Direct Personal Contact Research Articles

ATTITUDE OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS TOWARDS AGRIPRENEURSHIP: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A SCALE

Agripreneurship is doing business in agriculture or taking entrepreneurship in agriculture. Attitude is defined as the degree of positive or negative affect associated with some psychological object. The main objective of the study was to develop a scale on Attitude of agricultural students towards agripreneurship. In present study 'Scale Product Method' was used which is combination of Thurston's technique of equal appearing interval scale for selection of the items and Likert's technique of summated rating for ascertaining the response on the scale as proposed by Eysenck and Crown (1949). The statements, thus selected were edited on the basis of the criteria suggested by Edward (1969) and finally, 60 statements were selected. A schedule of 60 items was sent through 'Google forms' via email and whatsapp as well as through direct personal contacts to 140 experts working in the discipline of Agricultural extension of SAUs of Gujarat and other states. The judges were requested to sort out 60 statements on 11 point continuum from 'most unfavorable' to 'most favorable'. Out of them, 75 judges were responded. Based on Thurstone and Chave (1928) criteria in addition to Q as a basis for rejecting the statements in scales constructed by equal appearing interval scale method. Accordingly, when two or more items had the same scale values, those items having lowest Q values were selected. Thus, 24 statements were finally selected to constitute the attitude scale. A split-half technique was used to measure the reliability of the scale and the reliability coefficient was 0.82. The validity of the scale was also proved as per experts' judgments.

Knowledge and Attitude about Evidence-Based Dental Practice among Dentists in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Quality of patient care will improve when dental professional practices are based on evidence. The present study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and attitude of private dental practitioners in Al-Kharj regarding evidence-based dentistry. The study sample consisted of 180 private dental practitioners in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect information regarding knowledge and attitude toward evidence-based dental practice (EBDP). Data were collected by direct personal contact and information was collected on the same day. Awareness of EBDP among private dental practitioners was 67.8%. Also, 31.1% of subjects told that they practice EBD in decision-making about patient treatment. Only 16.7% of study subjects were aware of the Cochrane database, whereas 34.1% were aware of the evidence-based pyramid. Also, 91.7% thought that they needed to be trained regarding EBD. Awareness of EBDP is low among private dental practitioners but the majority of dentists think they need training regarding evidence-based dentistry.

Vibriosis in Human and Animals of Iraq

A species from the genus Vibrio is the cause of the bacterial disease known as vibriosis. About 12 diseases from these species, which are found in a diverse range of aquatic and marine habitats among the more than hundred species of the gene Vibrio, infect people. Vibriosis infections cause by Cholera and non-cholera. cholera is a severe form of diarrhea that, if left untreated, can quickly be fatal. It is primarily spread through contaminated water and direct personal contact. non-cholera Vibrio spp. such as (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus) are generally contacted through exposure to sea water or by consuming contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. Vibriosis incidence is favoured by climate change and rising temperature seas and rivers water are although their concentration undergoes a notable increase in the warm months due to favorable ecological conditions. Outbreak cholera and non-cholera in many countries of the world but of Iraq only Vibrio cholera in human except one case reported in Basra which is Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In the previous studies, it was show that other types of non-cholera Vibrio were isolated from Iraq shrimp in Basra governorate. The purpose of this study is to show cases infection of cholera and non-cholera in human and animals of Iraq.

Trust in COVID-19 public health information.

Understanding the factors that influence trust in public health information is critical for designing successful public health campaigns during pandemics such as COVID‐19. We present findings from a cross‐sectional survey of 454 US adults—243 older (65+) and 211 younger (18–64) adults—who responded to questionnaires on human values, trust in COVID‐19 information sources, attention to information quality, self‐efficacy, and factual knowledge about COVID‐19. Path analysis showed that trust in direct personal contacts (B = 0.071, p = .04) and attention to information quality (B = 0.251, p < .001) were positively related to self‐efficacy for coping with COVID‐19. The human value of self‐transcendence, which emphasizes valuing others as equals and being concerned with their welfare, had significant positive indirect effects on self‐efficacy in coping with COVID‐19 (mediated by attention to information quality; effect = 0.049, 95% CI 0.001–0.104) and factual knowledge about COVID‐19 (also mediated by attention to information quality; effect = 0.037, 95% CI 0.003–0.089). Our path model offers guidance for fine‐tuning strategies for effective public health messaging and serves as a basis for further research to better understand the societal impact of COVID‐19 and other public health crises.

