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Yirgalem Mohammed,1 Tadesse Tarik Tamir,2 Demiss Mulatu Geberu,3 Bikes Destaw,4 Natnael Kebede5 1Department of Health System and Policy, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Health Systems and Policy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 5Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Natnael Kebede, Email natnaelkebedete@gmail.comIntroduction: Standard precautions are crucial for infection control in healthcare. Studies show public hospitals’ adherence, but data on private hospitals are scarce. Understanding this disparity is vital for safety, policy, and better patient outcomes. Hence, this study aimed to assess precautions and associated factors among healthcare workers at public and private hospitals in Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study compared healthcare institutions. A total of 470 workers participated via stratified random sampling. Data collection used a pre-tested questionnaire and observation checklist. Epi data managed entry, while STATA analyzed. Binary logistic regression determined significance (P< 0.05) for variables.Results: The overall adherence to standard precautions was 51.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 46.9– 56.2). At public and private hospitals, it was 52.2% (95% CI: 45.6– 58.6) and 60.4% (95% CI: 53.9– 66.9), respectively. In public hospitals adherence was affected by female sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.58; 95% CI: 1.32– 5.02], availability of written guidelines [AOR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.62– 5.94], having good knowledge [AOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.03– 4.11] and favorable attitude towards standard precautions [AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.14– 4.27]. In private hospitals, it was affected by the availability of running tape water [AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.10– 5.04], personal protective equipment (AOR: 2.22; 95% CI; 1.01– 4.93), color-coded dust bins [AOR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.04– 5.21], having good knowledge [AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.07– 4.13] and favorable attitude [AOR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.39– 4.97].Conclusion: The adherence to standard precautions was higher among private than public hospital healthcare workers in Dessie City, Ethiopia. Thus, ensuring adequate availability of personal protective equipment, safety materials, and running tap water in working rooms, particularly in public hospitals is highly recommended. The initiatives aimed at promoting adherence to standard precautions should be designed and put into action for public hospitals.Keywords: adherence, precautions, personnel, health, facility

Background: Little is known about patients' postoperative week-by-week progress after undergoing posterior approach total hip arthroplasty (THA) with regard to pain, function, return to work, and driving. Purpose: We sought to evaluate a large cohort of patients undergoing posterior approach THA with modified posterior hip precautions to better understand the trajectory of recovery. Methods: Patients at a single institution undergoing primary posterior approach THA by fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeons were prospectively enrolled. Patient functional status and early rehabilitation recovery milestones were evaluated preoperatively and each week postoperatively for 6 weeks. Results: Of 312 patients who responded to weekly questionnaires, there were varying response rates per question. At 1 week after surgery, 15% (39/256) of respondents had returned to work, increasing to 57% (129/225) at week 6. At 6 weeks, 77% of patients (174/225) had returned to driving; 25% (56/225) were taking pain medication (including prescription opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); and 15% (34/225) were using assistive devices (down from 91%, 78%, 56%, 35%, and 27% at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively). Average postoperative Hip dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement and Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores were significantly higher than preoperative scores. Respondents reported significantly less pain at each week postoperatively than the previous week. Conclusion: These findings suggest that there may be an expected pathway for recovery after posterior THA using perioperative pain protocols, modified postoperative precautions, and physical therapy protocols to improve patient outcomes after THA, with most patients returning to normal at 4 weeks. Defining the expected recovery timeline may help surgeons in counseling patients preoperatively and guiding their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the practice of prescribing and implementing early mobilisation and weight-bearing as tolerated after hip fracture surgery in older adults and identify barriers and facilitators to their implementation. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 healthcare providers (10 orthopaedic surgeons and 10 physiotherapists) from Saudi Arabian government hospitals. