Coronavirus: the 7th C affecting the 6Cs. A focus on compassion, care and touch

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (15) ◽  
pp. 928-933
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Johnstone ◽  
Debbie Duncan

The C0VID-19 pandemic has challenged everyone in society, from children who are no longer able to attend school and nursery to adults trying to juggle working at home and vulnerable members of society who have needed to self-isolate. NHS staff and key workers also need to juggle their family situations and many will have to adapt their practice and ways of working to address the demands placed on the NHS during this time. The current pandemic has altered the nature of services being provided to patients, and staff are now wearing personal protective equipment, with many being redeployed to ward areas. This article considers the 6Cs of nursing and the challenges faced by staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a primary focus on care and compassion. The vital role that touch has in the care of the patient and family is also considered.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Archana Thakur ◽  
SwapnilTanaji Sangle ◽  
Shrilekha Rao ◽  
RodneyPreetham Vaz ◽  
Pallika Singh ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255986
Author(s):  
Arno Stöcker ◽  
Ibrahim Demirer ◽  
Sophie Gunkel ◽  
Jan Hoffmann ◽  
Laura Mause ◽  
...  

Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the work of general practitioners (GPs). At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, German outpatient practices had to adapt quickly. Pandemic preparedness (PP) of GPs may play a vital role in their management of a pandemic. Objectives The study aimed to examine the association in the stock of seven personal protective equipment (PPE) items and knowledge of pandemic plans on perceived PP among GPs. Methods Three multivariable linear regression models were developed based on an online cross-sectional survey for the period March–April 2020 (the onset of the pandemic in Germany). Data were collected using self-developed items on self-assessed PP and knowledge of a pandemic plan and its utility. The stock of seven PPE items was queried. For PPE items, three different PPE scores were compared. Control variables for all models were gender and age. Results In total, 508 GPs were included in the study; 65.16% believed that they were very poorly or poorly prepared. Furthermore, 13.83% of GPs were aware of a pandemic plan; 40% rated those plans as beneficial. The stock of FFP-2/3 masks, protective suits, face shields, safety glasses, and medical face masks were mostly considered completely insufficient or insufficient, whereas disposable gloves and disinfectants were considered sufficient or completely sufficient. The stock of PPE was significantly positively associated with PP and had the largest effect on PP; the association of the knowledge of a pandemic plan was significant but small. PPE scores did not vary considerably in their explanatory power. The assessment of a pandemic plan as beneficial did not significantly affect PP. Conclusion The stock of PPE seems to be the determining factor for PP among German GPs; for COVID-19, sufficient masks are the determining factor. Knowledge of a pandemic plans play a secondary role in PP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Manisha Joshi ◽  
Gita Dhakal Chalise ◽  
Sarala Shrestha

Background: Welding is a hazardous occupation where welders expose to a variety of work-related hazards. These hazards might cause occupational health problems. Safe working environment and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) play a vital role in preventing problems and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of occupational health problems, workplace environment and utilization of personal protective equipment among welders. Methodology: A descriptive cross- sectional study design was used.  Data was collected from 130 welders of 35 metal workshops in Banepa Municipality using semi-structured interview schedule in 2019. An observational checklist was used to collect information on the workplace environment of selected metal workshops. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and described by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: The most prevalent problems experienced by welders were accidents and injuries (99.2%) and eye and ear problems (98.4%). The most available PPE in 35 metal workshops were protective goggles (100%) and insulated gloves (71.4%). Similarly, 90.6% welders always used safety goggles, 41% sometimes used facemasks and 65.4% never used helmets while working.  Only 25.6% workshops had first aid kits available with no expired products and 11.4% had kept fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations. Almost all (97.1%) workshops did not have safety guidelines for their workers. Conclusion: Welders who work in metal workshops experience different types of occupational health problems (OHP) and do not use all types of PPE for their protection. Hence, metal workshops should develop safety guidelines for their workers and strictly implement it to prevent OHP.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7082
Author(s):  
Erica Martelly ◽  
Charles Li ◽  
Kenji Shimada

