Toward improved education of the public about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Mental Models Approach
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Abstract:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is ever more becoming a public health problem, due to its prevalence among cattle, raw meat, and otherwise healthy people. Therefore, it is essential that risk communication promotes awareness and recognition of MRSA among the general public, so they can adopt preventive health and infection control measures. In order to do so, a public website for the Dutch general public was developed. Because effective risk communication should be tailored to the public’s relevant beliefs and knowledge (“mental models”), we identified the mental models of the Dutch general public concerning MRSA by means of 17 interviews followed by a confirmatory questionnaire (n=239). Although the majority of the public (62%) heard of MRSA and its well-known risk factors and consequences before via the media, the public was only slightly aware of its threat to society. Misconceptions existed regarding origin and spread (e.g., that MRSA is caused by overburdened muscles). Besides, knowledge gaps were detected concerning prevention, reservoir, and origin (importance of hygiene measures, presence on the skin, MRSA among cattle). These misconceptions and knowledge gaps were corrected in the content of the public website next to basic scientific information about MRSA, which was evaluated by means of a usability test (n=18). Overall, our findings highlight the need for the systematic analysis of the public’s mental models prior to designing risk communication.Keywords:
Risk Communication
Mental hygiene
Public education
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To highlight the understanding, knowledge and perceptions of health care professional towards antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance Mechanism. A search was performed on using literature and different articles from June-October 2015 to identify the studies already published on the view of antibiotics usage and resistance worldwide. It involved students of Medicine and pharm-D, Doctors, Nursing professional, general population and their knowledge, attitude towards practicing antibiotics. Sixteen studies were identified that included three from India, two from Portugal and one each from China, Malaysia, Jordan, Nigeria, France, UK, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Boston and one in several Southeast Asian Countries. Majority of the individual’s response varied widely. Most of them want quick cure rather than considering specifications. General public also showed less than average response to the use of antibiotics. The knowledge of Resistance on the part on all health care professionals was less than adequate. As per our search and studies it is concluded that anti-bacterial are the most widely used medicine across the world. Although our physicians, students of pharmacy, students of medicine, students of nursing and general public have adequate understanding regarding the use of antibiotic for bacterial diseases but it is found in most countries that due to less standard education in health care profession and unawareness in general population. The problem of antibiotic resistance has increased and it is the responsibility of Government, Educational institute and Pharmaceutical industry to take a more innovative step towards the development of newer and better anti-bacterial with safer results.
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BackgroundCommunity-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus infections are common to south-western Alaska and have been associated with traditional steambaths. More than a decade ago, recommendations were made to affected communities that included preventive skin care, cleaning methods for steambath surfaces, and the use of protective barriers while in steambaths to reduce the risk of S. aureus infection.ObjectiveA review of community medical data suggested that the number of skin infection clinical encounters has increased steadily over the last 3 years and we designed a public health investigation to seek root causes.Study designUsing a mixed methods approach with in-person surveys, a convenience sample (n=492) from 3 rural communities assessed the range of knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning skin infections, skin infection education messaging, prevention activities and home self-care of skin infections.ResultsWe described barriers to implementing previous recommendations and evaluated the acceptability of potential interventions. Prior public health messages appear to have been effective in reaching community members and appear to have been understood and accepted. We found no major misconceptions regarding what a boil was or how someone got one. Overall, respondents seemed concerned about boils as a health problem and reported that they were motivated to prevent boils. We identified current practices used to avoid skin infections, such as the disinfection of steambaths. We also identified barriers to engaging in protective behaviours, such as lack of access to laundry facilities.ConclusionsThese findings can be used to help guide public health strategic planning and identify appropriate evidence-based interventions tailored to the specific needs of the region.
