Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item The effects of personal protective equipment on the mental wellbeing of health care workers(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Martin, T.; Wickramaarachchi, H.; Samarathunga, P.; Medagoda, R.; Jayamanne, S.; Medagoda, K.Introduction: Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become the key method to prevent the spread of the current SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic among health care workers (HCWs). PPE varies from the face mask to complete overall suit with a hood. Objectives: To determine the effects of PPE on the mental wellbeing of HCWs. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at Colombo North Teaching Hospital and, three private hospitals around Ragama. Data were collected from the medical, nursing, laboratory, and supporting staff using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Out of 263 HCWs, 82% were females. The average age was 35 years. 71% were nursing officers. 60.8% of the participants wore either a face mask or a complete overall suit with a hood for 8-16 hours and, 35 % did not change the PPE during that period. 66.5% had difficulty in concentrating on routine work. 50% behaved at least with mild arrogance. Claustrophobia was seen in 15.8% and 21.7% had anxiety. 44.9% wanted to remove PPE as soon as possible. Following their shift, increased tiredness, low mood, and short temper were reported in 61%, 34.7% and 36.4% respectively. In 89.8% these effects lasted 2-6 hours. Conclusions: Wearing PPE has adversely affected the mental well-being of the HCWs during the shift and thereafter. The main mental effects were difficulty in concentration, arrogance, increased tiredness, low mood and, a short temper. Designing user-friendly PPE and reduction of the working shift may help to uplift the mental wellbeing of the HCWsItem Psychological distress and factors associated with psychological distress among preventive health care workers involved in COVID-19 prevention work in selected districts of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Dissanayake, D.M.S.Y.; Rathnayaka, R.M.S.M.; Perera, K.R.; Gamage, D.H.P.; Fernando, W.A.R.S.; Nazeer, I.; Palihawadana, V.Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely affected the mental health of preventive healthcare workers (HCW) in Sri Lanka. Objectives: The study aimed to describe psychological distress, its associated factors and coping mechanisms among preventive HCW involved in COVID-19 prevention in Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 158 preventive HCW [Medical Officers of Health (MOH), Assistant MOH, Public Health Inspector (PHI) and Supervising PHI] at MOH offices in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara and Badulla districts from November 2020 to March 2021. Data collection utilized convenience sampling. Psychological distress level was determined by Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale 10. Results: Among the respondents 57.6% were psychologically distressed. The significant associations were, age above 40 years (p=0.019), having pregnant women at home (p=0.032), work experience less than 15 years (p = 0.007), unavailability of sufficient PPE (p=0.024), stressful work environment (p=0.013), dissatisfaction on control and prevention strategies (p = 0.029). Distress between PHIs (Mean= 22.0) and Medical Officers (Mean= 21.2) was not significant (t=0.580, p=0.563). Commonest coping mechanism of distress was maintaining a positive attitude (77.7%). Negative coping mechanisms included resorting to alcohol (8.2%), smoking (5.1%) and drugs (0.6%). Conclusions: Over half of the participants were psychologically distressed. Participant’s age, presence of children and pregnant women at home, work experience, unavailability of sufficient PPE, dissatisfaction on current prevention and control strategies and stress at workstation were reported to have a significant association with psychological stress. Commonest positive coping strategy of stress was maintaining a positive attitude towards the pandemic.