Diplomatic Interpreting and Risk Analysis: A Literary Survey

In a diplomatic setting, overcoming the language barrier is fundamental to the establishment of mutual understanding and effective communication. As a complex activity that entails mediating immediate and direct personal contact between individuals from different cultures, interpreting can sometimes be problematic. As there may be more than one way of rendering the same speech, the process of interpreting may also be seen as a process of constant decision-making. When relations of power and conflicting political standpoints are involved, the cost and benefit of each alternative must be carefully considered in order to avoid undesirable consequences. As the worldwide political landscape is becoming increasingly volatile, diplomatic interpreters and their state of art are often put under the spotlight, attracting more public attention than ever with the help of contemporary social media. In order to tackle the challenges that arise during the event, an analysis of the associated risk may help the interpreter find an optimal strategy. During the past two decades, an increasing number of researches within the field of Interpreting Studies are focused on the social and cultural aspects of interpreting. However, the area of diplomatic interpreting has not attracted much academic attention. Similarly, while risk management is not a new concept in Translation studies, it remains a territory that is largely unexplored. This essay presents a literary review that aims to serve as a basis upon which further research can be conducted on the risks involved in diplomatic interpreting. The paper begins by illustrating the history of diplomatic interpreting to explain the various roles often assumed by the diplomatic interpreter. After that, an overview of the basic concepts and theories in risk studies is given to establish a better understanding of the framework. Finally, previous research into risk in translation and interpreting is evaluated in detail, providing a sound foundation for future projects to continue analyzing risk and decision-making in diplomatic interpreting.

Миф, боги, человек: "спекулятивная теология" как культурный и религиозный феномен древнеегипетской мысли XV-XIII вв. до н.э.

This paper studies the features of the so-called “speculative theology” of Amun-Re, the most prominent trend of ancient Egyptian religious and theological thought of the XV-XIII centuries BC on the example of two of its most significant texts, Cairo (Pap. Boulaq 17 Pap. Kairo CG 58038) and Leiden (Pap. Leiden I 350) hymns to Amun. Unlike earlier forms of Egyptian spiritual culture, for the first time in the history of ancient Egyptian religion, it creates the image of a transcendent deity, the connection of the believer with whom is now carried out through direct personal contact, and not through traditional forms of worship for the Egyptian religion. At the same time, many features of the image of Amun in the Theban “speculative theology” of the New Kingdom can already be considered as an attempt at a fundamentally new reflection of traditional categories of ancient Egyptian culture, such as, for example, “Maat” (world-order, justice, truth), both based on traditional values and departing from them. The reason for this was the crisis of traditional ideas about Maat after the Amarna era, which fundamentally changed the nature of popular piety and at the same time the basic principles of Egyptian religious and political ethics. From the point of view of the mythogenic conception of the genesis of philosophy, “speculative theology” - both in Egypt of the New Kingdom and somewhat later in archaic Greece – is of exceptional interest as the most important "transitional form" on the path of transformation of primitive myth into philosophical discourse and at the same time an interesting example of the interpenetration and joint evolution of mythological, religious and emerging philosophical worldview. Not always turning into a full-fledged philosophical tradition (this is exactly what happens, in particular, with the Theban “speculative theology” of Amun-Re), it nevertheless demonstrates the complex ways of transforming the spiritual world of the ancient man of the Eastern Mediterranean, thanks to which the spiritual transformation of the "axial time" became possible in many ways. By the example of the image of Amun, the transformation of ideas about religious experience in the Egyptian culture of the era of the New Kingdom is also studied.

