scholarly journals 91 An audit of COVID-19 Awareness and Public Health Message Effectiveness in the Hospital Setting Over the Course of the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Render ◽  
A Truss ◽  
H Waddington ◽  
S John ◽  
C Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Hospital Workers ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Message Effectiveness ◽  
Job Roles ◽  
Public Health Message ◽  
Means Of Transmission

Abstract Introduction An audit of healthcare workers investigated the effectiveness of Public Health England’s (PHE) information campaign across COVID’s timeline and assess knowledge between job roles. Method Data was collected across 3 cycles in 3 hospitals. A questionnaire assessed four domains: symptoms; spread; risk factors and the means to reduce transmission. PHE materials were shown before cycle 2 and respondents then subjected to the general campaign. Results 253 responses were collected. Symptom recognition was 84%, increasing to 88% post-intervention, longer-term recognition remained high at 81% - including the new symptom of anosmia. Identification of COVID’s means of transmission increased from 76% to 95% post intervention, risk factor recognition increased from 85% to 93% post-intervention. This fell to 74% later in the pandemic when recognised risk factors increased. Recognition of the new risk factors BAME status and BMI was 73% and 79% respectively in the final cycle. Doctors had the highest number of pre-intervention correct answers for 3 domains and nurses gave the most incorrect answers for 3 domains pre-intervention. Conclusions We have shown the PHE message is being transmitted effectively. We have also shown an increase in hospital workers recognition of aspects of COVIDs characteristics that have since been verified in the literature.

scholarly journals Tuberculin Skin Testing versus Interferon-Gamma Release Assay among Users of a Public Health Unit in Northeast Portugal

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Andrea Luísa Fernandes Afonso ◽  
Bruno Miguel Morais Pires ◽  
Cristina Martins Teixeira ◽  
António José Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Tuberculin Skin Testing ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Public Health Unit ◽  
The Impact

The screening of groups with a high risk for developing tuberculosis (TB) is a priority in order to control this disease. Since there is no gold standard for the diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI), both the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) have been used for this purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of LTBI by using the TST and the IGRA tests, and to assess the risk factors related with discordant results between tests across several risk groups advised for screening in Northeast Portugal. Data were collected from the database of patients with suspected LTBI and advised for the screening in a public health unit (January 2014 to December 2015). The proportion of LTBI was computed using both tests. Logistic regression models assessed risk factors for a positive test and for discordant results between tests. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were obtained. Out of 367 patients included in the analysis, 79.8% had a positive TST and 46.0% of them had a positive IGRA. In comparison with contacts of active TB cases, healthcare workers and inmates presented higher odds of TST positivity (OR 4.38, 95% CI 1.59–12.09 and OR 4.74, 95% CI 1.45–15.49, respectively), but immunocompromised people presented lower odds of TST positivity (OR 0.14; 95% CI 0.06–0.31). Instead, healthcare workers (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24–0.80) and immunocompromised people (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.10–0.56) presented lower odds of a positive IGRA. There were 42.0% concordant positive results, 16.1% concordant negative results, and 41.9% discordant results, with healthcare workers presenting higher odds of discordant results (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.84–6.05). The proportion of LTBI estimated by TST and IGRA among people advised for screening in our setting is high, highlighting the need of preventive strategies. Among healthcare workers, TST results should be read with caution as the higher proportion of discordant results with a positive TST suggests the impact of the booster reaction in this group.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Risk Factors for Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Healthcare Workers in a Low Incidence Country

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Coppeta ◽  
Antonio Pietroiusti ◽  
Anna Neri ◽  
Aurelio Janni ◽  
Savino Baldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Tuberculosis Screening ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Quantiferon Test

Background: Tuberculosis prevention is a major goal in the hospital setting. Because of the possible progression or reactivation of latent disease, the screening of healthcare workers is an important issue in the TB control program. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of LTBI (latent tuberculosis infection) and to evaluate the main risk factors related to this condition in a teaching hospital in Italy. Methods: We reviewed the data of a tuberculosis screening conducted on 3622 healthcare professionals in a teaching hospital in Rome. All subjects were evaluated by QuantiFERON test which if positive, was followed by appropriate clinical and diagnostic procedures. Results: Latent Tuberculosis Infection LTBI condition was detected in 2.1% of the cases, most commonly in men. Male gender, higher age class, country of birth and nurse job were statistically related with the positivity to QuantiFERON test. Conclusion: LTBI was relatively uncommon in our population, however, given the potential risk of reactivation and progression to overt disease, the screening of healthcare workers and students is recommended in the hospital of low-incidence countries.

