BACKGROUND: World Health Organization declared COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and till the month of March 2023, globally, there have been 761, 402, 282 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6887, 000 deaths. In India, almost 44, 707, 525 cases been recorded till date. Here, almost 30, 000, 000 cases been recorded after the second wave. The working force fighting this pandemic is majority formed by resident doctors all over the country and globally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted among 110 residents pursuing postgraduation in surgery and allied departments in various training institutions in Tamil Nadu for a duration of 6 months (after the second wave). A pretested and validated questionnaire was formulated to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on surgical trainee's residency program from their perspective. The questionnaire contained basic social-demographic details and general information like the details of surgical specialty they are admitted to, the overall details of changes in their surgical residency experience in the times of COVID pandemic and the changes faced by them in their day-to-day clinical, diagnostic, and surgical learning. The questionnaire also investigated the redeployment status of the surgical trainees to COVID treatment units and their perspective on the changes in their clinical research and surgical skills training. RESULTS: The study participants, 66%, were aged between 25 and 30 years, followed by 30 and 35 years (25. 5%). Almost 80% of the participants belong to the final year of postgraduation,67. 3% of surgical trainees strongly perceives and all 100% of them accept the fact that their surgical residency has been affected by the ongoing pandemic. Fifty percent of the trainees were redeployed to COVID duties for 8 h a day shift and rest attended a minimum of 4 h of COVID duties. More than 75% of the residents had COVID duties of 5–10 h/day and more than 90% of these redeployed trainees involved in COVID duties have expressed that they had been suffering from extra stress and more than 60% were suffering from stress grade between 5 and 10 suggestive of high-stress level. Fifty-nine percent of the postgraduates in the current study mentioned that they require extra-surgical or skill-based training after their postgraduation period. CONCLUSION: The influence of COVID-19 on surgical trainees in various institutions of India has been immense due to overburdening of health systems by the large population of the country. Second wave of COVID, especially, has drastically changed the postgraduate surgical trainees' lives. Detrimental effects are not restricted to operative and clinical experience but also the mental health and well-being of them. The observations of the present study make recommendations for the future provision of training through skill-based surgical simulations so that the lost days of their trainings can be compensated and they become the confident surgeons of the future.

Introduction: Resident physicians play an essential role in teaching medical students and are crucial clinical decision-makers in teaching hospitals. Hence, their ability to use evidence-based medicine has been effective in reducing medical errors and improving clinical decisions. The present study was designed to assess the attitudes and awareness of using evidence-based medicine in residents through self-declaration. Methods: This research was an applied and descriptive-cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire. The study population consisted of all medical and dental residents studying at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Two hundred and nine residents participated in the study by completing the questionnaire. Results: 42. 1% of them passed at least a course in evidence-based medicine, and 65. 5% were familiar with it. In addition, most of them knew the Pub Med database (89%), and also the familiarity with the Bandolier (3. 3%), Dare, and DOAJ (zero percent) databases was minimal. Next point was that the participants used printed books as the first and most important source of information (41. 5%). According to 40% of the participants, lack of knowledge of using the sites was the most important reason for not using Internet-based information sources. Conclusion: In general, the results showed the moderate knowledge and skills of using evidence-based medical databases among residents.

Background: Africa is gradually becoming an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the current disease trend, Africa might be the last hardest-hit continent. While scientific investigations continue to develop effective management through medications and vaccines, existing knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes could be harnessed to develop an effective strategy to curb community transmission of COVID-19. The present study assessed the awareness level, perceptions, and attitudes of people living in rural, peri-urban, and urban communities in Northern Ghana and their preparedness for the prevention and containment of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a face-to-face interview and administered 553 semi-structured questionnaires in 18 rural, peri-urban, and urban communities in Tolon District, Kumbungu District, Sagnarigu Municipality, Savelugu Municipality, and Tamale Metropolis from April 23 to June 8, 2020. Results: The percentages of males and females among the respondents were 56.8% and 43.2%, respectively. Nearly half (41%) of the respondents had no formal education, and 91.3% of them were Muslims. Most respondents (85%) believed that COVID-19 is a punishment from God. There was a significant difference (P<0.001) between the first-time rural, peri-urban, and urban communities heard of COVID-19. The majority (63%) of the rural respondents depended on radio, while the peri-urban and urban respondents (51%) relied on TV for information on COVID-19. All respondents were aware of COVID-19, and 91.7% could mention at least two symptoms of the disease. However, 18% believed there was no COVID-19 in Ghana. Most respondents (69.6%) thought they would not contract the virus.  Conclusion: Our findings may provide valuable data to the government and other stakeholders to control COVID-19.