Evaluation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception toward the Application of Teledentistry on Managing Early Childhood Caries during COVID-19 among Dental Professionals in Kolkata, West Bengal

Background: Teledentistry concerns with the utilization of telecommunication technology to provide clinical information, dental consultation, and treatment planning while avoiding direct personal contact with the patients. Its application is already established within the disciplines of oral medicine, orthodontic consultations, and early detection of caries.[1] Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the relevancy of teledentistry on managing early childhood caries (ECC) during the COVID-19 pandemic among dentists residing in Kolkata, West Bengal. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study using a 22-item prestructured, closed-ended questionnaire was conducted among dental professionals in Kolkata, West Bengal, to evaluate their knowledge on their thought that whether teledentistry can be implemented in the effective management of ECC. Results: A total of 108 participants responded to the survey. Knowledge and awareness regarding teledentistry and its use toward managing ECC is found to be high among postgraduates followed by Post Graduate Trainees (PGTs). The majority of the participants think teledentistry can increase the availability of specialists to rural and undeserving communities, where ECC is more prevalent (88%) and 73% of dentists are willing to practice teledentistry to bridge the gap of lack of health-care facilities to rural and undeserving communities for their dental needs. Conclusion: The majority of the BDS graduates and dentists doing private practice surveyed have less knowledge about teledentistry and awareness of ECC is less among dentists doing private practice. Education about teledentistry and ECC should be considered so that dentists can provide better oral health care.

Economic and Social Importance of the Breeding of Fur Animals in Greece and its Development Strategies

Background: In the present work, a thorough research and study was carried out to determine the conditions prevailing in the creation and operation of fur farms in Greece, which are bred exclusively in the region of Western Macedonia in the northwestern part of Greece. In particular, all the parameters that affect the efficiency of breeding units were analyzed, the appropriate answers to the problems and weaknesses of the breeding of fur-bearing animals were evaluated and given. Methods: The paper mainly deals with the applied practices and the situation prevailing in the field, from a technical, social and economic point of view and explored the development perspectives through proposed strategies, which are based on findings, literature, theoretical analyzes, statistical analyzes and primary sources from direct personal contacts. For the analysis of data of the fur industry, PESTLE and SWOT method of analyses applied. Result: The general conclusion that emerges from the whole effort is a dynamic development of the fur-bearing sector since everything points in this direction and this development will significantly contribute to the improvement of the living standard of the inhabitants of the area.

Supporting Remote Experimentation Through Computer-Mediated Communication

With the emergence of COVID-19 and the resultant reduction in direct personal contact, we were faced with a novel challenge of how to conduct studies that involved both semi-structured elicitation of detailed cognitive information and the evaluation of software interfaces and algorithms. We leveraged distributed communication technologies to support data collection across three separate human-computer interaction studies. We describe these studies in terms of specific computer-mediated communication methods and features and how we used them. We also present lessons learned, potential risks and detriments of using such approaches, (e.g., connectivity dependence, reduced ability to observe non-verbal cues, and diminished interpersonal interaction), along with how the research community can compensate for the shortcomings of distributed data collection in human-centered research.

