Doctors In India Research Articles

Ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals: A review of current challenges and legal frameworks in India

Healthcare professionals, particularly doctors, face significant safety challenges in India. Workplace violence, harassment, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of appropriate legal protections worsen their vulnerability, especially during night shifts. Recent incidents of violence have drawn attention to the urgent need for reforms to ensure their safety. This review aims to critically evaluate the current safety concerns for doctors in India, analyse the effectiveness of the existing legal frameworks, particularly the newer BNS (Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita) and BNSS (Bhartiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita) systems, and propose practical strategies for improving workplace safety, focusing on night shifts and high-risk environments.This review article synthesises data from multiple sources, including published surveys, legal reports, and recent studies on workplace safety for healthcare professionals in India. The literature review focused on legal frameworks, hospital infrastructure, and psychosocial impacts affecting doctors. Inclusion criteria for the review included studies and reports on workplace safety, particularly those relevant to night shifts, emergency departments, and rural healthcare settings. Exclusion criteria included articles not directly addressing the safety concerns of healthcare professionals or those focused exclusively on non-clinical staff. The review revealed that over one-third of Indian doctors' report feeling unsafe during night shifts, with female doctors and junior staff particularly vulnerable. Key factors influencing perceptions of safety included inadequate security, lack of duty rooms, and insufficient legal enforcement under the Central Protection Act. The implementation of the BNS and BNSS systems is promising, but enforcement stays inconsistent across regions. Psychosocial impacts, including anxiety and burnout, were common, leading to lower job satisfaction and compromised care quality.Addressing the safety concerns of doctors in India requires a comprehensive approach, including stronger enforcement of legal protections under the BNS and BNSS systems, improved hospital infrastructure, and targeted psychosocial support. Future reforms should prioritise the establishment of secure environments and more robust legal accountability to mitigate workplace violence.

Breaking the Silence: The Urgent Need to Protect Female Resident Doctors

The brutal murder of a female pulmonary resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata has exposed the dangerous and often overlooked reality faced by female resident doctors in India. Overworked, under-protected and vulnerable to violence, these young resident doctors face extraordinary challenges in an already demanding medical profession. This article explores the systemic issues that contribute to the unsafe working conditions for female resident doctors, the prevalence of violence in healthcare settings and the urgent need for reform to protect those who dedicate their lives to the medical profession.

Dr. Anandibai Joshi: An Indian Medical Pioneer.

Dr. Anandibai Joshi was the first Indian female physician to complete her studies in Western medicine at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania. A pioneer in medicine, she was a trailblazing Indian woman, who had faced many hurdles during her quest for education. In her short span of life, she faced a lot of emotional, mental, physical, and social turbulence and had to prove herself at every step to the orthodox patriarchal Indian society the need to study medicine. Studying medicine in India was impossible for females during the 19th century. During those days, the females in India were uneducated due to gender differences prevalent in society, so the only option was to pursue medicine in a foreign land. Her life was full of hardships and challenges; she got married at the age of nine and, at the young age of 14, delivered a baby boy who could not survive beyond 10 days due to lack of medical care. This was the turning point in her life, and she was determined to become a physician so that the other women would not suffer the way she had. Thus began her educational journey, to pursue a career in Western medicine. Before Anandibai went to the United States, she gave a motivating speech in a public gathering, expressing the need for female doctors in India and her keenness to pursue medicine in the United States. She challenged all the social norms in those days, whether it was fighting to break gender stereotypes or convincing the male-dominated society to study medicine in the United States. This article is a reflection of Anandibai's accomplishments in her life and medical career and her dedication, determination, and strong commitment to improving the lives of Indian women. Her short life is a reflection of hope, perseverance, determination, and success and an inspiration to many Indian women to pursue education and medicine.

The Publication and Historical Significance of Modern Chinese Medical Reports.

