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Background: COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose has emerged as an essential tool to control the spread of COVID-19 infections worldwide. The acceptance of vaccines is influenced by various factors such as knowledge, perception of the likelihood of COVID-19 spread, vaccine safety, logistics, vaccine efficacy, and perceived risk. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose among health-care professionals (HCPs) at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 participants using a self-designed, semi-structured, and pre-validated questionnaire circulated through Google Forms to HCPs. Results: The results showed that all the participants were aware of the COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose. However, only 68.49% of the participants had received the dose. The major source of information was the World Health Organization. About 79.4% of the participants were worried about serious unknown long-term effects of the precautionary dose, but the majority were willing to take it without any hesitation. About 14.3% of the participants experienced side effects, with pain at the injection site being the most common. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that participants had a good understanding of the COVID-19 precaution dose, but their attitudes were slightly lesser compared to their knowledge, and also, there was a lot of hesitation with respect to practicing the COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: End-of-life care raises ethical, moral, legal and economic dilemmas, especially when physicians have to decide whether to initiate or to stop treatments that may be considered disproportionate and futile. Aim: To explore the opinion of health care professionals involved in end-of-life patient care on interventions considered disproportionate and futile at this stage of care, the causes and factors of pressure leading to such situations, and possible solutions to reduce the phenomenon. Material and method: The study used an adapted, designed questionnaire intended for health professionals caring for patients at the end of life. The 128 respondents were physicians, nurses, psychologists and social workers who expressed their opinions about therapeutic obstinacy in end-of-life care. Results: The results of the research highlight the role of the family as a pressure factor, the causes related to the non-acceptance of the prognosis and diagnosis of a terminal condition, fear of death and ignorance of the patient's wishes. Interventions considered disproportionate at the end of life were cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, transfusion of blood derivatives, complex diagnostic investigations and the establishment of gastrostomy/jejunostomy in the last days of life. Conclusions: End-of-life therapeutic obstinacy is a reality in end-of-life care, and healthcare professionals face many ethical challenges in this process. Care decisions must be made together with the patient and their family, respecting the rights, dignity and respect of all parties involved in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical devices are now an essential component of modern healthcare, providing better illness screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Every medical equipment has some level of health risk. Health-care professionals such as resident doctors, intern doctors, and nursing staff play an important role in identifying and reporting adverse events caused by medical devices. Aim and Objective: The study aimed to evaluate Healthcare professionals' awareness, attitudes and practices concerning Materiovigilance within a tertiary care hospital setting. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study done among resident doctors, intern doctors, and nursing staff of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. To collect the relevant data of the study variable, a self-administered Google Form-based questionnaire was created. It consists of a total of 18 questions related to KAP aspects of the Materiovigilance. The study participants were given access to the questionnaire via a digital web link using several social media platforms, and their responses were collected. Results: A total of 147 participants responded, of which 40.1% were resident doctors, 29.9% were intern doctors, and 29.9% were nursing staff. After analysis of responded data, 50% had proper Knowledge, 77.5% had proper Attitude, and 37.4% had a proper practice of materiovigilance. Conclusion: It was discovered that the participants in our study lacked adequate Materiovigilance knowledge and practice, but had better attitudes toward Materiovigilance. For the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging the reporting of adverse events caused by medical devices, more workshops and training programs must be held. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare professionals (HCPs), including doctors of dental medicine (DMDs) and doctors of medicine (MDs), use social networking sites (SNSs) for personal and professional purposes. This study aims to: (i) explore DMDs and MDs awareness of their online presence, (ii) examine how frequently and for what reasons DMDs and MDs monitor their online images, (iii) determine the prevalence of finding inaccurate, incomplete, or unprofessional information about themselves, examine that experience, and investigate actions performed regarding unprofessional or embarrassing posted material, (iv) assess concerns about their own SNSs usage and the content they post. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among DMDs and MDs in Croatia using a questionnaire. Results: Out of 1,013 participants, 753 were active SNS users. Facebook (91.6%) and Instagram (63.1%) were the predominant SNSs used. DMDs exhibited a significantly higher inclination to utilize SNSs for professional purposes than MDs. Both groups reported a high level of proficiency in using Facebook (M=3.2, SD=0.827) and Instagram (M=2.44, SD=1.162). Approximately 55.4% of the participants repored monitoring their online presence, typically once a year or less frequently. DMDs emphasized the completeness of posted information more than MDs (U=25,623.0, p=0.001). Their highest level of concern pertained to confidentiality breaches and inaccurate medical and dental information. There are similar results for MDs and DMDs for finding erroneous information posted on SNSs. Conclusions: This study offers insights into HCPs’ online presence, and their concerns regarding SNS usage. It underscores the significance of e-professionalism, and provides recommendations for maintaining a positive online presence while mitigating potential risks.

