4 results
Decisions to attend holiday gatherings during COVID-19 and engagement in key prevention strategies: United States, January 2021
- Mary A. Pomeroy, Edward R. Hoover, Brianna L. Dumas, Katrina S. Kennedy, Beth Wittry, Mark E. Laughlin, Diane M. Harris, Laura Gieraltowski, Merissa A. Yellman, Amanda G. Garcia-Williams, Katherine E. Marshall
-
- Journal:
- Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 150 / 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 February 2022, e32
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Gatherings where people are eating and drinking can increase the risk of getting and spreading SARS-CoV-2 among people who are not fully vaccinated; prevention strategies like wearing masks and physical distancing continue to be important for some groups. We conducted an online survey to characterise fall/winter 2020–2021 holiday gatherings, decisions to attend and prevention strategies employed during and before gatherings. We determined associations between practicing prevention strategies, demographics and COVID-19 experience. Among 502 respondents, one-third attended in person holiday gatherings; 73% wore masks and 84% practiced physical distancing, but less did so always (29% and 23%, respectively). Younger adults were 44% more likely to attend gatherings than adults ≥35 years. Younger adults (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–1.97), persons who did not experience COVID-19 themselves or have relatives/close friends experience severe COVID-19 (aPR 1.56, 95% CI 1.18–2.07), and non-Hispanic White persons (aPR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13–2.18) were more likely to not always wear masks in public during the 2 weeks before gatherings. Public health messaging emphasizing consistent application of COVID-19 prevention strategies is important to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Multi-wavelength radar target detection in an extreme advection duct event
- Robert E. Marshall, Katherine L. Horgan
-
- Journal:
- International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies / Volume 3 / Issue 3 / June 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 April 2011, pp. 373-381
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Near sea surface radio frequency (RF) refraction is four dimensional (4D) and can significantly impact the performance of radar systems. The refractivity field is dictated by the vertical thermodynamic structure of the constantly evolving marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL). Logistical and budgetary restraints on meteorological measurements over water to capture the spatio-temporal structure of refractivity fields influencing radar performance have limited the knowledge of how and why radar performance is azimuth, range, and time dependent. Rapidly increasing computer processing speeds and decreasing memory capacity costs have supported the horizontal and vertical resolution requirements for mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to resolve the thermodynamic structure in the MABL. Once modeled, refractivity structure is easily calculated from the thermodynamic structure. Mesoscale NWP models coupled with modern parabolic equation radar performance models can support the prediction of 4D radar performance in challenging non-homogeneous, near surface refractivity fields at the time and location of the modeler's choice. The NWP modeling presented in this paper demonstrates how large-scale offshore flow of warm and dry air over colder seas produces strong near surface RF trapping. Large land-sea temperature differences can produce near shore sea breezes and surface-based ducts. This paper describes modeled radar performance in such a complex ducting structure over the Persian Gulf during large-scale northwest atmospheric flow. The refractivity field was resolved by the Coupled Ocean/ Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS® is a registered trademark of the Naval Research Laboratory) and the notional radar performance was modeled by the advanced refractive effects prediction system (AREPS). The results indicate strong spatial and wavelength-dependent enhancements and degradations in radar performance relative to a standard atmosphere.
The Alberta hip and knee replacement project: A model for health technology assessment based on comparative effectiveness of clinical pathways
- Katherine L. Gooch, Douglas Smith, Tracy Wasylak, Peter D. Faris, Deborah A. Marshall, Hoa Khong, Julie E. Hibbert, Robyn D. Parker, Ronald F. Zernicke, Lauren Beaupre, Tim Pearce, D. W. C. Johnston, Cyril B. Frank
-
- Journal:
- International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care / Volume 25 / Issue 2 / April 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 April 2009, pp. 113-123
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background: The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project developed a new evidence-based clinical pathway (NCP) for total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) replacement. The aim was to facilitate the delivery of services in a timely and cost-effective manner while achieving the highest quality of care for the patient across the full continuum of care from patient referral to an orthopedic surgeon through surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the study design, rationale, and execution of this project as a model for health technology assessment based on comparative effectiveness of alternative clinical pathways.
