Time Of Social Distancing Research Articles

Social Protest in Times of Social Distancing: Black Lives Matter and COVID-19

Why did the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement gain unprecedented momentum in the midst of a pandemic? In this paper, we use county-day-level variation in the timing and magnitude of exposure to COVID-19 to causally identify its effect on protests. Using super spreader events as a source of plausible exogenous variation, we find that counties that are more affected by the pandemic also experience an increase in protest behavior. We present several alternative identification strategies and a battery of robustness checks to confirm the validity of our results. We distinguish empirically between various mechanisms: availability of resources, opportunity costs of protesting, salience of racial inequality, and increased signaling value of protest. Our evidence suggests that the pandemic has mobilized new allies that join the movement for the first time during the pandemic. We can attribute this to a rise in the salience of racial inequalities in the United States. At the same time, counties that traditionally engaged in protest (urban counties with a large Black population shares) respond less to an increase in COVID-19 exposure as they are also the ones most severely affected by the pandemic and caught in what we call the "protest poverty trap".

“Ao entardecer daquele dia”, ele saiu à praça para rezar: a prece católica em tempos de distanciamento social1

Partindo da descrição densa do “Momento Extraordinário de oração em tempo de pandemia – Bênção Urbi et orbi”, presidido pelo Papa Francisco, neste texto discute-se alguns aspectos da prece em tempos de distanciamento social e os significados de ausência-presença enunciados por meio da realização de um ritual público e coletivo que não contou com a participação in loco dos fiéis, mas que acompanharam o ato in praesentia por meio das mídias. O que os múltiplos “vazios” apresentados no ato religioso dão a ver sobre a relação entre crença e saber científico, ressignificando o “estar juntos”? Conclui-se que a prece, enquanto ação coletiva, permite à Igreja projetar-se na esfera pública apresentando a religião como uma posição legítima na enunciação de ações de enfrentamento à pandemia.

Intergenerational connections through technology: Insights from the Technology Use in Later Life multi-site study

With enhanced challenges to maintain social connections especially during times of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for technology solutions grow. Technologies have become interwoven into the daily lives for many older adults. The Technology Use in Later Life (TILL) study investigated how the perceptions and use of technology both can foster new and leverage existing intergenerational relationships. Through a mixed methods study engaging older adults aged 70 years of age and greater across rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (N=37), participants described how the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships was an integral component to social connectedness with others. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, it was noted that older adults leveraged intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Especially during times of COVID-19, younger family members can play an important role to introduce and teach older adults how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. Participants emphasized the benefits of intergenerational connections to adopt and use technology in later life noting flexibility and willingness to overcome barriers to technology adoption and remain connected across the generations. The adoption and uptake of technologies may continue as viable options during times of social distancing to support older persons to remain independent, age in place, in both age-friendly cities and across rural geographies during and post COVID-19.

Continuing Medical Education in the Time of Social Distancing: The Case for Expanding Podcast Usage for Continuing Education.

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing society to re-evaluate how it educates learners of all levels, from medical students to faculty. Travel restrictions and limits on large public gatherings have necessitated the cancelling of numerous regional and national conferences as well as local grand rounds at many academic centers. Podcasting provides a potential solution for providing CME in a safe, socially distant way as an alternative to these more traditional CME sources for health care professionals. Using a popular CME podcast for pediatric hospitalists as an example, this article describes the many advantages that podcasting poses over more traditional CME methods, outlines some of the methodological and technological considerations that go into creating a high-quality podcast, and describes how podcasting can be leveraged during a global pandemic. Finally, we identify areas for further research regarding podcasting, including effective ways to virtually replace the more social and community building aspects of traditional conferences and grand rounds.

The Impact of COVID-19 Safety Recommendations on Adults Age 60 and Older: A Qualitative Study

In March 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began recommending social distancing and sheltering in place, in particular for older adults. This resulted in many older adults staying at home for long periods of time in relative isolation. Because there is little prior evidence of the emotional impact that this has on older adults, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study on how older adults felt during the first three to five weeks of the CDC recommendations. We fielded a web-based cross-sectional survey. Our analytic sample consisted of 673 respondents aged 60 and older who respondent to the prompt: “How are you feeling during this time of social distancing?”. We used a thematic bottom-up qualitative analysis, via MAXQDA, to analyze segments into general affect codes and detailed emotion subcodes, as well as coping mechanisms. Results showed that while many older adults reported neutral (9%) or positive (9%) affect, a larger proportion reported negative affect (42%) or reported mixed affect (35%). The most common negative emotions mentioned were anxiety and loneliness/boredom, while the most common positive emotions mentioned were optimism and feeling grateful. The most common coping mechanisms reported by participants included making life adjustments, keeping busy, prayer/spirituality, and mediation/mindfulness. This study provides an initial understanding into how older adults experienced and coped with the first stages of restricting social interactions. If social distancing continues to be a recommended disease-containment strategy, information about how older adults are coping can be critical for public health interventions. Implications will be discussed.

