Impact of Confinement in Patients under Long-Term Noninvasive Ventilation during the First Wave of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Remarkable Resilience

Background: During the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Switzerland, confinement was imposed to limit transmission and protect vulnerable persons. These measures may have had a negative impact on perceived quality of care and symptoms in patients with chronic disorders. Objectives: To determine whether patients under long-term home noninvasive ventilation (LTHNIV) for chronic respiratory failure (CRF) were negatively affected by the 56-day confinement (March–April 2020). Methods: A questionnaire-based survey exploring mood disturbances (HAD), symptom scores related to NIV (S3-NIV), and perception of health-care providers during confinement was sent to all patients under LTHNIV followed up by our center. Symptom scores and data obtained by ventilator software were compared between confinement and the 56 days prior to confinement. Results: Of a total of 100 eligible patients, 66 were included (median age: 66 years [IQR: 53–74]): 35 (53%) with restrictive lung disorders, 20 (30%) with OHS or SRBD, and 11 (17%) with COPD or overlap syndrome. Prevalence of anxiety (n = 7; 11%) and depressive (n = 2; 3%) disorders was remarkably low. Symptom scores were slightly higher during confinement although this difference was not clinically relevant. Technical data regarding ventilation, including compliance, did not change. Patients complained of isolation and lack of social contact. They felt supported by their relatives and caregivers but complained of the lack of regular contact and information by health-care professionals. Conclusions: Patients under LTHNIV for CRF showed a remarkable resilience during the SARS-CoV-2 confinement period. Comments provided may be helpful for managing similar future health-care crises.

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Myths and misconceptions related to CoVID-19 among future health care providers in a private University of Islamabad - An interventional study

Journal of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University ◽

10.32593/jstmu/vol3.iss2.105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 81-87

Author(s):

Sajida Naseem ◽

Zahid Naeem ◽

Hiba Choudhry ◽

Ghanwa Bereach ◽

Saima Rafi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Education ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

P Value ◽

Care Providers ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Future Health ◽

Future Health Care

Background: Erroneous treatments are hovering all over the internet and social media due to non-existence of the ultimate treatment to CoVID-19. There is a need to disseminate correct knowledge and encourage practices based on evidence, which can successfully prevent the spread of this deadly global pandemic. Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the myths and misconceptions related to CoVID-19 pandemic in a pre and post health awareness workshop among the future health care professionals in a private medical university in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methodology: A quasi experimental study was carried out in March, 2020 over a period of two weeks at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad. The participants included undergraduate medical, nursing and pharmaceutical sciences students, making a total sample size of 315. Simple random sampling was used. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire exploring the myths and misconceptions. A pre and post health awareness workshop was conducted and questionnaires filled by the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Result: A change in the frequency of concepts related to myths and misconceptions was observed following the health awareness session, results were statistically significant using McNemar’s test in context to majority of the myths and misconceptions, p-value < 0.05. Conclusion: Health education has very important role in public health especially in times when the health problem is novel. In such situations, emphasis should be paid on the health education as it can modify the behavior regarding myths and misconceptions which can contribute to decrease in morbidity and mortality.

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Validation and Acceptability of a Cuffless Wrist-Worn Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring Device Among Users and Health Care Professionals: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.14706 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽

Susie Cartledge ◽

Chandan Karmakar ◽

Jonathan Charles Rawstorn ◽

Steve F Fraser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Health Care ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Care Providers ◽

