scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic and bariatric surgery in Argentina

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Beskow ◽  
Pedro Martinez Duartez ◽  
Estuardo Beheren ◽  
Felipe Fiolo ◽  
Cardoso Ramos Almino
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Scientific Societies ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Average Hospital ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Phase 0 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rule Out ◽  
The Ideal

Abstract Background: The SARS-CoV2 virus pandemic pandemic has been characterized for its rapid global dispersion. Obesity is an independent risk factor for the most severe cases of COVID -19. The impact in Argentina differs from others since it was able to anticipate public health interventions in order to flatten the contagion curve. Early quarantine achieved better control of the pandemic and, following the recommendations of scientific societies in countries with higher affectation, elective bariatric surgeries (BS) and in-person consults were suspended. Objective: Bariatric surgeons were surveyed to assess the impact of the pandemic and the measures undertaken on the practice of BS in Argentina.Method: Between April 17 and 21, 2020, an online survey in Google forms was disseminated to bariatric surgeons residing in Argentina. It consists of 40 specific and non-specific questions regarding BS practice and COVID pandemic. Consent to participate was obtained from surgeons by completing the survey.Results: 83 surgeons averaging 47.17 years of age responded the survey. Together they performed 10515 BS in 2019. More than 65% stated that more than 50% of their income derives from this activity, and more than 40% depend on more than 75% of it. The average hospital stay was 1.6 days and 85% reported using Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in less than 1% of their patients. According to the scores of hospital affectation issued by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), 54% reported being in Phase I and 34% had not yet been affected by the pandemic. All, except one, suspended the elective BS 7.7 days on average before the appearance of the first local case. 95.7% offer virtual consults, but 48% obtain no retribution for them. 26% would consider performing BS without a previous endoscopic evaluation.90% of the surgeons surveyed (75) continue performing other types of surgeries via laparoscopy. In case of operating a patient without suspected SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, 80% would use N95 masks and 56.6% would use face protection shields; two thirds would use smoke filters for the pneumoperitoneum and only 10.8% would continue with the usual protection measures. To restart the elective activity, 56.6% proposed that the hospital should be in phase 0 or I, that the patient should meet certain characteristics for their selection and that the scientific society must recommend the way to restart of the activity.Patient selection criteria with greater consensus were testing to rule out asymptomatic COVID-positive patients, epidemiology, absence of chronic lung disease, age under 60, and immunological integrity. 19.2% regard sleeve gastrectomy as the ideal BS during the pandemic, and 88% of the surgeons would not change their chosen BS technique based on infection risk. Conclusion: Elective BS is currently suspended in Argentina, although epidemiologically the conditions in the country are not unfavorable. Economic impact for those involved is significant. Short-term vision is pessimistic, but recommendations originating from the scientific societies that nucleate them are expected in order to guide health authorities towards appropriate regulations suitable for the local practice.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Is Associated With Improved Eating Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego G. D. Christofaro ◽  
André O. Werneck ◽  
William R. Tebar ◽  
Mara C. Lofrano-Prado ◽  
Joao Paulo Botero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Improve Health Status ◽  
Fried Foods ◽  
Vigorous Intensity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improve Health

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between physical activity and eating habits during the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian adults. A sample of 1,929 participants answered an online survey, however 1,874 were included in the analysis. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating habits was assessed inquiring about participants' intake of fruits, vegetables, fried foods, and sweets during the pandemic. Physical activity was assessed by asking participants about their weekly frequency, intensity and number of minutes/hours engaging in structured physical activities per week. Participants were then stratified into categories based on moderate-to-vigorous intensity (0–30; 31–90; 91–150; 151–300; and >300 min/week) and into active (≥150 min) or inactive (<150 min). Increased sweets consumption was the most commonly reported change to eating habits (42.5%), followed by an increase in the consumption of vegetables (26.6%), fruits (25.9%), and fried foods (17.9%). Physical activity practice was related to lower consumption of fried foods (OR = 0.60; p < 0.001) and sweets (OR = 0.53; p < 0.001). A cluster analysis revealed subjects with higher the level of physical activity was more likely to follow a healthy diet (p < 0.001). Thus, physical activity was positively associated with healthier eating habits. Health authorities must recommend regular physical as a strategy to improve overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies should address the physical activity interventions to improve health status during a pandemic.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Portuguese Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 565-570
Author(s):  
Cristina P. Albuquerque ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Life Domains ◽  
Daycare Centers ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Adults With Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of people all over the world, including in Portugal. This study explores the impact of the pandemic on several life domains of Portuguese adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and their families; identifies the difficulty level in the implementation of the most common preventive measures by adults with ID; addresses the consequences of health authorities’ guidelines in the activities carried out in daycare centers for people with disabilities. A total of thirty-three daycare centers participated; they were attended by a total of 1192 adults at the time the study took place (between the 15th of September 2020 and the 15th of October 2020), and a professional belonging to the daycare center answered an online survey. The results showed that: 1) participants agreed that the pandemic had a negative impact on adults with ID and their families, although only in a percentage of them; 2) in the cases of the adults and families where that negative impact occurred, it was generalized, expressing itself in various life domains; 3) almost all of the preventive measures where considered difficult to apply by adults with ID; 4) the participants agreed that the health authorities' guidelines influenced the activities that were performed in the daycare centers, i.e., there were less activities, and the existing ones were less diversified, more sedentary and occurring indoors more often. The implications of the negative impact of the pandemic on adults with ID, their families, and the services provided have to be addressed.

