COVID-19 Commons^™

Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis Management In The Gaza Strip: A Qualitative Study., Belal Aljamal

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

Aims of the study: The main aim of this study was to discover the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis management from health policymakers' perspective in the Gaza Strip. Methods: The researcher used a qualitative design, targeting 25health policymakers using a purposeful sampling technique and face-to-face semi-structured interviews to collect data. To analyze the interview data, the directed qualitative content analysis approach was used.

Results: All interviewees agreed that the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) managed the COVID-19pandemic well despite the insufficient resources and lack of experience. More specifically, the average of most participants’ assessments of Palestinian MoH “Preparedness” …

A Regularized Bayesian Dirichlet-Multinomial Regression Model For Integrating Single-Cell-Level Omics And Patient-Level Clinical Study Data, Yanghong Guo, Lei Yu, Lei Guo, Lin Xu, Qiwei Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The abundance of various cell types can vary significantly among patients with varying phenotypes and even those with the same phenotype. Recent scientific advancements provide mounting evidence that other clinical variables, such as age, gender, and lifestyle habits, can also influence the abundance of certain cell types. However, current methods for integrating single-cell-level omics data with clinical variables are inadequate. In this study, we propose a regularized Bayesian Dirichlet-multinomial regression framework to investigate the relationship between single-cell RNA sequencing data and patient-level clinical data. Additionally, the model employs a novel hierarchical tree structure to identify such relationships at different cell-type …

Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black Women In The Us, Brittany C Slatton, Farrah G Cambrice, Serwaa S Omowale

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Black women is a critical public health concern, potentially exacerbating existing health disparities and impacting community-wide vaccination efforts.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Black women in the US and identify the specific concerns and experiences shaping hesitant attitudes toward vaccination.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Qualitative study using in-depth, semistructured interviews conducted virtually between June and November 2021. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the interview data. Participants were recruited through social media platforms and word-of-mouth referrals from various regions of the US. Interviews were conducted remotely …

Covid-19 Taking Aim At The Heart Of Public Education, Jeremy James Pyle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic, distinguished by both its duration and widespread impact, stands apart from other crises typically faced by schools, such as natural disasters, school violence, or isolated traumatic incidents. Unlike these shorter-term events, the pandemic fundamentally altered the educational landscape, reshaping both school climate and instructional practices. This non-experimental, descriptive study employed a phenomenological research approach to examine the lived experiences of teachers during and after the pandemic. The central aim was to explore how pandemic-related stressors influenced teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave the profession, as well as to identify the supports educators perceived as necessary for …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Teledermatology For Undeserved Populations During And Post-Covid-19, Jakob Gibbs, Sean Hanshaw

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Teledermatology, a subset of telemedicine, has gained prominence as a means to increase access to dermatologic care while reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction. The swift expansion of teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic was driven by the necessity to limit physical contact and adapt to public health restrictions. This technological shift aimed to address longstanding disparities in dermatology access, especially in rural and underserved populations, and to respond to the rising demand for dermatologic services amid provider shortages.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects that teledermatology following the COVID-19 pandemic had …

The Birth Experience During The First Wave Of Covid-19 Lockdown In New York Hospitals: A Qualitative Study, Emily Morse Small M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

In 2020, alongside the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, 209,338 births occurred in New York State (Osterman et al., 2022). While much of the public adjusted to working or learning in a virtual world, many hospitals in New York remained open to treat those in need of care. Women nearing the end of their pregnancy, many of whom felt that they had no other choice, found themselves headed to the hospital—to the labor and delivery unit. Many studies completed outside of the United States on the birth experience during the pandemic found an increase in the likelihood of negative …

A Teacher Preparation Program's Stakeholders' Perceptions Since Campus Closure Due To Covid-19, Laurie J. Mccormick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

COVID-19 closed colleges and forced faculty and students to learn a new way of teaching and learning. Like most institutions, Marshall University’s College of Education and Professional Development struggled to provide the practicum experience required for teacher preparation when most public schools shifted to remote learning. This qualitative study investigated the reactions of, and ongoing impact on, a university’s college of education’s administrators, faculty, undergraduates, the institution’s instructional designers, and the Counseling Center’s director when the campus closed spring of 2020 due to the pandemic. Initial and ongoing challenges faced, and strategies implemented were categorized by the four themes that …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence And Post– Covid-19 Condition Among Women In Kentucky, 2020-2022, Ayşe Güler, Heather M. Bush, Katie Schill, Nurlan Kussainov, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post–COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.   Methods: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky’s Wellness, Health & You—COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition during the …

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …

Building Place-Based Experiential Learning Into The Honors Curriculum At Ohio University, Geoffrey L. Buckley, Nicole Finnicum, Michelle O'Malley, Jennifer Bowie, Yolonda Youngs

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Observing the demand for interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities post-COVID, authors present a place-based curriculum in honors. Workshop-style special topics classes provide students with an immersive and flexible learning environment, energize faculty, and engage alumni and community partners. Coursework, fieldwork, internships, and study abroad opportunities all contribute to the development of an informed and engaged citizenry. Authors address challenges in funding, access, and equity, and they suggest ways these challenges might be met.

