Background: Psychological stress among medical students is common as compared to other professional courses. The prevalence of perceived stress among medical students affects not only their academic performances but also to some extent their health. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of self-perceived psychological stress among UnderGraduate medical students, to identify probable factors responsible for it and to suggest possible interventions. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study using self administered questionnaire was conducted among a sample of undergraduate students chosen from all the years of MBBS who were enrolled at Govt. Medical College Surat at the time of study period. Results: In this study 3.12% of the students reported having no stressor experience, 55.6% reported mild to moderate stressor experience and 41.2% with severe stressor experience. Major factors responsible for stress identified in this study are increased load towards exam, vast syllabus, not getting expected marks, less time for repeated learning and procrastination Conclusion: This study has found that majority of undergraduate students experience stress. Both academic and emotional factors are responsible for this stress. Proper guidance and counseling by faculties may help to improve the present scenario.

Background: Health care providers are at an increased risk of exposure to various infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C etc. These infections are prevented if proper universal precautions are observed by health care providers consistently in their day to day clinical work. In study we have explored knowledge and practice of universal precautions among nursing staff. Methods: A cross sectional study carried out among staff nurses in December 2013. Self-administered semi structured proforma was used for data collection. Information regarding knowledge and practice of universal precautions was collected. Results: Out of 88 participants interviewed, almost all of them reported of having awareness about universal precautions and personal protective equipments. Only 44.3% nurses mentioned all the correct measures for universal precautions. 89.77% nurses were aware about health hazards of needle stick injury but only 67.05% correctly reported about how needle stick injury can be prevented. 38.64% nurses had experienced needle stick injury while working and most of them (79.41%) followed proper guidelines. Conclusions: correct knowledge regarding universal precautions among nursing staff is still not of satisfactory level and training at repeated interval needs to be given to ensure correct knowledge as well as implementation of universal precautions.

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Background: The aims were to study knowledge, perceptions and beliefs regarding swine flu among college students and to study any difference in knowledge between science and commerce students. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in Science and Commerce College of Valsad city from June-July 2015. Simple random sampling technique used. Total 400 students were randomly selected from both the colleges. The study was started after obtaining the verbal and informed consent from both the college authorities whereas verbal and informed consent was taken from each student. Data collection done by using predesigned, pretested, bilingual language (English and Gujarati) semi structured questionnaire. Students who were present and had given consent to participate in the study been included and those who are absent and not willing to participate are excluded from study. Data were presented in percentages and p value was calculated by Chi-square test. Results: 63.18% and 53.73% commerce, 86% and 84.5% science knows causative agent and other name of swine flu respectively and difference is statistically highly significant. More than 60% of science and commerce students reported cough/sneezing as modes of transmission. 57% science and 40% commerce correctly answer symptoms of swine flu. Television (>35%) was major source of information in both groups. Conclusions: Although students are aware of swine flu but correct knowledge about swine flu is lacking in both the groups. Knowledge regarding key points such as frequent hand washing, avoiding crowding places, vaccine and treatment availability, which is much important during epidemics and pandemics as precautionary measures, was lacking in both the groups.

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