scholarly journals A Qualitative Study: An Examination of Police Officers’ Lived Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 105756772110504
Author(s):  
Richard C. Helfers ◽  
Johnny Nhan
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Seriously Ill

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe prompting stay-at-home orders for all but the most essential workers in society. Policing was one of the professions that is essential for community safety, regardless of the circumstances. Officers were on the front-line of the COVID-19 public health crisis and their preparedness was crucial for officer and community health. During the onset of the pandemic little was known about how officers perceived the virus and how police agencies prepared officers to work in a highly contagious environment. This study used semistructured interviews of police officers in two states in the United States that had elevated cases of the virus. The authors explored the lived experiences of police officers to explore officers’ perceptions, concerns, implications the pandemic had on patrol activity, and agency preparedness during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed structural and cultural forces that resulted in officers and their agency leadership not taking the pandemic seriously, ill-preparation and ill-equipping, and disincentives in reporting exposure. Moreover, officers’ fears were largely not based on their own well-being, but on the risk of spreading the disease to their family members.

scholarly journals Creating Community During COVID-19: A Virtual Art Gallery to Address Social Isolation During a Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110646
Author(s):  
Sara E. Baumann ◽  
Jessica G. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public University ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Art Gallery ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Health And Well Being

The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis, significantly impacted millions of people around the world. “Creating Community During COVID-19” is a community-engaged virtual art gallery that explores resilience, social cohesion, and creativity during the onset of the pandemic in the United States. It aimed to address social isolation and encourage inclusion at a large public university in the early days of the pandemic. The community was invited to submit artworks that reflected how they are staying connected during the pandemic. The artworks were then qualitatively analyzed and highlighted three key themes: (1) reflecting (turning inward), (2) advocating (turning outward), and (3) engaging (coming together). This arts-based project demonstrates promise as a creative approach for promoting social cohesion and positive health and well-being, especially in times of uncertainty.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on the Honduras National Police and lessons learned regarding police officer well-being and occupational stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne J. Pitts ◽  
◽  
Christopher S. Inkpen ◽  
Raquel Margarita Ovalle Romero ◽  
Jesús Guillermo García Iraheta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
High Level ◽  
National Police

Background: In early 2020 a global pandemic linked to a coronavirus, known as COVID-19, quickly spread and Government authorities scrambled to respond implementing travel restrictions, social distancing, testing, and quarantines. By early March, the Republic of Honduras implemented strict protocols, requiring greater attention from the police in enforcing the mobility restrictions and working with Government and public health officials to contain spread of COVID-19. Purpose: The purpose of this formative research is to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the Honduras National Police with particular attention to officer well-being and occupational stress. Methods: Using mixed methods, this article reports the descriptive results of 28 semi-structured qualitative interviews with high-level command staff from the Honduran National Police (HNP) and a representative sample of 143 patrol officers drawn from police districts in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and La Lima. Results: Policing activities related to crime prevention, investigations, and human resource assignments have shifted in Honduras due to COVID-19. Few police protocols have been updated to reflect this new work environment and steps to protect the well-being of police officers have been inconsistent, with elevated stress levels among officers. Limitations: This case study of police in Honduras is based on a small but representative sample of line officers. The findings of this study are most useful to neighbouring countries in Central America, though there are findings relevant to all police agencies. Conclusions: Our review and analysis have immediate implications for police agencies working to address planning and training deficiencies during the current COVID-19 outbreak while also underscoring critical considerations to prepare for the next worldwide health crisis.

The Public Health Crisis Survival Guide

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Sharfstein
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Strong Response ◽  
Popular Imagination ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Critical Skills

Firefighters fight fires. Police officers race to crime scenes, sirens blaring. And health officials? Health officials respond to crises. There are infectious disease crises, budget crises, environmental health crises, human resources crises—and many more. At such critical moments, what happens next really matters. A strong response can generate greater credibility and authority for a health agency and its leadership, while a bungled response can lead to humiliation and even resignation. Health officials must be able to manage and communicate effectively as emotions run high, communities become engaged, politicians lean in, and journalists circle. In popular imagination, leaders intuitively rise to the challenge of a crisis: Either they have what it takes or they do not. In fact, preparation is invaluable, and critical skills can be learned and practiced. Students and health officials alike can prepare not only to avoid catastrophe during crises, but to take advantage of new opportunities for health improvement. The Public Health Crisis Survival Guide provides historical perspective, managerial insight, and strategic guidance to help health officials at all levels not just survive but thrive in the most challenging of times.