Why The Museum Matters To Honors, Mimi Killinger

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Using classroom displacement and pandemic pivoting during COVID as a touchstone, author presents ways in which museums complement and reinforce pedagogical goals in honors. Community and campus museums offer immediate and innovative teaching opportunities that require minimal technology, present diverse viewpoints and cultural perspectives, and foster visual and cultural literacies. Demonstrating how teaching within a museum aligns with the educational mission of her home institution, author suggests that these spaces can be creative, collaborative, and engaging learning locations for honors colleges and programs throughout the country. Detailed descriptions of curated collections are provided.

Politics In Public Health: Growing Partisan Divides In Covid-19 Vaccine Attitudes And Uptake Post-2021 Presidential Inauguration, Hongbin Fan, Zhongliang Zhou, Guanping Liu, Chi Shen, Qi Zhang

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: To investigate whether the 2021 U.S. presidential inauguration contributed to a widening of partisan divides in COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and uptake. Methods: We leverage the presidential inauguration as a natural experiment and analyze data from the Household Pulse Survey and CDC vaccination records. Using a difference-in-differences framework with continuous treatment, we examine how the transition differentially affected state-level vaccine refusal rates and county-level vaccination rates, based on varying levels of partisanship as measured by the Trump-Biden vote gap. Results: Following Biden's inauguration, vaccine refusal declined more in pro-Biden states. Distrust in government and vaccines accounted for approximately 80% of …

Changes In Cancer Diagnosis And Survival In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin T. Burus

Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics

The COVID-19 Pandemic led to global societal disruptions as political leaders and public health authorities attempted to control the spread of the newly discovered SARS- CoV-2 virus. While these measures were designed to lessen morbidity and mortality from a novel pathogen, their impact was also felt in many other, often unintended ways. The purpose of this dissertation is to use cancer surveillance research methods to examine the association between COVID-19 Pandemic-related disruptions and changes in the normal diagnosis and care of cancer in the United States.

The first two studies of this dissertation analyzed reductions in cancer diagnoses in the …

Focus Group Interview: Perspectives Of Virtual Dietary Counseling Methods Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Maria R. Mendoza

All Master's Theses

In response to the prevalence of morbidity and mortality, studies to avert these conditions in a cost-effective and accessible manner are also increasing. Developing new methods to provide nutrition education that are more accessible is critical to reaching individuals who may experience socioeconomic barriers impacting their ability to access healthcare. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions related to different delivery methods of dietary counseling. This qualitative research study will examine the perceptions related to different methods of dietary counseling (telephone calls, video calls, or face-to-face visits). Focus group one contained provider participants (N = 7), which …

Understanding The Impact Of The Care Connect Washington Program, Hannah Cohen-Cline, Dan Fish, Taylor Doren, Abby Bush

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Economic Convergence Between Developed And Developing Nations, Lucile Sabas, Williams Kwasi Peprah [email protected], Carmelita Troy, Quentin Sahly

Faculty Publications

This study investigates convergence between developed and developing countries’ GDP during the pre-COVID-19 era (1960-2019) and post-COVID-19 era (2020-2023) using World Bank data and the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test. For the pre-COVID period, results show no significant convergence, with an ADF statistic of −1.78 and a P = 0.39, likely due to disparities in industrialization and governance. Similarly, post-COVID results (ADF statistic −1.2, P = 0.67) also suggest no convergence, possibly exacerbated by pandemic-related challenges. The study highlights that structural barriers and the pandemic have hindered economic convergence.

Structural And Interpersonal Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake In Vulnerable Populations Of The United States, Alyea Wood

Capstone Showcase

Since its introduction in late 2020, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine has had the lowest rates in marginalized populations like minorities, elderly, and those of low socioeconomic status. Decreased rates of vaccination uptake in these groups has resulted in increased burden of disease and subsequently higher rates of hospitalization and death. Many inequities in poor COVID-19 health outcomes can be explained by examining common predictive factors that determine vaccination rates in these United States populations. This special article research aims to explore these various predictive factors with the goal to provide targeted strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially …

Modeling Vaccination Strategies And Intervention Impacts On Infectious Disease Dynamics, Elizabeth B. Amona