Exploring the impact of employees’ self-concept, brand identification and brand pride on brand citizenship behaviors

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 58-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Verena Helm ◽  
Uwe Renk ◽  
Anubha Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Ideal Self ◽  
Brand Identification ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Pride ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Ideal

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify how employees’ perceived congruity of their employers’ corporate brand with their own actual and ideal self may affect their brand identification (BI), brand pride (BP) and brand citizenship behavior (BCB). Design/methodology/approach – This cross-sectional paper involved 283 employees in Germany who completed an online survey. Findings – Congruity of the brand with employees’ actual self and with their ideal self has similar effects on employees’ BI. However, effects differ with respect to the other outcome variables. BP is only affected by congruity of the brand with the ideal self, whereas BCB is only affected by congruity of the brand with the actual self. Brand identity is positively related to BP and BCB; BP also affects BCB. Research limitations/implications – Future studies could include different sources for evaluation of BI, BP and BCB; for temporally separate measurement of identification, pride and BCB; and for use of fictitious brands or experimental manipulations of pride to increase internal validity. The discrepant impacts of congruity of the brand with the actual self and the ideal self as detected in the paper could spark research interest in addressing motivations to increase self-esteem and self-consistency in a work context or in investigating specific mediators or moderators in the relationship between self-concept, (brand) identification and pride, as well as behaviors. Finally, research could address different kinds of pride, such as individual and collective forms of pride, as well as their interplay. Practical implications – Managers should be aware of the different effects of a corporate brand’s fit with employees’ actual and ideal self, and also should note that BI seems essential in augmenting BP and brand-related behaviors. The paper develops implications for internal branding and HRM strategies regarding employee selection, promotion and retention. Findings also indicate that BP motivates BCB in line with current assumptions in research and practice on individual forms of pride. Originality/value – This paper investigates employees’ perceptions of “their” brand’s fit with their actual and ideal self separately, and determines the differences in impact on BP and BCB, extending existing knowledge on drivers of brand-building behaviors. It also develops the concept of BP in the context of social identity theory and the need for distinction; it further provides initial empirical insights into the role of employees’ BP, including the development of a measure.

scholarly journals Action and Reaction of Pre-Primary and Primary School-Age Children to Restrictions during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Dimitra I. Siachpazidou ◽  
Ourania S. Kotsiou ◽  
Grigorios Chatziparasidis ◽  
Dimitrios Papagiannis ◽  
George D. Vavougios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Closure ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Primary School Age ◽  
The Impact

The fast-spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced countries to apply restrictive measures to counteract it. School closure was quickly adopted by health authorities. We aimed to investigate the compliance of children aged 4 to 12 years with the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and evaluate the impact of school closure on the children’s educational, social, economic, and psychological outcomes. An online survey was distributed through a social networking platform to parents of pre-primary and primary school-age children. The study period was defined as from 27 November 2020 to 3 December 2020, two weeks after the school closure due to the general lockdown in Greece. This study showed that the school units were well-informed and complied with the protection measures against COVID-19. The pupils quickly adopted the protection measures, even those whose parents suggested masks were less effective. The quarantine-forced school closure highly impacted primary school children’s physical activity, quality of sleep, psychological status, eating habits, academic performance, and household income. Web use showed an increase, with the children over-spending extracurricular time in web activities. Our study highlights the need for long term monitoring of these aforementioned indices, and the development of COVID-19 mitigation measures that carefully incorporate effectiveness and societal impact.

scholarly journals "Apples and Oranges:" Examining Different Social Groups’ Compliance With Government Health Instructions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talia Goren ◽  
Dana R. Vashdi ◽  
Itai Beeri
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Arab Minority ◽  
The Impact

Background: The coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated the crucial effect of the public’s compliance with the government’s health instructions on the population’s health. However, evidence shows that some communities are less likely to comply with such instructions than others. This study highlights the factors related to intentions to comply with newly issued health directives during an ongoing extreme crisis, such as the current pandemic. In addition, it compares the impact of these factors on different minority groups and the general population in Israel. Methods: Using an online survey (N=1005), we examined the impact of compliance-related factors on compliance intentions with newly issued health directives in two minority groups in Israel: the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community (N=323) and the Arab community (N=361), as well as in the general population (N=321), during the first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants were presented with a new made-up COVID-19-related instruction simulated to be issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health. Compliance intentions and compliance-related factors were measured. Results: The Arab minority expressed greater intentions of complying with the instructions than the other groups. Perceptions on risk and the effectiveness of the instruction were the only two significantly associated factors with compliance intentions in all of the social groups. Additional factors affected different groups to different extents. Trust in government was related to compliance intentions only in the Arab minority. Conclusion: Intentions to comply with health instructions during a crisis differ in various minority groups and in comparison to the general population, both in their levels and in the factors related to them. Policy-makers and health authorities should consider providing information about the risks and negative outcomes of the crisis as well as the expected effectiveness of the recommended behaviors. Future research should examine other minority groups and other types of instructions in different stages of a crisis.

