Background:
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) pandemic has put frontline health-care workers into unprecedented amounts of difficulty and psychological stress.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional, analytical study 122 junior doctors (interns, house staffs and postgraduate trainee) of a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal were studied during the period November 2021–January 2022. Data were collected using an online structured questionnaire, prepared as Google Forms and shared by WhatsApp. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used for the study. Information regarding various coping strategies adopted in the past 1 month was also collected.
Results:
High prevalence (83.7%) of moderate-to-high stress was observed among junior doctors (mean PSS score 21±6.9). Multivariable analysis showed female gender, single (unmarried) status and separation from family during COVID duty assignment were significantly at risk of moderate-to-high stress. The coping behaviours commonly used by the study participants were physical exercise, sharing feelings, talk therapy, meditation, hoping for the best, faith in God/religion, watching movies etc., with many struggling to cope.
Conclusions:
High prevalence of moderate-to-high stress and difficulty in coping were observed among the junior doctors. It's the need of the hour to plan support programmes dedicated to junior doctors emphasizing coping strategies and stress management.
Background:
Enormous volume of biomedical waste (BMW) is generated in health-care facilities with threat of multiple adverse consequences to human and environment. Proper BMW management is of utmost importance to get rid of those adverse effects.
Methods:
This institution-based cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 February 2020 and 31 March 2020, among 151 health care workers (HCWs) (80 junior doctors and 71 nursing staff) was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice about BMW management among health-care workers (HCWs) at a tertiary hospital at Kolkata.
Results:
All the nursing staff and 92.5% of junior doctors could identify biohazard symbol. About three-fourth of junior doctors were aware of the categories of BMW, while only 47.8% of nursing staff knew this. Only half of the HCWs knew the four colour-coded bags. About 79.5% of the HCWs knew the use of hub cutters. About three-fourth of the HCWs used colour-coded bags correctly while 90% used white puncture-proof containers for sharps. Only one-third of the HCWs were trained on BMW management. There were no significant differences in knowledge and practice scores among the two groups.
Conclusions:
The HCWs lacked in appropriate knowledge and practices on BMW management. BMW management rules should be strictly implemented through periodic training and monitoring of HCWs.
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