scholarly journals Access to personal protective equipment in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: results from a nationwide cohort study (UK-REACH)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A Martin ◽  
Daniel Pan ◽  
Joshua Nazareth ◽  
Avinash Aujayeb ◽  
Luke Bryant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
Questionnaire Response ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictors of self-reported access to appropriate personal protective equipment (aPPE) for healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United Kingdom (UK) during the first UK national COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) and at the time of questionnaire response (December 2020 - February 2021). Design: Two cross sectional analyses using data from a questionnaire-based cohort study. Setting: Nationwide questionnaire from 4th December 2020 to 28th February 2021. Participants: A representative sample of HCWs or ancillary workers in a UK healthcare setting aged 16 or over, registered with one of seven main UK healthcare regulatory bodies. Main outcome measure: Binary measure of self-reported aPPE (access all of the time vs access most of the time or less frequently) at two timepoints: the first national lockdown in the UK (primary analysis) and at the time of questionnaire response (secondary analysis). Results: 10,508 HCWs were included in the primary analysis, and 12,252 in the secondary analysis. 3702 (35.2%) of HCWs reported aPPE at all times in the primary analysis; 6806 (83.9%) reported aPPE at all times in the secondary analysis. After adjustment (for age, sex, ethnicity, migration status, occupation, aerosol generating procedure exposure, work sector, work region, working hours, night shift frequency and trust in employing organisation), older HCWs (per decade increase in age: aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.16 - 1.26, p<0.001) and those working in Intensive Care Units (1.61, 1.38 - 1.89, p<0.001) were more likely to report aPPE at all times. Those from Asian ethnic groups compared to White (0.77, 0.67 - 0.89, p<0.001), those in allied health professional (AHPs) and dental roles (vs those in medical roles; AHPs: 0.77, 0.68 - 0.87, p<0.001; dental: 0.63, 0.49 - 0.81, p<0.001), and those who saw a higher number of COVID-19 patients compared to those who saw none (≥21 patients 0.74, 0.61 - 0.90, p=0.003) were less likely to report aPPE at all times in the primary analysis. aPPE at all times was also not uniform across UK regions (reported access being better in South West and North East England than London). Those who trusted their employing organisation to deal with concerns about unsafe clinical practice, compared to those who did not, were twice as likely to report aPPE at all times (2.18, 1.97 - 2.40, p<0.001). With the exception of occupation, these factors were also significantly associated with aPPE at all times in the secondary analysis. Conclusions: We found that only a third of HCWs in the UK reported aPPE at all times during the period of the first lockdown and that aPPE had improved later in the pandemic. We also identified key sociodemographic and occupational determinants of aPPE during the first UK lockdown, the majority of which have persisted since lockdown was eased. These findings have important public health implications for HCWs, particularly as cases of infection and long-COVID continue to rise in the UK.

scholarly journals PMMB COVID-19 Bulletin: United Kingdom (22nd April 2020)

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Loh Teng-Hern Tan ◽  
Vengadesh Letchumanan ◽  
Hooi-Leng Ser ◽  
Jodi Woan-Fei Law ◽  
Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Threat ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
The Uk

COVID-19 has greatly impacted the world and posed an enormous public health threat. The United Kingdom is hit harder by the COVID-19 crisis than any other European countries, besides Italy, Spain and France. The UK government has come under heavy criticism for its response to COVID-19, with lack of preparedness, shortages of personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing. Despite the lockdown is in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, UK death toll continues to surge. As of 21st April 2020, more than 120,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16,000 deaths had been recorded in UK.

