scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown on maternal complications during pregnancy

Author(s):  
Kariman Ghazal ◽  
Jihad El Hasan ◽  
Hanine Hijasi ◽  
Maysalloun Khayrallah ◽  
Loubna Sinno ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has affected pregnant women. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown on maternal complications in pregnant women.Methods: A retrospective review of pregnant patients who presented for antenatal care to the private clinic in Beirut, Lebanon before or during the COVID-19 lockdown which started in March 2020. The first group consisted of women before the lockdown between September 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020. The second group included women during or after the lockdown between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020.Results: A total of 97 women were included, 48 in the before lockdown group and 49 during or after lockdown group. The percentage of epigastric pain was significantly lower in the first group (12.5% vs. 71.4% respectively, p-value<0.0001). Anemia was significantly lower in the before group (60.4% vs. 83.7%, respectively p-value=0.01). Vomiting and hypotension were significantly higher in the after group. Around 87% of women in the before group had flu-like symptoms such as muscle ache and dizziness compared to 44.9% and 46.9% in the after group (p-value<0.0001). None of the patients in the after group visited the emergency department or were hospitalized during pregnancy. Almost 43% of patients in the after group had severe anxiety compared to 14.6% in the before group (p-value=0.001).Conclusions: Lockdown influenced maternal complications during pregnancy and resulted in anxiety for many women. Management practices regarding pregnancy and childbirth after lockdown are necessary to minimize the associated negative consequences.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Temitope Olamide Fagbemi ◽  
Olubunmi Florence Osemene ◽  
Oyinlade Agbaje

Sometimes the rivalry between shareholders and management is an indication of the level of entrenchment within the corporate environment. Managers are believed to routinely manipulate earnings in order to mislead shareholders about their company's actual economic outlook or performance. As a result, the study investigated the impact of managerial entrenchment, firm characteristics and earnings management of conglomerate companies in Nigeria. Employing the ex-post facto research design, the data was gathered from secondary source of the 6 listed conglomerate companies for the 11-year period running (2008-2018). The study used discretionary accruals a proxy for earnings management and to calculate discretionary accruals, the study used modified Jones model. The result showed that management entrenchment and firm characteristics have Impact on multinational firms ' earnings management in Nigeria. Specifically, from the conglomerate’s entrenchment proxies, CEO’s tenure has a positive and significant impact on earnings management (coff. =1.062821, p-value =0.0367) and management entrenchment as measured by CEO’s shareholding has a negative and insignificant effect on earnings management (coff. =-6252391, p-value = 0.4090) while firm size, profitability and leverage indicated a significant and positive impact on earnings management (coff, = 0.124587, p-value = 0.0000; coff. = 0.006647, p-value = 0.0431 and coff. = 0.032065, p-value = 0.0000). The study therefore recommended among others that management should reduce the debt in their capital structure in order to improve their companies’ value and their capital structure should be majorly financed by equity rather than debt and reduce CEOs tenure to minimise earnings management practices.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 273-282
Author(s):  
Scott M. Pearson ◽  
Anushka Tandon ◽  
Danielle R. Fixen ◽  
Sunny A. Linnebur ◽  
Gretchen M. Orosz ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led transitional care intervention targeting high-risk older people after an emergency department (ED) visit.<br/> DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of older people with ED visits prior to and during a pharmacist-led intervention.<br/> SETTING: Patients receiving primary care from the University of Colorado Health Seniors Clinic.<br/> PARTICIPANTS: The intervention cohort comprised 170 patients with an ED visit between August 18, 2018, and February 19, 2019, and the historical cohort included 166 patients with an ED visit between August 18, 2017, and February 19, 2018. All included patients either had a historical diagnosis of heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or they had an additional ED visit in the previous six months.<br/> INTERVENTIONS: The pilot intervention involved postED discharge telephonic outreach and assessment by a clinical pharmacist, with triaging to other staff if necessary.<br/> MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with at least one repeat ED visit, hospitalization, or death within 30 days of ED discharge. Outcome rates were also assessed at 90 days postdischarge.<br/> RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 21% of the historical cohort and 25% of the intervention cohort (adjusted P-value = 0.48). The incidence of the composite outcome within 90 days of ED discharge was 43% in the historical group compared with 38% in the intervention group (adjusted P-value = 0.29).<br/> CONCLUSION: A pharmacist-led telephonic intervention pilot targeting older people did not appear to have a significant effect on the composite of repeat ED visit, hospitalization, or death within 30 or 90 days of ED discharge. A limited sample size may hinder the ability to make definitive conclusions based on these findings.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Innocent Dalumzi Njiva

