Availability Of Equipment Research Articles

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection before and after the Omicron wave in a cohort of healthcare workers in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundLongitudinal healthcare worker (HCW) cohorts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic provide a unique opportunity to study the relative contributions of various exposures to infection risk over time. This study aimed to examine how demographic, health, occupational, household and community factors influenced the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in a cohort of HCWs in Southeastern Ontario, Canada, during the early pandemic and the Omicron waves. We compared the contribution of these factors to infection risk and explored the implications for future epidemic preparedness and the protection of HCWs.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal analysis using data from a cohort of HCWs recruited from one acute care hospital and four long-term care homes. The analysis was divided into two periods: the initial phase of the pandemic (period #1) and the first three Omicron waves (period #2). We employed Poisson regression for period #1 and Cox regression for period #2 to examine associations of demographic factors (age, sex, ethnicity, migration status, income insufficiency), health factors (chronic conditions, smoking history, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status), household factors (exposure to COVID-19), occupational factors (work role, exposure to COVID-19 patients, personal protective equipment access, aerosol-generating procedures) and community exposures (use of masks, distance, hand-washing) with SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsAt period #1, 17/208 (8.2%) HCWs reported having had SARS-CoV-2 infection. At period #2, 65/167 (38.3%) reported at least one SARS-CoV-2 infection. In period #1, factors associated with increased risk of infection included working in a long-term care home, exposure to more COVID-19-positive patients, working as a nurse or therapist, and inadequate use of personal protective equipment. In period #2, the hazard of infection was higher among HCWs who had COVID-19-infected children at home, whereas the use of protective measures in the community (maintaining social distance, mask-wearing) and receiving a vaccine booster were associated with reduced risk. Providing care to COVID-19 patients was not associated with the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection at period #2.ConclusionsDuring the Omicron wave, community and household exposures, but not occupational exposure to COVID-19 cases, were the primary factors contributing to infection risk in HCWs. This contrasts with the early waves of the pandemic where occupational exposures played a significant role. These findings may be explained by the effectiveness of institutional interventions in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in healthcare settings, alongside the failure of community-level interventions to mitigate risk during the Omicron period.

Utilization of Emergency Medical Services for Pediatric Interfacility Transports

OBJECTIVE Regionalization of pediatric care may affect interfacility transports (IFTs). We sought to evaluate trends in EMS use for IFTs over time and age-based differences in encounter characteristics as there may be implications for emergency department (ED) and emergency medical services (EMS) training and equipment availability. METHODS We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using 2018-2023 National EMS Information System datasets, including IFT encounters among children <18 years old. We used a time series model and described characteristics by age group. RESULTS We included 4,333,424 pediatric EMS encounters, of which 937,122 (21.6%) were IFTs. From 2018 to 2023, there was an increase from 114,531 to 185,438 encounters, representing a rise of 2014 encounters/year (168/month, 95% CI, 106, 230). The middle childhood age group had the largest increase by 32 encounters/month (95% CI, 25.4, 38.4). Two primary impressions: systemic states and psychiatric/behavioral/substance abuse conditions, had the greatest increase among all primary impressions, (39/month [95% CI, 34.8, 43.3] and 21/month [95% CI, 13.5, 28.4], respectively). Respiratory conditions predominated in younger children, from 24.0% in ages ≥2 to <6 years to 32.8% in infants Most airway procedures were performed in younger children, whereas restraints were more common in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS IFTs account for an increasing number of EMS encounters. We identified differences by age in EMS characteristics, impressions, and interventions. Further investigation into the current state of ED pediatric readiness and IFT clinical indications and dispositions is needed to improve care at primary EDs and efficiently provide care during transport while minimizing unnecessary IFTs.

