Healthcare Professionals In India Research Articles

Perceptions of Indian Healthcare Practitioners Regarding the 2022 Outbreak of Monkeypox Disease.

Introduction Although only a few cases of monkeypox have been reported in India so far, it is vital for healthcare practitioners to have sufficient knowledge about its epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the perception of Indian healthcare practitioners regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox disease. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 medical and dental practitioners from various regions of Kerala, India. The Chi-squared test for proportion was used to determine the significant difference in the knowledge levels of the participants. Binary logistic regression (multivariate) was used to understand the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox disease. Results A total of 424 healthcare professionals completed this survey. Overall, the level of knowledge was good in 64.9% and poor in 35.1% of the participants (p<0.01). Binary logistic regression analysis did not show any statistical significance (p > 0.05) in terms of demographic characteristics. However, in this sample, participants with 6-10 years of work experience were more likely to have improved knowledge scores (odd's ratio OR 1.764). Similarly, participants between the age of 30-40 years were also likely to have improved knowledge scores (OR: 1.065). Conclusions Indian healthcare professionals had an overall good level of knowledge regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox. However, a low level of knowledge was found related to the clinical presentation and immunization of monkeypox. This may be due to the low prevalence of monkeypoxin this region.

Inclusion of physical medicine and rehabilitation in the medical curriculum: A step in the right direction.

Background Although physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) was first introduced in India in the 1960s, it was not until the 1990s when it was offered as an optional rotation to Indian medical graduates. Lately, with the introduction of a competency-based undergraduate curriculum in 2018, PMR has been included as an essential subject in the medical graduate curriculum, to be implemented from 2019. We aimed to ascertain the importance of incorporating PMR in the medical graduate curriculum while also discussing the awareness about PMR among Indian healthcare professionals. Methods We drafted an online questionnaire-based survey and sent that to participants through cloud-based software. Responses were collected over a period of 4 weeks and a descriptive analysis was performed. Results The initial hypothesis was that most healthcare professionals would be unaware of the scope of PMR as a medical specialty. The results of this study did not support our hypothesis with 96.8% of the participants being familiar with PMR as a medical specialty. In addition, 85% of the participants reported being introduced to PMR either in their medical school or during their residency training and 92% of the participants appreciated the late integration of PMR within the medical graduate curriculum. Conclusions Introduction of medical graduates to PMR would help in bridging the gaps faced by people with disabilities in accessing healthcare facilities. It would also help clinicians from other specialties to collaborate with physiatrists in a more coordinated manner.

Uncovering the keys to well-being: calling, mindfulness, and compassion among healthcare professionals in India amidst the post-COVID crisis

Uncovering the keys to well-being: calling, mindfulness, and compassion among healthcare professionals in India amidst the post-COVID crisis

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to assess anxiety among healthcare professionals in india during COVID-19 pandemic

Background and Aims: Coronavirus has resulted in unique challenges to the healthcare professionals. The pandemic has affected the mental health of healthcare professionals, which may impact their ability to provide care to patients. We aimed to assess anxiety among healthcare professionals, and its relation to selected parameters. Methods: This online questionnaire-based study recruited Indian healthcare workers through convenience sampling. Anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scale. The reasons of emotional distress were also ascertained. Results: The sample comprised of 677 healthcare professionals including resident doctors, consultants, interns, nursing personnel, and others. Moderate/severe anxiety was present in 24.4% of the respondents. Moderate/severe anxiety was more likely to occur among those who had a friend or family member affected by COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] 2.74, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.61–4.69), or who themselves had a psychiatric disorder in the past (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.36–4.38). Those who reported long working hours and inadequate sleep, fear of being infected by the virus, concerns about transmitting the virus to a family member, mob violence against doctors, and shortage of personal protective equipment had significantly higher odds of moderate/severe anxiety. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of healthcare professionals suffering from anxiety suggests the need for addressing their mental health concerns.