Methods: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial study design was used to evaluate the NCP compared with the standard of care (SOC) for these procedures. The pragmatic study design was selected as a rigorous approach to produce high quality evidence suitable for informing decisions between relevant interventions in real clinical practice. The NCP was evaluated in three of the nine regional health authorities (RHAs) in Alberta with dedicated central intake clinics offering multidisciplinary care teams, constituting 80 percent of THR and TKR surgeries performed annually in Alberta. Patients were identified in the offices of twenty orthopedic surgeons who routinely performed THR or TKR surgeries. Evaluation outcome measures were based on the six dimensions of the Alberta Quality Matrix for Health (AQMH): acceptability, accessibility, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and safety. Data were collected prospectively through patient self-completed questionnaires at baseline and 3 and 12 months after surgery, ambulatory and inpatient chart reviews, and electronic administrative data.
Results: The trial design was successful in establishing similar groups for rigorous evaluation. Of the 4,985 patients invited to participate, 69 percent of patients consented. A total of 3,434 patients were randomized: 1,712 to SOC and 1,722 to the NCP. The baseline characteristics of patients in the two study arms, including demographics, comorbidity as measured by CDS and exposure to pain medications, and health-related quality of life, as measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Short Form-36, were similar.
Conclusions: The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of applying a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to ascertain comparative effectiveness. This is a model for health technology assessment that incorporates how clinical pathways can be effectively evaluated.
Contributors
-
- By Isabella Aboderin, W. Andrew Achenbaum, Katherine R. Allen, Toni C. Antonucci, Sara Arber, Claudine Attias‐Donfut, Paul B. Baltes, Sandhi Maria Barreto, Vern L. Bengtson, Simon Biggs, Joanna Bornat, Julie B. Boron, Mike Boulton, Clive E. Bowman, Marjolein Broese van Groenou, Edna Brown, Robert N. Butler, Bill Bytheway, Neena L. Chappell, Neil Charness, Kaare Christensen, Peter G. Coleman, Ingrid Arnet Connidis, Neal E. Cutler, Sara J. Czaja, Svein Olav Daatland, Lia Susana Daichman, Adam Davey, Bleddyn Davies, Freya Dittmann‐Kohli, Glen H. Elder, Carroll L. Estes, Mike Featherstone, Amy Fiske, Alexandra Freund, Daphna Gans, Linda K. George, Roseann Giarrusso, Chris Gilleard, Jay Ginn, Edlira Gjonça, Elena L. Grigorenko, Jaber F. Gubrium, Sarah Harper, Jutta Heckhausen, Akiko Hashimoto, Jon Hendricks, Mike Hepworth, Charlotte Ikels, James S. Jackson, Yuri Jang, Bernard Jeune, Malcolm L. Johnson, Randi S. Jones, Alexandre Kalache, Robert L. Kane, Rosalie A. Kane, Ingrid Keller, Rose Anne Kenny, Thomas B. L. Kirkwood, Kees Knipscheer, Martin Kohli, Gisela Labouvie‐Vief, Kristina Larsson, Shu‐Chen Li, Charles F. Longino, Ariela Lowenstein, Erick McCarthy, Gerald E. McClearn, Brendan McCormack, Elizabeth MacKinlay, Alfons Marcoen, Michael Marmot, Tom Margrain, Victor W. Marshall, Elizabeth A. Maylor, Ruud ter Meulen, Harry R. Moody, Robert A. Neimeyer, Demi Patsios, Margaret J. Penning, Stephen A. Petrill, Chris Phillipson, Leonard W. Poon, Norella M. Putney, Jill Quadagno, Pat Rabbitt, Jennifer Reid Keene, Sandra G. Reynolds, Steven R. Sabat, Clive Seale, Merril Silverstein, Hannes B. Staehelin, Ursula M. Staudinger, Robert J. Sternberg, Debra Street, Philip Taylor, Fleur Thomése, Mats Thorslund, Jinzhou Tian, Theo van Tilburg, Fernando M. Torres‐Gil, Josy Ubachs‐Moust, Christina Victor, K. Warner Shaie, Anthony M. Warnes, James L. Werth, Sherry L. Willis, François‐Charles Wolff, Bob Woods
- Edited by Malcolm L. Johnson, University of Bristol
- Edited in association with Vern L. Bengtson, University of Southern California, Peter G. Coleman, University of Southampton, Thomas B. L. Kirkwood, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
-
- Book:
- The Cambridge Handbook of Age and Ageing
- Published online:
- 05 June 2016
- Print publication:
- 01 December 2005, pp xii-xvi
-
- Chapter
- Export citation