CONTEXT: Adolescents are at a high risk of iron deficiency and anemia due to accelerated increase in the requirements for iron, coupled with poor dietary intake, high rate of infection, and worm infestation. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of health education intervention on baseline knowledge of anemia prevention among schoolgoing adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental interventional study with before and after comparison group, conducted in one secondary school of Singur Block of Hooghly district, West Bengal, in September–October 2015. The study was conducted among 181 schoolchildren of standard VIII and IX by administering a predesigned self-administered questionnaire based on the following five domains – knowledge of anemia, role of diet, use of slipper, handwashing, health-seeking behavior, and management of anemia. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS software version 20, and both parametric (paired t- test) and nonparametric (McNemar-matched Chi-square test) test were applied for pre- and post-test comparison. To elicit the effect size, Cohen's d was calculated. RESULTS: Out of the 181 students, 84 (46.4%) studied in Class VIII and rest in Class IX. About 86 (47.5%) students were boys and 95 (52.5%) were girls; with 70.2% in 14–16 years' age group. Postinterventional score on the five domains significantly improved (P < 0.001), and father's education was a significant predictor in preinterventional score. After health education intervention, knowledge score increased with a medium effect size. CONCLUSION: Health education will play an effective role in improving health of adolescents by increasing knowledge and changing their attitude.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Dermoid cysts are common congenital lesions presenting frequently as midline cysts. In the skin and subcutis, they occur mostly on the face, neck, or scalp. Apart from the skin, dermoid cysts have been described as intracranial, intraspinal, or perispinal lesions. Intra-abdominal cysts, such as cystic tumors of the ovary or omentum, occur as well. However, their presence in the postauricular region is rare and only a few documentations of this entity are found in literature. Fine-needle aspiration cytology can be suggestive of its presence during initial evaluation while histopathology after excision provides confirmatory diagnosis. This unusual presentation of a unilateral dermoid cyst in the postauricular region is described herewith.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder particularly involving hepatic and neuropsychiatric systems. The primary pathology in these cases is the reduction in the synthesis of copper transporter protein leading to accumulation of copper in various organs. Excessive deposition in liver leads to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis that may alter the metabolism and excretion of anesthetic agents. Providing anesthesia can be a challenging task in these cases. Hence, a thorough workup for the severity and extent of the disease and optimal planning is essential for the successful management of these cases. We, hereby, describe a case of a 23-year-old male with Wilson's disease posted for bilateral contracture release of the knee.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: Transport and commuting need to be viewed from a more inclusive nature because it adds a very strong gender component. Invariably, gender perspective is never included during road transport authority meetings and naturally gets excluded in the entire transport planning discourse. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess commuter problem and study the opinion of commuters with regard to public transport and road safety by involving 139 commuters by purposive sampling who travel daily in the coastal city of Mangalore in Southern India using public transport. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 66 (47.5%) were males and 73 (52.5%) were females. The mean age of the respondents was 28.5 ± 7.9 years. One hundred and sixteen (83.5%) feel the roads in the city are unsafe and 69 (49.6%) felt stressed due to travel and 71 (51.1%) felt the public transport are rarely safe for women to travel at night. CONCLUSION: The issue of women and child safety during travel by public transport, the behavior of auto drivers, the need to increase road patrolling during day and night will require sincere investment from policy makers and stakeholders. Perhaps, the time to create a gender sensitive commuter-centric road safety policy requires to be developed.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Fiberoptically guided tracheal intubation represents one of the most important advances in airway management occurring in the past 30 years. Perhaps, its most important role is the management of the anticipated difficult airway. Out of the available airway devices from the basic Macintosh laryngoscope to video laryngoscopes to the life-saving surgical airway techniques, fiberoptic-guided intubation still remains to be the most successful method in experienced hands during handling of difficult airway. We report a case of fiberoptic-guided successful nasal intubation in a spontaneously breathing awake patient under topical anesthesia with an anticipated difficult airway scheduled for commando's operation.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: Hypertension treatment satisfaction has been the subject of recent research particularly in developing countries and is widely recognized as patient-oriented outcome of quality of care. However, in Nigeria, little is known on the role of hypertensive treatment satisfaction on medication adherence and blood pressure (BP) control. AIM: The study was aimed at determining the role of treatment satisfaction in medication adherence, and BP control among adult Nigerians with essential hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out on 140 adult hypertensive patients who have been on treatment for at least 6 months at a primary care clinic in Nigeria. Hypertension treatment satisfaction and medication adherence were assessed in the previous 30 days using pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire on self-reported satisfaction and adherence to therapy, respectively. A goal BP control referred to BP of < 140/90 mmHg at the end of study visit. RESULTS: The age of the study participants ranged from 32 to 83 years with mean age of 52 ± 7.4 years. There were 56 (40.0%) male and 84 (60.0%) female. Hypertension treatment satisfaction, medication adherence, and BP control rates were 78.6%, 42.9%, and 35.0%, respectively. Hypertension treatment satisfaction was significantly associated with medication adherence (P = 0.01) and BP control (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated variabilities in treatment satisfaction, medication adherence, and BP control among the study population. Medication adherence and BP control were significantly associated with treatment satisfaction. This study urges consideration of treatment satisfaction alongside with medication adherence and BP control.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

