COVID-19 Preparedness Research Articles

Adherence with infection prevention and control measures among Italian healthcare workers: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle future ones

BackgroundTo tackle future health threats, the study aimed to assess healthcare workers’ (HCWs) adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and to evaluate whether knowledge and concerns related to COVID-19 could be its potential predictors. A secondary aim was to explore how and how much healthcare facilities support HCWs to implement IPC practices. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between June and September 2021 in Southern Italy using a self-administered questionnaire. Socio-demographic and professional characteristics, COVID-19 preparedness and response plan in the facilities, knowledge about COVID-19’s transmission and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), concerns about the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to family members and patients, adherence to IPC practices, and sources of information were investigated. ResultsAmong the 492 enrolled HCWs, the overall knowledge median score was 6 out of a maximum score of 8 and predictors of good knowledge were practicing in a facility that organized training courses about IPC measures and having more years in practice. HCWs were more concerned about the possibility of transmitting the infection to their family members (64.4%) than to negative patients (38.9%). A sizable proportion claimed to take off the face mask by touching only the straps or ties (76.3%) and to replace the face mask when it was wet (70.7%). Only 26.2% never/rarely touched the face mask while wearing it. Good adherence to preventative practices was more likely in HCWs other than physicians and practicing in a facility that organized training courses about IPC measures and in regional hospitals compared with those practicing in district hospitals. ConclusionsThe study findings produce information about what worked well and where gaps were identified during COVID-19 pandemic, along with data useful for hospitals and health systems in general to better prepare and put in place appropriate interventions in case of similar future events.

COVID-19 Preparedness, Stressors, and Data-Driven Solutions for Healthcare Workers at a Regional Rural-Urban Hospital System: A Longitudinal Total Worker Health® Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, healthcare workers were devastated by the insufficient preparedness to respond to their patients' and personal health needs. A gap exists in resources to prevent or reduce acute and long-term healthcare worker mental illnesses resulting from COVID-19 frontline response. We performed an exploratory, mixed methods, longitudinal study of healthcare workers at a regional rural-urban hospital system in the Midwest United States during the COVID-19 response (4 timepoints, 2020). Using the Total Worker Health® (TWH) participatory needs assessment approach, self-identified frontline COVID-19 workers participated in a survey including Health-Related Quality of Life, Impact of Event Scale, and a modified version of the American Nursing Association COVID-19 survey; and a hospital timeline tracked system-level activities. Response rate at Timepoint (T)1 was 21.7% (N = 39) and of those, 14 (36%) completed all four surveys. From T1 to T4, the rate of COVID-19 patients steadily increased, staff exceeded the threshold for post-traumatic stress disorder at T1 and T4; staff reported not enough rest or sleep 50% of the month, T1-T4. Helpfulness of family support increased but community support decreased, T1-T4. Concerns with performing new tasks increased; the challenges related to lack of protective equipment and negative media decreased. Workers wanted to be involved in decision-making, desired timely communication, and needed adequate physical, environmental, and psychological supports. Utilization of a TWH® strategy for describing health needs, hospital response, and multi-level staff suggestions to workplace health solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic identified evidence-based health promotion interventions in a hospital system.

Intersection of Perceived COVID-19 Risk, Preparedness, and Preventive Health Behaviors: Latent Class Segmentation Analysis.

COVID-19 risk perception is a factor that influences the pandemic spread. Understanding the potential behavioral responses to COVID-19, including preparedness and adoption of preventive measures, can inform interventions to curtail its spread. We assessed self-perceived and latent class analysis (LCA)-based risks of COVID-19 and their associations with preparedness, misconception, information gap, and preventive practices among residents of a densely populated city in Nigeria. We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted among residents (N=140) of Onitsha, Nigeria, in March 2020, before the government-mandated lockdown. Using an iterative expectation-maximization algorithm, we applied LCA to systematically segment participants into the most likely distinct risk clusters. Furthermore, we used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models to determine the associations among knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, perceived preparedness, misconception, COVID-19 information gap, and self-perceived and LCA-based COVID-19 risks. Most participants (85/140, 60.7%) had good knowledge and did not perceive themselves as at risk of contracting COVID-19. Three-quarters of the participants (102/137, 74.6%; P<.001) experienced COVID-19-related information gaps, while 62.9% (88/140; P=.04) of the participants had some misconceptions about the disease. Conversely, most participants (93/140, 66.4%; P<.001) indicated that they were prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the participants (94/138, 68.1%; P<.001) self-perceived that they were not at risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to 31.9% (44/138) who professed to be at risk of contracting COVID-19. Using the LCA, we identified 3 distinct risk clusters (P<.001), namely, prudent or low-risk takers, skeptics or high-risk takers, and carefree or very high-risk takers with prevalence rates (probabilities of cluster membership that represent the prevalence rate [γc]) of 47.5% (95% CI 40%-55%), 16.2% (95% CI 11.4%-20.9%), and 36.4% (95% CI 28.8%-43.9%), respectively. We recorded a significantly negative agreement between self-perceived risk and LCA-based segmentation of COVID-19 risk (κ=-0.218, SD 0.067; P=.01). Knowledge, attitude, and perceived need for COVID-19 information were significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices among the Onitsha city residents. The clustering patterns highlight the impact of modifiable risk behaviors on COVID-19 preventive practices, which can provide strong empirical support for health prevention policies. Consequently, clusters with individuals at high risk of contracting COVID-19 would benefit from multicomponent interventions delivered in diverse settings to improve the population-based response to the pandemic.

