Cohort Profile: Real-Time Insights of COVID-19 in India (RTI COVID-India).

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic caused disruption globally and was particularly distressing in low- and middle-income countries such as India. This study aimed to provide population representative estimates of COVID-related outcomes in India over time and characterize how COVID-related changes and impacts differ by key socioeconomic groups across the life course. METHODS: The sample was leveraged from an existing nationally representative study on cognition and dementia in India: Harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD). The wave-1 of LASI-DAD enrolled 4096 older adults aged 60 years and older in 3316 households from 18 states and union territories of India. Out of the 3316 LASI-DAD households, 2704 with valid phone numbers were contacted and invited to participate in the Real-Time Insights COVID-19 in India (RTI COVID-India) study. RTI COVID-India was a bi-monthly phone survey that provided insight into the individual's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards COVID-19 and changes in the household's economic and health conditions throughout the pandemic. The survey was started in May 2020 and 9 rounds of data have been collected. FINDINGS TILL DATE: Out of the 2704 LASI-DAD households with valid phone numbers, 1766 households participated in the RTI COVID-India survey at least once. Participants were in the age range of 18-102 years, 49% were female, 66% resided in rural area. Across all rounds, there was a higher report of infection among respondents aged 60-69 years. There was a greater prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis reported in urban (23.0%) compared to rural areas (9.8%). Respondents with higher education had a greater prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis compared to those with lower or no formal education. Highest prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis was reported from high economic status compared to middle and low economic status households. Comparing education gradients in experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and being diagnosed, we observe an opposite pattern: respondents with no formal schooling reported the highest level of experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, whereas the greatest proportion of the respondents with secondary school or higher education reported being diagnosed with COVID-19. FUTURE PLANS: The study group will analyse the data collected showing the real-time changes throughout the pandemic and will make the data widely available for researchers to conduct further studies.

Prognosis and sequelae of meth(acrylate) sensitization in beauticians and consumers of manicure materials.

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis from (meth)acrylic monomers (ACDMA) in manicure products is increasing. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis, work performance impairment and sequelae of a cohort of beauticians and manicure consumers with ACDMA sensitized from the exposure to manicure products. METHODS: We conducted a telephone survey with patients diagnosed with ACDMA. RESULTS: One hundred and six patients were evaluated, including 75 (70.8%) beauticians and 31 (29.2%) consumers. All were women with a mean age of 39 (19-62). Thirty-seven of 75 beauticians (49.3%) continued to work. Twenty-seven of 106 (25.5%) patients continued to use manicure products with (meth)acrylates regularly. Seventeen of 51 (33.3%) patients who discontinued the exposure described ongoing nail/periungual changes. Nine of 58 (15.5%) patients who required dental restoration, orthodontic or occlusal splint materials recalled reactions from them; and, 25 of 96 (26%) who used sanitary napkins recalled intolerance to them starting after the diagnosis of ACDMA. Fifteen of 25 (60%) discontinued the use of sanitary napkins. CONCLUSION: 49.3% beauticians continued to work; most patients stopped wearing acrylic manicure materials; reactions from dental materials were not uncommon, however, removal of dental materials was never required; and, reactions to sanitary napkins developing after the diagnosis of ACDMA were common most leading to discontinuation of use.

To be or not to be: relationship between grandparent status and health and wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: It is common for older people to become grandparents in later life. However, the impacts of grandparenting on their health and well-being remain ambiguous, especially in Chinese society, where the family is in the core of culture. The current study explored the relationship between grandparenthood and Chinese older people's health and psychological well-being in Hong Kong. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 1208 Hong Kong Chinese older people aged 55 and above through a telephone survey conducted in 2019. Participants were grouped into three categories: current grandparents (n = 507), grandparents-to-be (n = 275), and grandparents-not-to-be (n = 426). Multivariate linear regressions were performed to examine the relationship between grandparenting status and health and well-being outcomes, including self-rated physical health, mental health, resilience, and happiness. The potential moderating roles of older adults' demographic characteristics, including age, sex, education, marital status, financial status, were also examined. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses suggested statistically significant differences between health and well-being across the three groups of participants. Regression models showed that, compared with grandparents-not-to-be, being a current grandparent was associated with a significantly higher happiness level. Being a future grandparent was associated with significantly higher levels of happiness, resilience, and self-rated physical health. Moderating analyses showed that age, marital status, and educational level could moderate the relationship between grandparent status and resilience and self-rated mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The current study offers preliminary insights into the significant relationship between grandparenthood and older adults' health and well-being. It calls for future studies to further explore the mechanisms between grandparenthood and the healthy ageing of different subgroups of older adults.

