ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Online teaching has been practiced after lockdown due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which has replaced conventional classroom teaching. The aim of the present study was to know the perceptions regarding online learning as perceived by both teachers and students during COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was cross-sectional and questionnaire-based. Web-based respondent-driven sampling technique was used to recruit participants for the present study. Three hundred and thirty-two students and 130 teachers of varying ages and gender participated in the study. The link of web-based questionnaire was sent to respondents through WhatsApp/Facebook. Responses from all the participants were tabulated and analyzed using univariate analysis (Chi-square test). RESULTS: Prerecorded lectures (38.9%) and Webinar apps (35/8%) were the most common modules of online teaching by students. One-third (34.3%) had the convenience to attend lectures from home whereas 44.3% had difficulty in concentration. Commonly cited disadvantage by students was inability to do practical work (37.9%). Regarding teaching faculty, 43.8% had no prior knowledge of online teaching. Sixty percent of teachers had 4 h/week of online teaching. No face-to-face interaction (67.7%) and internet issues (26.9%) were commonly stated barriers by faculty. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has pushed the teachers and students toward newer teaching avenues. However, more needs to be done to supplement the existent teaching pattern and preparedness of teaching faculty by incorporating online assignments and assessment methods, strengthening digital infrastructure in medical schools, and training support for teachers. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The health services across the world have been deeply impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.This meant cutting down resources and manpower away from various health care facilities and severely hampering the functioning of various cancer services across the world.It is, however, important to understand,cancer itself is a life-threatening condition and there is a need to continue running cancer care services,at least for those who needed the most.We present the outcomes of our patients who were treated in the Division of Colorectal and Peritoneal Surgery oncology services during this pandemic. Materials and Methods: Prospective database of surgeries done in the department over a 60-day period between March and May 2020 was analysed.The primary objective of this study was to assess the outcome of the patients undergoing surgery during the study period. Results: A total of 90 patients underwent surgery over a 60-day period from March to May 2020.Out of the 90 surgeries performed,68 (75.6%) were elective surgeries and 22 (24.4%) were emergency surgeries.Majority of the surgeries were laparoscopic procedures accounting for 52 out of the 90 surgeries (57.8%) while open surgeries accounted for the remaining 38 surgeries (42.2%).Robotic surgeries and HIPEC were not performed during this period.Majority of the patients underwent a procedure with a curative intent (71 out of 90, 78.8 %).70% of the cohort were males accounting for 63 out of the 90 patients.Most of the patients were ASA I (56.7 %), while 41.1 % of the patients were ASA 2 with only 2 patients who were ASA 3 being operated in this time frame.36 of the 90 patients had a comorbidity and were actively taking treatment for the same.The median duration of surgery was 240 minutes.The median blood loss was 225 ml. The median post-operative stay was 5 days.The postoperative stay of the laparoscopic group and open surgery group were 4.3 day and 8.3 days respectively.The median post-operative stay in the elective case and emergency cases were 5 days and 6 days respectively.10 patients had a significant post op morbidity (Clavien Dindo Grade III and above) in the post-operative period. Four out of 43 rectal resections had a positive circumferential resection margin which corresponds to 9.3%,which is slightly higher that our institutional rate of below 5%,which probably is attributed to a selection bias of advanced cases during this period Conclusions: The role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was initially questioned at the start of the pandemic,however gradually increasing evidence favored MIS as it reduced hospital stay and complication.ERAS also plays an essential role in times like this, where the optimal usage of minimal resources is essential. We embraced these methods to ensure safety of our patients and staff and at the same time provide the highest standards of care.