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Collaboration is common practice within design disciplines and beyond. Brainstorming, discussions, and prototyping tend to occur within the same physical space. The reduction of human interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these practices. In this paper, we focus on the possibilities and challenges of remote prototyping of four student teams by combining a double diamond approach with tools to overcome remote work challenges. The results were analyzed to understand crucial tools, advantages, and obstacles. The key challenges and opportunities were then identified and examined.
The purpose of this document is to highlight practical recommendations to assist acute care hospitals to prioritize and implement strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ventilator-associated events (VAE), and non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) in adults, children, and neonates. This document updates the Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals published in 2014. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA), and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Hospital Association, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise.
University and college students are vulnerable to developing depressive symptoms. People in low-income countries are disproportionately impacted by mental health problems, yet few studies examine routes to accessing clinical services. Examining motivation and barriers toward seeking clinical mental health services in university students in Bangladesh is important.
Method
Using a cross-sectional survey (n = 350), we assess the relationship between the constructs of autonomy, relatedness, and competency toward using clinical mental health practices (i.e. using professional resources, taking medication) with (1) positive views, (2) perceived need, and (3) use of clinical mental health services among Bangladeshi university students.
Results
Results showed that the perceived need for mental health support was the predictor of the largest magnitude (aOR = 4.99, p = 0.005) for using clinical services. Having a positive view of clinical services was predictive of clinical service use (aOR = 2.87, p = 0.033); however, that association became insignificant (p = 0.054) when adjusting for the perceived need for mental health care. Of the SDT constructs, social influences were predictive of perceiving a need for mental health support, and mental health knowledge was predictive (aOR = 1.10, p = 0.001) of having a positive view of clinical mental health care.
Conclusion
Our findings show that knowledge of mental health is associated with positive views of mental health services, and that higher levels of stress and the presence of people with mental health problems are associated with the perception of a need for mental health care, which is ultimately responsible for using the services.
Research on persuasion and social influence suggests that crafting effective persuasive and influential appeals is not only feasible but can be done fairly reliably with appropriate guidance from the relevant theories. With the advent of large-scale experiments conducted in field settings, key propositions about persuasion and social influence can be evaluated on a grand scale. In this chapter we assess whether well-known psychological insights work in practice, reviewing efforts related to political mobilisation and persuasion. We argue that in many cases field tests generate an estimated effect that is much smaller than highly influential psychological studies might lead us to expect. The implications of large-scale testing are profound, not only because of the guidance they offer for political campaigns, but also because of their implications for prominent psychological theories.
Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols improve post-surgical outcomes through decreased length of hospital stay, reduced readmission rates, decreased post-operative pain, and greater patient satisfaction. ERAS also has significant benefits to the healthcare system through reduced cost of post-operative care. While ERAS protocols are well established in many surgical fields, a complete guideline for spine surgery is lacking. Early ERAS studies in spine surgery suggest up to a 50% reduction in length of stay (LOS) and decreased cost of care. Methods: Primary literature review followed by multidisciplinary critical appraisal for optimization and redesign of our current system of care for scheduled spine surgery (SSS), including patient experience and team logistics from initial consultation through post-operative care and follow up. Results: An evidence-based guideline, optimizing pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases of care was developed. Specific focus catered to pre-operative education and patient barriers to discharge. Further improvements in pre-admission patient goal setting, introduction of a patient care “passport”, post-operative reduction in narcotic administration, and increased same day post-operative mobilization were means to reduce LOS. Conclusions: A spine ERAS pathway was developed, allowing our care program to better facilitate patient recovery after SSS. Future work will aim to determine economic impact of the pathway.
Background: Intoxicated patients injured in off road vehicle (ORV) crashes have higher rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, as well as prolonged ICU length of stay. This study evaluated the impact of alcohol intoxication on mortality among major TBI patients injured in off-road vehicle crashes. Methods: A retrospective analysis (2002-2014) of off-road vehicle injuries in Nova Scotia resulting in major TBI was performed. ORVs included ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes. A logistic regression model was constructed to test for in-hospital mortality and adjusted for age, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) Head, Injury Severity Score, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Results: There were 176 drivers and passengers of off-road vehicles. Overall mortality was 28%. BAC testing was performed in 61% patients; 85% of pre-hospital deaths were BAC positive (mean BAC=31 ± 17.39 mmol/L) and 70% in-hospital deaths were BAC positive (mean BAC=26 ± 23.12 mmol/L). After adjusting for confounders, high injury severity and intoxication increased the likelihood of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that alcohol intoxication is a significant risk factor for mortality among off-road vehicle collisions; for every mmol/L change in BAC, there was a 10% increase in the chance of in-hospital mortality.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives and livelihoods, and people already experiencing mental ill health may have been especially vulnerable.
Aims
Quantify mental health inequalities in disruptions to healthcare, economic activity and housing.
