Government Health Authorities Research Articles

Inclusion of librarians and information professionals in Canadian knowledge synthesis grant funding.

Librarians continually advocate for the expertise they can bring to knowledge synthesis research projects. Professional associations like the Canadian Health Libraries Association aim to promote librarians and information professionals as partners in health research. This push for representation must happen at a policy level to enact change. To that purpose, we explored the degree to which the inclusion of librarians and information professionals is represented at the funding level by healthcare research organizations in Canada. We used a list of health research funding agencies generated from Scopus searches and an independent search of Canadian health research institutions, governmental health authorities, professional associations, and research-oriented universities to identify research grants designed for knowledge synthesis research. We examined these grants to determine whether they require or specifically mention librarians in their eligibility criteria. Of the 14 knowledge synthesis grants we identified, only one required a health librarian as a member of the research team in the grant eligibility criteria. Four grants "strongly recommended" the inclusion of librarians on the research team, though this inclusion was not a contingency for funding. Most knowledge synthesis grants in Canada do not require, recommend, or mention librarians as members of the research or authorship team. Evidence suggests that librarian involvement substantially improves the quality of knowledge synthesis research projects; it would therefore benefit both librarians and knowledge synthesis work to advocate for librarian involvement as a contingency for grant funding.

Perceptions and Factors affecting Utilization of Primary Health Care Services in a predominantly Urban Community in South-South Nigeria

Background: Primary Health Care is the cornerstone of a sustainable national health system for the attainment of universal health coverage. There is poor demand for health services at the primary level of care. This study assessed the perceptions and factors affecting the utilization of primary health care services in a predominantly urban community in South-South Nigeria.
 Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in Egor, Benin City, Southern Nigeria. A structured, and interviewer administered questionnaire was distributed to 371 heads of household who were selected using multistage sampling method. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.
 Results: Majority of the respondents were males 191 (51.6%). More than half, 195 (52.5%) were in the age group of 35-49 years. Less than half, 171 (46.1%)of the respondents had utilized primary health care services. Only, 42 (24.6%) perceived the services utilized were satisfactory. Immunization, 45 (26.3%), child, 39 (22.8%) and maternal, 32 (18.7%) health care services were the most utilized. Sex (OR = 0.599; CI = 0.38-0.94, p = 0.027), religion (OR = 2.246; CI = 1.066-4.735, p = 0.033), and occupation (OR = 2.437; CI = 1.106-5.367, p = 0.027) were factors associated with the utilization of health services in the study locale.
 Conclusions: The utilization of the primary health care services was low, and the perception of services utilized was not satisfactory. The Local Government Health Authority needs to strengthen the primary health care system. Also, improved community engagement and participation could enhance health services access and uptake.

Despite misinformation, low trust, and conflict in Somalia, high demand for vaccines and a negative endorsement effect of non-state authorities

Expanding vaccination coverage in conflict regions is crucial to the prevention of further mutations and outbreaks of COVID-19, as well as of future pandemics, worldwide. However, scholars’ suppositions that low levels of trust and control over the flow of misinformation in these regions may necessitate tailored solutions—in particular, that health advice come from trusted non-state authorities—remain largely untested. To better understand the levels and drivers of COVID-19 vaccine receptivity in conflict regions, we partnered with the United Nations and the Somali Ministry of Justice to field a three-wave panel survey (N1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N_1$$\\end{document} = 1672; N2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N_2$$\\end{document} = 880; N3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N_3$$\\end{document} = 908) and vaccine endorsement experiment in South Central Somalia. We observe high overall demand for vaccines (between 90 and 94%), particularly among those who have experienced violence and illness, who perceive high economic disruption due to the pandemic, and who report more favorable views of and exposure to the West and Western-affiliated organizations. The high overall demand is particularly striking given respondents’ low interpersonal trust and considerable exposure to vaccine disinformation. Contrary to scholars’ and policymakers’ expectations, we find that whereas endorsements from government health authorities increase vaccine receptivity, endorsements from non-state customary authorities and extremist militant group Al-Shabaab decrease support for vaccination (− 8 and − 16% points, respectively). Our findings caution against presupposing a need for different approaches to increasing vaccination coverage in conflict regions, and suggest that at least in the short-term, constraints on vaccine supply and access are more likely to bind than those on demand.

Two years of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria: a review of the current situation of the pandemic: a literature review.