Background: Millions of people have been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic globally. COVID-19 pandemic has descended people to the realms of uncertainty and isolation which surprisingly are associated with mental distress. Depression, anxiety and stress are one of the prominent psychological factors that might have been significantly impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted predominantly with the aim of assessing psychological impact by COVID-19 in health-care professionals (HCPs) as well as in general population. Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, a tertiary level teaching hospital in Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A total of 250 participants comprising both HCPs and general population were included in the study. Depression, anxiety, stress-scale-21 questionnaire, a validated instrument, was used to assess the depression, anxiety, and stress levels among the participants. Informed consent was taken individually for volunteering in the study and participants were required to fill the questionnaire as per the directed instructions. Results: Out of 250 participants, 54.8%, 68%, and 34.4% were found to have depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The prevalence of severe and extremely severe depression corresponded to 9.9% and 6.8% of HCPs, respectively. Severe and extremely severe anxiety existed in 14.9% and 21.1% of HCPs, respectively, followed by 7.5% and 1.2% severe stress and extremely severe stress percentages. About 11.2% and 7.9% participants in community experienced severe and extremely severe depression, respectively. Although 19.1% and 21.3% values corresponded to severe and extremely severe anxiety in community, 5% participants were found to have severe stress, and 4 % had extremely severe stress. A significant positive correlation existed between the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. No statistically significant association was found between DAS scores and demographic variables except anxiety scores which showed a statistically significant association with HCPs especially nurses, students, and doctors. Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress experienced during COVID-19 pandemic by all participants. Anxiety in comparison to depression and stress was found to be experienced by majority of participants. Anxiety levels were prominent in nurses, students, and doctors among HCPs.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and perception of health-care professionals (HCPs), such as doctors/surgeons, pharmacists, nurses, optometrists, and lab technicians, on clinical trials (CTs) in India. Methods: The study was a pan-Indian cross-sectional survey initiated by the Indian Ophthalmology Clinical Trial Network (IOCTN) by using a previously validated questionnaire for three months of data collection. An online survey was used to record information regarding demographics, CT knowledge, and CT perception among HCPs. Results: A total of 630 responses were recorded from HCPs: 207 doctors and surgeons, 159 pharmacists, and 264 laboratory technicians, nurses, and optometrists across India. Over 90% of HCPs had a clear knowledge on the purpose of CTs, the informed consent (IC) process, ethical approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). About 80% and 90% were aware of confidentiality of patients, voluntariness of participation, and good clinical practice. Surprisingly, less than 50% had lesser knowledge regarding monetary incentives of CT participants (CTPs). A slightly positive perception was observed regarding the potential benefits of CTPs, compensation related to injury, and importance of obtaining IC. Less than 50% had a negative perception that monetary compensation to CTPs led to bias and deprivation of standard treatments. However, no significant difference was observed between other aspects of demographics and perception regarding CTs. Conclusion: We observed doctors and surgeons to be having the highest regarding CTs, followed by pharmacists. The survey highlighted the necessity of scheduling awareness programs among the HCPs, which would improve their misconceptions and perception of CTs while interacting with patients for CT enrollment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast rise and widespread use of online social networking platforms, which are accessed by millions of people, provide significant ethical and professional issues for practitioners. The usage of online social networking forums has grown in popularity, particularly across the younger generation of physicians and patients. To find the most recent literature regarding this subject, the present review made the use of Web of Science, PubMed (Medline), and Google Scholar (as a search engine). The searches were conducted using the following search terms: professionalism, social media, social networks, Internet, Web 2.0, eHealth, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok; included in the title or abstract or keywords. The search was restricted to studies published in English from 2009 to 2021. In this article, we explore the ethical issues that have arisen as a result of the increased usage of online social networking platforms in the patient–doctor interaction as well as the way these social media tools can be equipped for the improvement of health education and health care.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and perception of health-care professionals (HCPs), such as doctors/surgeons, pharmacists, nurses, optometrists, and lab technicians, on clinical trials (CTs) in India. Methods: The study was a pan-Indian cross-sectional survey initiated by the Indian Ophthalmology Clinical Trial Network (IOCTN) by using a previously validated questionnaire for three months of data collection. An online survey was used to record information regarding demographics, CT knowledge, and CT perception among HCPs. Results: A total of 630 responses were recorded from HCPs: 207 doctors and surgeons, 159 pharmacists, and 264 laboratory technicians, nurses, and optometrists across India. Over 90% of HCPs had a clear knowledge on the purpose of CTs, the informed consent (IC) process, ethical approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). About 80% and 90% were aware of confidentiality of patients, voluntariness of participation, and good clinical practice. Surprisingly, less than 50% had lesser knowledge regarding monetary incentives of CT participants (CTPs). A slightly positive perception was observed regarding the potential benefits of CTPs, compensation related to injury, and importance of obtaining IC. Less than 50% had a negative perception that monetary compensation to CTPs led to bias and deprivation of standard treatments. However, no significant difference was observed between other aspects of demographics and perception regarding CTs. Conclusion: We observed doctors and surgeons to be having the highest regarding CTs, followed by pharmacists. The survey highlighted the necessity of scheduling awareness programs among the HCPs, which would improve their misconceptions and perception of CTs while interacting with patients for CT enrollment.

Background: The study aims to uncover some of the relevant concerns, with a specific emphasis on psychological and mental status evaluation, as well as a few suggested coping mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study conducted on medical, dental, and nursing from all over India. The questionnaire, which consisted of 19 questions, was designed to determine the health-care professionals' awareness of the WHO guidelines. Collected data were computed with SPSS version 25 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Medical (4.23 ± 0.645) health-care personnel have higher mean stress levels than nursing (3.16 ± 0.458) and dental (2.2 ± 0.953) health-care workers (HCWs) (P = 0.0001). In terms of work experience, 6–10 years (3.35 ± 1.13) have higher stress levels than 1–5 years and >10 years (P = 0.005). Conclusion: This study uncovered a high pervasiveness of discerning stress among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which afflicted all workers despite the demographic status.

