Abstract Background: Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a pivotal step in stopping the global pandemic. Knowledge regarding the relationship of vaccination status ...among comorbid COVID-19 patients would definitely provide more information. Objectives: The objective was to study the proportion of vaccination status among COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary medical college at Calicut district and to study the association of vaccination status with independent risk factors among COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary medical college at Calicut district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary medical college. The sample size calculated was 202 and the sampling technique used was consecutive sampling. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Results: In this study, the proportion of vaccination status among admitted COVID-19 patients was 65.8%. Sociodemographic variables comprising age, gender, religion, education, occupation, and per capita income were tested for association with the dependent variable. To socioeconomic classification, the upper middle-class group was associated with high vaccination status compared to other groups and the results were statistically significant. The relationship between vaccination status and comorbidities was tested and it found those patients who had no prior exposure to COVID-19 on anticoagulant therapy compared to the prior exposure group to anticoagulant therapy were associated with high vaccination status and the results were statistically significant. Conclusion and Recommendation: The present study shows that only 65% had taken COVID-19 vaccines previously. There should be further studies to know the reasons for barriers to the COVID-19 vaccination program.
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BSTRACT
Laboratory testing has been extremely helpful in determining the severity and determining the course of treatment for COVID-19 patients. Our aim has been to look for variables of patient’s ...clinical and laboratory profile for two weeks and to observe their significance. Observational, Cross-sectional study. Data from the clinic and laboratory were compiled on Google form after informed consent from the patient. Statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney U and unpaired t test. Population statistics included 202 patients (1
st
week) and 161 patients (2
nd
week), with the mean age of 61 ± 18 years. Most patients fell under the mild category (SPO2 >94%). High body mass index (
n
= 119) and hypertensive (
n
= 98) were the most common comorbidities observed. Diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are the other comorbidities studied in this study. Hypoalbuminemia (
n
= 194) is the most deranged laboratory parameter in mild category, followed by lymphopenia (
n
= 109). In severe category also, hypoalbuminemia (
n
= 13) was deranged more. Other laboratory parameters included are CRP, D-Dimer, neutrophil and lymphocyte count. This study showed that albumin is a good predictor for estimating the severity of COVID-19 patients especially in the first week of their admission.
Numerous nurses suffer from low back pain of various origins, which causes them to lose productivity, obtain unwanted medical reports, and sometimes even retire before their time. Age, heredity, ...obesity, bad posture, poor body mechanics, pregnancy, tension, personal stress, and traumatic incidents like falls or vehicle accidents are all potential causes of musculoskeletal injuries on the job.
A descriptive study was done with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire to determine the burden of low back pain among nurses in a tertiary medical college. The data were entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet (Redmond, USA) before being transferred to SPSS. The frequency was expressed in proportion. A Chi-square was done to test the association.
Among 220 nurses, 89 (40.4%) complained of mild low back pain, 86 (39.09%) complained of moderate pain, and seven (0.03%) of them had severe low back pain. Due to low back pain, among the 182 (82.7%) nurses who have low back pain, 46 of them had to take one or more days' leave from work. Thirty-six nurses have had low back pain for more than four years. As a mode of treatment, 43 nurses have taken either medicine or injection; 25 of them have taken rest; four are on Ayurvedic treatment, and 110 nurses haven't taken any treatment.
The majority of the nurses complained of low back aches. Care must be taken to take adequate rest after prolonged standing and proper treatment. Frequent bending and using an abnormal posture must be avoided. The use of ergonomically designed chairs should be emphasized for the protection of the back.
