The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge of Brazilian dental students about biosafety measures that should be adopted in the clinical setting during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A cross-sectional study with 1050 dental students was conducted. A semi-structured questionnaire was shared with students. Mean knowledge score on biosafety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic was the outcome, with a maximum of 8 scores. Explanatory variables included sociodemographic and educational characteristics, aspects related to biosafety education, actions adopted by the dental schools during the pandemic, and sources of biosafety information. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed.

Mean knowledge score was 5.19 (1.28). Female students (β = 0.346; 95% CI: 0.154–0.539), those enrolled in the intermediate (β = 0.525; 95% CI: 0.167–0.883) or final (β = 0.569; 95% CI: 0.200–0.937) stage of course, and those who had already received theoretical-practical training in biosafety (β = 0.464; 95% CI: 0.063–0.866) presented higher mean knowledge scores. Students who did not receive guidance on aerosol control measures before the pandemic (β = −0.324; 95% CI: −0.519 to −0.130) had the lowest score.

Students presented a medium level of knowledge about dental biosafety measures concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic characteristics and those related to the institutional profile of the participants, and access to orientation and training in biosafety, may influence their knowledge.

Skin contamination is one of the most likely risks after accidental or occupational radiological accidents. Using scintigraphy, we assessed a topical lotion for its decontamination efficacy (DE) after exposure with short-lived medical radioisotopes technetium Tc 99m (99mTc) and thallium 201Tl (201Tl).

Using 99mTc (300 ± 5 μCi/100 μl) and 201Tl (100 ± 5 μCi/100 μl), the thoracoabdominal region (shaved skin) of Sprague Dawley rats and human tissue equivalent were contaminated and then decontaminated using cotton swabs soaked in formulated lotion at different time intervals. Static counts were recorded and calculated for DE. Histologic examination was performed on the animal model.

The DE of the formulation for 99mTc and 201Tl was 85% ± 5 and 88% ± 2, respectively. The prepared formulation effectively removed the radionuclides from the tissue surface.

The formulated lotion assisted in the effective removal of radiocontaminants by decontaminating the radionuclides. Moreover, minimal and easily manageable radioactive waste was generated by this process. Further investigation regarding the infusion of formulated lotion into ready-to-use skin wipes for self-decontamination may be useful for mass casualty scenarios. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:-)

Our purpose was to determine the intensive care units’ (ICU’s) medical staff surge capacity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Spring 2020 in Spain.

A multicenter retrospective survey was performed addressing the medical specialties present in the ICUs and the increase in bed capacity during this period.

Sixty-seven centers (62.04%) answered the questionnaire. The ICU bed capacity during the pandemic outbreak increased by 160% (95% confidence interval [CI], 128.97-191.03%). The average number of beds per intensive care medicine (ICM) specialist was 1.5 ± 0.60 and 3.71 ± 2.44 beds/specialist before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Non-ICM specialists and residents were present in 50 (74.63%) and 23 (34.3%) ICUs during the outbreak, respectively. The number of physicians (ICM and non-ICM residents and specialists) in the ICU increased by 89.40% (95% CI, 64.26114.53%). The increase in ICM specialists was, however, 4.94% (95% CI, −1.35-11.23%). Most non-ICM physicians were anesthetists, followed by pediatricians and cardiologists.

The majority of ICUs in our study were able to rapidly expand critical care capacity by adapting areas outside of the normal ICU to manage critically ill patients, and by extending the critical care staff with noncritical care physicians working as force multipliers.

Despite efforts by civil defense authorities, levels of households’ preparedness to emergencies remain insufficient in many countries. Engaging the public in preparedness behavior is a challenge worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of psychological intervention in promoting preparedness behavior to armed conflicts in Israel.

A randomized controlled trial (N = 381) with two control groups and three intervention groups was used. The psychological interventions studied were elevated threat perception, external reward, and manipulation of a cognitive cluster related to preparedness.

The results of the analysis suggest a significant effect of intervention on the increase of reported preparedness (F4,375 = 4.511, P = 0.001). The effect is attributed to the intervention group in which external reward was offered. Participants in this group were about two times more likely to report greater levels of preparedness compared to the control group (RR = 1.855; 95% CI: 1.065, 3.233).

