Online Survey Tool Research Articles

Knowledge and Attitudes toward Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia.

Aims: The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not easy as there is no direct test that exists to establish such a diagnosis. Increasing community and healthcare professional knowledge of the ASD spectrum is crucial because it will encourage parents of ASD children to seek screening and diagnosis from a specialist, allowing for better early detection and treatment. This study explored the knowledge of the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding ASD and assessed variables associated with an accurate understanding of ASD. Methods: A total of 769 participants were involved in this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Saudi Arabia between November 2021 and February 2022 using an online survey tool to explore the knowledge of the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding typical child development and ASD. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting participants’ knowledge of autism. Results: Overall, the study participants showed a weak level of knowledge about autism with a mean score of 5.9 (SD: 3.1), comprising 34.7% of the total maximum obtainable score. Participants with a middle income category of 5000–7500 SR are less likely to be knowledgeable about autism compared to others (OR: 0.60 (95% CI: 0.39–0.92)) (p-value = 0.020). Conclusion: The participants in our study showed limited knowledge about autism. Government funds should be made available to facilitate educational services for ASD children. More funding and resources should be allocated by the government to provide assistance for children with special needs, and changes in public facilities are required to meet the demands of ASD patients. Through an informed educational effort, various media platforms should assist in improving the community’s understanding of ASD and their attitude toward ASD patients. Educational campaigns should focus on enhancing the public’s knowledge about ASD treatment and etiology.

Are we adequately prepared to handle the anticipated 3rd peak of COVID-19: A KAP survey among HCWs

Experts in the field are predicting a third COVID-19 peak very soon in coming times, it is important to assess recent knowledge, attitude in view of prolonged exhaustion and adherence to preventive practices of HCWs. This cross-sectional study involved 168 HCWs (42 doctors, 42 nurses, 42 paramedical staff and 42 ANMs). Data was collected through online survey tool Google forms in July and August 2021. First section included sociodemographic information and infection with SARS-CoV- 2, section 2 assessed recent knowledge, section 3 practices of COVID-19 appropriate behavior and section 4 assessed attitude of HCWs. Shapiro Wilk test was used to determine normality of distribution of variables. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine the association between two variables. Pairwise comparison was done following a significant Kruskal-Wallis test using Bonferroni’s correction. 42.9% of the HCWs and family members of 44.6% HCWs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. 54.1% of infected HCWs were infected during the March- May 2021 peak. 85.1% HCWs had taken COVID-19 vaccine. Mean knowledge, attitude, practice scores were 7.88±3.03(maximum score: 12), 20.35±3.2 (maximum score: 25), 69.89±9.39 (maximum score: 85) respectively. Only 48.8% HCWs had good knowledge about more recent COVID-19 information. A significant association was observed between profession and knowledge scores (p<0.001). Over 85% HCWs had good scores for attitude towards COVID-19 and 88.7% HCWs scored good in COVID-19 appropriate behavior practices. Our HCWs need to be better equipped with the more recently available knowledge about COVID-19 to improve our preparedness for the next anticipated peak.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Older Adults

