Exploring the relationship between environmental factors and Covid-19 transmission in Selangor, Malaysia

The transmission and severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are related to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between daily reported COVID-19 cases and environmental variables. In this study, we used data from October 2020 to October 2021. We used a Generalised Additive Model (GAM) to examine the short-term relationship between COVID-19 and environmental variables in Selangor, Malaysia, using daily meteorological components and daily confirmed COVID-19 cases. We discovered a significant inverse relationship between daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and mean temperature (Tave), relative humidity, wind speed, rainfall, and wind effect index (K), while temperature-humidity index (THI) was significantly associated with an increase in daily confirmed COVID-19 cases. The results of this study provide important insights into the impact that environmental factors may have on the transmission of COVID-19 and should be considered in the development of public health interventions in Selangor, Malaysia

Design and development of mobile application based on proactive elements of safety culture framework for the oil and gas industry: a conceptual framework

Abstract The integration process of the safety programme with technological development must adapt to the present level of the local safety culture in the working industry, which may change over time. Thus, this conceptual framework aims to design, develop, and evaluate a mobile application based on proactive elements of safety culture derived from research theories and factors identified in previous studies in the oil and gas industry. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) will be utilised to review the relevant articles published within the last decade on safety culture in the oil and gas industry. The findings will be analysed using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to elucidate the general safety culture elements. The main reference in determining the influencing factors will be the reciprocal safety culture model. The significance of this study is reflected in the integration of utilising technology and effective safety culture components. The findings could be applied to catalyse an organisation’s efforts to improve the safety culture and delivery system.</jats:p

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic

Aim This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Method This was an international cohort study of patients undergoing elective resection of colon or rectal cancer without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Centres entered data from their first recorded case of COVID-19 until 19 April 2020. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included anastomotic leak, postoperative SARS-CoV-2 and a comparison with prepandemic European Society of Coloproctology cohort data. Results From 2073 patients in 40 countries, 1.3% (27/2073) had a defunctioning stoma and 3.0% (63/2073) had an end stoma instead of an anastomosis only. Thirty-day mortality was 1.8% (38/2073), the incidence of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 was 3.8% (78/2073) and the anastomotic leak rate was 4.9% (86/1738). Mortality was lowest in patients without a leak or SARS-CoV-2 (14/1601, 0.9%) and highest in patients with both a leak and SARS-CoV-2 (5/13, 38.5%). Mortality was independently associated with anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 6.01, 95% confidence interval 2.58–14.06), postoperative SARS-CoV-2 (16.90, 7.86–36.38), male sex (2.46, 1.01–5.93), age >70 years (2.87, 1.32–6.20) and advanced cancer stage (3.43, 1.16–10.21). Compared with prepandemic data, there were fewer anastomotic leaks (4.9% versus 7.7%) and an overall shorter length of stay (6 versus 7 days) but higher mortality (1.7% versus 1.1%). Conclusion Surgeons need to further mitigate against both SARS-CoV-2 and anastomotic leak when offering surgery during current and future COVID-19 waves based on patient, operative and organizational risks