Efficacy and safety of fenofibrate in combination with phototherapy for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Phototherapy is the standard treatment for neonatal jaundice. We aimed to review the efficacy and safety of fenofibrate as an adjunct therapy. Twelve databases were searched and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Mean change (MC), mean difference (MD), and risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random effects model. The GRADE approach was used to evaluate the evidence's certainty. Nine randomized trials were included. The MC of total serum bilirubin (mg/dL) was significant at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h with respective MC (95% CI) values of -0.46 (-0.61, -0.310), -1.10 (-1.68, -0.52), -2.06 (-2.20, -1.91), -2.15 (-2.74, -1.56), and -1.13 (-1.71, -0.55). The FEN + PT group had a shorter duration of phototherapy (MD: -14.36 h; 95% CI: -23.67, -5.06) and a shorter hospital stay (MD: -1.40 days; 95% CI: -2.14, -0.66). There was no significant difference in the risk of complications (RR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.46) or the need for exchange transfusion (RR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.12, 2.81). The certainty of the evidence was very low for all outcomes. In conclusion, fenofibrate might be a safe adjunct to neonatal phototherapy. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed for the confirmation of these results.

Healthcare professionals' acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for their children: A cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Western India

Background and Aims

Establishing a transparent and forthright dialog between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the public is paramount in promoting the effective acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for children. Hence, this study aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, knowledge, and perception among HCPs for their children.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western India. A structured questionnaire was designed and validated to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

The study found that more than 80% of HCPs had good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, and 92.74% of them were willing to accept the vaccine for their children. Doctors were more likely to vaccinate their children, and 73% of HCPs had a favorable attitude toward immunizing their children if a new COVID-19 vaccine was available. Academic/peer-reviewed publications were considered the most reliable source of information for COVID-19 vaccination, followed by government sources.

Conclusion

This study found that parental vaccine hesitancy was significantly lower among the HCP group. The majority of HCPs were in favor of vaccinating their children against COVID-19, indicating that they can serve as an effective channel for promoting parental acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in the community.

Is checklist an effective tool for teaching research students? A survey-based study

BACKGROUND

Students face hardships in determining what are the main points that need more studying in every subject. Checklists are one of the ways that can help students identify the most important pieces of information. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed at examining the impact of using educational checklists on the learning process of postgraduate students at Nagasaki University, Japan.

METHODS

Thirty-one Master's students, who finished a "how to write a research protocol" course were recruited by sending them an invitation email that had an attached link to a previously developed and tested questionnaire on the SurveyMonkey® platform. After signing the electronic informed consent, twenty-two participants (response rate = 71%) finished the survey. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and expressed in the form of frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS

More than half of the students declared that they know the checklist will be used in the course that we investigated. Only two students used checklists as a means of studying (9%). Twelve students (55%) confirmed that no other courses or lessons in the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH) use checklists. No students found the usage of checklists not easy or not practical to apply. Many students thought the length of the checklist was suitable and not too short (64%), although three students (14%) found it lengthy. Moreover, most students described the checklist as beyond good (86%) and they would recommend using a checklist for teaching other college students (73%).

CONCLUSION

Using checklists in education can facilitate the learning process, help in memorization, and deepen the concepts being studied. Further studies are required to examine the impact of checklists in teaching undergraduate students and students from other non-healthcare disciplines.

Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum

Background

Healthcare Information for All (HIFA) is a multidisciplinary global campaign consisting of more than 20,000 members worldwide committed to improving the availability and use of health care information in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, online HIFA forums saw a tremendous amount of discussion regarding the lack of information about COVID-19, the spread of misinformation, and the pandemic’s impact on different communities.

Objective

This study aims to analyze the themes and perspectives shared in the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums.

Methods

Over a period of 8 months, a qualitative thematic content analysis of the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums was conducted. In total, 865 posts between January 24 and October 31, 2020, from 246 unique study participants were included and analyzed.

Results

In total, 6 major themes were identified: infodemic, health system, digital health literacy, economic consequences, marginalized peoples, and mental health. The geographical distribution of study participants involved in the discussion spanned across 46 different countries in every continent except Antarctica. Study participants’ professions included public health workers, health care providers, and researchers, among others. Study participants’ affiliation included nongovernment organizations (NGOs), commercial organizations, academic institutions, the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and others.

Conclusions

The themes that emerged from this analysis highlight personal recounts, reflections, suggestions, and evidence around addressing COVID-19 related misinformation and might also help to understand the timeline of information evolution, focus, and needs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sex Workers Should Be Included in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

As the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on citizens across the globe, more people turn to sex work for survival. Because sex work is inherently physical and intimate, sex workers become defenseless against the virus and act as a bridge for transmitting the virus to their clients and society. Often, sex workers are the victims of violence and homelessness, and are devoid of health-care facilities, including HIV treatment, and are frequently exposed to a large number of individuals as dictated by the nature of their work. Their survival instincts would drive them to take part in their usual job to earn money, despite added health risks, to survive and feed their families. Worldwide, sex workers do not fully benefit from the COVID-19 responses, particularly in health, social, and economic aid assistance and services. Hence, it is essential to include this vulnerable population in the COVID-19 vaccination programs to halt the further spread of the virus.