The professional development of health-care workers is a key prerequisite for professional success, and its effectiveness contributes to the quality of health-care services at any level of health-care institution. Health-care professionals face constant changes, as a challenge to adapt to the competitive environment around them. This makes it important to ensure that health-care workers have effective training to meet their professional development needs. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the theoretical assumptions of professional development, and to reveal the attitudes of health-care professionals towards the needs and specifics of professional development. The study has indicated that the professional development for health-care workers is result-oriented, yet of insufficient quality, with organisational, financial and other problems. It has been found that the planning and implementation of professional development for health-care professionals is subject to specific requirements. The combination of these requirements and the way they are evolving imply that the needs and specifics of health-care professionals in the field of professional development need to be addressed beyond doubt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Millions of people have been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic globally. COVID-19 pandemic has descended people to the realms of uncertainty and isolation which surprisingly are associated with mental distress. Depression, anxiety and stress are one of the prominent psychological factors that might have been significantly impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted predominantly with the aim of assessing psychological impact by COVID-19 in health-care professionals (HCPs) as well as in general population. Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, a tertiary level teaching hospital in Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A total of 250 participants comprising both HCPs and general population were included in the study. Depression, anxiety, stress-scale-21 questionnaire, a validated instrument, was used to assess the depression, anxiety, and stress levels among the participants. Informed consent was taken individually for volunteering in the study and participants were required to fill the questionnaire as per the directed instructions. Results: Out of 250 participants, 54.8%, 68%, and 34.4% were found to have depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The prevalence of severe and extremely severe depression corresponded to 9.9% and 6.8% of HCPs, respectively. Severe and extremely severe anxiety existed in 14.9% and 21.1% of HCPs, respectively, followed by 7.5% and 1.2% severe stress and extremely severe stress percentages. About 11.2% and 7.9% participants in community experienced severe and extremely severe depression, respectively. Although 19.1% and 21.3% values corresponded to severe and extremely severe anxiety in community, 5% participants were found to have severe stress, and 4 % had extremely severe stress. A significant positive correlation existed between the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. No statistically significant association was found between DAS scores and demographic variables except anxiety scores which showed a statistically significant association with HCPs especially nurses, students, and doctors. Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress experienced during COVID-19 pandemic by all participants. Anxiety in comparison to depression and stress was found to be experienced by majority of participants. Anxiety levels were prominent in nurses, students, and doctors among HCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospitals can be especially stressful for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to the communication and social skills deficits, lower capacity to adapt to disruption, and sensory hypersensitivity that are typical of these patients. Purpose: This study investigated how health-care professionals (HPs) experienced the clinical care and management of children with ASD undergoing medical testing in a day hospital setting, and assessed the rate of successful completion of laboratory tests and instrumental examinations. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 45 HPs, inquiring about their experience in obtaining blood and urine tests, ECG, audiometry, and EEG from children with ASD. The clinical sample included 153 consecutively referred children with ASD (74.5% males, mean age 5.6 years) undergoing a medical diagnostic work-up as part of their diagnostic evaluation. The success rate of completing the various assessments was examined. Results: HPs identified aggressive behavior and communication deficits as the major challenges when providing care to children with ASD. The parents were seen as an important resource for managing the children. The completion rate of the laboratory tests and instrumental examinations was high (between 88.5% and 98.4% according to the specific type of examination). The lowest non-completion rate was found for the EEG (12.5%). Conclusions: Despite considerable challenges being reported by HPs in managing children with ASD, the scheduled assessments could be completed in the large majority of cases. Targeted approaches to preventing aggressive behaviors and obviating the communication barriers in children with ASD undergoing hospital exams are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience is considered an important factor in managing psychological adversities during pandemics. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a test for the population, especially health-care workers (HCWs), for their resilience in coping with the pandemic situation. Multiple factors influence resilience among people, including the HCWs who have endured the pandemic, such as stress, social support, and burnout. The review involved a search for original articles assessing resilience and the impact of COVID-19 on resilience among general population and HCWs. Among the general population, resilience mediated the severity of depression, stress, and anxiety. A greater resilience was associated with increased physical activity, perceived social support, better sleep quality, quality of life, hopeful, and prayer-related activities. Further, being male, older, without mental health issues, having subjective well-being, and high identification with all humanity were associated with higher resilience. Apart from the general factors affecting resilience, the female gender, trainee doctors, those involved in treating COVID-19, prolonged working hours, and limited access to information in management have significantly impacted the resilience among HCWs. Physicians of clinical specialties, especially emergency medicine, experienced lower resilience levels. Similar to doctors, the female gender, long working hours, lack of social support, lack of adequate training and knowledge, and those involved in managing COVID-19 patients were found to impair resilience among nurses. Deficiencies in core training of medical trainees, academic pressure, preclinical training, female gender, testing positive for COVID-19, or having a family member with COVID-19 were associated with lower resilience among medical students. Higher levels of perceived self-efficacy, self-esteem, and involvement in frontline medical services positively effect on medical students. Among the coping strategies, increased physical activity, better sleep quality, and activities promoting self-awareness were found to improve resilience. Involving a mental health professional, using mindfulness-based therapies, availability of peer consultation and support groups, and enabling independent decision making among frontline HCWs can alleviate mental distress. Effective screening strategies and interventions to build resilience are warranted, especially in HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aims to uncover some of the relevant concerns, with a specific emphasis on psychological and mental status evaluation, as well as a few suggested coping mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study conducted on medical, dental, and nursing from all over India. The questionnaire, which consisted of 19 questions, was designed to determine the health-care professionals' awareness of the WHO guidelines. Collected data were computed with SPSS version 25 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Medical (4.23 ± 0.645) health-care personnel have higher mean stress levels than nursing (3.16 ± 0.458) and dental (2.2 ± 0.953) health-care workers (HCWs) (P = 0.0001). In terms of work experience, 6-10 years (3.35 ± 1.13) have higher stress levels than 1-5 years and >10 years (P = 0.005). Conclusion: This study uncovered a high pervasiveness of discerning stress among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which afflicted all workers despite the demographic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast rise and widespread use of online social networking platforms, which are accessed by millions of people, provide significant ethical and professional issues for practitioners. The usage of online social networking forums has grown in popularity, particularly across the younger generation of physicians and patients. To find the most recent literature regarding this subject, the present review made the use of Web of Science, PubMed (Medline), and Google Scholar (as a search engine). The searches were conducted using the following search terms: professionalism, social media, social networks, Internet, Web 2.0, eHealth, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok; included in the title or abstract or keywords. The search was restricted to studies published in English from 2009 to 2021. In this article, we explore the ethical issues that have arisen as a result of the increased usage of online social networking platforms in the patient–doctor interaction as well as the way these social media tools can be equipped for the improvement of health education and health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The most effective preventive measures against COVID-19 among health-care personnel (HCP) are personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene. The documented side effects of continuous use of mask or PPE are dermatitis, but side effects on the Eustachian tube are untouched areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the Eustachian tube dysfunctions among HCP due to the continuous use of masks. Materials and Methods: This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 217 eligible HCP. The sample size was calculated as 97, considering the unknown prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunctions among HCP (50%), so all HCP were included in the study. A structured questionnaire with close-ended responses was developed to collect study participants' responses. Results: Out of 217 participants, only 207 participants provided their written consent after understanding the study objectives and 206 were included in the analysis as one subject has pre-existing ear disease. The daily hours of mask usage among 52.4% of participants were between 4 and 8 h. About 2.6% of doctors experienced severe pain and pressure in the ear. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Patient Questionnaire-7 score was significantly higher among females and masked usage of four or more hours (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study revealed that 42.3% of participants had Eustachian tube dysfunctions. The study findings might help local administration to provide practical recommendations for medical workers prior head supported masks instead of ear-supported masks, use of ear protectors.

The principles of medication management include storing, ordering, dispensing, and administration of the medications. Each of these steps is equally important to achieve the maximum benefits of the medicines. However, self-medication is common across the globe where these principles are severely compromised. Self-administration of medication is an approach in which an individual uses a medicine or drug to treat any symptoms or diagnosed disorder. It is an individual's initiative to take medicines without consulting a doctor and commonly used to gain personal independence and autonomy to treat minor illness. Its prevalence in developing countries is significantly high and ranges from 12.7% to 95%. This review examines self-medication practices among students of various health-care courses. The search criteria included studies published from 2008 to 2018. All studies that explored the use of self-medication practices among the Indian students of various health-care professions were retrieved. Three major databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Shodhganga were searched. The keywords used for search included “self-medication,” India, prevalence, students, medical, dental, nursing, pharmacology, and physiotherapy. In total, 106 articles were reviewed, 21 of these studies met the inclusion criteria. The number of total participants across all studies was 7271. Overall, 5875 (80.80%) participants were practicing self-medication. Analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics, antacids, and anti-allergic drugs were commonly used drugs for self-medication. Some studies also revealed that students have poor knowledge regarding drug reactions, and this can significantly compromise patient safety. Whereas, the study reveals that the practice of self-medication among the students is alarmingly high. This presents a significant challenge to patient safety and also poses a threat to public health in view of ever-increasing antibiotics resistant. The government must take immediate actions to regulate over-the-counter medication availabilities and also ensure a wider education program for the public.