Curtailing COVID-19 outbreaks has been the major focus for many countries following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigeria expanded its effort with the commencement of its vaccination program against COVID-19 in March 2021 after several less effective interventions as vaccine introduction was implemented. Following the introduction of the vaccines, Nigeria is expected to meet the worldwide COVID-19 eradication target of vaccinating 40% and 70% of the population, respectively, by the end of 2021 and 2022. Nigeria was unable to meet the target at the commencement of the program. The low vaccination rate, attributed to a low acceptance rate of vaccines, a lack of access to vaccines, poor communication, a weak cold-chain system, and inadequate infrastructure in the country, resulted in the complete vaccination of only 15% of the Nigerian populace as of 21 September 2022. To improve the vaccination rate, the COVID-19 Crisis Communication Centre was launched. Also, the implementation of delivery of service, logistics, accountability, supportive supervision, communication, and electronic management of immunization data scaled the vaccination rate to more than 54% of the target populace as of December 2022. Since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, a substantial change in the prevalence and mortality rate has been perceived owing to the country's progress toward achieving herd immunity against COVID-19. The country ascertained the percentage of cumulative deaths before the vaccination process to be 60.4%, which was reduced to 39.6% post-vaccination. In comparison, the percentage of confirmed COVID-19 cases was reduced from 58.3 to 41.7% post-vaccination. The authors recommend that the government and relevant public health authorities ensure meticulous documentation of the outcomes resulting from vaccination initiatives and facilitate the accessibility of this information to the general public to boost the vaccination rate.

Reducing the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic the United Kingdom government released regular guidance on limiting the spread of COVID-19. People, including those with long term conditions, were told to use physical distancing, self-isolation and/or shielding during COVID-19 to protect themselves and others. A consequence of these interventions was to exacerbate poor lifestyle behaviours, namely less physical activity. Objectives To propose recommendations to support and sustain their physical activity of people with long term conditions during and after COVID-19 or other pandemics. Methods A mixed methods project was conducted. An online quantitative survey with 368 people in the United Kingdom was conducted, followed by 26 online semi-structured interviews. Results The study demonstrated that online resources are not accessible for all populations. During COVID-19 pandemic, provision of PA information was most commonly available online. Also, COVID-19 lockdowns meant the sudden loss of opportunities to be active along with the social interaction and motivation usually in place to support activity. Finally, physical activity guidelines should be more specific. Local and national government guidelines were identified as unclear for those living with long term conditions and should be more specific regarding what people who were shielding could and could not do. Conclusions Based on the findings, more suitable and accessible physical activity guidelines for people with long term conditions is recommended. Also, prioritizing vulnerable groups is recommended to support physical activity to avoid the worsening of emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Finally, government and public health authorities should consider charities and long term conditions voluntary organizations to design bespoke physical activity recommendations and guidelines for those shielding at home and living with long term conditions. Key messages • Government and public health authorities design bespoke PA recommendations for those living with LTCs. • Simple strategies such as ‘move more and sit less’ or ‘breaking up sitting time’ could be promoted as safe and accessible options for those living with LTCs.

From Archipelago to Pandemic Battleground: Unveiling Indonesia's COVID-19 Crisis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to countries worldwide, including Indonesia. With its unique archipelagic geography consisting of more than 17,000 thousand islands, Indonesia faces unique complexities in managing the spread of the virus. Based on existing literature, this review article elaborates on key issues that have shaped Indonesia's COVID-19 response. The article begins by examining the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, along with the implementation of various preventive measures and the impact of the virus on public health. This article examines how Indonesia's socio-economic factors have generally influenced its healthcare system and further delves into the COVID-19 response strategies implemented by the Indonesian government and public health authorities as well as overall crisis preparedness. It discusses the actions taken to control the spread of the virus, including testing strategies and vaccination efforts. The difficulties encountered in implementing these measures are presented. In conclusion, this review article provides a comprehensive understanding of the COVID-19 crisis in Indonesia, covering facts on multiple dimensions ranging from the timeline of the pandemic to vaccination efforts, epidemiology, socio-economic implications, testing strategies, mobility patterns, public holidays, the impact of working from home, and the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine in addition to the standard of care for COVID-19. The insights gained from this article can complement future strategies for pandemic management and response in Indonesia and other countries facing similar challenges.