IntroductionOlder adults are at an increased risk of contracting illnesses during outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, they have greater vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes as a consequence of public health restrictions that contribute to social isolation. Recent reviews have focused on the mental health effects of the pandemic on patients with COVID-19, healthcare workers (HCW), and the general population. Data on mental health outcomes in geriatric populations have emerged over the last 12-18 months, but no reviews regarding the prevalences of psychiatric symptoms have yet been published. We reviewed population-based studies that focused on the development of clinically significant psychiatric symptoms in the older adult general population aged 50+ years, to yield overall prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia/sleep disturbances, and psychological distress symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic globally.MethodsOur review was conducted based on the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. We searched PubMed and preprint servers (https://www.medrxiv.org/) from January 1, 2020 to November 5, 2021, and conducted secondary searches using Web of Science from January 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021 and by reviewing the reference list of relevant studies. Studies were included in the review if they (i) focused on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) used validated measures of psychological or psychiatric symptomatology; (iii) comprised mainly of the general older adult population (aged 50 years+); and (iv) reported quantitative outcomes of prevalence (expressed as the percentage of participants exceeding the normal cut off for that measure). Excluded were (i) opinion papers or commentaries; (ii) studies that reported qualitative data; (iii) studies with samples mainly consisting of HCW, participants with confirmed or probable COVID-19 infection, hospitalized patients, or patients with a disease or condition; and (iv) clinical trials or intervention studies. To yield summary statistics, prevalence rates and sample sizes were pooled across studies.ResultsThirty-eight full-text published articles met inclusion criteria. Across all studies, 41% of the participants were male, and all participants were above 50 years old. All studies employed cross-sectional designs and the majority used on-line survey tools. Specifically, 23 were on-line, 12 used telephone, 1 in-person, 1 through mail, and 1 used both on-line and telephone. 6 studies were based in North America while the remaining studies originated from across the globe (1 from Africa, 1 from Australia, 22 from Europe, 3 from Asia, 3 from South America, and 2 from a global sample). In a pooled sample size of 57,933 across all 38 studies, 28.3% experienced post-traumatic stress, 24.9% experienced depression, 19.4% experienced anxiety, 10.3% experienced stress, 44.1% experienced insomnia/sleep disturbances, and 17.0% experienced psychological distress, exceeding the normal cut-off.ConclusionsOverall, nearly one-quarter, or 24%, of older adults have experienced clinically significant psychiatric symptoms in the form of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia/sleep disturbances, or psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. These rates appear lower than those of the general non-geriatric adult population based on existing studies. However, it should be noted that rates of psychiatric symptoms were established to be lower in older adults compared to their younger counterparts, even pre-pandemic. A limitation of the current literature is that the cross-sectional design of available studies does not allow us to determine whether the prevalence rates reported in older adults are increased from pre-pandemic baseline rates. Further, the reliance on online survey tools in the majority of studies may have resulted in under-reporting of psychiatric symptoms, since older adults without access to the internet may be more socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic than those who are able to remain in contact with family and friends using social media and video conferencing tools. Third, it should be noted that the measures employed in population studies were originally intended for screening purposes, rather than to establish a psychiatric diagnosis. Future studies comparing baseline pre-pandemic rates of psychiatric symptomatology with those following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed to determine the effect of the pandemic on mental health in older adults.This research was funded byThe study was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Alternative Funding Plan. The funders had no role in the design of the study, analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.

How arts engagement supported social connectedness during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: findings from the HEartS Survey

ObjectivesThis study investigated how adults in the United Kingdom perceived their arts and cultural engagement to facilitate social connectedness over two phases in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study designThe study used the HEartS Survey, a newly designed online survey tool to capture arts engagement in the United Kingdom and its associations with social and mental well-being, over two phases in 2020: March to May (Phase 1) and October (Phase 2). MethodsQualitative data were provided at both phases by 581 respondents, who identified which arts and cultural activity they felt most connected them to others and how during the last month. ResultsThematic analysis revealed that, at both phases, arts and cultural engagement was perceived to facilitate social connectedness through four pathways that were also identified prepandemic: social opportunities, sharing, feelings of commonality and belonging and collective understanding. The subthemes shed light on specific ways that respondents used the arts during the pandemic to connect with others, including using the arts: as a catalyst for conversations, to maintain, reinstate or strengthen relationships during social distancing and to facilitate social interactions (Theme 1); to bring people together through shared experiences and sharing of art (Theme 2); to elicit feelings of direct and indirect proximity to others, to connect people with common interests, to feel a sense of belonging to something and to feel part of a collective ‘COVID-19 experience’ or to feel collectively distracted from the pandemic (Theme 3); and to learn from and about other people and to relate to others (Theme 4). The activity most frequently cited as connecting was watching a film or drama, followed by listening to recorded music. ConclusionsEngagement in arts and cultural activities supported feelings of social connection among adults in the United Kingdom over two phases in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of access to the arts and culture to support social connectedness.

