Prisoner rights in Canada have historically been met with disrespect and disregard. Advocates have continuously fought for better protections of prisoner rights and legislation that bans the harmful treatment of prisoners. However, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic concerns arose about how prisoners’ rights were affected. Therefore, the question guiding this research is: How have the human rights of prisoners and (anti) carceral advocacy for their rights been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? To answer this question, a document analysis was conducted, using documents from academics who work in the field, government departments, and advocates working in a variety of areas. This thesis fills the gap in scholarly inquiry that the pandemic has created as the circumstances and the effects of the pandemic are unknown. The government reacted to the pandemic by implementing protocols that suited them with little regard for how prisoner rights could be affected, and neglected advocates recommendations for change. Advocates reacted by shifting their strategies to ensure they could continue advocating during the pandemic. The thesis revealed that during a crisis, both positive and negative reactions can co-occur. The pandemic created a state of exception within the penal system; therefore, an increase in rights violations occurred. However, an opportunity for positive change also emerged. Advocates used this opportunity to change their strategies and maintain their advocacy. By contrast, the government did not seize the same opportunity, as is evidenced by how the recommendations that advocates had been supporting were not implemented properly to protect prisoners.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, professionals in the field of behavior analysis and education have continually asked how to help students access quality education while still keeping them safe and healthy. There have been multiple options presented that allow students to access their education, such as being fully in-person, fully virtual, and a hybrid option that includes both in-person and virtual learning. Due to different factors, families may choose a full virtual option for their children. But then the question becomes, “how do we make sure they log into their classes on time?” School attendance continues to be an issue across the country and adding in a virtual element to education is something that hasn’t been dealt with in a large-scale effort before. The current study attempted to increase attendance for middle school students that were learning in a full virtual format by means of sending email reminders to the student and their parents, setting daily goals with the student, and providing positive reinforcement by delivering items to the student’s home. Results indicated that this specific intervention package, as outlined, was not an effective method to help middle school students increase their virtual class attendance. Future studies should focus on other intervention packages that can help students learning in a full virtual format to attend their Zoom sessions and access the quality education they deserve.

The purpose of this study is to find the connection between the covid-19 pandemic and the increased littering in Jönköping municipality. Then, find out what is being done by Jönköping municipality and the municipality's waste company to manage the littering. The study used a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews to answer the research questions. The flexibility and open-ended choice of interviews were necessary considering the interviewee's different professional backgrounds. The topic chosen was essential, as increased knowledge can create the know-how required to prevent similar happenings in the future. The result showed that certain types of litter, such as medical waste and food packaging, had increased during the pandemic in certain places in Jönköping municipality. These certain places are, for example, the main beach in Jönköping city or different parks in the city, where people socialize along with something to eat and drink, hence the littering. Other litter has not seen any noticeable increase during the covid-19 pandemic. The municipality needed to reorganize and prioritize collecting the trash in these areas with an increase in litter, leaving other sites for later. This meant that the waste management system had not been efficient, and these littering changes had surprised the municipality. This study highlights the need for a waste management system that is more capable and efficient in cleaning, including when there is a pandemic or other events that temporarily increase the littering rates in certain areas.   Littering may be a forgotten subject when discussing the covid-19 pandemic, but this study aims to raise its importance and not underestimate its impact on people and nature.

Bakgrund: Antalet personer över 60 år i världen är över 1 miljard och förväntas stiga. Den ökade livslängden har många orsaker som bl.a. förbättrad hälso- och sjukvård och förbättrade levnadsförhållanden. WHO deklarerade Covid-19 som en pandemi i mars 2020 och införde restriktioner världen över där äldre skulle begränsa sina sociala kontakter. Tidigare forskning visar att äldre som lever i ensamhet och social isolering har ökad risk för depression och mental ohälsa.Syfte: Att beskriva äldres erfarenheter av isolering under Covid-19 pandemin.Metod: En deskriptiv integrativ litteraturstudie enligt Whittemore & Knafl (2005). Litteraturstudien baseras på 15 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Resultatet består av två huvudkategorier; Positiva erfarenheter av isoleringen ochnegativa erfarenheter av isoleringen. Positiva erfarenheter av isoleringen hade tillhörande subkategorier bättre relationer och tid för aktivitet. Negativa erfarenheter av isoleringen hade tillhörande subkategorier ensamhet, förluster, mental ohälsa och utanförskap.Slutsats: De äldre upplevde ensamhet och drabbades av förlustkänslor under isoleringen av Covid-19 pandemin. Deras mentala ohälsa ökade och de kände utanförskap. Positiva erfarenheter som framkom under isoleringen var bättre relationer och nya aktiviteter.

