Proposals for person‐centred care in the COVID‐19 era. Delphi study

BackgroundIn this COVID‐19 era, we need to rethink the criteria used to measure the results of person‐centred care strategies.ObjectiveTo identify priorities, and criteria that health services can use to pursue actually the goal of achieving person‐centred care.DesignThree‐phase online qualitative study performed during May–July of 2020 using the Delphi technique.Setting and ParticipantsAn online platform was used for a consensus meeting of 114 participants, including health planning experts, health‐care institution managers, clinicians and patients.Main Outcome MeasuresCriteria and indicators for the achievement of person‐centred care.Main ResultsThe first round began with 125 proposals and 11 dimensions. After the second round, 28 ideas reached a high level of consensus among the participants. Ultimately, the workgroup agreed on 20 criteria for goals in the implementation of person‐centred care during the COVID‐19 era and 21 related indicators to measure goal achievement.DiscussionNine dimensions and 28 priorities were identified. These priorities are also in accordance with the quadruple aim approach, which emphasizes the need for care for health‐care professionals, without whom it is impossible to achieve a better quality of care.ConclusionsPerson‐centred care continues to be a key objective. However, new metrics are needed to ensure its continued development during the restoration of public health services beyond the control of COVID‐19.Patient or Public ContributionTwelve professionals and patient representatives participated voluntarily in the construction of the baseline questionnaire and in the selection of the criteria and indicators using an online platform for consensus meetings.     

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seropositivity among Healthcare Personnel in Hospitals and Nursing Homes,Rhode Island,USA, July–August 2020

Healthcare personnel are recognized to be at higher risk for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We conducted a serologic survey in 15 hospitals and 56 nursing homes across Rhode Island, USA, during July 17–August 28, 2020. Overall seropositivity among 9,863 healthcare personnel was 4.6% (95% CI 4.2%–5.0%) but varied 4-fold between hospital personnel (3.1%, 95% CI 2.7%–3.5%) and nursing home personnel (13.1%, 95% CI 11.5%–14.9%). Within nursing homes, prevalence was highest among personnel working in coronavirus disease units (24.1%; 95% CI 20.6%–27.8%). Adjusted analysis showed that in hospitals, nurses and receptionists/medical assistants had a higher likelihood of seropositivity than physicians. In nursing homes, nursing assistants and social workers/case managers had higher likelihoods of seropositivity than occupational/physical/speech therapists. Nursing home personnel in all occupations had elevated seropositivity compared with hospital counterparts. Additional mitigation strategies are needed to protect nursing home personnel from infection, regardless of occupation.     

21世纪高级医学人才素质教育及实施的基本途径

（1）目的 探讨21世纪高级医学人才的素质教育及实施的途径。（2）方法 根据21世纪医学和社会发展的需要,分析了21世纪高级医学人才的素质及实施素质教育的基本途径。（3）结果 21世纪高级医学人才要掌握高新技术,拥有广博的知识和坚实的医学基础,具有创新精神和开拓能力,对具体工作具有较强的适应性。转变教育思想,调整新的医学教育课程结构和优化课程内容体系,建立一支适应素质教育需要的师资队伍,创建校园精神文明和营造素质教育氛围是实施素质教育的基本途径。（4）结论 21世纪需要高素质医学人才,转变教育思想和观念,优化课程体系和教学内容、构建新的人才培养模式是实施素质教育的基本途径。     

Healthcare Workers’ (HCWs) attitudes towards mandatory influenza vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Influenza is a disease responsible for thousands of deaths every year. Although healthcare workers (HCWs) represent a way of contagion for patients, vaccination coverage among them is low. Mandatory vaccination has been proposed, but controversies remain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the acceptance of mandatory vaccination by HCWs, and to investigate associated characteristics. MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science were used to search for studies assessing the topic. PRISMA statements were followed. Of the 13,457 univocal records found, 52 studies were included in the systematic review and 40 in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of HCWs accepting the policy was of 61% (95% CI: 53%- 68%) but with great heterogeneity between continents (from 54% in Europe to 69% in Asia) and in different professionals (from 40% in nurses to 80% in students). Vaccinated HCWs agreed more frequently with mandatory vaccination than non-vaccinated ones. More studies that consider mandatory vaccination acceptance as the main outcome are needed, but the results of this study confirm that in some settings the majority of HCWs favour mandatory vaccination. This, combined with effects that a flu epidemic could have if overlapped to pandemics with similar symptoms, requires renewed considerations on mandatory vaccination.     