Telephone versus web panel National Survey for monitoring adoption of preventive behaviors to climate change in populations: a case study of Lyme disease in Québec, Canada.

BACKGROUND: To monitor the adoption of climate change adaptive behaviors in the population, public health authorities have to conduct national surveys, which can help them target vulnerable subpopulations. To ensure reliable estimates of the adoption of these preventive behaviors, many data collection methods are offered by polling firms. The aim of this study was to compare a telephone survey with a web survey on Lyme disease with regard to their representativeness. METHODS: The data comes from a cross-sectional study conducted in the Province of Québec (Canada). In total, 1003 people completed the questionnaire by telephone and 956 filled in a web questionnaire. We compared the data obtained from both survey modes with the census data in regard to various demographic characteristics. We then compared the data from both samples in terms of self-reported Lyme disease preventive behaviors and other theoretically associated constructs. We also assessed the measurement invariance (equivalence) of the index of Lyme disease preventive behaviors across the telephone and web samples. RESULTS: Findings showed that neither the telephone nor the web panel modes of data collection can be considered more representative of the target population. The results showed that the proportion of item non-responses was significantly higher with the web questionnaire (5.6%) than with the telephone survey (1.3%), and that the magnitude of the differences between the two survey modes was nil for 19 out of the 30 items related to Lyme disease, and small for 11 of them. Results from invariance analyses confirmed the measurement invariance of an index of adaptation to Lyme disease, as well as the mean invariance across both samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that both samples provided similar estimates of the level of adaptation to Lyme disease preventive behaviors. In sum, the results of our study showed that neither survey mode was superior to the other. Thus, in studies where adaptation to climate change is monitored over time, using a web survey instead of a telephone survey could be more cost-effective, and researchers should consider doing so in future surveys on adaptation to climate. However, we recommend conducting a pretest study before deciding whether to use both survey modes or only one of them.

A methodology for small area prevalence estimation based on survey data.

BACKGROUND: Brazil conducts many health surveys to provide estimates by national level, macro-regions, states, metropolitan regions and capitals. However, estimates for smaller areas are lacking due to their high cost. The Health Vulnerability Index (in Portuguese, Índice de Vulnerabilidade em Saúde, IVS) is a measure that combines socioeconomic and environmental variables in the same indicator and allows for the analysis of the characteristics of population groups residing in census tracts, grouping them into four health risk areas (low, medium, high and very high risk) in addition to showing inequalities in the epidemiological profile of different social groups. This index was developed by the Municipal Health Secretariat of Belo Horizonte to guide health planning. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to produce a methodology for obtaining reliable estimates for tobacco smoking in small areas for which the IVS was not designed. METHODS: The Vigitel dataset from 2006 to 2013 was used to obtain estimates of the prevalence of smokers based on the IVS employing small area estimation methods that use data from a larger domain to obtain estimates in smaller areas. For indirect estimates, the covariates included were sanitation, housing, education, income, and social and health factors. Post-stratification weights were used according to the IVS based on the population of the 2010 census. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2009, 16.2% (95% CI: 13.6-14.8%) of the adult population in Belo Horizonte were smokers, and 14.8% (95% CI: 14.0-15.6%) were smokers between 2010 and 2013. The very high-risk population maintained a high prevalence over the same period of 21.1% (95% CI: 17.1-25.0%) between 2006 and 2009 and 20.8% (95% CI: 17.0-24.6%) between 2010 and 2013, while in the low-risk group, the prevalence in the same period fell from 14.9% (95% CI: 13.7-16.2%) to 11.8% (95% CI, 10.6-13.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified differences in the profile of smokers by the IVS in the city of Belo Horizonte. While the smoking prevalence declined in richer areas, it remained high in poor areas. This methodology can be used to produce reliable estimates for subgroups with greater vulnerability in small areas and thus subsidize the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of public health policies and programmes aimed at smoking.