Financial literacy among health-care professionals in India: Challenges and way forward

Financial literacy among health-care professionals in India: Challenges and way forward

Hypertension clinical care in the era of coronavirus disease 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to seek the opinion of Indian health-care professionals (HCPs) about hypertension (HTN) care during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. Methods: HCPs' opinions (n = 2832) were recorded based on survey and round table meetings. Standard questionnaire consisting of nine questions pertaining to HTN care in COVID-19 was prepared, discussed, and evaluated by experts who treat patients with HTN during COVID-19 era. Results: Smoking/tobacco use, obesity, and comorbidities (diabetes/dyslipidemia) were ranked as the top three modifiable risk factors. A total of 37% and 33% of HCPs reported an increase in blood pressure (BP) during the lockdown period in 10%–20% and 20%–40% of hypertensive patients, respectively, who were on monotherapy. Around 35% of HCPs reported that 20%–30% of their patients with HTN showed uncontrolled BP (&gt;150/100 mmHg). Dual-drug therapy in patients with uncontrolled BP was preferred by 56% of HCPs. Nearly 71% preferred dual combination for HTN management. In dual combination, 27% preferred angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) + diuretic, 26% preferred ARB + calcium channel blockers, and 18% preferred ARB + beta-blockers. The majority of HCPs (44%) consider that &lt;30% of their patients with HTN check BP at home. A total of 47% of HCPs reported acute coronary syndrome as the most common HTN-related complication. The majority of HCPs (57%) considered that avoiding contamination during BP measurement is the challenging parameter. Around 32% considered self-BP monitoring (SBPM) as the best method to improve medication adherence. Conclusion: SBPM, combination therapies, and digital connect with patients are critical aspects of HTN management during COVID-19 pandemic.

Awareness and Knowledge about Occupational Therapy among Healthcare Professionals in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The importance of awareness about Occupational Therapy (OT) in providing high-quality care to patients cannot be underscored. An adequate understanding of OT ascertained by Healthcare Professionals (HP), might promote timely relevant referrals for OT services. Aim: This study aimed to assess awareness and knowledge about OT among HP in India. Study Design: Cross-sectional design. Method: The authors developed and validated a questionnaire followed by contacting the selected HP from the various hospitals in the country. The link for the google form was shared with the consented HP. Data was collected from September 2021 to October 2021. Pearson chi-square test was used to analyse the correlation among the questionnaire items. Results: 230 participants consented to participate in the survey and their responses were analysed. The results showed that 84.8% of the HP were aware of OT as an independent profession, since 64.8% of HP were providing habilitation/ rehabilitation services as a part of their clinical services. University curriculum and work practice were identified as major sources where HP learnt about OT. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was considered a primary practice area by HP. Conclusion: The study concluded that HP is aware of OT and recognized it as a profession dedicated to the habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with disability. However, their responses revealed a lack of awareness about the profession’s scope with regard to practice and function in the workplace. As a result, referrals may be disrupted, affecting patient care and holistic approach.

Assessment of Awareness Level Regarding Organ Donation among Healthcare Professionals and Students in India.

Organ donation can be a life-saving opportunity for patients with severe organ failure. In India, the rate of organ donation of the deceased Indian population is exceptionally low. This necessitates enhancing awareness regarding organ donation among health care professionals and students, which can motivate the general population. To assess and analyze the awareness level of healthcare professionals and students on organ donation in order to suggest potential strategies regarding improvement of awareness and willingness towards organ donation. A cross-sectional online and offline survey was conducted at the national level between July 2022 and September 2022. Indian healthcare professionals as well as students of various fraternities were included. The Snowball sampling technique was used for data collection. Statistical analysis was undertaken using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software, version 25. A total of 1,303 respondents were enrolled in this study. The majority of the participants were students (66.5%) residing in southern India (89.6%) pursuing medical profession (88.9%). The predominant age group was 18-24 years (73.9%). The awareness level regarding organ donation among healthcare professionals and students was 69%. Healthcare professionals and respondents aged 40 years and above had better awareness levels regarding organ donation which was reported as statistically significant (p < 0.001). Healthcare professionals and students awareness about organ donation need to be improved. Strategies including but not limited to prioritizing employment and education to the first relatives of the deceased organ donor should be implemented by the government to legally improve organ donation willingness. Chandrasekaran S, Chandrasekaran VP, Nandi D, Setty RS, Srinivasan O, Kaur KN. Assessment of Awareness Level Regarding Organ Donation among Healthcare Professionals and Students in India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(1):57-63.