A formative research to explore the programmatic approach of vaccinating the Rohingya refugees and host communities against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh

BackgroundThe vaccination of the Rohingya refugees and host communities against COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar started in August 2021. Government authorities and Non-Government Organisation partners implemented a project around the initial period of vaccination to improve awareness and access to target beneficiaries. We conducted formative research to understand the programmatic approach of this project and identify potential challenges and community perceptions regarding immunisation against COVID-19.MethodologyThis was formative research in which we used a qualitative method of data collection. Purposively chosen 12 key-informant interviews and conveniently chosen 20 in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines from August to September 2022 in the Rohingya camp and host communities of Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. Ethical approval was obtained from the North South University Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was obtained from all the participants. We used a thematic analysis approach to analyse the data.ResultsThe project neither provided any promotional or tailored messages regarding the COVID-19 vaccine nor conducted any vaccine hesitancy surveys before implementing the project. The project did not provide any storage facilities for the vaccines’ cold chain management but provided transport support to carry the vaccines from the district to the sub-district level. Community leaders were included in the decision-making process during local-level planning of the vaccination programme. The project supported the reporting of any adverse effects following immunisation from community members to the government health authorities. Vaccine hesitancy among participants was high in the early stages, but mass campaigns and vaccination of frontline health workers increased their acceptance. The major challenges reported by the informants were low budget and lower salaries of field staff, stacking of the registration process at the beginning, reluctance of participants, inadequate transportation and manpower, and inadequate baby feeding corners at vaccination centers.ConclusionThe findings from our study will help policymakers from the Government, the UN, and other humanitarian agencies to adapt and better address the issue of vaccine acceptance and strengthen the vaccination programme.

COVID-19 vaccination attitudes across the European continent

This study was conducted to determine the predictors of COVID-19 vaccination attitudes across multiple waves in seven countries geographically spread across the European continent, using data from a COVID-19 survey provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology COVID-19. Facebook users from across the globe participated in this survey which collected information on their knowledge of COVID-19, attitudes towards risk and available information, and their willingness or lack thereof to take the vaccine. In this secondary data analysis study, neural networks were used with special attention given to the importance of the predictors of COVID-19 vaccination attitudes. Perception of social norms regarding COVID-19 vaccination was found to be the most important predictor of vaccine acceptance. Country of residence and wave of data collection were among the important predictors, with different patterns for each country emerging across different waves. Other strong predictors included attitudes towards masks and mask wearing; attitudes towards the influenza vaccine; distrust in government health authorities and scientists; and level of knowledge of existing treatments for COVID-19. The results of this study can inform effective public health prevention and intervention efforts against infectious diseases.

Exploration of spatiotemporal heterogeneity and socio-demographic determinants on COVID-19 incidence rates in Sarawak, Malaysia

BackgroundIn Sarawak, 252 300 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have been recorded with 1 619 fatalities in 2021, compared to only 1 117 cases in 2020. Since Sarawak is geographically separated from Peninsular Malaysia and half of its population resides in rural districts where medical resources are limited, the analysis of spatiotemporal heterogeneity of disease incidence rates and their relationship with socio-demographic factors are crucial in understanding the spread of the disease in Sarawak.MethodsThe spatial dependence of district-wise incidence rates is investigated using spatial autocorrelation analysis with two orders of contiguity weights for various pandemic waves. Nine determinants are chosen from 14 covariates of socio-demographic factors via elastic net regression and recursive partitioning. The relationships between incidence rates and socio-demographic factors are examined using ordinary least squares, spatial lag and spatial error models, and geographically weighted regression.ResultsIn the first 8 months of 2021, COVID-19 severely affected Sarawak’s central region, which was followed by the southern region in the next 2 months. In the third wave, based on second-order spatial weights, the incidence rate in a district is most strongly influenced by its neighboring districts’ rate, although the variance of incidence rates is best explained by local regression coefficient estimates of socio-demographic factors in the first wave. It is discovered that the percentage of households with garbage collection facilities, population density and the proportion of male in the population are positively associated with the increase in COVID-19 incidence rates.ConclusionThis research provides useful insights for the State Government and public health authorities to critically incorporate socio-demographic characteristics of local communities into evidence-based decision-making for altering disease monitoring and response plans. Policymakers can make well-informed judgments and implement targeted interventions by having an in-depth understanding of the spatial patterns and relationships between COVID-19 incidence rates and socio-demographic characteristics. This will effectively help in mitigating the spread of the disease.