There has been high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially N95 respirators. Unfortunately, at the early stage of the pandemic, the supply could not meet the demand for N95 respirators, leading to a shortage and unsafe reuse of this form of PPE. We developed the Moldable Mask to ease the demand for N95 respirators by creating a 3D-printed mask that uses a piece of N95 material as a filter. A sheet of N95 material could be used or one N95 respirator to be turned into two masks. The main feature of the mask is the ability to easily mold it in hot water to create a custom fit for each user. It can also be easily assembled at home with affordable materials. The final mask design was qualitatively fit tested on 13 subjects, with all subjects showing an improvement in fit with the hot water molding technique and 10 (77%) subjects passing the fit test. This shows that the Moldable Mask is a viable option for a safe, affordable N95 alternative when N95 mask supply is strained.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-173
Author(s):  
Vega Purwayoga

The distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a vital role in meeting the needs of PPE in an area. This study aims to measure the priority of PPE recipient regions in West Java Province using a skyline query algorithm, namely Sort Filter Skyline (SFS). In this study, the SFS algorithm is modified to optimize the dominance measurement section. Regions that do not have hospitals will not be prioritized for PPE recipients. The preferences used in this study are maximum and minimum. The maximum preference rule is used for the number of ODP, PDP, positive and dead cases, while the minimum preference rule is used for the cured and distance attributes. The application of SFS for calculating priority regions has been successfully carried out by developing two models, namely MS1 using unmodified SFS and MS2 using modified SFS by adding a selection process for regions with no hospitals. The MS1 produces 21 skyline objects (55.55 %), while MS2 15 (66.66 %) skyline objects. The MS2 is faster than that of MS1 because fewer objects are being tested. The MS1 takes 0.0222 seconds, while MS2 only 0.0193 seconds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-7
Author(s):  
Manisha Joshi ◽  
Gita Dhakal ◽  
Sarala Shrestha

Introduction: Welding is a hazardous occupation where welders expose to a variety of work-related hazards. These hazards might cause occupational health problems. Safe working environment and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) play a vital role in preventing problems and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of occupational health problems, workplace environment and utilization of personal protective equipment among welders.Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional study design was used for the study. Data was collected from purposively selected 130 welders of 35 metal workshops in Banepa Municipality. By using semi-structured interview schedule, face to face interview was taken with each of them in May-June, 2019. An observational checklist was used to collect information on the workplace environment of selected metal workshops. Data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and described by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The study identified that 129 welders (99.2%) experienced accidents and injuries followed by eye and ear problems (128, 98.4%). Amongst all personal protective equipment, protective goggles was available in all 35 metal workshops and insulated gloves in 25 workshops (71.4%). Similarly, 118 welders (90.6%) always used safety goggles, 53 (41%) sometimes used facemasks and 85 (65.4%) never used helmets while working. Only 9 workshops (25.7%) had first aid kits available with no expired products and 4 (11.4%) had kept fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations. Among 35, 34 workshops (97.1%) did not have safety guidelines for their workers.Conclusion: Welders who work in metal workshops experience different types of occupational health problems (OHP) and do not use all types of PPE for their protection. Hence, metal workshops should develop safety guidelines for their workers and strictly implement it to prevent OHP.


1973 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-45

An action-research program currently going on at the University of Queensland is seeking to help Aboriginal mothers extend their vital role as primary educators of their own children. A number of parent educators are working at home with the mothers on ways in which they can introduce their children to basic concepts they will need at school. Three of the parent educators, themselves Aboriginal mothers, talk here about what they think schools can do for their children.


Author(s):  
Ibrahim Aminu Shehu ◽  
Abubakar Mukhtar

The outbreak of pandemic COVID-19 mounts overall pressure on healthcare and modern societies. The intervention of nanotechnology will play a vital role in bringing multi-disciplinary ways of developing affordable, reliable, and powerful tools for diagnosis, personal protection, and new effective medicines. Moreover, employing nanosensors will significantly aid to diagnose the viruses even on asymptomatic patients. Likewise, the use of nanoscale fibers can optimize the protection affinity of personal protective equipment and facemasks and allows their reusability for medical and economical benefit. This research was designed purposely to highlight the perspective contributions of nanotechnology in the war against COVID-19 pandemic


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.


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