Method
We examined data from 59 482 participants in 12 UK longitudinal studies with data collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within each study, we estimated the association between psychological distress assessed pre-pandemic and disruptions since the start of the pandemic to healthcare (medication access, procedures or appointments), economic activity (employment, income or working hours) and housing (change of address or household composition). Estimates were pooled across studies.
Results
Across the analysed data-sets, 28% to 77% of participants experienced at least one disruption, with 2.3–33.2% experiencing disruptions in two or more domains. We found 1 s.d. higher pre-pandemic psychological distress was associated with (a) increased odds of any healthcare disruptions (odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% CI 1.20–1.40), with fully adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.24 (95% CI 1.09–1.41) for disruption to procedures to 1.33 (95% CI 1.20–1.49) for disruptions to prescriptions or medication access; (b) loss of employment (odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.21) and income (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06 –1.19), and reductions in working hours/furlough (odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.09) and (c) increased likelihood of experiencing a disruption in at least two domains (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.18–1.32) or in one domain (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.16), relative to no disruption. There were no associations with housing disruptions (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97–1.03).
Conclusions
People experiencing psychological distress pre-pandemic were more likely to experience healthcare and economic disruptions, and clusters of disruptions across multiple domains during the pandemic. Failing to address these disruptions risks further widening mental health inequalities.
This review assesses regenerative medicine of the upper aerodigestive tract during the first two decades of the twenty-first century, focusing on end-stage fibrosis and tissue loss in the upper airways, salivary system, oropharynx and tongue.
Method
PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Medline and clinicaltrials.org were searched from 2000 to 2019. The keywords used were: bioengineering, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell therapy, regenerative surgery, upper aerodigestive tract, pharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea, vocal cord, tongue and salivary glands. Original studies were subcategorised by anatomical region. Original human reports were further analysed. Articles on periodontology, ear, nose and maxillofacial disorders, and cancer immunotherapy were excluded.
Results
Of 716 relevant publications, 471 were original studies. There were 18 human studies included, within which 8 reported airway replacements, 5 concerned vocal fold regeneration and 3 concerned salivary gland regeneration. Techniques included cell transplantation, injection of biofactors, bioscaffolding and bioengineered laryngeal structures.
Conclusion
Moderate experimental success was identified in the restoration of upper airway, vocal fold and salivary gland function. This review suggests that a shift in regenerative medicine research focus is required toward pathology with a higher disease burden.
To describe a pilot project infection prevention and control (IPC) assessment conducted in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in New York State (NYS) during a pivotal 2-week period when the region became the nation’s epicenter for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Design:
A telephone and video assessment of IPC measures in SNFs at high risk or experiencing COVID-19 activity.
Participants:
SNFs in 14 New York counties, including New York City.
Intervention:
A 3-component remote IPC assessment: (1) screening tool; (2) telephone IPC checklist; and (3) COVID-19 video IPC assessment (ie, “COVIDeo”).
Results:
In total, 92 SNFs completed the IPC screening tool and checklist: 52 (57%) were conducted as part COVID-19 investigations, and 40 (43%) were proactive prevention-based assessments. Among the 40 proactive assessments, 14 (35%) identified suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. COVIDeo was performed in 26 (28%) of 92 assessments and provided observations that other tools would have missed: personal protective equipment (PPE) that was not easily accessible, redundant, or improperly donned, doffed, or stored and specific challenges implementing IPC in specialty populations. The IPC assessments took ∼1 hour each and reached an estimated 4 times as many SNFs as on-site visits in a similar time frame.
Conclusions:
Remote IPC assessments by telephone and video were timely and feasible methods of assessing the extent to which IPC interventions had been implemented in a vulnerable setting and to disseminate real-time recommendations. Remote assessments are now being implemented across New York State and in various healthcare facility types. Similar methods have been adapted nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Green defends a ‘Kelsenian’ non-naturalist and non-reductive version of legal positivism that, he argues, is similar to the pure theory of law expressed in Hans Kelsen’s works. Kelsen is a peculiar legal positivist by Anglophone standards because he rejects the social thesis. As Kelsen sees it, law does not ultimately depend upon social facts about a community’s legal practices. The legal order is normative and so stands outside the spatiotemporal and causal world of nature. Nevertheless, Kelsen can be described as a positivist for two reasons. First, he accepts the separation thesis: law does not ultimately depend upon moral facts. Second, he accepts what Green calls the ‘positivity thesis’. Green argues that the heart of the Kelsenian argument against the social thesis is a form of legal anti-psychologism that is similar to the logical anti-psychologism offered by Frege. A challenge to this Kelsenian position is the view that the non-natural facts upon which legal inferences are based concern the concept of law, not a legal order. Green argues that this approach can be successfully resisted by invoking Kelsen’s doctrine of the unity of law.”