scholarly journals A Report from the NIMBioS/DySoC Investigative Workshop on the Mathematics of Gun Violence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby Scott
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Gun Violence ◽  
Biological Synthesis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
University Of Tennessee ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The University

Gun violence is a central public concern in the United States, annually leading to the deaths of 36,000 individuals and the non-fatal injuries of 85,000 others. It has been called an epidemic and a public health crisis. In May of 2019, a diverse group of researchers participated in a workshop at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This workshop was sponsored by the Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC) and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS). The objectives of this workshop were to review the existing approaches on the mathematics and modeling of gun violence, identify and prioritize areas in the field that require further research, develop cross-disciplinary collaborations to gain new perspectives, and suggest research and data collection that could assist evidence-based policy recommendations. The purpose of this report is to present some of the responses to the mentioned objectives and to suggest areas of future research .

scholarly journals Investing in Natural and Nature-Based Infrastructure: Building Better Along Our Coasts

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariana Sutton-Grier ◽  
Rachel Gittman ◽  
Katie Arkema ◽  
Richard Bennett ◽  
Jeff Benoit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Economic Wealth ◽  
Effective Manner

Much of the United States’ critical infrastructure is either aging or requires significant repair, leaving U.S. communities and the economy vulnerable. Outdated and dilapidated infrastructure places coastal communities, in particular, at risk from the increasingly frequent and intense coastal storm events and rising sea levels. Therefore, investments in coastal infrastructure are urgently needed to ensure community safety and prosperity; however, these investments should not jeopardize the ecosystems and natural resources that underlie economic wealth and human well-being. Over the past 50 years, efforts have been made to integrate built infrastructure with natural landscape features, often termed “green” infrastructure, in order to sustain and restore valuable ecosystem functions and services. For example, significant advances have been made in implementing green infrastructure approaches for stormwater management, wastewater treatment, and drinking water conservation and delivery. However, the implementation of natural and nature-based infrastructure (NNBI) aimed at flood prevention and coastal erosion protection is lagging. There is an opportunity now, as the U.S. government reacts to the recent, unprecedented flooding and hurricane damage and considers greater infrastructure investments, to incorporate NNBI into coastal infrastructure projects. Doing so will increase resilience and provide critical services to local communities in a cost-effective manner and thereby help to sustain a growing economy.

Aging, Vulnerability and Managing Type 2 Diabetes During a Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 106-111
Author(s):  
Jasmin Tahmaseb McConatha
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Black Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Immigrant Woman ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Class Differences

Older men and women have been found to be more vulnerable to negative outcomes should they contract Covid19, particularly if they also have comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Cultural, racial, ethnic, and social class differences exist in vulnerability to Covid19 and in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. In the United States, for example, diabetes rates for minority and immigrant populations are higher than for non-Hispanic whites. During the a social health crisis, it is helpful to explore the ways that illness management and associated vulnerability influences the ways that minority elders attempt to maintain and promote their well-being. This paper presents a case study example of an older immigrant woman, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and her struggle to manage her illness during a pandemic. The risk of developing diabetes in the United States is 3 to 1 and risks increase with age (American Diabetes Association, 2020).  Almost 50 % of black women as well as Hispanic men and women will develop diabetes in their lifetime (CDC, 2019). Disparities such as these have their origin in intersecting risk factors such as health care and lifestyle factors such as tress, poverty, weight, diet, and exercise patterns. Being a member of an ethnic minority and being overweight are the two significant factors associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. During the coronavirus epidemic, these same factors also increase the risk for infection and for greater complications, even death as a result of infection (Society for Women’s Health Research, 2020). This essay illustrates the increased vulnerability and challenges including loneliness facing older women with type 2 diabetes during pandemic isolation.    

scholarly journals Opioid abuse in children: an emerging public health crisis in the United States!

