Remote working and occupational stress: Effects on IT-enabled industry employees in Hyderabad Metro, India.

In the present study, the researchers reported the results of an empirical study on remote working and occupational stress and their effects on employees' job satisfaction, motivation, and performance. Remote working has three subscales: self-proficiency, technology, and teamwork. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation subscales were included to assess employee motivation. A simple random sampling method was used to select the subjects who are employees of the IT-enabled industries in Hyderabad Metro. A total of 513 responses were obtained on the remote working subscales-the effect on the independent variables, namely, employee self-proficiency, technology, teamwork, and occupational stress, on the dependent variables, namely, job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and performance. The measured Cronbach's alpha was in the range of 0.64-0.77, other reliability statistics split-half (odd-even) correlation was in the range of 0.62-0.84, and theSpearman-Brown prophecy was in the range of 0.70-0.91, demonstrating the reliability and internal consistency of the research instrument. The general linear model results indicated that all the independent variables, namely, self-proficiency, teamwork, and Occupational stress, are statistically significant and influence the outcome variables. The general linear model results also indicated statistically significant age differences in the dependent variables; however, there were no statistically significant gender differences. Of the independent variables, self-proficiency influences job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and performance (p < 0.01); teamwork influences employee job satisfaction and extrinsic motivation (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05); and Occupational stress influences performance (p < 0.01), which are statistically significant and thus influence the outcome variables. The model predicted a statistically significant influence of age (p < 0.01) on all the dependent factors, namely, job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and performance. The study revealed that remote working is one of the major factors causing anxiety and employee stress. The main reasons are the absence of interaction with peers, the absence of routine fun during breaks, and work-family conflicts. Another observation is that the absence of peer-employee interaction demotivates the employees as there is no competition among the employees during remote working. The authors recommend that organizations develop an integrated human resource policy and performance management system that addresses the issues of employee stress, remote working concerns, peer-employee interactions, and pandemic-type situations. As there are several factors such as occupational stress, job satisfaction, motivation, peer interactions, and remote working concerns, employee stress-coping strategies affect the performance of an employee. The multiple mediation analysis indicates no statistically significant influence of the mediator variables, i.e., occupational stress and job satisfaction, on performance through remote working.

Findings of second multicentric follow-up serosurvey among Health Care Workers in government hospitals.

Background: The change in serological status of community may be used as input for guiding the public health policy. Hence, the present study was conducted to determine change in seroprevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: From the baseline multicentric study sample, a subsample was followed up, and a seroepidemiological study was conducted among them between 6 and 22 weeks after the second dose of the vaccination. Multistage population proportion to size sampling was performed for the selection of subsample of HCWs. The serosurvey was conducted using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based IgG antibody test (COVID KAVACH). Results: Follow-up serological testing was done in subsample of 1122 participants of original 3253 participants. The mean age of the participants was 34.6 (8.13) years. A total of 300 (26.7%) participants were females. The seroprevalence was 78.52, (95%CI:76-80.1). Among those who were seronegative at initial test, 708 (77.04%) were seroconverted. Those who were not seroconverted (241 (21.5%)) have longer duration from the second dose of the vaccination (93 (31.4) vs. 56 (38.4); p value < 0.001). The COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with seropositive status and being a medical staff was associated with remaining seronegative on follow-up. The higher age (≥50 years) was found to be significantly associated with seroreversion. Conclusion: Four in five HCWs had detectable antibodies. Seroepidemiological studies carry vital information to control the public health response in the course of the pandemic. The study can also further help as a platform to study the seroconversion and effect of vaccination among HCWs for newer variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Epidemiological analysis of SARS-COV-2 B.1.617.2 (delta variant) transmission in an educational institute.

