Global Coronavirus Pandemic Research Articles

Relationship between Secondary Trauma Self-Efficacy, Secondary Trauma and Job Burnout among Doctors Dealing with COVID-19 Patients

Background: The global pandemic of coronavirus became a profound threat to the physical and mental health of people worldwide. Healthcare workers especially doctors on the frontline experience critical and traumatic situations on regular basis. Doctors dealing with COVID-19 patients become more vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress and burnout due to persistent exposure to stressful situations.
 Objective: To examine the relationship between secondary trauma self-efficacy, job burnout and secondary trauma in doctors who are involved in treating people infected with COVID-19. Method: The study was conducted by using cross-sectional research design. The sample consisted of 78 doctors who were working as frontline workers in dealing with COVID-19 patients. Online google form was
 devised to collect data from the participants by employing convenient sampling technique. The google form comprised of demographic questionnaire and two scales i.e., Secondary Trauma Self-Efficacy scale and Compassion Fatigue scale. Two primary hypotheses were formulated i.e., there would likely be a negative relationship between secondary trauma self-efficacy and compassion fatigue in doctors dealing with coronavirus patients and secondary trauma self-efficacy would likely predict secondary trauma and job burnout in doctors dealing with coronavirus patients. The hypotheses were tested through SPSS software by conducting Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Hierarchical Multiple Regression analysis. Results: The results showed that there was significant negative relationship between Secondary Trauma Self- Efficacy and Compassion Fatigue (r= -0.54, p

Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 during the Third Wave of COVID Pandemic: A Single-center Descriptive Study.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has been causing a global pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in recurring waves. On November 24, 2021, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.529) was identified in South Africa. We aimed to study the clinical profile, laboratory parameters, complications, and outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection during the third wave in India. This was a single-center cross-sectional study conducted from 10th January 2022 to 10th Feuary 2022. Data on demographic profile, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, complications, and clinical outcome was collected and compared between nonsevere and severe cases. A total of 74 patients were included. Four (5.4%) had a severe disease while 70 (94.6%) had a nonsevere disease. The most common symptoms were fever (60.8%), cough (52.7%), and sore throat (45.9%). There was a significant difference between severe and nonsevere groups in terms of vaccination history (p = 0.0412), and time elapsed from symptom onset to hospitalization (p ≤0.001). The severe disease group also had significantly higher levels of leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ARDS, sepsis, and a higher need for respiratory support (p < 0.001). A total of 70 (94.6%) patients were discharged while four (5.4%) patients succumbed to complications of COVID-19 infection. Complete vaccination against COVID was associated with significantly lower chances of severe disease [odds ratio (OR) 0.083, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0080-0.8632]. As compared to the previous two waves, the current wave of the pandemic had milder symptoms, less severe disease, and fewer ICU admissions and deaths. Successful completion of vaccination against COVID was associated with significantly lower morbidity and mortality.

Massive Open Online Courses for Scalability and Transformational Culture of Learning in Corporate Organizations

The global pandemic of coronavirus “Covid-19” in the fall of 2019 caused dramatic changes in all sectors, including education. Businesses, like corporate organizations that normally train their employees annually, were equally affected, due to lack of instructors. Learning institutions were faced with various challenges due to the abrupt paradigm shift of changing from face-to-face to online teaching and learning, with limited preparedness. For scalability, and to maintain their annual strategies of keeping their dynamic capabilities, organizations were forced to adapt online training although with limited preparedness. However, electronic learning innovations such as the massive open online courses (MOOCs) that should have been leveraged by corporate organizations to train their employees during these hard times, had been mainly tailored for educational institutions. More still, much as MOOCs are essential for all enterprises, there have been few or no models developed to inform their adoption for corporate training. This study sought to bridge this gap, thus developed a model for MOOCs adoption for corporate training, based on data collected from South African private sectors, and analysed quantitatively. Results indicated that perception and attitude toward technology, teaching styles, and technology control are key influencing factors of MOOCs adoption for corporate training. The developed model will be used to provide insights into MOOCs adoption for workplace training, and to extend research on MOOCs usage. It is recommended that future studies consider the analysis of the moderating effects of respondents’ demographics, their perceptions possibly changing over time.

