Effects of basic endoscopic handling and care training on gastrointestinal endoscopy logistics

Background and study aims The current practice of endoscopists is undergoing a dramatic revolution due to emerging endoscopy practices. Increasing use of gastrointestinal endoscopy has led to hospital budgets setting aside funds specifically related to damage to endoscopic instruments. Therefore, training in understanding endoscopic equipment, handling techniques, and equipment care can be helpful in addressing this issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational courses and training about basic endoscopic handling and care in gastrointestinal endoscopic care and services. Methods A number of new endoscopists, nurses, and nurse assistants were enrolled in a course for training in basic endoscopic handling and care. Data on the type of damage, cause, cost, and timing of endoscopic repair were prospectively collected. Data from the post-training period then were compared with retrospective data from the pre-training period. Results This study demonstrated that after training, there was less damage to endoscopes, lower costs associated with it, and repair times were shorter for endoscopes than before the training course. Post-training results indicated savings of a total of $ 40,617.21 or £ 29,539.78 and 102.6 days per damaged endoscope. Conclusions Basic endoscopic handling and care training plays an important role for both endoscopists and nurses, as well as in endoscopy facilities, specifically in avoiding the nuisance of unwanted and broken endoscopes. This could be beneficial for both hospital finances and endoscopic services.

CITY OF REM KOOLHAAS: FROM THEORY TO MASTERPLAN

The article is devoted to the urbanistic concepts of Rem Koolhaas. The state of urban planning and the professional context in which the architect’s creativity developed are analyzed. The article examines his early works, performed during the training period, identifi es their key role in the future theoretical and project work of Koolhaas. The important discoveries that Koolhaas made while researching a particular type of urbanism developed in New York are described. The article reveals Koolhaas’s approach to the development of masterplans, as to the refl ection of his theoretical ideas, interpreted in various contexts. The author identifi es the iconic elements of the architect’s urban vocabulary, which he uses when creating urban planning projects. The signifi cance of the approach developed by Koolhaas for contemporary urbanism is determined.

Evaporation estimation from climatic factors

This study assessed the ability of two models, Local Linear Regression (LLR) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate monthly potential evaporation from Pantagar, US Nagar (India) which falls under sub-humid and subtropical climatic zone. Observations of relative humidity, solar radiation, temperature, wind speed and evaporation have been used to train and test the developed models. A comparison was made between the estimates provided by the LLR model and ANN model. Results shown that the models were able to well learn the events they were trained to recognize. For ANN model the correlation coefficient for training period is 0.9311 and for testing period is 0.9236 and the value of root mean square error for training period is 1.070 and for testing period it is 0.9863. In case of LLR model the correlation coefficient for training period is 0.9746 and for testing period is 0.9273 and value of root mean square error for training period is 0.6121 and for testing period it is 1.5301.

Characteristics of resident physicians accessing a specialised mental health service: a retrospective study

ObjectivesLittle is known about resident physicians being treated at physician health programmes around the world despite the fact that it is a highly demanding training period. This study aims to describe the profiles of resident physicians accessing a specialised mental health service in Spain over a 20-year period and to compare them to consultant-grade physicians.DesignRetrospective observational study.SettingMedical records of the Galatea Care Programme for Sick Physicians.Participants1846 physicians registered at the Barcelona Medical Council-Association and admitted to the programme from January 1998 to December 2018.Primary and secondary outcome measuresNumber of admissions, sociodemographic and clinical variables, including medical specialty, main diagnosis and need of hospitalisation.ResultsResidents accounted for 18.1% (n=335) of the sample and admissions increased over the years. Most residents (n=311; 94.5%) and consultant-grade physicians (n=1391; 92.8%) were self-referred. The most common specialty among residents was family medicine (n=107; 31.9%), followed by internal medicine (n=18; 5.4%), paediatrics (n=14; 4.2%), psychiatry (n=13; 3.9%) and anaesthesiology (n=13; 3.9%). Residents, regardless of year of training, mainly asked for help because of adjustment (n=131; 39.1%), affective (n=77; 23%), anxiety disorders (n=40; 18.8%) and addictions (n=19; 5.7%). There were no significant differences between groups in the main diagnosis and in the variables related to need of hospitalisation. The percentage of residents accessing the programme was higher than in the reference population registered at the Barcelona Medical Council-Association (18.1% vs 7.6%; z=7.2, p<0.001) as was the percentage of family medicine residents (31.9% vs 19.6%; z=5.7, p<0.001).ConclusionsResidents are more likely than consultant-grade physicians to seek help when suffering from mental disorders. Local primary prevention actions since the beginning of their training period and having access to a well-known highly reliable programme may partly explain these findings.

Scientific contributions and learning experiences of citizen volunteers with a small cat project in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, India

We conducted a project on small wild cats in Sanjay Gandhi National Park near Mumbai during 2017–2019 with the participation of 35 citizen volunteers. Volunteers underwent a training period after which they collected scat samples, placed camera traps and participated in data analysis. Volunteers answered a questionnaire to gauge the impact the program had in furthering their interests and knowledge. Nineteen participants responded to the feedback survey. Most indicated an increase in their knowledge of wildlife research, conservation issues and small wild cats. We discuss the value of research projects where citizens can actively participate and learn semi-technical skills.

