Introduction The post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms after viral clearance and the emergence of new symptoms after a few months following recovery from COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and the risk factors that contribute to its development. Methods This study was conducted prospectively in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The patients were followed up for three months. Results The post-COVID status of 300 patients admitted to the COVID emergency of TUTH was studied. The mean age of the patients was 46.6±15.7 years, and the proportion of male (56%) was slightly higher than female (44%). Most of the patients (81.7%) had fever on their presentation to the emergency which was followed by fatigue (81.3%) and cough (78.3%). During the post-COVID phase, fatigue was the most common persistent symptom, with 34% experiencing fatigue after 60 days and 28.3% even after 90 days from the onset of symptoms. Univariate logistic regression showed sore throat (OR 4.6; 95% CI (2.8–7.6)), rhinitis (OR 3.6; 95% CI (2.1–5.9)), fatigue (OR 3.7; 95% CI (1.8–7.6)), diarrhea (OR 4.1; 95% CI (2.4–6.9)), anosmia (OR 6.7; 95% CI (3.9–11.3)), ageusia (OR 7.8; 95% CI (4.5–13.4)) and shortness of breath (OR 14.9; 95% CI (1.8–119.6)) at admission were all predictors of post-COVID syndrome after three months. Conclusion Even after recovering from COVID-19, people with COVID-19 may develop symptoms. As a result, COVID-19’s long-term consequences should not be neglected, as they may lead to increased morbidity among patients, consumption of financial resources, and added burden on the health system.

Aim: To access the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 disease among chronic diseases patients visiting tertiary hospitals of Kathmandu. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients who visited Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center, Kathmandu. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic data and perspectives on COVID-19. Results: Four hundred chronic disease patients participated in the study, with 53.2% female and 46.8% male, and 56.8% of age ≥50 years. Overall, 55.5% of the participants had good knowledge, 56.2% had good practice, and 30.7% had positive attitude towards COVID-19. Younger patients, 18-34 years, were found to have higher odds of having good knowledge compared to other age groups (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-6.0). The patients with less than average family income and those unable to read and write had lower odds of having positive attitude towards COVID-19 (aOR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9 and aOR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9, respectively). A statistically significant correlation was found between the patients’ knowledge and practice, knowledge and attitude, and attitude and practice (p <0.001). Conclusion: Nearly half of the chronic disease patients in Nepal had poor knowledge and practice whereas more than two-third had negative attitude towards COVID-19 disease. Older age of the patient was significantly associated with poor knowledge and poor practice. These study findings could be helpful for the government and non-government stakeholders while planning COVID-19 awareness campaigns to the targeted patient groups.

Introduction: Vaccination has become the most effective way to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As there have been reports of a gradual decline in the protection it offers, many countries have decided to administer booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Nepal, booster doses have been introduced to frontline health workers as a priority group. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care professionals toward booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022 among health care professionals working at public health facilities in Nepal. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors that correlate with knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 booster dose. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 300 participants were included in the final analysis. Among the study participants, 68.0% and 78.6% had good knowledge and favorable attitude toward COVID-19 booster dose, respectively. Female health care workers and those who had received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine had significantly lower odds of having good knowledge of COVID-19 booster dose. Similarly, participants with lower educational levels and those who had received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccination had an unfavorable attitude toward COVID-19 booster dose. Conclusion: This study showed a satisfactory level of knowledge and attitude of health care professionals toward COVID-19 booster dose in Nepal. Health care professionals’ positive attitude toward COVID-19 booster dose vaccine is key to the patient and community safety. Personalized education and risk communication can aid in improving overall awareness and attitudes toward COVID-19 booster dose in such populations.

Introduction: Stereopsis is defined as the ability to perceive object depth. It is measured in seconds of arc. Reduced stereoacuity impinges one's academic as well as a professional performance. Hence in this study, we aim to find out the mean stereoacuity among the undergraduate medical and nursing students using the Titmus fly test. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at a medical college of Nepal from April 2021 to July 2021. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional review committee (Registration number: 487 (6-11) E2 077/078). Simple random sampling method was used. Data were collected from undergraduate medical and nursing students while the post-graduate students were excluded from the study. Overall, 80 students were included in the study. Titmus fly test was used to assess the stereopsis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 and Microsoft Excel was used for data analysis. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with mean, standard deviation, frequency, and proportion. Results: The mean stereoacuity was 62.63±46.56 (range 40-800) sec of arc (52.77–72.49 at 90% Confidence Interval). A total of 80 participants in our study among which 50 (62.5%) were male and 30 (37.5%)were female. About 41 (51.2%) of the study participants had normal, borderline (>40 and ≤ 120) stereopsis was seen in 35 (43.8%) of the study participants while only 4 (5%) had reduced stereopsis (≥120 sec of arc). Conclusions: This study showed that the mean stereoacuity among the undergraduate medical and nursing students was in subnormal range which was similar to other studies.