Talent cultivation in health technology assessment: an expert survey

BackgroundHealth technology assessment (HTA) has become essential in many countries over the past few years, and the demand for HTA professionals has increased in academia, governments, and industries. This study aimed to examine which courses are most important and which training activities are most helpful for the development of HTA proficiency as perceived by HTA experts.MethodsThe survey questionnaire was developed by literature review and expert opinion. Convenience sampling was used to survey HTA experts from the industrial sector, academic/research units, and government/independent assessment organizations using an online survey tool, SurveyCake. We collected respondents’ demographic information and asked them to assess the importance of each course included in an HTA program on a 5-point Likert Scale (1 = least important; 5 = highly important). In addition, respondents were asked to assess the extent to which various activities are helpful for HTA proficiency development.ResultsA total of 158 domestic and overseas experts in HTA-related fields were invited to participate in the survey and 68 completed the questionnaire. Among the respondents, the majority were female (57.4%) and working in academia (44.1%). The mean ± standard deviation of respondents’ age and number of years spent in HTA-related fields were 43.2 ± 11.0 years and 11.3 ± 9.9 years, respectively. The course that was rated the most important was “Pharmacoeconomics/Cost-effectiveness analysis” with a score of 4.8 ± 0.4 points, followed by “Health economics” at 4.7 ± 0.7 points. Moreover, internships at HTA-related institutions were perceived to be the most helpful training activity for HTA proficiency development.ConclusionsOur study findings provide a better understanding of the requirements for developing HTA proficiency and can serve as a reference for the modification of current HTA education and training programs.

Effectiveness Of Military Diplomacy Towards Nationalism, National Security and Unity

Military diplomacy in every country strengthens unity, nationalism and national security. It acts as a specific domain of diplomacy that emphasizes primarily on the pursuit of foreign policy interest of the state in the field of security and defence policy, whose actions are associated on the use of negotiations and other diplomatic instruments. Nepal, being a sovereign kingdom, the nation needs a stout military foundation. In this regard, in the field of nationalism, national unity and security, Nepal Army drives its loyalty, obedience, sacrifice and etiquette to maintain common and control in the nation. Considering this fact, this study examines military diplomacy directed to national interest through the perceptions of general people of Rupandehi district, Lumbini Province of Nepal. This study aims at exploring effectiveness of military diplomacy for the well being of the nation and their role to maintain patriotic feeling through national security and unity, and harmonious civil-military relations. To carry out this research, a set of questionnaires was prepared through Google Docs and circulated to general people through emails and messenger. Altogether, 116 participants were taken as population in this study. The snowball sampling technique was used with an online survey tool to collect data. The collected data was analyzed in terms of simple statistical method of percentages. This study found that the effectiveness of military diplomacy for an important security and foreign policy. The result displayed that military diplomacy provides opportunities, security and strength which boosts the national power. It enumerates the activity of military force of the ministry of defense of the nation which conducts a diplomatic scenario to the enforcement of its foreign policy that is of a non-combat nature. It also signifies that military diplomacy marches towards nationalism, which gravitates to build up the interest of obtaining and maintaining the state’s sovereignty. Therefore, it is an essential tool for foreign policy at strategic level that adds to raise the degree of nationalism, national security and unity in the state.

Video-Based Remote Administration of Cognitive Assessments and Interventions: a Comparison with In-Lab Administration.

While remote data collection is not a new concept, the quality and psychometric properties of data collected remotely often remain unclear. Most remote data collection is done via online survey tools or web-conferencing applications (i.e., Skype or Zoom) and largely involves questionnaires, interviews, or other self-report data. Little research has been done on the collection of cognitive assessments and interventions via web-conferencing that requires multiple sessions with or without the assistance of an experimenter. The present paper discusses limitations and challenges of studies administered remotely, and outlines methods used to overcome such challenges while effectively collecting cognitive performance data remotely via Zoom. We further discuss relative recruitment, retention rates, compliance, and performance findings between in-lab and remotely administered cognitive assessment and intervention studies, as well as limitations to remote data collection. We found that while it was necessary to recruit more participants in remote studies to reach enrollment goals, compliance and performance were largely comparable between in-lab and remotely administered studies, illustrating the opportunities of conducting this type of experimental research remotely with adequate fidelity.

Epidemiological Algorithm for Early Detection of COVID-19 Cases in a Mexican Oncologic Center.

