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Coping with a modern pandemic-an online survey of Anesthesiologists in India during COVID-19
- Punitha Chockalingam, Kalpana Balakrishnan, Priyadarshini Natarajan, Surendran Veeraiah, Revathy Rajagopal, Vinodh Kumar Elumalai
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 7 / Issue S1 / June 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 June 2021, p. S244
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- Article
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- You have access Access
- Open access
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Aims
In 2020, India was one of the worst affected countries by COVID-19. As the pandemic spread, creating undue pressure on health care workers (HCWs), there was an urgent need for the development of appropriate interventions to protect their mental health. This study aims to study the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of anaesthesiologists in India and factors that influence their coping behaviour.
MethodThe study was designed as a semi-structured, descriptive, cross-sectional, online open survey and conducted on Google forms between 21st May and 20th June 2020, among practicing anaesthesiologists across India. The participants were recruited by sending messages to their emails and through social media platforms. It created a small number of international respondents, who were also included (India = 301, rest = 23). The self-designed questionnaire had 30 questions in the form of multiple choices, checkboxes, linear scales and short comments. Informed consent was recorded at the outset. Details such as demographic characteristics, place and nature of work, pandemic related changes in duration or pattern of work, psychological symptoms during and after working hours, fears about quarantine, were collected in the survey. Statistical Analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Statistics for Mac Version 21.0 IBM Corp., USA)
ResultAmong the 324 participating anaesthesiologists, a prevalence rate of 64.8% for stress, 51.2% for anxiety and 65.7% for depression was noted, which was double the rate from pre-pandemic studies. Those between the ages of 30 and 50 (p = 0.010 OR:2.191) and working in government run (p = 0.045 OR:2.564) COVID-19 hospitals in India (p = 0.002 OR:2.018), were particularly stressed (33.3%) and anxious (38%) than the rest. Increased workload, contracting the virus and becoming an infectious source to their family (88.6%) were their prime concern. Formulating standard operating procedures (SOP) (66.7%) and procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) (56.2%) were some of the challenges faced at work. Most of them recommended a congenial workplace (68.8%) and family support (60.8%) to help them work through their anxiety and fear, while a few reported considering leaving their career (34.8%) from fear of monetary loss and burn out (53.8%).
ConclusionCOVID-19 has changed the professional and personal life of anaesthesiologists in India. Irrespective of their workplace, their fears and challenges remain universal. Early identification of anxiety and depression and providing appropriate psychological support will prevent deep and enduring damages to the lives of these professionals.
Chapter 4 - Energy and Health
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- By Kirk R. Smith, University of California, Kalpana Balakrishnan, Sri Ramachandra University, Colin Butler, Australian National University, Zoë Chafe, University of California, Ian Fairlie, Consultant on Radiation in the Environment, Patrick Kinney, Columbia University, Tord Kjellstrom, Umea University, Denise L. Mauzerall, Princeton University, Thomas McKone, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Anthony McMichael, Australian National University, Mycle Schneider, Consultant on Energy and Nuclear Policy, Paul Wilkinson, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Jill Jäger, Sustainable Europe Research Institute
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 255-324
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Summary
Executive Summary
Despite providing significant benefits for human health, energy systems also negatively affect global health in major ways today, causing directly perhaps as many as five million premature deaths annually and more than 5% of all illhealth (measured as lost healthy life years). Air pollution from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass fuels is by far the single major reason that energy systems negatively affect global health, although ash, sulfur, mercury, and other contaminants in fossil fuels also play a role. Effects on workers in energy industries are the second biggest health impact globally.
The largest exposures to energy-related air pollution occur in and around households, particularly in developing countries where unprocessed biomass (wood and agricultural wastes) and coal are used for cooking and heating in simple appliances.
This chapter does not focus on differences in impacts among alternative energy systems that have minor impacts on global health; rather, the focus is on the most significant impacts of energy systems on health. The important positive impacts of energy systems on health are mostly addressed in Chapter 2.
Given the importance of avoiding climate change, there is secondary focus on the ways that mitigating climate change through changes in energy systems might achieve important health improvements: co-benefits.
Unless major policy interventions are introduced, energy systems are expected to continue contributing significantly to the global burden of disease for years to come.