scholarly journals Introduction

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1447) ◽  
pp. 1047-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. McLean ◽  
R. M. May ◽  
J. Pattison ◽  
R. A. Weiss

In the summer of 2003, as the first global severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic stuttered to a close, The Royal Society set about organizing a meeting that would take stock of the year's events and ask ‘what can we learn from SARS about emerging infections in general?’ Emerging infections are more than just a current biological fashion. The bitter ongoing experience of AIDS and the looming threat of an influenza pandemic teach us that the control of infectious disease is a problem we have not yet solved. It is a problem that needs to be addressed by a broad community. Scientists, policy makers and health care workers all need to be prepared, but prepared to do what? The purpose of the meeting was to use SARS as an example to enumerate the generic issues that must be considered when planning for the control of emerging infections.

2021 ◽  
pp. 008124632199217
Author(s):  
Yogan Pillay

We are committed to an AIDS free generation by 2030 – nine short years away. This article reflects on the global and South African data on new infections, total number of children and adolescents living with HIV as well as data on vertical transmission. The article includes the voices of key stakeholders in the quest to end HIV in children so that lessons from their experiences can be used by policy makers in strengthening services.


Genome ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 527-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naazish S. Bashir ◽  
Wendy J. Ungar

The 3-I framework of analyzing the ideas, interests, and institutions around a topic has been used by political scientists to guide public policy development. In Canada, there is a lack of policy governing pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing compared to other developed nations. The goal of this study was to use the 3-I framework, a policy development tool, and apply it to PGx testing to identify and analyze areas where current policy is limited and challenges exist in bringing PGx testing into wide-spread clinical practice in Canada. A scoping review of the literature was conducted to determine the extent and challenges of PGx policy implementation at federal and provincial levels. Based on the 3-I analysis, contentious ideas related to PGx are (i) genetic discrimination, (ii) informed consent, (iii) the lack of knowledge about PGx in health care, (iv) the value of PGx testing, (v) the roles of health care workers in the coordination of PGx services, and (vi) confidentiality and privacy. The 3-I framework is a useful tool for policy makers, and applying it to PGx policy development is a new approach in Canadian genomics. Policy makers at every organizational level can use this analysis to help develop targeted PGx policies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Stergachis ◽  
Lisa Garberson ◽  
Onora Lien ◽  
Luann D'Ambrosio ◽  
Laura Sangaré ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectives: We conducted a county-wide survey to assess the ability and willingness of health care workers to report to work during a pandemic influenza and a severe earthquake and to identify barriers and strategies that would help them report to work.Methods: A stratified random sample of 9211 health care workers was selected from the Washington state licensure database and from health care agencies. We assessed correlates between self-reported ability and willingness to report to work and demographic and employer-related variables under two scenarios, influenza pandemic and a severe earthquake.Results: For the influenza pandemic scenario, 95% of respondents reported that they would be able and 89% reported that they would be willing to report to their usual place of work. Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that they would be able and 88% would be willing to report to their usual place of work following a severe earthquake. The most frequently cited strategies that would help respondents report to work during an influenza pandemic were the availability of anti-viral influenza treatment and the ability to work from home. For persons with children at home, the strategy to increase ability to report to work during an earthquake was the availability of child care.Conclusions: The majority of the King County health care workforce is willing and able to respond to an influenza pandemic or a severe earthquake.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:300–308)


Author(s):  
Sabina Sankhi ◽  
Nirmal Raj Marasine

Background: The COVID-19 among humans is spreading heavily and is largely impacting the mental health of the general population, students, and health care workers worldwide. Hence, this review aims to summarize the literatures addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population, students, and health care workers. Methods: Published articles concerning mental health of the general population, students, and health care workers related to the COVID-19 outbreak have been considered and reviewed. Results and Discussion: Mental health symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression are common psychological reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population, students, and health care workers. This collectively influences daily behavior, economy, prevention strategies and decision making from policy makers and health organizations, weakening the strategies of COVID-19 control leading to more morbidity and mental health needs at the global level. Conclusion: There is a need for more evidence-based research from other affected countries, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents, people of lower socioeconomic status, and those residing in rural areas, so that valid strategies can be developed and COVID-19 and outbreaks of similar types in the near future can be prevented.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels De Brier ◽  
Stijn Stroobants ◽  
Philippe Vandekerckhove ◽  
Emmy De Buck

Introduction: The novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak currently puts health care workers at high risk of both infection and mental health problems. Considering their pivotal role in tackling this pandemic crisis, providing adequate mental health care for health care workers is imperative. This study aimed to identify the risk and protective factors for mental health outcomes in health care workers during coronavirus epidemics.Methods: A rapid systematic review was performed in three databases and current COVID-19 resources (search date March 24, 2020). Following study selection, study characteristics and effect measures were tabulated, and data were synthesized by using vote counting based on direction of effect. Risk of bias of each study was assessed and the certainty of evidence was appraised according to the GRADE methodology.Results: Out of 2605 references, 28 observational studies were selected and the identified risk and protective factors were categorized in ten thematic categories. The level of disease exposure, being quarantined as health care worker, and health fear were significantly associated with worse mental health outcomes. There was evidence that clear communication and support from the organization, social support and personal sense of control and coping ability are effective protective factors. No specific mental health interventions for assisting health care workers in mental distress during infectious disease outbreaks were identified. The evidence was of very low certainty, because of risk of bias and imprecise results.Conclusion: Safeguarding mental health of health care workers during infectious disease outbreaks should not be treated as a separate mental health intervention strategy, but requires a protective approach. This study therefore suggests that embedding mental health support in a safe and efficient working environment which promotes collegial social support and personal sense of control can help to maximize resilience of health care workers during the COVID-19 global health crisis.


Author(s):  
Hakob Harutyunyan ◽  
Artak Mukhaelyan ◽  
Attila J. Hertelendy ◽  
Amalia Voskanyan ◽  
Todd Benham ◽  
...  

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the greatest global loss of life and economic impact due to a respiratory virus since the 1918 influenza pandemic. While health care systems around the world faced the enormous challenges of managing COVID-19 patients, health care workers in the Republic of Armenia were further tasked with caring for the surge of casualties from a concurrent, large-scale war. These compounding events put a much greater strain on the health care system, creating a complex humanitarian crisis that resulted in significant psychosocial consequences for health care workers in Armenia.


Author(s):  
Anuja U. ◽  
Rajasi R. S. ◽  
Ratheesh K. H. ◽  
VijayaKumar K. ◽  
Amar Fettil

Background: Health care workers were prioritized by World Health Organization (WHO) for H1N1 vaccination during 2009 swine influenza pandemic following which in Kerala, a total of 72,000 people mostly health care personnel were immunized with a single dose of inactivated split influenza monovalent H1N1 vaccine in 2010. The present study was carried out with the objective to find out the proportion of health care workers seroconverted in Kerala following H1N1 vaccination.Methods:A cross-sectional study conducted in three districts of Kerala. Blood samples collected from 193 health staffs were analysed for H1N1 antibody titre 6 months following single dose of vaccination. Univariate analysis was done using proportions for qualitative variables.Results: 99.5% of health staffs seroconverted following vaccination and none of them developed disease even after getting exposed to H1N1 cases thereafter.Conclusions:Single dose of H1N1 vaccine is found to offer sufficient protection and should be recommended for health care workers. So all health care personnel shall consider H1N1 vaccination for their own protection. 


2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grainne M McAlonan ◽  
Antoinette M Lee ◽  
Vinci Cheung ◽  
Charlton Cheung ◽  
Kenneth WT Tsang ◽  
...  

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