Unlike Western medical journals such as The Lancet which focused on Western-centric medical cases, Medical Reports analyzed medical and sanitary issues in East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan and sought solutions to these problems. Medical Reports, a medical project initiated by the Chinese Maritime Customs Service (CMCS) in 1871, aimed to compile reference materials on the health conditions and diseases in ports. It was launched by the British Inspector General Robert Hart, who appointed the British Shanghai Customs Surgeon R. Alexander Jameson as the editor. Beginning in the 1860s, the British-led CMCS began expanding its reach from major cities to border areas, western regions, Taiwan Island, and Hainan Island, as well as territories beyond Qing Dynasty, such as Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Hong Kong, and Macau. This expansion required multinational cooperation, leading to the participation of Customs Surgeons, medical missionaries, and military doctors from ten countries, including the UK, the United States, France, China, Germany, Canada, Portugal, Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia, in the Medical Reports project. The Medical Reports were directly tied to the medical and sanitary initiatives in that community. They were authored by Customs Surgeons from a country with substantial regional influence. An analysis of the authors' nationalities, primary research focuses, and the relationship between the customs regions they covered revealed a statistically significant correlation. Even after Robert Koch discovered bacteria in the late nineteenth century, the miasma theory remained dominant, and most British doctors in India did not acknowledge the possibility that diseases could be caused by parasites. Despite this conservative historical context, the Medical Reports featured progressive research, including studies on leprosy based on germ theory and studies that actively embraced the emerging theory that parasites could be the cause of certain illnesses. In this process, the relatively unknown young physician named Patrick Manson, while working at the CMCS for 13 years, significantly advanced his medical knowledge by publishing numerous studies on filaria in the Medical Reports. His work led to the groundbreaking discovery that mosquitoes transmit infectious diseases. These research achievements pioneered the field of tropical medicine, a discipline that had not been established even in the extensive colonial holdings of France and Britain in tropical regions. Manson's work for the Medical Reports significantly advanced human efforts to prevent and respond to infectious diseases.

Impact of Islamophobic myths on Indian healthcare

This paper explores how anti-Muslim myths, particularly the related neo-eugenic ideas of ‘population jihad,’ ‘love jihad,’ and ‘corona jihad’, work to stigmatise Muslims in India. I discuss how these ideas,...

Why do young Indians choose to become doctors?

Background: Being a doctor is physically and mentally challenging but immensely satisfying, as it is one of the most sought-after professions in India. Every year, about 20 lakh candidates appear for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test, commonly known as the NEET examination, of whom only 80,000 (4%) can secure a seat in a medical college (about 43,000 in government colleges and 37,000 in private institutions). Through a mailed questionnaire, we compared why our students became doctors in India and how they differed from their compatriots in Western countries. Aims: Was the motivation to become a doctor not altruistic but more influenced by financial rewards and social status, and did it change over the years? Was there a difference in the ambitions of those who regretted taking medicine as a career? Materials and Methods: We prepared a questionnaire using Google Forms and sent it through WhatsApp and email to 1000 doctors who had completed their final MBBS examination, including a 1-year compulsory internship, and were working in India as residents, medical officers, consultants in public or private hospitals or running their establishments. The results we received automatically over the Google Forms were analysed. Results: Out of 1000 questionnaires sent to doctors all over India, we received 265 responses. ‘Self-interest/passion for the profession, to relieve suffering’, ‘financial security’ and ‘prestige associated with the profession’ were the most common motivating factors. Seventy-one respondents (26.8%) regretted taking medicine as a career, and they were especially those candidates who joined medicine due to their ‘parent’s wishes’ (P = 0.009), ‘as a means to go abroad’ (P = 0.03) and ‘not sure’ (P < 0.001). Out of those who regretted choosing medicine as a career, only eight wanted to change to a non-medical job. Conclusions: India, a developing country with the world’s largest population, grapples with healthcare challenges. Medical students, often burdened by family expectations, struggle with intrinsic motivation. To address this, we can implement strategies such as lifestyle adjustments, mentorship improvements and granting more autonomy. In addition, compulsory internships can guide students towards their desired career paths.

Specialty preferences of undergraduate medical students: What do they choose and why?

BackgroundThe choice of choosing a specialty after completing MBBS is influenced by multiple factors. Personality traits like extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and open-mindedness form the intrinsic factors. Factors like early financial stability and cost of education form the external factors. This study evaluates the association between these factors and the specialty choice. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study including students from first year to intern doctors in India. An online questionnaire was used for data collection which included questions about demographics, choice of specialty, personality traits, and external factors affecting their choice. The Big Five Inventory-2-S 30-item Scale (BFI-2-S) was used to assess the personality traits. ResultsOne thousand nine hundred and twenty-one students participated in this study (57.6% females). Most participants, 1761 (91.7%) opted for clinical branches. Only 13 (0.7%) students wanted to pursue a non-clinical branch. Only 20 (1.0%) participants wanted to pursue a pre-clinical branch. Participants who opted for clinical branches were more extraverted, and more open-minded than those who chose non-clinical branches. Participants who opted for surgical branches were more extraverted, more conscientious, and had fewer negative emotions than their peers who chose medicine-related branches. High income generated per annum (65%), early financial stability (within 2–5 years) (60.7%), cost of postgraduate education (46%), and gender predominance (35.3%) were the most influential external factors. ConclusionThese findings show that there are distinct personality traits and external factors associated with specialty choices. This will aid counselors to guide undergraduate medical students to choose a specialty for post-graduation.

