scholarly journals Shortage of PPEs in Pakistan; A health risk for Doctors and other health care professionals during the COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (Supp-1) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahzad Manzoor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Wholesale Market ◽  
Paramedical Staff

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease, more commonly known as COVID-19, a pandemic due to the number of individuals and countries affected including their socioeconomic status along with mortality rate. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other funding agencies working to minimize the spread of COVID-19; as a result, many changes in our daily lives are being suggested.1 They continuously monitored the outbreak of COVID-19 and also issued the guidelines for both health care professionals and consumers. Allowing medical care includes telehealth coverage, nutritious, and wholesome food as per the COVID-19 response during this state of a public health emergency. During the outbreak of COVID-19, the pharmacies and wholesale market are facing a shortage of personal protective equipments (PPEs) due to besotted usage by doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and the common public to protect themselves from the contagious and infectious diseases.  Regarding the concern of health safety for medical health professionals are very cautious in regard with fighting against the COVID-19 and demanding for PPEs that is much legal, logical and necessary as per the guidelines of WHO.2 Three doctors have died during the treatment of coronavirus affected patients and >75 doctors are affected from the disease.3 After this act doctors protest in the Southwestern Pakistan City of Quetta for demanding of PPEs including protective kits for health care professionals for coronavirus medical gear; among them, 67 doctors were arrested as said by the union representative of Young Doctor Association (YDA).4 As per 13 April, 2020 more than 5374 are Covid-19 patients and 93 deaths are faced due to shortage of PPEs; as Secretary-General Pakistan Medical Association Qaiser Sajjad, explained in a press conference on April 5th that “Doctors are Frontline soldiers in the fight against the Corona and we need more and more doctors are ready to provide their services to reduced the collapse and overburden of the health care worker against for COVID-19’’.5 Health care workers that are fighting ‘’unarmed’’ against COVID-19 should be fully equipped with PPEs including surgical mask, N-95 respirator, gloves, goggles, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer. For screening of COVID-19; trained frontline health care professionals are appointed with proper triage system to reduce the overburden and transformation of infection to other individuals. 6 N-95, N100 respirator, surgical masks, and suit kits are dire needs of the health care professional. These PPEs are discarded after each visit of doctor/paramedical staff to patients while the crowd of ill patients has been growing with a limited supply of PPEs. Some well-known and literate peoples started to buy these PPEs like masks, gloves, overalls, and other medical equipment items for their families. Officials of public and private hospitals are claiming the unavailability of PPEs, worried about their health including their families. Including PPEs, other medical products used for diagnostic and treatment purposes are also hoarded and steep high in priced by the distributers.  Hospitals and other health facilities are naïve of PPEs. 7 Making exporters /distributer millionaire by exporting with higher prices in the supermarket with extremely exorbitant rates, for that federal health and other agencies are claimed that nexus of distributors/importers of medical equipment cause shortage of PPEs.8 The purpose of this note is to outline public health and social measures useful for slowing or stopping the spread of COVID-19 at the national or community level. These measures include detecting, contact tracing, isolating cases, quarantine case, physical and social distancing including mass gathering, international traveling measures. Till that no vaccine and specific medicines are available to reduce the diameter of this pandemic to save the life of individuals.9 During the pandemic situation; the national command and control system is working with good efforts with significantly increasing the health budget for national health issues by increasing the number of beds hospitals, intensive care units, equipment including ventilators, and other PPEs. Training to doctors, nurses, and other paramedical staff is done with higher priority to provide higher quality care to critically ill patients.  By use of electronic and social media; community education concerning such issues is going on at best level for the prevention of such outbreaks.10

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices regarding tuberculosis care and control among health care professionals at TB centres: implications for TB control efforts

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 2318
Author(s):  
K. M. Jaiswal ◽  
Lohit S. Vaishnao ◽  
Sujata Dudhgaonkar ◽  
Latesh Raghte ◽  
Mahek S. Kewalramani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Paramedical Staff ◽  
And Control

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) ranks as the leading cause of death from infectious disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has considered TB a global public health disaster since 1993. Four factors affect non-adherence to treatment-the patient, healthcare systems, pharmaco-therapeutics and the key persons, health care professional (HCP). So, the study was conducted to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding TB care and control in HCPs working in TB units.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study conducted in all the HCPs working for the TB care and control.Results: The responses to the questions of knowledge were variable indicating incompleteness of information, facts, understanding related to TB in HCPs. HCPs show very strong positive attitude for finding every new case of TB is essential. The HCPs disagree to some statements like traditional or alternative medicine assists in wellbeing of TB patients. Practice competency was low with average score 2.32 out of 6, doctors having higher score of 4.62 followed by nurses, lab-technicians, pharmacist and activist with score of 2.57, 1.66, 1.5, 1.25 respectively.  The activist are the key persons in the national tuberculosis program, exhibited the least score in this study indicates they do not have much orientation about the practice of TB treatment. Specific deficiencies existed for some knowledge statements of HCWs on TB. There was disagreement in attitudes regarding stigma and traditional medicine, and practice competencies were poor. Improvement in aspect of KAP of HCPs on TB will help India achieve the goal of End TB.Conclusions: Specific deficiencies existed for some knowledge statements of TB in paramedical staff as compared to doctor participants. There was disagreement in attitudes regarding stigma and traditional medicine, and practice competencies were poor in activists. Improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices of TB in paramedical staff by conducting CME, Workshop, training sessions will help India to achieve the goal of End TB.