“You Have to Die Not to Come to Work”: A Mixed Methods Study of Attitudes and Behaviors regarding Presenteeism,Absenteeism and Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Personnel with Respiratory Illness in Israel, 2016–2019

IntroductionHealthcare personnel (HCP) have an increased risk of exposure to influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Increased presenteeism, decreased absenteeism, and low uptake of the influenza vaccine can contribute to the spread of influenza among HCP in healthcare settings. We used a mixed methods approach to investigate attitudes and behaviors of HCP in Israel towards influenza vaccination, presenteeism, and absenteeism.MethodsThe study took place over three influenza seasons (2016–2017, 2017–2018, 2018–2019) at the largest hospital in southern Israel. We administered a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) questionnaire and conducted semi-structured interviews with HCP who had been recently ill with respiratory symptoms. The KAP questionnaire included closed-ended questions about attitudes and behaviors regarding influenza, working while sick, and influenza vaccination. The interviews investigated HCP’s perceptions of influenza infection and attitudes about absenteeism, presenteeism, and the influenza vaccine.ResultsWe conducted 74 semi-structured interviews over three influenza seasons. Four HCP were interviewed twice, in separate seasons for different illness episodes. The 70 individuals interviewed included 16 physicians, 45 nurses or technicians, and 9 administrative staff. The median age was 42.5 years (range: 25–60), and most (79%) were female. Half (50%) got vaccinated against influenza before their illness episode. In interviews, most HCP said they come to work while sick (presenteeism) due to a strong personal work ethic and an institutional culture that discourages taking sick leave (absenteeism). HCP expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine as well as concern that the influenza vaccine causes severe illness.DiscussionOver three influenza seasons in Israel, HCP cited a number of reasons for working while sick, and doubted the usefulness of influenza vaccine. Addressing reasons for presenteeism and vaccine hesitancy among HCP is crucial to protect HCP and patients from influenza virus infection and other viral respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19.     

新兵接种甲肝和乙肝疫苗3年效果

目的：观察新兵接种甲肝疫苗与乙肝疫苗3a效果。方法：随机对照试验。观察3a接种甲肝、乙肝疫苗保护效果。结果：接种甲肝疫苗组2201人,无1人发生甲型肝炎;对照组2611人,发病4人;甲肝疫苗接种3a的保护率为100％。接种乙肝疫苗组2611人,发生乙型肝炎1人;对照组2628人,发生乙型肝炎5人;乙肝疫苗接种3a的保护率为80％。结论：部队新兵接种甲型与乙型肝炎疫苗,可使部队战士甲、乙型肝炎发病率减少80％。     

关于实行高校教师聘任制的思考

人才是社会财富之源,是生产力中最活跃的因素。计划经济管理模式严重束缚了高校人才的积极性和创造性。本文就高校在社会主义市场经济条件下,探索教师聘任的实现形式,建立与社会主义市场经济相适应,符合高校自身发展规律的教师聘任制。运用市场机制,面向社会,以公开、平等、竞争、择优的原则,打破论资排辈,营造有利子优秀人才脱颖而出的用人环境,激发广大教师奋发进取的精神。改革现行社会保障制度,配套建立适合高校特点的社会保障体系,是深化学校用人制度改革的重要保证。     

部队甲型病毒性肝炎疫苗的接种策略

目的 探讨部队甲肝疫苗接种的最佳策略。方法 应用决策树模型和成本效用分析方法。结果 部队官兵接种甲肝疫苗,先筛选后接种方案优于直接接种方案;采用先筛选后接种方案接种干部每增加一个DALY将产生168.23元的正效益,而新兵则需2792.30元的净投入。经灵敏度分析,该决策结果稳定,不随引入决策模型的各参数的变化而变化。结论 在当前条件下,部队接种甲肝疫苗宜首选先筛选后接种方案,优先接种干部人群。     

Evaluating problem-based learning in a multilingual student population

OBJECTIVES: The University of Natal Medical School in South Africa provides training for a student body composed of two groups: one with English as a first language and the other with an African language as a first language and English as the second. A new methodology was developed to evaluate an innovative course using modified problem-based learning techniques in this heterogeneous environment. DESIGN: The learning model proposed required achieving a balance of three components: content, enquiry/learning process and social interaction/group process. A multidimensional system, felt to be consistent with this educational philosophy, was developed using seven different quantitative and qualitative techniques. SETTING: The University of Natal Medical School. SUBJECTS: First-year multilingual medical students. RESULTS: The results revealed that social interaction was highly successful in reducing barriers between the student groups and between students and facilitators. However, the emphasis on group participation may have overshadowed the enquiry process, leading to superficial discussions of problems and feelings of repetitiveness. During the course students and facilitators expressed concern that the innovative assessments used did not assess the course content adequately. While the group presentations and projects were useful exercises for consolidation and group interaction, they did not enable facilitators to identify struggling students. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of the evaluation stressed the need of achieving an appropriate balance both in the curriculum and assessments of the three components of the learning model, particularly in a setting where student backgrounds and language ability differ. Multidimensional methodology is needed for effective evaluation that promotes critical reflection.