An early detection tool for latent COVID-19 infections in oncology staff and patients is essential to prevent outbreaks in a cancer center. (1) Background: In this study, we developed and implemented two early detection tools for the radiotherapy area to identify COVID-19 cases opportunely. (2) Methods: Staff and patients answered a questionnaire (electronic and paper surveys, respectively) with clinical and epidemiological information. The data were collected through two online survey tools: Real-Time Tracking (R-Track) and Summary of Factors (S-Facts). Cut-off values were established according to the algorithm models. SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR tests confirmed the positive algorithms individuals. (3) Results: Oncology staff members (n = 142) were tested, and 14% (n = 20) were positives for the R-Track algorithm; 75% (n = 15) were qRT-PCR positive. The S-Facts Algorithm identified 7.75% (n = 11) positive oncology staff members, and 81.82% (n = 9) were qRT-PCR positive. Oncology patients (n = 369) were evaluated, and 1.36% (n = 5) were positive for the Algorithm used. The five patients (100%) were confirmed by qRT-PCR. (4) Conclusions: The proposed early detection tools have proved to be a low-cost and efficient tool in a country where qRT-PCR tests and vaccines are insufficient for the population.

Clinical application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in China: A 2020 baseline survey

Objectives: This is the first nationwide survey to obtain baseline information on the clinical application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy in China. The findings provide a reference for future management and policy formulation research. Methods: This questionnaire-based survey was implemented using an online survey tool. The survey assessed six aspects related to HBO2 practice: characteristics of institutions, departments/units, chambers, practitioners, treatment capacity, and scientific research. Results: Subjects were 1,924 institutions (2,699 HBO2 chambers and 11,266 practitioners) from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in mainland China. The findings showed that most institutions (86.9%) were public hospitals and 70.0% of chambers were air pressurized. The numbers of newly built HBO2 departments/units and chambers have gradually increased over the last five decades. We found that 70.8% of HBO2 departments/units were independent, most non-independent HBO2 units were affiliated to rehabilitation departments, and 88.1% of institutions had 24-hour emergency treatment capacity. Most institutions (44.5%) had 1,001 to 5,000 annual therapy sessions. In 2019, three conditions most frequently treated across the institutions were cerebrovascular diseases, carbon monoxide poisoning, and central nervous system injury. We identified the following shortcomings: shortage of doctors and (particularly) technicians; imbalances in emergency capacity, treatment facilities, and staff composition among institutions of different classifications; and little high-quality scientific research. Conclusions: Chinese HBO2 therapy is flourishing. With the growth in emergency capacity, Chinese HBO2 and rehabilitation medicine are developing in a coordinated way. However, several shortcomings require addressing in future work.

Measuring the motivational climate in an online course: A case study using an online survey tool to promote data-driven decisions

Creating a positive motivational climate in an online course can engage students in their learning. Instructors may be able to better manage their courses and create a positive motivational climate if they implement online survey tools that allow them to assess the motivational climate of their courses. Teachers and researchers have documented that five student perceptions—empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring—are particularly important for creating a positive motivational climate and are associated with students’ engagement and evaluations of teaching. In this paper, we describe a case study of an instructor who used an online survey tool to assess the motivational climate in his online asynchronous course over time. He then used the feedback to consider improvements that he could make to his course in the future. In addition, we describe how this process of using the online survey tool could be used by instructors to transform education.

Registered nurses' awareness and implementation of reasonable adjustments for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.

To describe Australian registered nurses' awareness, and implementation of reasonable adjustments within their practice when caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Additionally, the association between key demographic, workforce, and respondent variables and familiarity of the term and regularity of use was explored. Cross-sectional survey. Survey data were collected between August and October 2020 using an online survey tool. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Familiarity of the concept of reasonable adjustments was relatively low, compared to respondents who report applying adjustments when caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Higher levels of confidence, comfort, and knowledge when caring for this cohort were associated with greater awareness and application of reasonable adjustments. A higher volume, and diversity in type of, nursing education related to care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism is indicated.