Patient and surrogate attitudes via an interviewer-administered survey on exception from informed consent enrollment in the Prehospital Air Medical Plasma (PAMPer) trial.

OBJECTIVES: With increased focus on early resuscitation methods following injury to improve patient outcomes, studies are employing exception from informed consent (EFIC) enrollment. Few studies have assessed patients' opinions following participation in an EFIC study, and none have been conducted within the realm of traumatic hemorrhage. We surveyed those patients and surrogates previously enrolled in the Prehospital Air Medical Plasma (PAMPer) Trial to clarify their opinions related to consent and emergency research. METHODS: Telephone calls were made between January-June 2019 to all patients who were enrolled under EFIC in the PAMPer study at the Pittsburgh site (169 of the 501 total patients enrolled, May 2014-Oct 2017) and their surrogates. Questions gauging approval of EFIC enrollment were asked before discussion of PAMPer trial outcomes, after disclosure of positive outcomes, and after a hypothetical negative trial outcome was proposed. RESULTS: Of the total 647 telephone calls made, ninety-three interviews, reflecting 70 of 169 patient enrollments, were conducted. This included 13 in which only the patient was interviewed, 23 in which the patient and a surrogate were interviewed, and 34 in which only a surrogate was interviewed. Nearly half (48.4%) of respondents did not recall their personal or family member enrollment in the study. No patients or surrogates recalled hearing about the study through community consultation or being aware of opt out procedures. Patients and surrogates were glad they were enrolled (90.3%), agreed with EFIC use for their personal enrollment (88.17%), and agreed with the general use of EFIC for the PAMPer study (81.7%). Disclosure of the true positive PAMPer study outcome resulted in a significant increase in opinions regarding personal enrollment, EFIC for personal enrollment, and EFIC for general enrollment (all p < 0.001). Disclosure of a hypothetical neutral or negative study outcome resulted in significant decreases in opinions regarding EFIC for personal enrollment (p = 0.003) and EFIC for general enrollment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trial participants with traumatic hemorrhagic shock enrolled with EFIC, and surrogates of such participants, are generally accepting of EFIC. The results of the trial in which EFIC was utilized significantly affected patient and surrogate agreement with personal and general EFIC enrollment.

Development and evaluation of e-mental health interventions to reduce stigmatization of suicidality - a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, approximately 800,000 persons die by suicide every year; with rates of suicide attempts estimated to be much higher. Suicidal persons often suffer from a mental disorder but stigma, lack of available and suitable support, and insufficient information on mental health limit help seeking. The use of internet-based applications can help individuals inform themselves about mental disorders, assess the extent of their own concerns, find local treatment options, and prepare for contact with health care professionals. This project aims to develop and evaluate e-mental health interventions to improve knowledge about suicidality and to reduce stigmatization of those affected. In developing these interventions, a representative telephone survey was conducted to detect knowledge gaps and stigmatizing attitudes in the general population. METHODS: First, a national representative telephone survey with N = 2000 participants in Germany was conducted. Second, e-mental health interventions are developed to address knowledge gaps and public stigma detected in the survey. These comprise an evidence-based health information package about suicidality, information on regional support services, a self-administered depression test-including suicidality-and an interactive online intervention including personal stories. The development is based on a trialogical exchange of experience between persons affected by suicidality, relatives of affected persons, and clinical experts. Australian researchers who developed an e-mental health intervention for individuals affected by rural suicide were invited to a workshop in order to contribute their knowledge and expertise. Third, the online intervention will be evaluated by a mixed methods design. DISCUSSION: From representative telephone survey data, content can be developed to address specific attitudes and knowledge via the e-mental health interventions. These interventions will be easily accessed and provide an opportunity to reach people who tend not to seek professional services, prefer to inform themselves in advance and/or wish to remain anonymous. Evaluation of the online intervention will provide information on any changes in participants' self-stigma and perceived-stigma of suicidality, and any increase in participants' knowledge on suicidality or self-efficacy expectations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00015071 on August 6, 2018.