Long Term Monitoring ◽

Term Monitoring

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet its long-term monitoring remains problematic. Wearable cuffless devices enable the capture of multiple BP measures during everyday activities and could improve BP monitoring, but little is known about their validity or acceptability. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to validate a wrist-worn cuffless wearable BP device and assess its acceptability among users and health care professionals. METHODS A mixed methods study was conducted to examine the validity and comparability of a wearable cuffless BP device against ambulatory and home devices. BP was measured simultaneously over 24 hours using wearable and ambulatory devices and over 7 days using wearable and home devices. Pearson correlation coefficients compared the degree of association between the measures, and limits of agreement (LOA; Bland-Altman plots) were generated to assess measurement bias. Semistructured interviews were conducted with users and 10 health care professionals to assess acceptability, facilitators, and barriers to using the wearable device. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 9090 BP measurements were collected from 20 healthy volunteers (mean 20.3 years, SD 5.4; N=10 females). Mean (SD) systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) measured using the ambulatory (24 hours), home (7 days), and wearable (7 days) devices were 126 (SD 10)/75 (SD 6) mm Hg, 112 (SD 10)/71 (SD 9) mm Hg and 125 (SD 4)/77 (SD 3) mm Hg, respectively. Mean (LOA) biases and precision between the wearable and ambulatory devices over 24 hours were 0.5 (−10.1 to 11.1) mm Hg for SBP and 2.24 (−17.6 to 13.1) mm Hg for DBP. The mean biases (LOA) and precision between the wearable and home device over 7 days were −12.7 (−28.7 to 3.4) mm Hg for SBP and −5.6 (−20.5 to 9.2) mm Hg for DBP. The wearable BP device was well accepted by participants who found the device easy to wear and use. Both participants and health care providers agreed that the wearable cuffless devices were easy to use and that they could be used to improve BP monitoring. CONCLUSIONS Wearable BP measures compared well against a gold-standard ambulatory device, indicating potential for this user-friendly method to augment BP management, particularly by enabling long-term monitoring that could improve treatment titration and increase understanding of users’ BP response during daily activity and stressors.

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Home Care of Patients with Head Injury: Are We Neglecting the Caregivers?

Indian Journal of Neurotrauma ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1616033 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (02/03) ◽

pp. 083-085

Author(s):

Yawar Shoaib ◽

Amit Dagar ◽

Abraq Reyaz

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Head Injury ◽

Home Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Care Providers ◽

Term Care

AbstractIn the absence of professional long-term care facilities in India, home care to patients with head injury is usually provided by family members. In this scenario, the mental health of the caregivers remains an important issue. This factor is constantly neglected by the health care providers and the society alike. With the result, the caregivers are prone to depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illnesses. This also has a negative impact on the recovery and rehabilitation of the head injury survivor. In this article, the authors have reviewed relevant literature to find out the extent and prevalence of this problem among home caregivers of patients with head injury. The authors have also highlighted the possible measures that the treating neurosurgeon and the society can take for effective management of these issues. Their aim is to make the neurosurgeon and other health care providers aware of this issue and its various ramifications.

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Faecal incontinence in older people

Reviews in Clinical Gerontology ◽

10.1017/s0959259809990153 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 87-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Danielle Harari

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Older People ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Faecal Incontinence ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Care Setting ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Care Providers ◽

Term Care

SummaryFaecal incontinence in older people is a distressing and socially isolating symptom and increases the risk of morbidity, mortality and dependency. Many older individuals with faecal incontinence will not volunteer the problem to their general practitioner or nurse and, regrettably, health care providers do not routinely enquire about the symptom. Even when older people are noted by health care professionals to have faecal incontinence, the condition is often managed passively, especially in the long-term care setting where it is most prevalent. The importance of identifying treatable causes of faecal incontinence in older people, rather than just managing passively, is strongly emphasized in national and international guidance, but audit shows that adherence to such guidance is generally poor. This article describes epidemiology, causes, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of faecal incontinence in older people.

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Validation and Acceptability of a Cuffless Wrist-Worn Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring Device Among Users and Health Care Professionals: Mixed Methods Study

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/14706 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e14706 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽

Susie Cartledge ◽

Chandan Karmakar ◽

Jonathan Charles Rawstorn ◽

Steve F Fraser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Health Care ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Care Providers ◽

