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Background: Repeated contact with patients with COVID-19 and working in quarantine conditions has made health workers vulnerable to psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the prevalence of the various psychological distresses among health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for access to papers examining psychological distress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Heterogeneity among the studies was examined using the Cochran's Q test; because heterogeneity was significant, the random effects model was used to examine the prevalence of psychological distress. Results: Overall, 12 studies with a total sample size of 5265 were eligible and included in the analysis. Prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD were 20% (95% CI: 14-27), 23% (95% CI: 18-27), and 8% (95% CI: 6-9), respectively. The highest prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were related to the SDS and the GAD-7, respectively, and the lowest prevalence rates of the two aforementioned variables were related to the DASS-21. Conclusions: The high prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 epidemic can have negative effects on their health and the quality of services provided. Therefore, training coping strategies for psychological distress in this pandemic seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapidly growing rate of infection among health workers during the current COVID-19 pandemic, is posing a serious challenge to global health systems. Lately, India is also witnessing an intensifying COVID-19 disease burden and its impact on health workers. This paper aims to discuss the challenges to health worker protection in India and the possible ways forward. Given the inadequate and unequally distributed healthcare workforce, it is highly essential for the country to strategize prompt measures for ensuring occupational health and safety of its health workers. Information for this paper were gathered by searching PubMed and Google Scholar databases using "COVID-19", "Infection Control", "Health worker", "India" as search keywords in different combinations. In addition, websites of Government of India, relevant UN agencies and leading news agencies were also searched manually for related reports and publications. India must take timely measures in rapid manufacturing and procurement of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure adequate stockpiling to meet the rising demands. Comprehensive and repeated training with sharply focussed content including usage of PPE kits as well as active surveillance of adherence to recommended protocol are critical in protecting health workers especially the primary care physicians and frontline health staff from the deadly COVID-19 infection. The provision of psychological and financial support for health workers and their families is absolutely critical in building trust and dedicated work efforts by the health workforce for a continuous fight against the deadly disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus outbreak in Hubei Province, China, has now spread all over the world. People are witnessing the loss of thousands of lives across the world every day. On the one hand, where most of the government advisory aimed at facilitating physical health, the need for mental health promotion was also recognized. The aim of the paper is to review the findings and commentaries of researches during COVID-19. Coming data suggest that COVID-19 pandemic can cause several psychological distresses during and after this pandemic. Stigma, violence, and other social factors can give extra challenges to mental health professionals. Among these challenges, one serious factor is the risk of suicide. Older individuals, females, and health workers have been identified as most prone to the mental health crisis. E-platform has been identified as the best service delivery system; however, service delivery can be compromised by some hurdles. Few suggestions have been made on the basis of available findings for readiness and mental health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine and related e-health facilities facilitate care from a distance through electronic information systems. COVID-19 pandemic is establishing telemedicine in the health care delivery system of countries. Telehealth is contributing significantly in health care delivery during the COVID-19 crisis. For mild-to-moderate symptoms of COVID-19 or any illness, telehealth services might represent a better, efficient way to receive initial care and perform triaging. Telemedicine also has a significant role in screening for COVID-19 symptoms and delivering routine needs and follow-up care. The large-scale adoption of telemedicine in public health care delivery is still not visible in low- and middle-income countries like India. Adoption by patients and healthcare professionals is limited and their concerns need to be addressed to ensure its utilization in future of the care continuum. In the current paper, we aim to review recent measures of Telemedicine adopted during the course of pandemic and its impact on public health in lower-middle income countries like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background As with other medical specialties throughout the epidemic, general surgical clinics' treatment protocols have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become a serious danger to healthcare systems. The presence of severe COVID-19 in young individuals and among medical workers has exacerbated the psychological burden on clinicians treating patients suspected of having or being infected with SARS-CoV-2, even if comorbidities and older age are statistically linked to higher death rates. Patients and methods A retrospective comparative study included patients who were admitted to the emergency room (ER), surgical, or managing conservatory for acute surgical abdomen. All subjects were divided into three groups. 1186 patients; out of them, 490 cases were examined before the pandemic, 334 cases were examined during the pandemic, and 362 cases were examined after vaccination. Results Before the pandemic, the commonest cause of acute abdomen was appendicitis (21.8%), strangulated hernia (21%), and cholecystectomy (17.8%). During the pandemic, the commonest cause of acute abdomen was appendicitis (21.8%), cholecystectomy (16.8%), and Mesenteric venous occlusion (MVO)/Mesenteric Artial occlusion (MAO) (13.8%). After the pandemic, the commonest causes of acute abdomen were cholecystectomy (25.4%), appendicitis (24.6%), and exploration abdomen (11.9%). The time of management differed significantly among the studied groups. The highest requirement for immediate intervention was attributed to the before pandemic group, while during the pandemic group was associated with conservative management, and after conservative management. Conclusion The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic highly affected the clinical presentation, aetiology, diagnostic and paraclinical investigations, and therapeutic management, as well as the changes in emergency practice procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Telemedicine has emerged as an essential interface between health care providers and patients during the pandemic. The present study was done to assess this technology's level of acceptance and satisfaction amongst the patients. Methods: We did a retrospective study amongst patients >18 years (n = 300) who had availed telemedicine services in different departments of a tertiary care hospital between May and August 2020. The patients