Online role-plays: An asynchronous pedagogy for introducing tenets of interprofessional education and practice among Indian healthcare professionals

ABSTRACT Educators worldwide are seeking innovative teaching strategies for engaging remote learners. This study explores the impact of an online role-play on students’ perceptions regarding Interprofessional education (IPE) and the usage of online role-play as a pedagogic approach. An online role-play for introducing fundamentals of IPE was organised as an activity during the monthly discussion forum of Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) fellowship at one of the regional centres in India. After the role-play, the six role-players provided a written semi-structured reflective feedback while 22 observers responded to an open-ended questionnaire. The obtained data were qualitatively analysed using an inductive approach. The role-player’s reflections highlighted pre-requisites, strengths and challenges of an online role-play, whereas the observers reported an appreciation of the value of online role-play in learning interprofessional competencies. This study highlights online role-play as an innovative approach to remotely introduce the tenets of IPE.

Frontline medical professionals in distress - “Doctor heal thyself”

• According to a recent study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of public health workers have reported symptoms of at least one mental health condition like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the recent past (The Weather Channel, 2021, June 30). • A recent study among 422 doctors revealed 63.5% symptoms of depression, and 45% symptoms of stress, among frontline COVID-19 doctors ( Das et al., 2020 ). • A cross-sectional survey of 200 healthcare professionals in India found that healthcare professionals were suffering from acute stress (9.5%), depression (17%), and anxiety (19.5%) which they attributed to the negative professional and personal influence of the ongoing pandemic scenario ( Sharma et al., 2020 ). • The health care sector is the most affected as the pandemic surges ahead of the second wave with new variants. There have been instances of the medical system collapsing multiple times due to the overwhelming number of COVID cases. The health care workers constantly have a fear of infecting their loved ones. • The long working hours coupled with fear and uncertainty have led to job stress and burnout among health care professionals. • This article provides a few strategies for hospital administrators to help medical professionals overcome stress during pandemics. Covid has changed our lives in many ways. People are scared to even step out of their houses, but health care workers have no option but to continue to work and care for the sick. Health care workers play a vital role in providing care to the infected persons, working beyond their capacities and risking their own lives. There is a lot of stress involved in the medical profession, and the pandemic made it worse. Each frontline health worker is at risk of getting infected with Covid during work and carrying it to their families, causing a lot of anxiety and mental health issues among the health care workers. According to a recent by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of public health workers have reported symptoms of at least one mental health condition like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the recent past. A recent study among 422 doctors revealed 63.5% symptoms of depression, and 45% symptoms of stress, among frontline COVID-19 doctors. Physicians who perceived organizational problems related to procedural and informational justice were exposed to high levels of occupational stress. Every physician should have a personal doctor, and he or she has to seek suitable help as needed. The health care workers' stress is mainly associated with work stress as they are expected to work on a war footing and get very little time to spend with their families. There is a need to set up good psychiatric care for the medical professionals in the hospitals. The administrators of the hospitals should frequently check on the health and well-being of their employees. This article attempts to provide strategies to hospital administrators to help medical professionals reduce their stress levels.

Anthropometric study of hand parameters for redesigning surgical instruments to combat ergonomic challenges in an operation theatre

Introduction: Anthropometric hand dimensions are used in the design of hand instruments for improving the efficiency and human comfort of surgical equipment and instruments. Instruments built for large male hands make it more difficult for petite female hands to operate them, which reduces their productivity and increases the risk of musculoskeletal diseases. So, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the differences in anthropometric and biomechanical parameters between the dominant hands of adult Indian males and females. Methods: The study was conducted on 335 Indian health care professionals of which 168 were males and 167 were females. Various anthropometric and biomechanical parameters were measured on the dominant hand of all the individuals included in the study. Length, breadth and span of a hand, as well as wrist circumference, were measured by measuring tape while handgrip strength and pinch strength was recorded by Jamar dynamometer &amp; Jamar pinch gauge respectively. Obtained data were analyzed by applying the t-test SPSS version 27. We considered P-value &lt;0.05 as statistically significant. Results: A higher statistically significant difference (&lt;0.05) was found in hand anthropometric and biomechanical parameters amongst dominant hands of Indian male and female health care professionals. Conclusion: The present study was gender-based. All the anthropometric and biomechanical parameters were found to be of dimensions in males as compared to females. This study provides baseline anthropometric &amp; biomechanical values of the Indian hand that will help manufacturers to redesign instruments to improve efficiency and prevent the risk of musculoskeletal disorders amongst health care professionals.

