scholarly journals A Pilot Study on the Contamination of Assistance Dogs’ Paws and Their Users’ Shoe Soles in Relation to Admittance to Hospitals and (In)Visible Disability

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
S. Jasmijn Vos ◽  
Joris J. Wijnker ◽  
Paul A. M. Overgaauw
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Assistance Dogs ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Shoe Soles ◽  
Assistance Dog ◽  
Better Than

(1) Background: People with disabilities may benefit from an assistance dog (AD). Despite regulations that prohibit the denial of ADs to public places, this still occurs on a regular basis. The main argument for denial of access is that dogs compromise hygiene with their presence, which could cause a health hazard. Meanwhile, people are allowed to walk into and out of public places freely. (2) Objective: As a pilot study, to investigate the number of Enterobacteriaceae and the presence of Clostridium difficile bacteria on the paws of ADs and pet dogs (PDs) as well as the shoe soles of their users and owners. With the results, an assessment can be made as to whether measures are required to reduce environmental contamination (e.g., in hospitals). (3) Methods: In total, 25 ADs, 25 PDs, and their 50 users/owners participated in the study. Each participant walked their dog for 15–30 min prior to the sampling of the front paws. Each PD owner or AD user filled out a general questionnaire about the care of their dogs, and AD users were asked to fill out an additional questionnaire on their experiences regarding the admittance of their ADs to public places (in particular, hospitals). Dutch hospitals were questioned on their protocols regarding the admittance of ADs and their visitor numbers, including the percentage of AD users, to put these numbers into perspective. (4) Results: Dog paws were more often negative for Enterobacteriaceae compared to shoe soles (72% and 42%, respectively) and also had significantly lower bacterial counts (mean of 3.54log10 and 5.03log10 colony-forming units (CFUs), respectively; p < 0.05). This was most distinct in the comparison between PDs and their owners (3.75log10 and 5.25log10 CFUs; p < 0.05); the numbers were similar between ADs and their users (3.09log10 and 4.58log10 CFUs; p = 0.2). C. difficile was found on one (4%) AD user’s shoe soles. Moreover, 81% of AD users had been denied access with their current AD once or several times, the main reason being hygiene. The results of the visibly and invisibly disabled were significantly different. The number of AD users as opposed to the total number of hospital visitors was 0.03% in one hospital and is estimated to be 0.02% in the Netherlands. (5) Conclusions: The general hygiene of dogs’ paws is far better than that of shoe soles, mostly demonstrated by the better general hygiene of PD paws compared with their owners’ shoe soles; ADs and their users had comparable levels of general hygiene. In addition, the number of AD users amongst the total number of hospital visitors in the Netherlands is very limited. Thus, hygiene measures to reduce any contamination due to dog paws do not seem necessary.

scholarly journals Interactions between the Public and Assistance Dog Handlers and Trainers

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3359
Author(s):  
Bronwyn McManus ◽  
Gretchen Good ◽  
Polly Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructionism ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Social Model Of Disability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Assistance Dogs ◽  
Assistance Dog

This research aimed to explore the experiences of handlers and trainers of disability assistance dogs in terms of the types of interactions they had with members of the Aotearoa NZ (NZ) public and how these interactions were perceived, interpreted, and managed. A qualitative method, guided by an interpretive approach and social constructionism, was utilised to collect data via semi-structured interviews with six handlers and six trainers of assistance dogs. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with the social model of disability as the theoretical base. Findings indicated that participants regularly faced a complex range of unique interactions due to various factors such as the public’s lack of knowledge and understanding of the dog’s role and right of access to public places. While participants encountered brief friendly comments about the dog and its role, other encounters involved long conversations, invasive personal questions, interference with their dogs, and denied access to businesses, cafés, restaurants, and public transport. These findings underpin the need to provide more education to the public on the etiquette of engaging with handlers and their assistance dogs and more support for businesses to understand the legal rights of handlers. Through education and support to change societal attitudes and remove structural barriers, disabled people using assistance dogs may be able to independently participate in community life and be fully included without hindrance.

