@article{KheiroddinSchoeberlAlthammeretal., author = {Kheiroddin, Parastoo and Sch{\"o}berl, Patricia and Althammer, Michael and Cibali, Ezgi and W{\"u}rfel, Thea and Wein, Hannah and Kulawik, Birgit and Buntrock-D{\"o}pke, Heike and Weigl, Eva and Gran, Silvia and Gr{\"u}ndl, Magdalena and Langguth, Jana and Lampl, Benedikt and Judex, Guido and Niggel, Jakob and Pagel, Philipp and Schratzenstaller, Thomas and Schneider-Brachert, Wulf and Gastiger, Susanne and Bodenschatz, Mona and Konrad, Maike and Levchuk, Artem and Roth, Cornelius and Sch{\"o}ner, David and Schneebauer, Florian and Rohrmanstorfer, Ren{\´e} and Burkovski, Andreas and Ambrosch, Andreas and Wagner, Thomas and Kabesch, Michael}, title = {Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests}, series = {Frontiers in Pediatrics}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Pediatrics}, editor = {Buonsenso, Danilo}, publisher = {frontiers}, issn = {2296-2360}, doi = {10.3389/fped.2021.721518}, abstract = {Background: Opening schools and keeping children safe from SARS-CoV-2 infections at the same time is urgently needed to protect children from direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, a safe, efficient, and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 testing system for schools in addition to standard hygiene measures is necessary. Methods: We implemented the screening WICOVIR concept for schools in the southeast of Germany, which is based on gargling at home, pooling of samples in schools, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 by pool rRT-PCR, performed decentralized in numerous participating laboratories. Depooling was performed if pools were positive, and results were transmitted with software specifically developed for the project within a day. Here, we report the results after the first 13 weeks in the project. Findings: We developed and implemented the proof-of-concept test system within a pilot phase of 7 weeks based on almost 17,000 participants. After 6 weeks in the main phase of the project, we performed >100,000 tests in total, analyzed in 7,896 pools, identifying 19 cases in >100 participating schools. On average, positive children showed an individual CT value of 31 when identified in the pools. Up to 30 samples were pooled (mean 13) in general, based on school classes and attached school staff. All three participating laboratories detected positive samples reliably with their previously established rRT-PCR standard protocols. When self-administered antigen tests were performed concomitantly in positive cases, only one of these eight tests was positive, and when antigen tests performed after positive pool rRT-PCR results were already known were included, 3 out of 11 truly positive tests were also identified by antigen testing. After 3 weeks of repetitive WICOVIR testing twice weekly, the detection rate of positive children in that cohort decreased significantly from 0.042 to 0.012 (p = 0.008). Interpretation: Repeated gargle pool rRT-PCR testing can be implemented quickly in schools. It is an effective, valid, and well-received test system for schools, superior to antigen tests in sensitivity, acceptance, and costs.}, subject = {Covid-19}, language = {en} } @article{SommoggyGrepmeierApfelbacheretal., author = {Sommoggy, Julia and Grepmeier, Eva-Maria and Apfelbacher, Christian and Brandstetter, Susanne and Curbach, Janina}, title = {Pediatricians' experiences of managing outpatient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Germany}, series = {Frontiers in Pediatrics}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Pediatrics}, publisher = {frontiers}, doi = {10.3389/fped.2023.1127238}, pages = {11}, abstract = {Background: Pediatricians are important sources of information for parents regarding their children's health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatricians faced a variety of challenges regarding information uptake and transfer to patients, practice organization and consultations for families. This qualitative study aimed at shedding light on German pediatricians' experiences of providing outpatient care during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We conducted 19 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with pediatricians in Germany from July 2020 to February 2021. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, pseudonymized, coded, and subjected to content analysis. Results: Pediatricians felt able to keep up to date regarding COVID-19 regulations. However, staying informed was time consuming and onerous. Informing the patients was perceived as strenuous, especially when political decisions had not been officially communicated to pediatricians or if the recommendations were not supported by the professional judgment of the interviewees. Some felt that they were not taken seriously or adequately involved in political decisions. Parents were reported to consider pediatric practices as sources of information also for non-medical inquiries. Answering these questions was time consuming for the practice personnel and involved non-billable hours. Practices had to adapt their set-up and organization immediately to the new circumstances of the pandemic, which proved costly and laborious as well. Some changes in the organization of routine care, such as the separation of appointments for patients with acute infection from preventive appointments, were perceived as positive and effective by some study participants. Telephone and online consultations were established at the beginning of the pandemic and considered helpful for some situations, whereas for others these methods were deemed insufficient (e.g. for examinations of sick children). All pediatricians reported reduced utilization mainly due to a decline in acute infections. However, preventive medical check-ups and immunization appointments were reported to be mostly attended. Conclusion: Positive experiences of reorganizing pediatric practice should be disseminated as "best practices" in order to improve future pediatric health services. Further research could show how some of these positive experiences in reorganizing care during the pandemic are to be maintained by pediatricians in the future.