Objective: The epidemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to the development of several vaccine candidates which has been progressing at an unprecedented rate. Health-care professionals are somewhere standing between their professional commitments and personal well-being, amid concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The present survey was conducted to analyze their approach toward vaccination. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 250 health-care professionals comprised of Medical, Dental, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy doctors, and nursing staff working at a tertiary care hospital in Gurugram city. A self-administered 10-item questionnaire in the Google document format was developed to assess their perception and attitude toward vaccination. The present survey was carried out for 2 months from November to December 2020. The responses recorded were subjected to the statistical analysis using the Chi-square test and the level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Among all participants, 72 (28.8%) were male and 178 (72.2%) were female. Of all, 60.4% of the health-care professionals somewhat or completely agreed to accept a vaccine as soon as it is available. Nursing staff reported more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination than the other health-care professionals. Majority of the HPs (44%) were found to be concerned about the rapidity in the development of vaccine. Conclusion: The overall attitude toward vaccination was positive but specific concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine are prevalent. Thus, to maintain the benefits of vaccination programs and for its successful implementation, understanding and addressing their vaccine hesitancy will be crucial.

Context and Aims: The Medical Science Liaison's (MSL's) value to the company has evolved into a more strategic role with a wide variety of responsibilities. We conducted an online survey of current MSLs nationwide to assess their profile, activity development, performance evaluation, and career development. Subjects and Methods: A 37-item survey was hosted on SurveyMonkey© and accessible from December 2018 to February 2019. The survey was open to current MSLs from different pharmaceutical companies in Spain and included questions about the participant profile, activity development, performance evaluation, and career development. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were expressed as valid percentages; to establish relationships between the answers to different questions, exclusion and comparison filters were used on the web platform. Results: A total of 179 MSLs responded to the anonymous survey. Off-label information management (79%), relationships with key opinion leaders (76%), continuous medical training for HCPs (70%), involvement in clinical trials/investigator-initiated trials (68%), and elaboration of the National Strategy (67%) were mentioned as the top new competencies. Fifty-eight percent spend an average of 61%–80% of their time out in the field and 68% use remote interactions. Fifty-six percent did not agree that their current performance metrics are a reflection of their true value. Forty-five percent of the participants disagreed when asked if their activity is easily balanced with their personal lives. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we believe that there is a need to consider the MSL's strategic priorities, to define metrics that accurately assess MSL performance, and to find ways to fully maximize their limited time.

This article is from the 'To The Point' series from the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Undergraduate Medical Education Committee. The purpose of this review is to provide an understanding of the differing yet complementary nature of interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education as well as their importance to the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We provide a historical perspective of how interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education have become key aspects of clinical and educational programs, enhancing both patient care and learner development. Opportunities to incorporate interprofessional education within women's health educational programs across organizations are suggested. This is a resource for medical educators, learners, and practicing clinicians from any field of medicine or any health-care profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance and novelty of the paper is the fact that the study unveils the expression of positive emotionality in the work environment of health-care professionals, with a view to linking the phenomenon to other relevant social phenomena, such as job satisfaction and self-esteem. The article analyses the concept of positive emotionality, its significance, factors leading to the expression of positive emotionality, its relationship with activities performed with satisfaction, self-awareness and self-esteem, motivation, etc. The research shows that the expression of positive emotionality of health-care professionals increases their job satisfaction, as there is a direct correlation between the two. The expression of positive emotionality also has a beneficial impact on health-care professionals’ self-esteem. The research has verified that maturity, career success and self-esteem increase positive emotionality. Although job satisfaction among health-care professionals is moderate, the direct link between their job satisfaction and motivation shows that the more motivated the employees are, the more satisfied they are with their job, with the opportunity to work in their chosen profession, and with the performance of activities that reflect their abilities, skills and competences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of soft skills and emotional intelligence on burnout among health-care professionals in Lebanon.

Elhadi Miskeen,1 Amar Ibrahim Omer Yahia,2 Tarig Babikir Eljack,2 Hatim Khalifa Karar3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, 61922, Saudi Arabia; 2Unit of Pathology Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, 61922, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Elhadi MiskeenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 1290, Bisha, 61922, Saudi ArabiaEmail emiskeen@ub.edu.saPurpose: Since the emergence of the COVI9-19 pandemic, there has been concern about the availability and sufficiency of blood transfusions to meet patient needs. Also, the adequate and safe blood supply is a major issue to fulfill present demands. This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the blood transfusion service and identify solutions to overcome this impact from the perspective of blood donors and healthcare professionals.Methods: This study was conducted prospectively among Saudi Arabian blood donors and healthcare professionals between May 2020 and May 2021. A group of professional health care professionals and blood donors participated in this study to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion services and identify possible solutions to overcome the adverse effects on blood system activities.Results: To understand the impact of pandemic COVID-19 on blood transfusion services in Saudi Arabia, we investigated population dynamics and statistical analysis from different age groups and health care professionals. A total of 424 blood donors and 372 healthcare professionals participated in this study. The suggested solution by the participants to overcome the blood shortage during pandemics was the organization of mobile blood drives at donors’ homes, work, and educational sites. Statically significant associations were found between blood donation during this pandemic and age (p=0.019) and marital status (p=0.001).Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the main problems of blood transfusion due to the onset of COVID-19. Hence, the data could be a source of improving blood transfusion and blood donation systems by healthcare centers and on an individual basis. Healthcare professionals use this public management system in hospitals to minimize the adverse effects of the pandemic.Keywords: health-care professionals, blood transfusion, blood donation, COVID-19

Abstract Background Psoriasis affects 2–4% of the Western adult population and is a socio-economic burden for patients and society. Topical drugs are recommended as first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate psoriasis, but low adherence is a barrier to treatment success. Psoriasis patients require support, in order to improve their long-term use of topical drugs. The project aims to test whether a patient-supporting intervention delivered by dermatology nurses can reduce the severity of psoriasis, improve the use of topical drugs, and is cost-effective compared to standard procedure. Methods The intervention consists of improved support delivered to patients by three experienced dermatology nurses, who will support patients on a regular basis by consultations with a focus on providing reminder systems, accountability, reinforcement, and building trust in the treatment. Each patient will be supported by the same dermatology nurse throughout the entire study period. The effect will be compared with standard procedure. The intervention will be tested in a randomized controlled trial during a 48-week period. A group of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (psoriasis affecting ≥ 4% of the total body surface area) and 18–85 years of age who are prescribed topical treatment will be randomized to a non-intervention (n ≈ 57) or intervention group (n ≈ 57). Participants in both arms will be prescribed topical preparations containing corticosteroid and/or calcipotriol. The primary outcome will be a change in the severity of psoriasis, measured as reduction in the Lattice-System Physician’s Global Assessment. Secondary outcomes will include changes in health-related quality of life (measured by disease specific and generic questionnaires), primary adherence (i.e., proportion of filled prescriptions), and secondary adherence by objective measure (rate of topical drug consumption (obtained by weighing medication packages) compared to estimated recommended consumption). A health economic evaluation is planned to run alongside the trial. Participants’ total health costs will be estimated on the basis of health costs reported to the national health registries and costs spent on the intervention, after which a cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out. Discussion If the intervention can reduce the severity of psoriasis in a significant manner and is economically favorable compared to standard treatment, there is potential for implementing the intervention in dermatology clinics. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04220554 . Registered on January 7, 2020. Study results, either positive, negative, or inconclusive, will be published on www.clinicaltrials.gov . Trial registration no. with the Danish Regional Committee on Health Research Ethics, registration no. 72613.