Demystifying the micronutrient deficiency burden in India

More than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies (MiNDs) globally, with nearly half living in India. The current risk of ‘hidden hunger’ is severe in India due to serious deficiency risks across an array of essential micronutrients. A nationwide advisory board meeting attended by more than 20 Indian health care professionals (HCPs) was conducted to determine their clinical viewpoint on MiND. An in-depth search of PubMed studies emphasizing various aspects of MiND relevant to the Indian scenario was performed and presented to eminent HCPs from across India who then shared their opinions and perspectives based on their clinical experiences associated with MiND.

Development and validation of cultural competence assessment tool for healthcare professionals, India.

Culture influences an individual's perception of “health” and “sickness”. Therefore, cultural competence assessment of healthcare professionals is very important. Existing assessment scales have limited application in India due to the nation's rich cultural diversity and heterogeneous healthcare streams. This study was undertaken to develop and validate a cultural competence assessment tool for healthcare professionals in India. A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted following all standard steps among 290 healthcare professionals in India. Item reduction was followed by estimation of validity and reliability. Responses were recorded on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The resultant tool, named Cultural Competence Assessment Tool–India (CCT-I) showed an acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =0.734). Inter-rater agreement was 81.43%. Face, content, and construct validity were demonstrated. There was no statistically significant difference in cultural competence between the healthcare streams based on years of clinical experience. There was statistically significant difference between streams of healthcare (p-value =0.009) and also between dentistry and Ayurveda groups (p-value = 0.003). This comprehensive tool can be used as the first step toward designing cultural competence training of healthcare manpower and the establishment of culturally sensitive healthcare organizations.

COVID-19 VACCINE HESITANCY FOR CHILDREN IN PARENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY AMONG HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS IN INDIA

Objectives: There is evidence of morbidity and mortality in children due to COVID-19 infection. “Vaccine Hesitant Parents (VHPs)” may act as barriers to vaccination of children and their knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and perceptions come into play. Health-care providers are cited as the most important source for vaccine information by VHPs, and provider recommendation for vaccination is crucial for improving vaccine uptake. Hence, we aim to study among Indian health-care professionals having children &lt;18 years of age, the prevalence of parental hesitancy for pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and to assess their knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and perceptions about pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted across India through a web-based questionnaire amongst health-care professionals having children less than 18 years of age by Snowball sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used to study the demographic profile, the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy, and individual factors. Correlations between the datasets were obtained using regression analysis and significance level using the Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children in Indian health-care professionals is 3.3%. The most important source of information was the internet and social media. The majority of the participants knew about the vaccine and its side effects (p=0.00) and believed in the usefulness of the vaccine in preventing infection (p=0.008) and in reducing severity (p=0.009). All these factors lead to better vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: These data show that vaccine acceptance has improved over time and thus HCWs can aid in reducing vaccine hesitancy.

ICT Enabled Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Management-A Holistic Cost-Effective Approach Through Data Management and Analysis in UAE and India.

This concept paper addresses specific challenges identified in the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as the National Health Policy of India (NHP-India) and the Ministry of Health Policy of UAE (MHP-UAE). This policy calls for a digital health technology ecosystem. SDG Goal 1 and its related objectives are conceptualized which serves as the foundation for Virtual Consultations, Tele-pharmacy, Virtual Storage, and Virtual Community (VCom). SDG Goals 2 and 3 are conceptualized as Data Management & Analytical (DMA) Architecture. Individual researchers and health care professionals in India and the UAE can use DMA to uncover and harness PHC and POC data into practical insights. In addition, the DMA would provide a set of core tools for cross-network initiatives, allowing researchers and other users to compare their data with DMA data. In rural, urban, and remote populations of the UAE and India, the concept augments the PHC system with ICT-based interventions. The ICT-based interventions may improve patient health outcomes. The open and flexible design allows users to access various digital materials. Extendable data/metadata format, scalable architecture for petabyte-scale federated discovery. The modular DMA is designed using existing technology and resources. Public health functions include population health assessment, policy development, and monitoring policy implementation. PHC and POC periodically conduct syndromic surveillance to identify population risk patterns. In addition, the PHC and POC deploy medical and non-medical preventive measures to prevent disease outbreaks. To assess the impact of social and economic factors on health, epidemiologists must first understand diseases. Improved health due to compliance with holistic disease treatment plans and access to scientific health information.