Understanding the role of exercise professionals in the delivery of the NHS long term plan within AHP services in England

Keywords: Support worker, Exercise, NHS Long Term Plan Purpose: To explore the use of exercise professionals in AHP services and to understand their current and potential role in AHP NHS commissioned services. Methods: The project had three phases. In phase one an expert panel was established to guide the project. In phase two, an electronic survey was carried out to identify the scope and variation of exercise professionals working in AHP support roles in NHS commissioned services. The survey was piloted and distributed in October 2020 to relevant stakeholders including registered healthcare and exercise professionals using the Qualtrics® online survey tool. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. In phase three semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain further understanding about the experiences of those involved in AHP commissioned services. Topic guides were developed with input from the expert panel and informed by the survey findings. Interviews took place between November 2020 and January 2021. Data were transcribed and initially coded. Coding was then refined, and themes identified. Results: The expert panel consisted of AHPs (n = 4), academics (n = 4), service users (n = 3), a representative from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (n = 1) and members of fitness industry institutions (n = 5). The survey was completed by 67 individuals (n = 7 service leads, n = 36 AHPs and n = 24 AHP support workers) and interviews were carried out with 11 individuals (n = 5 AHPs and n = 6 AHP support worker with exercise qualifications). Overall findings suggested that support workers with exercise qualifications made a valued contribution to AHP services and were considered cost-effective in delivering a specialised intervention, although there were no objective data available to verify these accounts. AHP support workers contributed to a range of tasks which included delivering, monitoring, progressing exercise programmes, onward referral, baseline assessment, designing programmes and discharge. Collated data highlighted inconsistency in the way AHP support workers with exercise qualifications identified themselves, despite similar roles. Variation existed in the level of autonomy for AHP support workers with exercise qualifications, even within the same NHS Agenda for Change band. Attempts to manage this disparity involved numerous governance processes to ensure safe, high quality health care in the context of delegation to support workers. Limited training and development opportunities and the lack of career progression for support workers was consistently acknowledged as a source of frustration and hindrance to individuals fulfilling their potential. Conclusion(s): The findings suggest that routine data collection is necessary to verify the important role that support workers with exercise qualifications potentially have within AHP services including the specific contribution that they make to the NHS Long Term Plan. Further work is also needed to develop the professional identity of AHP support workers with exercise qualifications, standardising the qualification requirements in general and specific to a range of settings. Finally, there needs to be clear continuing professional development opportunities and a career development pathway for AHP support workers with exercise qualifications to ensure that their skills are optimised. Impact: AHP support workers with exercise qualifications potentially have a positive impact on service users lives and offer added-value to the NHS workforce. Funding acknowledgements: This project was commissioned by the CSP as part of a Health Education England funded project.

Association of British Clinical Diabetologists, Diabetes Technology Network UK and Association of Children's Diabetes Clinicians Survey of UK Healthcare Professional Attitudes Towards Open-Source Automated Insulin Delivery Systems.

IntroductionAutomated insulin delivery (AID) systems can enable improved glycaemic outcomes with reduced mental burden. Open-source AID (OS-AID) systems overcome some of the developmental and access barriers enabling a wider use of these systems. Limited data are available on healthcare professional (HCP) opinions and current practice regarding these systems. The aim of this survey was to gain insight into HCP perceptions and practices around OS-AID.MethodsThis survey was developed collaboratively with OS-AID users and distributed to adult and children’s teams, using an online survey tool. Results were received between February and April 2019. Responses were assessed using simple descriptive statistics with analyses stratified by respondent characteristics.Results317 responses were obtained from a range of HCPs in both adult and paediatric services. Key results include: HCP perception of OS-AID as “risky in the wrong hands” (43%); 91% felt uncomfortable initiating discussions around OS-AID because of lack of regulation (67%) and/or their own lack of knowledge (63%). Half of HCPs (47%) reported that they would choose OS-AID if they themselves had type 1 diabetes.ConclusionsHCPs are generally supportive of OS-AID users but many feel uncomfortable with the technicalities of the systems given the lack of approval. Knowledge around the use of these systems was limited. Re-assessment of HCP perceptions should be performed in the future given the evolving landscape of diabetes technology, recent consensus statements and emerging ethical and legal perspectives.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13300-022-01203-5.