Analysis of the Implementation of the First Level Outpatient Referral for Bpjs Kesehatan Participants at the Medan City Exemplary Health Center in 2023

The Social Security Administration Agency or BPJS Kesehatan recorded a total of 267.31 million participants as of December 31, 2023. If they need follow-up services by a specialist doctor, BPJS Kesehatan participants can be referred to second-level health facilities or secondary-level health facilities. The causes of the high number of referrals at the Teladan Health Center are due to: inadequate availability of doctors, delays in the availability of drugs and frequent vacancies in drug stocks, lack of availability of medical facilities and medical equipment and the implementation of the FKTP function as a gatekeeper does not follow the established rules. This research is a qualitative descriptive research, which is a research method that is carried out with the main purpose of making an overview or description of a situation objectively, with a semi-structured interview method, which is a type of interview that includes the category of in-depth interviews recorded using a tape recorder where in its implementation it is freer when compared to structured interviews. The results of the study obtained from this study are that there are still many referrals on their own request because patients do not trust the health center, resulting in a high number of referrals. The number of health workers at the Teladan Health Center has met the standards, but neurologists and cardiologists are needed because many of the patients referred have internal diseases. Medicines, medical devices, medical device facilities and infrastructure facilities at the Teladan Health Center are incomplete and there is a lack of public knowledge about the gatekeeper concept so that there are frequent APS referrals. It is hoped that the Exemplary Health Center to the Head of the Health Center will propose the addition of Specialist Doctors to the Medan City Health Office, re-evaluate drug planning, provide socialization to the public about JKN, especially the tiered referral system and about the gatekeeper concept. The Medan City Health Office is also expected to collaborate with health centers in completing medical equipment and medicine facilities.

The analysis of factors influencing patient choice of healthcare providers between tertiary hospitals and community clinics

BackgroundThe uneven distribution of medical resources in China has led to persistently low utilization rates of primary healthcare institutions. The tiered healthcare delivery system aims to optimize resource allocation and strengthen primary care, yet patient preferences for tertiary hospitals hinder its effective implementation. Understanding the factors influencing healthcare-seeking behaviors is crucial for improving policies and promoting system efficiency.ObjectiveTo analyse the factors influencing patient choices between a tertiary hospital and a community health service center in Chengdu and provide recommendations for advancing the tiered healthcare system.MethodsA random sampling method was used in August 2023 to survey patients at a tertiary hospital (Group A) and a community health service center (Group B). The survey assessed demographics, health status, factors influencing provider choice, and awareness of the family doctor system. Chi-square, t-tests, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for group comparisons, while logistic regression identified factors associated with primary care visits.ResultsAmong 865 valid responses (Group A: 420; Group B: 445; 92.02% response rate), Group A had significantly higher education levels and household incomes (p < 0.001), while Group B had higher chronic disease prevalence and family doctor contract rates (71.5% vs. 59.3, 44.5% vs. 25.5%; both p < 0.01). Positive factors for choosing community healthcare included better equipment and medication availability (46.9%), lower costs with higher reimbursement (45.0%), and convenient transport (41.2%). Negative factors included distrust in community care quality (39.1%) and limited familiarity with family doctors (32.8%). Logistic regression indicated that being over 60 years old (OR: 1.94, CI: 1.02–3.69) and awareness of the tiered healthcare system (OR: 2.48, CI: 1.56–3.96) were significant factors for seeking primary care.ConclusionPatients with higher education and income prefer tertiary hospitals, while chronic disease patients are more likely to utilize community care. Low family doctor contract rates and trust in community healthcare quality remain barriers. Strengthening community resources and promoting the tiered healthcare system could improve patient participation and alleviate pressure on tertiary hospitals.

Tornado Effect—Ultimate Apically Extruded Fragment Retrieval Technique

ABSTRACT Separation of instruments can occur during routine endodontic treatment in the canal, thereby preventing thorough cleaning and shaping. The success rate of fractured instrument retrieval mainly depends on three factors 1. length of the instrument, 2. inclination of the canal, and 3. size of the fractured instrument. Many advanced techniques and methods can be used to recover the separated instruments but these techniques may not be suitable in all clinical situations one such scenario is extruded fragment (File or GP) beyond the apex where the availability of cutting-edge equipment is needed, this article emphasizes on understanding the various factors that contribute to extruded instrument retrieval and its outcome, on the other hand, also focuses on different instrumental techniques for retrieving extruded files over the apex.

