Attitudes and perceptions toward COVID-19 virus and vaccines among a Somali population in Northern Wisconsin.

OBJECTIVES: The study's aim was to gain a qualitative understanding of vaccine beliefs and attitudes toward COVID-19 among Somali residents living in Northern Wisconsin (WI). While vaccination rates are significantly lower among Black and Hispanic populations, those with lower educational levels, and in rural areas, minimal is known about Somali population perspectives of COVID-19 vaccination rates. METHODS: Through qualitative methodology employing focus groups for data collection and the inclusion of Somali interpreters, we explored Somali community viewpoints regarding these topics. Focus group interviews were transcribed verbatim with subsequent transcripts reviewed and analyzed by the research team to identify themes. RESULTS: The overarching theme was Protecting self, others, and community. Most participants accepted vaccinations, and the COVID-19 vaccine specifically, to protect themselves, others, and their community. Factors contributing to vaccine update included trusting local messengers, including public health nurses; valuing collective memory associated with previous communicable disease outbreaks; believing religion supported vaccine protective actions; and following recommended government and media advice. CONCLUSION: Study results suggest strategies for increasing community outreach to newly resettled refugee and immigrant minority groups, establishing trust between community members, nurses, and other public health personnel, and facilitators for connecting health messaging to Somali cultural and religious beliefs to promote public health and safety.

Examining Students' Online Learning Satisfaction during COVID-19 to Inform Post-Pandemic Program Planning.

BACKGROUND: Student satisfaction is one of five pillars of quality online learning and is associated with academic achievement. This study aimed to examine nursing students' satisfaction with online learning during COVID-19, their desire to continue online classes, and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 125 nursing students from a public university. The students' satisfaction was measured with the Student's Satisfaction Towards Online Learning Questionnaire. Demographics, stress, and resilience were also measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Fewer than half (41.8%) of students were satisfied with online learning. Just over half (51.2%) did not want to continue with online classes. The strongest predictor of satisfaction was course management and coordination. The strongest predictor for a preference to continue with online classes was the instructor's characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the trend of providing more online education to nursing students, instructors should be prepared for excellence in online course management and coordination as the instructors have a fundamental role in students' satisfaction with online learning. Further examination of nursing students' satisfaction with online learning during the pandemic may yield valuable insights for post-pandemic program planning.

Skeletal growth, body composition, and metabolic risk among North Sudanese immigrant children.

OBJECTIVES: Children of immigrants and refugees from developing countries are at risk for poor growth that could contribute to adult chronic disease. This study describes the physical growth, bone growth, body composition, metabolic risks, physical activity, and food security of Sudanese children living in the United States. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 64 Sudanese children age 5-18. MEASURES: Bone mineral content (BMC), bone density (aBMD), and body composition (fat, lean mass, percent body fat) were measured using DXA. Lipids, insulin, glucose, and hs-CRP were analyzed using standardized laboratory methods. Food security was assessed with the U.S. Household Food Security Survey. Physical activity was measured through self-report questionnaire and pedometers. RESULTS: About 1/3 of children had low BMC and aBMD. Lean mass was low in 46%, and 32% were obese. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR were elevated in 23.4%, 32.8%, and 15.6% of children, respectively; only 22% of children were physically active and 40% experienced food insecurity. CONCLUSION: Sudanese children may have unique risks related to low bone mass low muscle mass, high percent body fat metabolic biomarkers, inactivity, and food insecurity potentially contributing to adult osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Assessment of radiofrequency device sensitivity for the detection of retained surgical sponges in patients with morbid obesity.

HYPOTHESIS: Retained surgical sponges are serious medical errors that result in negative patient outcomes. A radiofrequency (RF) mat for the operating room bed has recently been introduced to detect the presence of a retained surgical sponge. The study objectives were to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the RF mat for the detection of surgical sponges through the torso of individuals with varying body habitus and to compare the sensitivity of the RF mat with that of the RF wand. We hypothesized that the sensitivity and specificity of the RF technology would be comparable to published findings of the manual sponge count by operating room personnel. DESIGN: A prospective, crossover, double-blinded study design was used. Participants served as their own controls. SETTING Large Midwestern academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: In total, the first phase of the study enrolled 203 participants, including 129 (63.5%) with morbid obesity. One hundred seventeen of 203 participants were also enrolled in the second phase of the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study participants reclined in a supine position on top of an RF mat. Four surgical sponges were sequentially placed on top of the torso in locations approximating the abdominal quadrants. The torso was scanned for sponges. In a subset of participants, 4 surgical sponges were sequentially placed underneath the torso, and an RF wand was passed over the abdomen. RESULTS: Overall, 812 readings were obtained with the RF mat, and 468 readings were obtained with the RF wand. Twelve false-negative readings were obtained with the RF mat, exclusively in participants with super morbid obesity (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] >50.0). Overall, the sensitivity of the RF mat was 98.1%, and the specificity of the RF mat was 100.0%. In the subset of 117 participants in whom the RF wand was also used, the sensitivity and specificity of the wand were each 100.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of RF device technology are much higher than those of surgical sponge counts or published findings on the use of intraoperative radiographs to identify retained surgical sponges. The RF wand is more sensitive than the RF mat in individuals with morbid obesity.

Relationships among stress measures, risk factors, and inflammatory biomarkers in law enforcement officers.

Law enforcement officers suffer higher morbidity and mortality rates from all causes than the general population. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for a significant portion of the excess illness, with a reported prevalence as high as 1.7 times that of the general population. To determine which occupational hazards cause this increased risk and morbidity, it is imperative to study law enforcement officers before they retire. The long-range goal of our research is to reduce the incidence of CVD-related illness and death among aging law enforcement officers. The purpose of the present study was to measure pro- and anti-atherogenic inflammatory markers in blood samples from law enforcement officers (n = 71) and determine what types of occupation-related stress correlate with differences in these markers. For each outcome variable of interest, we developed separate regression models. Two groups of potential predictors were examined for inclusion in the models. Selected measures of stress were examined for inclusion in the models, in addition to general covariates, such as gender, ethnicity, years in law enforcement, and body mass index. Our results revealed statistically significant relationships between several physiologic variables and measures of stress.

Body mass index misclassification of obesity among community police officers.

Occupational health nurses are at the forefront of obesity assessment and intervention and must be aware of potential inaccuracies of obesity measurement. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of obesity among a sample of 84 male police officers 22 to 63 years old and determine the accuracy of body mass index (BMI) in estimating obesity compared to body fat percent (BF %). BMI identified 39.3% of the participants as obese, compared to 70.2% by BF %. BMI misclassified normal-weight officers as obese or overweight and obese officers as normal 48.8% (n = 41) of the time. The two misclassified groups had similar average BMIs but significantly different BF %. BMI was not an accurate measure of obesity among adult males. BMI underestimated the true prevalence of obesity and could represent a missed opportunity for early intervention and disease prevention.