32 research outputs found
Three comedies: Behind the scenes in Eden, Rigmaroles, the Other William
No full textEdited by Gregary J. Racz and translated by Marion Peter Holt, Gregary J. Racz, and Phyllis Zatlin.Three Comedies represents the first English-language collection of plays by Jaime Salom, one of Spain's most important contemporary dramatists. His forty-plus works encompass an impressive array of subgenres, including domestic dramas, mysteries, political allegories, historical comedies, metaphysical meditations, and tales of Spanish life. Best known for his veiled critiques of Francisco Franco's regime, Salom went on to explore less overtly politicized themes following the dictator's death in 1975. This new volume features a trio of comedies from his later phase that offer insight into life under the eased restraints of a nominally democratic Spain
A translation of selected short stories by Colombian author Julio Paredes
No full textJulio Paredes is a contemporary Colombian writer who has published two novels, three collections of short stories, and a biography. His stories are evocative, thought-provoking narratives of difficulties a variety of characters face as they relate to other human beings and search for meaning in this life. Throughout Paredes's work, emphasis is placed on the unknown, thus leaving many of his stories open-ended. His characters struggle with existential questions, and quite often, the text is representative of their inner thoughts and feelings.
The following selection contains eight short stories from three different collections. While the particular situations of each are quite varied, common themes such as relationships, love, passing from one stage of life to the next, and magic emerge among them. Paredes illustrates the fact that the type of angst felt by his characters does not discriminate; people of different ages and backgrounds share similar experiences.
Because these stories focus on the human spirit, which transcends geographic and cultural boundaries, they translate quite nicely from their original Spanish and can certainly be enjoyed and appreciated by an English-speaking audience.M.A.Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-114)
Adopting evidence-based guidelines for acute stroke care: barriers and enablers for health professionals
No full textAn evidence summary based on the systematic review: Baatiema L, Otim ME, Mnatzaganian G, de-Graft Aikins A, Coombes J, Somerset S. Health professionals' views on the barriers and enablers to evidence-based practice for acute stroke care: a systematic review. Implement Sci. 2017;12:74. 10.1186/s13012-017-0599-3
Evidence-based practice is the keystone of clinical practice, policy and management. Despite this, a knowledge-to-practice gap still exists, and it is estimated to take 17 years for evidence to be translated into clinical practice. The reasons for slow translation in acute stroke care are not completely understood
Mediators, confounders and effectiveness of interventions for medication adherence after stroke
No full textAfter a stroke, people are left with an increased risk of recurrence. One of the primary methods of prevention is the use of a range of medications, but adherence to these is often low. This article evaluates and summarises three systematic reviews that investigate possible underlying reasons for this and how to overcome these barriers
Risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a multiethnic cohort of United Kingdom healthcare workers (UK-REACH): A cross-sectional analysis
No full textBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly those from ethnic minority groups, have been shown to be at disproportionately higher risk of infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to the general population. However, there is insufficient evidence on how demographic and occupational factors influence infection risk among ethnic minority HCWs. /
Methods and findings: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the baseline questionnaire of the United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outcomes in Healthcare workers (UK-REACH) cohort study, administered between December 2020 and March 2021. We used logistic regression to examine associations of demographic, household, and occupational risk factors with SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serology, or suspected COVID-19) in a diverse group of HCWs. The primary exposure of interest was self-reported ethnicity.