Eating on the street in times of social distancing. Impact and strategies implemented by food businesses in Northwestern Mexico

The objective was to demonstrate the effects of the global health contingency on the practice of street eating in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora, as well as the strategies adopted by the establishments to achieve their permanence. From a socio-anthropological and qualitative approach, we worked with street food businesses during the second and third stages of the health emergency in Mexico. These businesses have shown great adaptability and resilience deployed in various strategies, in line with their ability; being the electronic media such as Facebook and WhatsApp prevailing for their permanence, as well as the commensal themselves.

Sifu - a cybersecurity awareness platform with challenge assessment and intelligent coach

Software vulnerabilities, when actively exploited by malicious parties, can lead to catastrophic consequences. Proper handling of software vulnerabilities is essential in the industrial context, particularly when the software is deployed in critical infrastructures. Therefore, several industrial standards mandate secure coding guidelines and industrial software developers’ training, as software quality is a significant contributor to secure software. CyberSecurity Challenges (CSC) form a method that combines serious game techniques with cybersecurity and secure coding guidelines to raise secure coding awareness of software developers in the industry. These cybersecurity awareness events have been used with success in industrial environments. However, until now, these coached events took place on-site. In the present work, we briefly introduce cybersecurity challenges and propose a novel platform that allows these events to take place online. The introduced cybersecurity awareness platform, which the authors call Sifu, performs automatic assessment of challenges in compliance to secure coding guidelines, and uses an artificial intelligence method to provide players with solution-guiding hints. Furthermore, due to its characteristics, the Sifu platform allows for remote (online) learning, in times of social distancing. The CyberSecurity Challenges events based on the Sifu platform were evaluated during four online real-life CSC events. We report on three surveys showing that the Sifu platform’s CSC events are adequate to raise industry software developers awareness on secure coding.

E tumau le fa'avae ae fesuia'i faiga

E tumau le fa'avae ae fesuia'i faiga

Review Essay: “Music in a Time of Social Distancing and Public Intimacy: Lessons from Contemporary Japan”

Review Essay: “Music in a Time of Social Distancing and Public Intimacy: Lessons from Contemporary Japan”

Wilderness Medicine Education in the Time of Social Distancing and COVID-19.

Wilderness medicine (WM) education has traditionally been conducted as in-person training. The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced medical schools to cancel clerkships and clinical electives and pivot to remote education. With online media modalities, it is possible to conduct a WM student elective remotely. The use of recorded audio lectures, instructional videos, choice-based simulations, and video conferencing allows students access to nearly all necessary content under the guidance of instructors. Although hands-on practicums are still essential to WM education, the process outlined here enables a temporary alternative during the time of necessary social distancing.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient-Reported Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (officially declared on the March 11, 2020), and the resulting measures, are impacting daily life and medical management of breast cancer patients and survivors. We evaluated to what extent these changes have affected quality of life, physical, and psychosocial well-being of patients previously or currently being treated for breast cancer.MethodsThis study was conducted within a prospective, multicenter cohort of breast cancer patients and survivors (Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaLuAtion). Shortly after the implementation of COVID-19 measures, an extra survey was sent to 1595 participants, including the validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core (C30) and breast cancer-specific (BR23) Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared with the most recent PROs collected within UMBRELLA pre–COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on PROs was assessed using mixed model analysis, adjusting for potential confounders.Results1051 patients and survivors (65.9%) completed the survey; 31.1% (n = 327) reported a higher threshold to contact their general practitioner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A statistically significant deterioration in emotional functioning was observed (mean = 82.6 [SD = 18.7] to 77.9 [SD = 17.3]; P < .001), and 505 (48.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 45.0% to 51.1%) patients and survivors reported moderate to severe loneliness. Small improvements were observed in quality of life and physical, social, and role functioning. In the subgroup of 51 patients under active treatment, social functioning strongly deteriorated (77.3 [95% CI = 69.4 to 85.2] to 61.3 [95% CI = 52.6 to 70.1]; P = .002).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, breast cancer patients and survivors were less likely to contact physicians and experienced a deterioration in their emotional functioning. Patients undergoing active treatment reported a substantial drop in social functioning. One in 2 reported loneliness that was moderate or severe. Online interventions supporting mental health and social interaction are needed during times of social distancing and lockdowns.

Self-Perceived Stress During the Quarantine of COVID-19 Pandemic in Paraguay: An Exploratory Survey.

