ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly led to an unprecedented health threat worldwide. During this time, disease prevention is considered to be the best way for general health protection. This is achieved through public health education by extending proper knowledge, promoting an optimistic attitude, and keeping the public compliant with preventive measures. As components of the healthcare system, medical students should also play a role in disease prevention more so in the Philippines where the Department of Health has called upon medical graduates to render services in response to the national emergency. In this study, the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of medical students from Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) towards COVID-19 infection and preventive measures were assessed. Demographic factors, their respective effect size on KAP, as well as the relationship between KAP variables were determined. The revised questionnaire, drafted based on qualitative and quantitative validity tests, was then used for the pilot study to generate the final questionnaire. Responses from participants underwent descriptive and correlational analysis. The results showed that the majority of the medical students of CIM have adequate knowledge (78.24%), positive attitude (80.68%), and good practices (94.38%) towards COVID-19 infection and prevention measures. Females have a significant association (p-value = 0.03) with better practices than male counterparts. Knowledge (p-value = 0.004) and attitude (p-value = 0.003) also showed significant correlation with practices, implying that knowledge and attitude play a role in shaping compliance to health practices. Therefore, health interventions should aim to disseminate accurate, evidence-based information and improve attitude towards the implemented precautionary measures in order to increase effectiveness of policies.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as a major health crisis throughout the world. In order to control the spread of disease in India, the Central Government imposed a nationwide lockdown. The ongoing spread of the pandemic, strict lockdown measures and delay in the opening of educational institutions in the country are expected to affect the mental health of medical college students too. In order to help and guide the students, we should first be aware of the magnitude of the problem faced by medical students due to the pandemic. For this purpose, this study was conducted online. Aim: To assess the effect of the pandemic on the psychological status of the students and their perception towards medical profession. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Biochemistry of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, Haryana, India from 22nd May 2020 to 5th June 2020, among 538 first year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students from several Government and Government aided medical schools in the state of Haryana after obtaining ethical clearance. The detailed questionnaire, a study consisting of sections on the current status in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, perception towards medical profession and psychological status. It was posted online on social media platforms and the responses were collected within 15 days of posting. The psychological status was assessed based on a 21 item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Results: Out of 538 student’s responses, it shows that 19.1% (n=103) of students experienced moderate stress, probably because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the effect it had on the social and academic aspects of their lives. About 11.5% (n=62) of students had a moderate level of anxiety, and 16.9% (n=91) had experienced moderate depression during the ongoing pandemic. Conclusion: The study demonstrates various factors, like interruptions in regular studies, social distancing, fear of infection, fear of losing a loved one, and worry about the completion of the syllabus and examinations, all cause stress and anxiety in students.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Medical students have lost invaluable exposure to surgery and research during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in missed opportunities and mentorship essential to career decision-making. This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the influence of regional educational events on student engagement with surgery and academia. Method: A series of virtual regional events on academic surgery were delivered in 2021 across the UK and Ireland. Attendees completed post-event feedback, including questions on their experience of engagement with surgery and research during the pandemic, and the impact on career interests. 5-point Likert scales were used to assess agreement (from 1 ['strong disagreement'] to 5 ['strong agreement']). Data were summarised using mean and standard deviation (SD), and mean differences (MD) compared using parametric tests. Results: Of ∼850 attendees across 31 events between January and May 2021, 393 students responded. The pandemic had made engagement with surgery (mean: 3.95, SD: 1.01) and research more challenging (mean: 3.79, SD: 1.03). Those undecided on a surgical career reported a significantly larger increase in knowledge (MD: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.25-0.59, p<0.001) and intention to consider a surgical career (MD: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26-0.56, p<0.001) after the event, than those who had already decided. Conclusions: Accessible opportunities are needed to combat the lack of surgical and research experience caused by the pandemic. Concrete efforts at grass-root and national levels are required to continue encouraging a representative and research-active surgical workforce.
ABSTRACT
Background: Isolated myoclonus and opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMAS) as an initial manifestation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not yet been described. Case History: A 55-year-old right-handed Hispanic woman, with no history of neurological dysfunction, was asymptomatic without fever, headaches, respiratory symptoms, myalgia or chemosensory dysfunction until four days prior to presentation when she gradually lost muscle control with uncontrollable arrhythmic nonrepetitive jerking and shaking throughout, involving her abdomen, arms, face and hands both with intention and at rest. Later that same day, she observed oscillopsia, whereby her visual field flickered vertically. On the fourth day after onset of symptoms, the patient's COVID-19 RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab test was positive. Physical examination on day five: Afebrile. Cranial Nerve (CN) examination: CN III, IV, VI: Opsoclonus, spontaneous conjugate multidirectional eye movements without nystagmus and intersaccadic interval not restricted to a horizontal or vertical gaze. CN VII: Intermittent rapid closing and fluttering of eyelids. Gait: Unable to stand. Cerebellar examination: Finger-to-nose testing: Severe intention myoclonus. Myoclonic jerks were present on drift testing with inability to raise the arms due to upwards and negative myoclonic movements. Negative myoclonus on wrist extension. Lumbar puncture on day five: WBC count: 2 cells/mL, RBC count: 0 cells/mL, protein 26 mg/dl, gram stain negative, viral serology negative. Discussion: Those who present with myoclonus, oscillopsia, ataxia or opsoclonus without preexisting respiratory or chemosensory symptoms warrant evaluation for presence of COVID-19 infection.
ABSTRACT
The paper describes about the impacts of the lockdown imposed during the year 2020 owing to COVID-19 by the State of Telangana with specific reference to the facilities extended to the unorganized sector workers by the Union Government as well as State Government vis-à-vis the ground realties in implementing the schemes/ welfare measures. Further, the problems faced by the workers vis-à-vis the practical problems faced by the Governments to implement the said schemes is also discussed. The paper also aims to suggest the remedial measures to improve the living conditions of the unorganized workers during the pandemic crisis.