An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical and Non-Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia.

Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services.

Exploring key-stakeholder perceptions on non-communicable disease care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.

Introduction: over one third of total Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years lost in Kenya are due to non-communicable diseases (NCD). In response, the Government declared significant commitment towards improving NCD care. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden on the already overstretched health systems in Kenya. The aims of this study are to assess whether health care providers perceived NCD care to be optimal during the pandemic and explore how to improve responses to future emergencies. Methods: this cross-sectional online survey included healthcare personnel with non-clinical roles (public health workers and policy-makers) and those delivering health care (doctors and nurses). Respondents were recruited between May and September 2021 by random sampling, completed by snowball sampling. Results: among 236 participants (42% in clinical, 58% in non-clinical roles) there was an overall consensus between respondents on NCD care being disrupted and compromised during the pandemic in Kenya. Detracted supplies, funding, and technical resources affected the continuity of NCDs' response, despite government efforts. Respondents agreed that the enhanced personnel capacity and competencies to manage COVID-19 patients were positive, but noted a lack of guidance for redirecting care for chronic diseases, and advocated for digital innovation as a solution. Conclusion: this paper explores the perceptions of key stakeholders involved in the management of NCDs in Kenya to improve planning for future emergency responses. Gaps were identified in health system response and preparedness capacity during the pandemic including the perceived need to strengthen NCD services, with solutions offered to guide resilience efforts to protect the health system from disruption.

Salivary biomarkers in COVID-19 patients.

The use of salivary biomarkers in diagnosis, treatment, and overall prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been developed recently. Salivary biomarkers are extremely promising as they are fast to obtain and involve noninvasive collection of specimens. Monitoring patients in real time is necessary in this pandemic. Saliva is another biofluid with major advantages at the molecular level. Methods that detect viral presence in the host secretions measure the current infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), whereas the detection of human antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 evaluates the past exposure to the virus. There is an urgent need to increase the active research for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva because diagnostics may provide a reliable and cost-effective method and is suitable for the fast and early detection of COVID-19 infection. Salivary biomarkers have a potential to be a vital guide in determining coronavirus disease. Many people still do not get results of COVID-19 tests due to imbalance between supply and demand at large testing centers. The use of saliva has various advantages compared to collection of nasopharyngeal swabs. New techniques should be developed for detecting salivary biomarkers that help in diagnosis of COVID-19.

Impact of self-efficacy and sense of coherence on tobacco cessation motivation and readiness among slum dwellers in Ajmer city during COVID-19 health emergency.

Background: Tobacco cessation motivation majorly depends on self-efficacy and sense of coherence. Hence the aim and objective of the present study was to explore how self-efficacy (SE) in addition to sense of coherence (SOC) affected tobacco cessation motivation and readiness among slum dwellers during the COVID-19 health emergency. Materials and Methods: The ongoing research was a cross-sectional, descriptive questionnaire study. The research started in November and ended in December 2020. The research took place in primary health centres located in Ajmer's urban slums. In this analysis, east, west, north and south directions of Ajmer were chosen at random from each direction, and each slum had an associated primary health centre (PHC). From these 16 PHCs, people coming from slum areas were interviewed. The questionnaire consisted of demographic details, tobacco motivation and readiness, SOC and SE. Results: The majority of study participants (178, 56.7%) were not seriously considering reducing their tobacco intake. The majority of study subjects had poor sense of coherence {137 (43.6%)}, self-efficacy {141 (44.9%)} and tobacco cessation motivation and readiness {156 (49.7%)}. Using the logistic regression model, it was discovered that study participants with high SE and a high SOC had a substantial impact on successful tobacco cessation motivation and readiness (P = 0.01*), (P = 0.00*). Conclusion: It was concluded that the study participants with high self-efficacy and high sense of coherence had a significant impact on good tobacco cessation motivation and readiness.

