Online transition of an international minor in physiotherapy in acute care

Introduction: To meet the global health ongoing needs, physiotherapists should have competences to intervene in conditions and contexts throughout the life cycle of their clients/patients. Educating physiotherapy students in the knowledge and skills required to operate in an acute care setting both expands and improves their entry level capabilities as well as prepares them to intervene with patients regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcoitão School of Health Sciences, Portugal and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands took the initiative to develop an International Minor Physiotherapy Course in Acute Care, in order to address the ongoing demand in this specific environment, using the opportunities given by the ERASMUS+, namely student and teachers mobility programs. Methodology: The content was developed using the international descriptors of competences of the Physiotherapist in Acute Care. Pedagogical and assessment strategies were chosen to reflect the competencies to be achieved, with a strong focus on active learning. This Minor as taught entirely online using asynchronous and synchronous strategies. Results: At the end of the Minor edition, students answered anonymous online questionnaire on the organizational and pedagogical aspects. The data revealed a very favourable opinion regarding the contents discussed (more than 80% strongly agree), pedagogical approaches used, such as online activities (more than 90% agree/strongly agree), teacher support (88% agree/strongly agree). Students were satisfied with Minor's adaptation to the pandemic context, allowing them to obtain the necessary skills to work in this context. Conclusions: Based on the positive responses from the students, we consider the implementation to be successful. The next steps are to integrate hybrid learning methodologies and broaden the participation of students and professors from other international institutions. Promoting skills and knowledge needed to work in acute care meets the growing need for professionals capable of working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Online transition of an international minor in physiotherapy in acute care

Introduction: To meet the global health ongoing needs, physiotherapists should have competences to intervene in conditions and contexts throughout the life cycle of their clients/patients. Educating physiotherapy students in the knowledge and skills required to operate in an acute care setting both expands and improves their entry level capabilities as well as prepares them to intervene with patients regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcoitão School of Health Sciences, Portugal and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands took the initiative to develop an International Minor Physiotherapy Course in Acute Care, in order to address the ongoing demand in this specific environment, using the opportunities given by the ERASMUS+, namely student and teachers mobility programs. Methodology: The content was developed using the international descriptors of competences of the Physiotherapist in Acute Care. Pedagogical and assessment strategies were chosen to reflect the competencies to be achieved, with a strong focus on active learning. This Minor as taught entirely online using asynchronous and synchronous strategies. Results: At the end of the Minor edition, students answered anonymous online questionnaire on the organizational and pedagogical aspects. The data revealed a very favourable opinion regarding the contents discussed (more than 80% strongly agree), pedagogical approaches used, such as online activities (more than 90% agree/strongly agree), teacher support (88% agree/strongly agree). Students were satisfied with Minor's adaptation to the pandemic context, allowing them to obtain the necessary skills to work in this context. Conclusions: Based on the positive responses from the students, we consider the implementation to be successful. The next steps are to integrate hybrid learning methodologies and broaden the participation of students and professors from other international institutions. Promoting skills and knowledge needed to work in acute care meets the growing need for professionals capable of working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.N/

Implementing, and evaluating an online international Minor in physiotherapy in acute care

Background: To meet the ongoing needs, physiotherapists should have competences to intervene in all conditions and contexts throughout the life cycle of their clients/patients. Educating physiotherapy students in the knowledge and skills required to operate in an acute care setting both expands and improves their entry level capabilities as well as preparing them to work with patients considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: Alcoitão School of Health Sciences, Portugal and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands took the initiative to develop an International Minor Physiotherapy in Acute Care, to address the ongoing demand, using the opportunities given by the ERASMUS+, namely student and teachers mobility programs. Methods: The content was developed using the international descriptors of competences of the Physiotherapist in Acute Care. Pedagogical and assessment strategies were chosen to reflect the competencies to be achieved, with a strong focus on active learning. This Minor took place entirely online using asynchronous and synchronous strategies. Results: At the end of the Minor edition, students answered anonymous online questionnaire on the administrative and pedagogical aspects. The data revealed a very favourable opinion regarding the topics discussed (80% totally agree), pedagogical approaches used, such as online activities (90% agree / totally agree), teacher support (90% agree / totally agree). Students were satisfied with Minor's adaptation to the pandemic context, allowing them to obtain the necessary skills to work in this context. Conclusions/Implications for physiotherapy: Based on the positive responses from the students, we consider the implementation to be successful. The next steps are to integrate hybrid learning methodologies and broaden the participation of students and professors from other international institutions. Promoting skills and knowledge needed to work in acute care meets the growing need for professionals capable of working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.N/

Desenvolvimento e implementação online de um Minor internacional em cuidados agudos