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results While early mobilisation and weight-bearing as tolerated were viewed as important by most participants, they highlighted barriers to the implementation of these practices. Most participants advocated for mobility within 48 h of surgery, aligning with international guidance; however, the implementation of weight-bearing as tolerated was varied. Some participants stressed the type of surgery undertaken as a key factor in weight-bearing prescription. For others, local protocols or clinician preference was seen as most important, the latter partially influenced by where they were trained. Interdisciplinary collaboration between orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists was seen as a crucial part of postoperative care and weight-bearing. Patient and family member buy-in was also noted as a key factor, as fear of further injury can impact a patient's adherence to weight-bearing prescriptions. Participants noted a lack of standardised postoperative protocols and the need for routine patient audits to better understand current practices and outcomes. Conclusion This study contributes to national and global discussions on the prescription of early mobilisation and weight-bearing as tolerated. It highlights the necessity for a harmonised approach, incorporating standardised, evidence-based protocols with patient-specific care, robust healthcare governance and routine audits and monitoring for quality assurance and better patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal: To seek and describe current scientific knowledge on the preparedness of medical personnel for an active shooter attack, with the identification of an optimal preparation strategy concerning prevention and potential management of this emergency on the premises of a medical facility. Methods: A scoping study with five phases of methodological steps was applied on the basis of the identified research question. According to the PCC (population, concept, context) format, the research question was divided into individual keywords in selected languages used for the search. Primary studies published between 2000 and December 2023 were included in the selection process. The sources were searched in December 2023 and freely available. Licensed databases EBSCOhost, Cinahl Plus with Full text, Medline, Medline Complete, and Google were used to find relevant studies. We used the "find similar articles" function in many databases. Selected English language keywords were searched using Boolean operators and placeholders. Results: The final analysis included nine studies. As precautions, the authors recommended the development of guidelines and establishment of a system, not only at the national level, but also within individual facilities interconnected with the police, regular training of employees with practical simulation, orientation signs in buildings, communication links for quick information and, last but not least, knowledge of warning behaviour. Conclusion: Healthcare providers should be systematically prepared for an active shooter emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the high transmissibility of COVID-19, the government has implemented certain precautionary measures aimed at flattening the curve of infection and limiting the spread of the disease. Personality traits of an individual have been found as one of the main determinants that might affect adherence to preventive personal practices. Aim: This study aimed to assess the role of personality traits in adherence to COVID-19 precautions among the patients attending outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary care dental hospital in Delhi. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 400 participants aged 15–70 years attending the OPD of a public sector tertiary care dental hospital in New Delhi. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to collect the data for 2 months' period. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to record demographic variables, COVID-19-related status, personality traits (using 20-item Mini-International Personality Item Pool), and self-reported adherence to COVID-19 precautions. The association between personality traits with precautionary behaviors and demographic factors was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman correlation. Results: Of the 400 participants, 193 were male and 207 female. Participants belonging to the 20–34 years of age group (44.3%), high income (

The obligation to give effective advance warning of an attack which may affect the civilian population is one of the precautions in attack parties to an armed conflict must take under IHL. Recent practice has shown this duty may interact with other rules of IHL. This article discusses this interaction. It focuses on warnings that spread terror, that may be used as a ruse or that lead to displacement of civilians, cases in which warnings arguably breach the principle of distinction, and cases in which warnings lead to human shields. The article concludes that in some cases the object and purpose of IHL may provide guidance in navigating the tension between the obligation to warn and another rule of IHL. It also concludes that the intention with which a warning is given may be decisive for distinguishing between a warning as required under IHL and as a violation of IHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the high transmissibility of COVID-19, the government has implemented certain precautionary measures aimed at flattening the curve of infection and limiting the spread of the disease. Personality traits of an individual have been found as one of the main determinants that might affect adherence to preventive personal practices. Aim: This study aimed to assess the role of personality traits in adherence to COVID-19 precautions among the patients attending outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary care dental hospital in Delhi. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 400 participants aged 15--70 years attending the OPD of a public sector tertiary care dental hospital in New Delhi. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to collect the data for 2 months' period. