Psychosocial support for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The novel corona virus disease COVID-19 was first diagnosed in humans in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then it had become a global pandemic. Such a pandemic leads to short- and long-term mental health burden for healthcare workers. Recent surveys suggest that rates of psychological stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia and will be high for this group. Numerous organizations have since released guidance on how both healthcare workers and the general public can manage the mental health burden. However, these recommendations focus on specific healthcare workers (e.g., nurses or psychologists), are often not evidence-based, and typically do not situate guidance within a phased model that recognizes countries are at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this perspective paper we propose a phased model of mental health burden and responses. Building on work by the Intensive Care Society and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom, we present a model that demonstrates how both staff and organizations might respond to the likely stressors that might occur at preparation-, pre-, initial and core-, and longer-term-phases of the pandemic. Staff within countries at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to use this model. We suggest practical tips for both healthcare workers and organizations and embed this within up-to-date scientific literature. The phased model of mental health burden and responses can be a helpful guide for both staff and organizations operating at different stages of the pandemic

What has changed in canine pyoderma? A narrative review

Canine pyoderma is a common presentation in small animal practice and frequently leads to prescription of systemic antimicrobial agents. A good foundation of knowledge on pyoderma was established during the 1970s and 1980s, when treatment of infection provided relatively few challenges. However, the ability to treat canine pyoderma effectively is now limited substantially by the emergence of multidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) and, in some countries, by restrictions on antimicrobial prescribing for pets. The threat from rising antimicrobial resistance and the zoonotic potential of MRS add a new dimension of public health implications to the management of canine pyoderma and necessitate a revisit and the search for new best management strategies. This narrative review focusses on the impact of MRS on how canine pyoderma is managed and how traditional treatment recommendations need to be updated in the interest of good antimicrobial stewardship. Background information on clinical characteristics, pathogens, and appropriate clinical and microbiological diagnostic techniques, are reviewed in so far as they can support early identification of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The potential of new approaches for the control and treatment of bacterial skin infections is examined and the role of owner education and hygiene is highlighted. Dogs with pyoderma offer opportunities for good antimicrobial stewardship by making use of the unique accessibility of the skin through cytology, bacterial culture and topical therapy. In order to achieve long term success and to limit the spread of multidrug resistance, there is a need to focus on identification and correction of underlying diseases that trigger pyoderma in order to avoid repeated treatment

Living with diabetes: rationale, study design and baseline characteristics for an Australian prospective cohort study

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major global public health threat. In Australia, as elsewhere, it is responsible for a sizeable portion of the overall burden of disease, and significant costs. The psychological and social impact of diabetes on individuals with the disease can be severe, and if not adequately addressed, can lead to the worsening of the overall disease picture. The Living With Diabetes Study aims to contribute to a holistic understanding of the psychological and social aspects of diabetes mellitus

Statistical discrimination, recognition and altruism, and pure/mixed strategy manipulation

This dissertation is comprised of three autonomous chapters all of which have one thing in common: they utilize experimental manipulations to answer questions of interest to economists and/or society. Chapter 1 finds significant evidence of discrimination against African Americans in the apartment rental market throughout the entire United States - subtle discrimination which would likely go unnoticed by any individual, though the effects are likely felt by many individuals. Chapter 2 finds evidence of people actively exploiting others' perceptions in order to obtain a favorable appearance - subjects will behave selfishly while attempting to appear selfless or egalitarian. Chapter 3 shows that a simple manipulation in the wording of a problem can result in subjects playing strategies more closely aligned with Nash Equilibrium predicted behavio

Replication data for: Statistical Discrimination or Prejudice? A Large Sample Field Experiment

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Statistical Discrimination or Prejudice? A Large Sample Field Experiment

<p>A model of racial discrimination provides testable implications for two features of statistical discriminators: differential treatment of signals by race and heterogeneous experience that shapes perception. We construct an experiment in the U.S. rental apartment market that distinguishes statistical discrimination from taste-based discrimination. Responses from over 14,000 rental inquiries with varying applicant quality show that landlords treat identical information from applicants with African-American and white sounding names differently. This differential treatment varies by neighborhood racial composition and signal type in a way consistent with statistical discrimination and in contrast to patterns predicted by a model of taste-based discrimination</p

Patient- and treatment-specific predictors of genitourinary function after high-dose-rate monotherapy for favorable prostate cancer.

PurposeHigh-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy alone is an effective treatment option for patients with early-stage prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to quantify patient-reported short- and long-term toxicity and quality of life (QOL) after HDR monotherapy.Methods and materialsThirty-nine consecutive men between May 2001 and January 2012 were identified for this analysis. All patients underwent definitive HDR monotherapy for favorable prostate cancer to a total dose of 3150 cGy in three fractions, 3800 cGy in four fractions, or 3850 in five fractions. Patient-reported genitourinary function was assessed before HDR, during an acute period after treatment (within 90 days of HDR), and on long-term followup using the American Urological Association International Prostate Symptom Score, a urinary QOL Likert questionnaire, and the Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire. Regression analyses were performed using the ordinary least squares method.ResultsWith median followup of 57 months, biochemical progression-free survival was 100%. There were no grade ≥3 toxicities. Dose to the urethra and bladder, as well as prostate size and intraprostatic urethra length were predictive for short-term changes in QOL. Advanced patient age was predictive for worse sexual function on both acute and long-term followup.ConclusionsToxicity after HDR monotherapy for prostate cancer is acceptable. Patients with larger prostates, longer intraprostatic urethras, and greater doses to the bladder and urethra may experience worse acute urinary QOL. Older patients may experience greater impairment in sexual function in the short and long terms

Patient- and treatment-specific predictors of genitourinary function after high-dose-rate monotherapy for favorable prostate cancer.

PurposeHigh-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy alone is an effective treatment option for patients with early-stage prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to quantify patient-reported short- and long-term toxicity and quality of life (QOL) after HDR monotherapy.Methods and materialsThirty-nine consecutive men between May 2001 and January 2012 were identified for this analysis. All patients underwent definitive HDR monotherapy for favorable prostate cancer to a total dose of 3150 cGy in three fractions, 3800 cGy in four fractions, or 3850 in five fractions. Patient-reported genitourinary function was assessed before HDR, during an acute period after treatment (within 90 days of HDR), and on long-term followup using the American Urological Association International Prostate Symptom Score, a urinary QOL Likert questionnaire, and the Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire. Regression analyses were performed using the ordinary least squares method.ResultsWith median followup of 57 months, biochemical progression-free survival was 100%. There were no grade ≥3 toxicities. Dose to the urethra and bladder, as well as prostate size and intraprostatic urethra length were predictive for short-term changes in QOL. Advanced patient age was predictive for worse sexual function on both acute and long-term followup.ConclusionsToxicity after HDR monotherapy for prostate cancer is acceptable. Patients with larger prostates, longer intraprostatic urethras, and greater doses to the bladder and urethra may experience worse acute urinary QOL. Older patients may experience greater impairment in sexual function in the short and long terms