ABSTRACT
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic was soon declared a global health threat and had significant economic and health implications. Unprecedented government measures brought massive shifts in teaching-learning pedagogy in nursing to curb the infection. The study was conducted to explore the predictors of pandemic fatigue among nursing undergraduates and mediating role of individual resilience and coping styles during the third wave in India. Methods This online survey included 256 undergraduate nursing students studying at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in North India. Lockdown/Pandemic Fatigue Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Scale, and Coping Behavior Questionnaire were used to collect the information. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to compute the results. Results Nursing undergraduates reported a moderate level of fatigue during the restrictions imposed at the time of the third wave. Students’ year of study (p = 0.001), tested positive during pandemic (p = 0.003), and post-COVID-19 hospitalization (p = 0.026) were found associated with higher fatigue status. Advanced age (p = 0.046) and higher personal resilience status (p < 0.001) were associated with lower fatigue levels. Resilience status (ß = − 4.311 p < 0.001) and second year of study (ß = 3.198, p = 0.015) were reported as independent predictors of pandemic fatigue in students. Conclusion Findings suggest that lockdown-related fatigue was common in nursing undergraduates. Considering negative consequences on mental health, routine psychosocial screening of the nursing students should be conducted. Recommending stress-relieving measures should be enforced to help nursing undergraduates to combat lockdown-induced exhaustion.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a large number of deaths along with severe socio-economic effects. The vaccine is considered to be the last hope to control viral transmission. This study aimed to explore the determinants of health care workers' (HCWs) willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: A structured, pre-validated, and pre-tested questionnaire was administered online to 599 HCWs including physicians, residents, and nurses from different types of healthcare set-ups across India. Information was collected regarding vaccine acceptability, attitude toward vaccination, and reasons for hesitancy. The chi-square test, followed by multinomial regression analysis, was applied to determine the factors associated with HCWs' vaccination willingness. RESULTS: It was found that 73 % (n=437) of HCWs were willing to accept the vaccines, while 10.85% (n=65) refused and 16.2% (n=96) needed more time to decide. Gender (P<0.001), occupation (P=0.040), working as front-line workers (P=0.008), vaccine manufacturing country preferences (P<0.001), and perceived risk of catching COVID-19 in the next 6 months (P=0.005) had a significant association with intent to receive vaccination (the response were "yes" vs. "no" and "not sure"). The reasons for vaccine hesitancy were vaccine safety and efficacy concerns, antivaccine attitude and beliefs, personal choice, and not wanting to take a vaccine before others. CONCLUSION: The majority of HCWs agreed to take COVID-19 vaccines once available. Nevertheless, providing support to manage evolving vaccine environments will help change the perception of HCWs who refuse or are reluctant to take the vaccines.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease rapidly spreads across the entire world in < 2 months and gravely jeopardizes the regular human routine. The medical fraternity recommends a vaccine as one of the best solutions to save the universe. However, to be effective, the population should reflect an encouraging attitude to accept it. The study aimed to measure vaccine acceptability and reason for hesitancy among the public. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight hundred and forty one adults visiting a tertiary care hospital responded to a pretested validated questionnaire on vaccine acceptability and hesitancy. The Chi-square test and independent t-test, followed by multinomial logistic regression, were used to analyze the findings. RESULTS: Overall, 53.4% (n = 445) of participants interested to take vaccine, 27.2% (n = 229) were not sure, and the remaining 19.4% (n = 163) did not intent to vaccinate. Gender (P = 0.013), information on the vaccine (P = 0.022), chances to get coronavirus disease in the next 6 months (P < 0.001), awareness on India COVID-19 vaccine (P < 0.001), Indian manufacturing company of vaccine (P < 0.001), family history of the laboratory-confirmed case (P < 0.001), and health status (P = 0.011) found a significant association with intention to vaccination (a response "yes" vs. "no" and "not sure"). Reasons for vaccine hesitancy included specific antivaccine attitudes and beliefs, a concern of fear and phobia, lack of information, and safety issues on the vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: This institute-specific survey revealed that approximately every 4 in 8 people were not sure to take the vaccine, and one in five people refused to be vaccinated. The study recommends using target-based health education to understand and address vaccine-specific concerns to enhance vaccine coverage, and boost confidence among the population.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease is primarily transmitted through the respiratory route and bodily contact. The fatality in COVID-19 cases was alarming in the initial days. This study analyzes hematological and biochemical markers of COVID-19 non-survivors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this single-center study, records of 249 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were studied for hematological profile and biochemical markers. Records of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease hospitalized between April 14, 2020, to August 15, 2020, were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Significantly, the disease mortality was associated with increased procalcitonin (P < 0.05), C-reactive protein (P < 0.05), aspartate transaminase (P < 0.05), serum potassium (P < 0.05), neutrophils count (P < 0.05), white blood cell count (P < 0.05), prothrombin time (P < 0.05) and activated prothrombin time (P < 0.05) in patients reported abnormal x-ray findings. Further, patients with abnormal radiological findings significantly showed a reduced level of lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05), oxygen saturation (P < 0.05), and partial oxygen pressure (P < 0.05). Reduced level of aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05) reported significant association with mortality among patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: The clinicians may consider the hematological and biochemical parameters in the patients with COVID-19 in future decision-making. These indicators might support clinical decisions to identify high fatality cases and poor diagnosis in the initial admission phase. In COVID-19 patients, we recommend close monitoring on procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, neutrophils count, and white blood cell count as a clinical indicator for potential progression to critical illness.