Neethi Valsan | Kerala University Of Health Sciences (original) (raw)
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Papers by Neethi Valsan
Kerala Journal of Psychiatry
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented psychological impact on healthcare wo... more Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented psychological impact on healthcare workers. The objective of this study was to appraise the willingness, attitudes and psychological preparedness of the frontline healthcare workers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This was a mixed-method study combining a web-based cross-sectional survey, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. The cross-sectional survey covered 202 healthcare workers, and the qualitative assessment was done on 16 frontline healthcare workers. Results: The willingness to respond to the pandemic was found to be significantly higher among doctors and nurses compared to medical interns. Among demographic factors increasing age and female gender were the key factors in determining willingness and positive emotional response. While anxiety was the most common emotional response, the fear of infecting family members was found to be the most common risk perceived in qualitative analysis. The study highlights the altruistic attitude of frontline health workers to be the most important contributing factor for psychological preparedness. Conclusion: This study outlines the fact that willingness to respond in a pandemic is an innate response in healthcare workers. Considering the risks, workload and socioeconomic stressors, proactive psychosocial support should be given to frontline healthcare workers by the institutions, governments, and society.
Kerala Journal of Ophthalmology
International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research [IJCMR]
Introduction: Relapse is a common problem faced when alcohol dependence is treated. The present s... more Introduction: Relapse is a common problem faced when alcohol dependence is treated. The present study was done to find the influence of extrinsic factors such as stressful life events, peer pressure and perceived social support on relapse in alcohol dependence, which will be useful to develop effective interventions to prevent it. Material and methods: This cross sectional study conducted in tertiary care teaching hospital in Kottayam, included 60 subjects who were grouped into 30 Late Relapsers (who relapsed drinking after 3 months of abstinence) and 30 Early Relapsers-(who relapsed drinking within 3 months of abstinence). Mini-Mental Status Examination, Diagnostic Criteria for Research for ICD-10 (DCR-10) and the Stressful Life Inventory were used for each patient to collect their details. Results: The mean age of onset of alcohol use of Early Relapsers was lower than that of the Late Relapsers. Also the number of stressful life events related to work, marriage, family and finance were more in the Early Relapsers compared to the other and the difference was statistically significant for the above mentioned factors. Conclusions: Early age of onset of alcohol use and occurrence of stressful life events in 6 months preceding the relapse are associated with relapse in alcohol dependence. Community based studies with larger sample size are needed to substantiate the results of this study.
Kerala Journal of Psychiatry
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented psychological impact on healthcare wo... more Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented psychological impact on healthcare workers. The objective of this study was to appraise the willingness, attitudes and psychological preparedness of the frontline healthcare workers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This was a mixed-method study combining a web-based cross-sectional survey, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. The cross-sectional survey covered 202 healthcare workers, and the qualitative assessment was done on 16 frontline healthcare workers. Results: The willingness to respond to the pandemic was found to be significantly higher among doctors and nurses compared to medical interns. Among demographic factors increasing age and female gender were the key factors in determining willingness and positive emotional response. While anxiety was the most common emotional response, the fear of infecting family members was found to be the most common risk perceived in qualitative analysis. The study highlights the altruistic attitude of frontline health workers to be the most important contributing factor for psychological preparedness. Conclusion: This study outlines the fact that willingness to respond in a pandemic is an innate response in healthcare workers. Considering the risks, workload and socioeconomic stressors, proactive psychosocial support should be given to frontline healthcare workers by the institutions, governments, and society.
Kerala Journal of Ophthalmology
International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research [IJCMR]
Introduction: Relapse is a common problem faced when alcohol dependence is treated. The present s... more Introduction: Relapse is a common problem faced when alcohol dependence is treated. The present study was done to find the influence of extrinsic factors such as stressful life events, peer pressure and perceived social support on relapse in alcohol dependence, which will be useful to develop effective interventions to prevent it. Material and methods: This cross sectional study conducted in tertiary care teaching hospital in Kottayam, included 60 subjects who were grouped into 30 Late Relapsers (who relapsed drinking after 3 months of abstinence) and 30 Early Relapsers-(who relapsed drinking within 3 months of abstinence). Mini-Mental Status Examination, Diagnostic Criteria for Research for ICD-10 (DCR-10) and the Stressful Life Inventory were used for each patient to collect their details. Results: The mean age of onset of alcohol use of Early Relapsers was lower than that of the Late Relapsers. Also the number of stressful life events related to work, marriage, family and finance were more in the Early Relapsers compared to the other and the difference was statistically significant for the above mentioned factors. Conclusions: Early age of onset of alcohol use and occurrence of stressful life events in 6 months preceding the relapse are associated with relapse in alcohol dependence. Community based studies with larger sample size are needed to substantiate the results of this study.