Age Differences in Perceived Preparedness for the Continuation of COVID-19 Pandemic: Important Role of Social Support

Abstract This study examined the age differences in perceived preparedness for the continuation of COVID-19 pandemic; and tested the moderating effects of three types of social support, i.e., emotional, financial and instrumental support. Using a sample of 450 adults in Texas, USA from the research project ‘Vulnerability and Resilience to Disasters’ (October 2020 to January 2021), results of multiple linear regressions showed that compared with people aged over sixty-five, those aged eighteen–forty-four perceived a lower level of preparedness for the ongoing COVID-19 and there was no significant difference in perceived preparedness between individuals aged sixty-five+ and those aged forty-five–sixty-four. Receiving emotional and instrumental support was, respectively, more important for people aged sixty-five+ to perceive a better level of preparedness than for those aged eighteen–forty-four and forty-five–sixty-four. The findings highlighted the unique strengths of older adults in COVID-19 preparedness from the life course perspective and the importance of social support in their disaster preparedness. Based on these findings, social workers could incorporate the wisdom and experience of older adults into disaster management and develop age-specific interventions to promote preventive behaviours during future public health disasters.

Covid-19 emergency management and preparedness in cross-border territories. Collection of experiences, needs and public health strategies in the framework of interreg GESTI.S.CO. project.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted management difficulties in neighboring territories. The aim of the paper is to report the needs of different stakeholders during, before and after Covid-19 emergency with specific regard to challenges faced by public administrators in confined territories. In the framework of Interreg GESTI.S.CO. project the study has been designed with two methodological steps: i) a co-design workshop and ii) a web-based survey. The workshop includes both an audience interaction session and focus groups. Then, starting from the focus group results, the survey has been designed with 30 questions and submitted to the 227 municipalities located between Italy and Switzerland to understand the implementation of Public Health strategies in local emergency planning. The interactive session highlighted that most of the critical issues are related to the lack of communication and planning in Public Health policies. The survey highlighted that the local emergency plans rarely integrate a section on health emergencies (30% Italy and 50% Switzerland). Only 20% of the respondents dedicated a section for Covid-19 emergency management. Most of them did not activate initiatives to support mental health. 90% of the municipalities did not cooperate with the neighboring country, but half of them think that it would have been much more useful. The 55% of the Italian respondents are currently updating their emergency plan and will implement it with some Public Health input. The study provides insights that can support policy makers in improving their strategy in responding to future pandemic. (www.actabiomedica.it).

Hospital COVID-19 preparedness: Are (were) we ready?

Terrorist attacks and natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey have increased focus on disaster preparedness planning. Despite the attention on planning, many studies have found that hospitals in the United States are underprepared to manage extended disasters appropriately and the surge in patient volume it might bring. This study aims to profile and examine the availability of hospital capacity specifically related to COVID-19 patients, such as emergency department (ED) beds, intensive care unit (ICU) beds, temporary space setup, and ventilators. A cross-sectional retrospective study design was used to examine secondary data from the 2020 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. A series of multivariate logistic analyses were conducted to investigate the strength of association between changes in ED beds, ICU beds, staffed beds, and temporary spaces setup, and the 3,655 hospitals' characteristics. Our results highlight that the odds of a change in ED beds are 44 percent lower for government hospitals and 54 percent for for-profit hospitals than not-for-profit hospitals. The odds of ED bed change for nonteaching hospitals were 34 percent lower compared to teaching hospitals. Small and medium hospitals have significantly lower odds (75 and 51 percent, respectively) than large hospitals. For ICU bed change, staffed bed change, and temporary spaces setup, the conclusions were consistently significant regarding the impact of hospital ownership, teaching status, and hospital size. However, temporary spaces setup differs by hospital location. The odds of change is significantly lower (OR = 0.71) in urban hospitals compared with rural hospitals, while for ED beds, the odds of change is considerably higher (OR = 1.57) in urban hospitals compared to rural hospitals. There is a need for policymakers to consider not only resource limitations that were created from supply line disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but also a more global assessment of the adequacy of funding and support for insurance coverage, hospital finance, and how hospitals meet the needs of the populations they serve.