In this democratic era, two of the largest previously disadvantaged communities in Port St Johns i.e. Mtumbane and Maheng were still without waste collection services. Solid waste was dumped indiscriminately and posed risks to health and the environment. To help these communities to achieve better health, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of environmental education on waste management practices (WMP). The key objectives entailed establishing the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of sampled households towards WMP; evaluating the intervention of the 4Rs (reuse, reduce, recycle and recover) of WMP as taught to Grades 4 to 7 residing in the previously sampled households and assessing the impact of the intervention on WMP in these households. This study was undertaken in three phases. The pre-intervention and post-intervention phases included questionnaire administration occurring over two months. The intervention comprised the teaching of the 4Rs of WMP and the completion of a daily diary by Grades 4 to 7 residing in the previously sampled households.This study focused on statistically significant differences that were reported between pre- and post- intervention. The differences were meant to establish if the respondents had any changes in knowledge regarding solid waste management. Results showed that the use of plastic bags increased which showed a significant difference (p-value 0.034).Indiscriminate dumping of waste in Mtumbane decreased whereas in Maheng, there was no difference with their practices. Among the majority of respondents from Mtumbane, waste was regarded as something useful (p-value 0.003). The education associated with waste management for both townships increased by more than 15% and that made a significant difference (p-value 0.025). Further, more than half of the respondents in Mtumbane separated their waste. The results show that there was a significant difference (p-value 0.001) in Mtumbane and not in Maheng. This significant difference may be attributed to the distribution of adequate information as the two townships vary in distance from the municipal offices i.e. Mtumbane: three kilometres and Maheng: 15 km). It was found that the number of respondents willing to pay for waste collection services increased post-intervention (p-value 0.003). It appears that in every aspect when pre- and post-intervention were reported, there was a positive difference after the intervention phase. Four recommendations are proposed: (1) organising solid waste cleaning campaigns and environmental education in schools and communities; (2) the introduction of the 4Rs to communities; (3) the provision of communal waste skips and (4) the use of incentives to foster proper waste disposal practices. It is important for all future studies to consider a method for disseminating important information to the community in order that waste management strategies can be fully and successfully implemented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 216495612098547
Author(s):  
Jennifer Perloff ◽  
Cindy Parks Thomas ◽  
Eric Macklin ◽  
Peggy Gagnon ◽  
Timothy Tsai ◽  
...  

Background/Objectives This study was designed to test the impact of Tai Chi (TC) on healthcare utilization and cost in older adults living in low-income senior housing. We hypothesized that TC would improve overall health enough to reduce the use of emergency department (ED) and inpatient services. Design Cluster randomized controlled trial with randomization at the housing site level. Setting Greater Boston, Massachusetts. Participants The study includes 6 sites with 75 individuals in the TC treatment condition and 6 sites with 67 individuals in the health education control condition. Intervention Members of the treatment group received up to a year-long intervention with twice weekly, in-person TC exercise sessions along with video-directed exercises that could be done independently at home. The comparison group received monthly, in-person healthy aging education classes (HE). Study recruitment took place between August, 2015 and October, 2017. Key outcomes included acute care utilization (inpatient stays, observation stays and emergency department visits). In addition, the cost of utilization was estimated using the age, sex and race adjusted allowed amount from Medicare claims for a geographically similar population aged ≥ 65. Results The results suggested a possible reduction in the rate of ED visits in the TC group vs. controls (rate ratio = 0.476, p-value = 0.06), but no findings achieved statistical significance. Adjusted estimates of imputed costs of ED and hospital care were similar between TC and HE, averaging approximately $3,000 in each group. Conclusion ED utilization tended to be lower over 6 to 12 months of TC exercises compared to HE in older adults living in low-income housing, although estimated costs of care were similar.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nia Suryani ◽  
Djuminah Djuminah