E-Learning in Times Of COVID-19: Insights into Management and Communication Students’ Perspectives Throughout the Global Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought not only a global health crisis, but also many changes and shifts towards a more digitalized working environment. In line with the GlobalET conference theme of this year, this paper looks at how particularly the education sectors has been affected by these new forms of working. One year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the Competence Team for the Digitalization of Communication at the FHWien der WKW – University of Applied Sciences for Management and Communication conducted two comparative online surveys with students as well as 60 in-depth interviews. The results of this research help to identify and improve ongoing Distance Learning practices, starting with logistics such as the preferred study mode, recommended duration of the Distance Learning units or mandatory attendance of students during class. The outcome of the research will further contribute to sharpen the clarity of the purpose of digital activities to understand the required support services or online material and to develop possibilities to track students’ study progress. Even though there is an understanding that more than one year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the findings can only represent the current status and cannot give a long-term outlook, they might be useful to further develop students’ needs for future Distance Learning and its practices.

A case study of dietary cereal demand forecasts for Neo infantile atrophy

Medical literature emphasizes, “Every medicine has its side effects”. Therefore, we have to pay more attention in advocating preventive medicine today. Above all, Huangdi neijing emphasizes the principle of “governance to avoid illness “and supporting the “Five grains for nourishment, as early as 3700 years ago. Since the beginning of this year, we have witnessed the global pandemic of Corona virus followed by floods, droughts and other natural disasters all over the world. Meanwhile food scarcity, as Brown et al. (2004) have warned, continues to scare people in China. There are rumors that Chinese people will consume all the food in their country have not subsided. Whether or to what extent this will affect diet therapy and survival, especially the sequelae of Neo infantile atrophy and the healthy diet of chronic patients remains to be seen. This article specifically focuses on China’s staple demand forecasting. This research has indicated that food security and sufficiency continue to be an important subject worthy of our attention.

Online psychotherapy in times of COVID-19: professional’s experience

IntroductionThe global pandemic of corona virus has brought on the imperative of swift organisational changes within mental health care institutions. Outpatient psychiatric care system with all its complex features was organized online. Patient’s adjustment to different modality of treatment, and their benefit, was of our primary concern. Mental health professionals had many challenges in this process as well. Couple of months into providing this form of treatment, we were interested in therapist experience.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to highlight challenges faced by the various mental health professionals that were a part of interdisciplinary team at University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče.MethodsWe used self-assessment scales to assess mental health professionals experience and to recognize some of the possible difficulties in this process. We have examined satisfaction with available technology, suitability of different psychotherapeutic background when providing online treatment, therapists competencies for this kind of treatment and levels of perceived stress. Mental health treatment comprised individual and group approach, and was provided by interdisciplinary teams of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, social pedagogues, psychiatric nurses, and work therapists.ResultsThe results show differences between professional’s psychotherapy background, educational level and previous experience in perceived efficiency and experienced stress in the process of providing online treatment.ConclusionsThe findings of this study have proven that professionals perceive technical, organisational standards, previous experience, and education to be important for their efficiency. This should be taken into account when developing standards in online treatment within mental health institutions.Conflict of interestNo significant relationships.

Diagnostic and therapeutic option of Covid-19; A systematic review

Background: The global pandemic of coronavirus has resulted in it causing several respiratory diseases. The mild common cold like illness is one of the major symptoms that represents the clinical presentation of the respiratory infection. Some patients can be asymptomatic while some might have characteristic symptoms in the form of coughs, dyspnoea, and fever. Mostly it affects people aged between 30 to 79 years. Major risk factors are people residing or travelling in the areas where risk of transmission is quite high, old age, and presence of comorbidities. The origin of the virus was linked to the Southern China’s Huanan wet market in Huanan. The pathophysiology has not yet been understood properly but the exudative diffuse alveolar is considered as the major reason behind the deaths due to respiratory failure. In order to control the spread there are four different ways currently: quarantine the contact for at least 14 days, screening of travellers, drive-through screening centres, and temperature screening. Isolation, infection management, and symptom management can be the most useful therapeutic approaches. Methodology: During this research, the systematic review has been done by referring to several studies that showed the data related to the diagnostic and therapeutic approach against Covid-19. During the research it has been -ensured that only the data from thighly qualified authors was used to determine the effective diagnostic and therapeutic options of Covid-19. The inclusion criteria were articles available in English language, the most recent and highly rated studies, and articles having statistics. The exclusion criteria were data which is available without clear statistics, articles other than those in the English language, data of high risk and low quality, and the data not able to provide the basic diagnostic and therapeutic options of Covid-19. It has been ensured that the quality of data should be maintained in order to establish quality research. Discussion: Covid-19 diagnostic options are oral and nasal PCR, rapid diagnostic test, serologic test, plain X-rays, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scanning, ultrasonography, and nuclear scanning. The therapeutic options are pharmacological drugs (like chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, sirolimus, tocilizumab), airway assistance ventilation, and vaccination. Conclusion: Covid-19 is on the verge of constant increase and is impacting many people around the globe. Currently, there is no proper treatment for covid-19 as a result of which everyday preventive actions and vaccination are the best things that an individual can do in order to prevent the spread of covid-19. Key words: Covid-19, corona virus, SARS-CoV-2, diagnostic, therapeutic

