Chemo-prophylaxis of COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine: a study of health care workers attitude, adherence to regime and toxicities/side effects (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debajyoti Bhattacharyya ◽  
Neeraj Raizada ◽  
Bharathnag Nagappa ◽  
Arvind Tomar ◽  
Prateek Maurya ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND There are apprehensions among healthcare worker (HCWs) about COVID-19. The HCWs have been given hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) chemo-prophylaxis for seven weeks as per Government of India guidelines. OBJECTIVE To assess the apprehensions among HCWs about COVID-19 and to document accessibility, adherence and side effects related to HCQ prophylaxis in HCWs. METHODS A longitudinal follow up study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. HCQ was given in the dose of 400 mg twice on day one, and then 400 mg weekly for seven weeks. 391 HCWs were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. RESULTS 62.2% HCWs expressed perceived danger posted by COVID-19 infection. Doctors (54%) showed least acceptance and paramedics (88%) showed highest acceptance to chemo-prophylaxis. 17.5% participants developed at least one of the side effects to HCQ. Females and nursing profession were significantly associated with adverse effects. Common side effects were gastro-intestinal symptoms, headache and abnormal mood change. Most of these were mild, not requiring any intervention. Gender, professions and perceived threat of COVID-19 were significantly associated with acceptance and adherence to HCQ prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS Two third of HCWs had perceived danger due to COVID-19. Three fourth of the HCWs accepted chemo-prophylaxis and four out of five who accepted had complete adherence to prophylaxis schedule. One out of five had developed at least one of side effects; however, most of these were mild not requiring any intervention.

Author(s):  
Debajyoti Bhattacharyya ◽  
Neeraj Raizada ◽  
Bharathnag Nagappa ◽  
Arvind Tomar ◽  
Prateek Maurya ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThere are apprehensions amongst healthcare worker (HCWs) about COVID-19. The HCWs have been given hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) chemoprophylaxis for seven weeks as per Government of India guidelines.ObjectivesTo assess the apprehensions amongst HCWs about COVID-19 and to document accessibility, adherence and side effects related to HCQ prophylaxis in HCWs.MethodsA longitudinal follow up study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. HCQ was given in the dose of 400 mg twice on day one, and then 400 mg weekly for seven weeks. 391 HCWs were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire.Results62.2% HCWs expressed perceived danger posted by COVID-19 infection. Doctors (54%) showed least acceptance and paramedics (88%) showed highest acceptance to chemoprophylaxis. 17.5% participants developed at least one of the side effects to HCQ. Females and nursing profession were significantly associated with adverse effects. Common side effects were gastro-intestinal symptoms, headache and abnormal mood change. Most of these were mild, not requiring any intervention. Gender, professions and perceived threat of COVID-19 were significantly associated with acceptance and adherence to HCQ prophylaxis.ConclusionTwo third of HCWs had perceived danger due to COVID-19. Three fourth of the HCWs accepted chemoprophylaxis and four out of five who accepted had complete adherence to prophylaxis schedule. One out of five had developed at least one of side effects; however, most of these were mild not requiring any intervention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 03-06
Author(s):  
Wajeeha Qayyum ◽  
Asad Khalil ◽  
Mohammad Jawad ◽  
Seema Ashraf

Introduction: Infectious pandemics are a significant health risk to the general population, but much more so for the frontline health care workers tending patients at different locations. The increased workload, stress, fear, and anxiety are the burdens to be coped with by health professionals through resort to resiliency and other mechanisms.Objective: To determine the magnitude of depression / anxiety and factors associated with it in health care workers of a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.Materials & Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar after approval from Rehman Medical Institute Research Ethics Committee. A structured questionnaire consisting of two sections was distributed by convenience sampling to health care workers in the hospital, the first part containing demographic information, and the second part consisting of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) comprised of 14 scales to assess anxiety and depression. Scoring for Normal, Borderline Abnormal, and Definitive Disorder was done as per standard criteria. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics by SPSS 22. Results: Total 327 participants were included in the study, having mean age of 30.19 ± 7.82 years, of which 230(70.3%) were males. The majority of health care workers 226(69.1%) were suffering from disturbed mental status either in the form of Anxiety (19.9%), Depression (8%) or Mixed Disorder (41.3%). Factors associated with high disease frequency were female gender, age group 21-30 years, nursing staff, workers of ICU and Hostel residence (p value <0.05). Conclusion: COVID-19 related psychological disturbances significantly affected healthcare staff of a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, being more evident in females, younger age groups, nurses, and ICU staff on duty.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziad A. Memish ◽  
Abdullah M. Assiri ◽  
Mervat M. Eldalatony ◽  
Hanan M. Hathout ◽  
Hend Alzoman ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document