This article is from the ‘To The Point’ series from the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Undergraduate Medical Education Committee. The purpose of this review is to provide an understanding of the differing yet complementary nature of interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education as well as their importance to the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We provide a historical perspective of how interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education have become key aspects of clinical and educational programs, enhancing both patient care and learner development. Opportunities to incorporate interprofessional education within women’s health educational programs across organizations are suggested. This is a resource for medical educators, learners, and practicing clinicians from any field of medicine or any health-care profession.

Abstract Background The effect of COVID-19 on Health-Care Professionals’ mental health has received increased attention in the last year’s literature. However, previous studies essentially evaluated psychopathological symptoms and not the presence of positive mental health. Therefore, the first objective of the present research is to evaluate health-care professionals’ mental illness (i.e., anxiety and traumatic intensity) and positive mental health (i.e., well-being) using the Complete State Model of Health. Our second objective is to study the effect of Personal Protection Equipment availability on professionals’ mental health. Methods Two-hundred and thirty-two health-care professionals working in Spain in the first line of COVID-19 patient care participated in the study. To measure anxiety, traumatic intensity and well-being participants completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Davidson Trauma Scale, and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between all scales. In order to test the two continua model of mental health, we used parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis. To analyze anxiety, traumatic intensity, and well-being differences between health-care professionals with and without Personal Protection Equipment availability we conducted different ANOVAS. To test our hypothesis regarding the moderating role of Personal Protection Equipment availability in the effect of mental illness on positive mental health, data were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis. Results As in previous studies, health-care professionals showed high levels of anxiety and traumatic intensity. They also presented low levels of well-being indicators. According to our hypothesis, results of parallel analysis and exploratory factorial analysis indicated that the measures of mental illness and positive mental health loaded on separate but correlated factors. Finally, Personal Protection Equipment availability moderated the effects of state anxiety and traumatic intensity on professionals’ well-being. Conclusions Health-care professionals’ mental illness and positive mental health reflect distinct continua, rather than the extreme ends of a single spectrum. Therefore, it is essential to measure both psychopathology and the presence of positive health to comprehensively evaluate professionals’ mental health. Finally, our results indicated that Personal Protection Equipment availability is essential not only for professionals’ physical health, but also for their mental health.

Abstract Background Consistent with the ‘Making Every Contact Count’ UK public health policy, general practitioners (GPs) are expected to provide patients with behaviour change interventions opportunistically. However, there is a belief widely held among GPs that patients neither want or need such interventions. We aimed to understand the following: (a) the characteristics of people attending GP appointments, (b) patients' needs for health behaviour change, (c) perceptions of appropriateness and helpfulness of interventions, and (d) factors associated with recall of receipt of interventions. Methods Cross‐sectional nationally representative online survey of UK adults who had attended GP clinics in the preceding four weeks (n = 3028). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results 94.5% (n = 2862) of patients breached at least one health behaviour guideline, and 55.1% reported never having had a conversation with their GP about health behaviours. The majority of patients perceived intervention as appropriate (range 84.2%‐87.4% across behaviours) and helpful (range 82.8%‐85.9% across behaviours). Being male (OR = 1.412, 95% CI 1.217, 1.639), having a long‐term condition (OR = 1.514, 95% CI 1.287, 1.782) and a higher number of repeat GP visits (OR = 1.016, 95% CI 1.010, 1.023) were among factors associated with recall of receipt of interventions. Conclusions Patients perceived behaviour change intervention during routine GP consultations as appropriate and helpful, yet there are variations in the likelihood of receiving interventions according to sociodemographic factors. GPs could adopt a more proactive approach to behaviour change in patient consultations with the broad approval of patients. Patient or public contribution The questionnaire was piloted among a convenience sample prior to distribution.

Abstract Background Increased self‐management is a suggested solution to the burden on health‐care services of long‐term conditions (LTCs). This requires effective sharing of knowledge between health‐care professionals and patients, and is an underexplored area. Objective To understand how patients and health‐care professionals (HCPs) share and utilize knowledge in the social context of health‐care interactions within long‐term condition management. Methods Thematic analysis of 93 hours of observations of health‐care interactions and 33 semi‐structured interviews involving patients, carers and HCPs. Results 3 themes were identified: normative social roles, differing professional roles and the value of knowledge. Knowledge sharing was a complex process heavily influenced by social and cultural norms within the health‐care context. Not all knowledge was easily shared within routine health‐care interactions. Discussion The social context in which health‐care is practised influences what knowledge is shared and how this is achieved. It favours sharing of clinical knowledge from HCPs to patients and disadvantages patients in their ability to share their unique knowledge based on lived experience of illness. The opportunities for patients to be supported in their knowledge, skills and confidence within routine health‐care interactions are limited. Conclusion Both patients and HCPs need support to recognize the characteristics of the social context of health care and their understandings of their roles within this in order for them to move beyond accepted behaviours to develop more effective partnership working. Patient or Public Contribution Patients were involved in initial design of the study, particularly ethics of ethnographic observation.