Introduction: Any viral pandemic is a global health and mental health issue. The World Health Organization and mental health associations have warned that the current COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a drastic increase of stress-related conditions and mental health issues globally.Materials and Methods: An online web-based survey has been launched from 10 to 15 April 2020 in Paraguay in order to collect information regarding the stress related to the quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been spread through social media (“WhatsApp,” “Twitter,” and “Facebook”). Two thousand two hundred and six Paraguayan citizens, over 18 years of age, completed the survey voluntarily. Socio-demographics as well as ratings at Self-perceived Stress Scale have been collected and analyzed.Results: Two thousand two hundred and six subjects (74.12% men) aged between 18 and 75 with an average of 34 ± 11 years old completed the survey. 12.42% (276 subjects) of sample reported a preexisting diagnosis of mental disorder, and 175 participants (7.93%) reported an increase of preexisting symptoms with the onset of COVID-19 quarantine. 41.97% of them had anxiety and 54.38% did not receive any specific treatment. The general population rated 18.10 ± 5.99 at Self-perceived Stress Scale, which indicates a moderate level of self-perceived stress. Significant association was found between higher levels of stress and female sex, being single, or reporting preexisting mental disorder, above all anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). In fact, in 63.87% of mentally ill subjects (n = 175), the quarantine has worsened symptoms of preexisting mental disorders.Conclusion: This study suggests a stressful impact of COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of participants reporting a moderate level of self-perceived stress. We suggest mental health services to provide a phone-based or web-based support to the general population in order to contrast the psychological impact of the pandemic. This approach may improve the accessibility to mental healthcare services in Paraguay, especially in times of social distancing.

University teaching and learning in a time of social distancing: A sociocultural perspective

ABSTRACT The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has challenged every aspect of our “normal” lives. COVID-19 requires us to make behavioral and attitudinal changes to coexist with the coronavirus. Universities have been affected substantially, and online teaching and learning have become the “new normal.” The strategies to achieve this “new normal” and how they are received depend on the sociocultural context. This preliminary qualitative inquiry explores how, during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, university teaching and learning were maintained and social distancing became a learning opportunity. The voices of first-year graduate students in this inquiry enable us to understand the dynamics of their responses and show their resilience, particularly their ability to turn challenges into creative opportunities. The implications are that shared values and beliefs will help us to get through this crisis together, and collective action will help us to continue to move forward.

Training in Cytopathology in Times of Social Distancing: A Comparison of Remote vs. Traditional Learning

Training in Cytopathology in Times of Social Distancing: A Comparison of Remote vs. Traditional Learning

Mentorship During a Pandemic: Transitions from Lab and Sea to Virtual

With mentorship having gone virtual this past summer, three geosciences programs offer case studies about how to form meaningful connections during a time of social distancing.

Synergy of pandemics-social isolation is associated with worsened Parkinson severity and quality of life

Social isolation and its deleterious effects on health increases with age in the general population. People with Parkinson’s Disease (PWP) are no exception. Social isolation is a risk factor for worsened health outcomes and increased mortality. Symptoms such as depression and sleep dysfunction are adversely affected by loneliness. There is a paucity of research on social isolation in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is all the more critical now in the setting of social distancing due to COVID-19. The goal of this study was to survey individuals with PD to evaluate whether social isolation is associated with PD symptom severity and quality of life. Only individuals reporting a diagnosis of idiopathic PD were included in this analysis. The primary outcome measures were the Patient-Reported Outcomes in PD (PRO-PD) and questions from PROMIS Global related to social health. PRO-PD scores increased as social performance and social satisfaction scores diminished. Individuals who reported being lonely experienced a 55% greater symptom severity than those who were not lonely (P < 0.01). Individuals who documented having a lot of friends had 21% fewer symptoms than those with few or no friends (P < 0.01). Social isolation was associated with greater patient-reported PD severity and lower quality of life, although it is unclear whether this is the cause and/or a consequence of the disease. In essence, the Parkinson pandemic and the pandemic of social isolation have been further compounded by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The results emphasize the need to keep PWP socially connected and prevent loneliness in this time of social distancing. Proactive use of virtual modalities for support groups and social prescribing should be explored.

Topics, Delivery Modes, and Social-Epistemological Dimensions of Web-Based Information for Patients Undergoing Renal Transplant and Living Donors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Content Analysis.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has markedly affected renal transplant care. During this time of social distancing, limited in-person visits, and uncertainty, patients and donors are relying more than ever on telemedicine and web-based information. Several factors can influence patients’ understanding of web-based information, such as delivery modes (instruction, interaction, and assessment) and social-epistemological dimensions (choices in interactive knowledge building).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systemically evaluate the content, delivery modes, and social-epistemological dimensions of web-based information on COVID-19 and renal transplantation at time of the pandemic.MethodsMultiple keyword combinations were used to retrieve websites on COVID-19 and renal transplantation using the search engines Google.com and Google.nl. From 14 different websites, 30 webpages were examined to determine their organizational sources, topics, delivery modes, and social-epistemological dimensions.ResultsThe variety of topics and delivery modes was limited. A total of 13 different delivery modes were encountered, of which 8 (62%) were instructional and 5 (38%) were interactional; no assessment delivery modes were observed. No website offered all available delivery modes. The majority of delivery modes (8/13, 62%) focused on individual and passive learning, whereas group learning and active construction of knowledge were rarely encountered.ConclusionsBy taking interactive knowledge transfer into account, the educational quality of eHealth for transplant care could increase, especially in times of crisis when rapid knowledge transfer is needed.

