Our Covid Voices website launches

National Voices has launched a new website, Our Covid Voices, where people living with health and care needs can tell their stories about life in lockdown.

Contributions to the site are anonymous. The plan is to take insight generated through the initiative to decision makers at all levels.

Chief executive Charlotte Augst has already shared the work with Parliamentarians during a briefing run by the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group.

Our Covid Voices

Study: COVID-19 and the 5G Conspiracy Theory

A new study aims to develop an understanding of the drivers of the 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theory and strategies to deal with such misinformation.

Authors argue understanding of the drivers of fake news and quick policies to isolate and rebate misinformation are keys to combating it.

They carried out a social network analysis and content analysis of Twitter data from a seven-day period (27 March to 4 April) in which the #5GCoronavirus hashtag was trending on Twitter in the United Kingdom. 

Analysis revealed there was a lack of an authority figure actively combating such misinformation.

Fake news websites were the most popular web source shared by users and YouTube videos were also shared. 

The study also identified an account whose sole aim was to spread the conspiracy theory on Twitter.

Authors concluded the combination of quick and targeted interventions to de-legitimise the sources of fake information are key to reducing their impact. 

Users voicing their views against the conspiracy theory, link baiting, or sharing humorous Tweets inadvertently raised the profile of the topic, suggesting policymakers should insist on efforts to isolate opinions based on fake news. 

JMIR

New NICE rapid guideline

NICE has published a new COVID-19 rapid guideline on acute kidney injury (AKI).

The guideline aims to help healthcare professionals who are not kidney specialists to prevent, detect and manage AKI in hospital patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.  

It highlights that AKI may be common in patients with COVID-19 and can lead to worse outcomes.

NICE  

COVID-19 jargon buster

Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) has published a COVID-19 jargon buster which is free to download from its site.

TLAP has also updated its Care and Support Jargon Buster with plain English definitions of words commonly used during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Care and Support Jargon Buster can be added as a free widget to your organisation's website.

Think Local Act Personal

Patient health records: Access, sharing and confidentiality

A House of Commons Library briefing on patient health records has been updated to include relevant information on sharing patient information during the coronavirus outbreak. 

The briefing covers access to patient health records, electronic patient records, NHS data security, and the use of confidential information by the NHS.

House of Commons Library

Community engagement while socially distant

Voluntary Sector North West has released a video sharing tips on how to run community engagement events while social distancing.

The short video covers broadcast approaches, approaches which promote interaction and reaching new people.

YouTube

Will COVID-19 be a watershed moment for health inequalities?

This Health Foundation article argues the coronavirus pandemic and wider governmental and societal responses have brought health inequalities into sharper focus.

It says those facing greatest deprivation are at higher risk of exposure and more severe outcomes during the pandemic and, with an economic recession likely, health inequalities are likely to be exacerbated for years to come.

The article argues – as we move from crisis management to recovery – government, businesses and wider society all have a role to play in giving everyone the opportunity to live a healthy life.  

This will require a new social compact, backed by a national cross-departmental health inequalities strategy. 

Health Foundation

Study: Impact of online information on self-isolation intention

A new study investigates the impact of online information on the intention to voluntarily self-isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It found cyberchondria and information overload had a significant impact on individuals’ threat and coping perceptions, and through them on self-isolation intention. 

Among the appraisal constructs, perceived severity and self-efficacy positively impacted self-isolation intention, while response cost affected the intention negatively. 

Cyberchondria and information overload indirectly affected self-isolation intention. 

Using social media as an information source increased both cyberchondria and information overload. 

Authors concluded frequent use of social media contributed to information overload and over-concern among individuals. 

They said, to boost individuals’ motivation to adopt preventive measures, actions should focus on lowering individuals’ perceived response costs in addition to informing them about the severity of the situation.

JMIR

Integration and collaboration during COVID-19

In this blog, Georgina Charlton discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of the principles of health and social care integration.

She argues the crisis response has clearly shown the health and wellbeing of the population is not just a health matter, but requires the collaborative support of social care, housing, education and the economy, empowered by a consenting and committed public.

ALLIANCE

Tips for switching to virtual meetings

In this pharmaphorum article, Open Audience’s founder Leslie Robertson shares his top four tips on holding successful virtual meetings.

They include measuring value, making sure the content is appropriate and considering other appropriate options.

pharmaphorum

Social prescribing evolves to cope with rising demand

This article discusses how enabling the development of social prescribing models can help with the rising demand for community support.

It outlines a new model recommended when PCC recently supported NHS Halton CCG to create a single vision for social prescribing.

The article says the COVID-19 pandemic has, perhaps, lead to greater recognition of the importance of connectivity and coordination of support-based activities during this crisis and for the future.

PCC

Supporting and sustaining patient and family engagement in decision making

A new co-designed patient and family engagement framework has been published.

It is organised into three phases of engagement: why I got involved, why I continue to be involved, and what I need to strengthen my involvement. 

The final framework describes seven motivations and 24 statements, arranged by the three phases of engagement.

The results describe the motivations of patient and family members who are involved with health systems in various roles, including as patient advisers. 

Authors argue a deeper knowledge of patient and family motivations will create meaningful engagement opportunities and enable health organisations to gain from the voice and experience of these individuals, enhancing the quality and sustainability of patient and family involvement.

Wiley Online Library