Hospital preparedness for COVID-19 in Indonesia.

As a disaster-prone country, hospital preparedness in dealing with disasters in Indonesia is essential. This research, therefore, focuses specifically on hospital preparedness for COVID-19 in Indonesia, which is important given the indication that the pandemic will last for the foreseeable future. During March to September 2022, a cross-sectional approach and a quantitative study was conducted in accordance with the research objective to assess hospital preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic. This research shows the level of readiness based on the 12 components of the rapid hospital readiness checklist for COVID-19 published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Evaluators from 11 hospitals in four provinces in Indonesia (Capital Special Region of Jakarta, West Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, and North Sumatra) filled out the form in the COVID-19 Hospital Preparedness Information system, which was developed to assess the level of hospital readiness. The results show that hospitals in Capital Special Region of Jakarta and Special Region of Yogyakarta have adequate level (≥ 80%). Meanwhile, the readiness level of hospitals in West Java and North Sumatra varies from adequate level (≥ 80%), moderate level (50% - 79%), to not ready level (≤ 50%). The findings and the methods adopted in this research are valuable for policymakers and health professionals to have a holistic view of hospital preparedness for COVID-19 in Indonesia so that resources can be allocated more effectively to improve readiness.

MEDIA INTERAKSI PEMBELAJARAN UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PENGETAHUAN PENCEGAHAN COVID-19 PADA ANAK SEKOLAH DASAR

The World Health Organization (WHO) has planned Covid-19 preparedness and response since February 3, 2020. Covid-19 is a pandemic that is felt by all levels of society, including children. Prevention efforts are continuously carried out for all levels of society, including education through various media, both through television and social media. Indonesian children need to be provided with information about the culture of self-protection against disasters, especially pandemic disasters because children are always in contact with peers while playing. The existence of a policy regarding studying from home/school from home during the Covid-19 pandemic made more children access video media for learning media. Learning interaction media in the form of interesting videos is applied to increase the knowledge of school-age children about the Covid-19 prevention protocol. This study is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and post-test group design approach, which aims to identify the effect of learning interaction media on knowledge of the Covid-19 prevention protocol. The study was conducted in August - December 2020 with a population of students at Islamic City Elementary School Kota Tangerang. The sampling method used was Consecutive sampling totaling 44 respondents. The results showed that there was an increase in the ability of each intervention and control group, and there were significant differences in the measurements before and after the intervention (p Value 0.001). In the statistical test of the two groups, the p Value was 0.016 (p-Value ≤ 0.005), so it can be concluded that there was a significant difference in mean between the intervention group and the control group, where the average group with video was higher than the group without video.

Lessons learnt from the first wave of COVID-19 in Damascus, Syria: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesThe decade-long Syrian war led to fragile health infrastructures lacking in personal and physical resources. The public health of the Syrian population was, therefore, vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which...

Ready or not: Emergency preparedness in residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) in California.

This study examined the results of an electronic survey of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) in California in 2021 to provide insight on key elements of emergency plans and facility preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies. Surveys were distributed to RCFE administrators using publicly available emails found on the California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal. Responses from 150 facility administrators included data on their perception of current and future facility preparedness for COVID-19 and other emergency scenarios, items included in facility evacuation/shelter-in-place plans, and hazard vulnerability analyses and training practices of facility staff. Descriptive analyses were performed on collected data. The majority of results were from small facilities serving less than seven residents (70.7 percent). Prior to COVID-19, more than 90 percent of respondents included disaster drills, evacuation plans, and emergency transportation in their emergency preparedness plan. The majority of facilities added pandemic planning, vaccine distribution, and quarantine guidelines elements into their plans during COVID-19. Approximately half of facilities reported conducting proactive hazard vulnerability analyses. Around 75 percent of RCFEs felt well prepared for fires and infectious disease outbreaks, had mixed preparedness levels for earthquakes and floods, and felt least prepared for landslides and active shooter emergencies. During the pandemic, perceptions of preparedness rose, with 92 percent stating they felt very prepared currently and almost 70 percent felt very prepared for future pandemics. Preparedness of these essential facilities and their residents can continue to improve by conducting regular proactive hazard vulnerability analyses, improving communication lines and mutual aid agreements with local and state organizations, and preparing for critical emergencies such as landslides and active shooter scenarios. This can help to ensure adequate resources and investments are provided to care for older adults during emergencies.

