What are the challenges of epidemiological research during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Caputo, Eduardo Lucia; Feter, Natan; Rombaldi, Aírton José; Silva, Marcelo Cozzensa da; Reichert, Felipe Fossati

doi:10.1590/s1980-657420210000200

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(7 reference statements)

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“…First, because of COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face data collection were not allowed by ethics boards when data were collected. Thus, sampling bias cannot be ruled since internet-based surveys does not enable an equiprobable sampling since participants with low economic status are less likely to have internet access [38]. Second, the assessment of some outcomes such as disability was hampered due to online data collection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low back pain: data from the PAMPA Cohort, Brazil

et al. 2023

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Background To evaluate the short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low back pain (LBP) outcomes in southern Brazil. Methods Data from the PAMPA Cohort were analyzed. Adults were recruited between June and July 2020 in the Rio Grande do Sul state using online-based strategies. Participants responded a self-reported, online questionnaire on LBP with two timepoints: before (retrospectively) and during COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed LBP experience, LBP-related activity limitation (no/yes), and LBP intensity (0 to 10 [strongest pain]). Results From a total sample of 2,321 respondents (mean age: 37.6 ± 13.5; 75.4% women), the prevalence of LBP did not change significantly from before (74.7% [95%CI 72.3; 76.9]) to the first months of pandemic (74.2% [95%CI 71.9; 76.3]). However, an increased pain levels (β: 0.40; 95%CI 0.22; 0.58) and a higher likelihood for activity limitation due to LBP was observed (PR 1.14; 95%CI 1.01; 1.29). Longitudinal analyzes showed that age, gender, BMI, chronic diseases, physical activity, and anxiety and depression symptoms, were associated with LBP in the first pandemic months. Conclusion Although the prevalence of LBP did not change at the first months of COVID-19 pandemic, LBP-induced impairment in daily activities and pain intensity was higher when compared to before the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low back pain: data from the PAMPA Cohort, Brazil

et al. 2023

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“…Even though wearable devices may address any self-report bias concern, they also have their limitations such as wear time and device validity [ 36 , 37 ]. Third, as previously stated, our sample has a high proportion of participants with an academic degree, thus, selection bias is an issue since less educated people have limited access to internet [ 38 ]. Thus, one must be cautions to extrapolate our findings on PA trajectory to the whole population, since PA levels are different across schooling levels of Brazilians.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, our study had an extensive questionnaire which are associated with higher non-response rate. Thus, we opted for a simplified measure of PA [ 38 ]. However, one feature of our study stands out, we tracked PA behaviour from pre-COVID-19 levels into 10 months of social restrictions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical activity trajectory in the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Brazil: a follow-up study

Caputo

Feter

Leite

et al. 2022

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Background A continuous tracking of the PA level during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to understand how people’s behaviour has varied along time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical activity (PA) trajectory over the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the south of Brazil. Methods Data from three timepoints of the PAMPA Cohort were used, as follows: (1) pre-COVID-19 (retrospective); (2) Jun/Jul 2020; (3) Dec 2020/Jan 2021. Self-reported PA practice, frequency, duration, as well as place where activities were performed (at or out of home) were assessed. Results A reduction in any (from 68.7 to 47.7%), sufficient (from 41.5 to 22.1%) and out of home PA (from 59.4 to 30.1%) was observed from the first (pre-COVID-19) to the second (Jun/Jul 2020) timepoint, followed by an increase in the third timepoint (Dec 2020/Jan 2021) (60.1%, 37.9%, and 54.3% for any, sufficient, and out of home PA, respectively). The PA trajectory was similar, regardless of sex, educational level or income. Only any (p = 0.0007) and sufficient (p = 0.0012) PA showed significant interaction with time by sex. Female participants were less likely to engage in any (OR 0.45 95% CI 0.26; 0.77) and sufficient PA (OR 0.40 95% CI 0.24; 0.66). Conclusion During the first 10 months of COVID-19 pandemic there was a marked fluctuation on PA pattern in adults from southern Brazil. An ongoing tracking of PA behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic is important to understand how this behaviour varies. Public policies should focus on increasing PA in a higher standard than pre-COVID levels.

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“…It is noteworthy that this method was common practice in developing countries during the pandemic, where face-toface interviews are not recommended; thus, the results should be interpreted with caution. 62 Moreover, pharmacists were explicitly asked to answer about their perception of competency upon graduation. However, respondents could have misunderstood this concept; thus, recall bias is also possible, particularly for pharmacists who graduated before 2009.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Descriptive assessment of graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies based on the Lebanese pharmacy core competencies framework

Zeenny

Akel

Hajj

et al. 2021

Pharm Pract (Granada)

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Background: Pharmacists possess a unique and complex body of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to enable them to optimize health outcomes. Pharmacy organizations publish routinely updated versions of professional competencies that help pharmacy schools integrate advances into their curricula. In Lebanon, no national framework for pharmacy education is officially adopted yet. In 2017, the Official Pharmacists’ Association in Lebanon [OPL - Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon] took the initiative to develop a pharmacy core competency framework. Objective: The primary objective of this survey was to evaluate graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies “taught” across Lebanese pharmacy schools/faculties, based on the suggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competencies Framework. This study also explored the association between graduates' demographics, university attributes, and self-assessed competency performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving pharmacists who graduated from Lebanese universities was performed through a 40-minute online questionnaire distributed over social media platforms and groups of pharmacists. Results: Pharmacists perceived their competence as moderate upon graduation, the lowest scores being in fundamental knowledge and medicine supply; the highest reported scores were in personal skills and safe/rational use of medicines. Moreover, females, younger graduates, PharmD holders, and pharmacists working in hospitals/clinical settings and academia had the highest perception of their competencies. Pharmacists in the public sector and medical laboratory directors had the lowest perception of competence. Conclusions: When comparing the taught curriculum to the suggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competency Framework, all domains need to be improved to optimize the perception, education, and practice of pharmacists. It is essential to emphasize fundamental knowledge, medicines supply, and public health competencies in undergraduate curricula and improve continuing professional education.

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What are the challenges of epidemiological research during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Cited by 5 publications

References 8 publications

Short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low back pain: data from the PAMPA Cohort, Brazil

Short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low back pain: data from the PAMPA Cohort, Brazil

Physical activity trajectory in the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Brazil: a follow-up study

Descriptive assessment of graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies based on the Lebanese pharmacy core competencies framework

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