Long Term Monitoring ◽

Term Monitoring

Background Blood pressure (BP) is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet its long-term monitoring remains problematic. Wearable cuffless devices enable the capture of multiple BP measures during everyday activities and could improve BP monitoring, but little is known about their validity or acceptability. Objective This study aimed to validate a wrist-worn cuffless wearable BP device (Model T2; TMART Technologies Limited) and assess its acceptability among users and health care professionals. Methods A mixed methods study was conducted to examine the validity and comparability of a wearable cuffless BP device against ambulatory and home devices. BP was measured simultaneously over 24 hours using wearable and ambulatory devices and over 7 days using wearable and home devices. Pearson correlation coefficients compared the degree of association between the measures, and limits of agreement (LOA; Bland-Altman plots) were generated to assess measurement bias. Semistructured interviews were conducted with users and 10 health care professionals to assess acceptability, facilitators, and barriers to using the wearable device. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Results A total of 9090 BP measurements were collected from 20 healthy volunteers (mean 20.3 years, SD 5.4; N=10 females). Mean (SD) systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) measured using the ambulatory (24 hours), home (7 days), and wearable (7 days) devices were 126 (SD 10)/75 (SD 6) mm Hg, 112 (SD 10)/71 (SD 9) mm Hg and 125 (SD 4)/77 (SD 3) mm Hg, respectively. Mean (LOA) biases and precision between the wearable and ambulatory devices over 24 hours were 0.5 (−10.1 to 11.1) mm Hg for SBP and 2.24 (−17.6 to 13.1) mm Hg for DBP. The mean biases (LOA) and precision between the wearable and home device over 7 days were −12.7 (−28.7 to 3.4) mm Hg for SBP and −5.6 (−20.5 to 9.2) mm Hg for DBP. The wearable BP device was well accepted by participants who found the device easy to wear and use. Both participants and health care providers agreed that the wearable cuffless devices were easy to use and that they could be used to improve BP monitoring. Conclusions Wearable BP measures compared well against a gold-standard ambulatory device, indicating potential for this user-friendly method to augment BP management, particularly by enabling long-term monitoring that could improve treatment titration and increase understanding of users’ BP response during daily activity and stressors.

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Oncology Health Care Providers’ Perceptions of the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Oncology Patients

10.21203/rs.3.rs-331588/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Melody Nichole Chavez ◽

Victoria K. Marshall ◽

Dinorah Martinez Tyson ◽

Tina M. Mason ◽

Kaitlyn Rechenberg

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Care Providers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Oncology Patients ◽

Living With Cancer

Abstract Purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation measures have had a profound impact on the psychological and mental well-being of people living with cancer. The aim of this study was to explore oncology health care professionals’ (OHCP) perceptions of psychological effects of COVID-19 among people in active cancer treatment. Methods. An exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of OHCP, who were actively participating and providing care to patients with cancer and undergoing treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using Atlas.ti v8. Inductive applied thematic analysis techniques were employed to identify emergent themes.Results. A total of 30 OHCP participated in the study with the majority being registered nurses (70%), worked in the outpatient oncology clinic (56.7%) and worked in current position 1- 5 years (53.3%). The overarching themes included: (1) cancer care treatment disrupted due to patients fear of exposure to COVID-19; (2) social distancing restrictions had a negative impact on social support and supportive services exacerbating psychological and physical well-being among oncology patients; (3) pandemic-related stressors lead to overwhelmed coping skills among oncology patients; and (4) OHCP play vital roles in providing emotional support to comfort, reassure and connect oncology patients with their family/friends through technology.Conclusion. Our findings highlight increased psychological distress during the pandemic. Behavioral health interventions for oncology patients should focus within the scope of the “new world of Covid-19” of reduced face to face support and increased online support.

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Benefits, Challenges, and Social Impact of Health Care Providers’ Adoption of Social Media

Social Science Computer Review ◽

10.1177/08944393211025758 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089443932110257

Author(s):

Md Irfanuzzaman Khan ◽

Jennifer (M.I.) Loh

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Community Support ◽

Care Providers ◽

Australian Health ◽

Actual Use ◽

Use Of Social Media

With the advent of telecommunication technologies and social media, many health care professionals are using social media to communicate with their patients and to promote health. However, the literature reveals a lacuna in our understanding of health care professionals’ perception of their behavioral intentions to use innovations. Using the Unified Technology Acceptance Framework (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology), in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Australian health care experts to uncover their intent and actual use of social media in their medical practices. Results revealed that social media tools offered five significant benefits such as (i) enhanced communication between health care professionals and their patients, (ii) community support, (iii) enabled e-learning, (iv) enhanced professional network, and (v) expedited health promotion. However, result also revealed barriers to social media usage including (i) inefficiency, (ii) privacy concerns, (iii) poor quality of information, (iv) lack of trust, and (v) blurred professional boundary. Peer influence and supporting conditions were also found to be determinants of social media adoption behaviors among health care professionals. This study has important implications for health care providers, patients, and policy makers on the responsible use of social media, health promotion, and health communication. This research is also among the very few studies that explore Australian health care professionals’ intent and actual use of innovations within a health care setting.

