Harnessing technology for infectious disease response in conflict zones: Challenges, innovations, and policy implications

Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 103(28), P. e38834 - e38834

Published: July 12, 2024

Epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases in conflict zones are complex threats to public health and humanitarian activities that require creativity approaches reducing their damage. This narrative review focuses on the technology intersection with disease response zones, complexity healthcare infrastructure, population displacement, security risks. explores how conflict-related destruction is harmful towards systems impediments surveillance activities. In this regards, also considered contributions technological innovations, such as improvement epidemiological surveillance, mobile (mHealth) technologies, genomic sequencing, strengthening management settings. Ethical issues related data privacy, fairness covered. By advisement policy investment systems, diagnostic capacity, capacity building, collaboration, even ethical governance, stakeholders can leverage enhance settings and, thus, protect global security. full information for researchers, policymakers, practitioners who dealing conflicts worn areas.

Language: Английский

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Open science communication: The first year of the UK's Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

Health Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 126(3), P. 234 - 244

Published: Jan. 15, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the complex relationship between science and policy. Policymakers have had to make decisions at speed in conditions of uncertainty, implementing policies that profound consequences for people's lives. Yet this process sometimes been characterised by fragmentation, opacity disconnect evidence In United Kingdom, concerns about secrecy initially surrounded led creation Independent SAGE, an unofficial group scientists from different disciplines came together ask policy-relevant questions, review evolving evidence, evidence-based recommendations. took public health approach with population perspective, worked holistic transdisciplinary way, were committed engagement. paper, we lessons learned during its first year. These include importance learning local expertise, value other countries, role civil society as critical friend government, finding appropriate relationships policy, recognising necessity viewing issues through equity lens.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating expectations from social and behavioral science about COVID-19 and lessons for the next pandemic

Published: Oct. 10, 2022

Social and behavioral science research proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting substantial increase in influence of public health policy more broadly. This review presents a comprehensive assessment 742 scientific articles on human behavior COVID-19. Two independent teams evaluated 19 substantive recommendations (“claims”) potentially critical aspects behaviors pandemic drawn from most widely cited papers Teams were made up original authors an team, all whom blinded to other team member reviews throughout. Both found evidence support 16 claims; for two claims, only null evidence; no claims did find effects opposite direction. One claim had available assess. Seemingly due risks studies limited surveys, highlighting need investment field validation studies. The strongest findings indicate interventions that combat misinformation polarization, utilize effective forms messaging engage trusted leaders emphasize positive social norms.

Language: Английский

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The Role of Seasonal Influenza in Compounding the Outbreak of Infectious Diseases: A Critical Review

Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(1), P. 1 - 13

Published: March 20, 2024

Infectious diseases continue to pose a persistent threat public health globally. Amidst the array of factors contributing complexity infectious disease outbreaks, role seasonal influenza stands out as significant amplifier. Seasonal influenza, commonly known flu, not only inflicts its burden on communities but also plays crucial in compounding spread and impact other diseases. This review delves into various ways which contributes outbreaks. The outbreak is multifaceted challenge that demands attention from authorities worldwide. Addressing this effect requires holistic approach encompasses vaccination campaigns, strengthened healthcare infrastructure, improved diagnostic capabilities. By understanding mitigating can enhance their resilience responsiveness face evolving threats. Recognizing these dynamics essential for designing effective strategies. implementing comprehensive programs, improving capabilities, enhancing overall preparedness, better navigate complexities outbreaks exacerbated by presence influenza.

Language: Английский

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Mitigating isolation: The use of rapid antigen testing to reduce the impact of self-isolation periods

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 24, 2021

Abstract Isolating, either enforced or self-guided, is a well-recognised and used technique in the limitation reduction of disease spread. This usually balances societal harm transmission against individual being isolated typically limited to very small number individuals. With widespread SARS-CoV-2 requirements self-isolate when symptomatic having tested positive, people affected has grown large causing noticeable cost, disruption provision essential services. access reliable rapid antigen tests (also known as LFD LFTs), this paper we examine strategies utilise testing technology limit whist maintaining protective effect isolation. We extend work how isolation may be improved mitigate release infective individuals into population caused by fixed time-periods.

