Relationship between Psychological Well-Being of Doctors during Covid-19 and Their Satisfaction with Life: A Review

This review paper explores the relationship between Psychological Well-being and Satisfaction with Life with special focus on the literature related to COVID-19. Very few studies although have been carried out during the period March 2020 to Dec 2020. The pandemic has adversely influenced people especially the doctors who work under immense stress. There is ample literature available on the variables psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with life, but in different contexts. The aim of this paper is to suggest the gaps thus identified by reviewing the past studies carried out in this domain and suggest a hypothetical model which can be further tested in future studies.Copyright © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Peer MRCS Teaching Among Surgical Trainees in the East Midlands Deanery, UK

Background During the covid-19 pandemic, the East Midlands South Deanery ran virtual peer-MRCS OSCE teaching. We analysed two surveys to understand the impact of peer-MRCS teaching on surgical trainees in this region. Method One survey was completed by peer-MRCS teachers who delivered sessions in 2020–2021. The second survey was completed by prospective MRCS OSCE candidates. Responses were anonymised. Results 7 / 8 peer teachers and 13/17 prospective learners completed the surveys. 6/7 peer-teachers had previous experience and prior teacher-training ranged from day courses to university degrees. All peer-teachers felt that peer-MRCS teaching enabled them to refresh their anatomy knowledge. 0/7 peer-teachers preferred to deliver practical-skills teaching. Passion for teaching was identified as a motivating factor by all peer teachers. This was further supported by the general consensus (5/7) for peer teachers preferring feedback that is focused on self-development rather than conveying appreciation. Majority (12/13) of peer learners also preferred to give feedback focused on teacher development and felt they were more likely (7/13) to provide accurate feedback for peer-sessions when compared to formal teaching sessions run by the deanery. Majority of participating prospective MRCS OSCE candidates (12/13) expressed an interest in peer-MRCS teaching. Low stress environment and cost effectiveness were the top reasons why prospective peer learners preferred virtual peer MRCS teaching. Conclusions Overall peer-MRCS teaching in this cohort suggests advantages to both peer-teachers and learners with the potential to improve teaching skills and clinical knowledge among surgical trainees.

Geo-spatial Assessment of Inherent Smart Urban Attributes of Traditional Neighborhood-Level Communities in India

City-making is a process in which several endogenous and exogenous variables associated with socio-economic, environmental, historical, and physical parameters play a significant role. The neoliberal and market-led notion of smart cities is highly criticized by many scholars for its polarized and inequitable approach to development. The traditional communities have continued for generations and inherit a unique living and residential culture bestowing them with an inherent smartness quotient. This concept of smartness for city planning is even more critical during the present times to understand the impact of the spatial structure of existing cities to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Authors identify a strong need to merge the two concepts of traditional communities and urban smartness for a holistic approach to building smart communities. This study aims to assess the smart spatial attributes of the traditional neighborhood-level urban communities such as compactness, walkability, and diversity. Primary household surveys were conducted in the walled city of Alwar, Rajasthan, India. The case study reveals compactly designed residential enclaves known as mohallas with mixed land use. The indigenous spatial elements such as squares (chowks), markets (bazaars), and streets (gali) proved to be crucial community gathering places for these settlements. Such zero-level assessment of existing socio-cultural and spatial attributes may enable the appropriate integration of intelligent technologies into our urban systems. Authors recommend harnessing the untapped potential of traditional communities in culturally rich countries like India to achieve the goals of a smart community. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Is fbc being investigated within 32 hours of surgery in neck of femur fractures?

Introduction: The UK treats approximately 76,000 neck of femur (NOF) fractures annually (NHFD 2018). These patients are known to be frail and dehydrated upon arrival to the emergency department. Surgery can expose patients to substantial blood loss both preoperatively and postoperatively (Foss et al). Furthermore, studies have shown that postoperative anaemia is detrimental in patients who have had hip surgery (Marval et al 2014). Thus, it is imperative to monitor patients' haemoglobin (Hb) levels immediately after the operation so that optimum treatment can be assured. The current audit standard in our local trust states that all patients must have their full blood count (FBC) within 32 hours post-surgery. As Covid-19 has brought disruption to the NHS, It is important for us to highlight any issues that arise in the monitoring of Hb in the post-operative phase of these NOF patients. Method: Using retrospective analysis, this study analysed the number of patients having the FBC within 32 hours post-surgery during the pandemic (n=60) and was compared to a similar cohort pre-pandemic (n=139). Results: 91% of patients overall had their Hb checked within 32 hours. 92% in the pre-covid group had a Hb check within time compared to 81% in the covid group. The risk ratio calculated was 1.5. Conclusions: Conclusively, patients in the covid group were 1.5 times more likely to have their FBC checked past 32 hours post-surgery. However, this finding was not significant. Overall, the audit standard was not met.