Laundry
Hand washing
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Background: The burden of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been on the rise since it was first reported in December 2019. COVID-19 has devastated global economy, public health, social interaction, and has claimed millions of lives globally within a few months. Due to the severe effect of some of the instituted guidelines on citizens and the economy, some of the policies in place to curtail the spread were receded. Hence, the present review aims to assess existing literature on the knowledge and adherence of Africans toward the COVID-19 preventive measures. Methods: Studies focused on Africans’ knowledge and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures were selected using Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases. Preprints that have not been peer-reviewed, reviews, and non-COVID-19 studies were excluded. Results: All selected studies showed a satisfactory knowledge of respondents about COVID-19 but poor level of adherence to the preventive measures. Good knowledge and satisfactory level of adherence was common mostly among the clinical health workers, highly educated, and those with higher professional qualification, while poor knowledge and poor practice was observed mostly among rural dwellers, people of poor educational background, and those unable to read and write. Conclusion: This review identified a relatively good knowledge about COVID-19 from all the studies, however, the level of adherence to preventive measures was poor. We recommend that the populace adhere to the laid guidelines to ensure the spread of the virus is curbed while also enhancing the eradication of the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, adherence, knowledge, preventive measures, Africa
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
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Introduction: Tuberculosis is a major public health condition worldwide. The partnership between Healthcare Services and the patient is the gold standard for a successful healing outcome and a reduction in the harm the disease causes to patients and society in general. Objective: To analyze the vulnerability aspects that make tuberculosis healing difficult according to the perspective of patients and public healthcare managers. Method: This is a descriptive study conducted in the year 2013 in Cajazeiras, a town located in the state of ParaÃba in the northeastern region of Brazil. The study population was composed of 4 healthcare managers and 29 patients with confirmed tuberculosis diagnosis. In order to gather the sample of tuberculosis patients, a search on the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (SINAN, in the Portuguese abbreviation) was run. Results: All patients had fixed addresses. Among these individuals, a total of 12 were of the male sex, 13.6% were smokers, 77.3% were alcohol-free and 13.6% were frequent alcohol consumers. In addition to that, 72.7% of the patients received no public financial support of any sort. As to coping with the disease, 54.5% declared no difficulty at all, 22.7% found it very difficult, 18.2% reported it was somewhat difficult and 4.5% stated it was extremely difficult. Concerning family income, 68.0% lived on up to two minimum wages. Final considerations: The findings in the current study revealed the vulnerability condition upon which tuberculosis patients live, highlighting the social exclusion of this population with their low educational level, their low-income status, their poverty condition and their difficulty in understanding their basic needs, such as the necessity of a well-balanced diet to prevent the adverse effects caused by the drugs during the treatment. Managers identified social stigma, prejudice, denial of the disease with a resultant resistance to treatment, street-dwelling individuals and drinking and smoking habits as major difficulties for tuberculosis control in the city. It is quite clear that the managers approach the universe of vulnerability within its three inseparable dimensions: individual, social and programmatic. A better understanding of the real needs of tuberculosis patients as well as the prioritization of the disease are of utmost importance in the municipal public health agenda, which is based on a higher involvement of managers in the participation, discussion and definition of the application of resources for the disease control and a public health policy that encompasses tuberculosis social issues.
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Background
The threat of antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide public health concern, with a substantial economic and clinical burden. In this regard, the World Health Organization estimated that this problem leads, in the European hospitals, to an excess of mortality of 25 000 people every year. Antibiotic misuse, mainly related to physicians’ lack of knowledge and wrong prescribing behaviour, is one of the leading cause of antibiotic resistance. On account of this, it is essential to focus the …
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Personal hygiene
Hygiene hypothesis
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Many studies have explored the risk perception of frequent business travelers (FBT) toward malaria. However, less is known about their knowledge of other infectious diseases. This study aimed to identify knowledge gaps by determining the risk perception of FBT toward 11 infectious diseases.Our retrospective web-based survey assessed the accuracy of risk perception among a defined cohort of FBT for 11 infectious diseases. We used logistic regression and the chi-square test to determine the association of risk perception with source of travel advice, demographic variables, and features of trip preparation.Surveys were returned by 63% of the 608 self-registered FBT in Rijswijk, and only the 328 completed questionnaires that adhered to our inclusion criteria were used for analysis. The majority (71%) sought pre-travel health advice and used a company health source (83%). Participants seeking company travel health advice instead of external had significantly more accurate risk knowledge (p = 0.03), but more frequently overestimated typhoid risk (odds ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.23-3.34). While underestimation of disease risk was on average 23% more common than overestimation, HIV risk was overestimated by 75% of FBT.More accurate knowledge among FBT seeking company health advice demonstrates that access to in-company travel clinics can improve risk perception. However, there is an obvious need for risk knowledge improvement, given the overall underestimation of risk. The substantial overestimation of HIV risk is probably due to both public and in-company awareness efforts. Conversely, typhoid risk overestimation was statistically associated with seeking company health advice, and therefore specifically reflects the high focus on typhoid fever within Shell's travel clinic. This study serves as a reminder that a knowledge gap toward infectious diseases besides malaria still exists. Our article will explore the future requirements for more targeted education and research among FBT in companies worldwide.
