Logistics and administration-related stressors among young physicians working in the emergency medicine (EM) department and their perceived job satisfaction in EM department across hospitals of India: a nationwide multicentric digital survey.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency medicine (EM) is a growing specialty in India with the board approving training programme commencing only since 2009. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by EM department personnel in the country and to obtain valuable insight into the concerns and problems experienced by them. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional digital survey conducted among EM department personnel in teaching institutions across India. The study involved 170 respondents, who completed an online questionnaire that covered various aspects of their work and identified the challenges they faced. It also captured potential solutions as perceived by the respondents. RESULTS: A total of n=170 participants completed the survey of which N=164 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The study revealed significant challenges faced by EM personnel in India. Administrative and clerical work consumed a considerable amount of respondents' time. Understaffing (n=144/164; 87.8%), followed by complains about delay due to hospital administrative processes and policies (n=141/164; 85.9%), and delay in interhospital transfers (n=139/164; 84.8%) were the primary concerns spelt out by the respondents. Additionally, respondents experienced interpersonal conflicts, and verbal/physical abuse and inappropriate behaviour from patients and their family members. Potential key solutions suggested were to improve resources including manpower and take steps to prevent violence against EM staff. CONCLUSION: The study's results call for policy-makers and hospital administrators to address the issues faced by EM department staff. Improving EM department operations can improve patient care and staff well-being. Future research should examine challenges in non-teaching institutions and potential solutions.

The impact of health education intervention on perceptions of menstrual cup among college going female students in peri-urban Bangalore.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of health educational intervention on perceptions of menstrual cup usage among female students enrolled in a degree college in Bangalore district. METHODS: An interventional study was conducted among female students studying in a degree college in peri-urban Bangalore. Universal sampling was followed and a prior face validated questionnaire was administered to the students after to assess their perceptions, followed by a health education intervention. The subjects were followed up after a period of one month, to assess the impact of health education in changing their perception towards menstrual cups. RESULTS: Among 83 study participants with mean age 19.5±0.95 years, post intervention we found a 42 % increase in the total awareness score and a 35 % increase in total attitude score towards menstrual cup use. There was an increase by 36.1 % (p<0.001) among participants who considered menstrual cup better than sanitary napkins. A reduction by 27.7 % (p=0.024) of reported fear of pain and discomfort while using menstrual cup was noted. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant improvement in the overall awareness about how to use a menstrual cup, advantages, and attitude towards the usage of menstrual cups following the health educational intervention. Health education was found to have a positive impact on perceptions of menstrual cup.