Epidemic disease risks and implications for Veterinary Services.

Growth in the livestock sector is associated with heightened risk for epidemic diseases. The increasing spillover of new diseases from wildlife is being driven by wide-scale anthropogenic changes allowing for more frequent and closer wildlife-human and wildlife-livestock contacts. An increasing number of epidemics in livestock are associated with rapid transition of livestock systems from extensive to intensive, and local to global movement of livestock and their products through value chain networks with weak biosecurity. Major livestock epidemics in the past two decades have had substantial economic impacts, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the devastating socio-economic consequences that spillovers can have when not identified and controlled early in the process of emergence. This highlights the importance of Veterinary Services to integrated, whole-of-society efforts to control infectious diseases in animals. Emphasis within Veterinary Services must be placed on prevention and preparedness. The authors suggest four areas for continued improvement in Veterinary Services to meet this challenge. These are a) continued development of staff capacity for risk assessment and value chain analysis, together with improved policies and communication, b) appropriate adaptation of approaches to prevention and control in resource-poor settings, c) improved multi-sectoral and transboundary cooperation, which enables the sharing of resources and expertise, and d) systematic approaches that enable Veterinary Services to influence decisionmaking for trade, markets, business, public health, and livelihood development at the national and regional levels.

La croissance du secteur de l'élevage est associée à un risque accru de maladies épidémiques. Les changements anthropiques à grande échelle sont à l'origine du nombre croissant de maladies émergentes atteignant de nouvelles espèces réceptives (spillover) à partir de réservoirs sauvages, à la faveur de contacts plus fréquents et plus rapprochés entre la faune sauvage et les humains, d'une part, et entre la faune sauvage et les animaux domestiques, d'autre part. On considère qu'un nombre croissant d'épidémies affectant le bétail sont dues à la transition rapide des systèmes d'élevage extensif vers des systèmes intensifs, et aux mouvements du bétail et des produits de l'élevage de l'échelle locale à l'échelle mondiale par le biais de réseaux de chaînes de valeur dotés d'un faible niveau de biosécurité. Au cours des deux dernières décennies, d'importantes épidémies affectant le bétail ont eu un impact économique considérable ; en outre, la pandémie de COVID-19 a mis en évidence les conséquences socio-économiques dévastatrices des atteintes de nouvelles espèces réceptives par des agents pathogènes, lorsque ces maladies ne sont pas détectées et maîtrisées dès le processus d'émergence. Cela souligne l'importance cruciale des Services vétérinaires dans les efforts de lutte contre les maladies infectieuses chez les animaux, qui doivent être intégrés et mobiliser la société entière. Les Services vétérinaires doivent mettre un accent particulier sur la prévention et la préparation. Les auteurs proposent quatre aspects d'amélioration continue pour que les Services vétérinaires puissent relever ce défi. Il s'agit : a) du développement permanent des compétences des personnels vétérinaires en matière d'évaluation du risque et d'analyse des chaînes de valeur, et leur articulation avec de meilleures politiques et une communication plus performante ; b) une adaptation adéquate des méthodes de prévention et de contrôle dans les configurations faiblement dotées en ressources ; c) une meilleure coopération multisectorielle et transfrontalière afin de partager les ressources et les compétences ; d) des dispositifs systémiques permettant aux Services vétérinaires d'influencer les prises de décision en matière d'échanges internationaux, de marchés, de commerce, de santé publique et de développement des moyens de subsistance, à l'échelle nationale et régionale.

