scholarly journals Lay perspectives on social distancing and other official recommendations and regulations in the time of COVID-19: a qualitative study of social media posts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabahat Ölcer ◽  
Yüce Yilmaz-Aslan ◽  
Patrick Brzoska
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Methodical Approach ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: COVID-19 caused by a new form of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in China end of 2019 and quickly spread to all counties of the world. To slow down the spread of the virus and to limit the pressure on the health care systems, different regulations and recommendations have been implemented by authorities, comprising amongst others the closure of all entertainment venues and social distancing. These measures have received mixed reactions, particularly from young individuals, with many not following available advice. Drawing on the information in social media discussion forums, the present study explores the reasons why people ignore the orders and recommendations of the authorities and why the authorities are unable to produce a shared sense of inclusion concerning protective measures against the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Three open-access social media forums (Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube comments) were systematically searched with respect to COVID-19-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours of individuals. The data was retrieved in the first three weeks of March 2020. Qualitative document analysis and qualitative content analysis were used as the methodical approach. The data was reviewed by all authors and jointly interpreted to minimise inconsistencies.Results: The study reveals that reasons such as information pollution on social media, the persistence of uncertainty about the rapidly spreading virus, the impact of the social environment on the individual, and fear of unemployment associated with inequality in the distribution of income lead people to ignore the orders and recommendations of the authorities. The findings suggest that government representatives and politicians could not produce a shared sense of inclusion concerning protective measures against the COVID-19 outbreak, due to not building trust among the public and taking concrete economic steps to satisfy them.Conclusion: In uncertain crises, transparency in the presentation of information and government policies emerge as influential determinants in creating social susceptibility and solidarity. The differences between social classes constitute one of the important factors that affect the decision-making mechanisms of individuals in determining the necessary steps to be undertaken in times of crisis.

scholarly journals Lay perspectives on social distancing and other official recommendations and regulations in the time of COVID-19: a qualitative study of social media posts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabahat Ölcer ◽  
Yüce Yilmaz-Aslan ◽  
Patrick Brzoska
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
Methodical Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Care Systems

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a new form of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in China end of 2019 and quickly spread to all counties of the world. To slow down the spread of the virus and to limit the pressure on the health care systems, different regulations and recommendations have been implemented by authorities, comprising amongst others the closure of all entertainment venues and social distancing. These measures have received mixed reactions, particularly from young individuals, with many not following available advice. Drawing on the information in social media discussion forums, the present study explores the reasons why people ignore the orders and recommendations of the authorities and why the authorities are unable to produce a shared sense of inclusion concerning protective measures against the coronavirus outbreak. Methods Three open-access social media forums (Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube comments) were systematically searched with respect to coronavirus/COVID-19-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours of individuals. The data was retrieved in the first three weeks of March 2020. Qualitative document analysis and qualitative content analysis were used as the methodical approach. The data was reviewed by all authors and jointly interpreted to minimise inconsistencies. Results In the analysis, 22 threads were used from the aforementioned websites. Six main themes were identified: information pollution on social media, the need to know the unusual threat that spreads rapidly, the impacts of the social environment, the role of government’s representatives and politicians, aids without concrete economic steps to satisfy them, and self-criticism by parents related to the behaviours and attitudes of their children. Conclusion In uncertain crises, transparency in the presentation of information and government policies emerge as influential determinants in creating social susceptibility and solidarity. The results further reveal the potential advantages and opportunities of using social media data in scientific investigations.

Personal responsibility for health: the impact of digitalisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-258
Author(s):  
Andrea Martani ◽  
Georg Starke
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Gerald Dworkin ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Fostering the personal responsibility of patients is often considered a potential remedy for the problem of resource allocation in health care systems. In political and ethical debates, systems of rewards and punishments based on personal responsibility have proved very divisive. However, regardless of the controversies it has sparked, the implementation of personal responsibility in concrete policies has always encountered the problem of practical enforceability, i.e.how causally relevant behaviour can be tracked, allowing policies of this kind to be applied in a fine-grained, economically viable and accurate fashion. In this paper, we show how this hurdle can be seemingly overcome with the advent of digitalisation in health and delineate the potential impact of digitalisation on personal responsibility for health. We discuss how digitalisation – by datafying health and making patients transparent – promises to close the loophole of practical enforceability by allowing to trace health-related lifestyle choices of individuals as well as their exposure to avoidable risk factors. Digitalisation in health care thereby reinforces what Gerald Dworkin has called the causal aspect of personal responsibility and strengthens the implicit syllogism that – since exposure to risk factors happens at the individual level – responsibility for health should be ascribed to the individual. We conclude by addressing the limitations of this approach and suggest that there are other ways in which the potential of digitalisation can help with the allocation of resources in health care.