Thèse ou mémoire avec insertion d'articles / Introduction : Le programme d'immunisation contre le SARS-CoV-2, était initialement composé de deux doses de vaccins, et priorisait les groupes à risque élevé de complications de l'infection à COVID-19 tel que les patients souffrant de maladie pulmonaire obstructive chronique (MPOC). Avec l'évolution de la campagne et la recherche active dans le domaine, la campagne de vaccination québécoise a ajouté une dose de rappel en cours d'étude. Les vaccins contre le SARS-CoV-2 à vecteur viral tel que le ChAdox nCoV-19 d'AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) ou à ARN messager tels que le BNT162b2 de Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) et le mRNA-1273 de Moderna (Spikevax) visent à générer des anticorps dirigés contre la protéine S (Spike) du virus qui est responsable de l'attachement du virus aux cellules humaines. Bien que plusieurs études d'envergure aient démontré l'efficacité de la vaccination contre la COVID-19 pour la population générale, les patients souffrant de maladie chronique comme MPOC y étaient sous-représentés. Ce manque de données était préoccupant puisque les effets indésirables et la protection n'y étaient pas bien décrits chez cette population à risque des complications sévères d'une infection à SARS-CoV-2. Objectifs : Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire la réponse vaccinale chez les patients MPOC au Québec notamment quant à la sécurité (exacerbations, réactions locales et systémiques), l'efficacité (sérologie des anticorps anti-S pour la vaccination) et le portait de la vaccination (vaccin reçu et la réception ou non d'une 3ᵉ dose). Devis : Compte tenu du peu de données sur le phénomène d'intérêt, un devis d'étude descriptive quantitative de type enquête descriptive longitudinale a été utilisé. Méthodologie : L'échantillonnage a été effectuée de manière non-probabiliste intentionnelle au sein des 415 patients de la clinique MPOC de l'IUCPQ. Sur les 415 patients de la clinique, 407 ont acceptés d'être vaccinés, et 327 ont participé au projet de recherche. Sur les 327 patients de l'étude, 191 ont eu des prélèvements sanguins. La collecte de données a débuté à la fin du mois de février 2021 et s'est terminée au mois de juin 2022. La collecte de données a été effectuée à l'aide de questionnaires téléphoniques standardisés avec des questions directes et à l'aide de prises de sang, de sérologies et d'immunodosage des anticorps dirigés contre la protéine S par chimiluminescence par les machines Abbott et Siemens. Les données ont été analysées de manière bivariée et multivariée, et à l'aide de modèles linéaires mixtes. Ces analyses visaient à déterminer l'influence de différentes variables sur l'intensité de la réponse vaccinale. Résultats : Au terme de la collecte de données, la majorité des deux premières doses de vaccins administrées était composée de deux doses de BNT162b2. La majorité des patients de l'étude (283/312; 90,7%) a reçu une 3ᵉ dose. La majorité des 3ᵉ dose administrées était du mRNA-1273. Plus d'effets indésirables ont été rapportés après la 2ᵉ dose de vaccin. Les plus fréquents effets indésirables observés étaient la douleur au site d'injection chez 47,4% des patients après la 1ᵉʳᵉ dose et 64,5% après la 2ᵉ dose, et la fatigue chez 23,7% des patients après la 1ᵉʳᵉ dose et 34,5% après la 2ᵉ dose. Le risque d'exacerbations était augmenté de manière statistiquement significative dans les 2 semaines suivant la vaccination des doses additionnelles, 2ᵉ et 3ᵉ, lorsque comparé à la première dose. Ce risque montait à 0,2480 exacerbation/patient-année dans les deux semaines après la 1ᵉʳᵉ dose, 0,7439 après la 2ᵉ dose et 0,6999 après la 3ᵉ dose. Concernant l'efficacité des deux premières doses seulement, l'âge supérieur à 70 ans et la réception d'une ou deux doses de vaccins non à ARNm prédisaient des niveaux anticorps anti-S inférieurs, et le sexe féminin et l'utilisation de corticostéroïdes inhalés tendaient à avoir des niveaux d'anticorps plus élevés que les hommes et les non-utilisateurs de corticostéroïdes inhalés, respectivement. La quasi-totalité des patients MPOC (99,7%) ont développé une réponse sérologique dépassant le seuil de protection établi par le fabricant du test utilisé pour le dosage des anticorps après 1 an. L'utilisation de corticostéroïdes inhalés et une histoire d'infection à la COVID-19 semblaient augmenter les niveaux d'anticorps observés tandis qu'un âge supérieur à 70 ans et la réception d'au moins un vaccin non à ARNm semblaient diminuer ces changements. Les autres variables indépendantes observées tel que le sexe, la corticodépendance, le score de Charlson, l'IMC, le statut tabagique, le VEMS, la classification GOLD, le score CAT et l'administration ou non d'une 3ᵉ dose de vaccin n'étaient pas associées à une différence statistiquement significative d'anticorps anti-S au suivi à un an. Conclusion : Bien que la majorité des patients MPOC de l'étude a développé des niveaux d'anticorps suffisant au suivi après la 2ᵉ dose de vaccin et au suivi à 1 an, un âge avancé et/ou supérieur à 70 ans, la réception d'au moins un vaccin non à ARNm et la non-utilisation de corticostéroïdes inhalés étaient associés à une moins bonne réponse sérologique selon les deux études. Les effets indésirables les plus fréquents étaient la fatigue et la douleur au site d'injection, et leur fréquence chez les patients MPOC de cette étude semblaient être moindre que chez le reste de la population âgée de plus de 55 ans présentée dans les études de mRNA-1273 et BNT162b2. Le risque d'exacerbations était augmenté de manière statistiquement significative dans les 2 semaines suivant la vaccination des doses de rappel. Le risque d'exacerbation était supérieur dans les deux semaines suivant l'administration de la 2ᵉ dose de vaccin. / Introduction: The Quebec SARS-Cov-2 vaccination campaign, originally consisting of 2 shots of vaccine, prioritized groups at high risk of developing severe SARS-CoV-2 infection such as elderly people or those suffering from chronic diseases as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With multiple studies published and constant new data brought to light, the campaign recommended a third and booster shot of vaccine while this study was on-going. The vaccines target the spike protein (S-protein), responsible of the attachment of the virus to the human cell, by using viral vector-based vaccine such as AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria, and RNA vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty (BNT162b2) and Moderna's Spikevax (mRNA-1273). The vulnerability of patients with COPD to SARS-CoV-19 makes it important to document the effectiveness and the security of the COVID-19 vaccines. However, data regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with COPD patients is lacking. Objectives: This study aims to describe the response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with COPD by assessing its safety profile (exacerbations, local and systemic side effects) and efficacy (serum anti-S antibodies). Methods: Data collection started in February 2021 and ended in June 2022. Patients were recruited from the IUCPQ COPD clinic having 415 patients. Standardized phone interviews were used to collect information about the safety of the vaccines. Immunization status against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed using a commercially available immunoassay (Siemens, Dimension Vista 1500; COV2T assay) that quantifies IgG and IgM against the spike (S) protein. To differentiate between natural and vaccine-related immunity, an immunoassay (Architect i2000; Abbott system; SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay) measuring IgG directed against nucleocapsid (N) protein was conducted. Statistical analysis was done to identify factors predicting lower serologic responses. Results: The most frequent vaccine combination administered consisted in two shots of BNT162b2. Most patients (90.7%) received three shots of COVID-19 vaccine, the third being mostly mRNA-1273. More adverse effects were reported after the second dose of vaccine than after the first one. The most frequent local and systemic adverse effects reported were pain in 47.4% of the patients and fatigue in 23.7% after the first dose. Pain was observed in 64.5% of the patients and fatigue in 34.5% after the second dose. A higher exacerbation risk was observed in the 2-week period following the booster shots, amounting to 0.7439 exacerbation/patient-year after the second dose and 0.6999 after the third dose compared to 0.2480 exacerbation/patient-year during the 2-week period following the first dose vaccination. When looking at the efficacy of the first two shots only, old age (above 70 years old), and having at least one non-mRNA vaccine predicted lower anti-S antibodies levels, while female sex, and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) use tended to have higher anti-S antibodies level than males and non-ICS users. Most COPD patients reached the manufacturer's proposed anti-S antibodies threshold indicating immunity one year after the first dose administration. An advanced age (patient aged over 70 years-old) and a combination other than two RNA vaccines were associated to a lower antibody response, while ICS use and a positive history infection to COVID-19 predicted a higher response. The remaining independent variables including sex, corticodependence, Charlson score, BMI, smoking status, FEV1, GOLD classification, CAT score and a third dose administration were not statistically associated with the anti-S protein change in this one-year study. Conclusion: Most patients with COPD involved in this study showed adequate anti-S antibodies levels after the second dose of vaccines and one year after the administration of the first dose. However, being older than 70 years, having at least one non-mRNA vaccine and not using ICS were associated to lower serum anti-S antibodies levels. The most frequent side effects reported by patients with COPD after COVID-19 vaccination were fatigue and pain at the injection site. When compared to general population aged over 55 years old who received mRNA vaccines, the frequencies of these adverse effects were lower in COPD patients. Furthermore, the risk of COPD exacerbation was significantly increased during the 2-week period following the booster shots of vaccine, second and third, being highest after the second shot.

