Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Life In A Time Of Covid: Retrospective Examination Of The Association Between Physical Activity And Mental Well-Being In Western Australians During And After Lockdown, Ben Piggott, Paola Chivers, Kiira Karoliina Sarasjärvi, Ranila Bhoyroo, Michelle Lambert, Lynne Millar, Caroline Bulsara, Jim Codde

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The aim of this study was to examine physical activity and sedentary behaviours during Western Australia’s COVID-19 lockdown and their association with mental well-being. Methods: Participants completed activity related questions approximately two months after a three-month lockdown (which formed part of a larger cross-sectional study from August to October 2020) as part of a 25-minute questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Well-being Surveillance system. Open-ended questions explored key issues relating to physical activity behaviours. Results: During the lockdown period, 463 participants (female, n = 347; 75.3%) reported lower number of active days (W = 4.47 p < .001), higher non-work-related screen hours per week (W = 11.8 p < .001), and higher levels of sitting time (χ2=28.4 p <. 001). Post lockdown body mass index was higher (U = 3.0 p =.003), with obese individuals reporting the highest non-work-related screen hours per week (Wald χ2= 8.9 p =.012). Inverse associations were found for mental well-being where higher lockdown scores of Kessler-10 (p =.011), Dass-21 anxiety (p =.027) and Dass-21 depression (p =.011) were associated with lower physical activity levels. A key qualitative message from participants was wanting to know how to stay healthy during lockdown. Conclusions: Lockdown was associated with lower physical activity, higher non-work-related screen time and more sitting time compared to post lockdown which also reported higher body mass index. Lower levels of mental well-being were associated with lower physical activity levels during lockdown. Given the known positive affect of physical activity on mental well-being and obesity, and the detrimental associations shown in this study, a key public health message should be considered in an attempt to maintain healthy activity behaviours in future lockdowns and similar emergency situations to promote and maintain positive well-being. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the isolation of a community due to infectious disease outbreaks and to recognise the important role physical activity plays in maintaining weight and supporting good mental health.

Call For Emergency Action To Restore Dietary Diversity And Protect Global Food Systems In Times Of Covid-19 And Beyond: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study In 38 Countries, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Ayoub Aljawaldeh, Kathleen Van Royen, Sara Pabian, Paulien Decorte, Isabelle Cuykx, Lauranna Teunissen, Charlotte De Backer, Ina Bergheim, Raphaela Staltner, Amanda Devine, Ros Sambell, Ruth Wallace, Sabika S. Allehdan, Tariq A. Alalwan, Mariam A. Al-Mannai, Gaëlle Ouvrein, Karolien Poels, Heidi Vandebosch, Katrien Maldoy, Christophe Matthys, Tim Smits, Jules Vrinten, Ann Desmet, Nelleke Teughels, Maggie Geuens, Iris Vermeir, Viktor Proesmans, Liselot Hudders, Marcia D. De Barcellos, Cristina Ostermann, Ana L. Brock, Cynthia Favieiro, Rafaela Trizotto, Isadora Stangherlin, Anthonieta L. Mafra, Marco A. C. Varella, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Maryanne L. Fisher, Melanie Maceacheron, Katherine White, Rishad Habib, David S. Dobson, Berta Schnettler, Ligia Orellana, Edgardo Miranda-Zapata, Angela W. Y. Chang, Wen Jiao, Matthew T. Liu, Klaus G. Grunert, Rikke N. Christensen, Lucia Reisch, Meike Janssen, Victoria Abril-Ulloa, Lorena Encalada, Iman Kamel, Annukka Vainio, Mari Niva, Laura Salmivaara, Johanna Mäkelä, Kaisa Torkkeli, Robert Mai, Pamela K. Risch, Efthymios Altsitsiadis, Angelos Stamos, Andreas Antronikidis, Maeve Henchion, Sinead Mccarthy, Mary Mccarthy, Alessandra Micalizzi, Peter J. Schulz, Manuela Farisnosi, Hidenori Komatsu, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hiromi Kubota, Reema Tayyem, Narmeen J. Al-Awwad, Nahla Al-Bayyari, Mohammed O. Ibrahim, Fadwa Hammouh, Somaia Dashti, Basma Dashti, Dhuha Alkharaif, Amani Alshatti, Maryam Al Mazedi, Rania Mansour, Elissa Naim, Hussein Mortada, Yareni Y. G. Gomez, Kelly Geyskens, Caroline Goukens, Rajshri Roy, Victoria Egli, Lisa T. Morenga, Mostafa Waly, Radwan Qasrawi, Motasem Hamdan, Rania A. Sier, Diala A. A. Halawa, Hazem Agha, María R. L. Domínguez, Lita Palomares, Grazyna Wasowicz, Hiba Bawadi, Manal Othman, Jaafar Pakari, Allam A. Farha, Rasha Abu-El-Ruz, Dacinia C. Petrescu, Ruxandra M. P. Mag, Felix Arion, Stefan C. Vesa, Majid M. Alkhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Jamila Arrish, Zackaria Rahim, Roy Kheng, Yandisa Ngqangashe, Zandile J. R. Mchiza, Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Lisset Pantoja-Arévalo, Eva Gesteiro, Yolanda Ríos, Peter Yiga, Patrick Ogwok, Denis Ocen, Michael Bamuwamye, Haleama A. Sabbah, Zainab Taha, Leila C. Ismail, Ayesha Aldhaheri, Elisa Pineda, Marisa Miraldo, Dawn L. Holford, Hilde Van Den Bulck, The Corona Cooking Survey Study Group