Adolescent Police Stops, Self-Harm, and Attempted Suicide: Findings From the UK Millennium Cohort Study, 2012‒2019

2021 ◽  
pp. e1-e9
Author(s):  
Dylan B. Jackson ◽  
Alexander Testa ◽  
Rebecca L. Fix ◽  
Tamar Mendelson
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
School Counselors ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Millennium Cohort Study ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽  
The Uk

Objectives. To explore associations between police stops, self-harm, and attempted suicide among a large, representative sample of adolescents in the United Kingdom. Methods. Data were drawn from the 3 most recent sweeps of the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), from 2012 to 2019. The MCS is an ongoing nationally representative contemporary birth cohort of children born in the United Kingdom between September 2000 and January 2002 (n = 10 345). Weights were used to account for sample design and multiple imputation for missing data. Results. Youths experiencing police stops by the age of 14 years (14.77%) reported significantly higher rates of self-harm (incidence rate ratio = 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35, 1.69) at age 17 years and significantly higher odds of attempted suicide (odds ratio = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.84, 2.76) by age 17 years. These patterns were largely consistent across examined features of police stops and generally did not vary by sociodemographic factors. In addition, 17.73% to 40.18% of associations between police stops and outcomes were explained by mental distress. Conclusions. Police-initiated encounters are associated with youth self-harm and attempted suicide. Youths may benefit when school counselors or social workers provide mental health screenings and offer counseling care following these events. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 23, 2021: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306434 )

scholarly journals The Impact Of COVID-19 On Out-Of-Hours Adult Hospice Care: An Online Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicity Hasson ◽  
Paul Slater ◽  
Anne Fee ◽  
Tracey McConnell ◽  
Sheila Payne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BackgroundGlobally COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the provision of healthcare, including palliative care. However, there is little evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of out-of-hours specialist palliative care services in the United Kingdom. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of out-of-hours community-based palliative care services.Methods A national online census survey of managers of adult hospices in the United Kingdom was undertaken. Survey were emailed to managers of adult hospices (n=150) who provided out-of-hours community palliative care services. Fifteen questions related specifically to the impact of COVID-19 and data were analysed thematically.ResultsEighty-one responses to the survey were returned (54% response rate); 59 were complete of which 47 contained COVID-19 data. Findings indicated that COVID-19 impacted on out-of-hours community-based palliative care. To meet increased patient need, hospices reconfigured services; redeployed staff; and introduced new policies and procedures to minimize virus transmission. Lack of integration between charitably and state funded palliative care providers was reported. The interconnected issues of the use and availability of Personal Protective Equipment (n=21) and infection control screening (n=12) resulted in changes in nursing practices due to fear of contagion for patients, carers and staff. Conclusions Survey findings suggest that due to increased demand for community palliative care services, hospices had to rapidly adapt and reconfigure services. Even though this response to the pandemic led to some service improvements, in the main, out-of-hours service reconfiguration resulted in challenges for hospices, including workforce issues, and availability of resources such as Personal Protective Equipment. These challenges were exacerbated by lack of integration with wider healthcare services. More research is required to fully understand the implications of such changes on the quality of care provided.

scholarly journals Your Hair or Your Service: An Issue of Faith for Sikh Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajinder Singh ◽  
Bhajneek Grewal
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
The United Kingdom

Abstract Sikh healthcare professionals make up a small but significant proportion of the workforce in the United Kingdom. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented healthcare staff across the country with challenges relating to safe clinical practice whilst wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Practising Sikhs are mandated to keep their hair unshorn and have been negatively impacted by some standard PPE requirements. This article aims to raise awareness of this issue and provide suggestions on how this conflict can be resolved.

scholarly journals Recruiting individuals into the HTLV cohort study in the United Kingdom: clinical findings and challenges in the first six years, 2003 to 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (46) ◽  
Author(s):  
L J Brant ◽  
C Cawley ◽  
K L Davison ◽  
G P Taylor ◽  
collective the HTLV National Register Steering Group
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Spastic Paraparesis ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
T Lymphotropic Virus ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Multicentre Cohort Study ◽  
The Uk

