scholarly journals “I Just Want Some Clear Answers”: Challenges and Tactics Adopted by Migrants in Denmark When Accessing Health Risk Information about COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 8932
Author(s):  
Rasmus Luca Lyager Brønholt ◽  
Nina Langer Langer Primdahl ◽  
Anja M. B. Jensen ◽  
An Verelst ◽  
Ilse Derluyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Risk Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Access Information ◽  
National Governments

Health risk communication plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Yet, migrants are far too often forgotten in health risk communication responses. We investigate the challenges and efforts made by migrants in Denmark—in the initial months of the pandemic—to access information about COVID-19. We draw on 18 semi-structured interviews conducted in May and June 2020. All interviews are thematically coded and analyzed. Our analysis reveals that many of the migrants faced several challenges, including accessing information in a language understandable to them and navigating constant streams of official news flows issuing instructions about which actions to take. However, we also note that the participating migrants found numerous creative ways to address some of these challenges, often aided by digital tools, helping them access crucial health and risk information. This paper highlights that migrants constitute an underserved group in times of crises. They are vulnerable to getting left behind in pandemic communication responses. However, we also identify key protective factors, social resources, and agentic capabilities, which help them cope with health and risk information deficits. National governments need to take heed of these findings to inform future pandemic responses.

scholarly journals Comprehending and Acting on Pandemic Health Risk Information Differently: A Qualitative Study Using the Mental Models’ Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siv Hilde Berg ◽  
Marie Therese Shortt ◽  
Henriette Thune ◽  
Jo Røislien ◽  
Jane K. O’Hara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Risk Information ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Geographical Regions

Abstract BackgroundA worldwide pandemic of a new and unknown virus is characterised by scientific uncertainty. Yet, health authorities still need to communicate complex health risk information to the public – despite this uncertainty. The mental models approach to risk communication describes how people perceive and make decisions regarding complex risks, with the aim of identifying decision-relevant information that can be targeted in risk communication interventions. This study used COVID-19 as a case to explore how people make sense of scientific information and apply it to their lives and behaviour using the concept of mental models.MethodsThis qualitative study included 15 male and female participants of different ages and from different geographical regions in Norway, occupational areas and with different education levels. The participants were interviewed individually, and the interview data analysed via directed content analysis, with predetermined themes and codes derived the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s official website. Materials in the interview data not represented by deductive codes were coded inductively. The participants’ perceptions and behaviours related to health risk information were analysed across three themes: virus transmission, exposure to risk and consequences of COVID-19. ResultsThe results imply that people put different meanings to the medical and scientific words used by experts to explain the pandemic, e.g. virus transmission and the reproduction number. And while some people expressed the need to comprehend why certain behavior and activities involve a high risk, others preferred simple, clear messages focusing on what to do and how to protect themselves. Similarly, information about health consequences caused panic for some and awareness for others. ConclusionThere is no one-size fits all to public health risk communication, and empowering people with decision-relevant information necessitates targeted and balanced risk communication.

scholarly journals Middle-Aged and Older African Americans' Information Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interview Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Tang ◽  
Felicia N. York ◽  
Wenxue Zou
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The United States ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks

African Americans in the United States have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in infection and mortality rates. This study examined how middle-aged and older African American individuals accessed and evaluated the information about COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals (age: 41–72) were conducted during the first stay-at-home advisory period in late March and early April 2020. The phronetic iterative approach was used for data analysis. We found that these individuals primarily relied on information scanning based on their routine media consumption to acquire information about COVID-19 and seldom actively searched for information outside of their regular media use. Individuals used several strategies to assess the quality of the information they received, including checking source credibility, comparing multiple sources, fact-checking, and praying. These findings could inform media and governmental agencies' future health communication efforts to disseminate information about the COVID-19 pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks among the African American communities.