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered …

Factors Impacting Readiness To Perform Secondary Population-Based Triage During The Second Wave Of Covid-19 In Victoria, Australia: Pilot Study, Zachary B. Horn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Pandemics generate such a significant demand for care that traditional triage methods can become saturated. Secondary population-based triage (S-PBT) overcomes this limitation. Although the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced S-PBT into operation internationally during the first year of the pandemic, Australian doctors were spared this responsibility. However, the second wave of COVID-19 provides an opportunity to explore the lived experience of preparing for S-PBT within the Australian context. The aim of this study is to explore the lived experience of preparing to operationalize S-PBT to allocate critical care resources during Australia's second wave of COVID-19 in 2020. Methods: Intensivists …

Ifi27 Transcription Is An Early Predictor For Covid-19 Outcomes, A Multi-Cohort Observational Study, Maryam Shojaei, Amir Shamshirian, James Monkman, Laura Grice, Minh Tran, Chin Wee Tan, Siok Min Teo, Gustavo Rodrigues Rossi, Timothy R. Mcculloch, Marek Nalos, Maedeh Raei, Alireza Razavi, Roya Ghasemian, Mobina Gheibi, Fatemeh Roozbeh, Peter D. Sly, Kirsten M. Spann, Keng Yih Chew, Yanshan Zhu, Yao Xia, Timothy J. Wells, Alexandra Cristina Senegaglia, Carmen Lúcia Kuniyoshi, Claudio Luciano Franck, Anna Flavia Ribeiro Dos Santos, Lucia De Noronha, Sepideh Motamen, Reza Valadan, Omolbanin Amjadi, Rajan Gogna, Esha Madan, Reza Alizadeh-Navaei, Liliana Lamperti, Felipe Zuñiga, Estefania Nova-Lamperti, Gonzalo Labarca, Ben Knippenberg, Velma Herwanto, Ya Wang, Amy Phu, Tracy Chew, Timothy Kwan, Karan Kim, Sally Teoh, Tiana M. Pelaia, Win Sen Kuan, Yvette Jee, Jon Iredell, Ken O’Byrne, John F. Fraser, Melissa J. Davis, Gabrielle T. Belz, Majid E. Warkiani, Carlos Salomon Gallo, Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Quan Nguyen, Anthony Mclean, Arutha Kulasinghe, Kirsty R. Short, Benjamin Tang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

Robust biomarkers that predict disease outcomes amongst COVID-19 patients are necessary for both patient triage and resource prioritisation. Numerous candidate biomarkers have been proposed for COVID-19. However, at present, there is no consensus on the best diagnostic approach to predict outcomes in infected patients. Moreover, it is not clear whether such tools would apply to other potentially pandemic pathogens and therefore of use as stockpile for future pandemic preparedness.

Methods:

We conducted a multi-cohort observational study to investigate the biology and the prognostic role of interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) in COVID-19 patients.

