scholarly journals COVID-19 healthcare policies in Ireland: A rapid review of the initial pandemic response

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110083
Author(s):  
Noreen O’leary ◽  
Liz Kingston ◽  
Anne Griffin ◽  
Ann-marie Morrissey ◽  
Maria Noonan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Healthcare

Aims: Healthcare systems urgently required policies to guide the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this review was to document the healthcare policies developed during the initial wave of widespread COVID-19 transmission in Ireland. We further sought to determine the key focus and impact of these policies. Methods: We conducted a rapid review of COVID-19 healthcare policies published from 28 January to 31 May 2020. Key information including the focus of the policy, target population and impact on service delivery was extracted from included policies. During analysis, data was grouped under descriptive categories and narrative summaries were developed for each category. Results: We identified 61 healthcare policies relating to COVID-19. We developed six category headings to describe the focus and impact of these policies: infection prevention and control ( n = 19), residential care settings ( n = 12), maintaining non-COVID-19 healthcare services and supports ( n = 12), testing and contact tracing ( n = 7), guidance for healthcare workers concerning COVID-19 ( n = 6), and treating COVID-19 ( n = 5). Conclusions: This review has identified lessons for policy development and implementation to help prepare for future healthcare emergencies. Factors to consider include support of vulnerable groups during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, providing psychological supports for healthcare workers and investment in public healthcare services such as contact tracing for future emergencies. While pandemic conditions necessitate the speedy development of policies, effective communication and adequate resourcing is required to ensure policy implementation.

scholarly journals Source and symptoms of COVID-19 among hospital workers in Milan

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 672-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Mandić-Rajčević ◽  
F Masci ◽  
E Crespi ◽  
S Franchetti ◽  
A Longo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Nursing Assistants ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Sources Of Infection ◽  
Close Contacts

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly infected by SARS-CoV-2 and represent one of the most vulnerable groups. Adequate prevention strategies are necessary to guarantee HCWs’ safety, as well as to prevent dissemination of the infection among patients. Aims To describe a case series of SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs in a large public healthcare organization in Milan (Italy) during the most devastating weeks of the epidemic and analyse the sources, symptoms and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This study included 172 SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs who were infected between the 25th of February and the 7th of April 2020. A nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and RT-PCR were used to indicate. Results Initially, the most common sources of infection were other positive HCWs (49%). Medical doctors and nursing assistants were most frequently infected, with infection rates of 53/1000 and 50/1000, respectively. COVID-19 departments were less affected than internal medicine, surgery, intensive care, or emergency room. The most commonly reported symptom was mild cough, while loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (ageusia) were reported as moderate and severe by 30–40% of HCWs. The time necessary for 50% of workers to recover from the infection was 23 days, while it took 41 days for 95% of HCWs to become virus-free. Conclusions HCWs are commonly infected due to close contacts with other positive HCWs, and non-COVID departments were most affected. Most HCWs were asymptomatic or subclinical but contact tracing and testing of asymptomatic HCWs help identify and isolate infected workers.

scholarly journals COVID-19 prevention and control measures in workplace settings: a rapid review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Ingram ◽  
Vicky Downey ◽  
Mark Roe ◽  
Fionn Cléirigh Büttner ◽  
Yanbing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
And Control

