Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-Up of Seismic Survey Offshore Activities in Brazil

Follow-up of environmental impacts is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, closely related to the effectiveness of the instrument. EIA follow-up has been receiving a lot of interest from scientists and practitioners, though it is recognized as one of the weakest points of EIA systems globally. Also, EIA follow-up is influenced by the context, mainly in terms of the types of projects or activities and their related impacts on the environment. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the investigation of the follow-up stage applied to the activity of seismic survey coupled with offshore oil & gas exploitation in Brazil. Research was based on a qualitative approach that included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with analysts involved in EIA processes, and sought to generate evidence of effectiveness of the EIA follow-up as conducted by the Federal Environment Agency (Ibama) in order to situate the practice of follow-up in the broader context of international best practice principles. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, due to the peculiarities of offshore seismic survey, it is necessary to promote adaptations in the procedures for monitoring impacts in order to ensure proper alignment with the principles and conceptual foundations that guide EIA practice. Specifically, the timing of the execution of the activity imposes challenges for its integration into the “conventional” cycle that has guided the monitoring of the impacts in the EIA of projects.

Evaluation of Mass Drug Administration Impact on Transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis in 13 Sanitary Districts in Burkina Faso

Introduction: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the neglected tropical diseases targeted for elimination as a public health issue in the world by 2020. To achieve this goal, one of the strategies is interruption of transmission using chemotherapy (mass drug administration). Burkina Faso in west Africa, an endemic country, has endorsed this resolution. In 2000, all Sanitary Districts (SD) in the country were endemic, and then a national elimination program has made it possible to stop mass treatment in 45 out of 70 SD over 12 years. Sixteen years later, 13 other SD were reeligible for Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS). This study aimed to determine the current level of the Mass drugs Administration (MDA) impact indicators in these 13 targeted SD in order to decide whether we need to continue MDA. Method: It was a descriptive study that took place from June to September 2017 in 13 SD regrouped into 7 Evaluation Units (EU). The population of the study was 6 to 7 years old children. The community-based cluster survey method was used. The diagnostic test used to detect Wuchereria bancrofti’s circulating antigen (W. bancrofti) is the Filariasis Test Strip (FTS). The critical threshold of positivity was set at 18 positive subjects per EU. Results: We sampled a total of 12,060 children, 48.9% were female and 51.1% male. In the 7 EU, 13 children were positive to W. bancrofti test. The average antigenic prevalence was 0.11% (13/12,060). In all EU, the number of positive subjects was below the critical threshold. Conclusion: At the end of this evaluation of the transmission of lymphatic filariasis in 13 SD of Burkina Faso, we can tell the MDA could be stopped in these areas without risk of resurgence of the disease, according to the current recommendations of WHO. This can be possible by setting up post-TMM surveillance, considering migratory flows, and including villages where positive cases were found to search possible residual transmission zones.

Application Strategy of Dynamic Management Mode in Municipal Road Survey and Design Management

With the continuous improvement of urbanization level,the construction of municipal roads has received more attention.The rational application of dynamic management mode to the survey and design management of municipal roads is conducive to improve the survey and design management level of municipal roads and further realizing the optimization of the construction effect of municipal roads.In this paper,the various factors which are affecting the management of municipal road survey and design as well the principles of municipal road design were discussed.Further,the recommendation of the application strategy of dynamic management mode in municipal road survey and design management was proposed in this paper.

Abusive supervision and turnover intention: Mediating effects of psychological empowerment of nurses

Objective: This study aims to determine the mediating effects of psychological empowerment on abusive supervision and turnover intention as perceived by nurses to provide information to change the status of nurse turnover.Methods: A cross-sectional survey (a questionnaire examining perceptions of abusive supervision,measurement of psychological empowerment,and questionnaire for turnover intention) was used to collect data.A total of 1127 clinical nurses,who were recruited through convenience sampling,participated in the survey.Results: Nurses' average perceived abusive supervision,psychological empowerment,and turnover intention scores were 1.62 ± 0.95,3.24 ± 0.83,and 14.17 ± 3.78,respectively.Psychological empowerment was found to mediate the relationship between abusive supervision and turnover intention (P< 0.01).Turnover intention tends to be stronger and psychological empowerment reduced when nurse managers adopt an abusive leadership style.Conclusions: Nurses' psychological empowerment is an intermediary variable that predicts the relationship between abusive supervision and turnover intention.Nurse managers should manage abusive supervision to increase nurses' psychological empowerment and decrease turnover intention.

Needs assessment and expectations regarding evidence-based practice knowledge acquisition and training activities:A cross-sectional study of healthcare personnel in China

Objectives Evidence-based healthcare contributes to the improvement of healthcare quality and informs healthcare decision-making.The provision of timely high-quality evidence is always required to fulfil the ever-changing needs and expectations of healthcare personnel.This study aimed to assess the needs and expectations of healthcare personnel regarding evidence-based healthcare in China.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey from December 8,2020 to January 15,2021 involving 901 participants across China.Healthcare providers,policy makers,researchers and educators,and full-time postgraduate medical and nursing students working/living in China were eligible to participate.A self-developed questionnaire was used.Results Participants generally agreed that health-related research evidence was beneficial.Evidence-based resources,such as Cochrane resources,were only known or used by about half of the respondents due to difficulties related to availability and accessibility.Various types of resources,topics of evidence,and themes of workshops were of particular interest to most of the participants.Conclusions The dissemination and translation of evidence,provision of more support in evidence availability,offering evidence-based training,and determining the most in-demand research areas have been identified as priority areas of work which could fulfil the needs and expectations of healthcare personnel in China.