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how mathematical and statistical modeling can inform vaccination strategies and evaluate the impact of interventions during infectious disease outbreaks. Motivated by the challenges observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the research integrates compartmental modeling, Bayesian inference, and agent-based simulation to assess policy effectiveness and disease control across varying contexts. The first study develops a SEIRDV model that incorporates government interventions and vaccination rollout to examine COVID-19 dynamics in Qatar. A Bayesian approach is used to estimate parameters and compute time-varying transmission rates. The model captures shifts in transmission following policy changes and quantifies the reduction in deaths attributable …

Molecular Epidemiologic Studies Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Me/Cfs), Anil Kumar

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling multisystem complex disorder with no known etiology or approved treatment. Our studies aimed to assess the link between ME/CFS and autoimmune disease (AID) and cancer, and to identify potential biomarkers and biological mechanisms to further explore pathophysiology of this diseases.

Methods: All analyses were done using data from a case-control study of ME/CFS conducted by Dr. Roxana Moslehi and her collaborators. In our first study we estimated the cumulative incidences of AID and cancer among first degree relatives of 60 cases and 61 controls and compared cumulative …

Longitudinal Host Transcriptional Responses To Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Adults With Extremely High Viral Load, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Chad J Creighton, Laura Ferlic-Stark, Divya Nagaraj, Yiqun Zhang, Richard Sucgang, Erin G Nicholson, Anubama Rajan, Vipin Kumar Menon, Harshavardhan Doddapaneni, Donna Marie Muzny, Ginger A Metcalf, Sara Joan Javornik Cregeen, Kristi Louise Hoffman, Richard A Gibbs, Joseph F Petrosino, Pedro A Piedra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Current understanding of viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and host responses driving the pathogenic mechanisms in COVID-19 is rapidly evolving. Here, we conducted a longitudinal study to investigate gene expression patterns during acute SARS-CoV-2 illness. Cases included SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with extremely high viral loads early in their illness, individuals having low SARS-CoV-2 viral loads early in their infection, and individuals testing negative for SARS-CoV-2. We could identify widespread transcriptional host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection that were initially most strongly manifested in patients with extremely high initial viral loads, then attenuating within the patient over time as viral loads decreased. Genes …

Bcg-Induced Dna Methylation Changes Improve Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Immunity Without Decreasing The Risk For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection, Santiago Carrero Longlax, Kent J Koster, Ashish M Kamat, Marisa Lozano, Seth P Lerner, Rebecca Hannigan, Tomoki Nishiguchi, Abhimanyu, Daanish Sheikh, Malik Ladki, Alexandra Portillo, Amrit Koirala, Tajhal D Patel, Zoe Spieler, Aaron B Benjamin, Maxim Lebedev, Theresa U Ofili, Robert W Hutchison, George Udeani, Lynne A Opperman, Gabriel Neal, Anna M Mandalakas, Mihai G Netea, Moshe Arditi, Pablo Avalos, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Jeffrey D Cirillo, Andrew R Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The BCG vaccine induces trained immunity, an epigenetic-mediated increase in innate immune responsiveness. Therefore, this clinical trial evaluated if BCG-induced trained immunity could decrease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related frequency or severity.

METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of healthcare workers randomized participants to vaccination with BCG TICE or placebo (saline). Enrollment included 529 healthcare workers randomized to receive BCG or placebo. Primary analysis evaluated COVID-19 disease frequency, while secondary analysis evaluated coronavirus immunity in a subset of participants. Study enrollment ceased early in December 2020 following introduction of COVID-19-specific vaccines.

RESULTS: Study enrollment was halted early, prior to reaching …

Long-Term Anti-Sars-Cov-2 Antibody Trajectories After Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody Treatment, Elizabeth S Munroe, Greg A Grandits, Robert C Hyzy, Hallie C Prescott, Thomas W Barrett, Robin L Dewar, Nicole Engen, Anna L Goodman, Timothy J Hatlen, Helene Highbarger, Thomas L Holland, Gareth Hughes, Tomas O Jensen, Muhammad A Khan, Ioannis Kalomenidis, Nayon Kang, Sylvain Laverdure, Prasad Manian, Vidya Menon, Ravi Patel, Srikanth Ramachandruni, Tauseef Rehman, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Birgit Thorup Røge, David M Vock, Amy C Weintrob, Barnaby E Young, Anne P Frosch, Strive Network And Therapeutics For Inpatients With Covid-19 (Tico) Study Groups

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nMAbs) have been used to treat COVID-19 and are increasingly being used to treat other infections. However, there is concern that by neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, nMAbs may decrease the availability of antigens to the immune system, potentially impairing the endogenous polyclonal immune response and decreasing long-term immune protection.