A study assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of drug repurposing among doctors in India

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Drug repurposing, also known as the drug repositioning approach, involves the exploration of existing drugs, originally developed for one medical condition, for their potential efficacy in treating entirely different diseases. This abstract presents the findings of a knowledge, attitude, and practice study that delves into the understanding and perceptions of doctors, regarding the potential of drug repurposing. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study’s objective was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices about the drug repurposing and off-label use of drugs, among doctors in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was an observational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted among doctors in India. The structured self-administered Google Forms based survey was distributed to the participants and their replies were gathered. There are 18 questions on the survey about knowledge, attitudes, and drug repurposing practices. RESULTS: A total of 250 doctors and postgraduate residents were issued the questionnaire and 196 of them responded – a response rate of 78.4%. Only 39.2% of participants got >70% marks in knowledge-related questions. The majority of participants (82.2%) considered that drug repurposing is beneficial for health care and using off-label drugs. Seventy-one percentage of participants ethically support drug repurposing. About 79.7% think that lack of information and safety issues are the main barriers to accepting drug repurposing. CONCLUSION: Drug repurposing leverages existing medication knowledge and data to speed up drug development, providing new treatments for various conditions. Our study reveals a physician’s knowledge gap on drug repurposing and off-label drug use, highlighting the need for pharmaceutical industry conferences and seminars to educate doctors.

CNN-Based Ocular Disease Identification in Retinal Images

Abstract: Approximately 15 million people across India suffer from blindness, and unfortunately, 75% of these instances were treatable at one point in time. There are 10,000 patients for every doctor in India. Vision can be affected by a variety of eye diseases, such as cataracts, corneal ulcers, and trachoma, among others. Research indicates that untreated early-stage diseases are the primary causes of blindness in India. Only by receiving a proper diagnosis early on in the progression of these eye conditions can they be prevented. There are many different symptoms that can be seen with these eye conditions. Analyzing a wide variety of symptoms is necessary in order to make an appropriate diagnosis of eye conditions. With the use of deep learning techniques like convolution neural networks and digital image processing techniques like segmentation and morphology, we offer a novel approach to automatically identify eye diseases based on visually perceptible symptoms. The suggested approach is used to analyze and classify seven eye conditions: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, cataract, and age-related macular degeneration(AMD) are the most common ocular illnesses. Early detection of eye problems is facilitated by the proposed deep neural network model. In case that screening is necessary, the model advises people to contact an ophthalmologist.

Barriers to Effective Prehospital and Hyperacute Stroke Care in India: A Physician Perspective.

The incidence of stroke is increasing in India. Prehospital stroke care is crucial for reducing stroke morbidity and mortality, but its implementation in India faces several challenges. Limited original research exists on prehospital stroke care in India, making it essential to identify the problems in implementing effective prehospital stroke care. A web-based survey was conducted among registered medical practitioners in India who treat acute stroke. The survey questionnaire was developed in English and included 26 questions divided into five parts: questions about the physician's practice setup/hospital in India, perception of community awareness, existing prehospital care/systems, in-hospital stroke care availability, and specific issues faced. Eighty-three doctors in India participated in the survey (43% response rate). Most of the respondents worked in private hospitals (68%) and urban areas (76%). While 89% of hospitals had ambulance services, over 33% reported that patients had to pay for ambulance transport. Among respondents, 12% reported a community stroke care network, with infrequent prehospital procedures such as random blood glucose measurement (22%), stroke identification (15.7%), "last seen normal" documentation (14.5%), and low prehospital notification to hospitals (5%). Delays in referral from peripheral centers were reported by 73% of respondents. Most hospitals had standard operating procedures (SOPs) (84%), computed tomography (CT) (94%), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (85%), and offered intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) (77%). However, 24 h availability of CT was reported only by 6%, MRI by 19% and IVT by 12%. Nearly half (45%) reported treatment with thrombolysis was not covered by insurance. Mechanical thrombectomy was available in 34% of hospitals and 63% of hospitals conducted in-hospital audits for stroke patients. The capabilities of stroke-catering hospitals in urban settings are encouraging, with many having SOPs, imaging capabilities, and thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy services. However, there is much room for improvement, in making the essential stroke care services financially accessible to all and available around the clock.

