scholarly journals Awareness and Preparedness of Egyptian House Officers toward COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The recent spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) led to shortage of health care providers in all countries. House officers and medical students may have a role in solving this problem. Objective: The study aims to measure and discuss the readiness of Egyptian house to be part of the health system facing the current COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire was conducted on sample of house officers from different Egyptian universities through announcement on social media groups over a period of one month during May 2020. Results: Nine-hundred seventy four Egyptian house officers participated in this study. Only 38.8% of respondent agreed to be a member of COVID-19 management team, 70.4% of participants depend on social media as a source for their information. The analysis of the results shows that participants significantly need more information about the protective measures and how to report suspected cases. Conclusions: Egyptian house officers need more training before being involved in the health care system for facing COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Rasheed Khuwayshan Algethami ◽  
Turki Mahdi Alqarni ◽  
Fahmi Mustafa Albakour

The purpose of this study is to examine the mental health problems and social media exposure for individuals with disabilities, as well as explore whether this exposure could impact their mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic period. A hundred and twenty individuals with disabilities participated in this cross-sectional study, conducted in Taif, Saudi Arabia. We used an online questionnaire built through the translation of two scales, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 " GAD-7" and CES-D-10 scale assessing depression. The findings of this study underlined important messages for individuals with disabilities. First finding revealed that individuals with disabilities were almost half a day anxious, depressed, and frequently exposed to social media. Also, the information spread on social media had a significant effect on their anxiety level, but no significant effect was found on their depression level. Practical recommendations were highlighted to benefit these individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic period. We should use clear and accessible languages and health messages with individuals with disabilities. Health care providers should be exposed to an awareness program to reduce the racisms towards those individuals.     Received: 8 March 2021 / Accepted: 23 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Driton Gjukaj ◽  
Daniel Drewniak ◽  
Nikola Biller-Andorno

Background Patients who follow a specific religion may experience specific moral conflicts when interacting with the health care system. Health care providers’ awareness of and sensitivity to such issues can be beneficial to patients and increase the quality of care they receive. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) which potential ethical issues were considered to be relevant to Muslim patients and (2) to examine if these assessments varied between Muslim non-medical, Muslim medical, and non-Muslim medical students. Methods An online questionnaire with n = 205 students from different universities in Zurich, Switzerland was conducted. The questionnaire contained a list of ethical issues of presumed relevance to Muslim patients, which had been compiled based on a literature search and an expert consultation. Results Muslim non-medical students considered 33% of the ethical issues as morally problematic to Muslim patients. In contrast, Muslim medical students regarded 19%, and non-Muslim medical students 14%, of the issues as morally problematic. All three groups identified female circumcision and abortion as problematic for Muslim patients. Muslim non-medical students additionally highlighted access to a prayer room and to a professional Muslim chaplain as important to them. Conclusions There are different ideas about which issues are of moral relevance to Muslim patients. Further studies investigating Muslim patients’ views and the extent to which these views matched with health care providers’ assessments of ethical issues relevant to their Muslim patients, are needed to provide a robust empirical basis for culturally sensitive, patient-oriented clinical care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Reicher ◽  
Tal Sela ◽  
Orly Toren

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care services worldwide due to lockdowns, prevention measures, and social distancing. During this period, patients, including older adults and those with chronic conditions, need ways to obtain medical attention other than going physically to the clinic, such as telemedicine services. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate attitudes toward telemedicine during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel, assess willingness to use such services in the future, and evaluate the extent to which consumers have changed their minds regarding these services.Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was conducted among adults (age 20–90) using social media networks (N = 693). Data were collected using an online questionnaire explicitly designed to measure attitudes toward telemedicine.Results: Most of the participants had to use telemedicine during the lockdown and were satisfied therewith. The majority also stated that they would continue using telemedicine in the future. However, only a third stated that they had changed their minds regarding telemedicine. The main predictors of willingness to use telemedicine in the future were the necessity of using such services during lockdown, preference for going to a clinic, and satisfaction with telemedicine, alongside gender and having a chronic illness. Importantly, we found that a preference for visiting the clinic was negatively correlated with willingness to use telemedicine in the future. Education and being single were predictors of the change of mind regarding telemedicine. Participants with chronic conditions are more likely to use these services, and specific attention should be directed to their needs. A small portion of the study sample prefers live appointments with a physician.Conclusions: Telemedicine use is rapidly changing. It is vital for health care providers to identify non-telemedicine users and their common characteristics. Monitoring patients' attitudes regarding telemedicine is essential in the future after the pandemic ends. Targeted outreach plans should be formulated. These plans should be directed at identifying barriers to using telemedicine, and they should generate specific, focused plans.


Author(s):  
S. Anil Bindu Sukumaran ◽  
L. Manju ◽  
Divija Vijith ◽  
Regi Jose ◽  
Meghana Narendran ◽  
...  

Even though pregnant women are more prone to have severe COVID 19, few studies have been conducted on their protective behaviours against this disease in our country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of getting COVID infection may prevent antenatal women from visiting hospitals for routine antenatal checkups and utilization of telemedicine may be an alternative to get connected with their health care providers during the pandemic. Aims: To evaluate the protective behaviour adopted by pregnant women during the COVID pandemic and their utilization of teleconsultation for antenatal care. Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending three selected hospitals in Trivandrum District in Kerala during May to August 2020. The data was collected from a random sample of 252 pregnant women registered in these hospitals using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Around 89% of pregnant women had adopted good practice to protect themselves against the COVID 19. About 94% wore a mask whenever they went outside. About 72% completely avoided crowded place. About 72% had rated themselves to have good or very good knowledge regarding protective measures of COVID 19. Among the pregnant women, 61(24.2%) missed their scheduled antenatal visit once, 32(12.7%) missed twice and 8(3.2% missed three or more times during the pandemic period. Half of the pregnant women utilized telemedicine facility during the pandemic to stay connected with their doctors. But 31% were not aware of telemedicine facility in hospitals, while 1.6% does not have an internet access. Higher age group, current employment status and area of residence was found to be associated with poor practice. Conclusions: Nearly 89% pregnant women adopted good protective measures against COVID19. Measures need to be taken to improve the availability of telemedicine facility in hospitals for antenatal women and to improve awareness about it among public which may help the antenatal women to stay connected with their health care providers during this pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Aborajooh ◽  
Mohammed Qussay Al-Sabbagh ◽  
Baraa Mafrachi ◽  
Muhammad Yassin ◽  
Rami Dwairi ◽  
...  