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to record demographic variables, COVID-19-related status, personality traits (using 20-item Mini-International Personality Item Pool), and self-reported adherence to COVID-19 precautions. The association between personality traits with precautionary behaviors and demographic factors was analyzed using the Mann--Whitney U-test, Kruskal--Wallis test, and Spearman correlation. Results: Of the 400 participants, 193 were male and 207 female. Participants belonging to the 20--34 years of age group (44.3%), high income (<99,931 INR, 51.3%), and professionals-semiprofessional's occupation (9%) were more adherent to COVID-19 precautions. A significant association was found between personality traits with education status (agreeableness, P = 0.017 and imaginative, P = 0.007) and gender (neuroticism, P = 0.03). Regarding the potential influence of Big Five personality traits, only conscientiousness shows a statistically significant association with adherence to COVID-19 precautions (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that only personality factors such as conscientiousness and demographic variables such as age, income, and occupation are directly associated with greater adherence to COVID-19 precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, triggered by the direct and indirect effects of urbanization, seriously threatens the ecosystem, earth cycles, and vitality. It is quite complex to investigate the reasons for the devastating effect of extreme events that occur with the impact of climate change. However, future projections based on probabilities are needed for governments and urban planning to develop strategies and manage the crisis on a global scale. This research aims to simulate the effects of climate change on temperature, precipitation, and climate classes, which are the basic parameters in spatio-temporal conditions. In this context, within the framework of SSPs 245 and SSPs 585 scenarios defined by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, forecast maps were produced by using De Martonne (IDM), Emberger (IE), and Lang (IL) indexes in twenty-year periods until 2100. IDM reveals that arid areas not included in the area today will constitute 41.96% of the site according to 2100 models. The IE classification estimates that very humid areas will decrease from 58.36 to 0.23%. According to IL, while humid regions (90.86%) occupy a prominent place, they will reduce to 0.42% in 2100 and turn into semi-humid areas (69.43%). The research presents climate risk and the devastating threat facing the world by simulating shifts in the most common climate classes according to different climate class indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how well people in Kuwait followed guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To prevent the virus's spread, precautionary measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, and hygiene practices have employed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Kuwaiti population's adherence to precautionary measures during the epidemic. A cross-sectional study was carried out between March and August of 2022 with the use of a self-administered online questionnaire distributed to Kuwaitis aged 20 or above. The questionnaire included demographic questions as well as questions on preventative behaviors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and multivariate regression analysis were used to examine the data. The findings revealed that 54.8% of individuals had good behaviors, with hand cleanliness being the most prevalent and eating a healthy diet being the least common. Chronic illnesses, a history of COVID-19 infection, and the COVID-19 vaccine were all linked to levels of practice. Regression analysis demonstrated that COVID-19 infection considerably enhanced the likelihood of adherence to preventative measures. The data indicate that, while a sizable majority of the Kuwaiti population engaged in beneficial activities, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of adopting a better diet. Future efforts should concentrate on marketing and educating the public about the relevance of COVID-19 prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rakan Ekram,1 Wahaj A Khan,2 Abdullah A Khafagy,3 Roaa M Mandora,4 Osama S Zamzami,4 Muath M Alzahrani,4 Ghadeer E Alamri,4 Razan M Mandora,4 Mohammed A Garout,3 Mohammed A Almatrafi,5 Hassan Alwafi,4 Abdallah Y Naser,6 Emad Salawati,7 Mohammed Samannodi,8 Tabrez Uz Zaman1 1Department of Health Information Technology and Management, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21514, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Occupational Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21514, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Healthcare, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21514, Saudi Arabia; 4Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Pediatrics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; 7Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rakan Ekram, Department of Health Information Technology and Management, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21514, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966554397585, Email raekram@uqu.edu.saObjective: This study aimed to assess the practices and attitudes of the general population towards coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID)-19 after the removal of precautionary and preventive measures in Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from September 2022 to October, 2022 via a virtual survey to evaluate the practices, and attitudes of the general population towards COVID-19. A stratified random sampling technique was applied to collect the sample with inclusion criteria for all individuals who are Arabic language speakers using social media platforms. The individuals selected for this study were 18 years and older.Results: A total of 2406 responses were received for the study questionnaire. Most of participants (66.3%) were females aged 18 to 29 years (61.8%). Half of the participants reported a positive history of COVID-19 infection. Nearly 90% of participants still wear masks, 80% attended a crowded event, and 60% often wash their hands even though the Saudi government has erased the precautions. Females, young (30– 39 years) and elderly (60 years and over) individuals, singles, those with a postgraduate degree, those who are employed, and healthcare workers were more likely to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures (p< 0.05).Conclusion: The study’s findings indicate that most of the population discontinued practicing precautionary measures after lifting the measures in Saudi Arabia. More public health initiatives should raise the scores of sanitary best practices to prevent the spread of viral illnesses.Keywords: attitudes, COVID-19, contact precautions, practices, precautions, post-COVID-19 pandemic