Background: Despite having an effective COVID-19 vaccine, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and the delta variant continues to cause havoc across several continents. The present study was conducted to analyze and describe the occurrence of COVID-19 cases among completely vaccinated individuals. Methods: In an educational institute in Western Maharashtra, we analyzed a cluster of RTPCR positive COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated students which occurred in 12 days. The cases were linked to a series of curricular and co-curricular events in the institute. A detailed epidemiological investigation and genome sequencing of cases were conducted. IgG antibodies against S1 protein of novel SARS-CoV-2 were estimated for cases and age, sex, and vaccination status matched controls. Results: All 37 identified cases were mild COVID. 188 high risk (HR) contacts of the cases were identified. The overall secondary attack was 9.5%. Out of 31 cases and 50 controls, 09 (29%) cases and 08 (16%) controls were found to have IgG antibodies against S1 protein of novel SARS-CoV-2 titer of more than 60 U/ml. Whole-genome sequencing of 15 samples of the cluster showed the presence of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. No correlation was observed between Ct value and IgG S1 antibody titers. Conclusion: The study provides significant evidence that only vaccination alone does not completely protect against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant infection. An all-encompassing multicomponent strategy involving implementation of NPIs, robust contact tracing, early identification and isolation of cases, and high vaccination coverage is the way forward for the prevention of COVID-19.

Medical ethics during armed conflicts: Dilemmas of a physician soldier.

A Military Physician is expected to fulfill the dual role of a humane physician and a patriotic soldier. But both these professions are principally very different from each other, a soldier above all is supposed to have utmost loyalty towards his country and protect national security at all costs. Whereas a doctor has moral obligations towards his patients and is required to treat ill or wounded irrespective of caste, creed, or nationality. Military physicians bridge these two professions based on the principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality. The present paper attempts to explore the challenges faced by military physicians in adhering to professional ethos especially during an armed conflict and provides an overview of various regulations and declarations in vogue for guiding military physicians in times of ethical and obligatory dilemmas.

Effectiveness of ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 Vaccine: Experience of a tertiary care institute.

BACKGROUND: The first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Corona Virus Vaccine (Covishield) was administered to the eligible beneficiaries of tertiary care institute of Western Maharashtra on 16 Jan 21 and in the past three months almost 97% of the staff has been vaccinated. The present study analyses the incidence of COVID cases in the unvaccinated and vaccinated population of the institute. METHODS: All Covid 19 infections (RT-PCR positive) from 01 February 21 to 25 April 21 were included in the study and analyzed as per their vaccination status. To assess the COVID 19 transmission in contacts, Secondary Attack Rates (SAR) of the pre-vaccination period (Jun-Oct 20) was compared with the present SAR. RESULTS: A total of 113 cases occurred in the study period (01 Feb to 25 Apr 21). Lower number of infections were observed among the fully vaccinated as compared to partially vaccinated and non-vaccinated. The overall vaccine effectiveness was found to be 88.6% (81.55-92.37) and 44.1% (4.55-67.3) in completely and partially vaccinated individuals respectively. Hazard Ratios for getting infected dropped significantly after 28 days of the second dose. The SAR in high risk contacts (HRCs) was found to be 4.25%, which was lower than SAR (20.6%) of pre-vaccination period. CONCLUSION: This is one of the earliest studies in India to report the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. The results indicate that the vaccine provides effective protection against COVID-19 infection. However, given the complex dynamics of vaccination, the role of NPIs and implementation of COVID appropriate behavior cannot be undermined.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF UPPER AERODIGESTIVE CANCERS AMONG ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus are now suspected to have common etiologic factors and have been grouped together as "upper aerodigestive" cancers. Since this grouping is of relatively recent origin there have been no epidemiological studies on this group among Armed Forces personnel. 114 cases of upper aerodigestive cancers and an equal number of controls were studied. The largest number of cases were in the age group of 40-49 years with male preponderance. Lower level of education, smoking, quid chewing, and alcohol use were found to be the major risk factors for these cancers. A dose response relationship was observed for smoking, quid chewing and alcohol intake.