccine, fears and side effects, and sexuality associated with the vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptability, as well as adherence to HPV vaccination, is a complex concept. This review highlights the perspectives of the three sets of actors involved in the process (i.e., users, parents, and professionals) and views these factors in relation to acceptability as a guide for new interventions.

Development of an instrument to measure the cultural competence of health care workers

OBJECTIVE

To validate an instrument measuring the cultural competence in health care workers from Chile.

METHODS

Using Sue & Sue’s theoretical model of cultural competence, we designed a scale, which was assessed by health care workers and experts. Subsequently, the scale was applied to a sample of 483 different health care workers, during 2018 in Santiago de Chile. The analysis included: exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, estimation of reliability, and analysis of measurement bias. Finally, the level of cultural competence was calculated for every professional who participated in this study.

RESULTS

The final scale include 14 items that are grouped into three dimensions concordant with the theoretical model: sensitivity to own prejudices, cultural knowledge, and skills to work in culturally diverse environments. This scale showed good fit in factor models, adequate reliability and lack of evidence of measurement bias. Regarding the performance of health care workers, sensitivity showed a lower level compared with the other dimensions evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The scale for measuring the level of cultural competence in health care workers (EMCC-14) is a reliable instrument, with initial support for its validity, which can be used in the Chilean context. Additionally, the results of this study could guide some possible interventions in the health sector to strengthen the level of cultural competence.

[Initial care for migrants in Chile: status of a primary health care initiative after one year of implementationAtenção inicial a populações migrantes no Chile: iniciativa em atenção primária à saúde após um ano da sua implementação]

Objetivo.

Describir las características sociodemográficas, necesidades de salud, derivaciones efectivas realizadas y evaluación inmediata de la población migrante internacional que participó en el Programa de Atención Inicial al Migrante durante el primer año de ejecución (entre mayo y diciembre del año 2016), implementado en el Centro de Salud Familiar Ignacio Domeyko, Santiago de Chile.

Métodos.

Estudio descriptivo. Se diseñó e implementó una intervención para dar bienvenida a migrantes internacionales, que contemplaba la evaluación integral inicial, el diagnóstico de situación y detección de necesidades y derivación a otras atenciones, y la entrega de información. Para el análisis se describen, por medio de medidas de tendencia central y frecuencias absolutas y relativas, las características sociodemográficas, el proceso migratorio, las necesidades de salud, el cumplimento de derivaciones a un año de seguimiento y los resultados de la encuesta de satisfacción usuaria.

Resultados.

Se inscribieron 436 personas, de las cuales asistieron 270 (61,9%). El 80% eran mujeres, provenientes en su mayoría de Perú y Venezuela. La principal derivación realizada fue a control de embarazo (32,6%), seguido de planificación familiar (30%) y servicios sociales (27,04%). A un año de seguimiento, las derivaciones para controles cardiovasculares alcanzaron 100% de cumplimiento, 97,7% para embarazo y 87,7% para servicios sociales. El menor cumplimiento en las derivaciones fue a salud mental (11,1%).

Conclusiones.

Esta intervención, pionera en Chile, permitió dar bienvenida y proporcionar información clave a la población migrante internacional, así como también realizar derivaciones basadas en necesidades de salud y promover la inserción de la población inmigrante al sistema de salud chileno.

[Social determinants of the health of international migrant children in Chile: qualitative evidence.]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the social determinants of health (SDH) of international migrant children, from the perceptions of caregivers, health workers and local authorities in eight municipalities in Chile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A secondary analysis of data was conducted from a qualitative study that took place between 2014 and 2017. The original study involved semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The secondary thematic analysis of data included all emerging issues related to international migrant children and their living conditions, including use of health services.

RESULTS

Findings were grouped according to the model of social determinants of health, which allow a reflection on living conditions of international migrant children and their health situation.

CONCLUSIONS

This research shows the impact of SDH on international migrant children in Chile, highlighting relevant issues around this group.

[Health inequality gap in inmigrant versus local children in Chile]

INTRODUCTION

Children and young international migrants face different health challenges compa red with the local population, particularly if they live in insecure environments or adverse social conditions. This study seeks to identify gaps in health outcomes of children between immigrant and local population in Chile.

METHODS

This study analyses data from three sources: (i) Born in Chile: Electronic records of antenatal visits from all municipal antenatal clinics of Recoleta in 2012; (ii) Growing up in Chile: Population survey "National Socioeconomic Characterization" (CASEN) from 2013 and (iii) Getting sick in Chile: Data of all hospital discharges in 2012, provided by the department of statistics and health information (DEIS) of the Ministry of Health.

RESULTS

(I) Born in Chile: Im migrants more frequently have psychosocial risk (62.3% vs 50.1% in Chileans) and enter later into the program (63.1% vs 33.4% enter later than 14 weeks of pregnancy). All birth outcomes were better among immigrants (e.g. caesarean sections rates: 24.2% immigrants vs % Chileans). (ii) Growing up in Chile: A higher proportion of migrant children is outside the school system and lives in multidi mensional poverty (40% immigrants vs 23.2% Chileans). (iii) Getting sick in Chile: Injuries and other external causes were more frequent cause of hospitalisation among migrants (23.6%) than the local population (16.7%) aged between 7 and 14 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing the needs of the children in Chile, regardless of their immigration status, is an ethical, legal and moral imperative.