Validity of the COVID-19 preparedness e-module developed using ADDIE method for Dasa Wisma cadres in Jakarta

Background &amp; Objective: The high number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta is due to inadequate pandemic preparation. Educating community figures using a content-verified e-module is one way to improve the community's preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic while adapting to the changes brought on by the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the COVID-19 preparedness e-module for dasa wisma cadres, who are the heads of several households grouped in a Dasa Wisma group. Materials &amp; Methods: Using the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) method, a COVID-19 preparedness e-module was developed for the dasa wisma cadres. Enumerators (n = 2), respondents (n = 20), and experts (n = 11) conducted the evaluation asynchronously using online communication software. Enumerators evaluated one variable, respondents evaluated four, and experts evaluated eight. The evaluation utilized a 4-point Likert scale. Results: The evaluation yielded the following results: comprehension (3.40), attractiveness (3.70 &amp; 3.72), acceptance (3.65 &amp; 3.78), involvement (3.50 &amp; 3.49), inducement (3.60 &amp; 3.29), clarity (3.60), sufficiency (3.51), coherence (3.62), and significance (3.63). (3.80). The outcomes were reliable (3.28–4.00; variance 0.72). Conclusion: The COVID-19 preparedness module is valid for enhancing COVID-19 preparedness.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Imaging Workers: Infection Sources, Awareness and Commitment to relevant Safety Guidelines

COVID-19 virus disease is an infectious disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 virus, as the diagnostic imaging department play a remarkable role in detecting and diagnosing of COVID-19 in early stages, therefore, medical imaging workers should be aware of infection control guidelines to prevent the transmission of the disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study survey design was conducted from July 15, 2020 to September 15, 2020, in diagnostic imaging departments in Palestine, aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical imaging workers; in terms of infection sources, awareness and commitment to relevant safety guidelines. From a 205 valid responses, there was 54.5% governmental, 27.2% private, and 18.3% from NGOs sector. Female were 26.8% and 81.9% holding BA degree, about 41.2% are less than five years of experience. 36.1% had a previous positive COVID-19 result, of them there was 61.6% due to nosocomial infection. Only 63.2% were confidence of their hospital preparedness for COVID-19, 65.1% felt that their department is capable of dealing with COVID-19 patients, 43.3% revealed that they had training on handling COVID-19 patients, 58.7% reported that selfreading was their source of information about COVID-19, inadequate training or knowledge about hand hygiene and proper use of PPE was noted. Our findings emphasize the vital need of expanded COVID-19 pandemic training for medical imaging workers, as well as related protective measures

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Imaging Workers: Infection Sources, Awareness and Commitment to relevant Safety Guidelines

COVID-19 virus disease is an infectious disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 virus, as the diagnostic imaging department play a remarkable role in detecting and diagnosing of COVID-19 in early stages, therefore, medical imaging workers should be aware of infection control guidelines to prevent the transmission of the disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study survey design was conducted from July 15, 2020 to September 15, 2020, in diagnostic imaging departments in Palestine, aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical imaging workers; in terms of infection sources, awareness and commitment to relevant safety guidelines. From a 205 valid responses, there was 54.5% governmental, 27.2% private, and 18.3% from NGOs sector. Female were 26.8% and 81.9% holding BA degree, about 41.2% are less than five years of experience. 36.1% had a previous positive COVID-19 result, of them there was 61.6% due to nosocomial infection. Only 63.2% were confidence of their hospital preparedness for COVID-19, 65.1% felt that their department is capable of dealing with COVID-19 patients, 43.3% revealed that they had training on handling COVID-19 patients, 58.7% reported that selfreading was their source of information about COVID-19, inadequate training or knowledge about hand hygiene and proper use of PPE was noted. Our findings emphasize the vital need of expanded COVID-19 pandemic training for medical imaging workers, as well as related protective measures