Status of the neonatal follow‑up system in China:survey and analysis

Background There is little information about neonatal follow-up programs(NFUPs)in China.This study aimed to conduct a survey of hospitals participating in the Chinese Neonatal Network(CHNN)to determine the status of NFUPs,including resources available,criteria for enrollment,neurodevelopmental assessments,and duration of follow-up.Methods We conducted a descriptive study using an online survey of all 72 hospitals participating in CHNN in 2020.The survey included 15 questions that were developed based on the current literature and investigators’knowledge about followup practices in China.Results Sixty-four(89%)of the 72 hospitals responded to the survey,with an even distribution of children’s(31%),maternity(33%)and general(36%)hospitals.All but one(98%)hospital had NFUPs,with 44(70%)being established after 2010.Eligibility criteria for follow-up were variable,but common criteria included very preterm infants<32 weeks or<2000 g birth weight(100%),small for gestational age(97%),hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy(98%)and postsurgery(90%).The average follow-up rate was 70%(range:7.5%–100%).Only 12%of hospitals followed up with patients for more than 24 months.There was significant variation in neurodevelopmental assessments,follow-up schedule,composition of staff,and clinic facilities and resources.None of the staff had received formal training,and only four hospitals had sent staff to foreign hospitals as observers.Conclusions There is significant variation in eligibility criteria,duration of follow-up,types of assessments,staffing,training and facilities available.Coordination and standardization are urgently needed.

ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON 29 CASES WITH SICK SINUS SYNDROME(SSS)

In order to observate the long-term effect of acupuncture on SSS,the folow-uPsurvey was done after average 10.5 months on such aspects as patients’condition stability,symptoms,ECG examination and late clinical curative effect,etc.The results indicated,the obvious effect ratewas 55.17％,the total effective rate 82.76％,the late result decreased in some extent comparedwith those when leaving hospital,but there’s no statistical significance（P】0.05）.So,the longeerm effect of acupuncture on SSS is stable and good enough.

Expectations of Patients with a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer When Meeting the Psycho-Oncologist: Beyond the Assistance of the Oncologist

Objective: Cancer patients consider the oncologist as their main resource insofar as the medical needs generally take precedence over psychological needs. Nevertheless, the psychological intervention is also important. The systematic consultation implemented in our hospital after a diagnosis of cancer is a manner to answer patients’ psychological needs. In a survey, we assessed the satisfaction and expectations of the patients about this consultation. Methods: One year after a diagnosis of breast cancer, 104 patients answered a retrospective questionnaire assessing: socio- demographic data, cancer medical information, systematic consultation satisfaction, patients’ expectations for a systematic intervention, and patients’ characteristics who began a psychological follow-up. Results: 72.1% of the patients were satisfied with having the opportunity to consult a psychologist during a systematic consultation after cancer diagnosis. Their expectations were to have opportunities of emotional expression, reassurance, obtaining additional medical information, talking about their fear over additional treatments, and identifying further support. 28.8% of the patients re-contacted the psychologist for further help after the systematic consultation. They were significantly younger (p < 0.001) than the others. Conclusions: Besides the importance of support by medical specialists [1], offering the opportunity to breast cancer patients to discuss inner feelings and treatment expectations during a systematic psychological consultation was useful for most of them. About one third of the patients asked for a further consultation with a psychologist after a first systematic consultation, especially younger patients. This stressed the importance of the role of psychologists for psycho-social support of the patient after cancer treatment.

Non-sampling errors in questionnaire surveys: findings from a National Fertility Survey

Non-sampling errors can generally be divided into three types:sampling frame errors,non-response errors and measurement errors.Missing target units in the sam-pling frame,improper handling of non-responses,and misreporting or underreport-ing of key variables in the questionnaire can all cause deviations in a survey’s results.The widespread application of Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing(CAPI)systems and the inclusion of administrative records from government sources in sur-veys has strengthened the ability to control non-sampling errors.Taking a national fertility sampling survey as an example,this study summarizes the sources of var-ious non-sampling errors and explains how to harness big data resources such as administrative records to control non-sampling errors throughout the survey.The study analyzes the impact of three types of non-sampling errors on the results of the fertility survey and examines the strategies used to address the problems caused by these non-sampling errors.The findings indicate that non-sampling errors were the main source of total error in the survey,and that the errors found came mainly from sampling frame errors;non-response errors and measurement errors were controlled and had little impact on the survey results.

Mapping and modelling the impact of mass drug adminstration on filariasis prevalence in Myanmar

Background:Lymphatic filariasis(LF)is endemic in Myanmar and targeted for elimination.To highlight the National Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis(NPELF)progress between 2000 and 2014,this paper describes the geographical distribution of LF,the scale-up and impact of mass drug administration(MDA)implementation,and the first evidence of the decline in transmission in five districts.Methods:The LF distribution was determined by mapping historical and baseline prevalence data collected by NPELF.Data on the MDA implementation,reported coverage rates and sentinel site surveillance were summarized.A statistical model was developed from the available prevalence data to predict prevalence at township level by year of measurement.Transmission assessment survey(TAS)methods,measuring antigenemia(Ag)prevalence in children,were used to determine whether prevalence was below a level where recrudescence is unlikely to occur.Results:The highest baseline LF prevalence was found in the Central Valley region.The MDA implementation activities scaled up to cover 45 districts,representing the majority of the endemic population,with drug coverage rates ranging from 60.0%to 98.5%.Challenges related to drug supply and local conflict were reported,and interrupted MDA in some districts.Overall,significant reductions in LF prevalence were found,especially after the first 2 to 3 rounds of MDA,which was supported by the corresponding model.The TAS activities in five districts found only two Ag positive children,resulting in all districts passing the critical threshold.Conclusion:Overall,the Myanmar NPELF has made positive steps forward in the elimination of LF despite several challenges,however,it needs to maintain momentum,drawing on international stakeholder support,to aim towards the national and global goals of elimination.