587. An Intervention to Improve COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among Inpatients at a Veterans Affairs Hospital

Background Hospitalizations are an opportunity to increase vaccine uptake and hospital-based strategies have been effective at increasing influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. Offering COVID-19 vaccination at discharge can reduce barriers to vaccination and target patients at high risk for severe illness and death. We evaluated a COVID-19 vaccine intervention implemented as part of routine discharge planning. Methods We trained healthcare personnel during April 2021 to review and document vaccine eligibility and interest for adult inpatients on medical, surgical, or psychiatric wards at the Atlanta VA Medical Center during discharge planning using a templated note in the electronic medical record (EMR). Outpatient vaccination center personnel were deployed to the participating wards daily (except Sundays) to facilitate vaccine administration at discharge. We measured the percentage of discharged patients with vaccine eligibility documented using the template and compared the number of patients vaccinated at discharge in the 4 weeks pre- and post-training. All Georgia adults became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on March 25, 2021, prior to our intervention. Results Of the 769 patients discharged from one of the participating wards during the 4-week post-training, 474 (62%) had vaccine eligibility documented (Table 1). Of the 474 patients with documentation, 88 (19%) were eligible. Reasons for ineligibility included prior vaccination (n=266, 69%), patient refusal (n=103, 27%), and acute COVID infection (n=12, 3%). Of the 88 eligible patients, 61 (69%) received vaccination before discharge. In total, 16 of 793 inpatients in the pre-training period and 61 of 769 in the post-training period (2% vs 8%; p&lt; 0.05) were vaccinated prior to discharge. Table 1. COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and vaccination before discharge during the post-training period, reported by week Conclusion We found relatively high and sustained uptake of an intervention to screen hospitalized patients for COVID-19 vaccination eligibility. Creating a templated note in the EMR resulted in vaccination of nearly 70% of eligible patients prior to hospital discharge. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Experience in conducting a special tactical exercise of the forces and means of the Ministry of emergency situations of Russia with a massive influx of victims of an emergency of a biological and social nature (terrorist act)

Aim. To summarize the experience of conducting special tactical exercises of the forces and means of the EMERCOM of Russia in the event of a massive admission of victims of an emergency of a biological and social nature (terrorist act) to a multidisciplinary hospital and an airmobile hospital of the EMERCOM of Russia.Materials and methods. The normative documents and experience in response of the EMERCOM of Russia during the training period with a massive influx of victims were analyzed.Results and their analysis. The results of special tactical exercises, the experience of the deployment and actions of the forces and means of the EMERCOM of Russia during the mass admission of victims of a terrorist act to a multidisciplinary hospital and an airmobile hospital of the EMERCOM of Russia are presented. For evacuating 50 victims, ambulance aircraft (MI-8 helicopter), ambulances and cars were used. The exercise was attended by over 300 people, including observers and participants in the exercise, victims.Conclusion. The data obtained are an important basis for maintaining the readiness of the forces and means of the Russian Emergencies Ministry to respond to emergencies.

Professional and psychological qualities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine special agents engaged into confidential cooperation

The purpose of the proposed research is an attempt to determine which basic professional and psychological qualities of SBGSU special agents are the most important for the formation of a professional officer’s profile of a special agent, who performs tasks of operative and investigative activities and works with confidants based on the generalization of the survey results of three groups of respondents. The sample was made by 94 of respondents. There are 81 special agents of SBGSU operative units, among them are 69 operations officers and 12 heads of departments (sectors, groups) and 13 instructors of the National Academy of the SBGSU who train special agents for SBGSU. The results of the survey using the original questionnaire made it possible to determine the list of professional and psychological most important qualities of an SBGSU special agent. According to the results of the study, we suppose it is necessary to focus attention and concentrate on the following qualities of SBGSU special agents: during the training period –at observational and cognitive qualities.

Relationship between Anthropometric, Physical and Hormonal Parameters among Pre-Pubertal Handball Players

Background: The aims of our study were to investigate the changes in anthropometric and physical parameters and fasting hormonal levels among pre-pubertal female handball players (n = 14, age: 11.53 ± 0.58 yrs, height: 153.36 ± 5.12 cm, body mass: 43.59 ± 6.14 kg) in the pre-season period following 8 weeks of handball training, and to analyze the contribution of hormones, physical performance and anthropometric parameters. Methods: Prior to and immediately following the training period, several anthropometric, strength, and cardiorespiratory variables, including fasting hormonal concentrations (plasma cortisol, estradiol, testosterone and growth hormones) were measured. Athletes performed concurrent resistance and aerobic exercises, including game-based trainings during the 8-week training period. Results: Significant elevations were found in all strength parameters (maximal handgrip strength dominant (D): 16.40%, p < 0.01; non-dominant (ND): 25.15%, p < 0.05; maximal concentric (MVC) torque of quadriceps D: 13.82%, p < 0.05; ND: 12.61%, p < 0.05; MVC torque of hamstring D: 12.14%, p < 0.01; ND: 12.44%, p < 0.01), including plasma cortisol levels (C, 34.30%, p < 0.05) and peak respiratory quotient (5.24%, p < 0.05). Body composition and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) remained unchanged. Percentage changes in thigh (r = 0.316, p < 0.05), hand (r = 0.361, p < 0.05), and hip circumference (r = 0.297, p < 0.05) correlated with C changes. Percentage changes in plasma growth hormone levels (GH) contributed to the magnitude of gains in handgrip strength (r = 0.553, p < 0.05). Percentage changes in maximal exercise pulmonary ventilation (MVE) correlated with elevated C (r = −0.592, p < 0.05). Discussion: Changes in anthropometric variables and fasting hormone levels (estradiol, testosterone and cortisol) were poor indicators of developing VO2max and strength during pre-pubertal years. Physical adaptation may not be explained in consideration of the athletes’ hormonal or anthropometric characteristics. Conclusion: Gradually increased training volume followed by a summer break should be applied to youth handball, considering the anti-hypertrophic responses and the inhibitory effect of elevating C on pre-pubertal maturation.