scholarly journals Dilemma in the foreign lands during COVID-19: An outlook of expat health care professionals with a take on a social perspective

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-782
Author(s):  
Namdeo Prabhu ◽  
Rakhi Issrani
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection a global pandemic due to the fast transmission of this disease worldwide. To prevent and slow the transmission of this contagious illness, the public health officials of many affected countries scrambled to introduce measures aimed at controlling its spread. As a result, unprecedented interventions/measures, including strict contact tracing, quarantine of entire towns/cities, closing of borders and travel restrictions, have been implemented by most of the affected countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to share health care professionals’ perspectives who are experiencing COVID19 firsthand in a foreign land. In addition, the role of the Saudi governance to combat the current situation is also discussed. DISCUSSION: Personal and previous experiences as related to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by the authors has been compared to the current situation and how it affected our thoughts and management. A review of the evidence-based literature was conducted to investigate the demographics of the region; and to understand the awareness of the various tools that are available and how they were utilized in the present situation of pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Saudi Arabia has been challenged during the pandemic as are other countries.

scholarly journals Interventions to Improve the Willingness to Work Among Health care Professionals in Times of Disaster: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110599
Author(s):  
Negin Karimi Dehkordi ◽  
Amir Farhang Abbasi ◽  
Mostafa Radmard Lord ◽  
Samira Soleimanpour ◽  
Salime Goharinezhad
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Human Resources For Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Wide Range

The critical role of the health workforce in the function of the health care system is undeniable. In times of disaster and public health emergency, the importance of this valuable resource for the organization multiplies. This scoping review was conducted to identify, analyze, and categorize interventions to improve willingness to work in times of disaster as well as the existing knowledge gaps in the topic. For this purpose, four databases were searched. These included Scopus, PubMed, WOS, and World Health Organization observatory, and they were searched for papers published from July 2000 to September 2020. Studies of the English language that described strategies to improve human resources for health willingness to work during times of disaster/public health emergency were included. Full-text papers were screened by authors and data extraction was done according to self-designed form. Framework analysis identified key interventions based on human resources for health action framework. From 6246 search results, 52 articles were included, a great portion of which was published in 2020 probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern America was the region with most studies. From 52 included studies, 21 papers have reported the interventions to improve willingness to work and 31 papers have explored factors that affected a willingness to work. The interventions used in the studies were categorized into five themes as Leadership, Partnership, Financing, Education, and Organizational policies. The most and least interventions were financial and partnership respectively. The review identified a wide range of feasible strategies and interventions to improve human resources for health’s willingness to work at times of disaster that are expected to be effective. Organizations should let the staff know these decisions and as a necessary step in every organizational intervention remember to evaluate the impacts.

scholarly journals Improving safety with surgical equipment: how you can help MHRA

2008 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Christopher Brittain
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Surgical Equipment ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Executive Agency

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the executive agency of the Department of Health charged with protecting and promoting public health and patient safety by ensuring that medicines and medical equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, performance and effectiveness – and that they are used safely. One way it aims to achieve this is by investigating reports of adverse incidents involving medical devices and instigating corrective actions to reduce the risk of recurrence. The MHRA is keen to increase awareness of its role in this area and, furthermore, the vital role that all surgeons, medics and health care professionals have in making medical devices safer.

“PHONE-CONNECT” - A Pilot Program Prescribing Phones to Address Digital Health Equity Needs in the COVID-19 Era (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Kazevman ◽  
Marck Mercado ◽  
Jennifer Hulme ◽  
Andrea Somers
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Care Intervention ◽  
Care Intervention

UNSTRUCTURED Vulnerable populations have been identified as having higher infection rates and poorer COVID-19 related outcomes, likely due to their inability to readily access primary care, follow public health directives and adhere to self-isolation guidelines. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care services have adopted new digital solutions, relying on phone and internet connectivity. Yet, persons who are digitally inaccessible, such as those struggling with poverty or homelessness, are often unable to utilize these services. In response to this newly highlighted social disparity known as “digital health inequity”, emergency physicians at the University Health Network, Toronto, initiated a program called “PHONE CONNECT”. This novel approach attempts to improve patients’ access to health care, information and social services, as well as improve their ability to adhere to public health directives (social isolation and contact tracing). While similar programs addressing the same emerging issues have been recently described in the media, this is the first time phones are provided as a health care intervention in an emergency department. This innovative ED point-of-care intervention may have a significant impact on improving the health outcomes for vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond it.

scholarly journals RESEARCH ON SELF MEDICATION: A HYPE OR A HOPE? A LITERATURE REVIEW.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Mythri Halappa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Recent Trend ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractMedications are one of the most important tools in public health practice. Since the 1980s, self‑medication is of prime public health importance as World Health Organization, in order to reduce the burden on health care professionals changed some prescription drugs to be sold over the counter. Each drug has its own advantages & disadvantages. Hence, always they have to be taken with caution. Considering this a recent trend has increased in surveying the prevalence of self medication. Hence, this review critically evaluated the studies to put a light on basic concept of self medication.Key words: Self medication, Drug abuse, Self care, Substance abuse, Antibiotic usage. 