Effects of a Nurse-Led Telehealth Self-care Promotion Program on the Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BackgroundIn recent years, telehealth has become a common channel for health care professionals to use to promote health and provide distance care. COVID-19 has further fostered the widespread use of this new technology, which can improve access to care while protecting the community from exposure to infection by direct personal contact, and reduce the time and cost of traveling for both health care users and providers. This is especially true for community-dwelling older adults who have multiple chronic diseases and require frequent hospital visits. Nurses are globally recognized as health care professionals who provide effective community-based care to older adults, facilitating their desire to age in place. However, to date, it is unclear whether the use of telehealth can facilitate their work of promoting self-care to community-dwelling older adults.ObjectiveThis review aims to summarize findings from randomized controlled trials on the effect of nurse-led telehealth self-care promotion programs compared with the usual on-site or face-to-face services on the quality of life (QoL), self-efficacy, depression, and hospital admissions among community-dwelling older adults.MethodsA search of 6 major databases was undertaken of relevant studies published from May 2011 to April 2021. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their 95% CIs were calculated from postintervention outcomes for continuous data, while the odds ratio was obtained for dichotomous data using the Mantel–Haenszel test.ResultsFrom 1173 possible publications, 13 trials involving a total of 4097 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the control groups, the intervention groups of community-dwelling older adults significantly improved in overall QoL (SMD 0.12; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.20; P=.006; I2=21%), self-efficacy (SMD 0.19; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.30; P<.001; I2=0%), and depression level (SMD –0.22; 95% CI –0.36 to –0.08; P=.003; I2=89%).ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that employing telehealth in nurse-led self-care promotion programs may have a positive impact on older adults, although more studies are needed to strengthen the evidence base, particularly regarding organization and delivery.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO (Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews) CRD42021257299; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=257299

Migrants' Social Integration and Its Relevance for National Identification: An Empirical Comparison Across Three Social Spheres.

A key element of migrants’ well-being is their emotional integration, that is, the extent to which they perceive themselves as members of society and their identification with the country they are living in. To foster this sense of belonging, many integration programs aim to increase the migrants’ social integration, for example, by organizing events for migrants to meet natives in various settings. The validity of this strategy is supported by decades of international research. It remains unclear, however, which aspects of social integration are most relevant for national identification. Multiple theories concerned with contact and group identification support the assumption that contact to natives should foster a sense of belonging and national identification. However, for a contact situation to bear this potential, a certain set of criteria, including aspects like direct personal contact, a similar social status, and the presence of egalitarian norms, needs to be fulfilled. It is expected that these characteristics are more likely to be fulfilled within family and friendship settings than in contact situations within the employment context. Hence, I expect contact to natives within the network of friends and family to be more greatly associated with migrants’ national identification. I analyzed data from a 2013 cooperation between the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), that is, the IAB-SOEP Migration Sample, as well as the 2014 wave of the SOEP. The subsample used included 2,780 first- and second-generation migrants living in Germany. The results indicate that not all kinds of contact are equally linked to national identification. In contrast to expectations, in neither the cross-sectional models nor the lagged models was living together with native family members significantly linked to national identification. Similarly, the association between having predominantly native co-workers and national identification was insignificant when controlling for migrant-specific characteristics. Only the relation with having predominantly native friends was significant and positive across all models. This as well as a comparison of the associations lead to the conclusion that when it comes to migrants’ national identification native friends might be the most relevant form of contact to natives.

Assessment of the level of scientific interaction between pedagogical universities and educational development institutions

Introduction. Pedagogical universities and educational development institutes (EDIs) have a single activity space. However, the interaction in the scientific field between these educational institutions currently needs to be improved, and this requires an assessment of the current level of interaction. The research purpose is to analyze the current level of scientific interaction between pedagogical universities and EDIs. Materials and methods. The level of interaction between organizations was assessed in accordance with the model by L. Borrell-Damian et al. by three parameters: 1) the content of joint activities; 2) legal aspects of interaction; 3) the main forms of communication. The study involved EDIs and pedagogical universities subordinate to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation from 46 regions of Russia (35 EDIs and 20 pedagogical universities), which representatives filled out a questionnaire using Google Forms. Results. The study shows that in scientific interaction, educational institutions primarily use its short-term options, among which scientific-practical conferences were most often indicated (70% of pedagogical universities and 74.3% of EDIs). Long-term options for scientific interaction are used much less often than short-term ones (the differences are significant for p≤0.0001, χ2EDIs=32.08, χ2pedagogical universities=1.54). The availability of a network interaction agreement was indicated by 45.7% of representatives of the EDIs and 25% of the pedagogical universities. Moreover, joint activities in scientific work plans is indicated by a significantly larger number of respondents: 50% of the pedagogical universities and 68.6% of the EDIs. The main communication option in the scientific sphere is an informal one, which is based on direct personal contacts (70% of the pedagogical universities and 77.1% of the EDIs). Formal communications are two times less common, the differences are statistically significant (χ2EDIs=20.63, χ2pedagogical universities=14.4, p≤0.0001). Conclusion. The current system of scientific interaction between pedagogical universities and EDIs may be assigned to the project level, since it is built on informal personal communications, focused on individual scientific projects with limited implementation periods, which are implemented with the execution of short-term contracts. Raising the level of partnership interaction up to a strategic one will increase the productivity and efficiency of scientific partnership.

