Perceptions of COVID–19-related Risks and Deaths Among Health Care Professionals During COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study

COVID-19 is an established challenge to the health care professionals (HCPs) having physical, emotional, and psychological repercussions. We determine the perceptions of Pakistani HCPs regarding the risks and deaths related to COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs throughout Pakistan from 16th February 2021 to 6th March 2021 by disseminating an online Google questionnaire via all possible social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and emails. Out of total of 462 HCPs, 33.55% tested COVID-19 positive and 49.43% had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The proportion of HCPs worried about contracting COVID-19 was 46.97%. A total of 69.48% mentioned that doctors are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 infection compared to the general population. In a dichotomous analysis done for risk perception, 72.06% of doctors reported a high-risk perception of contracting COVID-19 in hospital settings. The main reasons identified to be associated with higher mortality amongst the HCPs, specifically doctors, included comorbidities (47.26%), working in high-risk wards (24.02%) and lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) (28.72%). Using univariate and multivariate regression the HCPs tested positive rated two-fold high risk while performing professional duty during COVID-19 pandemic [unadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 2.23 (1.24–4.02), P = .007; adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.27 (1.22–4.19), P = .009]. In conclusion, Pakistani HCPs have significant COVID–19-related concerns and anxieties. The doctors perceived to be at a higher risk of dying with COVID-19, due to a variety of personal and professional reasons.

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Strategies for Re-opening Physiotherapy OPDs Post COVID-19 Lockdown – A Cross-sectional Study

10.20944/preprints202106.0111.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amarjot Singh Gill ◽

Nistara Singh Chawla ◽

Sandeep Singh Saini

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Practice Pattern ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: The practices of various health-care professionals have been improvised to accommodate the on-going covid-19 pandemic situation. Different guidelines have been set in place to ease the process of re-opening of non-elective healthcare services like out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Although the measures taken should be guided by evidence based information, major consensus amongst practicing therapists needs to guide the India physiotherapy clinics. Objective: To identify and present the opinions of different physiotherapists about the various strategies for re-opening the out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Over 169 participants were selected to participate in the survey according to the pre-decided inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data was collected and saved via google forms. Result and conclusion: A majority of respondents had a consensus over different strategies for re-opening the physiotherapy OPDs. These were regarding different measures to be adapted including modifications in the clinic infrastructure and the practice pattern. This would help in smoothly re-instating the physiotherapy services post the covid-19 lockdown.

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Clinical evaluation of mark induced dermatitis on health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study

International Journal of Research in Dermatology ◽

10.18203/issn.2455-4529.intjresdermatol20211701 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 413

Author(s):

Sushma I. ◽

Nivin Simon ◽

A. J. S. Pravin ◽

M. K. Padmaprasad ◽

M. Vijayabharathi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Clinical Evaluation ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers

Background: Mask induced dermatitis is common among health care workers now because of the obligatory use of facemask for a longer period during COVID-19, the clinical features vary. Very few studies could be conducted due to the COVID induced constraints. Studies regarding reactions to face masks in health workers published to date are limited and hence we decided to do this study. The objective of this study was to find out the clinical presentations of mask induced dermatitis due to long term use of facemask on healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 40 healthcare workers attend our OPD with face mask for 6 months. After getting informed written consent clinical evaluation was made by history and dermatologic examination.Results: Total 40 health care professionals between the age group of 21-50 years (17 females and 23 males) came to our OPD with complaints of itching and dryness with signs of erythema, scaling, papules for 6 months duration. Out of them, 15 (37.5%) patients had exacerbation of pre-existing dermatoses like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, acne. 10 patients (25%) had irritant contact dermatitis 7 patients (17.5%) had sweat-induced dermatitis, 4 patients (10%) had dermatitis due to sponge strip at the nasal bridge, 4 patients (10%) had dermatitis due to vehement use of ear loop involving retroauricular region.Conclusions: This study showed that wearing face masks results in the development and aggravation of other skin diseases due to various causes. Itch can induce scratching and thus lead to inappropriate use of face masks, which could compromise their function.

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