Nicotine dependence, perceived stress, and self-efficacy among primary health care professionals during the times of Covid-19 pandemic - A cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Nicotine dependency would have increased during the times of COVID-19 among the primary health professionals, which would can be attributed to perceived stress and can also be influenced by self-efficacy; hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between nicotine dependence with perceived stress, self-efficacy among primary health care professionals during the times of covid-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire study. The study was conducted among primary health workers of Ajmer district; stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data. A questionnaire was prepared that consists of demographic details, questions on perceived stress, self-efficacy, and nicotine dependence. RESULTS: Perceived stress and nicotine dependence was high among study participants. Self-efficacy was low. There was significant (P ≤ 0.05) association between high nicotine dependence and high perceived stress. It was also reported that majority of study participants {58 (30.4%)} with high self-efficacy significantly (P ≤ 0.05) was associated with low nicotine dependence. CONCLUSION: High nicotine dependence was significantly associated with high perceived stress, while low nicotine dependence was significantly lower among primary health care workers' low perceived stress. Low nicotine dependence was significantly associated among study participants with high self-efficacy.

Emotional well-being of dentists and the effect of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Lockdown in India might have adverse effects on the emotional health of the dental professionals; hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the impact of various factors on emotional well-being of dental professionals due to the effect of lockdown during COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire study conducted on dentists in India during April 2020. Sampling technique was convenient sampling, and sampling frame was all the dental professionals in India. The questionnaire was prepared online using Google Forms, and the link was generated which was shared among as many dentists accessible as possible, with the help of message, mails, and WhatsApp. The questionnaire consists of questions on Demographic details, practice, and emotional well-being. A total of 1844 dental professionals in 14 states in India responded. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS version no. 20. IBM SPSS version 20.0 (IBM; Armonk, New York USA) Descriptive statistics and multinomial regression test was applied. RESULTS: Majority of study participants (1096 [59.4%]) belonged to age group of 26-35 years. Emotional well-being score of 1206 (65.4%) dental professionals in the times of COVID-19 outbreak was poor with score between 26 and 78. It was assessed that males have significantly (P = 0.00**) (P < 0.001**) (**highly significant) poorer emotional well-being 0.085 (0.829-1.429) compared to females. Married dental professionals - 0.023 (0.011-1.221) had significantly better (P = 0.05*) emotional well-being than others. CONCLUSION: Emotional well-being score of majority of dental professionals in the times of COVID-19 outbreak was poor. Gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, years of experience, practicing in clinic, and average number of patients seen per month before lockdown have significant impact on emotional wellbeing of dental professionals.

Quarantine an effective mode for control of the spread of COVID19? A review.

The outbreak of COVID- 19 disease has taken the world by surprise. The disease mainly affects the respiratory system and is caused by a strain of coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Due to its high recombination rates the virus has an immense potential to spread rapidly. Within months of the first case being reported in Wuhan China, the disease has turned rapidly into a pandemic. The world health experts are already actively looking for a definite cure or vaccine for the disease, but till that many of the countries across the globe are looking up onto mass quarantine measures as a method to control its spread. This article is an attempt to review the effectiveness of these measures and the possible adverse effects of the same. Other possible modes of prevention and controlling the spread of the disease have also been reviewed in the article.

Preparedness among dental professionals towards COVID-19 in India.

INTRODUCTION: novel corona virus infection has become a public health crisis leading the world to a standstill including dentistry. However, since the dental services cannot be stopped for a long period it is important that dentist be fully prepared before resuming their services. Therefore, the current study was carried out for evaluating knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) along with perceived barriers to practice dentistry during pandemic. METHODS: this cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey questionnaire on dentists of India. Dentists were enquired for demographics, KAP and perceived barriers regarding practicing dentistry during pandemic. The knowledge was assessed based on 16 items in true or false or multiple choice questions format getting score of 1 or 0. The attitude and practices by 8 items each, on 5-point Likert scale and 4 items perceived barriers were enquired. The differences between the median scores among demographic variables were determined by applying student's t-test and keeping level of significance at below 0.05. RESULTS: out of 500 dentists who were approached through email, a total of 296 dentists returned the questionnaire (response rate, 59.2%) among which 22 questionnaires were incomplete and thus excluded making 274 as final study participants. Overall poor median scores of knowledge and practices were obtained whereas for attitude total median score was good. Median practice scores were significantly higher among female respondents (20(6)). Median knowledge and practice scores were significantly better in study participants with age <40 years (6(4) and 19(5), respectively). CONCLUSION: with the recent claims of authorities that virus is going to stay in world for quite some time it is essential that dentists must be fully prepared before resuming their services and must attain proper awareness to limit the disease spread.