Articles: pandemics.
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The negative psychosocial effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers are increasing worldwide. ⋯ Psychological support provided to healthcare workers during the ongoing pandemic period will improve their sexual habits and functions negatively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as their social life with their spouses or partners.
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The COVID-19 pandemic forced emergency departments (EDs) to change operations to minimize nosocomial infection risk. Many EDs cohort patients using provincial screening tools at triage. Despite cohorting, staff exposures occurred in the 'cold zone' due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) use with patients deemed low risk, resulting in staff quarantines. The cohorting strategy was perceived to lengthen time to physician initial assessment and ED length of stay times in our ED without protecting staff well enough due to varying PPE use. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of hot/cold zones for patient cohorting during a viral pandemic on ED length of stay. ⋯ Cohorted waiting areas may provide a safety benefit without operational compromise, but cohorting staff and care spaces is likely to compromise efficiency and create delays.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has produced an unprecedented amount of scientific research as well as a high number of article retractions. Social and news media have been used to disseminate scientific research, and this can include retracted or withdrawn research. This risks the persistence of low-quality research and may contribute to controversial ideas or conspiracy theories. ⋯ A significant, positive correlation was observed among Scimago Journal Rank, Immediacy Index, and Journal Citation Index, and total article mentions.
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Observational Study
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Prevalence in the Portuguese Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia after the First Wave of the Pandemic.
Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence may detect the real spread of the virus because antibody data can provide a long-lasting measure of infection. Existing serological studies in Portugal have tested new serology methods, albeit with small sample sizes and a lack the focus on geographical regions with a high rate of infection cases. The aim of this study was to estimate the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Vila Nova de Gaia, the most populous municipality in the north of Portugal and one of those most affected during the first pandemic wave. ⋯ This was the first study to estimate the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in one of the most populous municipalities in Portugal, representing the first step in the development of an epidemiological surveillance system in Portugal, which can help to improve the diagnosis of COVID-19.