Comparing online and telephone survey results in the context of a skin cancer prevention campaign evaluation.

Background: A large proportion of health promotion campaign evaluation research has historically been conducted via telephone surveys. However, there are concerns about the continued viability of this form of surveying in providing relevant and representative data. Online surveys are an increasingly popular alternative, and as such there is a need to assess the comparability between data collected using the two different methods to determine the implications for longitudinal comparisons. The present study compared these survey modes in the context of health promotion evaluation research. Methods: Data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviewing and an online panel. In total, 688 and 606 respondents aged between 14 and 45 years completed the online and telephone surveys, respectively. Results: Online respondents demonstrated higher awareness of the advertisement, rated the advertisement as more personally relevant and had better behavioural outcomes compared with the telephone respondents. Conclusion: The results indicate significant differences between the telephone and online surveys on most measures used to assess the effectiveness of a health promotion advertising campaign. Health promotion practitioners could consider the combination of both methods to overcome the deterioration in telephone survey response rates and the likely differences in respondent outcomes.

Potential use of telephone-based survey for non-communicable disease surveillance in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Telephone survey (TS) has been a popular tool for conducting health surveys, particularly in developed countries. However, the feasibility, and reliability of TS are not adequately explored in Sri Lanka. The main aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of telephone-based survey in estimating the prevalence of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Sri Lanka. METHODS: We carried out an observational cross-sectional study using telephone interview method in Galle district, Sri Lanka. The study participants were selected randomly from the residents living in the households with fixed land telephone lines. The prevalence of the main NCDs was estimated using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, 975 telephone numbers belonging to six main areas of Galle district were called, and 48% agreed to participate in the study. Of the non-respondents, 22% actively declined to participate. Data on NCDs were gathered from 1470 individuals. The most common self-reported NCD was hypertension (17.%), followed by diabetes (16.3%) and dyslipidaemia (15.6%). Smoking was exclusively seen in males (7.4%), and regular alcohol use was significantly more common in males (19.2%) than females (0.4%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed average response rate for telephone based interview in Sri Lankan setting. Overall prevalence of main NCDs in this study showed a comparable prevalence to studies used face to face interview method. This study supports the potential use of telephone-based survey to assess heath related information in Sri Lanka.

The attitude toward xenocorneal transplantation in wait-listed subjects for corneal transplantation in Korea.

Shortage of donor cornea is a significant problem in Asia, and xenocorneal transplantation is being actively studied to alleviate this problem. However, the attitudes of subjects who await corneal transplants toward xenocorneal transplantation are not known at all. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes of subjects on the waiting lists for corneal transplants, toward corneal xenotransplantation. A telephone questionnaire survey comprising six items was conducted in 132 subjects among the wait-listed individuals (n = 590) who were awaiting corneal transplantation or had undergone corneal transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital from July, 2003 to August, 2012. Among six inquiries, four questions were used to analyze attitudes toward corneal xenotransplantation. Each question pertained to (1) the acceptance of xenocorneal transplantation, (2) willingness to participate in clinical trials, (3) worries in xenocorneal transplantation, and (4) the concern of self-identity or social life after xenocorneal transplantation. To analyze demographic factors influencing the question, the subjects were arbitrarily divided into two groups: the young (age < 60 yr, n = 58) and the elderly (age ≥ 60 yr, n = 74) or the less-educated (n = 53) and the well-educated with high school diploma, college graduation, or higher education (n = 79). Collected demographic data were analyzed as influencing factors on each question using a chi-square and logistic regression tests. In this study, 42.4% of the subjects (n = 56) expressed favorable views on xenocorneal transplantation using porcine corneas to cure visual loss from corneal blindness. Among those subjects expressing favorable views (n = 56), the willingness to participate in clinical trials, knowing they and their spouses must undergo long-term surveillance, was 62.5% (n = 35). There were 76.5% of subjects (n = 101) expressing worries regarding xenocorneal transplantation, while 28.8% of subjects (n = 38) expressed their concerns about self-identity or social life after xenotransplantation. Younger subjects expressed more worry about xenotransplantation than elderly subjects. The well-educated expressed less concern over self-identity and social life than the less-educated. This survey among subjects who are wait-listed for corneal transplant or who have received a corneal transplant demonstrates that there is an interest in xenocorneal transplantation as an alternate procedure, although there are worries about the procedure that should be further explored in educational campaigns and future studies of the general population.

