A study of the swine flu (H1N1) epidemic among health care providers of a medical college hospital of Delhi

Abstract

Background:Influenza viruses cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics that have claimed the lives of millions. Understanding the role of specific perceptions in motivating people to engage in precautionary behavior may help health communicators to improve their messages about outbreaks of new infectious disease generally and swine flu specifically.Objectives:To study the knowledge and practices of health care providers regarding swine flu and to study the attitudes and practices of health care providers toward the prevention of the swine flu epidemic.Materials and Methods:The present study was a cross-sectional (descriptive) study and was conducted in the month of September, 2009, among doctors and nurses. A maximum of 40% of the total health care providers of GTB Hospital were covered because of feasibility and logistics, and, therefore, the sample size was 334.Results:Around 75% of the health care providers were aware about the symptoms of swine flu. Mostly, all study subjects were aware that it is transmitted through droplet infection. Correct knowledge of the incubation period of swine flu was known to 80% of the doctors and 69% of the nurses. Knowledge about high-risk groups (contacts, travelers, health care providers) was observed among 88% of the doctors and 78.8% of the nurses. Practice of wearing mask during duty hours was observed among 82.6% of doctors and 85% of nurses, whereas of the total study population, only 40% were correctly using mask during duty hours.Conclusions:Significant gaps observed between knowledge and actual practice of the Health Care Provider regarding swine flu need to be filled by appropriate training. Data indicate that the health care providers are very intellectual, but they do not themselves practice what they preach.

Swine flu awareness in general population

“…Wearing mask during duty hours was observed in 82.6% of doctors and 85% of nurses. 14 Contrary to our study, Kakade found that 18 (20%) students are had poor knowledge, the majority 31 (62%) had average knowledge and 9 (18%) had good knowledge regarding swine flu and its protective measures. 15…”

A cross-sectional study to assess knowledge, attitude and practices regarding H1N1 among AYUSH practioners at Panvel taluka

“…Our findings are almost similar to study among dental practitioners in Nellore of AP conducted by Kappa et al 8 56.7% AYUSH practitioners knew the correct incubation period of H1N1, Our finding was much less than that was observed in 93.2% doctors and 68.8%nurses in a study of swine flu (H1N1) epidemic among health care provider of a medical college of new Delhi. 5 Regarding attitude towards H1N1 in our study, 78.66% practitioners agreed that they are at risk of getting infection by H1N1 virus which is much higher than the perception by dental practitioners at Nellore District. 8 The difference might be probably due to number of cases reported in their community.…”

“…This finding is similar to a study conducted by Rajora et al which was conducted in multispecialty teaching hospital in Delhi, India where in all resident doctors knew that influenza was caused by virus and is transmitted by droplets. 5 Our finding on awareness of causative agent of the disease was more than a study done by Datta, et al at Pondicherry which was conducted among paramedical workers in an tertiary care hospital where in 91% workers knew about the agent and mode of transmission of H1N1. 6 A study by Sharma et al showed that symptoms of H1N1 were known to only half of the interns which is very less compared to our general practitioners (75%).…”

“…Our finding was lower than study conducted among doctors of medical college hospital of Delhi where 95% doctors knew about drugs. 5 These differences might be due the fact that practitioners might not be trained for the same.…”

Managing Crowds with Wireless and Mobile Technologies

“…Of these viruses and diseases are EBOLA [4], HIV Aids [5], Swine Influenza H1N1 and H1N2 [6], various strands of flu [7], Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) [8], and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) [9]. They have occurred mainly in Africa and the Middle East, but also in some other parts of the world.…”