Introdução: Para ir ao encontro das necessidades da sociedade, os estudantes de Fisioterapia devem ter competências para intervir em condições e contextos agudos, ao longo do ciclo de vida dos seus utentes. A promoção de conhecimento e competências necessárias para intervir nestes contextos expande suas capacidades do nível de entrada na profissão, bem como os prepara para intervir em contextos emergentes (COVID-19). Objetivos: Desde 2015, a Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão (Portugal) e a Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Países Baixos), desenvolvem em parceria um Minor em Cuidados Agudos, com o objetivo de atender à contínua necessidade da comunidade para que o Fisioterapeuta possa prestar assistência a esta categoria de utentes. O Minor utiliza ainda as oportunidades proporcionadas pelo programa ERASMUS+, nomeadamente na facilitação de mobilidade de alunos e professores para participação no mesmo. Metodologia: O conteúdo do Minor foi desenvolvido utilizando os descritores internacionais de competências do Fisioterapeuta em Cuidados Agudos. As estratégias pedagógicas e de avaliação foram escolhidas para refletir as competências a serem alcançadas; com um forte foco na aprendizagem ativa. No contexto pandémico do ano letivo de 2020-2021 a atividade decorreu integralmente online utilizando estratégias assíncronas e síncronas. Resultados: Ao final da edição do Minor, os alunos responderam a um questionário online sobre aspetos administrativos e pedagógicos. Os dados revelaram uma opinião muito favorável em relação aos temas discutidos (80% concordo totalmente), abordagens pedagógicas utilizadas, como atividades online (90% concordo / concordo totalmente), apoio ao professor (90% Concorda / Concordo totalmente). Os alunos ficaram satisfeitos com adaptação do Minor ao contexto pandémico, permitindo-lhes ainda obter as competências necessárias para trabalhar com esta tipologia de utentes. Conclusões: Baseado nas respostas positivas dos alunos, consideramos que a implementação foi bem-sucedida. Os próximos passos são integrar metodologias de aprendizagem híbridas e alargar a participação de mais alunos e professores de outras instituições internacionais. Consideramos ainda que promover as competências e conhecimentos necessários para trabalhar em cuidados agudos vai de encontro à crescente necessidade por profissionais capazes de trabalhar neste contexto, nomeadamente no contexto da pandemia COVID-19.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mortality after major amputation in elderly patients with critical limb ischemia

Background: Owing to the aging population, the number of elderly patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) has increased. The consequence of amputation is immense. However, at the moment, information about the mortality after amputation in the elderly vascular patients is unknown. For this reason, this study evaluated mortality rates and patient-related factors associated with mortality after a major amputation in elderly patients with CLI. Methods: From 2006 to 2013, we included patients aged >70 years who were treated for chronic CLI by primary or secondary major amputation within or after 3 months of initial therapy (revascularization or conservative management). Outcome measurements were mortality after major amputation and factors associated with mortality (age, comorbidity and timing of amputation). Results: In total, 168/651 patients (178 legs; 26%) underwent a major amputation. Patients were stratified by age: 70–80 years (n=86) and > 80 years (n=82). Overall mortality after major amputation was 44%, 66% and 85% after 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. The 6-month and 1-year mortality in patients aged 80 years or older was, respectively, 59% or 63% after a secondary amputation 3 months. Per year of age, the mortality rate increased by 4% (P=0.005). No significant difference in mortality after major amputation was found in the presence of comorbidity or according to Rutherford classification. Conclusion: Despite developments in the treatment of CLI by revascularization, amputation rates remain high and are associated with tremendous mortality rates. Secondary amputation after a failed attempt of revascularization causes a higher mortality. Further research concerning timing of amputation and patient-related outcome is needed to evaluate if selected patients might benefit from primary amputation

Impact of infection on proteome-wide glycosylation revealed by distinct signatures for bacterial and viral pathogens

Mechanisms of infection and pathogenesis have predominantly been studied based on differential gene or protein expression. Less is known about posttranslational modifications, which are essential for protein functional diversity. We applied an innovative glycoproteomics method to study the systemic proteome-wide glycosylation in response to infection. The protein site-specific glycosylation was characterized in plasma derived from well-defined controls and patients. We found 3862 unique features, of which we identified 463 distinct intact glycopeptides, that could be mapped to more than 30 different proteins. Statistical analyses were used to derive a glycopeptide signature that enabled significant differentiation between patients with a bacterial or viral infection. Furthermore, supported by a machine learning algorithm, we demonstrated the ability to identify the causative pathogens based on the distinctive host blood plasma glycopeptide signatures. These results illustrate that glycoproteomics holds enormous potential as an innovative approach to improve the interpretation of relevant biological changes in response to infection