The effects of advertising skepticism in consumer prescription drug advertising

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilwoo Ju
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Risk Information ◽  
Risk Disclosure ◽  
Drug Advertising ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prescription Drug Advertising ◽  
Advertising Evaluation

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of consumers’ prescription drug advertising (DTCA) skepticism on their advertising evaluation. In addition, the study investigates the moderating role of health risk information location in DTCA and the mediating role of perceived message effectiveness to address when and how the skepticism effects are maximized or minimized. Design/methodology/approach The study used a controlled lab experiment to enhance internal validity. Findings This study found that when risk information was presented earlier in a more prominent manner, it appeared to reduce the DTCA skepticism effects. In contrast, the DTCA skepticism effects remained considerable when benefit information was presented earlier. Research limitations/implications The artificial nature of the controlled lab setting suggests conducting future research in a more natural setting using various therapeutic and product categories to enhance ecological and external validity. Practical implications Pharmaceutical marketers could reduce consumers’ DTCA skepticism effects on their advertising evaluation by using situational message strategies. The prominence of health risk disclosure could be one of such strategies. Social implications The FDA’s industry guidance for DTCA risk communication suggests that the location of risk information in the ad may play an important role in determining its prominence. However, little is known about how complying with the FDA’s risk communication guidance by presenting a more prominent risk disclosure can affect consumers’ ad evaluation by affecting the DTCA skepticism effects. The current study provides empirical evidence for the importance of the health risk disclosure prominence. Originality/value Because the FDA’s release of the DTCA risk communication guidance, little empirical research has been conducted to examine a wide range of situational message factors that may affect consumers’ response to DTCA risk communication. The current study filled the gap in the literature by addressing the interplay between consumer and message factors in the DTCA context.

Risk communication with nurses during infectious disease outbreaks: Learning from SARS

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen O’Connor, PhD ◽  
Tracey O’Sullivan, PhD ◽  
Carol Amaratunga, PhD ◽  
Patricia Thille BSc (PT), PhD (Student) ◽  
Karen P. Phillips, PhD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
Infection Control Guidelines

Objective: To identify gaps in risk communication during public health emergencies as identified by nurses who worked in critical and emergency care hospital units during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Canada.Design: This research is part of a larger multimethod study of the psychosocial impacts of the SARS outbreak in Canada for healthcare workers. For this qualitative analysis of risk communication, focus groups were conducted in four Canadian cities using purposive sampling to study perspectives of frontline critical care and emergency department nurses. Covello’s (2003) model of best practices in risk communication is applied to assess specific areas in which risk communication gaps were identified by nurses interviewed in the focus groups.Setting: Five focus groups held in four Canadian cities: Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver.Participant/Data: n _ 100 participated in focus groups in four urban communities.Results: During the SARS outbreak in 2003, high levels of uncertainty, lack of trust, and questions about leadership credibility emerged as important risk communication challenges. Communication problems were compounded by a lack of reliable information, frequent changes in infection control guidelines and risk avoidance messages, as well as contradictory actions of management and senior leaders.Conclusions: Risk communication constitutes an important component of any emergency protocol. This study of nurses working in emergency and critical care hospital settings during the 2003 SARS outbreak indicates key areas in which risk communication could be more efficient to address nurses’ concerns related to managing uncertainty, occupational health and safety, and employee quality of life. Recommendations useful for planning of any pandemics including H1N1 are derived.

scholarly journals Infectious disease outbreaks in the African region: overview of events reported to the World Health Organization in 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Mboussou ◽  
P. Ndumbi ◽  
R. Ngom ◽  
Z. Kassamali ◽  
O. Ogundiran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
World Health ◽  
African Region ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Member States ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The World

Abstract The WHO African region is characterised by the largest infectious disease burden in the world. We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis using records of all infectious disease outbreaks formally reported to the WHO in 2018 by Member States of the African region. We analysed the spatio-temporal distribution, the notification delay as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with these outbreaks. In 2018, 96 new disease outbreaks were reported across 36 of the 47 Member States. The most commonly reported disease outbreak was cholera which accounted for 20.8% (n = 20) of all events, followed by measles (n = 11, 11.5%) and Yellow fever (n = 7, 7.3%). About a quarter of the outbreaks (n = 23) were reported following signals detected through media monitoring conducted at the WHO regional office for Africa. The median delay between the disease onset and WHO notification was 16 days (range: 0–184). A total of 107 167 people were directly affected including 1221 deaths (mean case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.14% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07%–1.20%)). The highest CFR was observed for diseases targeted for eradication or elimination: 3.45% (95% CI 0.89%–10.45%). The African region remains prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases. It is therefore critical that Member States improve their capacities to rapidly detect, report and respond to public health events.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Oligosaccharides with Special Attention to Antiparasitic Potential

