Project description:To understand and analyse the global impact of COVID-19 on outpatient services, inpatient care, elective surgery, and perioperative colorectal cancer care, a DElayed COloRectal cancer surgery (DECOR-19) survey was conducted in collaboration with numerous international colorectal societies with the objective of obtaining several learning points from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our colorectal cancer patients which will assist us in the ongoing management of our colorectal cancer patients and to provide us safe oncological pathways for future outbreaks.
Project description:IntroductionDuring the 2019 novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, limited data from several countries suggested reduced seasonal influenza viruses' circulation. This was due to community mitigation measures implemented to control the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We used sentinel surveillance data to identify changes in the 2020 influenza season compared with previous seasons in Bangladesh.MethodsWe used hospital-based influenza surveillance (HBIS) data of Bangladesh that are generated year-round and are population-representative severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) data for all age groups from seven public and two private tertiary care level hospitals data from 2016 to 2019. We applied the moving epidemic method (MEM) by using R language (v4.0.3), and MEM web applications (v2.14) on influenza-positive rates of SARI cases collected weekly to estimate an average seasonal influenza curve and establish epidemic thresholds.ResultsThe 2016-2019 average season started on epi week 18 (95% CI: 15-25) and lasted 12.5 weeks (95% CI: 12-14 weeks) until week 30.5. The 2020 influenza season started on epi week 36 and ended at epi week 41, lasting for only five weeks. Therefore, influenza epidemic started 18 weeks later, was 7.5 weeks shorter, and was less intense than the average epidemic of the four previous years. The 2020 influenza season started on the same week when COVID-19 control measures were halted, and 13 weeks after the measures were relaxed.ConclusionOur findings suggest that seasonal influenza circulation in Bangladesh was delayed and less intense in 2020 than in previous years. Community mitigation measures may have contributed to this reduction of seasonal influenza transmission. These findings contribute to a limited but growing body of evidence that influenza seasons were altered globally in 2020.
Project description:The main objective of this study is to offer and evaluate an interim triage approach for patients waiting for surveillance colonoscopies. This will reduce the waiting period and the psychological stressors for our patients and from a scientific point of view allow us to compare the yield of findings for each approach.
Project description:In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses may have severe complications for vulnerable populations. For this reason, the World Health Organization pointed to the 2020-2021 anti-influenza campaign as being of special relevance. Our aim was to assess the 2020-2021 influenza vaccination coverage, and its associated factors, among patients in a Spanish multiple sclerosis (MS) unit. A cross-sectional study was conducted. People attending the MS unit of the Clinical Hospital of Zaragoza during 2020 were included. Variables were obtained by reviewing records. Associations with 2020-2021 influenza vaccination were analyzed using bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model. A total of 302 patients were studied; 62.6% were women, whose mean age (standard deviation) was 47.3 (11.5) years. The 2020-2021 influenza vaccination coverage was 55.3% (59.8% in women and 47.8% in men). A total of 89.7% had at least one other indication for vaccination (e.g., immunosuppressive treatment in 225 patients). The variables associated with getting vaccinated were being female (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) (aOR (95%CI) = 2.12 (1.12-3.99)), having received the 2019-2020 influenza vaccine (aOR (95%CI) = 31.82 (14.71-68.86)) and being born in Spain (aOR (95%CI) = 12.91 (1.07-156.28)). Coverage is moderate compared to other countries. It is necessary to develop strategies to improve it, especially in men and those born outside Spain.
Project description:Due to COVID 19 (Corona virus disease)pandemic, majority of surgeries, including surgery for cancer patients got delayed across the globe. Surgeries were limited to emergency set up only. At our institute we tried to perform colorectal cancer surgeries through out the pandemic, albeit in less numbers, as we thought cancer in itself is an emergency setting. we are planning to analyse the prospectively managed database of this particular group of patients over a period of last six 6 months and look out at 30 day post operative morbidity and mortality. Besides we will try to analyse the implications of our decision to carry on with cancer surgeries in terms of number of health care workers who got infected while being involved in primary care of these patients.
Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has convoluted hesitancy toward vaccines, including the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine. Because of COVID-19, the flu season has become more complicated; therefore, it is important to understand all the factors influencing the uptake of these vaccines to inform intervention targets. This article assesses factors related to the uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines among adults in Tennessee.MethodsA cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of 1,400 adults was conducted in Tennessee. The adult sample came from two data sources: Data source 1 completed a baseline survey from January to March 2022, and data source 2 was completed from May to August 2022. Data on vaccine attitudes, facilitators and barriers, and communication needs were collected via random digit dial by Scientific Telephone Samples (STS). Two multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to predict sociodemographic and overall vaccine-related factors associated with receipt or non-receipt (referent) of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.ResultsApproximately 78% of the adult sample had received the COVID-19 vaccination. A significant positive association for COVID-19 vaccine uptake was seen among those who were older (aged 50-65) (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2), Black (aOR = 2.0; 95% CI:1.3-2.8), and had a college education and higher (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.6). However, there was a significant negative association for persons reporting they were extremely religious (aOR = 0.5; 95% CI:0.3-0.9). Over 56% of the adult sample had received the influenza vaccination this season. Those who had a higher annual household income ($80,000+) (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.6) and had health insurance (aOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4-4.8) had a significant positive association with influenza vaccine receipt. However, those who were employed part-time or were unemployed had a significant negative association for influenza vaccine receipt (aOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9). Both COVID-19 and influenza vaccine receipt had strongly significant positive trends with increasing belief in effectiveness and trust (p < 0.0001) and strongly significant negative trends with higher levels of overall vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.0001).ConclusionStrategies to increase COVID-19 and influenza vaccination should be age-specific, focus on increasing geographical and financial access, and offer tailored messages to address concerns about these vaccines.
Project description:BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) were the priority group for influenza vaccination, in China during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. However, vaccination rates in HCWs have always been low. This study investigated influenza vaccination status among Chinese HCWs and analyzed the factors driving vaccination.MethodsWe provided electronic questionnaires to HCWs from January 27, 2022 to February 21, 2022, using the WeChat platform "Breath Circles". HCWs who received the link could also forward it to their colleagues. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze vaccination-associated factors among HCWs.ResultsAmong the 1697 HCWs surveyed, vaccination coverage was 43.7% (741/1697) during the 2020/2021 influenza season, and 35.4% (600/1697) during the 2021/2022 influenza season, as of February 21, 2022. Additionally, 22.7% (385/1697) and 22.1% (358/1697) of HCWs reported that their workplaces implemented a free vaccination policy for all employees during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. HCWs who were required to be vaccinated according to hospital regulations, and whose hospitals implemented the free influenza vaccine policy were more likely to be vaccinated (2020/2021 and 2021/2022; P < 0.05). In addition, the economic level of the HCWs' province (2021/2022, P < 0.05) and the HCWs' knowledge about vaccination and willingness to get vaccinated, such as active learning about vaccines (2020/2021, P < 0.05), supportive attitude toward vaccination for all HCWs (2020/2021 and 2021/2022; P < 0.05), also had an impact on vaccine coverage.ConclusionsA free influenza vaccination policy and workplace required vaccination are effective in improving influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs. Influenza vaccination coverage of Chinese HCWs remained low and showed a downward trend after the COVID-19 outbreak. Further effective measures, such as advocacy campaigns, free vaccine policies, and on-site vaccination could be implemented to improve influenza vaccination coverage.
Project description:IntroductionWhile the reduction in influenza cases in the Northern hemisphere in 2020 has been widely reported, the influenza transmission dynamics in the Southern hemisphere remain uncharacterized.MethodsThis study analysed the change in influenza-positive proportion (IPP) between 2010-2019 and 2020 in countries in the Southern hemisphere with ≤40% missing IPP data in FluNet to assess how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relates to influenza activity. The analysis considered the incidence of COVID-19 reported by the World Health Organization and the implementation date of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) reported by the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker.ResultsIn each of the seven included countries, the average IPP was lower in 2020 than in 2010-2019 (P < 0.01), with the largest difference being 31.1% (95% confidence interval 28.4-33.7%). In Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and South Africa, higher IPPs were observed during epidemiological weeks 4-16 in 2020 compared with the same weeks in 2010-2019. The IPP increased after NPIs were implemented in Argentina and South Africa, but started to decline in Bolivia, Chile, Madagascar and Paraguay before NPI implementation.ConclusionsInfluenza burden and activity decreased in 2020 in the Southern hemisphere. The temporal decline in influenza activity varied between countries.