Absence of virological and epidemiological evidence that SARS-CoV-2 poses COVID-19 risks from environmental fecal waste, wastewater and water exposures.

This review considers evidence for infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presence and COVID-19 infection and illness resulting from exposure to environmental fecal wastes and waters. There is no documented evidence that (1) infectious, replication-capable SARS-CoV-2 is present in environmental fecal wastes, wastewater or water, and (2) well-documented epidemiological evidence of COVID-19 infection, illness or death has never been reported for these exposure media. COVID-19 is transmitted mainly by direct personal contact and respiratory secretions as airborne droplets and aerosols, and less so by respiratory-secreted fomites via contact (touch) exposures. While SARS-CoV-2 often infects the gastrointestinal tract of infected people, its presence as infectious, replication-capable virus in environmental fecal wastes and waters has never been documented. There is only rare and unquantified evidence of infectious, replication-capable SARS-CoV-2 in recently shed feces of COVID-19 hospital patients. The human infectivity dose-response relationship of SARS-CoV-2 is unknown, thereby making it impossible to estimate evidence-based quantitative health effects assessments by quantitative microbial risk assessment methods requiring both known exposure assessment and health effects assessment data. The World Health Organization, Water Environment Federation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others do not consider environmental fecal wastes and waters as sources of exposure to infectious SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 infection and illness.

Digital diplomacy — diplomacy of the future

This article examines the challenges and threats faced by Russian diplomacy in the modern world, in the context of new global changes (the COVID-19 pandemic, the global financial, economic and energy crisis, attempts to reformat the existing system of international relations). Diplomacy is being radically transformed before our eyes. In the face of new challenges, its structure and methods are changing, and new directions are emerging. Our modern world is filled with names — humanitarian, digital, scientific, integration, cultural, public, sports diplomacy. At the same time, it is not certain that the essential content of diplomacy — the construction of relations and their management — will be carried out without direct personal contact. Interpersonal contact has always been the foundation of diplomacy. The authors present proposals for the formation of Russia's foreign policy position in relation to the most important problems of modern development through the prism of positioning our country as an independent center of power. The article analyzes new opportunities and technologies for use by the diplomatic departments of various states in the course of carrying out current activities in the field of international relations. It is impossible to imagine the life of any modern society without social networks - a structure based on the contacts of individuals with each other, the exchange of various information, the discussion of pressing issues. For a modern person, the use of a social network is quite a familiar phenomenon, and for diplomats it is not so much a form of communication with thousands of strangers, as an understanding of what is happening in their country of residence, how citizens react to the decisions and actions of the foreign ministry, a free ideological space that can be used as a means of influencing public opinion, creating a positive image of their country abroad. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the Internet and social networks has increased significantly (online work, study, conferences, meetings, entertainment, etc.).