El crecimiento del sector pecuario está condicionado por la existencia de un mayor riesgo de enfermedades epidémicas. La creciente diseminación de nuevas enfermedades a partir de animales silvestres es consecuencia de transformaciones antrópicas a gran escala que posibilitan un contacto más frecuente y estrecho de la fauna silvestre con el ser humano y el ganado. Cada vez son más las epidemias del ganado que tienen que ver con la rápida transición de los sistemas pecuarios de un régimen de producción extensiva a otro de producción intensiva y con el paso de la dimensión local a la mundial de la circulación de animales y sus derivados a través de redes de cadenas de valor que presentan una endeble seguridad biológica. En los últimos dos decenios ha habido grandes epidemias que han afectado al ganado y tenido importantes consecuencias económicas. La pandemia de COVID-19 es un elocuente ejemplo de los devastadores efectos socioeconómicos que puede tener la extensión de un patógeno cuando no se detecta y controla en un momento lo bastante precoz del proceso de emergencia. Ello pone de relieve la importancia que revisten los Servicios Veterinarios para que toda la sociedad pueda reaccionar de forma integrada a la hora de combatir las enfermedades infecciosas de los animales. Dentro de los Servicios Veterinarios, conviene poner el acento en la prevención y la preparación. Para lograr este objetivo los autores señalan cuatro ámbitos que exigen una constante mejora: a) el desarrollo continuo de la capacidad del personal en materia de determinación de riesgos y análisis de cadenas de valor, ligado a la mejora de las políticas y la comunicación; b) la adecuada adaptación de los métodos de prevención y control en contextos de escasos recursos; c) una mejor cooperación multisectorial y transfronteriza, que permita poner en común recursos y competencias técnicas; y d) enfoques sistemáticos que hagan posible que los Servicios Veterinarios influyan en los procesos decisorios relativos al desarrollo del comercio, los mercados, las empresas, la salud pública y los medios de sustento a escala tanto nacional como regional.

Aparigraha- The Age Old Philosopy Of Indian Scriptures- The New Face of Global Consumerism in The Post Covid-19 Era

The aim of this paper is to capture the essence of the timeless wisdom imparted by Indian scriptures and philosophy and use its wisdom for answering the novel consumerism in the wake of COVID-19 and provide a sustainable solution to the materialism ridden society. This paper addresses the issue of the new face of consumerism during the onset of COVID-19 in the perspective of 'Aparigraha' as taught by the ancient scripture Bhagwad Gita. Across the world people and governments are grappling with the issue of nouveau consumerism which is laden with hoarding, exploitation of resources, greed and materialism. Since the outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19, there has been a slowdown in economy, downturn in the morale of people and stress is looming large among the masses. A new face of consumerism has already started emerging wherein people have become more conscious about their food habits, health, exercise and spending on consumables. In the COVID-19 era when the global economy has slowed down, the age-old philosophy as mentioned in verse 10 of Chapter 6 of Srimad Bhadwad Gita provides a ready solution.

What it takes to be a doctor: The work life balance of doctors during covid-19- A qualitative study

The study is based on investigating the work life balance of the resident doctors during COVID-19. Design: Focus group interviews with doctors, resident doctors and interns were conducted who were assigned duties in COVID 19 wards of the hospitals of Northern India. Participants: The study was carried out on 97 doctors (Psychiatrists, radiologists, pediatricians, gynecologists and Medicine) who were posted in COVID 19 wards in some or the other shift. The doctors were assigned duties in the two COVID- 19 hospitals of Northern India where the study was carried out. The long and tedious working hours in the hospital came with additional responsibility of maintaining and recording the data of COVID patients. After the 15 day long duty in the hospital these doctors were required to stay alone in a separate accommodation where they were quarantined for fourteen days. This long separation from family and friends disturbed their lives leading to immense stress. Their morale went down drastically. The issue of balancing work life was especially challenging for female doctors having young children. Conclusion: poor work-lie balance adversely affected the wellbeing of the doctors.

Effect of perceived stress on psychological well-being of health care workers during COVID 19: Mediating role of subjective happiness

The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of people especially health care workers like physicians, nurses and paramedical staff who have to work for long hours, in shifts and under immense stressful situations. There is ample literature available on the effect of stress on psychological wellbeing. The aim of this research paper is to find out the mediation effect of subjective happiness on the relationship between perceived stress and psychological wellbeing of health care workers who are engaged in COVID-19 hospital duties. The sample included 231 physicians and healthcare workers engaged in duties in two major COVID-19 medical college hospitals of Northern India. The results prove that there is a significant effect of perceived stress on psychological well- being with subjective happiness playing a mediating role. Perceived stress decreases subjective happiness which in turn affects psychological wellbeing of physicians and health care workers during COVID-19. Higher the level of subjective happiness, lesser will be the impact or there will be delayed impact of perceived stress on psychological wellbeing. Psychological Well Being (PWB) Scale (Ryff, 1989), Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) and Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1994) were used to examine the mediation of subjective happiness on the relationship between perceived stress and psychological wellbeing. © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.