In a highly powered (N ≈ 5000), six‐months longitudinal study (December 2020‐May 2021), we tested the assumption that beliefs concerning COVID‐19 and the precautions against it predicted morbidity. Six months after having filled out a survey measuring beliefs about the disease and the precautions against it, participants reported if they were or had been ill with COVID‐19. A lower likelihood of being or having been ill with COVID‐19 was predicted by personal optimism concerning infection, perceived personal control over infection, perceived effectiveness of precautions, and self‐reported personal or better‐than‐average adherence to the precautions. A higher likelihood of being or having been ill with COVID‐19 was predicted by perceived personal control over a good outcome of an infection, egocentric impact perception concerning the impact of the disease, perceived difficulty of adherence to the precautions, and both personal and egocentric impact perception concerning the impact of the precautions. Comparative optimism did not predict morbidity, nor did personal optimism concerning severe disease or a good outcome, perceived personal control over severe disease, and moralization of the precautions. We discuss implications for public health communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We surveyed 57 nursing home residents to assess the subjective impact of COVID-19 prevention practices. Residents were mostly accepting of testing and symptom screening; however, many would like more choices. Sixty-nine percent want to have some say in when or where to mask. Most (87%) residents want to return to group activities. Residents on long-stay units (58%) are more likely than residents on short-stay units (27%) to accept additional risk of COVID-19 transmission to increase their quality of life. • Most VA nursing home residents feel staff are keeping them safe from COVID-19. • Most residents accept COVID-19 testing and symptom screening. • Most residents want to return to pre-COVID-19 group activities in the nursing homes. • Resident stakeholder perspectives should be incorporated into public health policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: On 11 March, 2020, World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) a pandemic disease, and by 26 March, 2020, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 199 countries and homes worldwide. Cases substantially present with fever, dry cough and breathing difficulty. As a result of the pandemic, a number of cases visiting the hospital for non-COVID-19 diseases was drastically reduced and only emergencies were seen in our hospital. Inpatient admissions were also reduced and surgical procedures were reduced. The cost of ocular surgeries was escalated to adhere to the guidelines issued by authorities, for the safety of patients and staff. Majority of ocular surgeries are elective, and national programmes conducting cataract camps were completely stopped since cataract surgeries are elective. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the patients visiting ophthalmology OPD towards COVID-19 and ocular surgery. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional non-interventional questionnaire-based study was conducted among patients visiting ophthalmology OPD. Results: The study included 100 patients of which 54% were males and 46% were females. A total of 38% were above the age of 50 years and literates consisted of 60%. The main ocular symptom was defective vision (43%). Furthermore, 98% were aware of COVID-19. Internet/media (48%) was the major source of knowledge. In addition, 80% were aware of the cause and mode of spread, 40% were willing to undergo eye surgery and 75% agreed with government lockdown measures and were ready to take the vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: The study suggests that the population demonstrated decent knowledge, appropriate practice and a positive attitude towards COVID-19 at the time of its outbreak.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate nursesʼ knowledge of protective precautions and their experiences of various factors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the snowball method was selected for sampling to access nurses (n = 392) serving in the fight against the Covid-19 infection nationwide. The online data collection form had two parts: a sociodemographic form and a second part including 25 items on institutional protective measures, personal protective measures, and nursing care. Results: Most of the nurses caring for patients with Covid-19 were well-informed about institutional, personal, and patient protective precautions. The scores of female nurses, married nurses and those with children were higher. Multiple regression analysis revealed that in-service training, working in a clinic, and having colleagues diagnosed with Covid-19 positively affected knowledge, while having 0-5 years of professional experience negatively affected knowledge. Conclusion: This study may enlighten medical authorities and policymakers in their efforts to promote the quality of care delivered to patients with Covid-19 and the quality of working conditions of healthcare providers.