2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerajalandhar Allareddy ◽  
Sankeerth Rampa ◽  
Veerasathpurush Allareddy
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Abuse ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis

scholarly journals Public health strategies to combat opioid epidemic in the United States: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Balidemaj
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Abuse ◽  
Opioid Epidemic ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
Public Health Strategies

Abstract Background The opioid epidemic in the United States is a national public health crisis. Driven by an increase in availability of pharmaceutical opioids and by an increase in their consumption, specifically, for pain treatment, more so in the past twenty years, it has led to an economic cost of prescription opioid abuse, overdose, and dependence in the United States estimated to be 78.5 billion USD. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate public health strategies that contribute towards combatting the opioid crisis. Methods Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, a search was conducted of the PubMed database for articles in English language that analyzed the most effective ways to regulate health markets to decrease the opioid crisis in the United States. Results The initial search yielded 2397 titles, of which 15 full-text articles were ultimately selected for inclusion in this systematic review. The review identified four categories in overcoming this epidemic nationwide, including required improvement in patient utilization of and access to safe and effective treatment options for opioid abuse and overdose, addressing the stigma correlated with opioid use, considering appropriate use of abuse deterrent formulations (ADF) along with patient education, and improving prescribing practices via utilization of drug monitoring programs, CDC opioid prescribing guidelines and provider continuing education. Conclusions Attempts to combat the opioid epidemic have been made, and the state and federal governments have only recently started to understand the magnitude of the seriousness of this public health crisis. While the methods with promising improvement of the situation have been identified, implementing them has shown to be a challenge. Continued application is needed, while considering possible new steps that could help reinforce their utilization further. Key messages Attempts to combat the opioid epidemic have been made, and the state and federal governments have only recently started to understand the magnitude of the seriousness of this public health crisis. The methods with promising improvement of the opioid crisis situation have been identified, however utilizing and implementing the existing public health strategies has shown to be a challenge.

scholarly journals 454. Impact of Covid-19 on Infectious Disease Fellows in the United States: A National Survey to Identify Targets for Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S328-S330
Author(s):  
Shuba Balan ◽  
Shweta Anjan ◽  
Alison Ohringer ◽  
Jose Gonzales-Zamora ◽  
Deborah Jones Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Educational Activities ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Severe Anxiety

Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) global health crisis has resulted in an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, reorganization of medical training programs and disruption in professional and personal lives of medical trainees. The impact of COVID-19 on infectious disease (ID) fellows, who are frontline healthcare professionals, has not been assessed. Methods We conducted a national survey of adult and pediatric ID fellows to assess impact on educational activities, availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), well-being, and career prospects. Anxiety and burnout were assessed by 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale and abbreviated Maslach burnout inventory respectively. Invitations to participate in the survey were sent via email to all ID fellows through Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship directors. Survey responses collected from August 1 to September 30, 2020 have been reported. Results 136 fellows completed the survey (Table 1). 84% reported their institution had provided evidence-based didactics for management of COVID-19 and 53% indicated their general ID didactics were affected by the pandemic. 86% of fellows were involved in care of patients with COVID-19, and 31% reported a shortage of PPE affecting their clinical duties. Those living in highly impacted states (CA, FL, NY, TX) at the time of the survey were 1.70 times as likely to experience moderate to severe anxiety (vs. minimal to moderate) than those in other states; similarly, those who saw ≥11 COVID-19 patients weekly and reported PPE shortages were 2.5 and 2.0 times as likely, respectively, to experience moderate to severe anxiety compared to their peers who took care of 10 or fewer COVID-19 patients and did not experience PPE shortages. Burnout scores were not significant (Table 2). Table 1. Demographics, Responses to Personal Exposure, Educational Activities and Career Prospects Table 2. Stress, Burnout, Anxiety , Sleep and Quality of Life Among Survey Participants. Conclusion It is imperative that ID fellows feel adequately protected and supported during this pandemic. Pandemic preparedness should be included in the ID fellowship curriculum. Interventions for anxiety and burnout reduction should be implemented. ID fellowship programs should continue to accept feedback from fellows to ensure their ongoing safety, well-being, and education as we navigate this pandemic. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document