Digital Transformation in Nursing Education: During Covid Pandemic Challenges

Abstract: When the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread around the world, the situation became difficult for many educational institutions. The objective of this study was to discover the learning experiences and the expectations about the changes in education, in light of the abrupt change from face-to-face to e-learning education, of nursing students enrolled in Bachelor’s degree of governmental universities, This study aimed to examine nursing students attitude toward e-learning. This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design with 50 nursing students as study participants. Data were collected via an online survey tool. The imposition of e-learning sets limitations for older students, Students expressed concern about what an interruption in their nursing education would mean for their future careers as Registered Nurses. Many students in clinical placements were in their final focus clinical practicum, and thus close to successfully completing their program. Some learners were only one or two courses away from completion of their Bachelor of Nursing degree. In addition to canceling their current clinical placement, they had concerns about progressing in the rest of their program. Digital Health Insights provide healthcare leaders and experts with the latest artificial intelligence and digital transformation news, trends, and strategies in healthcare today. Our goal is to empower you with innovative ways to collect, pool, and analyze high-quality data from which you can extract actionable insights. Through artificial intelligence and digital trends in healthcare, we can use these insights to create efficiencies that improve patient care while reducing or streamlining healthcare costs.

Community perspective on family medicine and family physician in Saudi Arabia 2020

BackgroundDespite the importance and advantages of family medicine, it has poorly developed in Arab communities when compared to other medical specialties. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate the perception of the Saudi population about family medicine and physicians.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered structured online survey tool through the Google Forms platform. The online questionnaire was distributed to all Saudi Arabia’s residents aged more than 15 years. A predesigned questionnaire was used and included items collecting data about participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, awareness/knowledge, and experience/attitudes.ResultsA total of 6974 valid participants were included in the current study, where the age group 25–35 years (37.1%) and 51.7% of them were females. Out of the included participants, 81.3% (n = 5671) did not report any chronic illnesses, while the other 18.7% (n = 1303) did. The mean awareness and knowledge score for all participants was 9.57 ± 3.39 (out of 20 possible points), while the mean experience and attitude score for all participants was 10.15 ± 2.58 (out of 16 possible points). Patients’ perceptions, whether awareness and knowledge or experience and attitude scores, were significantly correlated (P-value < 0.001) to chronic illness status, being a healthcare worker, job, marital status, and gender factors. Moreover, experience and attitude score was additionally correlated to residence region (P-value = 0.034) and participants’ nationality (P-value< 0.001).ConclusionGeneral population in Saudi Arabia were aware about the importance of family physicians and they trust them. The identified predictors should be considered when trying to increase public awareness and enhance the experience with family physicians.

Real-world data of popliteal artery aneurysm treatment: Analysis of the POPART registry

ObjectivePopliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) is a rare disease with a prevalence of 0.1% to 1%. Within previous years, endovascular repair (ER) of PAAs has been performed more frequently despite the lack of high-level evidence compared with open surgical repair (OSR). In 2014, the POPART registry was initiated to validate the current treatment options for PAA repair. MethodsPOPART is a multinational multicenter registry of the peri- and postoperative outcomes of ER and OSR for PAAs. Data sets were recorded using the online survey tool SurveyMonkey (available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/). Regular monitoring and plausibility checks of the data sets are performed to ensure reliability. The aim of the present study was to report the findings from the POPART registry, which includes data from 41 centers. ResultsFrom June 2014 to August 2019, 794 cases had been recorded in the POPART registry. OSR had been performed in 662 patients and ER in 106 patients; 23 patients had been treated conservatively. Of the 106 patients in the primary ER group, 4 had required conversion to OSR. The ER patients were significantly older (ER, median, 71 years; OSR, median, 67 years; P < .05). No other significant differences were present in the demographic data, comorbidities, or aneurysm morphology between the two groups. Of the 662 patients in the OSR group, 50.3% were symptomatic compared with 29.2% of the 106 patients in the ER group (P < .05). Emergency treatment because of acute ischemia, critical ischemia, or rupture was necessary for 149 patients (22.5%) in the OSR group and 11 patients (10.3%) in the ER group. The most frequent postoperative complications were impaired wound healing (OSR, n = 47 [7.1%]; ER, n = 3 [2.8%]; P > .05) and major bleeding (OSR, n = 26 [3.9%]; ER, n = 3 [2.8%]; P > .05). The in-hospital length of stay was significantly longer for the OSR group than for the ER group (median, 10 days; range, 3-65 days; vs median, 7 days; range, 1-73 days). The overall patency for the OSR and ER groups after 12 and 24 months was 83.2% and 44.7% (P < .005) and 74.2% and 29.1% (P < .005), respectively. The outcomes with a prosthetic graft vs an autologous vein were significantly poorer in the OSR group (primary patency, 71.4% vs 88.1% at 12 months). ConclusionsTo evaluate new treatment techniques such as ER for PAAs, real-world data are of essential importance. The present analysis of the first results for the POPART registry shows good perioperative results for endovascular treatment of PAA in asymptomatic patients with good outflow vessels. The perioperative complication rate is low and the postoperative hospital stay is shorter than after OSR. However, the patency rates after 12 and 24 months are low in the ER group compared to patients treated with open repair. More follow-up data is required for further interpretation; the completion of the data sets in the registry is ongoing.