Constructive-synthesizing modeling of the direct current traction power supply system

A general constructive-synthesizing model of the DC traction power supply section has been developed. The model can be used to solve a number of problems related to reducing electricity consumption in both railway and urban public electric transport. The developed model is focused on determining the availability and nomenclature of traction substation equipment and rational use of recuperation energy. However, it can also be applied to solve other problems related to the designs of the traction power supply system. An example of the formed scheme of a linear power supply section with three substations is given. The presented generalized model allows to form a set of potentially possible schemes of sections of the power supply system, which can serve as the basis for further constructive modeling: traction power supply modes and the state of the power grid, equipment location options and train situation, determination of expert conclusions on the use of recuperation energy on these models, formation of a neuro-fuzzy or neural network of decision-making and, based on them control constructor. The developed modeling method is based on the capabilities of the сonstructive-synthesizing modeling in a new subject area. The terminal alphabet is semantically filled with images of electrical equipment, traction network and electricity consumers with appropriate attributes. The constructive-synthesizing modeling specification has been performed, which allows taking into account a significant number of capabilities and features of modern equipment of traction power supply systems, traction network sections and train situation. The given indi-vidual case of forming a structural diagram demonstrates the capabilities of the constructive-synthesizing modeling in relation to a number of tasks.

Real-Time Temperature Monitoring VHMS Dashboard Development to Reduce Component Unscheduled Breakdown

The coal mining industry relies on heavy equipment such as excavators and bulldozers and their efficiencies are critical for the productivity. This paper addresses the issue of unscheduled breakdowns due to high operational temperatures which impacts productivity, equipment availability and maintenance costs. The existing Vehicle Health Monitoring System (VHMS) from Komatsu Original Manufacturing lacks of real-time data for coolant temperature. The data recording is only every 20 hours and data reporting to the monitoring system is transferred daily. This lack of data is leading to unable for identifying the causes of problems. This study proposes a real-time temperature monitoring dashboard for the VHMS to track and manage Komatsu equipment temperature limits and to upgrade the existing system to record temperature data in every second instead of every 20 hours. This fine data collection provides enough information for a comprehensive analysis of machine conditions. This allows for quick identification of abnormal temperature trends, leading to timely maintenance and failures prevention. The new dashboard system provides immediate access to detailed temperature data, facilitating prompt decision-making in maintenance process. It also involves setting new temperature limits to prevent overheating and reduce unscheduled component breakdown from 25% in 2019 to 0% in 2023 and 2024. Implementing a real-time temperature monitoring dashboard is expected to improve equipment availability, reduce breakdowns, optimize maintenance schedules and lower operational costs in the coal mining industry.

ANALISIS RISIKO PROYEK JARINGAN TRANSMISI DENGAN METODE DECISION TREE DAN EXPECTED MONETARY VALUE

The imbalance between electricity demand and supply in Indonesia necessitates strategic evaluation and action. In response to this issue, the government of the Republic of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has designated the construction of the Sumatra 500 kV transmission network as a National Strategic Project (NSP) to support the growth of communities in Sumatra. This project, particularly Package 3 undertaken by PT XYZ, poses significant risks for the company as the contractor. Research is conducted through qualitative analysis using a consequences-probability matrix to identify risks, and quantitative analysis with decision tree method andexpected monetary value (EMV) to determine the risk values. From the study involving 30 respondents and 54 risk variables across 7 categories, four high-risk variables, 46 moderate-risk variables, and four low-risk variables are identified. The most dominant and impactful risk category for the project is finance and economics. The four variables with the most substantial impact are: 1) Slow land acquisition and compensation processes; 2) Project funding delays due to the owner's late advance payments/terms; 3) Theft/loss of tower structure and stringing materials; 4) Unavailability of access for materials and equipment to the location. The total cost that needs to be allocated for these four risks to be handled is Rp 88.532.244.788.

Factors influencing healthcare workers’ perceived compliance with infection prevention and control standards, North Bank East region, The Gambia, a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study evaluated Health Care Workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, attitude, perceived compliance, and potential influencing factors related to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards in the North Bank East region of The Gambia.MethodThe study was an analytic cross-sectional study, conducted in 2021 using a multistage sampling technique. Thirteen health facilities were sampled from the North Bank East Region of The Gambia. The sample size was calculated using the Cochrane formula, based on a healthcare worker population of 408, with a 95% confidence interval. Adjustments were made for a 10% non-response rate and a compliance level of 50%. A final sample size of 218 was used for the study. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression were done at a 95% confidence limit and an alpha level of 0.05. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAmong the 218 healthcare workers, the majority demonstrated adequate knowledge (86.24%) and a positive attitude (78.4%) toward Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). About half (50.5%) of the HCWs did not comply with IPC standards. Good attitude of HCWs [aOR = 3.13, 95%CI: 1.17–8.41, p-value = 0.023], accessibility of Personal Protective Equipment [aOR = 2.34, 95%CI: 1.01–5.38; p-value = 0.046], and monitoring of IPC practice [aOR = 3.95, 95%CI: 1.84–8.45; p-value = < 0.001] were independently associated with HCWs perceived compliance with IPC standards.ConclusionAlthough 188 (86.24%) HCWs displayed adequate knowledge of IPC standards, perceived compliance remains insufficient in Gambian healthcare facilities. To address this, the Ministry of Health should prioritize educational campaigns, and regular training to reinforce HCW knowledge, ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) accessibility, and implement ongoing IPC practice monitoring among healthcare workers.

