ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) re-garding novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers in Karachi Pakistan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at medical unit 3, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi by using a self-reported questionnaire-based survey from March 2020 to May 2020. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit the consenting HCWs of all categories (doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians) who were currently providing services at different hospitals of Karachi. The non-consenting and unavailable doctors were excluded from this study. The questionnaire was developed by using the frequently asked questions from the WHO and Centre for Disease Control (CDC). The healthcare workers knowledge, attitude and practices related to COVID-19 were used as outcomes. Healthcare workers were approached by investigators and survey instrument was made accessible through a link on social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, and emails). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for KAP of HCWs regarding COVID-19. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 553 subjects completed the study questionnaire. However, data of 547 (98.9%) par-ticipants was selected for inclusion in final analysis after excluding 6 respondents. HCWs gross category and clinical setting were found to be statistically associated with overall KAP (P<0.001 and P=0.048, respectively). Upon logistic regression analysis, KAP scores statistically differed across genders (p coefficient=2.115, SE =0.179 and P<0.001), age groups (p coefficient=2.098, SE =0.138 and P<0.001) and HCWs gross category (p coefficient=2.053, SE=0.135 and P<0.001). The nurses and technicians were found less likely for good KAP with reference to COVID-19 as compared to doctors and pharmacists. These results were found to be statistically significant with P-value less than 0.05;the odds for nurses and technicians were 0.35 and 0.10, respectively. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that HCWs had good knowledge, optimistic attitude and decent practice towards recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, their source of information regarding COVID-19 is not reliable and can adversely influence the KAP.
ABSTRACT
For the last more than a year, Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating influence and impact on the entire world phenomenal impact on all aspects of role in shifting people to the virtual world. The main aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of Postgraduate Research Scholars about adapting Digital Libraries. Using a quantitative research design, 100 male and female postgraduate research scholars were selected through simple random sampling from two universities. A 5-point Likert scale with closed ended questionnaire was used for gathering data from the participants. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the collected data. Technology Adoption Model and t-test were used for evaluating differences between group data. Main findings of the study show that there is a significant impact of system quality on ease of use, library assistance on ease of use accessibility on ease of use and complexity on ease of use. Moreover, the findings also show that there is significant influence of Navigation on Ease of Use, and Self-Computer Efficiency has a significant influence on Usefulness, Knowledge and Search Domain and Material Availability has a significant effect on Usefulness. Furthermore, the result of Usefulness of HEC digital Library has effect on Ease of Use;similarly, ease of use has a significant effect on adaptation and usefulness of HEC digital Library on adaptation of Digital Library. As for Gender-based users using HEC Digital Library, the findings show that there is difference found in usage of digital library among male and female scholars. There is a need for conducting research throughout Pakistan, using mixed-methods and qualitative research designs on both undergraduate and postgraduate students. © 2021,Library Philosophy and Practice. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 remains a major public health emergency and in-center dialysis provides multiple opportunities for its spread. Elderly immunocompromised hosts pose a significant risk for infection as well as poor outcomes. We present a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases in our dialysis unit. Methods: Retrospective analysis was done as a part of a quality improvement project using unidentified patient data including: demographics, distribution of dialysis shift, patient zip code, transportation mode (self, ride share or public transport), residence type (home, long term care facility or homeless shelter), etiology of ESRD and dialysis vintage. T-test and multivariate analysis (including logistic regression for binary and categorical data) were conducted using SPSS v23. Results: There were 70 patients in the unit and 10 became positive for COVID-19. 65/70 (92%) of all patients were African American. Between COVID-19 positive and negative patients, there was no significant difference in age (62±15 vs 63±14 years p=0.2), dialysis vintage (7.6±8.7 vs 5.2±4.7 years p=0.31), male gender (7/10 (70%) vs 40/70 (58%) p=0.31). 5/10 (50%) of the positive patients were MWF 2nd shift. On multivariate analysis, this effect approached significance (p=0.051);however, there was no interaction of COVID-19 positive status with demographic characteristics, dialysis vintage, residence type, zip code distribution, or transportation modality. Of note, universal masking and temperature screening were implemented on March 5, 2020 in this unit and no new cases were noted after May 2, 2020. Conclusions: Our analysis did not show any clear factor associated with COVID-19 infection among our dialysis patients although clustering approached statistical significance. Small sample size and demographic distribution are shortcomings of our study;larger scale epidemiological studies and data analysis are required for better understanding the risk of COVID-19 infection amongst in-center dialysis patients.