Synchronous hybrid learning in times of social distancing A report and case study on benefits, trainer's challenges, and guidelines

Higher education institutions (HEI) use different learning formats such as onsite lectures or online seminars to support their students learning. In the last decades, higher education actively supported an increase of online offerings to foster flexibility and freedom. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic learning circumstances in higher education transformed dramatically, and many HEIs were forced to shift all their courses to online learning formats. Some institutions implemented synchronous hybrid learning (SHL) as a solution between extremes that balances different needs in times of social distancing. This article outlines the benefits, trainer's challenges, and guidelines that can be ascribed to SHL under the circumstances of the current pandemic. The results show that SHL strengthens communication and supports learning. On the one hand, SHL is an innovative, inclusive format, which supports social competencies, multiple perspectives, dynamic interactions, and immediate student-student as well as trainer-student feedback. On the other hand, SHL relies on students' equipment and depends on student as well as trainer adaption and reliable technology. Nevertheless, this report shows that SHL is a promising format, which can close one part of the digital divide between students. Future SHL endeavours should thus be carefully prepared and supported by the hosting HEI. Specifically, trainers and students should be trained on how to use the required technology, and trainers should learn about the pedagogical benefits and implementations of SHL by using protocols and chat trackers.

26 - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life, physical and psychosocial wellbeing in breast cancer patients – a prospective, multicenter cohort study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting measures, are impacting daily life and medical management of patients with breast cancer. We evaluated to what extent these changes have affected quality of life, and physical and psychosocial wellbeing of patients (being) treated for breast cancer. Materials and methods: This study was conducted within the prospective Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaluation (UMBRELLA). Shortly after the implementation of COVID-19 measures, extra questionnaires were sent to 1595 cohort participants, including standard quality of life (EORTC) questionnaires. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared to the most recent PROs collected within UMBRELLA before COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on PROs was assessed using mixed model analysis, adjusting for confounders. Results: 1051 patients (66%) completed the questionnaires; 31% (n = 327) reported a higher threshold to contact their general practitioner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant deterioration in emotional functioning was observed (82.6 to 77.9, p < 0.001), and 505 (48%, 95% CI 45–51) patients reported moderate to severe loneliness. Small improvements were observed in QoL, physical-, social- and role functioning scores. In the subgroup of 51 patients under active treatment, social functioning strongly deteriorated (69.8 to 5.0, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Due to COVID-19, patients (being) treated for breast cancer are less likely to contact physicians, and experience a deterioration in emotional functioning. Patients undergoing active treatment report a strong drop in social functioning. One in two patients reports (severe) loneliness. Online interventions supporting mental health and social interaction are needed during times of social distancing and lockdowns. No conflict of interest.

Auditing in times of social distancing: the effect of COVID-19 on auditing quality

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the theoretical impact of COVID-19 social distancing outbreak on audit quality.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a desk study method to explore the possible impact of COVID-19 crisis on five key considerations for audit quality during the pandemic. These include audit fees, going concern assessment, auditor human capital, audit procedures and audit personnel salaries.FindingsAs many believe that the COVID-19 outbreak is as yet not a financial crisis, the authors, on the contrary, believe that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic would be the toughest challenge for auditors and their clients since the 2007–2008 global financial crisis. Specifically, the authors believe that the COVID-19 social distancing can largely affect audit fees, going concern assessment, audit human capital, audit procedures, audit personnel salaries and audit effort, which ultimately can pose a severe impact on audit quality.Practical implicationsDue to the implementations of work-from-home strategy, audit firms are highly recommended to invest more in digital programs, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, network security and data function development. This can help them to be more adaptable to working from home experience, which is ultimately expected to enhance the effectiveness and the flexibility of communication between auditors and their clients. Also, the authors recommend stock markets and other governmental bodies to provide temporary relaxations in compliance requirements to corporations. This procedure is expected to help firms that apply work-from-home strategy to report better earnings figures, which is appeared to be positively associated with audit quality.Originality/valueTo date, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no academic study that explores the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on audit quality. This paper, therefore, fills an important research gap in the auditing literature. In addition, this paper can be used as a base to construct a research instrument (e.g. questionnaire or interviews) to provide empirical evidence on the potential impact of COVID-19 on audit quality.