Browsing by Autor "Kareen Arias"

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P-198. Development and Implementation of a Research Nurse Training Curriculum at the Center for Human Development in Rural Southwest Guatemala
(Oxford University Press, 2026) Diva M. Calvimontes Barrientos; Neudy C Rojop; Eduardo M Barrios; Andrea Chacon; Kareen Arias; Alejandra Paniagua-Ávila; Antonio Bolanos; Claire Bradley; Rajid Gaind; Dan Olson
Abstract Background Professional development opportunities in research rural areas, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce, nurses begin their careers with limited knowledge, training in research methods and trial implementation. Center for Human Development has conducted research in rural southwest Guatemala 2014. To address the need for qualified personnel in human subjects’ research, we developed a formal research training curriculum for nurses, aimed to prepare them for field work and a career in theoretical, practical research. Table 1 Training Coures Table 2 Demographic Information Methods Following a needs assessment, the curriculum was designed using existing open-source certificate programs (i.e. Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, Health and Human Services, included research ethics and Good Clinical Practice (GCP), via peer-to-peer internal presentations, reading assignments, practical sessions on protocol design, informed consent; sample collection, transport and storage; laboratory management; data quality, source documentation; REDcap Data and quality control. After four weeks of supervised fieldwork, nurses transitioned to independent work with decreased oversight. Results From June 2015 to May 2024 60 nurses completed training program, including 42 (70.5%) women, ages 19-37 years; they included 23 (38.3%) auxiliary nurses, 36 (60.3 %) nurse technicians from the nearby Departments, Huehuetenango (n=1), Retalhuleu (n=4), Quetzaltenango (n=39), San Marcos (n=16). A subset or nurses (n=3) subsequently obtained a bachelor’s degree, advanced to a master’s, they are ethics committee reviewers, faculties at a local university. Of the 60 trained nurses, 11 continue to work at site; 3 currently are study coordinators. Conclusion Conclusions: In conclusion, we have successfully developed and implemented a research nurse training curriculum in rural Guatemala, increasing capacity and providing an opportunity for professional development, especially impacting young women. Professional development training associated with opportunities to participate in research studies, contributed to increase retention, capacity and implement complex research studies in this rural area of Guatemala. Disclosures Edwin J. Asturias, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support
P-203. Incidence of Influenza in Agricultural Workers: The Agricultural Worker COVID-19 Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Transmission in the Home and Workplace (AGRI-CASA) Study, 2023-2024
(Oxford University Press, 2026) Molly Lamb; Daniel Carreon; Brittany Adams; Neudy Rojop; Mirella Calvimontes; Claire Bradley; Chelsea Iwamoto; Kareen Arias; Julio del Cid-Villatoro; D. L. Vasquez
Abstract Background Influenza virus infections can lead to substantial productivity losses among agricultural workers essential to food security throughout the Americas including the United States, and may impact household health and economic wellbeing through transmission to family members. Methods From January 2023 – August 2024, we estimated the burden of influenza virus infection among a cohort of 170 households in a rural, agricultural community in southwest Guatemala. Households underwent active twice weekly surveillance for influenza-like illness (ILI), defined as ≥ 1 day of fever AND either cough or sore throat. Upon respiratory symptom onset, a respiratory swab specimen was collected and tested for influenza using RT-PCR using the Roche cobas Liat instrument. Influenza vaccination status was collected at time of vaccine administration for agricultural workers, and via retrospective self-report for household members, to whom we did not directly administer influenza vaccinations. Results Among 247 ILI cases, 112 occurred in 2023 and 135 in 2024; 95 (38%) tested positive for influenza, including 80 (84%) with influenza A and 15 (16%) with influenza B viruses. Influenza incidence in 2023 was 3.0 per 1000 persons-weeks [PW] (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2–4.2; influenza A 2.6 [95% CI: 1.8–3.5]; influenza B 0.5 [95% CI: 0.2–0.9]) and in 2024 3.3 per 1000 PW. (95% CI: 2.4–4.4; influenza A 2.8 [95% CI 2.0–3.7], influenza B 0.6 [95% CI 0.2–1.1]). Influenza incidence did not differ significantly by sex or age. Only 3 (3%) influenza cases received influenza vaccine in the year prior to illness onset; 92 (97%) did not. The influenza season in Guatemala peaks in early summer; most influenza cases occurred between April and July (2023: 89%, 2024: 96%) and most cases (n = 92) were unvaccinated. Conclusion In an agricultural community with low vaccination coverage, we have described the annual burden of influenza, noted that it is largely driven by influenza A viruses, and that the influenza season peaks in the early summer months. Economic stakeholders may consider influenza vaccination programs to ensure worker health, productivity, and sustainability of food supply throughout the Americas. Disclosures Molly Lamb, PhD, Merck: Grant/Research Support Daniel Olson, MD, Fundacion para la Salud Integral de los Guatemaltecos: Board Member|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Roche Diagnostics: Grant/Research Support