Hospitality business longevity under COVID-19: The impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand’s hospitality industry

The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the New Zealand hospitality industry, within the context of business longevity theory using an on-line qualitative survey of 11 senior industry executives representing 105 restaurant, café and take-away outlets. The findings reveal that despite financial loss, COVID-19 provided an opportunity to engage in strategic innovation through two basic approaches; one mediated by technology, the other by direct personal contact. This internal innovation, flexibility and responsiveness is consistent with the RBV theory of the firm and the inertia and change perspective of organizational Population Ecology theory. The practical implications relate to business longevity and the financial impact across the industry, however, COVID-19 also provided an opportunity for strategic innovation through technology and direct personal customer contact. Innovations were mediated by two government COVID-19 related initiatives - the wage subsidy scheme, and government business loans. The social implications are significant and include a renewed sense of ‘self’ reflecting the need for business survival. Renewal has invigorated participants to differentiate the hospitality industry and its contribution to the national economy from that of tourism. That renewal and vibrancy provides the perfect scenario for the wider sociocultural embrace of a return to normal life and regular business in Aotearoa New Zealand. The limitations of this study include the focus on restaurants, cafes and take-aways - a wider hospitality industry study would provide a more industry representative perspective. The study is also focused on New Zealand as a unique case study; this would not necessarily be representative of the global industry. The qualitative approach and small sample is a strength in terms of depth of analysis, but could be supplemented through a wider quantitative study.

A Hospital Typology Translated: Transnational Flows of Architectural Expertise in the Clinique Reine Elisabeth of Coquilhatville, in the Belgian Congo

Architectural historians discussing transnational knowledge exchange have primarily focused on English- or French-speaking or bilateral flows of expertise. This article goes beyond those boundaries to trace the multi-sited design process of a colonial hospital for Europeans built in Coquilhatville, the Belgian Congo. Western hospital typologies underwent multiple typological innovations as they progressed from Brussels to the colonial capital of Léopoldville, and then to the remote town of Coquilhatville. A surprising variety of actors from outside the architectural discipline―administrators, engineers, and especially doctors―impacted its design. To “translate” Western hospital typologies to the tropical climate and colonial racial inequalities, they supplemented metropolitan expertise by drawing on alternative connections provided by the Belgian Congo’s intersectional position within the colonial world. Individual travel experiences, participation in colonial research missions, and direct personal contacts with other colonial administrations all played a role. Uncovering these alternative flows of expertise in the history of Coquilhatville’s Clinique sheds light on how colonial (hospital) architecture cannot simply be reduced to direct bilateral “export.” It was actually the product of a much more complex network of architectural knowledge exchange, so far insufficiently documented by architectural historians, that transcended conventional linguistic and imperial borders.

Influence of the Ecological State of the Environment on COVID-19 Distributions

The article analyzes the impact of the ecological state of the environment on the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine and the world. As of June 1, 2020, 24,012 diseases with COVID-19 were registered in Ukraine, 718 people died. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, there is a gradual increase in the incidence of COVID-19. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, this is due to non-compliance by people with such quarantine measures as the rules of personal protection and social distance. However, finding out the exact causal relationships requires detailed research. Although COVID-19 is thought to be mainly spread by airborne droplets and through infected surfaces or direct personal contact from person to person, high levels of urban air pollution, weather, and specific climatic conditions appear to have a significant impact on increasing levels confirmed COVID-19. Since solid particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 are a very significant concomitant indicator and a prerequisite for the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations. It is estimated that the incidence of COVID-19 will increase by almost 100 percent when the concentration of air pollution increases by 20 percent. The results of the research are relevant for the formation of recommendations to public authorities to improve the state environmental policy in terms of modernization of monitoring systems for drinking water quality, water bodies, soils, air. Generalizations will be useful in the implementation of European standards in the field of environmental protection, analytical report for parliamentary hearings, recommendations for the regions of Ukraine to reduce emissions of pollutants into the air and watercourses, compliance with environmental safety requirements to combat the spread of viral infections. As a result of optimization of the environmental monitoring network (air, water, soils, sediments) it will be possible for all competent authorities to make more informed management decisions based on data on the state of the environment. And specific vector recommendations for improving the geo-ecological state of the environment (air quality, reservoirs, soils) in the regions of Ukraine, taking into account the specifics of the ecological state of each region will help combat the spread of viruses and infections, will have a positive impact on public health.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19 pandemic among general population in a suburban city of Western India: a cross sectional study