scholarly journals Post audio-visual biofeedback training visual functions and quality of life in paediatric idiopathic infantile nystagmus: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212199104
Author(s):  
Monica Daibert-Nido ◽  
Yulia Pyatova ◽  
Michelle Markowitz ◽  
Maryam Taheri-Shirazi ◽  
Samuel N Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
Biofeedback Training ◽  
Visual Functions ◽  
Infantile Nystagmus ◽  
Fixation Stability ◽  
Better Than

Purpose: Biofeedback training (BT) was adapted to idiopathic infantile nystagmus syndrome (IINS) cases to enhance visual functions and quality of life (QoL). Methods: 10 patients (age 9 ± 3.2 years) treated with the audio-visual BT module of the MAIA microperimeter (Centervue, Padova, Italy) were assessed in two baseline visits and 1week post-BT (BT 80 min in total). The outcomes were distance and near binocular best corrected visual acuity (BBCVA), fixation stability, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, stereopsis and Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire. One-way repeated measured ANOVA and paired t-tests were used. Results: Distance BBCVA improved from 0.46 ± 0.21 and 0.43 ± 0.18 pre-BT to 0.33 ± 0.2 logMAR post-BT ( F (2,27) = 13.75, p = 0.0002). Post-BT was better than baseline ( p = 0.0001) and pre-BT ( p = 0.001). Near BBCVA improved from 0.23 ± 0.09 and 0.21 ± 0.14 pre-BT to 0.04 ± 0.08 post-BT (F (2,27) = 22.12, p = 0.000014), post-BT was better than baseline ( p = 0.0001) and pre-BT ( p = 0.0006). Stereopsis improved from 283 ± 338″ to 39 ± 32.2″ ( p = 0.04), contrast sensitivity from 0.26 ± 0.17 to 0.08 ± 0.12 log units ( p = 0.01), and reading speed improved from 74.7 ± 51.2 wpm to 104.7 ± 53.6 wpm ( p = 0.0006). Fixation stability improved from 33.6 ± 28.1 to 14.3 ± 10.1 sq. QoL increased from 23.8 ± 2.2 to 26.3 ± 2.3 units ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: BT benefited all visual functions and QoL in this pilot study, heralding a new possibility for Low Vision Rehabilitation in IINS.

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis With Radial Soundwave “Early” Is Better Than After 6 Months: A Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 950-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amol Saxena ◽  
Brian K. Hong ◽  
Andrew S. Yun ◽  
Nicola Maffulli ◽  
Ludger Gerdesmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Plantar Fasciitis ◽  
Better Than

scholarly journals Comparison of SARS‐CoV ‐2 neutralizing antibody testing of convalescent plasma donations in the Netherlands and England: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heli Harvala ◽  
Robin Gopal ◽  
Monika Patel ◽  
Maria Zambon ◽  
David Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Antibody Testing

scholarly journals Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Dog Behaviour: Pilot Study

Animals ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Hunt ◽  
Helen Whiteside ◽  
Susanne Prankel
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Office Environment ◽  
Dog Training ◽  
Pet Owners ◽  
Animal Rescue ◽  
Assistance Dog ◽  
Interactive Toy

Environmental enrichment (EE) can be used to enhance the environment of various animals. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of seven EE activities (Bonding, Bubble machine, Conspecific play, Interactive toy, Playhouse, Stuffed food toy and Tug play) on dog behaviour, pre- and post-EE for dogs housed in an office environment during training as part of an assistance dog training programme. EE activities resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of relaxation behaviours (p < 0.01) and a significant reduction in alert (p < 0.01) and stress behaviours (p = 0.02). Results suggest various benefits of the different activities with Conspecific Play and Playhouse activities having the greatest overall positive behaviour change when compared to the other activities. The food-based EE activities (Interactive toy and Stuffed food toy) had the least behaviour change of all the activities provided. Findings will be of interest to pet owners, animal rescue centres, dog trainers and working dog organisations.