CONTEXT: In this part of Maharashtra, usually children get their first mobile phone after completing their schooling. Two years of education in junior college are crucial in everyone's life as career is decided during this phase of life. Till date, very few studies have been conducted in India about the pattern of mobile use. This study was planned with a view to identifying a pattern of the use and overuse of mobile phone by junior college students. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Study design: Cross-sectional. Study-area: Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Corporation area. Study-population: Junior college students from study area. Study subjects: 11^th standard junior college students. Sample size and sampling techniques: Six hundred and nineteen, double cluster. Study tool: Pretested Questionnaire. Study duration: Six months. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Percentages, prevalence, Chi-square test. RESULTS: Of 619 students, 429 (68.98%) had mobile. Significantly, high number of male students (60.13%) had mobile sets than females (39.86%). Mobiles were used commonly for calling, messaging, Internet, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Internet, chatting, Facebook, and WhatsApp use was significantly common in boys. Two-thirds of the students used mobile phones for playing games. Twenty-one percent students used mobile phones in the classroom. Totally 37.3% students felt restless when they do not have their mobile phones with them. There were 33.33% students having high score indicating excess use of mobile and it was significantly associated with age and stream of education. CONCLUSIONS: Excess use of mobile phones (18–33 score) was seen in one-third of students, and it was significantly associated with age and stream of education. More than one-third students reported restlessness in the absence of mobile phones. Majority students felt there schooling, sleep, and daily chores is getting hampered by mobile phone use. Therefore, monitoring of adolescents mobile phone use by parents is required to identify any deviation from normal judicious use.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

INTRODUCTION: Psychotropic medications are the mainstay in the management of psychiatric disorders but they are not devoid of side effects. The occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Indian psychiatry populace varies from 5.9% to 45%. The cost associated with the management of ADRs in general settings ranges from Rs. 412.76 to 1080/- per ADR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of 1 year. The ADRs were assessed for causality by the World Health Organization probability scale and severity by modified Hartwig and Siegel scale. The direct costs in the management of ADRs were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 494 ADRs were reported and evaluated from 300 patients. Of the total reported ADRs, 3.44% (n = 17) lead to hospital admissions and 2.83% (n = 14) prolonged the hospital stay. The gastrointestinal system 25.10% (n = 125) and central and peripheral nervous system 20.64% (n = 102) were the most common system organ class affected by ADRs. The drug classes mainly implicated with ADRs were antipsychotics 53.03% (n = 262) and antidepressants 23.88% (n = 118). Majority (24.29%) of the reactions that lead to cost impact was moderate in severity. Total cost incurred for the management of 131 reported ADRs was Rs. 57,891.33/- with an average cost of Rs. 117.18/- per ADR. CONCLUSION: In 131 cost impact ADRs, 114 patients had a cost impact of Rs. 57,891.33/- A directly proportionate relationship was observed between the severity and cost incurred for the management of ADRs. Hence, it is necessary to identify and prevent these reactions as they cause burden to the patients.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how older adults modulate dual-task mobility under changing postural challenges. AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare traditional timed up and go test (TUG) and dual-task TUG for identifying geriatric population who are at risk of falling. METHODS: An observational study was performed at PDVVPF's Hospital, Ahmednagar. Sixty patients in the age group of 60–80 years who could walk independently and had a mini-mental state examination score >24 were selected after ethical clearance, inform consent was obtained from the patients, and the patient performed traditional TUG. The patient performed TUG with a motor constraint, i.e., typing from 1 to 9 on a calculator, and later with a cognitive constraint, i.e., answer simple questions. Time was recorded for all three tests and analyzed. RESULTS: For TUG (traditional), mean time was 20.96 s in fallers and 12.95 s in nonfallers; for TUG (manual), mean time was 25.12 s in fallers and 14.96 s in nonfallers to complete the test; and for TUG (cognitive), fallers group took 26.02 s and nonfallers group took 15.61 s to complete the test. The cutoff value to determine fallers for the traditional TUG is 15.95 s, for the motor TUG is 18.81 s, and for the cognitive TUG is 19.92 s, for determining geriatric population at a risk of falls. The traditional TUG had 90% sensitivity and 96.6% specificity, dual-task TUG motor 93.33% sensitivity and 93.33% specificity, and dual-task TUG cognitive 96.6% sensitivity and 93.33% specificity. CONCLUSION: TUG performed under cognitive constraint was a better indicator of falls.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

