Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study
Introduction Medical doctors are expected to play a proactive role during the COVID-19 pandemic through effective patient management and the implementation and adherence to best practices as per the expert consensus in their country. Strengthening the self-efficacy and addressing the reasons for ris...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
European Publishing
2020-12-01
|
Series: | Population Medicine |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/popmed/Perceived-Awareness-Practices-and-Perspectives-on-COVID-19-Management-among-Medical,128331,0,2.html |
id |
doaj-1e6305c69f7f4935a36113d53433dcf3 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-1e6305c69f7f4935a36113d53433dcf32021-01-11T10:13:53ZengEuropean PublishingPopulation Medicine2654-14592020-12-012December1610.18332/popmed/128331128331Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional studySaurav Basu0Ruchir Rustagi1Pragya Sharma2Nandini Sharma3Anish Laul4Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, IndiaIntroduction Medical doctors are expected to play a proactive role during the COVID-19 pandemic through effective patient management and the implementation and adherence to best practices as per the expert consensus in their country. Strengthening the self-efficacy and addressing the reasons for risk perceptions among medical doctors is essential towards successfully combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we ascertained the perceived awareness, practices and perspectives regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among medical doctors in India. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with two rounds of data collection from 3 April to 24 May 2020 among medical doctors (allopathic) and trainees (medical interns) working at any health facility across India. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire utilizing the Google Forms platform. Results A total of 432 medical doctors responded to the survey with 251 in the first round (3–9 April), and 181 in the second round (18–24 May). Official government sources were considered as the most authentic source of information by most (84.2%) participants. However, the perceived awareness on aspects of COVID-19 epidemiology, prevention and policy was inadequate in a majority (52.8%). Moreover, 52.3% of the respondents reported never having received institutional training related to COVID-19 management protocols. The individual perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 (median score = 4) was lower than the perceived threat of disease transmission to the family members (median score = 5). Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) was suboptimal but it significantly improved with the progression of the pandemic (p<0.001). Conclusions Significant awareness and training deficiencies related to COVID-19 were observed among medical doctors constituting a potential occupational risk hazard. The participant perspectives on public health aspects of COVID-19 management reflected heterogeneous stances, but were mostly aligned with the academic consensus. Most participants shared a direct medicalized perspective as opposed to the negative economic considerations in supporting the implementation of a nationwide lockdown.http://www.journalssystem.com/popmed/Perceived-Awareness-Practices-and-Perspectives-on-COVID-19-Management-among-Medical,128331,0,2.htmlcovid-19health policyperspectiveshealth managementawareness |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Saurav Basu Ruchir Rustagi Pragya Sharma Nandini Sharma Anish Laul |
spellingShingle |
Saurav Basu Ruchir Rustagi Pragya Sharma Nandini Sharma Anish Laul Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study Population Medicine covid-19 health policy perspectives health management awareness |
author_facet |
Saurav Basu Ruchir Rustagi Pragya Sharma Nandini Sharma Anish Laul |
author_sort |
Saurav Basu |
title |
Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study |
title_short |
Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study |
title_full |
Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study |
title_fullStr |
Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on COVID-19 management among medical doctors in India: A repeated cross-sectional study |
title_sort |
perceived awareness, practices and perspectives on covid-19 management among medical doctors in india: a repeated cross-sectional study |
publisher |
European Publishing |
series |
Population Medicine |
issn |
2654-1459 |
publishDate |
2020-12-01 |
description |
Introduction
Medical doctors are expected to play a proactive role during the COVID-19 pandemic through effective patient management and the implementation and adherence to best practices as per the expert consensus in their country. Strengthening the self-efficacy and addressing the reasons for risk perceptions among medical doctors is essential towards successfully combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we ascertained the perceived awareness, practices and perspectives regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among medical doctors in India.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study with two rounds of data collection from 3 April to 24 May 2020 among medical doctors (allopathic) and trainees (medical interns) working at any health facility across India. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire utilizing the Google Forms platform.
Results
A total of 432 medical doctors responded to the survey with 251 in the first round (3–9 April), and 181 in the second round (18–24 May). Official government sources were considered as the most authentic source of information by most (84.2%) participants. However, the perceived awareness on aspects of COVID-19 epidemiology, prevention and policy was inadequate in a majority (52.8%). Moreover, 52.3% of the respondents reported never having received institutional training related to COVID-19 management protocols. The individual perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 (median score = 4) was lower than the perceived threat of disease transmission to the family members (median score = 5). Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) was suboptimal but it significantly improved with the progression of the pandemic (p<0.001).
Conclusions
Significant awareness and training deficiencies related to COVID-19 were observed among medical doctors constituting a potential occupational risk hazard. The participant perspectives on public health aspects of COVID-19 management reflected heterogeneous stances, but were mostly aligned with the academic consensus. Most participants shared a direct medicalized perspective as opposed to the negative economic considerations in supporting the implementation of a nationwide lockdown. |
topic |
covid-19 health policy perspectives health management awareness |
url |
http://www.journalssystem.com/popmed/Perceived-Awareness-Practices-and-Perspectives-on-COVID-19-Management-among-Medical,128331,0,2.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT sauravbasu perceivedawarenesspracticesandperspectivesoncovid19managementamongmedicaldoctorsinindiaarepeatedcrosssectionalstudy AT ruchirrustagi perceivedawarenesspracticesandperspectivesoncovid19managementamongmedicaldoctorsinindiaarepeatedcrosssectionalstudy AT pragyasharma perceivedawarenesspracticesandperspectivesoncovid19managementamongmedicaldoctorsinindiaarepeatedcrosssectionalstudy AT nandinisharma perceivedawarenesspracticesandperspectivesoncovid19managementamongmedicaldoctorsinindiaarepeatedcrosssectionalstudy AT anishlaul perceivedawarenesspracticesandperspectivesoncovid19managementamongmedicaldoctorsinindiaarepeatedcrosssectionalstudy |
_version_ |
1724341297959927808 |