With the changing and expanding approach to the creation of a learning environment as one of the essential factors in the quality of the organisation of the learning process, the article reveals the links that underpin the importance of an andragogue’s general competencies for the development of a transformative learning environment. The relevance of the scientific problem is highlighted by the theoretical and empirical search for the general competencies of the andragogue, which creates favourable preconditions for the transformation of the learner’s empowerment personality. The participants in the research were employees of health-care institutions in various regions of Lithuania who have participated in in-service training events at the Centre for Continuing Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Klaipėda University. The analysis of the need for health-care professionals due to the importance of an andragogue’s general competencies in creating a transformative learning environment has highlighted the direct impact of age on different needs. The results of the research show that an andragogue’s general competencies help to create a transformative learning environment, in which the totality of intellectual, emotional and practical dynamics enables the learner’s transformation, focusing on personal qualities, abilities, skills, attitudes and positive attitudes, and the development of a mindset for continuous improvement. Suggestions are provided to andragogues on how to streamline changes in adult learning that focus on personality change by creating a transformative learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The most effective preventive measures against COVID-19 among health-care personnel (HCP) are personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene. The documented side effects of continuous use of mask or PPE are dermatitis, but side effects on the Eustachian tube are untouched areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the Eustachian tube dysfunctions among HCP due to the continuous use of masks. Materials and Methods: This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 217 eligible HCP. The sample size was calculated as 97, considering the unknown prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunctions among HCP (50%), so all HCP were included in the study. A structured questionnaire with close-ended responses was developed to collect study participants' responses. Results: Out of 217 participants, only 207 participants provided their written consent after understanding the study objectives and 206 were included in the analysis as one subject has pre-existing ear disease. The daily hours of mask usage among 52.4% of participants were between 4 and 8 h. About 2.6% of doctors experienced severe pain and pressure in the ear. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Patient Questionnaire-7 score was significantly higher among females and masked usage of four or more hours (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study revealed that 42.3% of participants had Eustachian tube dysfunctions. The study findings might help local administration to provide practical recommendations for medical workers prior head supported masks instead of ear-supported masks, use of ear protectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of medication management include storing, ordering, dispensing, and administration of the medications. Each of these steps is equally important to achieve the maximum benefits of the medicines. However, self-medication is common across the globe where these principles are severely compromised. Self-administration of medication is an approach in which an individual uses a medicine or drug to treat any symptoms or diagnosed disorder. It is an individual's initiative to take medicines without consulting a doctor and commonly used to gain personal independence and autonomy to treat minor illness. Its prevalence in developing countries is significantly high and ranges from 12.7% to 95%. This review examines self-medication practices among students of various health-care courses. The search criteria included studies published from 2008 to 2018. All studies that explored the use of self-medication practices among the Indian students of various health-care professions were retrieved. Three major databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Shodhganga were searched. The keywords used for search included "self-medication," India, prevalence, students, medical, dental, nursing, pharmacology, and physiotherapy. In total, 106 articles were reviewed, 21 of these studies met the inclusion criteria. The number of total participants across all studies was 7271. Overall, 5875 (80.80%) participants were practicing self-medication. Analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics, antacids, and anti-allergic drugs were commonly used drugs for self-medication. Some studies also revealed that students have poor knowledge regarding drug reactions, and this can significantly compromise patient safety. Whereas, the study reveals that the practice of self-medication among the students is alarmingly high. This presents a significant challenge to patient safety and also poses a threat to public health in view of ever-increasing antibiotics resistant. The government must take immediate actions to regulate over-the-counter medication availabilities and also ensure a wider education program for the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The epidemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to the development of several vaccine candidates which has been progressing at an unprecedented rate. Health-care professionals are somewhere standing between their professional commitments and personal well-being, amid concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The present survey was conducted to analyze their approach toward vaccination. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 250 health-care professionals comprised of Medical, Dental, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy doctors, and nursing staff working at a tertiary care hospital in Gurugram city. A self-administered 10-item questionnaire in the Google document format was developed to assess their perception and attitude toward vaccination. The present survey was carried out for 2 months from November to December 2020. The responses recorded were subjected to the statistical analysis using the Chi-square test and the level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Among all participants, 72 (28.8%) were male and 178 (72.2%) were female. Of all, 60.4% of the health-care professionals somewhat or completely agreed to accept a vaccine as soon as it is available. Nursing staff reported more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination than the other health-care professionals. Majority of the HPs (44%) were found to be concerned about the rapidity in the development of vaccine. Conclusion: The overall attitude toward vaccination was positive but specific concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine are prevalent. Thus, to maintain the benefits of vaccination programs and for its successful implementation, understanding and addressing their vaccine hesitancy will be crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In recent decades, many self‐report instruments have been developed to assess the extent to which patients want to be informed and involved in decisions about their health as part of the concept of person‐centred care (PCC). The main objective of this research was to translate, adapt and validate the Patient‐Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) using a sample of primary care health‐care professionals in Spain. Methods Baseline analysis of PPOS scores for 321 primary care professionals (general practitioners and nurses) from 63 centres and 3 Spanish regions participating in a randomized controlled trial. We analysed missing values, distributions and descriptive statistics, item‐to‐scale correlations and internal consistency. Performed were confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the 2‐factor model (sharing and caring dimensions), scale depuration and principal component analysis (PCA). Results Low inter‐item correlations were observed, and the CFA 2‐factor model only obtained a good fit to the data after excluding 8 items. Internal consistency of the 10‐item PPOS was acceptable (0.77), but low for individual subscales (0.70 and 0.55). PCA results suggest a possible 3‐factor structure. Participants showed a patient‐oriented style (mean = 4.46, SD = 0.73), with higher scores for caring than sharing. Conclusion Although the 2‐factor model obtained empirical support, measurement indicators of the PPOS (caring dimension) could be improved. Spanish primary care health‐care professionals overall show a patient‐oriented attitude, although less marked in issues such as patients’ need for and management of medical information.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONObesity is an important issue that leads to further health complications, increases the strain on the national health system and lowers quality of life. There is little available information on obesity management to guide best practice in general practice, despite 32% of New Zealand adults reported to be obese. AIMTo review obesity management in New Zealand general practice. METHODSWe searched six online databases for peer-reviewed research about adult obesity management. Inclusion criteria were original research, a New Zealand adult sample aged 25–64 years with a body mass index (BMI) >30 (or >25 BMI if participants had comorbidities) with weight loss (kg) as a measurable outcome. RESULTSEleven articles were identified: nine studies reported statistically significant weight loss from baseline, and two studies reported no significant weight loss. Three studies used a Kaupapa Māori approach. Weight loss results ranged from 0.56 to 12.1kg. Weight loss interventions varied in strategy and suitability for individual patients. DISCUSSIONWe found that there are effective weight loss interventions available for primary health-care professionals to refer to. Although most interventions did produce some weight loss, patients may need more comprehensive interventions that include a combination of diet, exercise and behaviour modifications in culturally appropriate ways. Future research should aim to identify and mitigate potential barriers to obesity management in primary care, as well as develop comprehensive, multileveled interventions that are effective for the local population.

