scholarly journals Evaluation of a West Nile virus risk-assessment tool used at a local health unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Manjinder Bamotra ◽  
Wendy Pons ◽  
Ian Young
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Local Health Unit

In Ontario, public health units collect surveillance data on vector-borne diseases (VBD) to determine emerging trends and develop VBD management strategies. Risk-assessment tools that are simple and easily applied can provide public health practitioners with objective evaluations of the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) activity in their jurisdiction. This study was conducted to evaluate an existing WNV risk-assessment tool used by a public health unit in southern Ontario. The purpose of this study was to: (i) describe the trends for WNV in mosquito and human cases in the Region of Peel, Ontario, Canada, and (ii) investigate the ability of the risk-assessment tool to predict positive human cases and positive mosquito traps in the following weeks. Data were collected from 2011 to 2016 and analysed using simple descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact tests. This study found the tool includes variables that are not significant in predicting WNV activity in the following weeks. The current tool should be revised to remove variables that are not significant in predicting risk and add additional variables that have been shown to be effective predictors in other studies, such as rainfall and human WNV cases in the previous year.

Further validation of an opioid risk assessment tool: The Brief Risk Interview

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Jones, PhD ◽  
Samantha Lookatch, MA ◽  
Patricia Grant, MS, ANP-C ◽  
Janice McIntyre, MS, ANP-C ◽  
Todd Moore, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Aberrant Behavior

Opioids remain a common method of treating chronic pain conditions despite some controversy. In an effort to address some of the risks of opioid medications, opioid risk assessment has become a standard of care when opioids are used to treat a chronic pain condition. Research to date has found that clinical interviews may be superior to currently available patient-completed written questionnaires in identifying patients likely to engage in medication aberrant behavior. The Brief Risk Interview (BRI) has been developed as a risk assessment tool that has the sensitivity of a clinical interview while eliminating the need for the lengthy process of an interview. The current study compared the predictive ability of the BRI with two commonly used patient-completed risk assessment tools: the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) and the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised (SOAPP-R). After clinical staff at a pain practice underwent a 1-hour training program, 124 consecutive new patients were evaluated using the BRI, ORT, and SOAPP-R. Follow-up data found that the BRI was a good predictor of medication aberrant behavior and offered better sensitivity and better overall predictive accuracy than the ORT or the SOAPP-R. Overall, it appears that the BRI is a valid risk assessment tool that, after a brief training session, can be used effectively by pain clinicians. Further study is needed in other practice settings and with larger sample sizes.

scholarly journals Public Health and Mass Gathering Events: Assessing Need for Surveillance in Wales, UK

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Parmar ◽  
Daniel RH Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Mass Gathering ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
International Events

The study investigates the need of surveillance during mass gathering events in Wales, UK. An evidenced based risk assessment tool is designed to identify the risk level of an event by grading risk variables present during the occurrence of event. This tool was observed consistent when compared with the international events. The need for a continuous surveillance is associated to the risk level of the mass gathering event. Enhancing the current surveillance system to establish a collaborated department would require less resources to monitor events and for training in emergency conditions.

scholarly journals Risk Assessment tool for Religious Mass Gathering Events of India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasana Sharma ◽  
Sankara Sarma
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Mass Gathering ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
Special Events

ObjectiveTo develop a risk assessment tool to assess the public health and environmental risks associated with religious mass gathering events of Tamil Nadu, a state in the southern part of IndiaIntroductionIn spite of the fact that mass gatherings are an undeniably regular element of our society attended by huge crowds yet such occasions are not very well understood. Even though such gatherings are accumulations of "well people", vast number of people associated with mass gatherings can put a serious strain on the entire health care system1.The public health implications of mass gathering events include a potential increased risk for disease transmission because of the variability and mobility of those attending the event and increased media attention. Risk assessment for mass gathering events is crucial to identify the potential health hazards which aids in planning and response activities specific to the event2. Preparing for mass gatherings offer an opportunity to improve health service delivery, enhance health promotion and strengthen public health systems3.In India, many of the religious festivals are observed with mass gatherings and prayers. Large crowd participate in such festivals as participants to observe the unique rituals and also as spectators. Literature indicates that in India, we might be well equipped for response activities but the scientific concept of risk assessment i.e., to understand the existing risks, identify the risks, characterize the risks and plan for risk reduction strategies accordingly are at an infant stage .The little that has been done in the field of mass gatherings has generally focused on description of preparedness activities of single event, crowd control, prevention of stampedes with little attention to public health preparedness. The present project is an attempt to systemize the process of risk assessment by developing a risk assessment tool consisting of characteristics peculiar to planned religious mass gatherings of Indian context.MethodsQualitative approach was followed to identify the risks associated with mass gathering events and to identify the domains and items to be included in the risk assessment tool. Firstly, an extensive review of literature about the risks associated with the mass gathering events was done. Secondly, Key Informants (n=20) involved in planning and management of religious mass gathering events in the State of Tamil Nadu, India were purposively identified and interviewed using a semi structured interview guide. Principle of redundancy was followed. Content/Thematic analysis was done using Atlas.ti software. Currently, the project is in the phase of obtaining content validity of the developed tool. Followed by this, a mobile application based upon the validated tool will be developed which will be further field tested for feasibility in a selected mass gathering event in Tamil Nadu. Using a self administered content validity questionnaire, the experts will be asked to assess the relevance of the items of the tool. Agreement proportions between the experts will be calculated. S-CVI (Scale Content Validity Index), index for inter-rater agreement (agreement proportion) and Kappa agreement coefficient will be calculated.ResultsA sum total of 48 unique health risks have been identified. Stampedes, fire accidents, structural collapse, drowning, outbreak of communicable diseases, exacerbation of existing medical illnesses (like cardiac diseases, asthma etc) etc are the some of the health risks identified. Six domains (characteristics related to event, participant, environment, disaster preparedness, medical service preparedness and pre event planning activities) and 21 items have been generated from the content analysis of key informant interviews and literature review.ConclusionsSome special events and unforeseen events occur in places of mass gatherings besides fixed places of worshipping .Such events cause more damage to human beings and property. Special events like idol procession, chariot pulling, fire walking, animal sacrificing happen pulling larger crowds within the mass gatherings. In order to inform all planning and delivery activities it is essential to understand the mass gathering context and risk assessments. This tool can be used by public health managers to identify key public health and environmental risks at the planning stage before the event takes off. At the planning stage, use of this tool will help in putting the required measures in place in order to address the potential risks identified. The tool can be used as a guiding instrument during and after the event as well. The investigators further plan to develop a mobile based app from this risk assessment tool and test it out in a selected mass gathering event of the state of Tamil Nadu located in southern part of India. Feedback from public health managers about the mobile based risk assessment tool can be instrumental in further modifying the tool. By contributing to public health preparedness activities during mass gathering events in a country with poor resources like India, this research activity is an initiative that is expected to lead to health systems strengthening.References1. Arbon P. The development of conceptual models for mass-gathering health. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2004 Sep;19(3):208-12.2. World Health Organization. Public health for mass gatherings: Key considerations. Geneva: WHO; 2015.3. Tam JS, Barbeschi M, Shapovalova N, Briand S, Memish ZA, Kieny MP. Research agenda for mass gatherings: a call to action. The Lancet infectious diseases. 2012 Mar 31; 12(3):231-9.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Guidelines and Delphi Study for the Multifactorial Fall Risk Assessment of Community-Dwelling Elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6097
Author(s):  
Jieun Kim ◽  
Worlsook Lee ◽  
Seon Heui Lee
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Fall Risk Assessment