<p>The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of both earnings management and tax planning towards the value of the firm, corporate governance is measured by using score CGPI as moderating variable. This study uses purposive sampling method that generates 40 samples of company listings on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and registered in participation Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) during 2012 until 2015.</p><p><br />Based on the test result of regression analysis it showed that earnings management practices which is measured by using discretionary accrual shows regression coefficients of 2,557 with p-value of 0,015 or p-value is below 0,05, so it has negative impact to the value of the firm, then it can be concluded that the existence of earnings management can reduce the value of the firm. Tax planning activity is measured by using Cash_ETR which shows regression coefficients -0.956 with a p-value of 0,005 or p-value is below 0,05, which means it gives a negative impact to the value of the firm, so it can be concluded that the higher level of tax planning by management will have an impact on the declining value of the firm. Furthermore, corporate governance which is measured using the CGPI’s score is not a moderating variable between earnings management and value of the firm, showed by p-value of 0,090, whereas the relationships of tax planning and value of the firm can be moderated by corporate governance, showed by p-value of 0,024.</p><p><br />Keywords: CGPI’s Score, Corporate Governance, Discretionary Accrual, Earnings Management, Tax Planning, Value of the Firm</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Moreno Londoño ◽  
Peter J. Schulz

<em>Background</em>. The majority of current health literacy tools assess functional skills including reading, writing, and numeracy. Although these tools have been able to underline the impact of such skills on individuals’ health behaviour, there is a need for comprehensive measures to examine more advanced skills. The individual’s ability to use health-related information considering his/her own health context, and judging positive and negative consequences of their decisions has been conceptualized as judgment skills. The present study used a newly developed judgment skills tool to explore asthma self-management practices. <br /><em>Design</em> <em>and</em> <em>methods</em>. Eighty asthma patients were recruited from medical offices during the year 2013. The questionnaire was self-administered and contained health literacy questions, the judgment skill tool, the Asthma Control Test, and several self-management questions.<br /><em>Results</em>. Sixty-nine percent of participants had adequate health literacy, while 24% and 5% had marginal and inadequate levels, respectively. The high-judgment group referred more to their doctor when experiencing asthma problems <em>t</em>(76)=−2.18, P&lt;0.032; complied more with the use of their control medicine<em> t</em>(77)=−3.24, P&lt;0.002 and went more regularly to the doctor <em>t</em>(78)=−1.80, P&lt;0.038 (one-tailed) than the low-judgment group.<br /><em>Conclusions</em>. The judgment skills tool can help identify asthma patients’ health information use and reveal how this use may affect some self-management practices.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S33
Author(s):  
M. Giroux ◽  
M. Sirois ◽  
A. Nadeau ◽  
V. Boucher ◽  
P. Carmichael ◽  
...  

Introduction: While negative consequences of incident delirium on functional and cognitive decline have been widely studied, very limited data is available regarding functional and cognitive outcomes in Emergency Department (ED) patients. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the impact of ED stay-associated delirium on older patient's functional and cognitive status at 60 days post-ED visit. Methods: This study is a planned sub-analysis of a large multicentre prospective cohort study (the INDEED study). This project took place between March and July of the years 2015 and 2016 within 5 participating EDs across the province of Quebec. Independent non-delirious patients aged □65, with an ED stay at least 8hrs were monitored until 24hrs post-ward admission. A 60-day follow-up phone assessment was also conducted. Participants were screened for delirium using the validated Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the severity of its symptoms was measured using the Delirium Index. Functional and cognitive status were assessed at baseline as well as at the 60-day follow-up using the validated OARS and TICS-m. Results: A total of 608 patients were recruited, 393 of which completed the 60-day follow-up. Sixty-nine patients obtained a positive CAM during ED-stay or within the first 24 hours following ward admission. At 60-days, those patients experienced a loss of 3.1 (S.D. 4.0) points on the OARS scale compared to non-delirious patients who lost 1.6 (S.D. 3.0) (p = 0.03). A significant difference in cognitive function was also noted at 60-days, as delirious patients’ TICS-m score decreased by 2.1 (S.D. 6.2) compared to non-delirious patients, who showed a minor improvement of 0.5 (S.D. 5.8) (p = 0.01). Conclusion: People who developed ED stay-associated delirium have lower baseline functional and cognitive status than non-delirious patients and they will experience a more significant decline at 60 days post-ED visit.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakura D. Karunarathne ◽  
Yong Han ◽  
Xiao-Qi Zhang ◽  
Chengdao Li