Mathematical Modeling and Georeferenced Forecasting for the COVID-19 at the State of RS, Brazil

In this contribution, we present a predictive tool developed to help in the management of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) - Brazil. This tool is the result of georeferenced data analysis, mathematical modeling, and parameter calibration for the dynamics of a SIR-type model defined on a spatial structure that allows distinct subpopulations to interact, similar to the controlled distancing (A_l for l = 1, ···, 21) groupings proposed by the RS government and public health authorities. The predictive analysis, updated biweekly, provides three distinct scenarios per month (milder, average, and severe) and is made available as WebSIGs (Geographic Information System - GIS). The forecast of the average scenario for each Al group is the result of a simulation of the proposed SIRtype dynamics with calibrated parameters derived from an augmented Lagrangian maximum a posteriori estimation and data on the number of infected cases made available by the RS Health Secretariat. The milder and severe scenarios are obtained from the average scenario, with changes in the contagion rates of each Al group. When compared to the number of infections reported in each Al group, the modeling predictions for a biweekly time window (the first two weeks) were quite satisfactory, with errors ranging from 0% to 5.13%, gradually increasing over time. Therefore, we suggest a biweekly re-calibration of the parameters and corresponding forecasts as a wise strategy.

Epidemiology of Endometriosis Awareness in Turkey.

Endometriosis is a chronic painful disease that affects the daily quality of life of individuals. Estimated rates show one in 10 women has endometriosis, although the actual prevalence is unknown. In this study, the impact of endometriosis prevalence and symptoms on women's lives in Turkey was questioned through a web-based questionnaire. We utilized a version of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) EndoCost tool, which was sent to applicants via social media. Data from women aged 18-50 years were analyzed. The results of 15,673 participants have been analyzed, and 2880 (18.3%) participants had endometriosis. Respondents with endometriosis reported urinary, neurological, and gastrointestinal disorders at statistically higher rates when compared to individuals without endometriosis diagnosis (54.2%, 84.5%, and 89.9% vs. 37.2%, 75.5%, and 81.1%, respectively; p = 0.001). Most respondents with endometriosis (80.1%) reported persistent fatigue and 21.2% of endometriosis participants reported feeling socially isolated related to their condition (p = 0.001). Of the participants with endometriosis,63.2% mentioned that people did not believe their pain or symptoms and 77.9% experienced financial difficulties due to the cost of therapy. Of the participants with endometriosis, 46.0% reported that they had problems in their personal relationships, 28.3% had difficulties at work/school, and 7.4% were unable to attend class/work due to endometriosis-related symptoms. Endometriosis is a chronic, underestimated disease that affects 18% of Turkish women of reproductive age. There is a need for guidelines to inform healthcare providers, population professionals, and patients. Societies and governmental health authorities must work together to resolve this public health issue.

Entertaining information: Third-party influencers’ role in COVID-safety health communication

This paper discusses findings from a commissioned evaluation of an Australian government COVID-19 health campaign that utilised third-party influencers to increase the reach of health communication messages among culturally and linguistically diverse young people. Although the campaign was successful, interviews with select influencers and target audience members indicated that the ‘serious’ tone of the health messaging was less effective and less likely to be shared and that messages should be more ‘entertaining’. Analyses of data indicated three themes providing insights into how future campaigns may benefit from a focus that draws together health information and entertainment using models already constructed in the entertainment–education field: (1) Entertaining health messages have a stronger fit with influencers who are known for their entertainment value; (2) Entertaining messages are more memorable and more likely to be shared; (3) A balance between entertainment and the signifiers of trust and credibility such as government health authority logos overcomes trust issues in the context of current health disinformation and misinformation.

Spatial Non-Stationarity Effects of Unhealthy Food Environments and Green Spaces for Type-2 Diabetes in Toronto

Environmental factors may operate differently when relations are measured across different geographical locations, a phenomenon known as spatial non-stationarity. This study investigates the spatial non-stationarity effect of unhealthy food environments and green spaces on the T2DM prevalence rate at the neighborhood level in Toronto. This study also compares how the results vary between age groups, classified as all adults (20 and above), young adults (from 20 to 44), middle adulthood (from 45 to 64), and seniors (65 and above). The geographically weighted regression model is utilized to explore the impacts of spatial non-stationarity effects on the research results, which may lead to biased conclusions, which have often been ignored in past studies. The results from this study reveal that environmental variables dissimilarly affect T2DM prevalence rates among different age groups and neighborhoods in Toronto after controlling for socioeconomic factors. For example, the green space density yields positive associations with diabetes prevalence rates for elder generations but negative relationships for younger age groups in twenty-two and four neighborhoods, respectively, around Toronto East. The observed associations will provide beneficial suggestions to support government and public health authorities in designing education, prevention, and intervention programs targeting different neighborhoods to control the burden of diabetes.