Methods: We compared 28 and 90-day anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein neutralization activity and anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid response for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection randomized to receive nMAbs or placebo in the large platform ACTIV-3/TICO trials. We pooled results from four trials of anti-spike nMAbs. For most tested agents, measurements …

Exploring The Impact Of Covid-19 And The Role Of The Church On African Americans’ Mental Well-Being In South Georgia, Adrian D. Lewis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 disrupted the social dynamics of communities in the United States. Furthermore, public health mandates led to closures that changed how populations access faith. Historically, African Americans have utilized the church to cope with societal stressors. This study will explore the history of church utilization in the African American community, assess how COVID-19 public health mandates led to church closures for the first time in recent history and impacted this marginalized population, and provide a qualitative perspective on the quality of life during the closures and what changed after the closures for African Americans in …

Minds, Made Up Or Malleable? Covert Commands At The Eclipse Of Vaccine Communications, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

Abstract: Although millions have died from SARS-CoV-2 illness, COVID vaccines are credited with stemming the tide. Vaccinations and boosters significantly decrease the incidence of severe illness and death (even if they don’t usually prevent COVID-19 infection). Despite the success of global vaccination efforts, frequent reports of vaccine hesitance and refusal suggest that public health communications need improvement.

The chapter begins by acknowledging adverse events associated with COVID vaccination, including rare cases of anaphylaxis, GBS, and myocarditis. An inoculation-theoretic rationale is offered for this admission of vaccine risks: just as immune defenses mount when organisms are exposed to pathogens, so too …

Early, Standardised, And Precise Treatment Of Copd Exacerbations And Covid-19, Sanjay Ramakrishnan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common chronic condition causing significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with COPD report sudden episodes of deteriorating respiratory symptoms called exacerbations, often presumed to be precipitated by infections. COPD is in the top 5 causes of death globally. COPD exacerbations drive a large proportion of these deaths. Despite this, there is no standardised model of care for the sickest patients who need hospitalisations for exacerbations. Meanwhile, treatment for COPD exacerbations continues to be guided by symptoms, instead of underlying biology. Most patients are treated with unnecessary and harmful systemic corticosteroids. During the …

Risk Of Post-Acute Symptoms Among Adults: A Comparison Study Of Severe Covid-19, Pneumonia, And Influenza, Caroline M Schaefer, Trudy Millard Krause, George L Delclos, Raymond S Greenberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to assess the relationship between initial disease severity of COVID-19 and the risk of post-acute symptoms. The COVID-19 cohort was compared against influenza and pneumonia cohorts to assess whether risk of post-acute symptoms differed.

Methods: Administrative health claims data were obtained for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage covered adults (≥ 18 years) with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed in 2020 (n=121,205), and similar cohorts of influenza (n=20,844) and pneumonia (n=29,052) patients diagnosed prior to the pandemic. Post-acute symptoms were assessed at four weeks, three and six months following initial diagnosis.

Results: Among the patients …

Association Between Trust In The Incumbent President And Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors During The Pandemic In Four Latin American Countries, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz, Javiera Alarcón-Aguilar, Pablo Roa-Urrutia, Sergio Mauricio Moreno-López, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Alexandre Augusto De Paula Da Silva, Fernando López, Deborah Salvo, Rodrigo Siqueira Reis, Guillermo Rosas, Andrea Ramírez-Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed disparities in policy responses in Latin America. We examined the association between trust in the president and COVID-19 preventive behaviors in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. We used data from the Collaborative COVID-19 Response Survey by the McDonnell Academy at Washington University in St. Louis (United States), from September 2020 to March 2021. Nonprobabilistic sampling included adult citizens from the four countries. Multivariate negative binomial regression models were applied. The study included 8,125 participants, with Brazil showing the lowest adherence to preventive behaviors (65.5%). Increased adoption of preventive behaviors was linked with ages 18-26 (aIRR = …

Metadata Makes Big Data Useful For Ai/Ml-Ready, Equitable Pandemic Response, Sudarshan Anand, Miae Lee, Seshadri S. Vasan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While genomic data helps understand the pathogen and its evolution, patient metadata is critical to get the host side of the picture, so that the pandemic response is effective and equitable.

Clinical Relevance: We highlight the importance of patient stratification and metadata to help develop diagnostics, therapies and vaccines as the pathogen (virus) evolves.

Association Of Non-Communicable Diseases With Severe Covid-19 Among People Living With And Without Diagnosed Hiv/Aids In New York State, Ravi Kumar Balu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: People living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) have a higher chance of co-infections and co-morbidities than the general population. When SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and later declared a pandemic, it was speculated that PLWDH might be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease outcomes given their increased vulnerability to other respiratory infections like influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and tuberculosis. However, several facets of COVID-19 disease in PLWDH are incompletely understood, including whether non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are strong risk factors for severe disease outcomes and death as they are in the general population.

Methods: The data …