Language: Английский

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Lessons learned and lessons missed: impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on all-cause mortality in 40 industrialised countries and US states prior to mass vaccination

Wellcome Open Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6, P. 279 - 279

Published: Feb. 15, 2022

Background: Industrialised countries had varied responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead different death tolls from and other diseases. Methods: We applied an ensemble of 16 Bayesian probabilistic models vital statistics data estimate number weekly deaths if pandemic not occurred for 40 industrialised US states mid-February 2020 through 2021. We subtracted these estimates actual calculate impacts on all-cause mortality. Results: Over this year, there were 1,410,300 (95% credible interval 1,267,600-1,579,200) excess in countries, equivalent a 15% (14-17) increase, 141 (127-158) additional per 100,000 people. In Iceland, Australia New Zealand, mortality was lower than would be expected absence while South Korea Norway experienced no detectable change. The USA, Czechia, Slovakia Poland >20% higher mortality. Within Hawaii change Maine 5% contrasting with Jersey, Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, California, Louisiana York >25% Mid-February end May accounted over half Scotland, Spain, England Wales, Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands Cyprus, whereas mid-September 2021 >90% Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia. northeast driven mainly by first wave, southern southwestern summer northern plains post-September period. Conclusions: Prior widespread vaccine-acquired immunity, minimising overall toll requires policies non-pharmaceutical interventions that delay reduce infections, effective treatments infected patients, mechanisms continue routine health care.

Language: Английский

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Experiences of operating room nurses in disaster preparedness of a great disaster in Iran: a qualitative study

BMC Emergency Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: Nov. 23, 2023

In recent years, Iran has encountered a growing frequency of earthquake disasters. Given that nurses constitute the largest group healthcare providers, it is imperative they possess adequate disaster preparedness skills, irrespective location or time. Despite operating room nurses' roles in disasters, their experiences and challenges have been overlooked. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate experiences, challenges, perspectives, factors influencing during 2017 Kermanshah, Iran.The present qualitative research was carried out 2022 utilizing conventional content analysis. The involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 who had participated Kermanshah earthquake. participants were selected using purposive sampling approach achieve maximum diversity. continued until point data saturation reached, verbatim transcripts analyzed analysis MAXQDA software. To ensure rigor research, Guba Lincoln's criteria employed.The conducted identify main theme as "insufficient due faded preparedness", along six major categories eighteen subcategories related preparedness. included: knowledge perception for disasters; educational training programs preparedness; equipment managerial-organizational clinical skills responding resilient ability response situations.The findings provide valuable insights into dimensions disasters among nurses. Nursing managers can utilize these develop effective strategies support areas such improving level, preparedness, strengthening plans managerial structures, enhancing explaining resilience improve medical organizations' teams.

Language: Английский

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PTSD and challenges among older Chinese in Shenzhen during COVID-19 pandemic: Trust in authority and medical professionals as moderators

Primary Health Care Research & Development, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 26

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Aim: This research aimed to comprehensively explore the impact of diverse challenges encountered by older adults on development post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It delved into how these effects vary depending individuals’ levels trust in authority and medical professionals, providing a nuanced understanding interplay between external challenges, personal trust, mental health outcomes population. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant hardships, particularly ageing population, with potential psychological repercussions such as PTSD. Notably, there is dearth exploring this association within context Chinese adults, group that may experience unique impacts due cultural differences face global crises. Methods: Data were collected from representative sample 1,211 participants aged 60 years above Shenzhen. Logistic hierarchical linear regression methods utilized investigate relationship posed COVID-19, public manifestation PTSD symptoms. Findings: Higher related ‘supplies, services access safety’, ‘abuse conflicts’, ‘anger fear’ associated Furthermore, lower level ‘disease management information’ was Trust or professionals moderator brought about PTSD, which helped challenges. Despite people, nurturing stronger sense would ease adults’ concerns.

Language: Английский

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Testing “the science”: A comparative analysis of COVID-19 testing policy across four Canadian provinces

Social Science & Medicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 371, P. 117880 - 117880

Published: March 7, 2025

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, scholarship has focused on intersection of politics and scientific evidence in development, distribution uptake vaccines; border closures; interventions such as public space closures or masking. But there is a significant gap examination political choices which informed how discrete jurisdictions chose to undertake support testing. Using qualitative, multiple-case study nested larger comparative, mixed-method explanatory case study, this research addresses literature through qualitative analysis based 103 key stakeholder interviews inform narrative testing strategy across four Canadian provinces. Despite perception that largely "scientific" process relatively insulated from pressures, shows had address an array variables, often specific their region, strongly influenced policy area. Testing policy, rather than simple straightforward clinical exercise, highly complex nuanced must take into account wide variety non-clinical variables.

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 open data: An ecological study and international collaboration examining pandemic trends in Northern Periphery arctic countries

Health Informatics Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: April 1, 2025

Objectives: In the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic, evidence generation lagged behind public health responses. This study describes an international collaboration frontline clinicians who used open data describing trends to generate “practice-based evidence”. Methods: Open resources from nine Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) countries were harnessed using open-source programming language ‘R' our collaborations analyses insights published on a public-facing website. The website’s visualisations guided teleconference discussions September 2020 March 2021, focusing contextualizing national responses, especially in rural regions. Results: project facilitated shared learning highlighted key aspects Notably, NPA regions experienced less cases mortality first year pandemic. Conclusion: collaborative effort, driven by analysis, provided platform share real-world insights. offers potential template for future pandemics emphasises importance sustaining resources, including granular like excess mortality, effective pandemic learning.

Language: Английский

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