ABSTRACT
In the current situation of Covid-19, it is clear as to how health professional warriors are fighting against disease, distress, social discrimination and many atrocities while upholding their profession and compassion. Moreover, they are exposing themselves to the risk of infection and death to save the lives of patients from a life-threatening disease. The study examines the relationship between work-life conflict and psychological health of healthcare sector employees and the flexible workplace arrangement. Further, it examines if there is any difference between those employed in public hospitals and those in private hospitals. Comparison of means using t-test, means, frequency and correlation analysis is done in order to achieve the study objectives. The results confirm low levels of overall conflict as well as family-work and work-family conflicts. With regard to comparison between government and private hospitals, a significant difference is found between the two at burnout levels only and not in terms of conflict and health.
ABSTRACT
Background Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blocker, emerged as a treatment for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The main objective of the study is to discuss the treatment response of TCZ in severe and critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Patient demographics, laboratory parameters before and after TCZ therapy, and clinical outcomes in 20 patients in a single center were prospectively reviewed. Results Out of 120 patients, 96 (80%) were males and 24 (20%) were females. Only eight (10%) patients did not have any previously known comorbidity. There were 78 (65%) patients with severe disease, while 42 (35%) have critically severe disease. Of the 120 patients, only 36 required a second dose of TCZ in our study based on clinical background. Neutrophils and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were observed to be raised in all patients, while lymphopenia was observed in 114/120, and D-dimer levels were elevated in 102 (85%) patients. After the second dose of tocilizumab, 102 (85%) patients reduced oxygen requirement within four days, and 14 patients were removed on the second dose of tocilizumab on clinical grounds. Of these 120 patients, in two weeks, 30 (25%) were discharged. Within three weeks, 60 of them were discharged, while 12 were discharged after three weeks, and 18 patients died in our study despite treatment. Conclusion TCZ appeared to be a good treatment option in patients with CRS and severe and critical pneumonia, and for patients with raised IL-6 levels despite single TCZ therapy, a repeat dose is recommended.