were interviewed telephonically using a pre-tested semi-structured tool that collected information about the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and satisfaction was measured on a 5-point Likert Scale. Results: Fifty-five percent patients received teleconsultation via a telephone call, while the others preferred video calling services on WhatsApp messenger. Overall, more than 97% of the clients depicted satisfaction with the telemedicine services in three major domains: registration/appointment services, consultation with the doctor and post-consultation services. Some of the common feedback included difficulty in getting medicine using the scanned copy of prescription slip generated by the hospital, problems faced in reimbursement of the bills, long waiting period, and poor quality of video calls due to slow internet. Conclusion: Telemedicine proved to be an efficient means of communication for many patients during the pandemic. Though patient satisfaction was high with the services received by them, timely assessment of the problems encountered in the implementation of telemedicine services will help evolve the services not just during the pandemic but even after that. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This review aims to map the needs and challenges in the application of teledentistry and online referral system encountered by dental health care professionals in Indonesian primary health care centers (puskesmas) to provide safe dental health service to the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Literature search was undertaken of both in Indonesian and overseas context related to teledentistry. Narrative review of the literature was written to present the challenges, solutions, and application of teledentistry at Puskesmas to optimize oral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Online referral system and teledentistry are options to help dental health service delivery in the pandemic era. While it has been adopted in many private clinics, there are many challenges to adopt it at the puskesmas level due to a lack of infrastructure, human resources, and budget allocation. While the Indonesian government has plans to support the digitization in the education and health sector, this pandemic shall pose an opportunity for Indonesian health department to develop and facilitate the use of teledentistry and online referral system. During this situation, health cadres can bridge the relationship between Puskesmas and the poor community through the help of teledentistry. Conclusions: The government commitment in applying online referral system and teledentistry in Puskesmas is needed. Dental education institutions can help to supply human resources, who are capable of developing and carrying out the most suitable teledentistry application for all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global health threat. The South-Asian (SA) countries have witnessed both the initial brunt of the outbreak as well as the ongoing rise of cases. Their unique challenges in relation to mental health during the pandemic are worth exploring. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted for all the original studies on the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on psychological health/well-being in the SA countries of the World Psychiatric Association Zone 16. PubMed, Google Scholar, PSYCHINFO, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched till June 2020. Studies conducted in the age group of 18-60 years with a minimum sample size of 10, and statistically significant results were included. Results: Thirteen studies were included in the review. They showed increase prevalence in nonpsychotic depression, anxiety, somatic concerns, alcohol-related disorders, and insomnia in the general population. Psychological symptoms correlated more with physical complaints of fatigue and pain in older adults and were directly related to social media use, misinformation, xenophobia, and social distancing. Frontline workers reported guilt, stigma, anxiety, and poor sleep quality, which were related to the lack of availability of adequate personal protective equipment, increased workload, and discrimination. One study validated the Coronavirus anxiety scale in the Indian population while another explored gaming as a double-edged sword during the lockdown in adolescents. Another study from Bangladesh explored psychosexual health during lockdown. Most studies were cross-sectional online surveys, used screening tools and had limited accessibility. Conclusion: The ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its impact serve as an important period for adequate mental healthcare, promotion, research, and holistic biopsychosocial management of psychiatric disorders, especially in vulnerable groups. Mental healthcare and research strategies during the pandemic and preparedness for postpandemic aftermath are advocated subsequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The COVID-19 Pandemic has been raging across continents in recent months. Public health measures are crucial in preventing COVID-19. The Government of India declared a nationwide lockdown on 24 March, 2020. The objective of this study is to assess preparedness among general public and healthcare providers against COVID-19 by way of adopting public health measures at the very beginning of the nationwide lockdown in India. Settings and Design: A rapid cross sectional electronic survey was conducted across the country between 25 and 27 March, 2020. Methods and Materials: Participants were general public and healthcare providers. Online questionnaire was generated in Google Forms. This included precautionary measures such as staying home, hand hygiene, wearing masks, cough hygiene and advisory against face touching. The web link to the form was shared through WhatsApp. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive data analysis was done using Epi Info software (version-7). Results: A total of 226 persons (general public = 183; healthcare providers [HCPs] = 43) participated in the study. During the lockdown, HCPs spent more time outside than the general public (p = 0.009). Only 47% of the participants claimed to practise frequent hand washing and majority (72%; n = 163) did not wear masks while outdoors. Almost a half (45%) of the participants touched their face frequently and very few (8%) participants covered their mouth or nose while coughing or sneezing. There was no significant difference between HCPs and general public in frequent hand washing (p = 0.456), wearing masks (p = 0.255), face touching (p = 0.632) or covering mouth/nose while coughing or sneezing (p = 0.428). Conclusion: There is lack of preparedness among general public and healthcare providers against COVID-19 at the beginning of the nationwide lockdown in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in everyone's lives globally. Optometrists, being primary health care professionals are at a higher risk of infection in their practices during these testing times. Optometrists and optical store owners need practically implementable guidelines as lockdown gets lifted in various parts of our country. As these practices gear up to provide eye examination and vision correction to people, they need to take necessary precautions to avoid any cross contaminations. Optometry Council of India guidelines were circulated among optometry and optical associations and among experts in various optometry specialty. A consensus among various bodies were arrived. These guidelines provide recommendation for optical and optometry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]