Green considers a strong version of the semantic thesis, according to which legal statements are descriptive statements solely about social facts. He starts from the foundational thesis of positivism, the social thesis, which has it that the existence and content of the law are ultimately based solely in social facts about a community. But he notes that there are two versions of this thesis. Under the reduction version, a legal system and its laws consist of social facts. Under the assignment version, they are not social entities at all; they are norms, understood as abstract objects. But the grounds for assigning these abstract objects to a community are ultimately solely social facts. Focusing on the assignment version, he asks whether the semantic thesis follows from the social thesis, and, if that answer is no, the extent to which legal statements actually conform to the semantic thesis. He argues that assignment positivists can conclude that the answer is negative because, for them, legal statements describe abstract objects. For Green, this simple account of the semantics of legal statements is superior to expressivist accounts and to Raz’s account.
Most earthen burial mounds of eastern North America have been destroyed—or have they? We review geophysical methods for assessing whether leveled mounds retain intact deposits or features. Magnetic survey holds promise for locating and evaluating leveled mounds because it is rapid and sensitive to magnetic variations associated with anticipated features such as pits and deposits of mound fill. As a case study, we discuss our magnetic survey of the Gast Farm site (13LA12) in eastern Iowa. The survey covered 8.64 ha, encompassing loci of one previously reported mound and possible geometric earthworks as well as Middle and Late Woodland habitation areas. Interpretation of survey results incorporated quantitative differentiation of magnetic anomaly types using GIS techniques, along with standard visual inspection. We found no evidence of geometric earthworks but identified at least six leveled mounds. Displaced mound fill appears to account for the earthwork-like features. We conclude that leveled mounds are detectable and may retain subsurface integrity. Their associated features, including burials, may be identifiable even when above-ground evidence has disappeared.
The magnitude and consistency of the sex differences in meningococcal disease incidence rates (IR) have not been systematically examined in different age groups, countries and time periods. We obtained national data on meningococcal disease IR by sex, age group and time period, from 10 countries. We used meta-analytic methods to combine the male to female incidence rate ratios (IRRs) by country and year for each age group. Meta-regression analysis was used to assess the contribution of age, country and time period to the variation in the IRRs. The pooled male to female IRRs (with 95% CI) for ages 0–1, 1–4, 5–9, 10–14 and 15–44, were 1.25 (1.19–1.32), 1.24 (1.20–1.29), 1.13 (1.07–1.20), 1.21 (1.13–1.29) and 1.15 (1.10–1.21), respectively. In the age groups 45−64 and over 65, the IR were lower in males with IRRs of 0.83 (0.78–0.88) and 0.64 (0.60–0.69), respectively. Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression confirmed that the results were robust. The excess meningococcal IR in young males and the higher rates in females at older ages were consistent in all countries, except the Czech Republic. While behavioural factors could explain some of the sex differences in the older age groups, the excess rates in very young males suggest that genetic and hormonal differences could be important.
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea is a ‘Critically Endangered’ migratory shorebird. The species faces an array of threats in its non-breeding range, making conservation intervention essential. However, conservation efforts are reliant on identifying the species’ key stopover and wintering sites. Using Maximum Entropy models, we predicted Spoon-billed Sandpiper distribution across the non-breeding range, using data from recent field surveys and satellite tracking. Model outputs suggest only a limited number of stopover sites are suitable for migrating birds, with sites in the Yellow Sea and on the Jiangsu coast in China highlighted as particularly important. All the previously known core wintering sites were identified by the model including the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, Nan Thar Island and the Gulf of Mottama. In addition, the model highlighted sites subsequently found to be occupied, and pinpointed potential new sites meriting investigation, notably on Borneo and Sulawesi, and in parts of India and the Philippines. A comparison between the areas identified as most likely to be occupied and protected areas showed that very few locations are covered by conservation designations. Known sites must be managed for conservation as a priority, and potential new sites should be surveyed as soon as is feasible to assess occupancy status. Site protection should take place in concert with conservation interventions including habitat management, discouraging hunting, and fostering alternative livelihoods.
Little is known about the determinants of community integration (i.e. recovery) for individuals with a history of homelessness, yet such information is essential to develop targeted interventions.
Methods
We recruited homeless Veterans with a history of psychotic disorders and evaluated four domains of correlates of community integration: perception, non-social cognition, social cognition, and motivation. Baseline assessments occurred after participants were engaged in supported housing services but before they received housing, and again after 12 months. Ninety-five homeless Veterans with a history of psychosis were assessed at baseline and 53 returned after 12 months. We examined both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships with 12-month community integration.
