1. Turkey’s transition to face-to-face schooling during the COVID-19 pandemicMahmut Özer, H. Eren Suna, Matjaž Perc, Sadri Şensoy, Sevil Uygun İli̇khan, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background/aim: The COVID-19 pandemic majorly disrupted conventional schooling and many countries maintained educational services through distance education. The duration of school closures in Turkey was longer than most OECD countries, thus Turkey prioritized school reopenings in the 2021-2022 academic year to mitigate possible negative outcomes of closures. Here we study the compatibility of implications for school reopenings in Turkey with these practices and assess the first semester of face-to-face schooling.
Materials and methods: We have used document analysis to present and compare the practices in Turkey with international practices. We also used a comparative approach to assess the coherence between policies in Turkey and international suggestions.
Results: We find that vaccination rates of teachers and education staff are quite high in Turkey. Other practices, mandatory face masks, class-based closures and quarantine policies, are also in agreement with international practices. These steps are supported with frequent cleaning and ventilation of school environments, as well as with social distancing measures in schools.
Conclusion: Consequently, the rate of daily closed classrooms has been kept below 1%, and the patterns of closures and openings are in general agreement with the changes of positive cases in the Turkish society. The net rate of closed classrooms decreased with the decline of quarantine days in Turkey. We hope that these insights will inform about school openings and contribute to best practices for faceto-face schooling.
Keywords: school system, school reopening, face-to-face education, COVID-19, educational equality, vaccination
Published in DKUM: 11.07.2024; Views: 81; Downloads: 3
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2. Differences in treating patients with palpitations at the primary healthcare level using telemedical device Savvy before and during the COVID-19 pandemicStaša Vodička, Erika Zelko, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Palpitations are one of most common reasons why a patient visits a general practitioner (GP) and is referred to a cardiologist. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with new-onset arrhythmias, which are difficult to diagnose at the primary healthcare level during pandemic-related lockdown periods.
Methods: A total of 151 patients with a complaint of heart rhythm disorder were included from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as after the start of vaccination, in this cohort retrospective study. We used a telemedical device-namely, a personal electrocardiographic (ECG) sensor called Savvy-to investigate heart rhythm in patients. The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the number of actual heart rhythm disorder patients and any differences that infection with or vaccination for COVID-19 had on patients handled in a primary healthcare setting.
Results: We found a heart rhythm disorder in 8.6% of patients before the COVID-19 pandemic and in 15.2-17.9% of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). During the COVID-19 pandemic, we found a heart rhythm disorder in almost 50% of patients that had tested positive for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) more than one month ago. After the vaccinations started, we also found a heart rhythm disorder in almost 50% of non-vaccinated patients.
Conclusions: Using a telemedical approach or remote consultation is a useful method, at the primary healthcare level, for diagnosing and treating patients with palpitations during times of lockdown.
Keywords: COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, cardiac arrhythmia, primary healthcare level, referrals, telemedicine
Published in DKUM: 08.07.2024; Views: 64; Downloads: 5
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3. COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among people with chronic neurological disorders : a position paperMartin Rakuša, Serefnur Öztürk, Elena Moro, Raimund Helbok, Claudio Bassetti, Ettore Beghi, Daniel Bereczki, Benedetta Bodini, Giovanni Di Liberto, Tom Jenkins, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background and purpose
Health risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are undisputed. Moreover, the capability of vaccination to prevent symptomatic, severe, and fatal COVID-19 is recognized. There is also early evidence that vaccination can reduce the chance for long COVID-19. Nonetheless, the willingness to get vaccinated and receive booster shots remains subpar among people with neurologic disorders. Vaccine scepticism not only jeopardizes collective efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic but puts individual lives at risk, as some chronic neurologic diseases are associated with a higher risk for an unfavorable COVID-19 course.
Methods
In this position paper, the NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) summarizes the current knowledge on the prognosis of COVID-19 among patients with neurologic disease, elucidates potential barriers to vaccination coverage, and formulates strategies to overcome vaccination hesitancy. A survey among the Task Force members on the phenomenon of vaccination hesitancy among people with neurologic disease supports the lines of argumentation.
Results
The study revealed that people with multiple sclerosis and other nervous system autoimmune disorders are most skeptical of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The prevailing concerns included the chance of worsening the pre-existing neurological condition, vaccination-related adverse events, and drug interaction.
Conclusions
The EAN NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force reinforces the key role of neurologists as advocates of COVID-19 vaccination. Neurologists need to argue in the interest of their patients about the overwhelming individual and global benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, they need to keep on eye on this vulnerable patient group, its concerns, and the emergence of potential safety signals.
Keywords: advocacy, COVID-19, infectious disease prevention, neurological disorders, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, vaccine skepticism
Published in DKUM: 02.07.2024; Views: 133; Downloads: 3
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4. Distrustful, dissatisfied, and conspiratorial : a latent profile analysis of COVID-19 vaccination rejectionMonika Lamot, Katja Kerman, Andrej Kirbiš, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Trust in science and scientists, satisfaction with the national government, and endorsement of conspiracy theories are important factors in the decision to be vaccinated. In this study, we investigated whether there are different profiles of individuals depending on the above factors and whether they differ in their sociodemographic composition. We used data from Round 10 of the European Social Survey for Slovenia, employing a nationally representative sample of 1252 participants. Based on latent profile analysis, three distinct profiles emerged: Profile 1 expressed moderate trust in science, satisfaction with government, and high endorsement of conspiracies; Profile 2 expressed low trust and satisfaction and moderate endorsement of conspiracies; Profile 3 expressed high trust and satisfaction and low beliefs in conspiracy theories. In addition, Profile 3 expressed the strongest support for vaccination and Profile 2 the lowest. Our results suggest that distrust, dissatisfaction, and the presence of conspiracy theories are the “perfect storm” for vaccination rejection. In contrast, despite conspiracy theories, a certain level of trust and satisfaction may reduce vaccination rejection.
Keywords: trust, science, government, COVID-19 vaccination, latent profile analysis
Published in DKUM: 12.04.2024; Views: 182; Downloads: 12
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5. Multilevel analysis of COVID-19 vaccination intention : the moderating role of economic and cultural country characteristicsMonika Lamot, Andrej Kirbiš, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Predictors of COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccination have been extensively researched; however, the contextual factors contributing to understanding vaccination intention remain largely unexplored. The present study aimed to investigate the moderating role of economic development (Gross domestic product - GDP per capita), economic inequality (Gini index), the perceived corruption index and Hofstede’s measurements of cultural values—index of individualism/collectivism and power distance index—in the relationship between determinants of satisfaction with the healthcare system, trust in political institutions, conspiracy beliefs and COVID-19 vaccination intention. Methods: A multilevel modelling approach was employed on a sample of approximately 51 000 individuals nested within 26 countries. Data were drawn from the European Social Survey Round 10. The model examined the effect of individual- and country-level predictors and their interaction on vaccination intention. Results: Satisfaction with the healthcare system had a stronger positive effect on intention to get vaccinated in countries with lower perceived corruption and more individualistic countries. Trust in political institutions had a stronger positive effect on vaccination intention in countries with higher economic development and lower perceived corruption, while a negative effect of conspiracy beliefs on vaccination intention was stronger in countries with lower economic development, higher perceived corruption and a more collectivistic cultural orientation. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of considering individual and contextual factors when addressing vaccination intention.
Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination intention, multilevel analyses, satisfaction with the health system, trust in political institutions, conspiracy beliefs
Published in DKUM: 08.04.2024; Views: 283; Downloads: 13
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