Mapping fear among doctors manning screening clinics for COVID19. Results from cloud based survey in Eastern parts of India

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care 2020-12, Vol.9 (12), p.6194-6200
• Main Authors: Jha, Ravi Ranjan, Verma, Raj Kishore, Kishore, Anupam, Rana, Rishabh Kumar, Barnwal, Rajan Kumar, Singh, Haribansh Kumar, Kumar, Dewesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: covid19; fear in doctors; fear related behavior; Original; Physicians; system issues
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1143_20

As the number of cases of COVID19 from novel corona virus 2019 rises so are the number of deaths ensuing from it. Doctors have been in front in these calamitous times across the world. India has less number of doctors so doctors are overwhelmed with more number of patients to cater. Thereby they are also fearing that they will be exposed much as they often work in limited resource settings. An on line survey was to include doctors from eastern states in India for measuring the reasons of their fear and suggest possible solutions based on the results achieved thus. After IEC clearance a semi-structured anonymous questionnaire was sent on google forms as links on known to doctors, working in screening OPDs or flu clinics especially for COVID-19. Out of 59 Doctors majority were provided with sanitizers for practicing hand hygiene. Gloves were provided everywhere but masks particularly N95 and Triple Layer surgical masks were not there for all. Training was not given universally. Fear was dependent on age in our sample. Training and strict adherence to infection control measures along with resources can help in removing the fear.