ABSTRACT
Background: There are numerous studies indicating that COVID-19 pandemic has brought a great deal of pressure for medical fraternities, as medical teachers and students were busy saving lives. The mental health of these frontiers and medical education both suffered. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to determine the assessed pooled prevalence of depression among medical students of India by undertaking meta-analysis of published original research studies during pandemic. Materials and Methods: Researcher followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Authors used terminologies such as depression, mental health, medical students, and India to search PubMed and Google Scholar databases for original articles published between January 2020 and March 2022 based on mental health of Indian medical students. Researcher had chosen only the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 items based study to prevent false heterogenicity. Results: Out of 1471 screening, a total of six original research articles were included after screening for eligibility criteria involving 3248 medical students from different medical colleges of India. The median number of students was 541.33 (range, 181–2021). Meta-analysis of pooled prevalence assessment of depression among medical students in India by random effects model was 38% (confidence interval: 27–49%). Conclusion: Within study limitations, the high prevalence of depression was noted among medical students of India.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: There are various researches for increased anxiety in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and their relatives due to separation, but most of them are observational. Audio-video communication can be employed for communication between patients in rigorous isolation and their relatives. There were few researches available about the effectiveness of video calling on anxiety in COVID-19 patient. Gujarat lags considerably behind, according to bibliometric analysis of the India-based COVID-19 publication. Thus, the authors sought to conduct present study to evaluate that how video conferencing between COVID-19 patients in isolation and their relatives, affects anxiety. Aim: To determine the effect of standardised virtual communication on anxiety levels in relatives of COVID-19 intubated patient's. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College and Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, from April 2021 to July 2021. Total 283 relatives of COVID-19 patient were recruited by purposive sampling. Virtual communication unit was set up, where relatives can communicate audio-visually with their patient and caregiver with help of video calling technology. Inside Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the caregivers (intern, doctors or nurses) wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit handled the portable audio-visual screen and answered on behalf of the patient. The Hamilton anxiety scale was used to measure the anxiety of relatives before and after the communication. Paired t-test was used to statistically analyse the data. Level of significant p-value <0.05 was considered. Results: A total of 283 subjects with 178 males and 105 female relatives were enrolled in the study. As an effect of communication, the mild anxiety prevalence decreased from 69.71% to 46.27%, the moderate anxiety prevalence decreased from 4.93% to 3.81%, and 49.92% of relatives reported being anxiety-free after communication. Statistical analysis of the paired t-test of Hamilton anxiety score showed a drop in anxiety score after communication from 4.77 +/- 3.66 to 2.88 +/- 2.34 (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Audio-visual technology is effective as a mode of communication and counselling during a pandemic to reduce anxiety in COVID-19 victim families.
ABSTRACT
Purpose-The Pandemic Coronavirus and consequent lockdown outbreak has called for "the largest Work-From-Home (WFH) experiment worldwide". Receiving huge numbers of personnel to Work-From-Home has not ever been crucial. WFH is recommended and implemented by approximately half (46%) of organizations because of the COVID-19. Design-This research paper did an in-depth study of WFH policies and explored experiences and challenges faced by employees. 260 executives working in 37 industries/sectors were approached through an online structured questionnaire. Findings-Service Industries such as IT, Analytics, KPO, and Market Research are ready to implement Work from home. Research limitations-The research study is limited to selected cities of Gujarat and Maharashtra states of India. The survey can be extended to other cities / states / countries. Practical implications-COVID-19 has changed the experiences of being an employee or an HR. The results generated from the research, can be useful to provide inputs to the organizations, HR managers and strategic thinkers to take decisions about implementation, continuation and challenges of WFH arrangements as a long-term HR strategy in the coming future (in selected sectors/industries). Social implications-Coronavirus, prompted major changes in life as Work from home (WFH) became the new normal. Employees embraced new routines and rules. The world saw its influence on all facets of life and has changed the way people work. Originality-The distinctiveness of this article is that it provides evidences on how Indian workforce shifted to remote work in the months after the pandemic outbreak.