Workplaces are high-risk environments for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and subsequent community transmission. Identifying, understanding, and implementing effective workplace SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures is critical to protect workers, their families, and communities. A rapid review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesize evidence assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 IPC measures implemented in global workplace settings through April 2021. Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies that quantitatively assessed the effectiveness of workplace COVID-19 IPC measures. Included studies comprised varying empirical designs and occupational settings. Measures of interest included surveillance measures, outbreak investigations, personal protective equipment (PPE), changes in work arrangements, and worker education. Sixty-three studies from international healthcare, nursing home, meatpacking, manufacturing, and office settings were included, accounting for ~280,000 employees. Meta-analyses showed that combined measures (0.2% positivity; 95%CI 0-0.4%) were associated with lower post-intervention employee COVID-19 positivity estimates than single measures like asymptomatic PCR testing (1.7%; 95%CI 0.9-2.9%) and universal masking (24%; 95%CI 3.4-55.5%). Modelling studies showed that combinations of (i) timely and widespread contact tracing and case isolation, (ii) facilitating smaller worker cohorts, and (iii) effective use of PPE can reduce workplace transmission. Comprehensive COVID-19 IPC measures incorporating swift contact tracing and case isolation, PPE, and facility zoning, can effectively prevent workplace outbreaks. Masking alone should not be considered as sufficient protection from SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in workplace environments at high risk of virus transmission.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré Prefecture, Guinea: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Raab ◽  
Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽  
Tamba Jacques Millimouno ◽  
Michael Hoelscher ◽  
Guenter Froeschl
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Case Detection ◽  
Rural Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Suspect Case

Abstract Introduction: The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea’s Forest region, a region now considered to be at high risk for future epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF). Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in such regions are a central pillar of infection prevention and control (IPC). To inform future training in IPC, this study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities in the most populated prefecture in Forest Guinea, and compares results from urban and rural areas. Methods: In June and July 2019, we interviewed 102 healthcare workers in the main urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated KAP surveys. Results: The great majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge and favourable attitudes towards VHF. However, respondents reported some gaps in preventive practices such as VHF suspect case detection. They also reported a shortage of protective medical equipment used in everyday clinical work in both urban and rural healthcare facilities and a lack of training in IPC, especially in rural healthcare facilities. However, whether or not healthcare workers had been trained in IPC did not seem to influence their level of KAP towards VHF. Conclusions: Three years after the end of the Ebola epidemic, our findings suggest that public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea still lack essential protective equipment and some practical training in VHF suspect case detection. To minimize the risk of future VHF epidemics and improve management of outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region, current efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Guinea should encompass questions of supply and IPC training.

scholarly journals A Wide Range of Strategies to Cope with Healthcare Workers’ Vaccine Hesitancy in A North-Eastern Italian Region: Are They Enough?

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Laura Brunelli ◽  
Francesca Antinolfi ◽  
Francesca Malacarne ◽  
Roberto Cocconi ◽  
Silvio Brusaferro
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Italian Region ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
Wide Range

The recent pandemic reminded the world of the high risk of healthcare workers (HCWs) and patient contagiousness along with the healthcare services disruption related to nosocomial outbreaks. This study aims at describing vaccination campaigns within healthcare institutions of a North-Italian Region and comparing their effectiveness in term of vaccination coverage. In December 2019, we surveyed all healthcare institutions of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region throughout an email questionnaire with 15 questions investigating strategies adopted for the vaccination of HCWs against influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), along with actions put in place in case of a VPD exposure. We found a strong heterogeneity in VPDs prevention and control policy and practice for HCWs, along with responsibility attribution ranging among different stakeholders. Strategies adopted to promote vaccination included a wide range of methods, but HCWs’ influenza vaccination coverage still ranged from 17.0 to 33.3%. Contact tracing after a VPD exposure did not always include medical residents and students and visitors/caregivers/extra personnel as possible contacts. Even if knowledge and complacency gaps among HCWs could be faced with education activities, more efforts should be done in identifying and implementing effective vaccination strategies, and mandatory vaccination for HCWs could be introduced to achieve host, herd, and healthcare immunity preventing possible hospital outbreaks.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré Prefecture, Guinea: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Raab ◽  
Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽  
Tamba Jacques Millimouno ◽  
Michael Hoelscher ◽  
Guenter Froeschl
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
And Control ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Abstract Introduction: The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea’s Forest region, a region now considered to be at high risk for future epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers. Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in such regions are a central pillar of infection prevention and control. To inform future training in infection prevention and control, this study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities in the most populated prefecture in Forest Guinea, and compares results from urban and rural areas. Methods: In June and July 2019, we interviewed 102 healthcare workers in the main urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated KAP surveys. Results: The great majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge and favourable attitudes towards viral haemorrhagic fevers. However, respondents reported considerable gaps in preventive practices, a shortage of protective medical equipment used in everyday clinical work in both urban and rural healthcare facilities and a lack of training in infection control and prevention, especially in rural healthcare facilities. Conclusions: Three years after the end of the Ebola epidemic, our findings suggest that public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea still lack essential protective equipment and adequate training in viral haemorrhagic fever infection prevention and control. Especially rural areas seem to be affected of this lack. To minimize the risk of future viral haemorrhagic fever epidemics and other outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region, current efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Guinea should supply enough protective medical equipment and ensure that regular IPC trainings have a positive impact and that preventive practices are followed in everyday clinical work.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture, Guinea: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Raab ◽  
Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽  
Tamba Jacques Millimouno ◽  
Michael Hoelscher ◽  
Guenter Froeschl
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Case Detection ◽  
Rural Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Suspect Case