Background: A recent epidemic of Nipah virus affected few districts of Malabar in Kerala, Southern India. Eighteen people died, remarking case fatality rate of 94.7%. Early diagnosis within second ...case by doctors and prompt control activities by the health ministry saved more lives. Objective was to study knowledge and attitude about Nipah among medical students of Malappuram District.Methods: The study was conducted among 200 MBBS students of tertiary medical college at Malappuram district, North Kerala. A pre structured questionnaire was used to study on knowledge and attitude related to Nipah among medical. Then the data was collected, analyzed and entered into Excel. The frequency of awareness among medical students was expressed in proportions.Results: Majority had good attitude and half of them had good knowledge about the disease. Most of students have been aware about the virus by social media (40.5%) as major source of information followed by news/newspaper (34%), (17.5 %) internet and (8%) by awareness programs.Conclusions: Topic about Nipah virus disease should be inculcated in medical textbooks elaborately. Special training programs for medical students should be on focus and health education sessions should be enhanced.
Background: Health care has emerged as an industry with potential source of stress in the workplace environment. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced ...personal accomplishment. The objectives of the study were to study proportion and associated factors of burnourt among health professionals in medical college.Methods: Data was collected using a questionnaire by using Copenhagen burnout inventory. From a sample frame from of 856, proportionate sampling was to get 187. Data was expressed in proportions and Chi square test was used as test of significance.Results: There are 187 subjects participating in the study which comprised of 52 (27.8%) males and 135 (72.2%) females. Most of the participants who are stressed, falls in the age group less than thirty five years age, i.e. 59.9%. Client related stress was seen in subjects who were staying alone without family. Those who worked more than six hours per day had more personal burn out 17% and the result were significant. 60.4% had job related stress due to night shifts. Those subjects whose income was less than forty thousand rupees had high job related burn out 51.3%. Work related burn out was increased in subjects who had no exercise 47% at all and the result was very highly significant.Conclusions: Professional development programmes should be incorporated to improve the fit between the organisation and the professionals.
Background During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the illness spread around the globe with about 346 million confirmed cases and over 5.5 million deaths. There was varied morbidity and mortality among ...patients. In this study, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic parameters and Covid-19 vaccination with the hospital length of stay for covid patients.
Background During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the illness spread around the globe with about 346 million confirmed cases and over 5.5 million deaths. There was varied morbidity and mortality among ...patients. In this study, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic parameters and Covid-19 vaccination with the hospital length of stay for covid patients.
Background: Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infectious diseases. Early success brought widespread acceptance and mass vaccination campaigns have greatly reduced the incidence ...of many diseases in numerous geographic regions.
Objectives: To study the perspective of health professionals regard to barriers and solution for vaccination program in a district of South Kerala.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative study design was done using free listing technique for both barriers and solutions. The data was entered into notepad and was transferred to Visual Anthropac software trial version. The software helped to generate ten important free lists of barriers and solutions with percentage, rank and Smith S value.
Results: The present study had discussed regarding trust of western countries promoting vaccination and conspiracy theories related to them. The work of antivaccine lobby globally was debated. The controversy of MMR Autism and political will of different countries were deliberated. The role of media especially impact social media and internet had paved pathway for swift spread of contents.
Conclusion: Major interventions should be planned systematically by the government to address barriers for immunization. Strengthening Information education and communication (IEC) over digital media using appropriate technology should be engrossed for sustaining vaccine coverage.
Background: Breastfeeding is regarded as a perfect, natural and protective food for newborns. Early initiation of breast feeding within first hour of birth along with exclusive breastfeeding for the ...first six months followed by continued breast feeding for up to two years is the most appropriate feeding strategy.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 89 children in the age group one year six months to five years in Malapuram district. Convenient sampling technique was used to interview mothers. Results were expressed as percentages and proportions. Chi square test was used to test the association between the variables.Results: A total of 89 children were studied out of which 51.7% (46) were females. All the mothers are educated and Most of them are homemakers. Normal vaginal delivery was the common mode of delivery in 55.1% and colostrum was given to 97.8% children. Breast feeding was initiated within half an hour for 47 (52.8%) children. Only 62.9% of the children were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Only 1 child was unimmunized and 96.6% of the children were fully immunized.Conclusions: The children who were exclusively breastfed had less infections compared to children who were non-exclusively breast fed. It is had less infections, not handless infections.
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