Advancing Public Health Through Continuing Education of Health Care Professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. S60-S66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Suchanek Hudmon ◽  
Robert L. Addleton ◽  
Frank M. Vitale ◽  
Bruce A. Christiansen ◽  
George C. Mejicano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Health Care Professionals

scholarly journals Empowering Health Care Professionals: An Interprofessional Education Model Implementation and Evaluation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Shank Coviello
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Ensure Patient Safety

In 2016, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported medical error as the 3rd leading cause of death in healthcare systems in the United States. Effective communication of patient care needs across healthcare disciplines is critical to ensure patient safety, quality of care, and to improve operational efficiencies in healthcare systems. Ineffective collaboration and communication among healthcare professionals within the procedural areas increases the potential of harm as a patient moves from one healthcare professional to another. Health care systems are thus encouraged to train employees with a focus on interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice. IOM and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend the use of IPE to help improve communication and collaboration. However the current educational structure in many institutions does not include IPE. As such, healthcare professionals work in silos, with little or no collaboration with one another, which may result in service duplication, increased service cost, and poor health outcomes for patients.

scholarly journals Case-management for nursing care of patient with stroke: a cross-cultural critical reflective analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Theofanidis
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Health Care Reforms ◽  
The Usa

Introduction: Stroke remains a heavy financial burden on health care systems around the world. Yet, health care reforms have called for sophisticated management systems in order to provide high-quality care on equal terms for the entire population within a cost-conscious environment. Aim: The main aim of this discussion paper is to define and reflect cross-culturally on the merits of the Case-Management (CM) approach for contemporary stroke care delivery.Methods: Critical reflective analysis was used for this paper’s needs, whereby readers are gradually introduced to skills of critical and reflective thinking. This can then be applied into a clinical context which may assist nurses to achieve a better understanding of their professional role within the complexities of contemporary health care delivery.Discussion: An overview for stroke care differences between Greece and USA is provided using the following critical analysis components: Situation, Experience evaluated, Personal Reflections and Opportunities for Change.Conclusions: CM in the USA aims to meet the urgent challenges of stroke care. CMs are health care professionals whose role is to serve as client advocates and to coordinate services whilst assuring financial and gate keeping functions as required. As these services are currently unavailable in Greece, despite adverse financial circumstances, efforts should be made to introduce a culturally adopted CM initiative for stroke care.

scholarly journals An Awakening Alarm for Dental Professionals in Pandemic of Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 1098-1101
Author(s):  
Aditi Vinay Chandak ◽  
Surekha Dubey Godbole ◽  
Tanvi Rajesh Balwani ◽  
Tanuj Sunil Patil
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Human Life ◽  
New York Times ◽  
World Health ◽  
Typical Structure ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Ecosystem, which consists of the physical environment and all the living organisms, on which we all depend, is declining rapidly because of its destruction caused by humans. It’s a two-way relationship between the humans and mother nature. If we destroy the natural environment around us, human life will be seriously affected, and the life of next generation will be endangered unless serious steps are taken. One such effect of human overexploitations has come in the form of coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus, a contagious disease of 2019 known as Covid-19, is the latest swiftly spreading global infection. The aetiology of Covid-19 is different from SARS-CoV which has the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it has the same host receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The novel coronavirus which is zoonotic (spreading from an animal to a human) and mainly found in the bats and pangolins is a single stranded ribonucleic acid virus of Coronaviridae family. 1 The typical structure of 2019-nCoV possessed ‘spike protein’ in the membrane envelope, also expressed various polyproteins, nucleoproteins and membrane protein. The S protein binds to the receptor cell of host to facilitate the entry of virus in the host. Currently four genera for coronavirus are found α-CoV, ßCoV, γ-CoV, δ-CoV. SARS-CoV first originated in Wuhan, China and has spread across the globe. World Health Organization (WHO) and public health emergency of international concern declared it as 2019 - 2020 pandemic disease.2 According to WHO report, (7th April 2020) update on this pandemic coronavirus disease, there have been more than 13,65,004 confirmed cases and 76,507 deaths across the world and these figures are rapidly increasing. Therefore, actions for proper recognition, management and its prevention must be prompted for relevant alleviation of its outspread.3 Health care professionals are mainly indulged in the national crises and are working diligently around-the-clock, small ratio of the health care workers have become affected and few died tragically. Dentists are most often the first ones to be affected because they work with patients in close proximity. On 15th March 2020, the New York Times published an article titled “The workers who face the greatest Coronavirus risk” described the dentists are highly exposed, than the paramedical staffs and general physicians, to the risk of novel coronavirus disease 19.4

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