Background: As a result of heightened occupational stress throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,nurses in hospitals are experiencing high rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout. However,nurses in obstetrical departments have had unique challenges and have experienced specificsources of stress that remain unclear.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty obstetrical nurses that workedat an Ontario tertiary care centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared theirexperiences of working during the pandemic, focusing on job stressors, personal resources, anddesires for job resources. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded usingNVivo. Data was analyzed using a theoretical thematic approach based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model.Results: Key job stressors identified included having an increased workload, fear of COVID-19transmission, providing proper patient care, and overwhelming physical demands. Moreover,participants expressed they felt undervalued, inadequately supported, and burned-out during thepandemic. The most common personal resources used to cope with additional stress were relyingon family members, friends, and colleagues for support, in addition to utilizing personal hobbiesto decompress. Lastly, participants were able to provide suggestions on how to improve jobresources, focusing on improving mental and physical support, communication, and retention.Conclusion: This study provides an in-depth understanding of the COVID-19 workingconditions of Ontarian obstetrical nurses, while highlighting that they were provided withinadequate levels of job resources to manage increased job demands. Findings from this studycan help inform hospital management on how they can better support and meet the needs ofthose working in maternal care during major disease outbreaks. À la demande de l'auteur, le résumé a été retiré en raison de la nature confidentielle de la thèse. Il sera ajouté une fois la période d'embargo terminée.