Results:

We show that IFI27 is …

Covid-19 Lessons To Protect Populations Against Future Pandemics By Implementing Pppm Principles In Healthcare, Cuihong Tian, Lois Balmer, Xuerui Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued for more than 3 years, placing a huge burden on society worldwide. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an end to COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it is still considered a global threat. Previously, there has been a long debate as to whether the COVID-19 emergency will eventually end or transform into a more common infectious disease from a PHEIC, and how should countries respond to similar pandemics in the future more time-efficiently and cost-effectively. We reviewed the past, middle and current situation of COVID-19 …

Bouncing Back From Covid-19: A Western Australian Community Perspective, Kiira K. Sarasjärvi, Paola Chivers, Ranila Bhoyroo, Jim Codde

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: This study explored the behavioral profiles of residing Western Australians during a COVID-19 lockdown period and transitions in behavior post-lockdown. Methods: A total of 313 participants (76% female, age: M = 50.1, SD = 15.7 years) completed behavioral and mental health questionnaire items ~2 months after a 3-month COVID-19 lockdown in October 2020, using a retrospective recall to assess their experience during the lockdown period. Latent transition analysis (LTA) was used to identify behavioral profiles and transitions. Indicators were identified by assessing during–post-lockdown group differences (Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square tests) and profiles described using qualitative open-ended questions. Results: Significant indicators included …

Relieving The Gambling Itch Through Alcohol Consumption: The Impact Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Australian Casino Patrons, Tenghao Zhang, Pi-Shen Seet, Janice Redmond, Jalleh Sharafizad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper extends our understanding of how casino patrons are affected by COVID-19 restrictions and how they cope by substituting gambling with alcohol consumption. We conducted two studies using a nationwide survey sample collected in Australia during the pandemic lockdown. Study 1 compares the casino patrons with two reference groups (other gambling patrons and non-gambling individuals) and investigates the lockdown restrictions on respondents’ relational strength, and their potential impact on mental health and future prospects. Study 2 applies the stress-response dampening model (SRD) and tests how respondents used alcohol consumption to cope with the lack of access to casinos during …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Autoverification And Guidance System For Covid-19 Rt-Pcr Results, Yingmu Cai, Mengyu Liu, Zhiyuan Wu, Cuihong Tian, Song Qiu, Zhen Li, Feng Xu, Wei Li, Yan Zheng, Aijuan Xu, Longxu Xie, Xuerui Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

To date, most countries worldwide have declared that the pandemic of COVID-19 is over, while the WHO has not officially ended the COVID-19 pandemic, and China still insists on the personalized dynamic COVID-free policy. Large-scale nucleic acid testing in Chinese communities and the manual interpretation for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection results pose a huge challenge for labour, quality and turnaround time (TAT) requirements. To solve this specific issue while increase the efficiency and accuracy of interpretation, we created an autoverification and guidance system (AGS) that can automatically interpret and report the COVID-19 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results relaying …

The Impacts Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Care-Givers Of People With Cognitive Impairment And Their Support Needs: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review, Loretta Baldassar, Thi N. M. Nguyen, Bronte Jones, Catriona Stevens, Lukasz Krzyzowski, Silvia Lozeva, Simone Marino, Maria G. C. Du Plooy, Johanne Eldridge, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Manonita Ghosh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions/lockdowns have caused significant physical and psychological consequences for people with cognitive impairment who are heavily dependent on their care-givers. However, little is known about the impact on care-givers, the factors that exacerbate their situation and what supports they need. The aims of this paper are threefold: (a) to examine the impact of COVID-19 physical restrictions on both formal and informal care-givers of people with cognitive impairment; (b) to identify attributing factors influencing this impact; and (c) to recognise their support needs. Further, this paper informs future research, policy and practice. Guided by the Joanna …

How Did Covid-19 Pandemic Impact Safety Performance On A Construction Project? A Case Study Comparing Pre And Post Covid-19 Influence On Safety At An Australian Construction Site, Roberta Selleck, Marcus Cattani, Maureen Hassall

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

COVID-19 had a significant impact on construction projects due to labor shortages and COVID-19 restrictions, yet little is known about the impact it had on construction safety. To address this gap, an Australian construction project was selected to study the impact of COVID-19 on safety performance, safety climate and safety leadership. The study collected data from safety climate surveys, leading and lagging safety indicators and used linear regression to compare safety performance pre and post the onset of COVID-19. Our results showed after the onset of COVID-19 there was a significant reduction (Pr > F at 0.05 %) in incident rate, …

Older Adults Access To Mental Health And Social Care Services During Covid-19 Restrictions In Western Australia, Claire Adams, Eyal Gringart, Daniel Mcaullay, Moira Sim, Brigitta Scarfe, Amy Budrikis, Natalie Strobel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: This study aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health and social services among older adults in Western Australia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 194 adults aged ≥ 70 years or ≥ 60 years with chronic conditions. A questionnaire co-developed by a consumer reference group was used to collect data on social networks and service access. Frequency analyses were used to assess quantitative data. Qualitative data were assessed using thematic analyses. Results: 62.7 % of participants reported being not at all/slightly affected by COVID-19; 40.7 % reported having three/four people to chat with. …