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 pandemic among general population.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among general population residing in Navi Mumbai, India, by distributing online based predesigned, prevalidated and semi-structured survey questionnaire through social media from 20 April to 27 April, 2020. The survey instrument consisted of questions based on demographic characteristics followed by knowledge (12 questions), attitude (11 questions) and practices (5 questions). Individuals above 18 years of age, able to understand English language and willing to voluntarily consent were included in the study.Results: A total of 817 participants were included in the study. The mean knowledge score was 10.04±1.52 with an overall accurate response rate of 83.70%. Most of the participants had positive attitude regarding COVID-19 pandemic. A positive correlation was found between level of education with mean knowledge scores as well as positive attitude towards COVID-19 using Kruskal-Wallis H test (non-parametric ANOVA) which was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). Majority of participants followed infection prevention guidelines including the use of facemask (94.61%), appropriate hand hygiene practices (93.26%), maintaining social distancing (97.42%) and avoiding direct personal contact through hand shake/hugging (97.42%).Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of level of education with correct knowledge, positive attitude and appropriate practices. The information can further assist policy makers to predict success or make necessary modifications with respect to infection mitigation measures based on knowledge, attitude and practices of targeted population.

Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among Veterans Affairs healthcare system employees suggests higher risk of infection when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 outside the work environment

The seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG antibody was evaluated among employees of a Veterans Affairs healthcare system to assess potential risk factors for transmission and infection. All employees were invited to participate in a questionnaire and serological survey to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 as part of a facility-wide quality improvement and infection prevention initiative regardless of clinical or nonclinical duties. The initiative was conducted from June 8 to July 8, 2020. Of the 2,900 employees, 51% participated in the study, revealing a positive SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 4.9% (72 of 1,476; 95% CI, 3.8%-6.1%). There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of antibody based on gender, age, frontline worker status, job title, performance of aerosol-generating procedures, or exposure to known patients with coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) within the hospital. Employees who reported exposure to a known COVID-19 case outside work had a significantly higher seroprevalence at 14.8% (23 of 155) compared to those who did not 3.7% (48 of 1,296; OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 2.67-7.68; P < .0001). Notably, 29% of seropositive employees reported no history of symptoms for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among employees was not significantly different among those who provided direct patient care and those who did not, suggesting that facility-wide infection control measures were effective. Employees who reported direct personal contact with COVID-19-positive persons outside work were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Employee exposure to SARS-CoV-2 outside work may introduce infection into hospitals.

Recruiting Medical Students for a First Responder Project in the Social Age: Direct Contact Still Outperforms Social Media.

Introduction Efficient recruitment of first responders (FRs) is crucial for long-term success of any FR project. FRs are laypersons who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), medical professionals, and firemen, police officers, and other professions with a duty of help. As social media are widely used for rapid communication, we carried out a prospective observational study to test the hypothesis that recruitment of FRs via social media is more efficient than recruitment via direct face-to-face contact. Methods Following ethics committee agreement, we informed 600 medical students about becoming FRs when they attended a didactic lecture about the FR project or during their mandatory CPR-course. Furthermore, recruitment was opened to medical students through Facebook, which accessed ∼1,000 medical students to see if they expressed interest in becoming FRs. All of the recruited students successfully completed the FR training. We then used an online questionnaire to ask these students how they had been recruited. Results Out of 63 registered student FRs, 59 responded to the online questionnaire. Overall, 15.3% of these FR students were recruited via social media. The majority (78.0%) were recruited through direct contact. Conclusions Despite widespread use of social media, over three-quarters of these medical students were recruited to the FR project via direct personal contact. This suggests that the advantage of a larger reachable population using social media does not outweigh the impact of personal contact with experts.