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Imaging Workers: Infection Sources, Awareness and Commitment to relevant Safety Guidelines

COVID-19 virus disease is an infectious disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 virus, as the diagnostic imaging department play a remarkable role in detecting and diagnosing of COVID-19 in early stages, therefore, medical imaging workers should be aware of infection control guidelines to prevent the transmission of the disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study survey design was conducted from July 15, 2020 to September 15, 2020, in diagnostic imaging departments in Palestine, aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical imaging workers; in terms of infection sources, awareness and commitment to relevant safety guidelines. From a 205 valid responses, there was 54.5% governmental, 27.2% private, and 18.3% from NGOs sector. Female were 26.8% and 81.9% holding BA degree, about 41.2% are less than five years of experience. 36.1% had a previous positive COVID-19 result, of them there was 61.6% due to nosocomial infection. Only 63.2% were confidence of their hospital preparedness for COVID-19, 65.1% felt that their department is capable of dealing with COVID-19 patients, 43.3% revealed that they had training on handling COVID-19 patients, 58.7% reported that selfreading was their source of information about COVID-19, inadequate training or knowledge about hand hygiene and proper use of PPE was noted. Our findings emphasize the vital need of expanded COVID-19 pandemic training for medical imaging workers, as well as related protective measures

Sociocultural and Behavioral Features of Anticipated COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Papua New Guinea: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

COVID-19 was characterized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic in 2020. Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained on high alert ever since, and its National Control Centre continues to coordinate national preparedness and response measures, guided by its Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19. As part of the WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization's COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) program, PNG received several shipments of COVID-19 vaccine doses. A nationwide vaccine rollout for COVID-19 was initiated in PNG in May 2021. Despite the availability of vaccines and the capacity of health systems to vaccinate frontline workers and community members, including high-risk groups, there are still critical issues related to vaccine safety, confidence, and acceptance to ensure the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Evidence from studies on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and demand in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suggests that sociocultural characteristics of the community and the behaviors of different vaccine stakeholders, including vaccine recipients, vaccine providers, and policymakers, determine the effectiveness of vaccination interventions or strategies. This study will examine sociocultural determinants of anticipated acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in urban and rural areas of different regions in PNG and health care providers' views on vaccine acceptance. The study design uses a mixed methods approach in PNG's coastal and highlands regions. The first research activity will use a qualitative methodology with an epistemological foundation based on constructivism. This design elicits and listens to community members' accounts of ways culture is a rich resource that provides meaning to the COVID-19 pandemic; the design also measures adherence to niupela pasin ("new normal" in Tok Pidgin) and vaccination acceptance. The second activity will be a cross-sectional survey to assess the distribution of features of vaccine acceptance, priorities, and practices. The third activity will be in-depth interviews of health care providers actively involved in either COVID-19 clinical management or public health-related pandemic control activities. The project proposal has been reviewed and approved by the Medical Research Advisory Committee of Papua New Guinea. Qualitative data collection started in December 2022, and the survey will begin in May 2023. The findings will be disseminated to the participating communities later this year, followed by publication. The proposed research on community views and experiences concerning sociocultural and behavioral features of acceptance of the vaccine will provide a better understanding of communication and education needs for vaccine action for COVID-19 control in PNG and other LMICs. The research also considers the influence of health care providers' and policy makers' roles in the awareness and use of the COVID-19 vaccine. PRR1-10.2196/44664.

Eloise Todd: mobilising civil society for pandemic prevention

Eloise Todd: mobilising civil society for pandemic prevention

Dynamic antibody response in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and COVID-19 vaccine recipients alongside vaccine effectiveness in comorbid and multimorbid groups