Stationary Scholars: The Looming Health Crisis Among Preclinical and Paraclinical Doctors in India.

This letter highlights the critical issue of sedentary lifestyles among preclinical and paraclinical doctors in India, which poses significant health risks that are often overlooked. This manuscript reviews research demonstrating the links between prolonged sitting and increased risks of cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, mental health issues, and impaired cognitive function in this population. The COVID-19 pandemic is also discussed as a factor that may have exacerbated sedentary behavior. The letter calls for Indian medical institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to urgently implement strategies to promote healthier work environments for preclinical and paraclinical doctors, including active workstations, structured activity breaks, tailored wellness programs, and educational campaigns. Advocating for policy changes and further research in this area are also emphasized as key priorities to address this overlooked occupational health concern and improve the well-being of these essential members of India's medical academic community.

Investigating the role of Kavitha Rao’s “Lady Doctors…” in Historiography of Women Emancipation in India

Kavitha Rao’s recently published work titled “Lady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India’s First Women in Medicine”, published in 2021, is a compilation of the stories of six women from 19-20 centuries who became the first practicing doctors in India. The aim of this research is to analyze this book in the context of women’s emancipation history in India. To achieve this goal, a historical criticism approach is utilized to interpret Kavitha Rao’s work, identifying its role in the historiography of Indian women’s emancipation in the medical sphere. The results show that Kavitha Rao’s work provides informative and reliable storytelling about Indian women emancipation in the 19-20 century for common readers; however, the investigated book cannot be considered a source for academic research in social studies. The theoretical significance of this paper lies in mixing the scope of Western medical history and women’s emancipation in history in India. Practical novelty comprises a cultural-historical analysis of the “Lady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India’s First Women in Medicine” book, which can be used by future researchers of Kavith Rao’s works. Future researchers can extend their material background by including other books about women’s emancipation in India during 19-20 centuries in order to provide a more comprehensive investigation.

Impact of COVID-19 on Customer Relationship Management Initiatives Offered by Pharmaceutical Companies to Doctors in India: An Overview based on opinion of Pharmaceutical Industry Experts

Impact of COVID-19 on Customer Relationship Management Initiatives Offered by Pharmaceutical Companies to Doctors in India: An Overview based on opinion of Pharmaceutical Industry Experts

A study on perceived stress and its determinants among post-graduate junior resident doctors of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata

Background: Stress is a highly prevalent problem among post-graduate junior resident doctors in India. Stressed doctors are not only a threat to themselves but also to their patients. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to assess the perceived stress among the post-graduate junior resident doctors of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on perceived stress among 226 post-graduate junior resident doctors of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. By simple random sampling technique, participants were selected and questionnaires were given. Questions were related to the factors related to residency that stresses them. Perceived stress was assessed using the perceived stress scale (PSS). Results: 64.6% of participants had moderate stress, 20.8% had high perceived stress, and 14.6% had low stress as per PSS. Multiple responses were obtained as a response to the most stressful part of residency, where 20.4% cited “patient management,” 27.4% cited “academic presentation,” 30.5% cited “undertaking thesis work,” 48.7% cited “working hours,” 31% cited “completing syllabus,” 15% cited “relation with colleagues”, and 5.8% cited “toxic working environment” as the most stressful parts of their residency. A statistically significant association was observed between gender (P = 0.007) and the branch (P = 0.025) with PSS. Conclusion: Post-graduate resident doctors were under different degrees of perceived stress due to various aspects of their residency program. Actions must be taken to address the issues cited as the most stressful parts of their residency. Proper counseling must be arranged to curb the hazardous effects of being under such constant stress.

An Overview on Pashanabedha Medicinal Plants

One of the major kidney diseases that needs a well-targeted therapeutic approach is urolithiasis. For the treatment of lithiasis, a number of medications are available, including diuretics and stone inhibitors, however clinical examination of these medications has revealed a frequency of relapses, adverse effects, and drug interactions. This has served as the justification for the development of new antilithiatic medications, and the hunt for novel molecules has now included herbal medications that provide superior defence and lower relapse rates. Plant-based medications are becoming more popular and are being researched for a variety of illnesses, including lithiasis. A set of medicinal plants known as pashanabheda (literally, ”stonesolving”) are utilised by Ayurvedic doctors in India as anti-urolithiatic medications. The present article reviews the antilithiatic activity of some of the medicinal plants. Here attempt is made to review a few medicinal plants with documented anti-urolithiatic action. In this study, some of the significant plants noted for their antilithiatic effects have been highlighted. Keywords: Urolithiatic; AntiUrolithiatic; Maceration; Turbidimetry; Calcium Oxalate

The historical sociology of medicine in India: Introduction to the special section.