Abstract Introduction: The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea’s Forest region, a region now considered to be at high risk for future epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF). Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in such regions are a central pillar of infection prevention and control (IPC). To inform future training in IPC, this study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities in the most populated prefecture in Forest Guinea, and compares results from urban and rural areas. Methods: In June and July 2019, we interviewed 102 healthcare workers in the main urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated KAP surveys. Results: The great majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge and favourable attitudes towards VHF. However, respondents reported some gaps in preventive practices such as VHF suspect case detection. They also reported a shortage of protective medical equipment used in everyday clinical work in both urban and rural healthcare facilities and a lack of training in IPC, especially in rural healthcare facilities. However, whether or not healthcare workers had been trained in IPC did not seem to influence their level of KAP towards VHF. Conclusions: Three years after the end of the Ebola epidemic, our findings suggest that public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea still lack essential protective equipment and some practical training in VHF suspect case detection. To minimize the risk of future VHF epidemics and improve management of outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region, current efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Guinea should encompass questions of supply and IPC training.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequalities in health and the use of healthcare services in Catalonia: analysis of the individual data of 7.5 million residents

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 871-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna García-Altés ◽  
Dolores Ruiz-Muñoz ◽  
Cristina Colls ◽  
Montse Mias ◽  
Nicolau Martín Bassols
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Socioeconomic Level ◽  
Inequalities In Health

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to analyse the health status, the use of public healthcare services and the consumption of prescription drugs in the population of Catalonia, taking into consideration the socioeconomic level of individuals and paying special attention to vulnerable groups.MethodsCross-sectional study of the entire population resident in Catalonia in 2015 (7.5 million people) using administrative records. Twenty indicators are analysed related to health, the use of healthcare services and consumption of prescription drugs. Rates, frequencies and averages are obtained for the different variables stratified by age groups (under 15 years, 15–64 years and 65 years or older), gender and socioeconomic status (calculated on the basis of pharmacy copayment levels and Social Security benefits received).ResultsA socioeconomic gradient was observed in all the indicators analysed, in both sexes and in all age groups. Morbidity, use of mental healthcare centres, hospitalisation rates and probability of drug consumption among children is 3–7 times higher for those with low socioeconomic level respect to those with a higher one. In children and adults, the steepest gradient was found in the use of mental health services. Moreover, there are gender inequalities.ConclusionThere are significant socioeconomic inequalities in health status and in the use of healthcare services in the population of Catalonia. To respond to this situation, new policies on health and other areas, such as education and employment, are required, especially those that have an impact on early years.