Results
The strongest longitudinal association was between a baseline motivational measure and social integration at 12 months. We also observed cross-sectional associations at baseline between motivational measures and community integration, including social, work, and independent living. Cross-lagged panel analyses did not suggest causal associations for the motivational measures. Correlations with perception and non-social cognition were weak. One social cognition measure showed a significant longitudinal correlation with independent living at 12 months that was significant for cross-lagged analysis, consistent with a causal relationship and potential treatment target.
Conclusions
The relatively selective associations for motivational measures differ from what is typically seen in psychosis, in which all domains are associated with community integration. These findings are presented along with a partner paper (Study 2) to compare findings from this study to an independent sample without a history of psychotic disorders to evaluate the consistency in findings regarding community integration across projects.
In an initial study (Study 1), we found that motivation predicted community integration (i.e. functional recovery) 12 months after receiving housing in formerly homeless Veterans with a psychotic disorder. The current study examined whether the same pattern would be found in a broader, more clinically diverse, homeless Veteran sample without psychosis.
Methods
We examined four categories of variables as potential predictors of community integration in non-psychotic Veterans: perception, non-social cognition, social cognition, and motivation at baseline (after participants were engaged in a permanent supported housing program but before receiving housing) and a 12-month follow-up. A total of 82 Veterans had a baseline assessment and 41 returned for testing after 12 months.
Results
The strongest longitudinal association was between an interview-based measure of motivation (the motivation and pleasure subscale from the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms) at baseline and measures of social integration at 12 months. In addition, cross-lagged panel analyses were consistent with a causal influence of general psychiatric symptoms at baseline driving social integration at 12 months, and reduced expressiveness at baseline driving independent living at 12 months, but there were no significant causal associations with measures of motivation.
Conclusions
The findings from this study complement and reinforce those in Veterans with psychosis. Across these two studies, our findings suggest that motivational factors are associated at baseline and at 12 months and are particularly important for understanding and improving community integration in recently-housed Veterans across psychiatric diagnoses.
Innovation Concept: Effective communication for ad hoc teams is critical to successful management of multisystem trauma patients, to improve situational awareness and to mitigate risk of error. OBJECTIVES 1. Improve communication of ad hoc teams. 2. Identify system gaps. INNOVATION Team in situ simulations provide a unique opportunity to practice communication and assess systems in the real environment. Our trauma team consists of residents and staff from emergency services, general surgery, orthopedics, anaesthesia, nursing and respiratory therapy. Methods: A team of subject matter experts (SME's) from trauma, nursing, emergency medicine and simulation co-developed curriculum in response to a needs assessment that identified gaps in systems and team communication. The simulation occurred in the actual trauma bay. The on-call trauma team was paged and expected to manage a simulated multisystem trauma patient. Once the team arrived, they participated in a briefing, manikin-based simulation and a communication and system focused debriefing. Curriculum, Tool, or Material: Monthly scenarios consisted of management of a blunt trauma patient, emergency airway and massive hemorrhage protocol. Teams were assessed on communication skills and timeliness of interventions. Debriefing consisted of identification of system gaps and latent safety threats. Feedback was given by each discipline followed by SME's. Information was gathered from participant evaluations (5-point Likert scale and open ended questions) and group debrief. Feedback was themed and actions taken to co-create interventions to communication gaps and latent safety threats. As a result, cricothyroidotomy trays were standardized throughout the hospital to mitigate confusion, time delay and unfamiliarity during difficult airway interventions. Participants felt the exercise was an effective means of practicing interprofessional communication and role clarity, and improved their attitude towards the same. Conclusion: In situ simulation-based education with ad hoc trauma teams can improve interprofessional communication and identify latent safety threats for the management of multisystem trauma patients.
It is now well established that CBT for chronic insomnia is as efficacious as hypnotic medication and is also likely to be better at maintaining improved sleep. Most studies have looked at the use of individual CBT; there have been only a few studies looking at CBT for insomnia given in a group format.
For nearly ten years the Bristol Insomnia Group has offered cognitive behavioural management and support for people with chronic insomnia.
The seven group sessions are led by up to three members of a team consisting of a doctor (sleep specialist), an occupational therapist and a research sleep scientist. Components of the group intervention include education about sleep science, information on insomnia medication, sleep hygiene, relaxation, and cognitive therapy. To assess efficacy participants complete sleep diaries, a quality of life scale (SF36) and the dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes scale (DBAS) pre and post group.
Sleep diaries (n=68) showed significant differences in Total Sleep Time (TST), Sleep Onset Latency (SOL) and Sleep Quality (SQ). Approximately half of the participants had clinically significant improvements in their TST (increased by 30 minutes) and about a third had a clinically significant decrease (by 30 minutes) in their SOL. SF36 scores showed statistically improved scores in all nine domains, DBAS scores showed statistically significant decreased scores post group.
These results demonstrate promising sleep parameter and quality of life improvements after attendance at the group. CBT for insomnia is a clinically and cost effective approach for the treatment of chronic insomnia.