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Fast-Food Consumption in Malaysian Young Adults

Fast-food is the fastest-growing food category in the world, offering young adults a quick, affordable, and readily available alternative to home-cooked meals. The objective of this study was to determine the socio-demographic determinants of the most frequent fast-food consumption among young adults in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involved 405 Malaysian young adults aged 18 to 29 who participated in an online survey. This self-administered online questionnaire of habitual fast-food consumption was evaluated using a modified Fast-food Frequency Questionnaire comprised of 30 food items, while the socio-demographic profile was determined by age, gender, ethnicity, monthly household income, marital status, residence, and educational level. IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 (SPSS IBM, New York, USA) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that the most frequently consumed fast-foods were fried chicken (77.6% of habitual consumption), ice cream (41.3%), and burgers (40%). A chi-square independence test revealed a statistically significant association between urban and rural residence and high fast-food consumption (i.e., fried chicken): X2(2, N = 405) = 22.924, p = 0.001. However, there is no association between consumption of fast-food and gender (X2(2, N = 405) = 0.044, p = 0.834), fast-food and age (p = 0.403), or fast-food and educational level (p > 0.05). Taken together, these findings have provided more information on the habitual consumption of fast-food by young adults. The Malaysian government and other health authorities may be able to develop an action plan to reduce obesity rates and other diseases associated with fast-food consumption among young adults.

SARS-CoV-2: Challenges in Reconverting Diagnostic Laboratories to Combat the Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in Mexico in February 2020. Even though health authorities did not perceive then the value of viral detection tests, we anticipated the demand for them. We set up to develop an expeditious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) molecular diagnostic service through the implementation of standardized protocols for biospecimen sampling, transportation, biobanking, preanalytical validation, and nucleic acids (NA) testing (NAT). Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs collected in a special transportation medium were the biospecimens from which NAs were purified either manually or automatically. Viral RNA genome presence was determined using commercial SARS-CoV-2 detection kits (based on reverse transcription coupled with real-time PCR [RT-PCR]). Improvements in laboratory processing speed and reliability resulted from semi-automatizing laboratory processes and adopting a quality control/quality assurance system (QC/QA), respectively. NAs that were purified, either manually or automatically, were validated by preanalytical spectrophotometric characterization. Automated purification was less prone to contamination and reduced the processing time. The following six RT-PCR kits were evaluated for their convenience, specificity, sensitivity, time consumption, and required materials (in order, starting with the kit with the best results): RIDA gene and Viasure (tied), Vircell, LightMix, 1copy, and Logix Smart. Redesigning the laboratories' working areas, equipment, fluxes of personnel and material, and personnel skills, and overemphasizing biosafety safeguards were major challenges encountered in the middle of the sanitary crisis. Adopting a QC/QA system, utilizing automatization processes, and working closely with health authorities were key factors in our success. IMPORTANCE Rearranging our diagnostic laboratories to improve the fight against a new unexpected, unpredictable, and sudden public health threat demanded that we move quickly to redesign not only the laboratory processes but also the distribution of space, personnel activities, and fluxes of material coming in and out. We also had to work closely with governmental health authorities to gain their trust in our technical competence. Gaining the confidence of the clients, i.e., mainly individuals, the human resource departments of factories and corporations sending employees for testing, and medical institutions, and implementing as much automatization as possible of processes, in which only officially approved reagents (for extraction and analysis of NA) were used to generate opportune trustable testing results, were key factors. Our laboratories have gathered a considerable amount of experience and significant number of solutions, considering our geographic contexts alongside this continuously morphing pandemic, validating many techniques that might help other laboratories find a better and more precise workflow.

The rhetoric of the Norwegian government and health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the identification and collaboration rhetoric of the Norwegian government and public health authorities during the pandemic. The aim is to show whether and how actors use strategies and themes of identification, and whether they build identification with their publics.Design/methodology/approachThe study combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Six identification strategies were identified through manual text analysis of press statements; word counts of each strategy were registered electronically to access quantitative data of individual actors.FindingsThe three strategies reflecting values, the two strategies reflecting division and disagreement and the strategy reflecting change showed almost equal frequencies. The strategy of shaping community, serving the function of change, and the division strategy, demonstrating identification through dissociation, were the most frequent strategies. Politicians preferred the collaboration strategy, while health experts preferred the strategy of concern and recognition.Originality/valueThe six identification strategies extend the understanding of leadership crisis communication and contemporary rhetoric as community-building discourse aiming for speaker–audience collaboration. The study demonstrates that division and disagreement are equally essential components of crisis communication as values and change. When actors differ in choice of strategy, themes and publics, they may still come across as coordinated and unified in their calls for solidarity, collective efforts and common understanding.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in patients with Parkinson's disease.

