Aging Services Workers in the Pandemic: Voiced Experience of Senior Center Staff and Case Workers
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Okang E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9354122 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background and Objectives: Epilepsy is a chronic disease that causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Pharmacists represent an integral role in managing patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about the pharmacology and pathophysiology of epilepsy among senior pharmacy students. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study using a designed questionnaire to measure the pharmacological and physiological knowledge of senior pharmacy students regarding epilepsy who are studying at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from August to October 2022. Results: A total of 211 senior clinical pharmacy students responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were 4th year pharmacy students. The numbers of female and male participants were equal (106 and 105 students, respectively). The participants represented an acceptable level of knowledge about the pathophysiology aspects of epilepsy, with a mean total score of 6.22 ± 1.9 out of a maximum score of 10. The respondents reported that epilepsy could be due to genetic predisposition combined with environmental conditions (80.1%) or brain stroke (17.1%). Regarding the respondent knowledge about the pharmacology of epilepsy, the total score was 4.6 ± 2.1 (maximum attainable score: 9). Conclusions: The majority of pharmacy students had knowledge about the pathophysiology concept of the disease; however, low knowledge was shown by the respondents regarding the pharmacology of epilepsy. Thus, there is a need to identify better strategies to improve students' education.
| S-EPMC10222504 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Texas Tech University Health Sciences (TTUHSC) Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) was established to promote healthy aging through cutting edge research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases of aging, through innovative educational and community outreach opportunities for students, clinicians, researchers, health care providers, and the public. The GIA sponsors the Lubbock Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). According to RSVP Operations Handbook, RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation. Through this program, volunteer skills and talents can be matched to assist with community needs. It is a federally funded program under the guidance of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Senior Corps (SC). Volunteers that participate in RSVP provide service in the following areas: food security, environmental awareness building and education, community need-based volunteer programs, and veteran services.
| S-EPMC4672082 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The purpose of this study was to explore the evolving perspectives of young players experiences going through the junior to senior transition in professional football. A primary objective was to adopt novel methods - weekly video diaries - to allow participants to control and report their own narratives as the transition unfolded over 40 weeks. Semi structured interviews, held at four time points, allowed the lead researcher to probe further on themes that were developing. Six participants from the academy volunteered to take part, but only the three who earned professional contracts completed the study. The primary themes in the academy were the pressure experienced waiting for the contract decision, and then preparation for senior football and the first team environment once contracts were awarded. Adaptation to senior football included not only increased physical and mental demands but also those related to the different style of play, the pressure to win, and how these both impacted decision-making. The football club set up two pathways to support this adaptation, loan moves and time with the U23's. In the following season, the move to the senior squad was characterized by a lack of opportunity to play for the first team, resulting in additional loan moves. These moves, and the associated perceived lack of support structures, led to the participants experiencing issues with their club identity, their motivation and their confidence. Internal (mindset) and external (social support) coping strategies were developed over the study's duration. Concluding comments from participants were related to greater acceptance of the need to be patient, perhaps reflecting on the club's reputation of giving young players a sound football education. These phases of the transition came with ups and downs for each participant illuminating key elements of the adaptation to senior competition, barriers to transition without early success, and social aspects of the transition. Enhanced detail to these key areas poses important questions for future research and applied practice.
| S-EPMC7363945 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSilvery Hair Syndromes (SHS), an autosomal recessive inherited disorder, includes Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS), Griscelli syndrome (GS), Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), and Elejalde syndrome. Associated immunological and neurological defects and predilection for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) makes them a distinctive entity in pediatric practice. Thorough clinical examination, bedside investigations such as peripheral blood smear (PBS) and hair microscopy, and bone marrow (BM) examination are inexpensive and reliable diagnostic tools.MethodsWe report 12 cases with SHS (CHS, n = 06; GS, n = 04; HPS, n = 02).Results8 out of 12 SHS children (CHS-05, GS-03) presented with HLH. Out of 5 cases of CHS with HLH, 2 died, 3rd is stable post-chemotherapy; 4th completed chemotherapy, underwent matched related hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), and is stable 8 months off treatment. The 5th child completed chemotherapy and is in process of transplant. One CHS child without HLH is thriving without any treatment. Of the 4 GS cases, 3 presented with HLH and received chemotherapy (HLH 2004 protocol). One lost follow-up after initial remission; another had recurrence 7 months off treatment and discontinued further treatment. The third child had recurrence 1.5 years after initial chemotherapy; HLH 2004 protocol was restarted followed by HSCT from matched sibling donor; is currently well, 2.5 years post-transplant. One child with GS had neurological features with no evidence of HLH and did not take treatment. Of 2 children with HPS, one presented with severe sepsis and the other with neurological problems. They were managed symptomatically.ConclusionIn SHS with HLH, chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a promising curative option.