Characterization And Determinant Factors Of Critical Illness And In-Hospital Mortality Of Covid-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Of 1,792 Patients In Kenya, Isinta M. Elijah, Endawoke Amsalu, Xuening Jian, Mingyang Cao, Eric K. Mibei, Danvas O. Kerosi, Francis G. Mwatsahu, Wei Wang, Faith Onyangore, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Limited data is available on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), critical illness rate, and in-hospital mortality in the African setting. This study investigates determinants of critical illness and in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients in Kenya. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Kenya. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression were employed to determine predictor factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality, respectively. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier model was used to compare the survival times using log-rank tests. As a result, 346 (19.3 %) COVID-19 patients were admitted to ICU, and …

Proposing An Avenue For Suboptimal Health Research Through The Lens Of Tourism, Zheng Guo, Jun Wen, Danni Zheng, Zheng Yulu, Haifeng Hou, Wei Wang, Suboptimal Health Study Consortium (Shsc)

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 outbreak has posed tremendous threats to both global health and individuals’ psychological and physiological well-being. Scholars across the social and medical sciences are calling for multidisciplinary research regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected global health [1]. As daily stressors continue to accumulate, the number of people reporting health complaints that cannot be detected by laboratory measures is on the rise [2,3]. These conditions can be complex and challenging to define but are generally deemed as “suboptimal health” [4]. Suboptimal health status (SHS) refers to a reversible state between health and illness [2]. It is characterized by health …

Immune Response To Sars-Cov-2 Variants: A Focus On Severity, Susceptibility, And Preexisting Immunity, Eman Alefishat, Herbert F. Jelinek, Mira Mousa, Guan K. Tay, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The heterogeneous phenotypes among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has drawn worldwide attention, especially those with severe symptoms without comorbid conditions. Immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of COVID-19, occur mainly by the innate immune response via the interferon (IFN)-mediated pathways, and the adaptive immunity via the T lymphocyte and the antibody mediated pathways. The ability of the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 strain, and possibly more so with new emerging variants, to antagonize IFN-mediated antiviral responses can be behind the higher early viral load, higher transmissibility, and milder symptoms compared to SARS-CoV and are …

Acceptability Of Op/Na Swabbing For Sars-Cov-2: A Prospective Observational Cohort Surveillance Study In Western Australian Schools, Hannah M. Thomas, Marianne J. Mullane, Sherlynn Ang, Tina Barrow, Adele Leahy, Alexandra Whelan, Karen Lombardi, Matthew Cooper, Paul G. Stevenson, Leanne Lester, Andrea Padley, Lynn Sprigg, David Speers, Adam J. Merritt, Juli Coffin, Donna Cross, Peter Gething, Asha C. Bowen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Governments responded with lockdown and isolation measures to combat viral spread, including the closure of many schools. More than a year later, widespread screening for SARS-CoV-2 is critical to allow schools and other institutions to remain open. Here, we describe the acceptability of a minimally invasive COVID-19 screening protocol trialled by the Western Australian Government to mitigate the risks of and boost public confidence in schools remaining open. To minimise discomfort, and optimise recruitment and tolerability in unaccompanied children, a combined throat and nasal (OP/Na) swab was chosen over the nasopharyngeal swab commonly …

Vulnerable, Recalcitrant And Resilient: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Of Risk And Older People Within The Context Of Covid-19 News Media, Marjorie Skoss, Rachel Batten, Patricia Cain, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Risk is an innate and integral part of everyday life and is present in simple, everyday occupations and complex actions. Age-related stereotypes can mean older people have little opportunity to engage in activities that present some degree of risk. The present study explores the discourse around risk and older people in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated news media as a reflection of the dominant public discourse around older people's behaviour to identify how risk is represented in relation to occupational engagement. Texts relating to older people and COVID-19 were sourced from the West Australian newspaper for a …

Environmental Health Responses To Covid 19 In Western Australia: Lessons For The Future, Jacques Oosthuizen, Melissa Stoneham, Toni Hannelly, Edmore Masaka, Giverny Dodds, Victor Andrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic tested the health system of Western Australia (WA) and the relatively new overarching legislative framework that guided the state-wide public health response to the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences and roles of environmental health officers (EHOs) in WA during the management of COVID-19 and to identify any policy changes that are needed to facilitate the rapid deployment of EHOs during a future public health crisis. An online survey with 78 respondents was administered and analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. It was found that participants believed there was inadequate resourcing, workforce shortages, increased workloads, …