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ABSTRACT Objective: To find out the side effects of vaccines of COVID-19 and its association with sociodemographic factors among students of medical colleges of Rawalpindi. Study Design: Cross sectional analytic study. Place and Duration of Study: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out from May to Aug 2022 among medical students of three Medical Colleges (AMC, FUMC, RMC) in Rawalpindi Pakistan. Methodology: There were 200 participants that were conveniently selected with the Rao soft sample size calculator. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS (v:26) was used to analyze the data. Chi square analysis was used to assess the relationship between side effects and demographic characteristics and a p-value of 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Majority of the participants were male 126(63%) and unmarried 182(94%). The mean age of the participants was 20 years (SD=1.4). Almost all were vaccinated 197(98.5%) with two doses 195(97.5%). The side effects after the first dose were more profound as compared to the second dose, like normal pain 133(66.5%), tenderness at injection sit e 69(34.5%), fever 65(32.5%) and fatigue 80(40%). Muscular pains were also documented to be pronounced after the administration of first dose 58(29%). Association analysis showed significant association between first dose side effects, normal pain(p=0.001), tenderness (p=0.004), redness (p=0.02) and fatigue (p=0.02) with gender variable. Whereas age and degree socio demographic variables reported significant association with first dose side effects, normal pain (p=0.04) and muscle pain (p=0.01), respectively. Conclusion: It was conclusive that adverse effects were more common and more severe after the first dose than after the second. The most frequent side effect was normal pain at the injection site, found more frequently in men, with muscular pain being noticeably worse after the first dosage and surprisingly minimal following the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.
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ABSRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of PTSD symptoms and its severity among HCWs, amid the COVID pandemic in a tertiary care setting. Study Design: Cross sectional analytic study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Aug 22. Methodology: The study was conducted on 173 healthcare workers of a tertiary care hospital. The sample size was calculated using the Rao-soft calculator. Validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) were used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Out of 173 participants, majority of participants 90(52%) were male and single 103(63%). Mean age of the participating HCWs was 27(SD= 2.3). HCWs performing duties the in COVID-19 ward for one year were 66(38.2%) and majority were from Emergency medicine 61(35.3). Almost 150(86.71%) of HCWs did not experiencing any PTSD symptoms and those exhibiting a higher severity of symptoms were only 5(2.9%). There was no statistically significant difference in total and sub scales mean scores of IES-R among males and females (p=0.28). Conclusions: Our study concluded that prevalence of symptoms of PTSD was significantly low in Health Care Workers despite of the fact, majority of doctor participants were working in COVID-19 ward for one year. The symptoms were evident among healthcare professionals, however there was modest severity.
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ABSRACT Objectives: To find the effect of information channels on Covid-19 acceptance among university students of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad. Study Design: Cross sectional analytic study. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in four imminent Universities in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Air University, Rawalpindi Medical University, Riphah University and Quaid-e-Azam University, Rawalpindi, from May to Aug 2022. Methodology: Participants from four universities in Rawalpindi/Islamabad Pakistan, were recruited for this current research from May to August 2022. A sample size of 377±14 was computed using the Rao soft sample size calculator, maintaining a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval a population proportion (50%). Non-probability convenient sampling was used. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: There were 377 students recruited, out of which majority 207(55%) were female. Most of the students were in the Medicine and allied fields 227(60.2%). Almost, half of the respondents (44.56%) received information about the COVID-19 vaccine from mobile networks. The level of trust in vaccine information was also highest for Mobile Networks (31.30%). Participants' perceptions of the covid 19 risk, 156(41%) revealed high concerns for infecting family and friends with the virus. There was a significant association of female gender (p<0.05) and being from the Medicine and allied fields (p=p<0.05) with vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: In our study the mobile and traditional media were reported as the main sources of information about the COVID-19 vaccination however they were not significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. Female gender, education level and being from the Medicine and allied fields was associated with intention to be vaccinated.
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ABSTRACT Objective: To find out the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers dealing with the outbreak compared to those who did not deal with COVID-19 positive cases directly. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Online survey conducted in tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan, from May 2020 to June 2020. Methodology: Total 171 participants enrolled in the online survey using Google Forms and self administered proforma comprising of perceived stress score 10 and impact of event scale revised. Data was imported using Microsoft excel and analysed by SPSS v 23 software. Results: Out of 171 participants, 105 (73 [69.3%] males, 32 (30.4%) females were dealing with COVID-19 patients. Moderate to high stress were documented in 51 (78.5%) and 4 non-COVID fighters respectively and in 66 (62.9%) and 6 (8.6%) COVID fighters. Moreover, front line Health Care Workers exhibiting a higher incidence of Post traumatic stress disorder i.e. 25 (23.8%) with Partial PTSD and 22 (21%) matching a clinical cut-off score for diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and 58 (55.2%) having Severe post traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: Our study concluded that stress and post traumatic stress disorder incidence was seen to be significantly higher in Health Care Workers who were directly dealing with COVID-19 patients as compared to those who were not dealing directly. Moreover, Health Care Workers working in setups which provided psychosocial support reported significantly lesser incidence of perceived stress and post traumatic stress disorder.