Analysis of the main stages of improvement of technical means for the application of mineral fertilizers

In the Republic of Belarus, crop yields have increased 3.5–5 times over the past 60 years due to the combined result of work in the field of breeding, mechanization of fertilizers and chemical plant protection products application, which is a significant achievement of science and practice [1, p. 28]. One of the main criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of mineral fertilizers is considered to be the payback of 1 kg of NPK, which should be at least 8 kg of grain or 10–12 feed units by all crops on arable land [2, p. 113; 3]. To achieve such results, spreaders must perform high-quality distribution of mineral fertilizers within the established agrotechnical deadlines. The criterion for assessing the quality of the distribution of mineral fertilizers over the field area is the coefficient of variation, which is defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the average dose. In addition to uniform distribution over the field area, high-quality incorporation of mineral fertilizers with tillage tools is also essential. As for the timeliness of applying the specified doses of fertilizers within the established agrotechnical deadlines, the most important factors here are the availability of equipment at farms during the busiest period and provision of high-performance fertilizer spreaders. It should be considered, that agricultural chemicalization machines are used from early spring to late autumn, and their annual load exceeds the same indicator for other agricultural machinery. In addition, the operation of fertilizer spreaders involves interaction with aggressive media, which imposes appropriate requirements to ensure their reliability. It should be noted that currently unmanned aerial vehicles are beginning to be actively used to introduce chemicals [4, p. 2]; publications on the development and testing of nanofertilizers are increasingly appearing in the scientific literature [5, p. 319]. In this regard, in order to determine further trends in the improvement of technical means for fertilization, it is necessary to analyze the main stages of the development of these technical means and identify the distinctive stages of their improvement.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Nephrology: Beyond Kidney Ultrasound

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has increasingly become an integral part of clinical practice, particularly in nephrology, where its use extends beyond renal assessment to include multi-organ evaluations. Despite challenges such as limited ultrasound training and equipment access, especially in low- and middle-income countries, the adoption of POCUS is steadily rising. This narrative review explores the growing role of multi-organ POCUS in nephrology, with applications ranging from the assessment of congestion phenotypes, cardiorenal syndrome, and hemodynamic acute kidney injury (AKI) to the evaluation of arteriovenous fistulas and electrolyte disorders. In nephrology, POCUS enhances clinical decision making by enabling rapid, bedside evaluations of fluid status, cardiac function, and arteriovenous access. Studies have demonstrated its utility in diagnosing and managing complications such as heart failure, cirrhosis, and volume overload in end-stage renal disease. Additionally, POCUS has proven valuable in assessing hemodynamic alterations that contribute to AKI, particularly in patients with heart failure, cirrhosis, and systemic congestion. This review highlights how integrating ultrasound techniques, including lung ultrasound, venous Doppler, and focused cardiac ultrasound, can guide fluid management and improve patient outcomes. With advancements in ultrasound technology, particularly affordable handheld devices, and the expansion of targeted training programs, the potential for POCUS to become a global standard tool in nephrology continues to grow, enabling improved care in diverse clinical settings.