Among 10,772 HCWs who worked during the first UK national lockdown in March 2020, the median age was 45 (interquartile range [IQR] 35 to 54), 75.1% were female and 29.6% were from ethnic minority groups. A total of 2,496 (23.2%) reported previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The fully adjusted model contained the following dependent variables: demographic factors (age, sex, ethnicity, migration status, deprivation, religiosity), household factors (living with key workers, shared spaces in accommodation, number of people in household), health factors (presence/absence of diabetes or immunosuppression, smoking history, shielding status, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status), the extent of social mixing outside of the household, and occupational factors (job role, the area in which a participant worked, use of public transport to work, exposure to confirmed suspected COVID-19 patients, personal protective equipment [PPE] access, aerosol generating procedure exposure, night shift pattern, and the UK region of workplace). After adjustment, demographic and household factors associated with increased odds of infection included younger age, living with other key workers, and higher religiosity. Important occupational risk factors associated with increased odds of infection included attending to a higher number of COVID-19 positive patients (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 2.11 to 3.18 for ≥21 patients per week versus none), working in a nursing or midwifery role (1.30, 1.11 to 1.53, compared to doctors), reporting a lack of access to PPE (1.29, 1.17 to 1.43), and working in an ambulance (2.00, 1.56 to 2.58) or hospital inpatient setting (1.55, 1.38 to 1.75). Those who worked in intensive care units were less likely to have been infected (0.76, 0.64 to 0.92) than those who did not. Black HCWs were more likely to have been infected than their White colleagues, an effect which attenuated after adjustment for other known risk factors. This study is limited by self-selection bias and the cross sectional nature of the study means we cannot infer the direction of causality. /
Conclusions: We identified key sociodemographic and occupational risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among UK HCWs, and have determined factors that might contribute to a disproportionate odds of infection in HCWs from Black ethnic groups. These findings demonstrate the importance of social and occupational factors in driving ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, and should inform policies, including targeted vaccination strategies and risk assessments aimed at protecting HCWs in future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. /
Trial registration: The study was prospectively registered at ISRCTN (reference number: ISRCTN11811602)
Redeployment and changes in working patterns of healthcare workers during COVID-19 in the UK: a qualitative study
No full textBackgroundRedeployment was critical in addressing the increased demands of COVID-19 on the healthcare system. Previous research indicates that ethnic minority healthcare workers (HCWs), those on visas, and in junior roles, were more likely to be redeployed to COVID-19 duties compared to White UK-born HCWs. There is limited evidence on how redeployment was practically organized, preparedness of HCWs and the NHS for rapid changes, and the decision-making processes involved. This paper discusses HCWs’ redeployment experiences, their alignment with NHS policy for deploying staff safely, and potential links to staff attrition. MethodsAs part of the United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes among Healthcare workers, we conducted a qualitative sub-study, between December 2020 and July 2021, consisting of interviews and focus groups with 164 HCWs from different ethnicities, genders, job roles, migration statuses, and UK regions. Sessions were conducted online or by telephone, recorded, transcribed and analysed with participants’ consent. We utilised the breadth-and-depth approach, initially identifying transcripts mentioning redeployment or changes in work patterns, followed by an in-depth thematic analysis. ResultsOf the 164 HCWs, 22 (13.4%) reported redeployment to a new role, while 42 (26.8%) reported changes in their working patterns. Redeployment experiences varied based on HCWs’ workplaces, skillsets, input into decisions, and perceived risks. Four themes were identified: 1. redeployment and the changing nature of work, 2. pandemic (un)preparedness, 3. redeployment decision-making, and 4. risk assessments in the context of redeployment. Our data revealed the practical realities of redeployment, including discrepancies between the NHS policy and actual practices, particularly early deployment without adequate training and supervision. The lack of planning and preparedness had an operational and emotional impact on HCWs, affecting their morale. Lastly, some HCWs felt disempowered and undervalued due to a lack of agency in redeployment decisions. ConclusionThis study highlights HCWs’ redeployment experiences during COVID-19, the conditions under which it occurred, and its impacts. The findings, although rooted in the pandemic, remain relevant for addressing staffing challenges in the healthcare workforce. We recommend future redeployment strategies prioritise HCWs' training and supervision, ensure strategic planning with clear communication and support for all staff, foster a sense of value among HCWs, and integrate an intersectional equity lens into workforce planning to improve staff retention and morale
Relative contribution of PCR, serology and suspected COVID-19 to overall number of infections in both cohorts.
No full textCOVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; PCR, polymerase chain reaction. (DOCX)</p
Multivariable analysis of factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in complete cases.
No full textaOR, adjusted odds ratio; PPE, personal protective equipment; Ref, reference category for categorical variables; SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. (DOCX)</p
Univariable and multivariable analysis of factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection as defined by positive PCR or serology and excluding those never tested.
No full textaOR, adjusted odds ratio; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PPE, personal protective equipment; Ref, reference category for categorical variables; SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. (DOCX)</p