Physicians’ perceptions of generic drugs in China

BackgroundIn recent years, there has been a significant worldwide increase in the use of generic drugs. China has committed to a consistency evaluation of generic drugs, with the aim to improve the rate of substitution. However, there is little research on physicians’ perceptions of generic drugs in China. ObjectiveThe study aimed to explore the perceptions of physicians in China toward generic drugs. MethodsPerceptions of Chinese physicians towards generic drugs were evaluated by a cross-sectional study from June to July 2020. The online survey tool Sojump was adopted to distribute the questionnaires using convenience sampling. A total of 598 questionnaires were analyzed. ResultsPerceptions of Chinese physicians towards generic drugs are generally positive. However, not all physicians appear to have sufficient knowledge about generic drugs and some of them expressed negative perceptions of generic drugs, such as perceiving generic drugs as less effective and more likely to cause side effects compared to brand-name drugs. There were significant differences in physicians’ opinions about generic drugs according to age group, years in practice, educational background, clinical specialty and residential area. ConclusionIt is imperative to provide physicians with more extensive education about the consistency evaluation of generic drugs to meet the policy goal of reducing overall national medical healthcare costs.

Identifying risk factors and implications for beach drowning prevention amongst an Australian multicultural community.

Multicultural communities in Australia are recognised as a priority area for drowning prevention, but no evidence-based study has addressed their knowledge of beach safety. This study used an online survey tool to identify and examine risk factors relating to swimming ability, beach visitation characteristics and behaviour, and beach safety knowledge of the Australian Southern Asian community to assist in the development of future beach safety interventions. Data was obtained through 249 online and in-person surveys of people aged > 18 years. Most respondents reported poor swimming ability (80%), often swam in in the absence of lifeguards (77%), did not understand the rip current hazard (58%), but reported that they entered the water (76%) when visiting beaches. Close to one-quarter (28%) had not heard, or didn’t know the purpose, of the red and yellow beach flags, which identify lifeguard supervised areas on Australian beaches. Length of time living in Australia is an important beach safety consideration for this community, with minimal differences in terms of gender and age. Those who have lived < 10 years in Australia visit beaches more frequently and are less likely to have participated in swimming lessons, be able to swim, heard of the flags or swim between them, understand rip currents, or have participated in a beach safety program. Very few (3%) respondents received beach safety information from within their own community. The importance of beach safety education and swimming lessons within the Southern Asian community should be prioritised for new and recent migrants to Australia.

