ABSTRACT
Context: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has emerged as a pandemic now has put health care workers (HCWs) at great risk as they are the warriors in frontlines screening and treating the infected patients. When a COVID-19-positive HCW is identified, its contacts need to be traced to check the spread of the infection among patients and other HCWs. Aims: This study was aimed to study epidemiology and risk factors associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection among HCWs and to quantify the risk of infection among HCWs in a tertiary level health care setting. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study enrolled all the HCWs who were exposed to a patient with COVID-19 in a tertiary level health care center, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand from 1st May to 30th July, 2020. Methods and Material: All the exposed HCWs were followed up for 14 days after the last exposure to a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Epidemiological data were obtained using structured interviews. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for descriptive variables, and risk ratios were calculated for risk factors affecting the transmission of disease. Results: We observed that 1,141 HCWs of the tertiary level health care hospital were exposed to COVID-19 patients during the study period. A total of 22 HCWs were tested COVID-19 positive among these exposed HCWs. Univariate analysis revealed a high risk of exposure to be significantly associated with a higher secondary attack rate of SARS CoV-2. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the risk of COVID-19 transmission through asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, periodic testing of all health care workers is necessary to ensure early mitigation of the shortage of health care providers.
ABSTRACT
Background: High percentage of medical students showed multiple psychological factors that may interfere with their academic performance and identifying the problems in early stage and providing them advice is very important for their mental health. Methodology: The study targeted undergraduate medical students studying at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Selected students completed the self-administered questionnaire comprising the psychological correlates such as perceived stress scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, ten-item personality inventory, and other correlates such as sociodemographic and scholastic characteristics. The association of these psychological and other correlates with academic performance was analyzed using the Chi-square test at P >0.05. Results: Students with poor sleep quality 60.2% and 57.1% of students had high-stress levels perform well in academics. 70.2% of girls and 64.5% of general category students performed well in academics. Student's family head having a professional degree was associated with good performance in academics 64.3%. Moreover, students belonging to the upper class (69.2%) performed better. No significant association was observed between psychological correlates with academic performance but observed between sociodemographic and scholastic variables with academic performance. Conclusion: Among undergraduate medical students, there was no significant association of psychological correlates such as stress level, sleep quality, and anxiety trait with academic performance.