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Burnout Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Care Professionals at Assiut University Hospitals, 2020

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5368

Author(s):

Shimaa A. Elghazally ◽

Atef F. Alkarn ◽

Hussein Elkhayat ◽

Ahmed K. Ibrahim ◽

Mariam Roshdy Elkhayat

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Emotional Exhaustion ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Care Providers ◽

University Hospitals

Background: burnout syndrome is a serious and growing problem among medical staff. Its adverse outcomes not only affect health-care providers’ health, but also extend to their patients, resulting in bad-quality care. The COVID-19 pandemic puts frontline health-care providers at greater risk of psychological stress and burnout syndrome. Objectives: this study aimed to identify the levels of burnout among health-care professionals currently working at Assiut University hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: the current study adopted an online cross-sectional design using the SurveyMonkey® website for data collection. A total of 201 physicians were included and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale was used to assess the three burnout syndrome dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Results: about one-third, two-thirds, and one-quarter of the respondents had high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, respectively. Younger, resident, and single physicians reported higher burnout scores. The personal accomplishment score was significantly higher among males. Those working more than eight hours/day and dealing with COVID-19 patients had significantly higher scores. Conclusion: during the COVID-19 pandemic, a high prevalence of burnout was recorded among physicians. Age, job title, working duration, and working hours/day were significant predictors for burnout syndrome subscale results. Preventive and interventive programs should be applied in health-care organizations during pandemics.

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Preferences and Perceptions of Patients Attending Emergency Departments with Low Acuity Problems in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1177/102490790901600304 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 148-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

CA Graham ◽

WO Kwok ◽

YL Tsang ◽

TH Rainer

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Waiting Time ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Waiting Times ◽

Medical Advice ◽

Care Providers ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Waiting Area

Objective To explore why patients in Hong Kong seek medical advice from the emergency department (ED) and to identify the methods by which patients would prefer to be updated on the likely waiting time for medical consultation in the ED. Methods The study recruited 249 semi-urgent and non-urgent patients in the ED of Prince of Wales Hospital from 26th September 2005 to 30th September 2005 inclusive. A convenience sample of subjects aged ≥15 years old in triage categories 4 or 5 were verbally consented and interviewed by research nurses using a standardized questionnaire. Results From 1715 potential patients, 249 were recruited ad hoc (mean age 44 years [SD18]; 123 females). About 63% indicated that an acceptable ED waiting time was less than or equal to two hours, and 88% felt that having individual number cards and using a number allocation screen in the ED waiting area would be useful. Perceived reasons for attending the ED rather than other health care providers such as primary health care or the general outpatient clinic (GOPC) included: a desire for more detailed investigations (56%); a perception that more professional medical advice was given in the ED (35%); patients were under the continuing care of the hospital (19%); and patients were referred to the ED by other health care professionals (11%). Notably, 26% of participants had considered attending the GOPC prior to attending the ED. Patients educated to tertiary level expected a shorter waiting time than those educated to lesser degrees (p=0.026, Kruskal-Wallis test). Suggestions were made on how to provide a more pleasant ED environment for the wait for consultations, which included the provision of a television screen with sound in the waiting area (43%), more comfortable chairs (37%) and health care promotion programs (32%). Conclusion Patients chose ED services because they believed they would receive more detailed investigations and more professional medical advice than available alternatives. Clear notification of the likely waiting times and enhancement of comfort before consultation are considered desirable by patients. Enhanced public education about the role of the ED and making alternatives to ED care more accessible may be useful in reducing inappropriate ED attendances in Hong Kong.

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The Use of and Attitude Towards Telehealth in Rural Communities

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py07035 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Emily Mauldon

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Care Providers ◽

Urban Hospital ◽

Primary Health ◽

The Impact ◽

Rural Patients

This paper reports on the attitudes of a sample of health care providers towards the use of telehealth to support rural patients and integrate rural primary health and urban hospital care. Telehealth and other information technologies hold the promise of improving the quality of care for people in rural and remote areas and for supporting rural primary health care providers. While seemingly beneficial for rural patients, study participants believed that telehealth remains underused and poorly integrated into their practice. In general, participants thought that telehealth is potentially beneficial but places constraints on their activities, and few actually used it. Published literature usually reports either on the success of telehealth pilot projects or initiatives that are well resourced and do not reflect the constraints of routine practice, or has an international focus limiting its relevance to the Australian context. Because of the paucity of systematic and generalisable research into the effects of the routine use of telehealth to support rural patients, it is unclear why health care professionals choose to provide such services or the costs and benefits they incur in doing so. Research and policy initiatives continue to be needed to identify the impact of telehealth within the context of Australian primary health care and to develop strategies to support its use.

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