Abstract Background During the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy, infection among health-care professionals and in the context of welfare and health-care facilities was a significant concern. It is known that the elderly or those with concomitant pathologies are at greater risk of a serious evolution of the disease if affected by COVID-19 and that health workers are a category with greater exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Until now, there has been little information on the epidemiological features and transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak which did not involve health-care professionals or social and health-care facilities. For this reason, this paper aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population outside these semi-closed communities. Methods The study was designed by analyzing the data of the 1371 SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects observed in Sardinia up to 9 July, 2020 and whose data were available in the public health department. Statistical analysis and graphic representation were performed using STATA and Adobe Illustrator, respectively. Results Of the positive cases analyzed, 323 (23.5%) are health-care workers and 563 (41.1%) reside in social or health-care facilities. The number of positive cases among the general population (subjects who do not belong to these semi-closed communities), is 399 (29.1%), 208 females and 191 males. The estimated Case Fatality Rate stands at 5.0%, which is almost half the rate reported for all the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases (9.8%). The geographical distribution of positive cases differs considerably from the distribution of the totality of cases in Sardinia. Conclusions This review provides an insight into the COVID-19 situation in the general community, ie not involving health-care professionals or social and health-care facilities. Understanding the evolving epidemiology and transmission dynamics of the outbreak outside of these semi-closed communities would provide appropriate information to guide intervention policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vulnerability of our health-care system. Severe disruptions in care, medicine shortages and unequal access to health-care are but a few examples of the challenges faced by people living in Italy and Europe, highlighting the importance of evidence-based approaches in supporting the development of prevention and response strategies for future pandemics.

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the critical risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases. In Kerala, the life expectancy of doctors who are considered the gatekeepers of health was found to be 13 years lower than the general population. Objective: The objective was to identify the motivators and barriers for physical activity among doctors and nurses belonging to public and private health-care sectors in Ernakulam district. Methodology: Qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach. A total of 30 in-depth interviews and 8 focus group discussions were conducted among doctors and nurses, respectively. The audio-recorded data were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results: The main themes identified were motivators, barriers, and future considerations for physical activity. The factors motivating doctors were the fear of noncommunicable diseases and to stay fit, while the nurses were more concerned about their body image. The common barriers were gender, lack of time, laziness, bad climate, and safety issues. Overreliance on medication and prioritizing their patients' health over their own were additional barriers. Conclusion: Physical activity among doctors and nurses is severely compromised. Provision of a favorable environment and behavior change is needed to combat the silent epidemic of physical inactivity.

Introduction: The unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19 has put a huge strain on the global health system and stress on the mental health of health-care professionals. We ventured to perform a virtual analysis of the mental health of our colleagues via an online assessment and sent a questionnaire-based survey. Materials and Methods: A 31-question-based survey was sent to health-care professionals including medical and paramedical staff. This Survey was then sent as an online questionnaire using google forms®. Questions were based on three categories, namely their general health, interpersonal support, and resilience. The General Health Questionnaire, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, and Brief Resilience Scale were used to formulate the questionnaire. Results: The results did not show or highlight any area of significant concern currently, although a repeat survey will be very crucial to assess the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of health-care professionals postpandemic and how it has affected their general health, resilience, and an assessment of the support system. Conclusion: The Covid 19 pandemic as expected is taking a toll on the Health Care Workers and this requires ongoing evaluation and intervention.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a pharmacovigilance module on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of pharmacy students and elucidate their feedback on the module. Methodology: Bachelor of pharmacy students at Pokhara University, Nepal, were assessed for their baseline KAP on drug safety and related issues using a KAP questionnaire (Cronbach alpha 0.70) consisting of 25 questions. Students' baseline KAP was assessed and after that, they were grouped into either control (2nd and 4th year) or test (1st and 3rd year) groups. The later received the pharmacovigilance training in three 1-h sessions spread over 6 months at 0, 90, and 180 days; the sessions covered introduction to pharmacovigilance, theoretical aspects of pharmacovigilance, and adverse drug reaction reporting procedures. KAP scores and student feedback were analyzed at 5% significance level. Results: A total of 124 students (control = 56 and test = 68) were studied. The median (interquartile ranges [IQRs]) of the baseline scores prior to grouping the students into control and test groups was 20 (18.25–21.00) for knowledge, 19.5 (18.00–21.00) for attitude/practice, and 39 (37.00–41.00) for the total score. Males (n = 81) had a slightly higher median score of 40 (37–42) than females (n = 43), who had a median score of 38 (36–41). The KAP score for the control group was 40 (38–42) at baseline, 42 (20–44) during first follow-up, 41.5 (40–44) during second follow-up, and 41 (39–44.5) during third follow-up. For the test group, upon intervention, the KAP scores improved from 39 (36.25–40.75) at baseline to 42 (39.50–44.00) at the 1st follow-up, 43 (41–45) at the 2nd follow-up, and 44 (42–45) at the 3rd follow-up (P < 0.001). The median feedback score (IQR) was 86 (81.5–90.0). Conclusions: Pharmacy students had good attitude/practice scores and relatively poor knowledge scores at baseline, which improved postintervention. Student feedback about the module was positive.

Introduction: Knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among health-care professionals (HCPs) are an important aspect in the success of the vaccination drive in India, as HCPs are the first group to receive the vaccine. Various factors affecting the attitude of getting COVID-19 vaccine and to better address those factors will help in widespread acceptance among the general public. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted among HCPs by circulating Google form. The form was distributed among the medical students and physicians through social networking sites such as E-mail and WhatsApp. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions focusing on the assessment of knowledge and acceptance about COVID-19 vaccine. It was a self-administered and pilot-validated questionnaire. Results: Out of total participants, 473 (78%) were willing to take vaccination and were in the opinion that getting vaccination is a good idea. Eighty-eight percent of the participants were worried about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Fifty-five percent of the participants were anxious regarding getting vaccine and its efficacy. Conclusion: Knowledge and acceptance were moderate, but overall attitude of getting vaccination was positive. Majority of the HCPs are still anxious about the long-term efficacy; therefore, appropriate steps need to be taken to address the factors contributing to the low acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Background: COVID-19 was declared as the global pandemic on March 11, 2020 because of the rapid increase in the cases. The high mortality rate and the spread have become the biggest concern of the hour. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of health-care professionals residing in various countries regarding COVID-19. Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted and a questionnaire was administered among the participants through E-mail. The statistical significance was calculated for the collected data. Results: A total of 457 participants participated in the survey. Male (45.3%) and female (54.7%) participated with good knowledge (86%) regarding the COVID-19 transmission, while 59% participants reported of using N95 masks and 60% of the participants had attended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines workshop. Conclusion: Findings of the present study showed a wide range of variations in both awareness and attitude of the participants. The knowledge was found to be appropriate while some of the practice-related factors need to be changed. There is a need of regular training, webinars and various educational programs to update the knowledge and the CDC guidelines to be followed.

Background: The health-care professionals are at high risk of getting infection of COVID-19 due to the highly interactivity of the disease. The virulence of the disease causes huge stress among health-care professionals. Aim: Our study aimed to find out the level of stress and fear among health-care professionals due to COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by using a structured questionnaire containing demographic data, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and factor causing stress. A total number of 146 participants, both male and female, were participated in this study. We utilized Google Platform to construct the questionnaire and virtual snowball sampling method to collect the data. Results: The mean age, height, and weight of the participants were 27.52 ± 6.10, 162.53 ± 10.67, and 64.75 ± 10.89, respectively. The mean score of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was 23.57 ± 5.38, ranging from 27 to 38 and the mean score of FCV-19S was 24.27 ± 6.27, ranging from 7 to 35. The participants those who are living with their family are at significant level of stress (P = 0.041) that they can affect their family members. Conclusion: The health-care professionals are in highly stressed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stress management strategies should be taken as a preventive measure to overcome the further serious situation.