ObjectivesUnderlying medical conditions are critical risk factors for COVID-19 susceptibility and its rapid clinical manifestation. Therefore, the preexisting burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) makes the preparedness for COVID-19 more challenging for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These countries have relied on vaccination campaigns as an effective measure to tackle COVID-19. In this study, we investigated the impact of comorbidities on humoral antibody responses against the specific receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV2. MethodsA total of 1005 patients were selected for the SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses) and total antibody (TAb) tests (IgG and IgM), of which 912 serum samples were ultimately selected based on the specimen cutoff analyte value. Patients with multimorbidity (N = 60) were recruited for follow-up studies from the initial cohort, and their immune response (IgG and TAb) was measured at multiple time points after the second dose of vaccination. Siemens Dimension Vista SARS-CoV-2 IgG (CV2G) and SARS-CoV-2 TAb assay (CV2T) were used to carry out the serology test. ResultsOut of a total of 912 participants, vaccinated individuals (N = 711) had detectable antibody responses up to 7–8 months. The synergistic effect of natural infection and vaccine response was also studied. Participants with breakthrough infections (N = 49) mounted a greater antibody response compared to individuals with normal vaccination response (N = 397) and those who were naturally infected before receiving the second dose of vaccine (N = 132). Investigation of the impact of comorbidities revealed that diabetes mellitus (DM) (N = 117) and kidney disease (N = 50) had a significant negative impact on the decline of the humoral antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. IgG and TAb declined more rapidly in diabetic and kidney disease patients compared to the other four comorbid groups. Follow-up studies demonstrated that antibody response rapidly declined within 4 months after receiving the second dose. ConclusionThe generalized immunization schedule for COVID-19 needs to be adjusted for high-risk comorbid groups, and a booster dose must be administered early within 4 months after receiving the second dose.

Was priority setting included in the Canadian COVID-19 pandemic planning and preparedness? A comparative analysis of COVID-19 pandemic plans from eight provinces and three territories

BackgroundVariation in priorities during pandemic planning among the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions are thought to have impacted Canada's ability to effectively control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and protect the most vulnerable. The potential influence of diverse and divergent political, cultural, and behavioural factors, regarding inclusion of priority setting (PS) in pandemic preparedness planning across the country is not well understood. This study aimed to examine how the Canadian federal, provincial and territorial COVID-19 pandemic preparedness planning documents integrated PS. MethodsA documentary analysis of the federal, eight provincial, three territorial COVID-19 preparedness and response plans. We assessed the degree to which the documented PS processes fulfilled established quality requirements of effective PS using the Kapiriri & Martin framework. ResultsWhile the federal plan included most of the parameters of effective PS, the provinces and territories reflected few. The lack of obligation for the provinces and territories to emulate the federal plan is one of the possible reasons for the varying inclusion of these parameters. The parameters included did not vary systematically with the jurisdiction's context. ConclusionProvinces could consider using the framework of the federal plan and the WHO guidelines to guide future pandemic planning. Regular evaluation of the instituted PS would provide a mechanism through which lessons can be harnessed and improvement strategies developed. Future studies should describe and evaluate what PS mechanisms were implemented.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Social Workers of Bangladesh

This study intended to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward the pandemic among the social workers of Bangladesh. Approximately 94% of them faced challenges working during COVID-19. They lacked knowledge regarding COVID-19 (0.62 ± 0.25). They also did not show enough practice. Attitudes were better than knowledge and practices. Respondents' gender, location, having vulnerable people at the home, educational attainment, and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms before were significantly associated with the overall KAP. In general, COVID-19 preparedness and response campaigns, and effective education, are required to ensure the competence of pandemic responses among this vital group.

Hospital COVID-19 preparedness: Are (were) we ready?

Terrorist attacks and natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey have increased focus on disaster preparedness planning. Despite the attention on planning, many studies have found that hospitals in the United States are underprepared to manage extended disasters appropriately and the surge in patient volume it might bring. This study aims to profile and examine the availability of hospital capacity specifically related to COVID-19 patients, such as emergency department (ED) beds, intensive care unit (ICU) beds, temporary space setup, and ventilators. A cross-sectional retrospective study design was used to examine secondary data from the 2020 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. A series of multivariate logistic analyses were conducted to investigate the strength of association between changes in ED beds, ICU beds, staffed beds, and temporary spaces setup, and the 3,655 hospitals' characteristics. Our results highlight that the odds of a change in ED beds are 44 percent lower for government hospitals and 54 percent for for-profit hospitals than not-for-profit hospitals. The odds of ED bed change for nonteaching hospitals were 34 percent lower compared to teaching hospitals. Small and medium hospitals have significantly lower odds (75 and 51 percent, respectively) than large hospitals. For ICU bed change, staffed bed change, and temporary spaces setup, the conclusions were consistently significant regarding the impact of hospital ownership, teaching status, and hospital size. However, temporary spaces setup differs by hospital location. The odds of change is significantly lower (OR = 0.71) in urban hospitals compared with rural hospitals, while for ED beds, the odds of change is considerably higher (OR = 1.57) in urban hospitals compared to rural hospitals. There is a need for policymakers to consider not only resource limitations that were created from supply line disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but also a more global assessment of the adequacy of funding and support for insurance coverage, hospital finance, and how hospitals meet the needs of the populations they serve.