Identifying predictors of survey mode preference.

To increase the likelihood of response, many survey organizations attempt to provide sample members with a mode they are thought to prefer. Mode assignment is typically based on conventional wisdom or results from mode choice studies that presented only limited options. In this paper we draw heavily on research and theory from the mode effects and the survey participation literatures to develop a framework for understanding what characteristics should predict mode preferences. We then test these characteristics using data from two different surveys. We find that measures of familiarity with and access to a mode are the strongest predictors of mode preference and measures of safety concerns, physical abilities, and normative concerns are unexpectedly weak predictors. Our findings suggest that variables that may exist on sample frames can be used to inform the assignment of "preferred" modes to sample members.

Oral health status, perceptions, and access to dental care in the Hispanic population.

This article analyzes the results of a survey designed to assess self-reported oral health status, perceptions, and access to care between the Hispanic population and the general population of the United States. A nationally representative telephone survey was conducted with randomly selected participants: 1000 each from the Hispanic and the general populations. Responses of both groups were compared and statistically analyzed at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). The results showed significant differences between the Hispanic and the general populations. Hispanics were less likely to believe in the need for regular professional dental care, more likely to have misperceptions about oral health and conditions, and less likely to have access to care than the general population. Hispanics were less likely to have visited a dentist in the last 2 years, and significantly more Hispanics than general population participants cited cost of care and lack of dental insurance as key reasons for not seeing a dentist. More information on good oral health habits, Spanish-language information, and where to access care were identified as helpful tools by majorities of Hispanics. These data indicate disparities do exist between the Hispanic and the general populations. They highlight the need for new policies and programs-from organized dentistry to individual practices-that address the needs of the growing Hispanic population.

Secondhand harms from cannabis use: Findings from Washington State, United States.