scholarly journals Experience of COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in a Hospital Setting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq Azamgarhi ◽  
Michelle Hodgkinson ◽  
Ashik Shah ◽  
John Skinner ◽  
Tim Briggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Job Roles ◽  
Kaplan Meier

Abstract Introduction Several COVID-19 vaccines against SAR-CoV-2 have demonstrated high efficacy in clinical trials. This is the first report describing their use in a healthcare setting.Methods We conduct a single centre observational study assessing vaccine uptake and apparent efficacy of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine among healthcare workers (HCW). Results Overall uptake was 60.8%, however we saw statistically significant differences in uptake between age groups, ethnic origins, and job roles. In the 42 days after vaccination, 45 new cases of COVID were identified, of which 4 (8.9%) occurred in HCWs who were beyond 10 days of vaccination. Kaplan Meier curves for vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were congruent until day 14 and continued to diverge up to 42 days. Cox regression analysis showed a 79.0% (95%CI 21 – 95; p=0.02) risk reduction for COVID infection in vaccinated HCWs. Conclusions Initial vaccination rates among HCW were generally good, although uptake was lower in certain groups and efforts should focus on increasing uptake in these groups. The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is effective from 14 days post-vaccination in a frontline clinical setting and protection continues beyond 21 days post 1st dose without a 2nd dose, being given.

scholarly journals Risk Factors of Covid-19 Transmission between Hospital Employees

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Ulfah ◽  
◽  
Cicilya Candi ◽  
Ede Surya Darmawan ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hospital Administration ◽  
Hospital Employees ◽  
Depth Interview

ABSTRACT Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in healthcare workers at hospital has caused concern because of the higher rates of infection from patients. The aimed of the study was to investigate the risk factors of covid-19 transmission between hospital employees. Subject and Method: This was a qualitative study conducted from August to September 2020. A total of 19 confirmed Covid-19 cases were selected for this study. The data were collected by in-depth interview analyzed descriptively. Results: From 19 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 15 of it were medical staff (78.95%) and the rest were non-medical staff (21.05%). The risk factors of transmission were direct contact with confirmed Covid-19 patient and neglected health protocol. Conclusion: The risk of Covid-19 transmission among hospital employees increases with a direct contact with patients and the neglection of health protocol. Keywords: Covid-19 transmission, hospital employees Correspondence: Siti Ulfah. Masters Program in Hospital Administration, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia. Email: [email protected]. Mobile: (021) 7864975. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.01.23

Hepatitis B Immunoprophylaxis: Developing a Cost-Effective Program in the Hospital Setting

1990 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce P. Lanphear
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Clinical Disease ◽  
Carrier Status ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Effective Program

There are several goals of a hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis program. Prevention of clinical disease and carrier status in healthcare workers (HCW) is the primary goal. In addition, the uncommon incidence of staff transmitting hepatitis B infection (HBV) to patients should not continue with available methods of prevention. The prevention of disease is not only desirable from a public health standpoint, it is also needed to protect health centers from liability that may result from the occurrence of preventable diseases of occupational origin, such as HBV.

Substance Abuse and Drug-Related Death, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide: A Review

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Mino ◽  
Arnaud Bousquet ◽  
Barbara Broers
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Hiv Epidemic

The high mortality rate among drug users, which is partly due to the HIV epidemic and partly due to drug-related accidental deaths and suicides, presents a major public health problem. Knowing more about prevalence, incidence, and risk factors is important for the development of rational preventive and therapeutic programs. This article attempts to give an overview of studies of the relations between substance abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, and drug-related death. Research in this field is hampered by the absence of clear definitions, and results of studies are rarely comparable. There is, however, consensus about suicidal ideation being a risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide. Suicidal ideation is also a predictor of suicide, especially among drug users. It is correlated with an absence of family support, with the severity of the psychosocial dysfunctioning, and with multi-drug abuse, but also with requests for treatment. Every clinical examination of a drug user, not only of those who are depressed, should address the possible presence of suicidal ideation, as well as its intensity and duration.

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