Modernism, Empiricism, and Rationalism

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Squires
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Modern Poetry ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Irish Poetry ◽  
Dimensional Spectrum ◽  
Culture History ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rule Out

Modernism is usually defined historically as the composite movement at the beginning of the twentieth century which led to a radical break with what had gone before in literature and the other arts. Given the problems of the continuing use of the concept to cover subsequent writing, this essay proposes an alternative, philosophical perspective which explores the impact of rationalism (what we bring to the world) on the prevailing empiricism (what we take from the world) of modern poetry, which leads to a concern with consciousness rather than experience. This in turn involves a re-conceptualisation of the lyric or narrative I, of language itself as a phenomenon, and of other poetic themes such as nature, culture, history, and art. Against the background of the dominant empiricism of modern Irish poetry as presented in Crotty's anthology, the essay explores these ideas in terms of a small number of poets who may be considered modernist in various ways. This does not rule out modernist elements in some other poets and the initial distinction between a poetics of experience and one of consciousness is better seen as a multi-dimensional spectrum that requires further, more detailed analysis than is possible here.

Effects of Quarantine Due to the COVID-19 on Sleep Duration and Quality in Algerians

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-193
Author(s):  
Kacem Abdelhadi ◽  
Houar Abdelatif ◽  
Zerf Mohamed ◽  
Bengoua Ali
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Italian Version ◽  
Sleep Timing ◽  
Algerian Population ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
The Impact

SummaryThis study tests the impact of COVID-19 on sleep of Algerian population before and during the COVID-19 quarantine by an estimated online survey, adapted from the PSQI Italian version. Including 1210 participants (age between 18-60 years old). The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 22.0 software. Our results showed a significant change in sleeping quality during quarantine, the sleep timing markedly changed, we also noticed additional use of sleeping medications. Algerian scientists recommend to build public awareness and to provide necessary information regarding Algerian sleep quality, especially for Algerian adults.

The Impact of the Industrial Processing of Oil on the Rainfall Water Quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
Oana Roxana Chivu ◽  
Augustin Semenescu ◽  
Claudiu Babis ◽  
Catalin Amza ◽  
Gabriel Iacobescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Air Purification ◽  
High Toxicity ◽  
Industrial Processing ◽  
Mobile Sources ◽  
Specific Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Ideal

Rainfall is a major component of the environment and the main source of the air purification becouse of many pollutants increases who have the most varied sources: various human activities including industry and agriculture, and some household duties. Air purification by means of precipitation is achieved by numerous highly complex mechanisms. The final products of degradation of the pollutant in the air, which are generally harmless, can be reacted with each other in the presence of water, giving rise to the final compounds with a high toxicity. Thus, exhaust, mobile sources of noxious almost identical to those specific activities in the industrial processing of oil, contain lead which is the ideal catalyst for converting SO2 to sulfuric acid in the presence of rainwater, with all the disadvantages that they create. This paper will present an experimental research oabout how rainfall water quality is influenced by the activity of the industrial processing of oil, in a chemical plant in Constanta County.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽  
Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Vo Van ◽  
Toi Phung Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

COVID-19: Time-Dependent Effective Reproduction Number and Sub-notification Effect Estimation Modeling (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Atem De Carvalho ◽  
Rogerio Atem De Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Initial Value ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Reproduction Numbers ◽  
Effect Estimation ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and health authorities have sought to identify the different parameters that govern their infection and death cycles, in order to be able to make better decisions. In particular, a series of reproduction number estimation models have been presented, with different practical results. OBJECTIVE This article aims to present an effective and efficient model for estimating the Reproduction Number and to discuss the impacts of sub-notification on these calculations. METHODS The concept of Moving Average Method with Initial value (MAMI) is used, as well as a model for Rt, the Reproduction Number, is derived from experimental data. The models are applied to real data and their performance is presented. RESULTS Analyses on Rt and sub-notification effects for Germany, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, South Korea, and the State of New York are presented to show the performance of the methods here introduced. CONCLUSIONS We show that, with relatively simple mathematical tools, it is possible to obtain reliable values for time-dependent, incubation period-independent Reproduction Numbers (Rt). We also demonstrate that the impact of sub-notification is relatively low, after the initial phase of the epidemic cycle has passed.

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