OBJECTIVE: There are few studies on harms attributed to others' cannabis use. We assessed individual- and contextual-level correlates of secondhand harms from cannabis use and considered whether cannabis legalization support, along with cannabis user status, predicted such harms. METHOD: Data were from five repeated cross-sectional, state-representative telephone surveys of Washington State residents ages 18 and over, years 2014-2016. For four surveys, outcome variables were past 12-month reports of experiencing any of five harms (family, traffic-related, vandalism, physical or financial), and in 2016 only, three harm types separately: 1) harassment, 2) safety-related (traffic, vandalism, physical), 3) family or financial, attributed to another's cannabis use. All models included a three-category typology comprised of participants' own cannabis use and whether they supported cannabis use legalization (user supporter, non-user non-supporter, non-user supporter). We estimated logistic regression models for the full sample and by gender, adjusting for individual- and Census tract-level covariates. RESULTS: Compared to non-cannabis-users supporting legalization, nonusers who did not support legalization reported significantly greater odds of perceiving secondhand cannabis harms. Cannabis users supporting legalization did not differ from nonuser supporters. Predictors of reported harms also differed by gender. While current drinkers had lower odds of reporting any harm from others' cannabis use overall, heavy drinking women but not men reported greater odds of any cannabis secondhand harm. CONCLUSIONS: Augmenting research on individual harms associated with cannabis use by including secondhand impacts such as social and family problems, along with safety risks, provides a more comprehensive picture of the effects of cannabis use.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Coverage of Recommended Vaccinations in Individuals with Chronic Medical Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey in Italy.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional survey investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and coverage of recommended vaccinations among a random sample of patients with chronic medical conditions, at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), in Italy. METHODS: The survey was conducted via telephone-based interviews. RESULTS: Multinomial regression analysis showed that the patients who believed that VPDs were severe were more likely to know one recommended vaccination; those who believed that VPDs were severe and those who were advised from a general practitioner (GP) were more likely to know two vaccinations; those who were older, graduated, with more time from diagnosis, who believed that VPDs were severe, who did not need additional information, and who were advised from a GP were more likely to know three or four vaccinations. Patients who knew at least one vaccination, who perceived themselves at risk, and who were advised from a GP were more likely to have received one vaccination; those who knew more than one vaccination and who were advised from a GP were more likely to receive two or three vaccinations. Among the unvaccinated, patients who were unmarried/not cohabiting, those who needed information, and who believed that vaccinations were useful and safe were more willing to receive the recommended vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions are needed to improve the adherence of individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Characterizing Mental Health Status and Service Utilization in Chinese Americans With Type 2 Diabetes in New York City: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more prone to mental health issues than the general population; however, there is a significant lack of data concerning the mental health burden in Chinese Americans with T2D. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the comorbid mental health status, health-seeking behaviors, and mental service utilization among Chinese Americans with T2D. METHODS: A cross-sectional telephone survey was performed among 74 Chinese Americans with T2D in New York City. We used standardized questionnaires to assess mental health status and to gather data on mental health-seeking behaviors and service utilization. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 74 Chinese Americans with T2D completed the survey. Most participants (mean age 56, SD 10 years) identified as female (42/74, 57%), were born outside the United States (73/74, 99%), and had limited English proficiency (71/74, 96%). Despite nearly half of the participants (34/74, 46%) reporting at least one mental health concern (elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and/or anxiety), only 3% (2/74) were currently using mental health services. Common reasons for not seeking care included no perceived need, lack of information about Chinese-speaking providers, cost, and time constraints. The cultural and language competence of the provider was ranked as the top factor related to seeking mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Americans with T2D experience relatively high comorbid mental health concerns yet have low service utilization. Clinicians may consider team-based care to incorporate mental health screening and identify strategies to provide culturally and linguistically concordant mental health services to engage Chinese Americans with T2D.

Evaluating perspective and quality of life of glaucoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in India: Results of a telephone survey.

Purpose: The past few years have been difficult in the lives of most glaucoma patients in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to find out patients' perspective and disruption of their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a telephone survey among glaucoma patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the glaucoma patients of a tertiary eye care hospital in India. Patients who had completed at least five years of follow-up before 2020 were randomized by a random number generator. A validated (forward-backward translation and completed pilot analysis) set of 14 questionnaires was administered to the patients, the latter of whom were telephonically interviewed by one of the investigators in February 2022. The entire data was audio-recorded. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used. Results: Out of 1141 patients with >5 years of follow-up, 103 were selected by randomization. A large group of 46 patients (44.6%) admitted to glaucoma affecting their daily activities. Only 12 (11.6%) admitted to being irregular with their drops. Thirty-four (33%) patients felt that their glaucoma was deteriorating and 31 (30.1%) had fear of blindness. Ninety-five patients (92.7%) felt that they were safe under the care of the treating doctor. There were 46 (44.6%) out of 103 patients who did not turn up for follow-up for six months or more. Lockdown (36.2%) and travel-expenses (27.6%) were the two most common reasons for the loss to follow-up visits. Conclusion: Nearly half of the long-term glaucoma patients were lost to follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glaucoma affecting daily lives and fear of losing vision turned out to be significant observations in the telephone survey. This fear seemed to be ameliorated by the majority still feeling safe by being in touch with their doctor for continued care even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Experiencia en la vacunación frente a la COVID-19 en personas con antecedentes de alergia.] / Experience in vaccination against covid-19 in people with a history of allergy.