As falls are among the most common causes of injury for the elderly, the prevention and early intervention are necessary. Fall assessment tools that include a variety of factors are recommended for preventing falls, but there is a lack of such tools. This study developed a multifactorial fall risk assessment tool based on current guidelines and validated it from the perspective of professionals. We followed the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology’s guidelines in this systematic review. We used eight international and five Korean databases to search for appropriate guidelines. Based on the review results, we conducted the Delphi survey in three rounds; one open round and two scoring rounds. About nine experts in five professional areas participated in the Delphi study. We included nine guidelines. After conducting the Delphi study, the final version of the “Multifactorial Fall Risk Assessment tool for Community-Dwelling Older People” (MFA-C) has 36 items in six factors; general characteristics, behavior factors, disease history, medication history, physical function, and environmental factors. The validity of the MFA-C tool was largely supported by various academic fields. It is expected to be beneficial to the elderly in the community when it comes to tailored interventions to prevent falls.

scholarly journals Supporting Wildfire Response During a Pandemic in the United States: the COVID-19 Incident Risk Assessment Tool

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. Thompson ◽  
Erin J. Belval ◽  
Jake Dilliott ◽  
Jude Bayham
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
The United States ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Epidemiological Modeling ◽  
Management Functions

The onset of the global pandemic in 2020 significantly increased the complexity and uncertainty of wildfire incident response in the United States, and there was a clear role for decision support to inform and enhance coordination and communication efforts. Epidemiological modeling suggested the risk of COVID-19 outbreak at a traditional large fire camp could be substantial and supported the broadscale implementation of mitigations, and management of COVID-19 required expanding the response network to interface with entities such as local public health agencies, hospitals, and emergency operations centers. Despite the early issuance of medical and public health guidance to support wildfire management functions under a COVID-19 modified operating posture, an identified gap was a scale- and scope-appropriate tool to support incident-level assessment of COVID-19 risk. Here we review the development and application of a COVID-19 Incident Risk Assessment Tool intended to fill that gap. After prototyping with fire managers and risk practitioners, including early-season use on several incidents, we built an online dashboard that was used operationally throughout the 2020 fire season. We summarize usage statistics, provide some examples of real use on wildfire incidents, and report feedback from users. The tool helped to fill a critical information gap and was intended to support risk-informed decision-making regarding incident logistics, operations, and COVID-19 mitigations.

scholarly journals A New Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FREM) Based on Public Health Registries

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 1967-1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrine Hass Rubin ◽  
Sören Möller ◽  
Teresa Holmberg ◽  
Mette Bliddal ◽  
Jens Søndergaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Fracture Risk ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Fracture Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Fracture Risk Assessment Tool

scholarly journals A risk assessment tool for tailings storage facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Chovan ◽  
Michel R. Julien ◽  
Edouardine-Pascale Ingabire ◽  
Michael James ◽  
Edouard Masengo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Annual Probability ◽  
Construction Operation ◽  
Storage Facilities

The recent occurrence of several major failures of tailings storage facilities (TSF) has caused the mining industry to focus on significantly improving the engineering and management (design, construction, operation, and monitoring) of these structures to reduce their environmental impact. This effort is led by the Mining Association of Canada, which mandates the application of risk assessment in tailings management. Due to the very complex nature of TSF, such as phased design and construction, continuous operation, and evolving guidelines and practices over many years, the application of traditional risk assessment tools has limitations. A risk assessment tool specifically developed for TSF management is presented. This tool is based on the work of Silva et al. (2008) that relates the annual probability of failure to the factor of safety and the level of engineering. This relationship was modified to reflect current practice. The annual probability of failure was then combined with a consequence rating to produce a rational and quantifiable evaluation of risk. The risk assessment tool provides detailed information on the level of practice of a structure, the corresponding annual probability of failure as well as the associated risk. Validation of the tool included application to a recent well-documented failure.

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