German emergency department measures in 2018: a status quo based on the Utstein reporting standard

BackgroundCompelling data on clinical emergency medicine is required for healthcare system management.The aim of this survey was to describe the nationwide status quo of emergency care in Germany at the healthcare system level using the Utstein reporting template as the guideline to measure the data collected.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey collected standardized data from German EDs in 2018. All 759 of the EDs listed in a previously collected ED Directory were contacted in November 2019 using the online-survey tool SoSci Survey.Exclusively descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Absolute as well as relative frequencies, medians, means, ranges, standard deviations (SD) and interquartile ranges (IQR) were reported depending on distribution.Main ResultsA total of 150 questionnaires of contacted EDs were evaluated (response rate: 19.8%). Hospitals had a median of 403 inpatient beds (n=147). The EDs recorded a median of 30,000 patient contacts (n=136). Eighty-three EDs (55%) had observation units with a median of six beds. The special patient groups were pediatric patients (< 5 years) and older patients (> 75 years) with a median of 1.7% and 25%, respectively. Outpatients accounted for 55%, while 45% were admitted (intensive care unit 5.0%, standard care unit 32.3%, observation unit 6.3%) and 1.2% transferred to another hospital.ConclusionsThe use of the Utstein reporting template enabled the collection of ED descriptive parameters in Germany. The data can provide a baseline for upcoming reforms on German emergency medicine, and for international comparisons on admission rates, initial triage categories, and patient populations.

Organizational Resilience and Change Management: Inputs to Management Effectiveness

Management effectiveness influences the overall performance of an organization. This may be shown by achieving organizational goals and employee satisfaction even when change occurs. Organizational changes may involve changes in an organization’s structure and strategy that may be planned in advance or may be implemented because of a sudden shift in the environment. Alongside dealing with these distractions, change management helps an organization to implement strategies for inducing change, controlling change, and helping employees to adapt to change. The organization understudy is the Department of Trade and Industry Laguna Provincial Office (DTI Laguna). This study describes organizational resilience and change management as inputs to management effectiveness. More specifically, it determines the assessment in organizational resilience in terms of capital resilience, strategic resilience, cultural resilience, relationship resilience, and learning resilience and the assessment in change management in terms of project management and corporate culture. Likewise, it determines if there is a significant relationship between assessment in organizational resilience and change management. Moreover, it proposes an action plan based on significant findings as inputs to management effectiveness. The study uses a quantitative method of research to gather information on organizational resilience and change management. The entire population of the organization understudy is small; thus, the participants of the study are all 62 employees of DTI Laguna, including the management and support staff. The data gathering instrument is divided into three major parts (profile of the respondents, a questionnaire on organizational resilience using a 4-point Likert scale, and a questionnaire on change management using a 4-point Likert scale) and is tested for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. An online survey tool (Google Forms) is used to gather the information. The results are analyzed by a trained statistician using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences tool for frequency distribution and percentages, weighted mean, and ANOVA. Based from the results, the employees agree on the assessment in organizational resilience in terms of capital resilience, strategic resilience, cultural resilience, and learning resilience. Employees strongly agree on the assessment in organizational resilience in terms of relationship resilience. There is a significant difference between assessment in organizational resilience in terms of strategic resilience, cultural resilience, relationship resilience, and learning resilience when grouped to length of service. There is a significant difference between assessment in organizational resilience in terms of capital resilience, strategic resilience, cultural resilience, and learning resilience when grouped to monthly income. Moreover, based from the results, employees agree on the assessment in change management in terms of project management and corporate culture. Corporate culture was ranked first. There is a significant difference between assessment in change management in terms of project management and corporate culture when grouped to length of service and monthly income. There is a significant relationship between assessment in organizational resilience in terms of capital resilience, strategic resilience, cultural resilience, relationship resilience, and learning resilience and assessment in change management in terms of project management and corporate culture. The researcher recommends that the Office of the Provincial Director may want to increase connections with employees by devising online bulletin boards wherein employees’ thoughts (pulse survey perhaps) may be posted. Also, they may want to organize an in-house “mentor me” program wherein an open communication may be facilitated between the management and the employees. The quality management team may want to revisit the implementation of monthly staff meeting and quarterly management reviews to maintain management effectiveness. The Administrative and Finance Management Unit may want to further improve the level of trust of employees to the management by devising an online shared portal of status of funds that is to be updated from time to time. Future researchers may do a similar study or may use other variables not included in this study. More so, they may want to compare two or more government agencies to know if they will come up with the same results.