Context and Aims: The Medical Science Liaison's (MSL's) value to the company has evolved into a more strategic role with a wide variety of responsibilities. We conducted an online survey of current MSLs nationwide to assess their profile, activity development, performance evaluation, and career development. Subjects and Methods: A 37-item survey was hosted on SurveyMonkey© and accessible from December 2018 to February 2019. The survey was open to current MSLs from different pharmaceutical companies in Spain and included questions about the participant profile, activity development, performance evaluation, and career development. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were expressed as valid percentages; to establish relationships between the answers to different questions, exclusion and comparison filters were used on the web platform. Results: A total of 179 MSLs responded to the anonymous survey. Off-label information management (79%), relationships with key opinion leaders (76%), continuous medical training for HCPs (70%), involvement in clinical trials/investigator-initiated trials (68%), and elaboration of the National Strategy (67%) were mentioned as the top new competencies. Fifty-eight percent spend an average of 61%–80% of their time out in the field and 68% use remote interactions. Fifty-six percent did not agree that their current performance metrics are a reflection of their true value. Forty-five percent of the participants disagreed when asked if their activity is easily balanced with their personal lives. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we believe that there is a need to consider the MSL's strategic priorities, to define metrics that accurately assess MSL performance, and to find ways to fully maximize their limited time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To synthesize the literature on the views and experiences of patients/family members and health‐care professionals (HCPs) on the disclosure of adverse events. Methods Systematic review of qualitative studies. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Study quality was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Qualitative data were analysed using a meta‐ethnographic approach, comprising reciprocal syntheses of ‘patient’ and ‘health‐care professional’ studies, combined to form a lines‐of‐argument synthesis embodying both perspectives. Results Fifteen studies were included in the final syntheses. The results highlighted that there is a difference in attitudes and expectations between patients and HCPs regarding the disclosure conversation. Patients/family members expressed a need for information, the importance of sincere regret and a promise of improvement. However, HCPs faced several barriers, which hindered appropriate disclosure practices. These included difficulty of disclosure in a blame culture, avoidance of litigation, lack of skills on how to conduct disclosure and inconsistent guidance. A lines‐of‐argument synthesis is presented that identified both the key elements of an ideal disclosure desired by patients and the facilitators for HCPs, which can increase the likelihood of this taking place. Conclusions Although patients/family members and HCPs both advocate disclosure, several barriers prevent HCPs from conducting disclosure effectively. Both groups have different needs for disclosure. To meet patients’ requirements, training on disclosure for HCPs and the development of an open, transparent culture within organizations are potential areas for intervention.

Many publications have delineated strategies for mental health care to respond to psychological concerns and ramifications related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current review aims to encapsulate existing guidelines and recommendations of psychological management for mental health care for the general population, health-care professionals, children, and elderly populations, applied to a pandemic in particular reference to COVID-19. The literature on psychological care of such repercussions of COVID-19 was retrieved via a search in PubMed and Google database. Of 91 retrieved initial articles, only 18 were selected for final analysis, which was divided into two categories: (a) guidelines by government/public health bodies (n = 11) and (b) publications in peer-reviewed journals (n = 7). The recommendations can be summed but not limited to psychoeducation from a reliable source, normalization of stress, behavioral activation, scheduling of activities with a bespoke blending of recreational and daily chores, supportive care, staying digitally connected, relaxation techniques, ensuring rest, rotating shifts and short breaks during working hours, curtailing media consumption, fostering community resilience, seeking and sharing support from colleagues/supervisors, avoidance of abusing psychoactive substances, online consultation of mental health professionals on need, and participatory communication in a developmentally appropriate way with children. In the absence of observational and controlled studies on psychological management during pandemic times, we recommend such research soon.

Aims: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out with an aim to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of health-care professionals in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. Materials and Methods: The study involved health-care professionals (doctors, pharmacists, and nurses) from Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur, during the period from September 2018 to November 2018. Data were collected using especially designed questionnaire form consisting of questions regarding KAP of ADR reporting. Results: Of 100 study population, doctors were more in number (52%) followed by pharmacists (28%) and nurses (20%). Spontaneous reporting system was not much familiar to health-care professionals as a common method used in ADR reporting (53%). Majority of the health-care professionals admitted their responsibility to report ADR (58%). Awareness about nearby ADR monitoring center, Pharmacovigilance Program of India (PvPI) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, ADR PvPI app, and ADR reporting form, among health-care professionals were 48%, 12%, 40%, and 47%, respectively, which can be correlated with unsatisfactory awareness among the study population. About 52% of the study population had a neutral response to the question whether ADR reporting is a professional obligation to them. About 38% of the population think that ADR reporting is time-consuming with no outcome, and 31% of the study population expressed a neutral response to the same question. Most of the study population believed that all serious ADRs are known before a drug is marketed (56%). The practice of ADR reporting was low among health-care professionals (61%) though majority of them came across through patients experiencing ADRs (67%). Difficulty in decision-making was the main factor causing ADR underreporting (32%), followed by lack of time (25%). Conclusions: This study revealed that majority of health-care professionals have insufficient knowledge and less positive attitude which resulted in low ADR reporting.

Background: The frequency of occurrence of disasters is on the rise all over the world. Workforce shortage can be a major impediment toward efficient disaster management. Incorporation of other health-care workers along with conventional medical personnel might be critical for efficient and effective management of disasters. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess various aspects pertaining to disaster management among various health-care students in India. Methods: Final-year students pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, Ayurveda, and homeopathy at various institutions in Mangalore, India, were the study participants. Participants' willingness to partake in disaster management and knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness pertaining to disaster management was ascertained by a questionnaire method. Their previous history of training and familiarity with standard operating procedures was assessed. Results: A total of 437 students belonging to seven health-care institutions participated in the study. Overall, 98.40% of the participants were willing to partake in disaster management. The mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 49.19%, 81.75%, 47.28%, and 66.20%, respectively. Step-wise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that course (β = 0.247, P < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.154,P = 0.001), and behavior (β = 0.284, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of perceived effectiveness. Conclusions: Participants in the present study revealed that they were willing to partake in disaster management. The participants also reported poor behavior and knowledge scores but appropriate attitude scores. The present study highlights the need for curriculum changes and policy implications for effective integration of various sectors for disaster management, particularly in developing nations such as India, which have a definite scarcity of resources.