The Use of Dupilumab in Atopic Dermatitis During Coronavirus Disease-19 Era – A Review

The global pandemic of coronavirus (CoV) d0isease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV 2), has been a challenging event for every individual. It is known that COVID-19 may exhibit a vast range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure are the most common causes of death in COVID-19 cases [3]. Accumulating evidence shows that T-helper type (Th-1) inflammation cascade plays a major role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. It is proposed that aberrant immune reaction, or known as cytokine storm, is one of the main causals of ARDS in COVID-19 case, while dupilumab, the first Food and Drug Administration-approved immunomodulatory treatment for atopic dermatitis, is known for its effectiveness in suppressing the Th-2 inflammation pathway. It is postulated that both types of inflammation can cross-regulate each other. Therefore, some may believe that the regression of Th-2 cascade may upregulate the Th-1 cascade, leading to an exaggerated cytokine storm. This hypothesis leads to the uncertainty of the safety of continuing this modality during the pandemic.

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID CRISIS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

The global pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19), also termed as health emergency affecting nearly 210 countries and territories has led to negative emotions of fear and agony in the general population. The healthcare regulators and the governments have imposed emergencies and lockdowns in their countries which has led to an adverse effect on the mental health of general public ultimately leading to a rise in anxiety, depression, and associated mental illness. The fear and rising COVID-19 crisis is putting extreme limitations on our finite resources. This report aims to improve status of mental health altered as a result of pandemic, emphasizing to help the general public, mitigate the negative emotions to improve the general wellbeing in this detached period of isolation.
 With no standard treatment or vaccine yet, the goal is primarily symptomatic relief for those affected and preventive for those at risk. Most countries have curtailed the spread of COVID-19 through measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and voluntary self-isolation. Although necessary, such measures and the disease itself may have an adverse impact on mental health. In view of research from previous pandemic crisis, it is known that such situations are likely to increase stress levels and have negative psychiatric effects. The impact is likely to be felt by the general public, sufferers of COVID-19, their families and friends, persons with pre-existing mental health conditions and healthcare workers. COVID pandemic related psychological distress in the general public, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, is associated with alterations in immune function, including an elevated risk of viral respiratory tract infection.

Intimate partner violence against reproductive age women during COVID-19 pandemic in northern Ethiopia 2020: a community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundAs the global pandemic of corona virus (COVID-19) spreads across continents and communities, people are forced to respond with strict preventive measures such as staying at home and keeping social distance. In relation with these measures, particularly with the staying at home, increasing rates of domestic violence are beginning to surface. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the prevalence of intimate partner violence against reproductive age women in northern Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The data were collected during the period of April to May, 2020 using interviews and a self-administered standard questionnaire. The data were entered into the Epi-data manager version 4.2 and exported to SPSS 22 for analysis. The descriptive analysis such as frequency distribution, percentage, and measures of central tendency were used. This was followed by binary and multiple logistic regression analysis to infer the association between the outcome and independent variables.ResultsA total of 682 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of intimate partner violence against women was found to stood at 24.6% with psychological violence being the most prevalent (13.3%), followed by physical (8.3%) and sexual violence (5.3%). Women were more likely to suffer from violence if they were housewives (AOR, 95% CI (18.062 (10.088, 32.342))), age less than 30 (AOR, 95% CI (23.045 (5.627, 94.377))), women with arrange marriage (AOR, 95% CI (2.535 (1.572, 4.087))) and women with husband’s age being “between” 31–40 (AOR, CI 95% (2.212 (1.024, 4.777))).ConclusionsThis study showed the presence of a relatively high prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. Thus, public reporting of any cases or concerns of abuse is critical and vital to mitigate the problem.