This introduction to a special section brings together three papers first presented at a panel, 'Medical Professions in South Asia: Historical and Contemporary Analyses', at the 26th European Conference on South Asian Studies, held in Vienna, Austria and online, in July 2021. All three papers deal with aspects of the professionalisation of biomedical doctors in India since its independence in 1947. The authors bring together historical and sociological approaches to illuminate the growth of specialisms, patterns of practitioner-patient interactions and efforts to maintain occupational closure and maintain status in the face of growing challenges. The introduction concludes with a discussion of the relevance of these papers for the sociology of health and illness in India and beyond.

A critical analysis of newspaper accounts of violence against doctors in India

This paper presents a critical analysis of newspaper articles (N = 60) published in a leading vernacular newspaper about violence against doctors in India. Adopting a theoretical perspective that considers ‘news as a cultural practice,’ a qualitative content analysis was conducted to examine how the phenomenon is framed and presented in the news, i.e., what is problematized, what causal links are drawn or hinted at, what moral stance is taken or alluded to, and what solutions are proffered and why, to arrive at a nuanced understanding of various aspects of this social phenomenon. Three overlapping key themes emerged from the analysis, namely the narrative of victimization, the changing doctor-patient relationship, and the crisis facing the ‘noble profession’ of medicine. It reveals how the media shapes public opinion and attitudes towards the state of the medical profession while in turn, reflecting existing opinions, attitudes, and cultural values; the analysis also reveals missing perspectives such as the voices of the patients and the public. We highlight how the findings are not merely the dominant ways in which the rise in incidents of violence against doctors is reported and is understood in society, but how media might have shaped the popular discourse around the issue and why. We reflect on what the reportage says about the state of the medical profession and its standing in society in India.

From strain to synergy: investigating the positive aspects of work–family interface among Indian doctors

Purpose This research aims to investigate the symbiotic relationship between work and family life among doctors in India, with a focus on work–family enrichment (WFE) as a positive interplay. The study seeks to examine the impact of two aspects of WFE, namely, work-to-family enrichment (WTFE) and family-to-work enrichment (FTWE) on job satisfaction (JS) and life satisfaction (LS), while exploring the mediating role of self-efficacy (SE). Design/methodology/approach The research employs a comprehensive survey to gather data from Indian doctors. The survey includes measures of WTFE, FTWE, JS, LS and SE. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the proposed connections among the research constructs, using IBM AMOS v.23. Findings The findings reveal that WTFE significantly impacts both JS and LS. However, FTWE does not show a direct influence on JS, though it does positively impact LS. SE plays a noteworthy role, having a strong direct influence on both job and life satisfaction. In terms of indirect influence, WTFE impacts job and life satisfaction through the mechanism of SE. Nevertheless, no significant indirect effect was found between FTWE and both types of satisfaction through SE. Originality/value This research presents several original contributions to the study of work–life balance among healthcare professionals. Firstly, its unique geographic focus on North India distinguishes it from existing literature, offering fresh insights into the experiences of doctors in this region. Moreover, the study's multifaceted examination of WFE, SE, JS, and LS introduces a comprehensive perspective seldom seen in current research.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and anxiety among junior resident doctors in India during COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Healthcare workers were the frontline defence against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the junior resident doctors, and were among those at the highest risk of acquiring the disease. Disease transmission among them was worsened by overcrowding, lower work force, lack of isolation facilities, lack of standard quality personal protection equipment, contaminated environment and inadequate knowledge and practice of infection control practices. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and anxiety among junior resident doctors in India with respect to COVID-19 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during August-October 2020 among 451 junior resident doctors in India. A validated 35-item questionnaire was distributed to the participants using social media platforms. The snowball sampling technique was used. Results: A total of 451 junior resident doctors were included as study participants, of whom 52.3% were women. More than 90% of them had a good level of knowledge regarding COVID-19.Almost allof the participants believed that wearing masks (98%) and keeping social distance (100%) would reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but that government regulations were insufficient to combat the disease (63%). The level of anxiety among study participants was on the higher side. Conclusions & Recommendations: The level of anxiety among the junior resident doctors was relatively high. Therefore, mental and psychological support is crucial for them, and in turn, essential for effective management of the health crisis.

Communication Skill Training Levels among Critical Care Doctors in India.

Gopaldas JA, Narayanaswamy N, Chandregowda NP. Communication Skill Training Levels among Critical Care Doctors in India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(8):567-571.