The SARS-CoV-2 mutations that have occurred have alarmed the entire medical community. Thus, global concerns have been expressed regarding the transmission, pathogenicity and immune evasion of the Omicron strain, which shares mutations with the variants of concern Alpha, Beta, and Gamma strains. Still, Omicron transmission has crossed numerous borders worldwide compared to other types of SARS-CoV-2. The number of confirmed cases has increased and is reappearing in India. Given the worrisome situation created by the Omicron outbreak, scientists and postgraduates have had to make decisions about current research programs at institutions around the globe. The Omicron variants under development have significantly heightened worldwide pandemic concerns. In this review, the authors will outline the molecular features and efficacy of vaccination, highlight possible omicron impacts on scientific research, and provide precautions, procedural guidelines for organizing scientific meetings during a pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 has resulted in many confirmed cases around the world. Sars-CoV-2 remains viable and infectious in aerosols dispersed in air and is viable on surfaces up to several days. Symptomatic patients are the main reservoir for transmission. Evidence suggests that asymptomatic patients and patients during their incubation period can shed and transmit Sars-CoV-2. The infective potential can be reduced through the use of personal protective equipment. Healthcare professionals especially the oral maxillofacial surgeons are at increased risk of being infected by the virus. Oral maxillofacial injuries typically involve vital structures in the upper aerodigestive tract and are emergent. Facial trauma surgery cannot be delayed or deferred in a pandemic. This review focuses on precautions surgeons should adopt while managing facial trauma patients in the emergency department and whilst performing emergency surgeries on these patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Strict and effective infection control protocols for facial trauma management are needed to minimise this risk of transmission. This review was part of the lecture given by Professor Melvyn Yeoh at the 14th Asian congress on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery recently held virtually in Singapore due to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In December 2019, many cases of COVID‐19 were reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. In the following 3 months, the disease out broke in China. Preisolation measures was used to screen out COVID‐19 patients in the pediatric respiratory ward of our hospital. Aims: To investigate the new measures for screening COVID‐19 patients and to analyze the clinical features of children with suspicious COVID‐19. Methods: A total of 50 preisolated children with suspicious COVID‐19 who were admitted to our hospital in Mianyang, China, between January 28 and March 5, 2020, were included. Patients presented with fever and cough or fever accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. A detailed epidemiological history screening was performed. A real‐time reverse‐transcriptase–polymerase‐chain‐reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to detect SARS‐COV‐2 nucleic acid. Low‐dose chest computed tomography (CT) was applied when pneumonia was suspicious. Routine blood tests were performed to rule out COVID‐19. Patients' data were collected, and the basic clinical features, epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination results, and outcomes were analyzed and summarized. Results: No definite cases were detected, while two patients were suspected of having COVID‐19. The pathogenic results of the 50 patients mainly included Mycoplasma pneumoniae, followed by Epstein–Barr virus, and rotavirus. Thirty‐five patients suffered from bronchopneumonia. The preisolated patients had similar clinical and epidemiological characteristics as patients with fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. Conclusions: Preisolation measures combined with pathogen screening can minimize the risk of hospital‐acquired infections by preventing patients with suspicious COVID‐19 from contacting other patients before they are explicitly excluded. Clinical analysis of the patients was helpful for clinical nursing management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To document our experiences in a tertiary health center in the planning and accomplishment of safe and efficient otolaryngology, head and neck surgery (OHNS) practices, and the rates of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) among our healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: We retrospectively investigated the COVID-19 infection rates among OHNS department professionals during the first 9 months of the pandemic (between 15 March 2020 and 15 December 2020), and also the number of patients examined at our clinic, the number and types of operations done with comparison to pre-pandemic period. The general and specific precautions for OHNS staff were also revised. Results: During the 9 months, the numbers of OHNS outpatient examinations (minimum 5.9% and maximum 