Risk Perception
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As we conduct this study, the world is in the grasp of a deadly pandemic. In less than six months since its first diagnosis in Wuhan, China, the COVID-19 infectious disease due to the novel coronavirus has infected over 5,000,000 people and claimed over 350,000 lives. In the United States, most of the cases are in large urban settings along the coasts, but the disease is slowly progressing through the mainland. Kansas, with its particular location in the midwest United States, has seen a relatively small number of cases, but these are increasing. The Kansas government took radical measures to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the Health Beliefs Model, an individual's perception of risk will dictate engagement with preventive behaviors. Knowledge about the disease and preventive measures drive the risk assessment. Knowledge is dependant on the sources of information used. This study explored these metrics in a sample of Kansans living in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic.A combination of snowball samples and random distribution through social media was used to recruit participants to an online survey. The risk and knowledge instrument was developed and validated by WHO Europe. Data collection lasted 96 hours.The attitudes and behaviors of Kansans concerning COVID-19 were consistent with its location in an area of the country with a relatively lower incidence of the disease. Participants had good knowledge about the disease and preventive measures and were willing to comply with recommendations from local authorities.Localized information sources that cater to the community are often primary, while social media is not a valuable source for information pertinent to COVID-19.
Pandemic
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
Risk Perception
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Background: COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease and has reached a status of global health emergency. It is widespread in Pakistan causing morbidity and mortality amongst masses.
Objectives: Undertaken study aims at investigating knowledge, attitude and practices of the people residing in Lahore, Pakistan whilst the global crisis with sparse data available previously.
Methodology: Following lockdown announcement, an immediate online cross sectional study was conducted from the 31st March to 6 April 2020. Data was analyzed by using SPSS IBM version 22. 00.
Results: A total of 316 responses were received. Our study has shown that people 95.80% were well familiar with COVID-19, informed via news channels 46.2%. 91.7% believed the virus is contagious, 95.8% reported that the virus is spread by the respiratory droplets, 89.2% believed that all ages are at risk while 62.3% believed it risky for geriatrics only. 60.4% believed in its prevention with 91.7% respondents agreeably quarantined themselves while 6.6% didn’t. 99.7% participants were aware of social/physical distancing and 75.6% found it affecting mental health i.e. cause anxiety, depression etc. 59.2% of respondents were optimistic expecting it to end soon while 32.3% were uncertain. 49.1% said they have diagnostic facility and 89.6% acknowledged efforts of researchers/healthcare providers (doctors, pharmacist, nurses, allied health professionals and paramedical staff) for the society. 94.3% believed that there is need of awareness regarding COVID-19.
Conclusion: An ever increasing need of awareness amongst the local population regarding COVID-19 is needed. It will lend hands in preventing spread of COVID-19 with minimal secondary transmission. It is recommended that extensive survey studies are required that can provide supportive data in developing and implementing public health policies regarding COVID-19 pandemic. It would further control and arrest the spread of COVID-19 in country.
Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(0) 2020 p. S 69-S 76
Pandemic
Cross-sectional study
Depression
Social distance
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