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Nayara Sousa da Silva ◽  
Nathália Kelly Araújo ◽  
Alessandra Daniele-Silva ◽  
Johny Wysllas de Freitas Oliveira ◽  
Júlia Maria de Medeiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Enzymatic Production ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Chitosan Oligosaccharides ◽  
Lower Viscosity ◽  
Biomedical Industry ◽  
Parasite Aggregation ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

The global rise of infectious disease outbreaks and the progression of microbial resistance reinforce the importance of researching new biomolecules. Obtained from the hydrolysis of chitosan, chitooligosaccharides (COSs) have demonstrated several biological properties, including antimicrobial, and greater advantage over chitosan due to their higher solubility and lower viscosity. Despite the evidence of the biotechnological potential of COSs, their effects on trypanosomatids are still scarce. The objectives of this study were the enzymatic production, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects of COSs. NMR and mass spectrometry analyses indicated the presence of a mixture with 81% deacetylated COS and acetylated hexamers. COSs demonstrated no evidence of cytotoxicity upon 2 mg/mL. In addition, COSs showed interesting activity against bacteria and yeasts and a time-dependent parasitic inhibition. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated a parasite aggregation ability of COSs. Thus, the broad biological effect of COSs makes them a promising molecule for the biomedical industry.

scholarly journals 549. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with COVID-19 treated with Convalescent Plasma in Miami, Florida

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S340-S341
Author(s):  
Shweta Anjan ◽  
Dimitra Skiada ◽  
Miriam Andrea Duque Cuartas ◽  
Douglas Salguero ◽  
David P Serota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Options ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
High Acuity ◽  
Us Fda ◽  
Oxygen Requirements

Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) global health crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in unprecedented mortality, impacted society, and strained healthcare systems, yet sufficient data regarding treatment options are lacking. Convalescent plasma, used since 1895 for infectious disease outbreaks, offers promise as a treatment option for COVID-19. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients diagnosed by a nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), who received convalescent plasma between April to June 2020 at two large hospitals in Miami, Florida, as part of the US FDA Expanded Access Program for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). Results A total of 23 patients received CCP, 13 (57%) had severe COVID-19 disease, while 8 (35%) had critical or critical with multiorgan dysfunction. Median time of follow up was 26 (range, 7–79) days. Overall, 11 (48%) survived to discharge, 6 (26%) died, while 6 (26%) are currently hospitalized. All deaths reported were due to septic shock from secondary infections. 15 (65%) showed improvement in oxygen requirements 7 days post CCP transfusion. Measured inflammatory markers, c-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and d-dimer improved 7 days post transfusion in 13 (57%) patients. No adverse events due to the transfusion were reported. 10 (43.4%) patients had a negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR at a median of 14.5 (range, 4–31) days after receiving convalescent plasma. Conclusion Administration of convalescent plasma was found to be safe, with favorable outcomes in this small cohort of relatively high acuity patients. Larger studies including control arms are needed to establish the efficacy of convalescent plasma on clinical and virologic outcomes for patients with COVID-19. Table Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Digital proximity tracing on empirical contact networks for pandemic control

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Cencetti ◽  
G. Santin ◽  
A. Longa ◽  
E. Pigani ◽  
A. Barrat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Contact Data ◽  
The Impact

AbstractDigital contact tracing is a relevant tool to control infectious disease outbreaks, including the COVID-19 epidemic. Early work evaluating digital contact tracing omitted important features and heterogeneities of real-world contact patterns influencing contagion dynamics. We fill this gap with a modeling framework informed by empirical high-resolution contact data to analyze the impact of digital contact tracing in the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate how well contact tracing apps, coupled with the quarantine of identified contacts, can mitigate the spread in real environments. We find that restrictive policies are more effective in containing the epidemic but come at the cost of unnecessary large-scale quarantines. Policy evaluation through their efficiency and cost results in optimized solutions which only consider contacts longer than 15–20 minutes and closer than 2–3 meters to be at risk. Our results show that isolation and tracing can help control re-emerging outbreaks when some conditions are met: (i) a reduction of the reproductive number through masks and physical distance; (ii) a low-delay isolation of infected individuals; (iii) a high compliance. Finally, we observe the inefficacy of a less privacy-preserving tracing involving second order contacts. Our results may inform digital contact tracing efforts currently being implemented across several countries worldwide.

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