UNSTRUCTURED We aimed to measure levels of knowledge, awareness, and stress about COVID-19 among health care providers (HCP) in Jordan. This was a cross-sectional study on 397 HCPs that utilized an internet-based questionnaire to evaluate knowledge about COVID-19, availability of personal protective equipment (PEE), future perception, and psychological distress. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with knowledge and psychological stress. Overall, 24.4% and 21.2% of the participants showed excellent knowledge and poor knowledge, respectively. Social media (61.7%) was the most commonly used source of information. Being female (β= 0.521, 95% CI 0.049 to 0.992), physician (β=1.421, 95% CI 0.849 to 1.992), or using literature to gain knowledge (β= 1.161, 95% CI 0.657 to 1.664) were positive predictors of higher knowledge. While having higher stress (β= -0.854, 95% CI -1.488 to -0.221) and using social media (β= -0.434, 95% CI -0.865 to -0.003) or conventional media (β= -0.884, 95% CI -1.358 to -0.409) for information were negative predictors of knowledge levels. HCPs are advised to use the literature as a source of information about the virus, its transmission, and the best practice. PPEs should be secured for HCPs to the psychological stress associated with treating COVID-19 patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089443932110257
Author(s):  
Md Irfanuzzaman Khan ◽  
Jennifer (M.I.) Loh

With the advent of telecommunication technologies and social media, many health care professionals are using social media to communicate with their patients and to promote health. However, the literature reveals a lacuna in our understanding of health care professionals’ perception of their behavioral intentions to use innovations. Using the Unified Technology Acceptance Framework (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology), in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Australian health care experts to uncover their intent and actual use of social media in their medical practices. Results revealed that social media tools offered five significant benefits such as (i) enhanced communication between health care professionals and their patients, (ii) community support, (iii) enabled e-learning, (iv) enhanced professional network, and (v) expedited health promotion. However, result also revealed barriers to social media usage including (i) inefficiency, (ii) privacy concerns, (iii) poor quality of information, (iv) lack of trust, and (v) blurred professional boundary. Peer influence and supporting conditions were also found to be determinants of social media adoption behaviors among health care professionals. This study has important implications for health care providers, patients, and policy makers on the responsible use of social media, health promotion, and health communication. This research is also among the very few studies that explore Australian health care professionals’ intent and actual use of innovations within a health care setting.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 346-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Webber ◽  
N Edwards ◽  
I D Graham ◽  
C Amaratunga ◽  
I Gaboury ◽  
...  

Cambodia has one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV in Asia and is scaling up HIV testing. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 358 health care providers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to assess readiness for voluntary testing and counselling for HIV. We measured HIV knowledge and attitudes, and predictors of intentions to take a sexual history using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Over 90% of health care providers correctly answered knowledge questions about HIV transmission, but their attitudes were often not positive towards people living with HIV. The Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs explained 56% of the variance in intention to take a sexual history: the control providers perceive they have over taking a sexual history was the strongest contributor (51%), while social pressure explained a further 3%. Attitudes about taking a sexual history did not contribute to intention. Interventions with Cambodian health care providers should focus on improving skills in sexual history-taking.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zobaer Alam ◽  
Md Monoarul Haque ◽  
Md Rijwan Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Shahinoor Islam ◽  
Monirul Haque ◽  
...  

Background: The burden of childhood disability as a public health problem in developing countries remains relatively unrecognized. One out of 750 children born in the world suffer from club foot among them 80% are in low and middle income countries. Most of these babies have limited access to receive effective treatment for their clubfoot due to lack o knowledge, awareness and some barriers. We actually don’t know the level of knowledge of parents who have child with clubfoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of parents who have children with clubfoot during clubfoot treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 102 parents who have children with clubfoot deformity during its treatment in a selected clinic. The samples were selected purposively from the clinics where clubfoot treatment was given and face to face interview was done by using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the respondents were 24.7 (±6.0) years where 87.3% (n=89) respondents ware female and 59.8 %(n=61) respondent’s educational status ware up to primary level. About 44.1% respondents started treatment of their child within 6 months of birth and 33% within 6 to 12 months where 57% (n=58) respondents are referred by health care professional to this clinics. About 93.1% of parents (n=95) said that they knew nothing about clubfoot deformity before their child was diagnosed where 97% are aware after diagnosis of their child. About 93.1% respondents knew the best time for treatment initiation where 59.8% respondents know the correct follow up time of clubfoot management. In case of knowledge of parents’ roles in the treatment of clubfoot about 91.2%, parents have knowledge weekly visit for treatment and 86.3% know the plaster care where 52.9% (n=54) parents have lack of knowledge about how to use the brace Conclusion: There is need to improve the communication skills of clinicians/health care providers offering treatment to children with clubfoot at the Clinics. Need to share information with the parents about the condition. Finally, there is need to emphasize of educating parents about plaster care and how to use brace. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v14i1.22882 Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.14 (1); Jan 2015; Page 42-46


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