Project description:The COVID-19 outbreak is a global public health crisis which has affected healthcare practice across professions. In the context of this pandemic, there is a need to highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals to the general public and have a lot to offer amid the COVID-19 response. This have led to significant changes in the health systems of many countries. This article seeks to highlight additional roles and activities relating to the public health response that can be undertaken by community pharmacists that could help to reduce pressure on general practice and other areas of the health service.
Project description:As COVID-19 strained health systems around the world, many countries developed or adapted digital health tools to detect and respond to the novel coronavirus. We identified transferable lessons from an assessment of implementation factors that led to the rapid launch and scale-up of eight digital tools in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. These lessons should inform the development of digital health tools to support public health objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Using the mHealth Assessment and Planning for Scale Toolkit, we assessed the implementation of eight digital tools through desk research and stakeholder interviews. Three core lessons emerged from our findings: (1) user-centered design is key to the widespread adoption of digital tools; (2) strong, country-led partnerships are essential for scaling up and sustaining digital tools; and (3) using adaptable digital tools enables implementers to focus on the content of the solution rather than the technology. Lessons learned from implementing and adapting digital tools quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic can inform the use of digital tools for additional health applications, such as bolstering primary health care, reaching vulnerable and marginalized populations, and empowering health workers with the real-time information necessary to optimize their work and improve the health of their target populations. Future efforts should focus on robust monitoring and evaluation of digital tools and sustainable financing models.
Project description:The COVID-19 outbreak is a global public health crisis which has affected healthcare practice across professions. In the context of this pandemic, there is a need to highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals to the general public and have a lot to offer amid the COVID-19 response. This have led to significant changes in the health systems of many countries. This article seeks to highlight additional roles and activities relating to the public health response that can be undertaken by community pharmacists that could help to reduce pressure on general practice and other areas of the health service.
Project description:ObjectivesWe conducted a rapid review to determine the extent that immunisation services in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and synthesised the factors that can be used to build resilience in future.DesignRapid review reported in accordance with the Preferred reporting for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.Data sourcesPubMed and Web of Science were searched through 6 October 2023.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesWe included studies that focused on disruption to immunisation activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs. Outcomes included routine vaccine coverage, supplementary immunisation activities, vaccine doses, timing of vaccination, supply chain changes, and factors contributing to disruption or resilience.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code studies. Quality assessment was performed using a modified version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative research. Findings were summarised qualitatively.ResultsOf 4978 identified studies, 85 met the eligibility criteria. Included studies showed declines in immunisation activities across LMICs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These included reductions in achieved routine coverage, cancellation or postponement of campaigns and underimmunised cohorts. Immunisation was most disrupted in the early months of the pandemic; however, recovery varied by country, age-group and vaccine. Though many countries observed partial recovery in 2020, disruption in many countries continued into 2021. It has also been noted that clinician staff shortages and vaccine stock-outs caused by supply chain disruptions contributed to immunisation delays, but that concern over COVID-19 transmission was a leading factor. Key resiliency factors included community outreach and healthcare worker support.ConclusionsThere is limited information on whether reductions in vaccination coverage or delays have persisted beyond 2021. Further research is needed to assess ongoing disruptions and identify missed vaccine cohorts.
Project description:IntroductionWhile the global COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the entire humanity and health systems, it also triggered researchers to urgently perform clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of many agents and modalities to combat COVID-19. As of April 22, over 650 clinical studies have been registered both in USA and internationally. Results from these studies are also coming at a brisk pace in this unprecedented emergency.Areas coveredWe searched the NCI website and Medline and summarize various national and international clinical trials and summarize few of the pivotal ones in this paper, including those specific to oncology population. Two hundred and eighty four studies are actively recruiting adults and children with confirmed COVID-19, including 25 are early-phase I/phase I, 72 phase II, 58 phase III, 12 phase IV, and 31 other trials. They can be categorized into four groups: drugs that combat SARS-CoV-2, immunomodulatory agents to counteract cytokine storm, convalescence plasma therapies and vaccines trials.Expert opinionIt is hoped that these efforts will results in a successful treatment to COVID-19, especially in a timely fashion before the second pandemic expected in fall. It is essential to acknowledge the devotion and hard work of the clinical research team and clinical research volunteers.