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection is rare in the United Kingdom (UK) and few studies are available worldwide. Following introduction of blood donation testing in 2002, a cohort of individuals could be identified and prospectively recruited to describe progression and onset of disease. Here we describe baseline characteristics of participants, and evaluate recruitment into the UK HTLV National Register over the first six years, from July 2003 to June 2009. A multicentre cohort study recruited participants from the UK blood services (recipients and donors) and specialist HTLV clinics. Almost half of the 148 participants recruited were blood donors, nine were blood transfusion recipients, 40 contacts and 29 clinic attendees (nine asymptomatic and 20 symptomatic). Most participants were HTLV-1 positive (n=115); 11 had HTLV-2 and 22 were HTLV-negative. Baseline self-completion questionnaires were received for 83%. The most commonly reported condition was a past operation/serious illness (69%). Twenty-six participants reported four or more possible signs/symptoms of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Recruitment into a study of a rare, long-term infection is challenging. This cohort will enable descriptions of HTLV-associated disease progression amongst people recruited from varying sources; it is the first prospective study of its kind in Europe.

scholarly journals Mutual aid versus volunteerism: Autonomous PPE production in the Covid-19 pandemic crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 030981682110576
Author(s):  
Katya Lachowicz ◽  
Jim Donaghey
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Political Economies ◽  
Critical Social

The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has confirmed neoliberal capitalism’s inability to meet critical social needs. In the United Kingdom, mutual aid initiatives based on ‘solidarity not charity’ blossomed in a context of state incompetence and private sector negligence – including Scrub Hub, a network of groups that autonomously produced personal protective equipment and provided it directly to health workers. Using a convergence of autonomist and anarchist perspectives, this article examines Scrub Hub as an example of emergent autonomous political economies and considers the challenges of resisting co-optation into volunteerist hierarchies and suppression by the neoliberal state.

scholarly journals Can a data driven obesity classification system identify those at risk of severe COVID-19 in the UK Biobank cohort study?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Clark ◽  
Michelle Morris ◽  
Nik Lomax ◽  
Mark Birkin
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk

AbstractCOVID-19 is a disease that has been shown to have outcomes that vary by certain socio-demographic and socio-economic groups. It is increasingly important that an understanding of these outcomes should be derived not from the consideration of one aspect, but by a more multi-faceted understanding of the individual. In this study use is made of a recent obesity driven classification of participants in the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) to identify trends in COVID-19 outcomes. This classification is informed by a recently created obesity systems map, and the COVID-19 outcomes are: undertaking a test, a positive test, hospitalisation and mortality. It is demonstrated that the classification is able to identify meaningful differentials in these outcomes. This more holistic approach is recommended for identification and prioritisation of COVID-19 risk and possible long-COVID determination.

scholarly journals Influence of the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on the Uptake of a Popular Smoking Cessation App in UK Smokers: Interrupted Time Series Analysis

10.2196/19494 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e19494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Perski ◽  
Aleksandra Herbeć ◽  
Lion Shahab ◽  
Jamie Brown
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Increasing Trend

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak may motivate smokers to attempt to stop in greater numbers. However, given the temporary closure of UK stop smoking services and vape shops, smokers attempting to quit may instead seek out mobile health support, such as smartphone apps. Objective We examined, using an interrupted time series approach, whether the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has been associated with a step change or increasing trend in UK downloads of an otherwise popular smoking cessation app, Smoke Free. Methods Data were from daily and nondaily adult smokers in the United Kingdom who had downloaded the Smoke Free app between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2020 (primary analysis), and January 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020 (secondary analysis). The outcome variable was the number of downloads aggregated at the 12-hourly (primary analysis) or daily level (secondary analysis). The explanatory variable was the start of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, operationalized as March 1, 2020 (primary analysis), and January 15, 2020 (secondary analysis). Generalized additive mixed models adjusted for relevant covariates were fitted. Results Data were collected on 45,105 (primary analysis) and 119,881 (secondary analysis) users. In both analyses, there was no evidence for a step change or increasing trend in downloads attributable to the start of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Calculation of Bayes factors (BFs) indicated that the data for the primary analysis favored the null hypothesis compared with large associations (for level, BF=0.25; for slope, BF=0.26) but were insensitive to the detection of small associations (for level, BF=0.78; for slope, BF=1.35). Conclusions In the United Kingdom, between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2020, and between January 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020, there was no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has been associated with a large step change or increasing trend in downloads of a popular smoking cessation app. Findings on the association of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with a small step change or increasing trend were inconclusive.

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