OBJECTIVE: A common consultation since the beginning of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 was related to people with a history of allergy to drugs or other vaccines. The objective of the study was to describe what happened after the administration of the vaccine against COVID-19 in people with a history of moderate and severe allergy, vaccinated against COVID-19 in a Primary Care Emergency Center (PCEC). METHODS: Observational descriptive study with sixty-four people with a history of moderate and severe allergy was carried out, vaccinated in PCEP, between May and October 2021, in the Barcelonés Nord and Maresme (Barcelona province), after assessment by primary care pharmacologists and pharmacists. The percentage of people with adverse events that occurred after vaccination during their stay in the PCEP, the types detected and severity were calculated. Subsequently, a telephone survey was conducted to determine patient satisfaction. A descriptive analysis (calculation of proportions) was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of 49.7 years (from twelve to ninety-four years) and 90.6% were women. 87.5% of the administered vaccines were Comirnaty®. Adverse events occurring after vaccination were detected in fifteen patients (23.4%), of whom four (6.25%) were manifestations of hypersensitivity, all classified as mild. The reasons for vaccination were a history of allergy to NSAIDs (45.3%), antibiotics (32.8%), analgesics (17.2%), vaccines (28.1%), other substances (40.6%) and anaphylaxis (26.6%). The degree of general satisfaction was 9.11 (out of 10). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of patients with a history of anaphylaxis and allergic drug reactions who present hypersensitivity reactions to COVID-19 vaccines is 6.25% and all are mild.

OBJETIVO: Una consulta habitual desde el inicio de la campaña de vacunación frente a la COVID-19 fue la relacionada con personas que tienen antecedentes de alergia a fármacos u otras vacunas. El objetivo del estudio fue describir lo ocurrido tras la administración de la vacuna frente a la COVID-19 en personas con antecedentes de alergia moderada y grave, en un Centro de Urgencias de Atención Primaria (CUAP). METODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo con sesenta y cuatro personas que tenían antecedentes de alergia moderada y grave, vacunadas en CUAP, entre mayo y octubre de 2021, en el Barcelonés Nord i Maresme (provincia de Barcelona), previa valoración por farmacólogos y farmacéuticos de Atención Primaria. Se calculó el porcentaje de personas con acontecimientos adversos ocurridos tras la vacunación en el transcurso de su estancia en el CUAP, los tipos detectados y la gravedad. Posteriormente, se realizó una encuesta telefónica para conocer la satisfacción de los pacientes. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo (cálculo de proporciones). RESULTADOS: La media de edad de las personas participantes fue de 49,7 años (de doce a noventa y cuatro años) y el 90,6% fueron mujeres. El 87,5% de las vacunas administradas fue Comirnaty®. Se detectaron acontecimientos adversos ocurridos tras la vacunación en quince pacientes (23,4%), de los que en cuatro casos (6,25%) fueron manifestaciones de hipersensibilidad, todas catalogadas como leves. Los motivos de vacunación fueron antecedentes de alergia a AINE (45,3%), antibióticos (32,8%), analgésicos (17,2%), vacunas (28,1%), otras sustancias (40,6%) y anafilaxia (26,6%). El grado de satisfacción general fue de 9,11 (sobre 10). CONCLUSIONES: El porcentaje de pacientes con antecedentes de anafilaxia y reacciones alérgicas a medicamentos que presentan reacciones de hipersensibilidad a las vacunas frente a la COVID-19 es del 6,25% y todas son leves.

Analysis of Interview Breakoff in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2018 and 2019.

Introduction: Survey breakoff is an important source of total survey error. Most studies of breakoff have been of web surveys-less is known about telephone surveys. In the past decade, the breakoff rate has increased in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the world's largest annual telephone survey. Analysis of breakoff in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System can improve the quality of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. It will also provide evidence in research of total survey error on telephone surveys. Methods: We used data recorded as breakoff in the 2018 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We converted questions and modules to a time variable and applied Kaplan-Meier method and a proportional hazard model to estimate the conditional and cumulative probabilities of breakoff and study the potential risk factors associated with breakoff. Results: Cumulative probability of breakoffs up to the end of the core questionnaire was 7.03% in 2018 and 9.56% in 2019. The highest conditional probability of breakoffs in the core was 2.85% for the physical activity section. Cumulative probability of breakoffs up to the end of the core was higher among those states that inserted their own questions or optional modules than among those that did not in both years. The median risk ratio of breakoff among all states was 5.70 in 2018 and 3.01 in 2019. Survey breakoff was associated with the length of the questionnaire, the extent of expected recollection, and the location of questions. Conclusions: Breakoff is not an ignorable component of total survey error and should be considered in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data analyses when variables have higher breakoff rates.