43.3%) and inpatient hospitalizations (minimum 0.8% and maximum 31.4%) decreased significantly, compared to the same months in 2019. The rate of COVID-19 diagnosis among our staff was 25.45%. The highest rates of COVID-19 positivity were seen among outpatient technicians (40%), and the lowest rate was among the nurses in the operating rooms (12.5%). Conclusion: The OHNS staff is at high risk as they are extremely exposed to upper airway diseases, and these healthcare professionals are in a very risky position in terms of COVID-19 transmission. All of the staff must follow the absolute precautions during examinations and procedures including all types of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research, at times, can be risky. In the area of social deviance or criminal behavior, it may seem common sense to consider risk involved. Yet, safety precautions are neither well established nor universally embraced. This study explored utilization of safety precautions and their level of success. An online survey was completed by researchers (n = 805) who have conducted qualitative and/or quantitative fieldwork or non-fieldwork based research on the topic of social deviance or criminal behavior. The frequently used safety precautions, consider or discuss possible safety issues, set limits, and develop a professional/social network of support, were found to be very successful or better by the majority of respondents. Respondents also provide guidance for those considering research on deviance or crime. Narrative responses are reviewed and discussed. Study findings can be used to enhance the education and preparedness of novice researchers in the area of researcher safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iraq has suffered from a long period of neglect in projects due to the circumstances it has experienced, and there is a great need to construct infrastructure and development projects. The weather in Iraq is characterized by an increasing rise in temperatures, with summer temperatures reaching 50°C and relative humidity around 24%. The summer season extends for 5 months, and this requires procedures and precautions in projects that include concrete structures in hot climates that represented by high temperatures and low humidity. Such weather would affect the properties of fresh and hardened concrete, as the rapid evaporation of water from the mix causes different damages to the concrete, the appearance of shrinkage cracks, as well as a lack of workability. It also affects the strength of the concrete and its durability at later ages. Also, there are other problems in such projects related to poor quality and increased costs and time required to implement construction projects. Therefore, problems related to hot climates were studied through literature review in this regard. A questionnaire was also conducted to show the real problems that these projects suffer from, and problems were found that go beyond providing the above precautions that must be available in hot weather. Rather, it requires an increase in allocations, and there are problems related to the need for planning, as well as the necessary administrative, technical and legislative measures to improve performance.

Abstract Background In December 2019, many cases of COVID‐19 were reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. In the following 3 months, the disease out broke in China. Preisolation measures was used to screen out COVID‐19 patients in the pediatric respiratory ward of our hospital. Aims To investigate the new measures for screening COVID‐19 patients and to analyze the clinical features of children with suspicious COVID‐19. Methods A total of 50 preisolated children with suspicious COVID‐19 who were admitted to our hospital in Mianyang, China, between January 28 and March 5, 2020, were included. Patients presented with fever and cough or fever accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. A detailed epidemiological history screening was performed. A real‐time reverse‐transcriptase–polymerase‐chain‐reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to detect SARS‐COV‐2 nucleic acid. Low‐dose chest computed tomography (CT) was applied when pneumonia was suspicious. Routine blood tests were performed to rule out COVID‐19. Patients' data were collected, and the basic clinical features, epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination results, and outcomes were analyzed and summarized. Results No definite cases were detected, while two patients were suspected of having COVID‐19. The pathogenic results of the 50 patients mainly included Mycoplasma pneumoniae, followed by Epstein–Barr virus, and rotavirus. Thirty‐five patients suffered from bronchopneumonia. The preisolated patients had similar clinical and epidemiological characteristics as patients with fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. Conclusions Preisolation measures combined with pathogen screening can minimize the risk of hospital‐acquired infections by preventing patients with suspicious COVID‐19 from contacting other patients before they are explicitly excluded. Clinical analysis of the patients was helpful for clinical nursing management.