Bakgrund: Covid-19 är ett smittsamt virus som upptäcktes i slutet av 2019. Viruset deklarerades av World Health Organization (2021) som en pandemi den 11 mars 2020. För att förhindra spridning av coronaviruset antogs olika åtgärder som förändrade hälso- och sjukvården globalt. Sjuksköterskorna har befunnit sig i frontlinjen i kampen mot viruset. Deras omvårdnadsarbete skedde under andra och speciella omständigheter.  Syfte: Syftet var att belysa sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att vårda patienter med Covid-19 inom slutenvård.  Metod: Litteraturstudie gjordes utifrån Forsberg och Wengströms (2016) metod. Artiklar söktes från databasen Cinahl och PubMed samt via manuell sökning. 9 artiklar inkluderades efter relevans och kvalitetsgranskning. Induktiv innehållsanalys gjordes vilket resulterade i tre huvudkategorier och tre subkategorier.   Resultat: Sjuksköterskors erfarenheter kategoriserades i tre huvudkategorierna: ”Att inte räcka till”, ”Rädsla att bli smittad” och ”Professionens utveckling och arbetstillfredsställelse”. Tre subkategorier inom ”Att inte räcka till” var: ”Otillräckligt information och kunskap”, ”Otillräckligt med resurser” och ”Skyddsutrustningen var begränsande”.  Slutsats: Sjuksköterskornas erfarenhet av att vårda patienter med Covid-19 var meningsfull, tillfredsställande och kompetensutvecklande trots att vårdandet präglades av rädsla, oro och ångest. Begränsningar med skyddsutrustning, information och andra utmaningar gjorde även att sjuksköterskorna kände sig otillräckliga i vårdandet.

Background: Despite the overwhelming evidence that medication abortion care can be delivered safely and effectively through telemedicine services, Canadian abortion care providers have historically underutilized this modality of service delivery. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health measures designed to flatten the curve both exacerbated existing inequities in access and prompted service delivery innovations in abortion care. -- Objectives: This project aimed to explore the experiences of women, transgender men, non-binary folks, gender non-conforming, and Two-Spirit individuals with the capacity for pregnancy (womxn) with telemedicine abortion care. By understanding facilitators and barriers to telemedicine use as well as abortion seekers' satisfaction with remote interactions, we aimed to identify ways of improving and fortifying the abortion care system in Ontario. -- Methods: Using a multi-modal recruitment strategy, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with womxn who obtained a telemedicine abortion in Ontario after March 15, 2020. We used inductive and deductive techniques to analyze these data for content and themes. -- Results: The two Ontarian womxn that we interviewed were highly satisfied with the telemedicine abortion care they received and would recommend this service delivery modality with others. -- Conclusions: The results from our pilot align with a growing body of research calling for the demedicalization of medication abortion care in Canada. Future research that expands on these findings can have both policy and service delivery implications.

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