The findings suggest that preparedness behavior can be promoted through external incentives. These are presumably effective motivators because they encourage preparedness while allowing subjects to retain their denial as an adaptive coping mechanism. Innovative thinking is required to overcome the psychological barriers associated with public reluctance to engage in preparedness. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;13:713–723)

This study aimed to assess the level of trust in the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk communication efforts in Nigeria.

We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among community members aged 15 years and above in Ondo State in October, 2020. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics were summarized using frequencies. Trust was ranked from “1” suggesting “Low level of trust” to “7” denoting “High level of trust”. We conducted Chi-square test between respondents’ level of trust in the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and socio-demographic characteristics. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Among the 691 respondents, 244 (35.3%) were aged 21 to 29 years, and 304 (51.4%) accessed COVID-19 information through the NCDC. Overall, 205 (41.8%) had high level of trust in the NCDC, and 51 (51.5%) individuals aged 30-39 years had high level of trust in the NCDC (χ2 = 17.455; p = 0.001). Also, 114 (48.5%) persons who lived with children below 18 years had high level of trust in the NCDC (χ2 = 8.266; p = 0.004).

Policy-makers should prioritize the involvement of young and educated persons in COVID-19 risk communication strategies.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a positive psychological change after challenging life events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive and long-term psychological changes in people who experienced the Bam earthquake.

A total of 916 adolescents were surveyed 17 years after the earthquake. Self-report questionnaires were administered to participants. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to extract the subgroups of adults.

The LPA identified 5 meaningfully profiles that were characterized based on the pattern of PTG dimensions. The common profile was profile, which perceived very low “relating to others” dimension and medium for other PTG dimensions. Also, the results showed significant differences among gender and age and nonsignificant differences in marital status and education level among the profiles of PTG.

For stressful situations, the different dimensions of PTG change indirectly in every person. In Bam, some patterns are seen according to PTG after 17 y. Among these dimensions, the part of “relating to others”, has the greatest change. Another conclusion is that according to a relatively high profile for 5 clusters, it seems the impact of 17 y should be less on PTG as the number of extractive patterns is approximately high for the case.

We aimed to retrospectively estimate adolescent fertility rates before and after a large-scale natural disaster.

A case-control study was conducted in Aceh Province, Indonesia, 2 years after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. The age-specific fertility rates of 15–19-year-old-women (ASFR 15–19) was estimated each year from 2004 to 2006 by creating hypothetical age cohorts. The results were compared with data from the closest edition of the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey (IDHS).

The pre-disaster ASFR 15–19 (4.4% in 2004) was not significantly different from the 2002–2003 IDHS data (P=0.49), whereas the post-disaster ASFR 15–19 (1.1% in 2005–2006) was significantly lower than the provincial estimation in the 2007 IDHS (P<0.01). ASFR 15–19 was reduced by 76% in the post-disaster period compared with the pre-disaster period (rate ratio: 0.24, P=0.02).

The creation of hypothetical age cohorts enabled valid and useful estimation of the ASFR in disaster-affected areas where reliable vital statistics are not available. For pre-disaster fertility estimation, however, we suggest excluding data from the 40-week period preceding the disaster, because the data may be biased by excess mortality in childbearing mothers and newborn babies in the disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:80–86)

Social media provides an opportunity to engage in social contact and to give and receive help by means of online social networks. Social support following trauma exposure, even in a virtual community, may reduce feelings of helplessness and isolation, and, therefore, reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS), and increase posttraumatic growth (PTG). The current study aimed to assess whether giving and/or receiving offers of help by means of social media following large community fires predicted PTS and/or PTG.

A convenience sample of 212 adults living in communities that were affected by large-scale community fires in Israel (November 2016) completed questionnaires on giving and receiving offers of help by means of social media within 1 mo of the fire (W1), and the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and PTG questionnaire (PTGI-SF), 4 mo after the fire (W2).

Regression analyses showed that, after controlling for age, gender, and distance from fire, offering help by means of social media predicted higher PTG (β = 0.22; t = 3.18; P < 0.01), as did receiving offers of help by means of social media (β = 0.18; t = 2.64; P < 0.01). There were no significant associations between giving and/or receiving offers of help and PTS.

Connecting people to social media networks may help in promoting posttraumatic growth, although might not impact on posttraumatic symptoms. This is one of the first studies to highlight empirically the advantages of social media in the aftermath of trauma exposure.