Medical Postgraduate Residents Research Articles

Perceptions of clinical postgraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic – A survey from South India

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic with its peaks and lockdowns has resulted in an unprecedented situation. Medical postgraduate (PG) residents were the “frontline COVID warriors” involved in direct patient care including COVID patients in many medical institutions across India. While the perceptions of undergraduate-MBBS students have been assessed, there are few studies assessing the perceptions of medical PG students in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions of medical PG students during the COVID-19 pandemic in general including online teaching Material and Methods: The survey-based study was conducted using a pre-tested online questionnaire during the peak periods of COVID-19 outbreak in India including both the first and second waves. A cross-sectional internet-based online survey in the form of a questionnaire was prepared using Google Forms, and the responses were collected from the respondents. All respondents were from various places in South India. Results: A total number of participants were 135 across South India. All were involved in direct care of COVID patients. This study shows that many PGs were stressed, anxious, and worried but nearly 69% rated their overall sleep quality as “good.” Nearly, 75% reported that they “miss regular practical/bedside classes” while nearly 61% reported that they “miss regular seminar classes.” Conclusion: The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has impact on medical PG residents in training both in terms of psychological aspects and their education as well. This study highlights the perceptions of PG students during the COVID-19 pandemic and hints at possible indications of resilience and intact coping mechanisms among PG students and the inevitability of online teaching during this unprecedented situation.

Psychological stress among post-graduate medical resident doctors: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in Central India

Background: Medical residents are exposed to numerous stressors during their post-graduate training which affects them both physically and emotionally. This stress can have a profound impact on the resident’s ability to work and perform activities of daily living. Objectives: The goals of this study are to (1) estimate the psychological stress in medical post-graduate doctors and (2) study the sociodemographic factors associated with stress in post-graduate doctors. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital in Central India. A total of 130 medical residents at a tertiary hospital in Central India were surveyed anonymously using the Kessler psychological distress reporting scale questionnaire (K10) + self-reporting measure. Descriptive statistics as well as Pearson’s Chi-square test (χ2) and odds ratios were used to quantify the associations between categorical variables using SPSS v24.0 software. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 131 (of 138, with a response rate of 95%) medical post-graduate residents were participated in this study. The mean age of study participants was 27 years. The results showed that there was no statistical gender difference when it came to reports of stress among the residents. Moderate amounts of stress were reported by the residents, with some of this stress requiring time off from the residency and/or medical care. Conclusions: This study has shown that postgraduate medical residents at a tertiary care hospital in Central India experience increased amounts of stress during their residency training.