Background: Erroneous treatments are hovering all over the internet and social media due to non-existence of the ultimate treatment to CoVID-19. There is a need to disseminate correct knowledge and encourage practices based on evidence, which can successfully prevent the spread of this deadly global pandemic. Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the myths and misconceptions related to CoVID-19 pandemic in a pre and post health awareness workshop among the future health care professionals in a private medical university in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methodology: A quasi experimental study was carried out in March, 2020 over a period of two weeks at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad. The participants included undergraduate medical, nursing and pharmaceutical sciences students, making a total sample size of 315. Simple random sampling was used. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire exploring the myths and misconceptions. A pre and post health awareness workshop was conducted and questionnaires filled by the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Result: A change in the frequency of concepts related to myths and misconceptions was observed following the health awareness session, results were statistically significant using McNemar’s test in context to majority of the myths and misconceptions, p-value < 0.05. Conclusion:  Health education has very important role in public health especially in times when the health problem is novel. In such situations, emphasis should be paid on the health education as it can modify the behavior regarding myths and misconceptions which can contribute to decrease in morbidity and mortality.

Health care professionals are at a higher risk of developing secondary traumatic stress due to various factors related to the nature of their job. Objectives: To assess the level, severity & factors associated with secondary traumatic stress symptoms among health care professionals working with trauma victims in tertiary care hospitals of Islamabad. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in which 170 healthcare professionals participated from both public and private tertiary care hospitals of Islamabad. Data were collected by using STS Scale, TIPI and demographics. Analyses was done using independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Results: The results showed, 94(55.3%) and 71(41.7 %) little and mild to moderate level of STS in healthcare professionals respectively. Female gender was significantly associated with STS (p = 0.01) along with MBBS graduates (p = 0.02) and junior doctors (p = 0.01) showed symptoms of STS. Those who were exposed to trauma multiple times had significant association STS. Emotionally stable personality trait of the healthcare professionals had an indirect relation with the development STS symptoms (r= -0.46). Conclusions: The results emphasized hospital administration to take measures in order to reduce stress level especially among female HCWs, junior doctors and those who had multiple exposure of trauma. If necessary steps are not taken, this stress may lead to worse mental health of this target population

Mental health issues due to the pandemic of CoVID-19 have not been properly addressed since the outbreak emerged. Numerous studies were conducted worldwide to highlight the importance of the effect of pandemic on mental health. A large number of researches were carried out to address the impacts of CoVID-19. In present times, when social distancing and isolation at home is the main preventive measure suggested by the WHO, mental health problems are surfacing which need to be timely addressed and treated. This review article focuses on the importance of mental health issues after the lockdown, social distancing, staying at home and other measures implemented due to the outbreak of CoVID-19.  Studies have also highlighted the effects of social media on the prevalence of mental health issues in people worldwide. Based on the findings of previous pandemics, mental health problems can leave long lasting and devastating effects on people. Therefore, adequate preventive measures must be taken to avoid such health problems. Studies have been carried out to emphasize the urgent need of research regarding the mental health issues due to CoVID-19. Many psychological problems like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, fear of getting infected and death, lack of motivation is common during this perplexing period and the challenge is to remotely access such patients for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Furthermore, the increase in the cases of domestic violence during this time has also been reported which should be addressed. In order to strengthen the mental health of a community, we must find ways to cope with stress and trauma in a better and healthy way in times of crisis.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated method of teaching and learning for research methodology taught from year 1 to 3 in a private medical college assessed online through multiple assessments during COVID-19 lockdown. The secondary objective was to explore students’ feedback regarding the online assessment of research methodology. Study Design: Non-randomized Interventional study. Setting: Private Medical College in Islamabad. Period: January 2021 to May 2021. Material & Methods: Research methodology has been incorporated longitudinally in the academic curriculum from year 1 to 3 for the last five years.  Students’ knowledge was assessed online through 3- pronged approach using MCQs, SAQ’s and Viva. The total marks of these assessments were 100. An online questionnaire was designed on Google forms to get students’ feedback regarding online assessment using the Likert scale. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 111 students participated in this study. The mean ± SD score of students in all the three assessments were 6.7±1.6, 19.5 ± 6.5, 26.2 ± 17.6 in the viva, MCQs, SAQ’s respectively. Conclusion: The integrated curriculum of teaching and learning for research methodology was useful in terms of achieving learning outcomes. However, students’ performance in SAQ’s was just average which needs to be addressed. The majority of the participants found online assessments to be very useful.

Background: The goal of the study was to describe patient characteristics of a group of Pakistani population affected by COVID-19. Efforts have been made to identify the patient characteristics which increase the risk of infection. Many of these are useful in predicting the severity and prognosis of the disease. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out at COVID-19 medical facility at the onset of lockdown in   Rawalpindi in Pakistan from March to June 2020. Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test were primarily enrolled in the study. A link was shared of an online google form for collecting data. Data was compiled on Google forms which was transferred into SPSS version 24 for descriptive data analysis. Results: The study included 566 subjects; 469 (82.9%) recovered while 97 (17.1%) died. Majority of them were male, belonged to the age group of 31 – 45 years. The most common comorbid condition in the study population was hypertension 222 (39.2%). The most common symptoms patients presented with were dry cough (64%) followed by difficulty in breathing (48.2%). Conclusion: The study has highlighted age, gender and comorbidities as the characteristics which affected the outcome. This would be helpful in planning treatment for future.