scholarly journals The Upsurge and Impact of COVID 19 in India: Health Issues and Remedial Measures

2021 ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Kanchi Isswani
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Increase ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Major Decision ◽  
Better Than

The novel Coronavirus was something that nobody was prepared for. It was that part of the syllabus which was always neglected. The contagious disease which started in the Wuhan region of China had started to settle in various parts of the World. The outbreak of this disease has reached such a huge number that all the countries witnessed lockdown in some form or the other. Some people have witnessed destruction of mankind while some have even leisured this time to their fullest but as it has been always said “Prevention is better than cure”. Prevention of covid 19 in all the nations was one of the major steps which was taken in the year 2020. In India it all started in the year of 2019 December when the first ever case of covid 19 was reported in the state of Kerala followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi. Following such a situation and then sudden increase in the no of cases all over the country a major decision was taken that was of Complete lockdown excluding the emergency and essential services. Before taking the step of lockdown, as a gesture of respect to the frontline workers, government of India announced Tali Bajao movement. In the period of lockdown Certain norms were even made mandatory that were wearing a mask, maintenance of hand sanitation and following social distancing of 1.5 meters in public places. All the educational institutes and teachings were even suspended during the time period of lockdown as it could have become a hub for the virus to spread. With time, the restrictions which were laid down in lockdown were started to be reduced in the phase wise manner and finally India noticed its very first Unlock period. In all this scenario mankind has dealt with various situations and have emerged to be a better person. All these steps were crucial to control the spread of Novel Coronavirus and prevention from the already spread cases.

scholarly journals Case-control study of patient characteristics, knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, risk behaviour and mental state in patients visiting an emergency room with COVID-19 symptoms in the Netherlands

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249847
Author(s):  
J. P. M. van der Valk ◽  
F. W. J. Heijboer ◽  
H. van Middendorp ◽  
A. W. M. Evers ◽  
J. C. C. M. in ‘t Veen
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 is a serious respiratory virus pandemic. Patient characteristics, knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, risk behaviour and mental state will differ between individuals. The primary aim of this study was to investigate these variables in patients visiting an emergency department in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare the “COVID-19 suspected” (positive and negative tested group) with the “COVID-19 not suspected” (control group) and to compare in the “COVID-19 suspected” group, the positive and negative tested patients. Methods Consecutive adult patients, visiting the emergency room at the Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, were asked to fill out questionnaires on the abovementioned items on an iPad. The patients were either “COVID-19 suspected” (positive and negative tested group) or “COVID-19 not suspected” (control group). Results This study included a total of 159 patients, 33 (21%) tested positive, 85 (53%) negative and 41 (26%) were COVID-19 not suspected (control group). All patients in this study were generally aware of transmission risks and virulence and adhered to the non-pharmaceutical interventions. Working as a health care professional was correlated to a higher risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection (p- value 0.04). COVID-19 suspected patients had a significantly higher level of anxiety compared to COVID-19 not suspected patients (p-value < 0.001). The higher the anxiety, the more seriously hygiene measures were followed. The anxiety scores of the patients with (pulmonary) comorbidities were significantly higher than without comorbidities. Conclusion This is one of the first (large) study that investigates and compares patient characteristics, knowledge, behaviour, illness perception, and mental state with respect to COVID-19 of patients visiting the emergency room, subdivided as being suspected of having COVID-19 (positive or negative tested) and a control group not suspected of having COVID-19. All patients in this study were generally aware of transmission risks and virulence and adhered to the non-pharmaceutical interventions. COVID-19 suspected patients and patients with (pulmonary) comorbidities were significantly more anxious. However, there is no mass hysteria regarding COVID-19. The higher the degree of fear, the more carefully hygiene measures were observed. Knowledge about the coping of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic is very important, certainly also in the perspective of a possible second outbreak of COVID-19.

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