| S-EPMC9455113 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPersistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA) is an extremely rare congenital cardiovascular malformation and there is limited data in the literature. The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding and diagnosis of PFAA from echocardiography and computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings, and to evaluate the application of echocardiography in the diagnosis of PFAA.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed five cases of PFAA diagnosed from October 2016 to September 2019 at the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics. We described their diagnosis by echocardiography and CTA findings, and medical history.ResultsFive cases of PFAA were identified in the study. Patients aged from 3 to 48 months and weighed from 4 to 12 kg presented different clinical symptoms upon clinical examination. All the patients completed a primary echocardiographic assessment; however, the first two patients were misdiagnosed by echocardiography and was confirmed by supplemental CTA while the other three patients were directly diagnosed by echocardiography. Surgery was necessary for three patients, two of whom accepted and one refused. The other two patients only needed a follow-up assessment, which showed good results.ConclusionsThe clinical manifestation of PFAA in our patient population was atypical, and their diagnosis depended on the use of echocardiography. In the case of uncertainty, the final diagnosis was confirmed by CTA. Although the nomenclature and embryonic origin of PFAA remains controversial, the accurate diagnosis of aortic arch abnormalities and associated malformations are imperative for time-sensitive treatments.
| S-EPMC8261588 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8107516 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare providers worldwide to bring in changes in the way cancer patients are cared for. Many cancer departments globally have brought in changes to their daily practice. This article is about our experience of evolving "COVID 19 PROTOCOL" devised in our department and taking a shape to suit a health care system with limited budget.Materials and methodsAll the patient census & details of department of surgical oncology, Royapettah cancer hospital, from month of March 2020 to July 2020, who were subjected to COVID protocol were compared to patient census of similar duration in immediate past five months of October 2019 to February 2020. The data from out-patient department, ward in-patient census and healthcare personnel data was analyzed.ResultsThere was a drop to 63.5% in OP census and 61.6% in IP census. There was a drop to 64.5% in number of major cases operated during initial phases of COVID pandemic. Health care workers were also infected with the COVID but cross infectivity can be checked if proper steps to adhere to an institutional protocol based on general measures of cleanliness are taken.ConclusionAdherence to an institutional protocol based on compliance to general measures of masking, hand washing and social distancing plays a major role in minimizing disease spread. The Royapettah COVID protocol, though in process of evolution, can be recommended for any health care center with limited resources.
| S-EPMC7834458 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8108487 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted residential care delivery all around the world. This study investigates the current scheduling methods in residential care facilities in order to enhance them for pandemic conditions. We first define the basic problem that addresses decisions associated with the assignment and scheduling of staff members, who perform a set of tasks required by residents during a planning horizon. This problem includes the minimization of costs associated with the salary of part-time staff members, total overtime, and violations of service time windows. Subsequently, we adapt the basic problem to pandemic conditions by considering the impacts of communal spaces (e.g., shared rooms) and a cohorting policy (classification of residents based on their risk of infection) on the spread of infectious diseases. We introduce a new objective function that minimizes the number of distinct staff members serving each room of residents. Likewise, we propose a new objective function for the cohorting policy that aims to minimize the number of distinct cohorts served by each staff member. A new constraint is incorporated that forces staff members to serve only one cohort within a shift. We present a population-based heuristic algorithm to solve this problem. Through a comparison with two benchmark solution approaches (a mathematical programme and a non-dominated archiving ant colony optimization algorithm), the superiority of the heuristic algorithm is shown regarding solution quality and CPU time. Finally, we conduct numerical analyses to present managerial implications.
| S-EPMC9065499 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Early care and education (ECE) workers experience many job-related stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ECE programs either closed or remained open while workers faced additional demands. We deployed a survey of the center-based ECE workforce in Washington State (United States) one year into the COVID-19 pandemic to assess impacts and workers' perceived stress levels. We describe the prevalence of reported impacts, including workplace closures; job changes; COVID-19 transmission; risk factors for severe COVID-19; the use of social distancing practices; satisfaction with workplace responses; perceptions of worker roles, respect, and influence; and food and financial insecurity. Themes from open-ended responses illustrate how workers' jobs changed and the stressors that workers experienced as a result. Fifty-seven percent of ECE workers reported moderate or high levels of stress. In a regression model assessing unique contributions to stress, work changes that negatively impacted home life contributed most to stress. Feeling respected for one's work and feeling positive about one's role as an "essential worker" contributed to lower levels of stress. Experiencing financial insecurity, caring for school-aged children or children of multiple ages, being younger, and being born in the United States also contributed to higher stress. Findings can inform policies designed to support the workforce.
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