scholarly journals An Overview on COVID-19 Outbreaks Scenario in South Asia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 973-981
Author(s):  
Moshiul Alam Mishu ◽  
Saikat Das Sajib ◽  
Md Mahib Ullah ◽  
Md Ashik Imran ◽  
Md Waseque Mia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Good Health Care

The global emergence of the recently discovered COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2) has already shown its devastating effects on almost the entire world by causing huge numbers of death cases and rupturing the whole economy as well as social communication. South Asia, a region that comprises mostly of least developed and developing countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) with overpopulation, illiteracy, poverty, lack of awareness, lack of hygiene, inadequate health care facilities, is still struggling to fight against this virus and facing the consequences with over 8.5 million confirmed cases including 130,636 deaths till the 20th October. Prompt and proper protective measures, good health care systems, and conscious people are the keys to reducing the severe impacts of this pandemic situation, and most of the countries in this region lack all of this. Considering this, it will not be a surprise if the pandemic takes its full shape in these countries and recent evidence also suggest that the situation is already on its way to reach the peak. However, the pandemic nature in South Asia also demonstrates that strict measures by the government and co-operation from the people can protect a country from the impacts of the virus, whereas lack of these can lead to the next heat point. This review demonstrates and compares the impact of COVID-19 in the mass population of South Asia which could support the government and scientific community to take proper protective measures against this global pandemic and better prepare the community for future challenges. Moreover, good health care systems, public health infrastructure, and up to date information on COVID-19 outbreaks in this region will help to combat this pandemic and create more sustainable and resilient healthy societies in South Asia. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 973-981, 2021 (January)

scholarly journals An age-structured epidemiological model of the Belgian COVID-19 epidemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Deforche
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Epidemiological Model ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Incidence Data ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Serological Surveillance ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Two Populations

AbstractCOVID-19 has prompted many countries to implement extensive social distancing to stop the rapid spread of the virus, in order to prevent over-loading health care systems. Yet, the main epidemic parameters of this virus are not well understood. In the absence of broad testing or serological surveillance, it is hard to evaluate or predict the impact of different strategies to exit implemented lock-down measures. An age-structured epidemiological model was developed, which distinguishes between the younger versus older population (e.g. < 65 and ≥ 65). Because the illness severity is markedly different for these two populations, such a separation is necessary when estimating the model based on death and hospitalization incidence data. The model was applied to data of the Belgian epidemic and used to predict how the epidemic would react to a relaxing of social distancing measures.

scholarly journals The Impact and Implications of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Organ Procurement Outside of an Epicenter

2021 ◽  
pp. 152692482110028
Author(s):  
Janice Jene Hudgins ◽  
Allison Jo Boyer ◽  
Kristen Danielle Orr ◽  
Clint Allen Hostetler ◽  
Jeffrey Paul Orlowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Initial Phase ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Variable Impact ◽  
Single Organ

The COVID-19 pandemic has been well-documented to have a variable impact on individual communities and health care systems. We describe the experience of a single organ procurement organization (OPO), located in an area without a large cluster of cases during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of community health data describing the impact of COVID-19 nationally and in Oklahoma was conducted. Additionally, a retrospective review of available OPO data from March 2019-May 2020 was performed. While the amount of donor referrals received and organs recovered by the OPO remained stable in the initial months of the pandemic, the observed organs transplanted vs. expected organs transplanted (O:E) decreased to the lowest number in the 15-month period and organs transplanted decreased as well. Fewer organs from Oklahoma donors were accepted for transplant despite staff spending more time allocating organs.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 and Cytomegalovirus Co-Infections—A Case Series of Critically Ill Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 2792
Author(s):  
Patrícia Moniz ◽  
Sérgio Brito ◽  
Pedro Póvoa
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Immune Suppression ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Confounding Factors ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cmv Reactivation

