Abstract for Paper Presentation:-: Title: Observational study of change in pattern of alcoholism amongst junior residents in a tertiary care hospital in India due to post COVID stress in comparison with pre-pandemic era.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown higher alcohol consumption amongst doctors in period of psychological stress. Psychological stress including pandemic related stress may lead to problem drinking. A major brunt of this unprecedented situation of COVID 19 is faced by frontline physicians who are doing COVID 19 related duties relentlessly, leading to psychological distress among them. There is lack of study on the possible effects of COVID related stress and prevalence in alcoholism among junior doctors in India. AIMS: This prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in India assesses whether there is any change in pattern of alcohol use during COVID pandemic among frontline junior residents and is there any relation of this change in alcohol use with perceived stress associated with COVID. METHODS: Junior residents who have fulfilled inclusion criteria and given informed consent are asked to fill online Google form on their alcohol use using WHO AUDIT (alcohol use disorder identification test) questionnaire. Their COVID related perceived stress is assessed using PSS-10-C scale. RESULTS: Among 60 junior residents assessed till now, AUDIT scores before and after pandemic were compared using chi square test with p value of 0.003 , indicating there is significant change in alcohol use levels between pre and post pandemic era. CONCLUSION: In this ongoing study, alcohol use is expected to increase significantly between the pre and post COVID era.