The Changes in Levels and Barriers of Physical Activity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During and After the Fifth Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong: Repeated Random Telephone Surveys.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has had an impact on physical activity (PA) among older adults; however, it is unclear whether this effect would be long-lasting, and there is a dearth of studies assessing the changes in barriers to performing PA among older adults before and after entering the "postpandemic era." OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the levels and barriers of PA among a random sample of community-dwelling older adults recruited during (February to April 2022) and after the fifth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak (May to July 2022) in Hong Kong. In addition, we investigated factors associated with a low PA level among participants recruited at different time points. METHODS: This study involved two rounds of random telephone surveys. Participants were community-dwelling Chinese-speaking individuals aged 65 years or above and having a Hong Kong ID card. Household telephone numbers were randomly selected from the most updated telephone directories. Experienced interviewers carried out telephone interviews between 6 PM and 10 PM on weekdays and between 2 PM and 9 PM on Saturdays to avoid undersampling of working individuals. We called 3900 and 3840 households in the first and second round, respectively; for each round, 640 and 625 households had an eligible older adult and 395 and 370 completed the telephone survey, respectively. RESULTS: As compared to participants in the first round, fewer participants indicated a low level of PA in the second round (28.6% vs 45.9%, P<.001). Participants in the second round had higher metabolic equivalent of tasks-minutes/week (median 1707.5 vs 840, P<.001) and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week (median 240 vs 105, P<.001) than those in the first round. After adjustment for significant background characteristics, participants who perceived a lack of physical capacity to perform PA (first round: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.34, P=.001; second round: 2.92, P=.002) and believed that PA would cause pain and discomfort (first round: AOR 2.04, P=.02; second round: 2.82, P=.001) were more likely to have a low level of PA in both rounds. Lack of time (AOR 4.19, P=.01) and concern about COVID-19 infection during PA (AOR 1.73, P=.02) were associated with a low level of PA among participants in the first round, but not in the second round. A perceived lack of space and facility to perform PA at home (AOR 2.03, P=.02) and unable to find people to do PA with (AOR 1.80, P=.04) were associated with a low PA level in the second round, but not in the first round. CONCLUSIONS: The level of PA increased significantly among older adults after Hong Kong entered the "postpandemic era." Different factors influenced older adults' PA level during and after the fifth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. Regular monitoring of the PA level and its associated factors should be conducted to guide health promotion and policy-making.

[Emergency medical service, medical on-call service, or emergency department : Germans unsure whom to contact in acute medical events]. / Rettungsdienst, kassenärztlicher Notdienst oder Notaufnahme : Es gelingt der Bevölkerung nur unzureichend, die richtige Ressource für medizinische Akutfälle zu wählen.

BACKGROUND: In medical events, patients have to independently decide whom to contact: emergency medical services, medical on-call service or emergency department. OBJECTIVES: Are Germans able to assess the urgency of medical events and choose the correct resource? MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2018 a nationwide anonymous telephone survey was done in Gabler-Haeder design. In all, 708 interviewees were presented with six medical scenarios. Participants were asked to rate urgency and to assess whether medical help was necessary within minutes to hours. Telephone numbers of emergency medical services and medical on-call service were inquired. RESULTS: Urgency of different scenarios was often misjudged: in cases with high, medium, and low urgency the misjudgement rate were 20, 50, and 27%, respectively. If medical help was rated as necessary, some participants chose the wrong service: 25% would not call an ambulance in stroke or myocardial infarction. In cases with medium urgency, more respondents chose to consult an emergency department (38%) than to call medical on-call service (46%). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding different options for treatment of medical events and competence to assess urgency seem to be too low. Beside efforts to increase health literacy, one solution might be to introduce a joint telephone number for emergency medical services and medical on-call service with a uniform assessment tool and appropriate allocation.