Cereulide, which can be produced by Bacillus cereus, is strongly associated with emetic-type food poisoning outbreaks. It is an extremely stable emetic toxin, which is unlikely to be inactivated by food processing. Considering the high toxicity of cereulide, its related hazards raise public concerns. A better understanding of the impact of B. cereus and cereulide is urgently needed to prevent contamination and toxin production, thereby protecting public health. Over the last decade, a wide range of research has been conducted regarding B. cereus and cereulide. Despite this, summarized information highlighting precautions at the public level involving the food industry, consumers and regulators is lacking. Therefore, the aim of the current review is to summarize the available data describing the characterizations and impacts of emetic B. cereus and cereulide; based on this information, precautions at the public level are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the 'diffusion of innovations' model, innovations do not spread randomly in a population, but follow specific patterns. Changes in health behaviours tend to start among high status groups. The purpose of the present study is to describe dimensions of coronavirus-related behaviour and their relationship with level of education at a relatively early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: Data collections (internet-based) took place among adults (18+) in two Norwegian counties, Oslo and Vestland, in November and December 2020 (N = 15,071). The response rates were 39.8% (Oslo) and 37.3% (Vestland). Data were analysed with principal components analysis, construction of unweighted meanscores, and generalized linear models. Results: Five behavioural dimensions (two single items out of 23 not included) were identified: Hygiene, Hygiene when hands are dirty, Avoiding meeting others, Keeping distance from others, and Wearing a protective face mask. Analyses with meanscores as outcome variables revealed that only one of the five dimensions, in addition to the single item Stay at home if ill (men only), was positively related to level of education, namely Wearing a protective face mask. There was no significant difference between educational groups with regard to Hygiene when hands are dirty and Keeping distance from others. On Hygiene, Avoiding meeting others (men only), and Avoided public transport (single item) scores were inversely related to level of education. Conclusions: Behavioural precautions to avoid transmission of COVID-19 do not follow the general tendency for positive health behaviours to be most rapidly adopted by well-educated groups. On four of five behavioural components, this association is either close to zero or reversed. In addition to high levels of trust in authorities in Norway, there are characteristics of the COVID-19 health education campaign which might explain why: Continuous and intense mass media coverage, use of multiple communication channels, strength of appeals, and high communicator credibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate compliance with the precaution to sleep in a supine position following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and its impact on the other precautions. Single-center, parallel-group, stratified, randomized trial. Patients were allocated to a Restricted Group or an Unrestricted Group. This study focuses on compliance with the precaution to sleep in a supine position, compliance with the remaining set of precautions and the burden of restricted sleeping. Measurements were made using a self-administered diary and questionnaires. Trial registration number: NCT02107248. During the first 2 weeks, 81% of the patients in the restricted group were compliant with sleeping in a supine position. Patients in the Unrestricted Group significantly kept sleeping fewer days per week in a supine position than patients in the Restricted Group (p = 0.000). No significant differences between the two groups were found regarding compliance with the remaining set of precautions. The burden of the sleeping restriction is significantly lowered in the Unrestricted Group (p = 0.000) Compliance with restricting patients to sleep in a supine position is high. Removing this precaution has a significant decrease in burden for patients without affecting compliance with the remaining set of precautions. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02107248 – Sleeping precautions cause a high rate of burden to patients, whereas movement precautions do not. By removing sleeping precautions, the burden is significantly reduced without affecting the remaining set of precautions. Compliance with movement precautions is high compared to other more functional precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measles is an important vaccine preventable disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Although measles vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine available worldwide for more than 50 years, still immunization efforts have not successfully reached the WHO goal of 95% vaccination coverage. Hesitancy is especially increased amongst parents of children with chronic conditions. Contraindications for measles-containing vaccines are well defined and include history of anaphylactic reactions to neomycin, history of severe allergic reaction to previous vaccination, pregnancy, and severe immunosuppression. Concurrently, precautions for measles-containing vaccines include amongst other, history of thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopenic purpura and personal or family history of seizures of any etiology. This article aims to address misconceptions on measles vaccine safety and review data on adverse events among special groups of subjects at increased risk following measles immunization.

• Many persons with IDD experienced precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Precautions could lead to increases in mental health and behavioral challenges. • Congregate setting, aggression, and limited mobility were risk factors. • Age modified the relationship between congregate setting and COVID-19 precautions. • Among those in congregate settings, younger individuals were most affected. This study describes factors associated with COVID-19 precautions (i.e., self-isolation and the use of personal protective equipment) among a sample of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Ontario, Canada. The sample included 756 home care recipients with IDD who did not test positive for COVID-19 between March 2020 and July 2021. Among these, some received COVID-19 precautions. Precaution data were obtained from a large metropolitan organization serving persons with IDD in Ontario, and linked to home care assessment data. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression models to examine the association between COVID-19 cautions and demographic and clinical factors. Effect modification and interactions were explored. One hundred twenty-seven (16.8%) home care clients experienced precautions. After adjustment, congregate setting, aggression, and limited mobility were significantly associated with COVID-19 precautions. Age modified the relationship between congregate setting and precautions. Pandemic responses need to recognize the impact on subgroups of adults with IDD, such as those living in congregate settings (including younger individuals) or engaging in responsive behaviors. How these precautions impacted individuals–in the short and long term–warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]