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays an important role in crop production; however, excessive and inefficient use of N fertilizer is a global issue that incurs high production costs, pollutes the environment and increases the emission of greenhouse gases. To overcome these negative consequences, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) would be a key factor for profitable crop production either by increasing yield or reducing fertilizer cost. In contrast to soil and crop management practices, understanding the molecular mechanisms in NUE and developing new varieties with improved NUE is more environmentally and economically friendly. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in understanding and improving nitrogen use efficiency in barley, with perspectives on the impact of N on plant morphology and agronomic performance, NUE and its components such as N uptake and utilization, QTLs and candidate genes controlling NUE, and new strategies for NUE improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 273-282
Author(s):  
Scott M. Pearson ◽  
Anushka Tandon ◽  
Danielle R. Fixen ◽  
Sunny A. Linnebur ◽  
Gretchen M. Orosz ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led transitional care intervention targeting high-risk older people after an emergency department (ED) visit.<br/> DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of older people with ED visits prior to and during a pharmacist-led intervention.<br/> SETTING: Patients receiving primary care from the University of Colorado Health Seniors Clinic.<br/> PARTICIPANTS: The intervention cohort comprised 170 patients with an ED visit between August 18, 2018, and February 19, 2019, and the historical cohort included 166 patients with an ED visit between August 18, 2017, and February 19, 2018. All included patients either had a historical diagnosis of heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or they had an additional ED visit in the previous six months.<br/> INTERVENTIONS: The pilot intervention involved postED discharge telephonic outreach and assessment by a clinical pharmacist, with triaging to other staff if necessary.<br/> MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with at least one repeat ED visit, hospitalization, or death within 30 days of ED discharge. Outcome rates were also assessed at 90 days postdischarge.<br/> RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 21% of the historical cohort and 25% of the intervention cohort (adjusted P-value = 0.48). The incidence of the composite outcome within 90 days of ED discharge was 43% in the historical group compared with 38% in the intervention group (adjusted P-value = 0.29).<br/> CONCLUSION: A pharmacist-led telephonic intervention pilot targeting older people did not appear to have a significant effect on the composite of repeat ED visit, hospitalization, or death within 30 or 90 days of ED discharge. A limited sample size may hinder the ability to make definitive conclusions based on these findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
Qurrotul Aeni ◽  
Andriyani Mustika Nurwijayanti ◽  
Muhammad Khabib Burhanuddin Iqomh

Introduction: anxiety is a condition that will be experienced by children who experience hospitalization and must get attention and management. Anxiety during hospitalization that is not properly addressed will hinder treatment and affect child development. The purpose of the study: to determine the relationship between therapeutic communication nurses and the anxiety of preschool children due to hospitalizationMethod: The study design used descriptive correlation with a cross-sectional approach. The number of samples is 31 with purposive sampling. Collecting research data using a questionnaire.Results: The results showed a majority of therapeutic communication was 61.3%, anxiety in children due to hospitalization of 100% with severe anxiety was 58.1%, there was a relationship between therapeutic communication and children's anxiety (p = 0.001). Suggestions need to be carried out further research on the factors that influence the low therapeutic communication in nurses.Discussion: The results of the statistical analysis using the Spearman's Rho test got p value 0.001 (p <0.05) the relationship between therapeutic communication and the anxiety of pre-school age children who experienced hospitalization, therapeutic communication can be used as an action to prevent anxiety due to hospitalization in pre-school age children.Suggestion: need to do further research on the factors that influence the low therapeutic communication in nurses Keywords: therapeutic communication, anxiety, hospitalization.  


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