A Practical Guide to Mitigate the Response of Corona Virus Pandemic in Radiotherapy Treatment

The current global pandemic of Corona virus has impacted the health care severely. Many of the non-emergency cases and general illness cases have been asked to avoid hospital visit or wait for elective surgeries. The same may not be possible for the patients suffering from cancer as it considered a major health problem owing to the risk of metastasis as well as disease becoming unresectable with time. Unfortunately, we don’t have studies weighing the risk versus benefit ratio of delaying oncological treatment weighted against an added comorbidity of COVID infection. Radiotherapy being an integral part of cancer care is affected the most as it is delivered, continuous over a long period of time and unplanned gap because of travel restriction on patients makes decision making more difficult for radiation oncologist. In this article we’ve highlighted few major problems in delivering radiation to cancer patients at this time of global pandemic of corona virus and tried to find out possible solution.

An Immunological Algorithm to Defeat Covid-19

Countries like Italy, Spain or Germany etc. with very low prevalence of tuberculosis and discontinued BCG immunization since decades, are witnessing the worst form of this global pandemic of Corona virus. It has also been seen that Covid-19 affected more of those countries who have robust and free influenza vaccination programme.

Using Linear Regression Analysis and Defense in Depth to Protect Networks during the Global Corona Pandemic

The purpose of this research was to determine whether the Linear Regression Analysis can be effectively applied to the prioritization of defense-in-depth security tools and procedures to reduce cyber threats during the Global Corona Virus Pandemic. The way this was determined or methods used in this study consisted of scanning 20 peer reviewed Cybersecurity Articles from prominent Cybersecurity Journals for a list of defense in depth measures (tools and procedures) and the threats that those measures were designed to reduce. The methods further involved using the Likert Scale Model to create an ordinal ranking of the measures and threats. The defense in depth tools and procedures were then compared to see whether the Likert scale and Linear Regression Analysis could be effectively applied to prioritize and combine the measures to reduce pandemic related cyber threats. The results of this research reject the H0 null hypothesis that Linear Regression Analysis does not affect the relationship between the prioritization and combining of defense in depth tools and procedures (independent variables) and pandemic related cyber threats (dependent variables).

Cancer Rehabilitation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) is a major public health issue since identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It creates unique challenges from the perspective of cancer survivors, as they often require complex cancer treatments during the disease trajectory, disease surveillance, and rehabilitation. Given the vulnerability of this population, there is an urgent need to address the impact of such a pandemic on cancer rehabilitation. This article presents a narrative overview of the issues highlighted for rehabilitation services providing cancer care in this context, for risk mitigation, and for continued operation during this unprecedented public health crisis.

The South African FMCGs Use of Green Initiatives to Maintain Competitiveness and Sustainability Under the Global Coronavirus Pandemic

The adoption of supply chain management (SCM) strategy by enterprises since mid-1980s has immensely transformed the flow of products/services from supply side to the ultimate customers on the demand side. The era has also experienced innovations in technology which has continued to fast track the implementation of supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. The unfolding implementation of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is hoped to spike the supply chain response time and render them more resilient and competitive. The study explored how fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) suppliers and traders, utilised green initiatives or green supply chain management (GSCM), under the ravaging global Coronavirus pandemic to retain competitiveness and sustainability. The study was grounded in the theory of sustainable development and the sustainability theory in business. An exploratory qualitative research methodology and constructivism paradigm were used and non-probability sampling process applied. The participants were senior managers of FMCGs suppliers and traders who were interviewed telephonically, as it was during the partial lockdown period to control the spread of Coronavirus in countries around the globe including South Africa. The local and international supply chain networks were covered in the interviews as these organisations also traded in imported goods. The interviews were recoded, transcribed, coded and analysed via content analysis. The study outcome indicated that GSCM improved cost-effectiveness as enterprises were more resilient and used technology intensively to enhance information and product flow in the supply chain network that spiked the turnover and margins. The transportation optimisation saved costs and reverse logistics reduced waste and increased efficiency which enhanced competitiveness and sustainability. The supply chain resilience mitigated the disruption from Coronavirus pandemic.