TY - JOUR
T1 - Preparedness and impact of COVID 19 infection at tertiary care neurology centers in Pakistan
AU - Kanwar, Dureshshahwar
AU - Awan, Safia
AU - Sajjad, Ali
AU - Farooq, Anjum
AU - Chand, Lal
AU - Larak, Awais Bashir
AU - Malik, Abdul
AU - Wazir, Mohammad
AU - Aslam, Adnan
AU - Hashim, Husnain
AU - Niazi, Farheen
AU - Rasheed, Mohammad Fateen
AU - Khan, Fozan
AU - Hamdani, Mazhar
AU - Saleem, Fahad
AU - Iqbal, Athar
AU - Asif, Ahmed
AU - Shahbaz, Naila
AU - Majid, Haris
AU - Wasay, Mohammad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/6/15
Y1 - 2021/6/15
N2 - Objective: We aimed to assess the response and impact of covid 19 pandemic at tertiary care centers in Pakistan especially pertaining to neurological care, facilities and training. Methods: A pre-tested survey form was sent to 40 neurology tertiary care centers in all the provinces in the country in the first week of July 2020. 33 filled forms were received, out of which 18 were public (government) and 15 were private hospitals. Results: Estimated 1300 HCW (faculty, medical officers, trainees and nurses) work at these 33 participating centers. There were 17 deaths among HCW (1.3%) at ten centers. Sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) were provided to 158 HCW (12%). 129 (10%)HCW tested positive for COVID 19 at 31 centers including trainees/medical officers (39), consultants (29) and nursing and other staff (61). Due to low neurology admissions, 23/33 hospitals (70%) posted neurology trainees in COVID 19 units to contribute to covid care. Less than 50% hospitals did covid screening PCR before admission to neurology wards. Only 10% hospitals provide training and regular update to HCW. Neurology tele-health services were started for clinically stable patients at 15 (45%) centers. Only 60% neurology training programs were able to start online training. Ongoing research studies and trials focusing neurological manifestations of COVID-19 were done at 10 (30%) centers. Modification of facilities for COVID patients showed that 24(72%) hospitals strictly reduced the number of attendants accompanying patients. Only 10 (30%) centers had neurophysiological tests being conducted on COVID-19 patients. Mental health support services to HCW were provided at 12 (36%) centers. Conclusions: Among HCW 10% tested positive for covid and 1.3% died. Mental health support services offered for HCW were available in 36% institutions. Neurology training was substantially affected due to low admissions, limited ward rounds and limited availability of online training.
AB - Objective: We aimed to assess the response and impact of covid 19 pandemic at tertiary care centers in Pakistan especially pertaining to neurological care, facilities and training. Methods: A pre-tested survey form was sent to 40 neurology tertiary care centers in all the provinces in the country in the first week of July 2020. 33 filled forms were received, out of which 18 were public (government) and 15 were private hospitals. Results: Estimated 1300 HCW (faculty, medical officers, trainees and nurses) work at these 33 participating centers. There were 17 deaths among HCW (1.3%) at ten centers. Sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) were provided to 158 HCW (12%). 129 (10%)HCW tested positive for COVID 19 at 31 centers including trainees/medical officers (39), consultants (29) and nursing and other staff (61). Due to low neurology admissions, 23/33 hospitals (70%) posted neurology trainees in COVID 19 units to contribute to covid care. Less than 50% hospitals did covid screening PCR before admission to neurology wards. Only 10% hospitals provide training and regular update to HCW. Neurology tele-health services were started for clinically stable patients at 15 (45%) centers. Only 60% neurology training programs were able to start online training. Ongoing research studies and trials focusing neurological manifestations of COVID-19 were done at 10 (30%) centers. Modification of facilities for COVID patients showed that 24(72%) hospitals strictly reduced the number of attendants accompanying patients. Only 10 (30%) centers had neurophysiological tests being conducted on COVID-19 patients. Mental health support services to HCW were provided at 12 (36%) centers. Conclusions: Among HCW 10% tested positive for covid and 1.3% died. Mental health support services offered for HCW were available in 36% institutions. Neurology training was substantially affected due to low admissions, limited ward rounds and limited availability of online training.
KW - COVID -19
KW - Health care workers
KW - Neurology training
KW - Pakistan
KW - Personal protective equipment
KW - Tertiary care centers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104618452&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117462
DO - 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117462
M3 - Article
C2 - 33901995
AN - SCOPUS:85104618452
SN - 0022-510X
VL - 425
JO - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
JF - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
M1 - 117462
ER -