COVID-19 seroprevalence in primary and secondary healthcare workers (HCWs)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Murphy ◽  
Catherine Garry ◽  
Susan Van Baarsel ◽  
Tina Coleman ◽  
Ben Shovlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Detectable Antibody ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Seroprevalence Data ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
And Control

Professional anxiety existed early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with challenging infection prevention and control support. The aims of this study were to compare epidemiological features of healthcare workers (HCWs) within primary and secondary care with their serological evidence of infection. A prospective observational cohort of 1,916 HCWs completed a questionnaire, and their sera were assayed for detectable antibody to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleoprotein in the first wave of the pandemic. Datasets were compared between the two sub-cohorts in primary and secondary care and between the combined seropositive and seronegative cohorts. Curiosity of antibody status was high. Detectable antibody was 7% in the primary care and 5% in the secondary care workers at a time of 1.7% in the general community. Inappropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was more common in primary care, and detectable antibody was twice as prevalent in HCWs who felt they did not have appropriate PPE. Contact tracing was perceived to be inadequate although it was more commonly performed in the seropositive cohort suggesting appropriate prioritisation. Both temperature and symptom checking alerts and work exclusion were significantly more prevalent in the seropositive cohort. The seroprevalence data support increased risk for HCWs, the importance of appropriate PPE and the usefulness of the daily temperature and symptom checks, particularly in primary care.

scholarly journals Prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity among Brazilian children according to different epidemiological scenarios: systematic review and meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Pereira da Cunha Sousa ◽  
Ricardo Alves de Olinda ◽  
Dixis Figueroa Pedraza
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Social Inequity ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Brazilian Children

ABSTRACT: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Within the Brazilian nutritional panorama, coexistence of antagonistic nutritional disorders can be seen, especially the increasing prevalence of overweight and the persistence of significant rates of chronic malnutrition in vulnerable groups of the population. Because these are major public health problems, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity among Brazilian children according to different epidemiological scenarios. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a systematic review of prevalence studies, developed at the State University of Paraíba. METHODS: The SciELO, Lilacs and PubMed databases were searched for articles, using specific keywords. Articles published between 2006 and 2014 were selected. The review was conducted by two reviewers who worked independently. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted, for which the studies were grouped within different epidemiological settings. RESULTS: Among the 33 articles recovered, 9 involved samples from daycare centers, 4 had samples from public healthcare services or social registers, 5 related to populations in situations of social inequity and 15 were population-based. Higher chances of stunting were found in populations in situations of social inequity and in those at public healthcare services or on social registers, in relation to reference populations. For overweight/obesity, none of the scenarios had a higher chance than the reference. CONCLUSION: Among Brazilian children, stunting continues to be a socially determined public health problem that mainly affects marginalized populations. This problem coexists with significant rates of overweight/obesity affecting all social groups.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures in Workplace Settings: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7847
Author(s):  
Carolyn Ingram ◽  
Vicky Downey ◽  
Mark Roe ◽  
Yanbing Chen ◽  
Mary Archibald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Risk Environments ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
And Control

Workplaces can be high-risk environments for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and subsequent community transmission. Identifying, understanding, and implementing effective workplace SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures is critical to protect workers, their families, and communities. A rapid review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesize evidence assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 IPC measures implemented in global workplace settings through April 2021. Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies that quantitatively assessed the effectiveness of workplace COVID-19 IPC measures. The included studies comprised varying empirical designs and occupational settings. Measures of interest included surveillance measures, outbreak investigations, environmental adjustments, personal protective equipment (PPE), changes in work arrangements, and worker education. Sixty-one studies from healthcare, nursing home, meatpacking, manufacturing, and office settings were included, accounting for ~280,000 employees based in Europe, Asia, and North America. Meta-analyses showed that combined IPC measures resulted in lower employee COVID-19 positivity rates (0.2% positivity; 95% CI 0–0.4%) than single measures such as asymptomatic PCR testing (1.7%; 95% CI 0.9–2.9%) and universal masking (24%; 95% CI 3.4–55.5%). Modelling studies showed that combinations of (i) timely and widespread contact tracing and case isolation, (ii) facilitating smaller worker cohorts, and (iii) effective use of PPE can reduce workplace transmission. Comprehensive COVID-19 IPC measures incorporating swift contact tracing and case isolation, PPE, and facility zoning can effectively prevent workplace outbreaks. Masking alone should not be considered sufficient protection from SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in the workplace.

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