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has placed great strain on the most developed of health care systems, especially in the context of critical care. Although co-infections with cytomegalovirus (CMV) are frequent in the critically ill due to underlying immune suppression of multiple causes, the impact on COVID-19 patients remains unclear. Furthermore, severe COVID-19 has recently been associated with significant immune suppression, and this may in turn impact CMV reactivation, possibly contributing to clinical course. Nevertheless, multiple confounding factors in these patients will certainly challenge upcoming research. The authors present a case series of five patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the context of respiratory failure due to severe COVID-19. All patients evolved with CMV reactivation during ICU stay.

scholarly journals The Impact of “Manipulated News” on Student Attitudes and Perceptions and Their Participation in the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630512110197
Author(s):  
Chesca Ka Po Wong ◽  
Runping Zhu ◽  
Richard Krever ◽  
Alfred Siu Choi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Potential Use

While the impact of fake news on viewers, particularly marginalized media users, has been a cause of growing concern, there has been little attention paid to the phenomenon of deliberately “manipulated” news published on social media by mainstream news publishers. Using qualitative content analysis and quantitative survey research, this study showed that consciously biased animated news videos released in the midst of the Umbrella Movement protests in Hong Kong impacted on both the attitudes of students and their participation in the protests. The findings raise concerns over potential use of the format by media owners to promote their preferred ideologies.

scholarly journals Sustainability of Biosimilars in Europe: A Delphi Panel Consensus with Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 400
Author(s):  
Arnold G. Vulto ◽  
Jackie Vanderpuye-Orgle ◽  
Martin van der Graaff ◽  
Steven R. A. Simoens ◽  
Lorenzo Dagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Modified Delphi ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Supply Risks ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Biosimilars have the potential to enhance the sustainability of evolving health care systems. A sustainable biosimilars market requires all stakeholders to balance competition and supply chain security. However, there is significant variation in the policies for pricing, procurement, and use of biosimilars in the European Union. A modified Delphi process was conducted to achieve expert consensus on biosimilar market sustainability in Europe. Methods: The priorities of 11 stakeholders were explored in three stages: a brainstorming stage supported by a systematic literature review (SLR) and key materials identified by the participants; development and review of statements derived during brainstorming; and a facilitated roundtable discussion. Results: Participants argued that a sustainable biosimilar market must deliver tangible and transparent benefits to the health care system, while meeting the needs of all stakeholders. Key drivers of biosimilar market sustainability included: (i) competition is more effective than regulation; (ii) there should be incentives to ensure industry investment in biosimilar development and innovation; (iii) procurement processes must avoid monopolies and minimize market disruption; and (iv) principles for procurement should be defined by all stakeholders. However, findings from the SLR were limited, with significant gaps on the impact of different tender models on supply risks, savings, and sustainability. Conclusions: A sustainable biosimilar market means that all stakeholders benefit from appropriate and reliable access to biological therapies. Failure to care for biosimilar market sustainability may impoverish biosimilar development and offerings, eventually leading to increased cost for health care systems and patients, with fewer resources for innovation.

scholarly journals The impact of chronic disease and disability on the elderly

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
C. J. Eales
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Health care systems for elderly people should aim to delay the onset of illness, reducing the final period of infirmity and illness to the shortest possible time. The most effective way to achieve this is by health education and preventative medicine to maintain mobility and function. Changes in life style even in late life may result in improved health, effectively decreasing the incidence of chronic diseases associated with advancing age. This paper presents the problems experienced by elderly persons with chronic diseases and disabilities with indications for meaningful therapeutic interventions.

Post Your Journey: Instagram as a Support Community for People With Fibromyalgia

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley A. Berard ◽  
André P. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Widespread Pain ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Media Applications

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness with primary symptoms of widespread pain and fatigue. Social media applications have become a recent resource allowing individuals with fibromyalgia to interact in a virtual community devoted to the illness. This study explores how such a community develops and maintains itself on Instagram and the ways it creates social capital for its users. Data are derived from Instagram posts and open-ended questionnaires completed by users living with fibromyalgia who use the application. Using content analysis and semiotic methodology, the study analyzes the diverse ways in which users shared their experiences with fibromyalgia, the management of its symptoms, and issues encountered in accessing health care systems. Instagram aids in the development of a community by facilitating intimate and supportive interactions about the illness and the creation of personalized day-to-day narratives accessible to all. Norms of trust, acceptance, and reciprocity characterize the diversity of interactions in this community.

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