WLEIS as a Measure of Emotional Intelligence of Healthcare Professionals: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Emotional intelligence has been extensively studied in healthcare practices worldwide. It is requisite for a reliable and valid instrument to measure the emotional intelligence of healthcare professionals in India. The Wong and Law emotional intelligence scale (WLEIS) has been a widely used tool to measure trait emotional intelligence. This study examines the validity of this scale in the healthcare context. The original 16 items WLEIS scale has been administered to 98 doctors of the Ahmedabad region of Gujarat. Two competing models, single factor and four factors have been tested against each other. Fit indices of four-factor model ( χ2 (98) = 111.61, ( p &gt; 0.001), CMIN/df = 1.139, CFI = 0.987, SRMR = 0.059, RMSEA = 0.038 and PClose = 0.714) has excellent goodness of fit. Results of confirmatory factor analysis support the original four-factor model. The model also has acceptable reliability, convergent and discriminant validity. Further, in order to establish EI construct underneath four factors, secondary factor analysis has been performed. Standardized regression weight of only one dimension, that is, ‘Regulation of emotion’ is acceptable. All fit indices of the second-order model have an excellent fit. WLEIS is a valid instrument to measure the emotional intelligence of health professionals.

A Study on relationship between COVID 19 Perceived Stress and Burnout with mediating role of Resilience among healthcare professionals in India

COVID 19 has resulted in unprecedented times for the world. It has impacted all the individuals in one or the other way. However, the most affected have been the healthcare professionals across the globe. This study collected data from 112 individuals who are working on COVID 19 vaccine development in healthcare sector in India, to understand the relationship between perceived stress from coronavirus and burnout with the mediating role of resilience by developing a path model. The study has also attempted to examine the significant difference in stress, resilience and burnout based on COVID 19 infection subgroups. The results of the study revealed a significant difference in resilience of those who have already been infected against those who have not been infected yet. Further, the analysis reported a positive relationship between perceived stress and burnout with a significant mediating effect of resilience among the healthcare professionals during the time of pandemic.

Assessing the Knowledge Regarding Prevention and Transmission of COVID-19 among Dental Healthcare Professionals in India

Assessing the Knowledge Regarding Prevention and Transmission of COVID-19 among Dental Healthcare Professionals in India

Survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice of Indian oral health-care professionals regarding QR codes in dental practice and academics

Objectives: QR codes form an integral part of modern-day digitalized information storage technology in almost all the fields. Their utility in oral health-care field also has a huge potential, most of which can be uncovered once the oral health-care professionals are aware about their uses and technique of generation. Materials and Methods: A self-constructed e-questionnaire was validated and circulated through online media to oral health-care professionals in India. Data were subjected to statistical analysis and descriptive statistics were obtained. Comparison of frequencies of categories of variables with groups was done using Chi-square test. Results: The study sample of n = 334 respondents comprised 222 females and 112 males. The age of respondents ranged from 22 to 65 years with a mean age of 28.96 years (S.D = ± 6.877). Majority of respondents were aware about the utility of QR codes in day-to-day aspects as well as dental clinical practice and academics. Although two-thirds of respondents perceived online data management as an easy task, generation of QR codes was considered as relatively more difficult requiring higher technical skills. Conclusion: QR codes can have a wide variety of applications in the field of dentistry such as in prosthodontics, orthodontics, oral pathology, radiology, and forensic odontology. Our findings suggest that most of the dental professionals have convenient access to the technology essential to generating QR code, and yet, about 70% of oral health-care professionals are unaware about their generation technique.

The mental health of the health care professionals in India during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dramatic challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. There has been an increased awareness to protect frontline workers from COVID-19 exposure and its consequences. To assess the prevalence of healthcare professionals in India during the COVID-19, a cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted with healthcare professionals from medical colleges and hospitals from different states across the country. The study comprised 772 healthcare professionals aged ≥18 years. The main outcome measures studied were anxiety, depression, and stress. Among the healthcare professionals, 37.17%, 33.68%, and 23.7% were reported to have anxiety, depression, and stress respectively. The physicians, female, aged population, and professionals sleeping less than 7 hours are more prone to psychological problems. The results of this study predict the high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among healthcare professionals in different states of India. Increased COVID-19 cases, high pressure, workload, and lack of training are the main reasons for the psychological problems in healthcare professionals. Proper strategies must be followed in healthcare settings to reduce the burden of stress.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;