CONTEXT: Reviewing the teaching programs by taking feedback from the students at regular intervals gives us input into the strength of the pharmacology curriculum so that necessary reforms can be undertaken to improve students' performance. AIMS: This study aims to obtain feedback from 2^nd year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students regarding their preferred teaching method and their perception about pharmacology. SETTING: A study done at Mallareddy Dental College for Women (MRMCW), Hyderabad. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prevalidated questionnaire containing 17 questions with 2–6 options each were administered to 73 2^nd year BDS students studying at MRMCW, Hyderabad. The data so obtained were entered into Microsoft Excel and statistical analysis was done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of the data. RESULTS: The majority (84%) of students preferred lecture as their preferred teaching method in Pharmacology. Most students wanted lecturers to use liquid crystal display (LCD) projection while taking class (37.8%). 70.8% of students did not prefer studying in tutorials while 29% of them wanted tutorials. The majority of students (57.1%) wanted revision classes regularly after completion of each system, and 84.7% of students wanted pharmacology practicals to be a combination of pharmacy practicals with clinically oriented classes and 93% of them wanted pharmacology to be integrated with medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Lectures using LCD projection was the preferred mode of learning in this setting. There is a need to incorporate more clinically oriented exercises in pharmacology practicals to prepare the students toward being a competent dentist.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: Prompt and accurate detection of bacterial pathogens is essential for improving the management of infectious diseases. AIMS: Our study aims at accurate identification of uropathogens through the integration of various methods, thereby highlighting each method of identification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present prospective study was conducted in the department of microbiology of a teaching tertiary care hospital of the central India for 1 year 2014–2015. A total of 1202 urine samples were processed. Identification of different urinary isolates was done by conventional, automated, and molecular methods in few special cases. The study did not involve any statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 509 samples were found to be culture positive out of the 1202 samples studied. Five hundred and fifty-four uropathogens were isolated from 509 culture positive samples. Among these, the bacterial isolates that could not be identified conventionally were processed through automated and/or 16S ribosomal ribose nucleic acid) (16S rRNA) sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 16S rRNA gene sequences to study bacterial phylogeny and taxonomy has been the most common housekeeping genetic marker that provides reliability, reproducibility, and higher accuracy during identification of bacterial isolates. Our study has highlighted the importance of each method during the process of identification, thereby developing a high degree of confidence in diagnostic procedures.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: The work capacity assessment (WCA) tool is a new tool developed specifically to assess worker suitability for working conditions in India. This study presents the preliminary results of reliability (interrater) and internal consistency of the WCA tool. AIMS: The aim of this study is to develop a work capacity tool for working conditions in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The steps for instrument development were followed stringently. The newly developed tool addressed three categories of work: heavy manual labor, sustained labor, and sedentary work. Four participants in heavy manual labor, five in sustained labor, and five in sedentary work performed activities specified by the new scale; videography was done simultaneously. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Internal consistency between the items in the scale was ascertained by Cronbach's alpha. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated for intertester reliability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some items in each of the three categories were removed from the final tool due to lack of variance between participants. After omitting these items, alpha was 0.65 and 1 in heavy manual labor, 0.95 and −0.14 in sustained labor, and 0.83 in sedentary work. All test items with the exception of isometric strength and posture sustainability in heavy manual labor correlated well with other items (>0.7). The final tool is fairly robust in terms of internal consistency and reliability. This is a preliminary report, and the tool needs to be further validated before clinical use on a larger and heterogeneous population.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that the majority of nonblinding eye diseases may be of significant burden to the population and health system of developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidities among senior high school students and their association with age and sex in public senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis. METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Six hundred and sixty-two students, with ages ranging from 14 to 20 years, from 12 randomly selected schools were examined and included in the study. The detailed examination included visual acuity measurement, external examination with a pen torch, ophthalmoscopy, +1 blur test, cover test, and subjective refraction. RESULTS: Out of 662 students examined, 90% suffered at least one ocular condition. The most common morbidity was allergy (31.1%), followed by allergic conjunctivitis (22.2%), refractive error (10.0%), dry eye (6.9%), suspicious disc (3.6%), bacterial conjunctivitis (2.9%), foreign body (2.7%), glaucoma suspect (1.4%), and papillitis (0.5%). More females suffered ocular problems than males. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ocular morbidity among senior high school students in the metropolis is high, with allergies being the most common. Eye health education, regular eye examination, and adequate classroom illumination should be implemented in senior high schools.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]