Магнитный биомониторинг состояния окружающей среды в городе Пермь

The article presents the results of research on the development of a new method for direct determination of mercury microconcentrations in food products of plant origin using the atomic absorption method of cold steam with mercury concentration from sample suspensions and ultrasonic treatment of suspensions. The developed method has a number of advantages - the ability to analyze solid samples without preliminary transfer to a solution, which significantly simplifies the analysis procedure, increases the rapidity, accuracy due to the prevention of mercury losses during its extraction from solid samples, as well as the economic and commercial availability of equipment. The correctness of the developed method is proven by comparison with the results obtained using GOST methods and the additive method. Keywords: MERCURY, FOOD PRODUCTS, SUSPENSIONS, ATOMIC ABSORPTION, MONITORING

Ergonomic design and efficiency of the innovative ambulance cabin for emergency medical services: operational indicators and impact on the quality of emergency care

The relevance of improving the efficiency of emergency medical care in the context of emergency medical services (EMS) necessitates the implementation of modern solutions. As part of the study, the ambulance cabin was optimized, ergonomic zoning was introduced, equipment placement was standardized, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) were developed.The purpose of the study. To compare the efficiency of emergency medical care provided in standard and optimized ambulance cabins, assessing the impact of ergonomic and zoning modifications on the time required for procedures, the quality of care, and the working conditions of medical personnel.Research objectives. An analysis of the impact of ambulance cabin ergonomics on the speed and quality of medical procedures, as well as an examination of the working conditions of medical personnel in the updated cabin to identify the advantages of implementing a systematic approach to space design.Materials and methods. The study focuses on designing a new ambulance cabin with an emphasis on ergonomics, zoning, and optimal equipment placement to enhance the efficiency of medical procedures. Methods of ergonomic and demographic analysis were applied to evaluate the functionality of cabin zones, alongside statistical data processing using Excel, specialized software packages, and Python.Results. Test data revealed that the use of the optimized ambulance cabin enhances the efficiency of emergency medical care. The time required for medical procedures in the updated cabin was reduced, improving the response speed of the team. A decrease in personnel fatigue and increased equipment accessibility were noted due to ergonomic zoning. The results also confirmed more comfortable working conditions for the medical team and a reduction in response times compared to the standard cabin.Conclusion. The results of the study hold significant scientific and practical value for emergency medical service professionals. The data obtained confirm the potential of implementing innovative solutions in ambulance design, enabling recommendations to improve working conditions for medical personnel and enhance the efficiency of emergency medical care delivery.

A reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) model for electromechanical components in hydropower plants

Abstract Hydropower generation is world best source of renewable energy and is continuously playing a tremendous job in energy requirement. To cope up with day by day increasing demand in electric energy, it is very essential to keep the hydropower plants in sustainable operational condition. To achieve this, the maintenance strategies based on Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis play a pivotal role in sustainability of the hydropower plants. In our case study various critical components of hydropower plant were identified such as turbine, governor and generator. The causes and effects of various failures in the critical components were identified using Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Fault tree Analysis (FTA). The main role in the study is presenting a RAM model which helps in evaluating different levels of performance in Hydropower plant. Finally, the RAM parameters were evaluated and their outcomes were suggested to find the convenient maintenance intervals. The results of the proposed model revealed that the critical flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis to achieve the high level of reliability and safety. The results of present framework is to achieve the high level of reliability, hence, the main flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis. The proposed study could be valuable for improving the availability and safety of the critical equipment in hydropower plant. As a consequence, the results of present study could be beneficial for other hydro generating facilities to achieve the sustainable maintenance and operation programs in electricity generation systems.

Key Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Sports Science and Medicine Resources and Practices in English Non-League Male Football

Background: Sports science and medicine (SSM) is integral to professional football clubs. The level below professional football in England, ‘non-league football’ (NLF), consists of full-time and part-time clubs. The existing literature has exclusively focused on SSM in professional football, with the resources and practices in NLF currently unknown. Therefore, this study explored the SSM resources and practices within NLF by investigating the perspectives of key stakeholders working within NLF coaching and SSM disciplines. Methods: Fifty participants (coaching practitioners [n = 25] and SSM practitioners [n = 25]) from NLF clubs completed an anonymous online survey comprising 31 multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions, alongside optional open-ended comments. Results: Support was mixed for SSM evidence-based practices across clubs in Tiers 5–10 within the National League System. The most common SSM resources were the training ground (n = 39), resistance training equipment (n = 15), and rehabilitation area (n = 13). Fitness testing was frequent (86%) pre-season but rare end-of-season (8%). Workload monitoring primarily consisted of the session duration (80%) and time–motion data (36%). Performance analysis of competitive matches commonly used video (74%) or post-match technical analysis (40%). Injury monitoring generally occurred ‘always’ (44%) or ‘sometimes’ (28%). Nutritional support on match days was mostly fluids (80%), with ‘no support’ reported most outside match days (54%). Conclusions: The SSM resources and practices vary considerably within NLF, influenced by individual club constraints and barriers, including financial support, access to facilities, and equipment availability. These findings may inform future SSM provisions in NLF to enhance team performances and player availability.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ И ОСНОВНЫЕ ТЕНДЕНЦИИ РАЗВИТИЯ ТЕХНИЧЕСКОГО ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА

The material and technical base of agriculture is the most important indicator that directly affects the volume and efficiency of agricultural production. During the period of market reforms in the Russian Federation, the agricultural sector of the economy and its material and technical base have undergone significant negative quantitative and qualitative changes. Over the past 10-15 years, with the arrival of large capital in domestic agriculture, it has been possible to stop the destructive processes in the formation of the material and technical base and ensure its renewal mainly in the most profitable sub-sectors of agriculture, which has allowed the country to significantly increase production of grain, sunflower, sugar beet, pork and poultry meat. The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific methods such as synthesis, analysis, comparison, as well as a special research method such as content analysis of official documents. Increasing domestic production of agricultural machinery has become a priority for the Russian government, which is why the state provides incentives for manufacturers to localize as part of its strategy to achieve goals aimed at ensuring that 80% of agricultural machinery used in Russia is produced domestically, which will triple the total volume of equipment production and increase exports of agricultural machinery by 12 times. in 2030. The key problem of the development of the domestic agro-industrial complex is the high level of wear and tear of agricultural machinery. In the Russian Federation, the availability of equipment for livestock farms is about 40%, and its wear reaches 85%. A similar situation is observed in the processing industries of the agro-industrial complex. The installed technological machines and equipment in these industries are physically and morally outdated. The wear of agricultural machinery reaches about 50%. There is a need to improve the areas of government support, create specific conditions for the government to influence the processes of ensuring food security in the country and implement an export-oriented agricultural development strategy. Consequently, starting in 2020, Russia has a new mechanism for allocating subsidies to agriculture. Changes in government support will help the regions develop their priority and specific areas, which in the long term will contribute to improving the efficiency of allocated budget funds.

Readiness to deliver quality curative care for under-five children at health posts in Ethiopia

BackgroundThe institutionalization of village health services with salaried community health workers has been established in Ethiopia for over a decade. However, there are serious concerns about the capacity of health posts to provide quality curative care for children under-five.Understanding the readiness of health posts is crucial for improving the care given to sick children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the readiness of health posts to deliver quality curative care for children under-five in four regional states in Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at selected health posts across 10 zones in the Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regions. Study participants, including health posts and health extension workers, were selected using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy. The readiness of health post was assessed in terms of infrastructure, human resources, medicines, medical equipment and supplies and job aids. The variations in health post readiness were analyzed using a One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsA survey was conducted on 169 health posts and 276 health extension workers. The majority of health posts had a toilet facility (83%) and water supply (62%). However, less than a quarter had electricity connection (22%) and communication equipment (18%). Over three-fourths of health extension workers were trained (83%) and supervised (78%) on clinical management of sick children. Less than half (44%) had received clinical mentorship. Availability of essential medicines ranged from 81% for zinc tablets to 28% for cotrimoxazole. Similarly, availability of essential medical equipment varied from 57% for blood pressure apparatus to 86% for thermometer and 99% for Mid-Upper Arm Circumference tape. Only a small portion of health posts (8%) had all critical items for infection prevention practices, which are essential for quality care. Overall, the average percentage availability of items to provide quality curative care to children was 66%, with health post preparedness significantly varying across regions (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe readiness for delivering quality curative care was below standard and significantly varied among health posts across regions. Serious attention is needed to ensure the sustained availability of critical inputs such as trained health extension workers, medicines, medical equipment, and supplies, which is paramount for delivering quality care.

Neuromuscular Ultrasound Training in Neuromuscular Fellowship Programs in Canada: Minding the Gap.

Neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) is gaining prominence as a valuable tool for diagnosing neuromuscular disorders at the point of care. Neuromuscular disorder diagnostic criteria guidelines have begun incorporating NMUS findings. As interest grows, fellowship programs must consider incorporating training into their curricula. This study evaluated the current state of NMUS training, potential barriers, and interest in training across Canadian neuromuscular fellowship programs. A 23-question online survey was developed and distributed via email to all 10 neuromuscular fellowship program directors across Canada. Seven (70%) programs responded to the survey. There was general agreement among programs on the value of NMUS, however, only one (14.3%) program reported they would consider recent graduates to be competent in NMUS. Critical barriers to incorporation of NMUS training included lack of a formalized curriculum, faculty expertise and time, and equipment. Two (28.6%) programs reported that accessibility of equipment and one (14.3%) that faculty expertise was not a barrier to NMUS training. Two (28.6%) programs have local NMUS training options available to fellows (in only one program is NMUS training mandatory). All programs expressed interest in additional training opportunities, and three (43%) programs reported taking steps toward incorporating NMUS training into their curricula. NMUS training is in its infancy in Canada, with several common barriers identified across programs. There is universal interest in further NMUS training opportunities for fellows, highlighting the importance of a common approach to addressing the educational gap to support development of formalized NMUS training mechanisms in Canada.

DOMINANT FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE USE OF PPE (AMONG CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN TUBAN DISTRICT)

Compliance to always wear personal protective equipment is one of the important factors in reducing the number of work accidents. Factors that become the basis for compliance behavior in wearing personal protective equipment are very diverse, one of which is company regulations, supervision, worker knowledge, availability of personal protective equipment, rewards and punishments, and worker attitudes. Research at the Tuban Regency Health Center aims to analyze the dominant factors that influence the level of compliance with the use of PPE in rehabilitation and maintenance construction workers. Quantitative research using observational methods and cross-sectional design. The study population involved rehabilitation and maintenance construction workers of Puskesmas in Tuban Regency, with a sample of 53 workers selected using probability sampling technique with simple random sampling. The level of compliance with the use of PPE as the dependent variable while knowledge, attitude, peer encouragement, HSE inspection, reward, and punishment as independent variables. The instrument used a questionnaire. Data analysis using Multiple Logistic Regression statistical test with SPSS. The test results obtained ap value &lt;0.05, with the attitude variable having the highest Exp(B) value (14.423) compared to other variables, meaning that there is an influence of knowledge, attitude, peer encouragement, reward and punishment on the level of compliance with the use of PPE, and attitude is the most dominant factor. The suggestion for improvement is for the workforce to be more open to the concept of safety culture in the workplace.

Effects of COVID-19 on Dental Surgery Teaching Methods among Final Year Students in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Post-Pandemic Study

Background: The COVID-19 Pandemic which took the world by a storm in the year 2020 has had a far-reaching effect on all segments of human development, and especially on education and dental surgery, through the social distancing measures and the phases of lockdowns it imposed, infection prevention measures, among other things. Objectives: To assess the impact COVID-19 has had on dental surgery teaching methods and skill acquisition among final year students of dentistry and dental surgery in a developing country like Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of final-year dental students across four (4) dental schools in Nigeria using a structured online Google form. Data was collected from fifty-four (54) respondents and the data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: The respondents agreed that COVID-19 reduced metrics such as physical practical sessions (83.3% of the respondents), contact times with patients (85.2%), physical classes’ reduction (31.5%), theatre experiences (61.1%), ability to meet up with training requirements (72.2%), flow chart affectation (79.6%), and availability of equipment for dental surgery training (53.7%). The cost of training increased according to 70.4% of the respondents while dental skills acquisition further reduced according to 61.1% of the respondents. There was an association between the institution of study and the effect of the pandemic on dental skills acquisition, however, the association wasn’t significant (Fischer’s exact value – 15.326. Degrees of significance p = 0.06. There was also no significant correlation between age and the effect of the pandemic on dental skills acquisition. (Pearson’s correlate = -0.030, Significance (2-tailed) = 0.892) Conclusion: The effect of COVID-19 on dental surgery teaching methods have been largely negative, reducing amount of practical sessions, reducing student’s interaction with patients, increasing cost and length of training among other negative effects, with a minor increase in access to journal groups and website links. Recommendation: Despite the reduction in overall teaching experience, there is a need to inculcate training in infection prevention and control to arm dental trainees with the wherewithal to protect themselves from infection. In addition, to further improve access to the online classes, the government can channel a part of the budget on education towards subsidizing the cost of data access to online learning platforms like Zoom and Google meet, by liaising with internet service providers and making provision for WiFi in the different campuses.