}, language = {en} } @article{PitFiskFreihautetal., author = {Pit, Sabrina and Fisk, Malcolm and Freihaut, Winona and Akintunde, Fashola and Aloko, Bamidele and Berge, Britta and Burmeister, Anne and Ciac{\^a}ru, Adriana and Deller, J{\"u}rgen and Dulmage, Rae and Han, Tae Hwa and Hao, Qiang and Honeyman, Peter and Huber, Peter C. and Linner, Thomas and Lundberg, Stefan and Nwamara, Mofoluwaso and Punpuing, Kamolpun and Schramm, Jennifer and Yamada, Hajime and Yap, Jason C. H.}, title = {COVID-19 and the ageing workforce: global perspectives on needs and solutions across 15 countries}, series = {International Journal for Equity in Health volume}, volume = {20}, journal = {International Journal for Equity in Health volume}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1186/s12939-021-01552-w}, pages = {1 -- 22}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has a direct impact on the employment of older people. This adds to the challenge of ageism. The World Health Organization has started a worldwide campaign to combat ageism and has called for more research and evidence-based strategies that have the potential to be scaled up. This study specifically aims to identify solutions to combat the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the global ageing workforce. METHODS: We present 15 case studies from different countries and report on what those countries are doing or not doing to address the impact of COVID-19 on ageing workers. RESULTS: We provide examples of how COVID-19 influences older people's ability to work and stay healthy, and offer case studies of what governments, organizations or individuals can do to help ensure older people can obtain, maintain and, potentially, expand their current work. Case studies come from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Across the countries, the impact of COVID-19 on older workers is shown as widening inequalities. A particular challenge has arisen because of a large proportion of older people, often with limited education and working in the informal sector within rural areas, e.g. in Nigeria, Thailand and China. Remedies to the particular disadvantage experienced by older workers in the context of COVID are presented. These range from funding support to encouraging business continuity, innovative product and service developments, community action, new business models and localized, national and international actions. The case studies can be seen as frequently fitting within strategies that have been proven to work in reducing ageism within the workplace. They include policy and laws that have increased benefits to workers during lockdowns (most countries); educational activities such as coaching seniorpreneurship (e,g, Australia); intergenerational contact interventions such as younger Thai people who moved back to rural areas and sharing their digital knowledge with older people and where older people reciprocate by teaching the younger people farming knowledge. CONCLUSION: Global sharing of this knowledge among international, national and local governments and organizations, businesses, policy makers and health and human resources experts will further understanding of the issues that are faced by older workers. This will facilitate the replication or scalability of solutions as called for in the WHO call to combat ageism in 2021. We suggest that policy makers, business owners, researchers and international organisations build on the case studies by investing in evidence-based strategies to create inclusive workplaces. Such action will thus help to challenge ageism, reduce inequity, improve business continuity and add to the quality of life of older workers.}, language = {en} } @article{DotterHaugWeberetal., author = {Dotter, Caroline and Haug, Sonja and Weber, Karsten and Schnell, Rainer and Scharf, Anna and Altenburcher, Amelie}, title = {Analyzing factors determining vaccination willingness against COVID-19 in Germany 2020}, series = {Vaccine: X}, volume = {14}, journal = {Vaccine: X}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100342}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-62900}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The study is based on a German single-topic population survey on vaccination willingness against COVID-19 (VWC) by the authors (2020, n = 2014). The single-topic survey allowed us to test several competing explanations for VWC, as discussed in the literature. The VWC in the sample was 67.3\%. Logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting VWC. Being at high risk from COVID-19 and having received flu vaccination have a positive impact on VWC. Perceived VWC of friends has a strong positive effect on respondents' VWC. Bivariate relationships of gender, age, and level of education with VWC were no longer significant in a multivariate analysis. Trust in alternative medicine and belief in conspiracy theories have a negative effect on VWC.}, language = {en} }