BackgroundAs coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign underway, little is known about the vaccination coverage and the underlying barriers of the vaccination campaign in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).ObjectiveTo investigate the vaccination status and reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among PD patients.MethodsIn concordance with the CHERRIES guideline, a web-based, single-center survey was promoted to patients with PD via an online platform from April 2022 and May 2022. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.ResultsA total of 187 PD cases participated in this online survey (response rate of 23%). COVID-19 vaccination rate was 54.0%. Most participants had a fear of COVID-19 (77.5%) and trusted the efficacy (82.9%) and safety (66.8%) of COVID-19 vaccine. Trust in government (70.3%) and concerns about the impact of vaccine on their disease (67.4%) were the most common reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, respectively. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was independently associated with the history of flu vaccination (OR: 0.09, p < 0.05), trust in vaccine efficacy (OR: 0.15, p < 0.01), male gender (OR: 0.47, p < 0.05), disease duration of PD (OR: 1.08, p < 0.05), and geographic factor (living in Shanghai or not) (OR: 2.87, p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 vaccination rate remained low in PD patients, however, most individuals understood benefits of vaccination. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was affected by multiple factors such as geographic factor, history of flu vaccination, disease duration and trust in efficacy of vaccine. These findings could help government and public health authorities to overcome the barrier to COVID-19 vaccination and improve vaccine roll-out in PD patients.

Current Challenges and Perspectives on Developing a Clinical Trial Design for ADPKD.

Current Challenges and Perspectives on Developing a Clinical Trial Design for ADPKD.

Assessment of fear factors and practice related modifications in response to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak among dental practitioners in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala

Dentists are more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection as they work close to the patient and viral transmission by saliva has proven to be the commonest source of disease transmission. In this scenario, it is natural for dental practitioners to be afraid of getting infected with COVID-19. As a strategy to continue dental practice in the pandemic, it is also pertinent to assess the dentist’s knowledge of practice modifications in the dental setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental practitioners registered with the Indian Dental Association local branch to assess the fear, anxiety, and knowledge regarding practice modifications. Data collection was done through google forms and commenced after obtaining informed consent from the study participants. Eight factors each corresponding to fear and knowledge on practice modifications pretested and validated were administered to the dental practitioners. Anxiety was assessed using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS).: Nearly 46 percent of dental practitioners presented with moderate fear. Fear related to transmitting the infection to family (84.4%), treating patients with symptoms (76.6%), and getting infected from patients or co-workers (53.1%) were the common fear factors reported by the dental practitioners. Increased fear was significantly associated with females, specialist dentists, and those working in the government sector. CAS score &amp;#62;9 was reported only by 1.3% of dental practitioners, indicative of probable dysfunctional corona-related anxiety. Good knowledge of practice-related modifications in COVID times was reported by 47.4% of dental practitioners. The study highlighted a considerable amount of fear among dental practitioners. Psychological support mechanisms to facilitate the mental health of dental practitioners such as regular counseling sessions till the wane of the pandemic, followed by a few years post-pandemic, and implementing periodic mental health screening need to be implemented by the Government and concerned health authorities.

Mainstreaming NUDGES in public health behavioural sciences in Saudi Arabia – seven steps to success

Introduction: Nudging by government health and welfare authorities has increased in popularity given the potential to add-value to the current arsenal of behavioural research tools and approaches. A needs assessment was conducted for the Health NUDGE Team, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the intention of mainstreaming and institutionalizing NUDGES within the behavioural sciences in the Gulf State and the region. Needs assessment aims included identifying global progress, impact and lessons learned for continuous improvement. Method: A rapid evidence literature review was implemented, and standardised discussion agenda developed for consultations with sixteen stakeholders from leading global NUDGE Units from 9 country programs. Data was analysed with NVivo 2020 qualitative software. Results: The Benchmarking and SWOT analysis identified a number of challenges and opportunities for NUDGE Units in their infancy to consider. “Seven Steps to Success” are proposed. Discussion: Important considerations are provided for fine-tuning NUDGE organisational, functional and technical capacities, leveraging of activities, and advocacy and promotion of best-practice approaches. The steps can assist in optimising NUDGE performance as the strategy evolves in Saudi Arabia and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Benchmarking with other providers plays an important part in continuous improvement as well as flexibility to adapt behavioural science processes and approaches to better reflect the needs of country and regional stakeholders.