ABSTRACT
Background: A good understanding of the possible risk factors for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) severity could help clinicians in identifying patients who need prioritized treatment to prevent disease progression and adverse outcome. In the present study, we aimed to correlate clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to disease outcome in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The present study included 199 COVID-19 patients admitted to King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Buraydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia, from April to December 2020. Patients were followed-up until discharge either for recovery or death. Demographic data, clinical data and laboratory results were retrieved from electronic patient records. Results: Critical COVID-19 cases showed higher mean of age and higher prevalence of co-morbid conditions. Fifty-five patients died during the observation period. Risk factors for in hospital death for COVID 19 patients were leukocytosis (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.008-3.548, p = 0.081), lymphocytopenia (OR 2.152, 95% CI 1.079-4.295, p = 0.020), neutrophilia (OR 1.839, 95% CI 0.951-3.55, p = 0.047), thrombocytopenia (OR 2.152, 95% CI 0.852-5.430, p = 0.085), liver injury (OR 2.689, 95% CI 1.373-4.944, p = 0.003), acute kidney injury (OR 1.248, 95% CI 0.631-2.467 p = 0.319), pancreatic injury (OR 1.973, 95% CI 0.939-4.144, p = 0.056) and high D dimer (OR 2.635, 95% CI 0.747-9.287, p = 0.091). Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory data of COVID-19 patients may help understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and subsequently improve of the outcome of patients by determination of the associated risk factors and recognition of high risk group who are more liable for complications and in hospital death. The present study put an eye on some parameters (laboratory and clinical) that should be alarming signs that the patient is at high risk bad prognosis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The term "telemedicine" refers to the use of communication technology to deliver health care remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic had substantial impacts on health care delivery from 2020 onward, and it was necessary to adapt high-quality care in a manner that limited the potential for viral exposure of both patients and health care workers. Physicians employed video, phone, and electronic written (e-consultation) visits, all of which provided quality of care comparable to that of face-to-face visits while reducing barriers of adopting telemedicine. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to assess physicians' perspectives and attitudes regarding the use of telemedicine in Riyadh hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objects of assessment were as follows: (1) physicians' experience using telemedicine, (2) physicians' willingness to use telemedicine in the future, (3) physicians' perceptions of patient experiences, and (4) the influence of telemedicine on burnout. METHODS: This study employed SurveyMonkey to develop and distribute an anonymous 28-question cross-sectional survey among physicians across all specialty disciplines in Riyadh hospitals. A chi-square test was used to determine the level of association between variables, with significance set to P<.05. RESULTS: The survey was distributed among 500 physicians who experienced telemedicine between October 2021 and December 2021. A total of 362 doctors were included, of whom 28.7% (n=104) were consultants, 30.4% (n=110) were specialists, and 40.9% (n=148) were residents. Male doctors formed the majority 56.1% (n=203), and female doctors accounted for 43.9% (n=159). Overall, 34% (n=228) agreed or somewhat agreed that the "quality of care during telemedicine is comparable with that of face-to-face visits." Approximately 70% (n=254) believed that telemedicine consultation is cost-effective. Regarding burnout, 4.1% (n=15), 7.5% (n=27), and 27.3% (n=99) of the doctors reported feeling burnout every day, a few times a week, and a few times per month, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The physicians had generally favorable attitudes toward telemedicine, believing that its quality of health care delivery is comparable to that of in-person care. However, further research is necessary to determine how physicians' attitudes toward telemedicine have changed since the pandemic and how this virtual technology can be used to improve physicians' professional and personal well-being.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of medical education in its current format during serious crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To explore academic, financial, psychological, & hygienic impact on medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study of students at different medical schools in Jordan. It included both basic and clinical years. RESULTS: There were 415 responses. Females constituted 51.8%. Around 50% of the participants were from the 6th year (n = 194, 46.7%). University of Jordan students represented around 40% of the responders. 60% of the students have GPA (Grade Point Average) of less than 3 points. Nearly half of the students indicated that their academic grades were affected during the pandemic. Clinical years' students (51.0%) were more likely to be negatively affected than students in basic years (36.1%), P value 0.026. Sixty three percent reported that they sanitize their hands before touching eyes, nose, or mouth. More than two thirds (70.4%) of students indicated that their mental health was affected in the pandemic. Financial influence was a major aspect in around 53% of students and 34% of students were not able to pay the university fees due to the pandemic. The pandemic affected the elective training course location of 70.9% of respondents. Mental health was affected in 70.9% of students and 65.1% became more anxious or depressed with no significant difference among gender and academic years (P values 0.256 and 0.516, respectively). Students in the clinical years were more afraid of getting the infection than students in the basic years, however this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.084). CONCLUSIONS: Covid-19 Pandemic negatively affected the academic course of the medical students especially at the clinical training years' level across Jordanian universities. COVID-19 pandemic left a negative impact on psychological & mental health of the students, too, rendering them more anxious, depressed, and afraid of coming to the hospital and handling patients.