scholarly journals Pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers - a community survey in Udupi, Karnataka, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 653
Author(s):  
Senthil Kumar Elumalai ◽  
Arun G. Maiya ◽  
Kalyan B. Chakravarthy
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Community Survey ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Background: Smoking has been labeled the most important preventable cause of a respiratory disease and its effects in a smoker are well established. A better understanding on the pulmonary function impairments in an asymptomatic smoker is the need of the hour. Objective: To study the pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers and non- smokers and to establish the dose -effect relationship amongst asymptomatic smokers.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. 140 men aged between 20 to 45 years with a BMI ranging from 18.5 to 29.9 Kg2 /m was enrolled in to the study. 70 subjects were asymptomatic smokers and the other 70 were non-smokers. Outcomes measured were standard spirometric measures for pulmonary function and symptoms like breathlessness, cough and sputum using a Breathlessness Cough Sputum scale.Results: The mean age (mean ± SD) of non-smokers and asymptomatic smokers enrolled was 34.7±5 and 33.8±5 years respectively. The mean smoking dose amongst the asymptomatic smokers was 15.74±5.5 pack years. FEV1 amongst the asymptomatic smokers showed a negative correlation with smoking dose (p<0.05) and there was a significant difference in FEV1, FVC, PEFR, MVV and FEF 25- 75 % (p<0.001) amongst the asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers.Conclusions: Asymptomatic smokers showed low values of pulmonary function parameters compared to those in non-smokers.

scholarly journals Parent-Child Communication and the Prevalence of Sexual Molestation among Adolescnts

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
F. Lanre-Babalola ◽  
O. A. Oke
Keyword(s):  
Life Experience ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Child Victim ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sexual Molestation ◽  
The University

Sexual molestation is a complex life experience, not a disorder or diagnosis. The diversity of behaviours included in sexual abuse, along with differences in the age and gender of the child victim, the nature of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator or molesters or abusers, and the frequency and duration of the child abuse or child molestation. This study examined the prevalence and patterns of sexual molestation among adolescents’ students in Nigeria. Also investigated the influence of socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, and residential location on the prevalence of sexual molestation as well as their history with the aim of understanding how to resolve the problem associated with it. The Study design was Cross-sectional survey design. The University of Lagos, Akoka and Redeemer’s University Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria was the location of the study. The study population comprised of students in Redeemer’s University, Ede Osun-State and the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. The 200 questionnaires were distributed randomly among students. The data derived through the administered questionnaire was analyzed using frequency, percentage and t-test. Results showed that over 20% of adolescents have experienced sexual molestation of one or the other, of it was also discovered that male respondents have a higher experience of sexual molestation than female respondents among adolescents (t= 1.02, df = 198, P>0.05). A large number of parents have discussions concerning sexual molestation with their children. The study also revealed that there is a significant difference between adolescents who live with their parents and those who do not on the experience of sexual molestation (t= 2.42, df = 198, P<0.05). Adolescents in Nigeria in experience one form of sexual molestation or the other. It was therefore recommended that Parents should be informed that male children are also prone to be sexually molested, In addition, attention should be paid to close relatives as living in same residence with adolescents does not automatically prevent sexual molestation.                         

scholarly journals School feeding contributes to micronutrient adequacy of Ghanaian schoolchildren

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (6) ◽  
pp. 1019-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul-Razak Abizari ◽  
Christiana Buxton ◽  
Lugutuah Kwara ◽  
Joseph Mensah-Homiah ◽  
Margaret Armar-Klemesu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Fe Deficiency ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Records ◽  
School Feeding ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Multiple Micronutrient ◽  
The Mean

Without gains in nutritional outcomes, it is unlikely that school feeding programmes (SFP) could improve cognition and academic performance of schoolchildren despite the improvements in school enrolment. We compared the nutrient intake adequacy and Fe and nutritional status of SFP and non-SFP participants in a cross-sectional survey involving 383 schoolchildren (aged 5–13 years). Quantitative 24 h recalls and weighed food records, repeated in 20 % subsample, were used to estimate energy and nutrient intakes adjusted for day-to-day variations. The probability of adequacy (PA) was calculated for selected micronutrients and the mean of all PA (MPA) was calculated. The concentrations of Hb, serum ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and anthropometric measurements were used to determine Fe and nutritional status. Energy and nutrient intakes and their adequacies were significantly higher among SFP participants (P< 0·001). The MPA of micronutrients was significantly higher among SFP participants (0·61 v. 0·18; P< 0·001), and the multiple-micronutrient-fortified corn soya blend was a key contributor to micronutrient adequacy. In SFP participants, 6 g/l higher Hb concentrations (P< 0·001) and about 10 % points lower anaemia prevalence (P= 0·06) were observed. The concentration of sTfR was significantly lower among SFP participants (11·2 v. 124 mg/l; P= 0·04); however, there was no difference in the prevalence of Fe deficiency and Fe-deficiency anaemia between SFP and non-SFP participants. There was also no significant difference in the prevalence of thinness, underweight and stunting. In conclusion, the present results indicate that school feeding is associated with higher intakes and adequacies of energy and nutrients, but not with the prevalence of Fe and nutritional status indicators. The results also indicate an important role for micronutrient-dense foods in the achievement of micronutrient adequacy within SFP.

scholarly journals Pharmacy Patrons 'Awareness of Pharmacists' Education and Routine Patient Care Responsibilities

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ifemayowa Oyelami-Adeleye ◽  
Marie A. Abate ◽  
Mathew L. Blommel
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
The Other ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Routine Patient Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Mean

Purpose: To assess the similarities between pharmacists’ and pharmacy patrons’ views of pharmacists’ roles and to explore the extent to which persons actually see pharmacists assuming certain roles. Method: Cross-sectional survey was administered to pharmacists and patients who were filling prescriptions or seeking nonprescription medications in 9 community pharmacies in Morgantown, West Virginia. The survey assessed 11 routine patient care services. Main outcome measures include opinions of pharmacists and patients about responsibility for providing 11 routine care services and the extent to which these services are provided. Results: Pharmacists and patients had similar opinions about services that pharmacists should provide for 7 of the 11 services evaluated. For the other 4 items for which opinions were divergent, the mean scores for the extent to which pharmacists provide these services indicated that pharmacists do not always provide these services. Conclusion: Pharmacy patrons might not attribute certain patient-related functions to pharmacists because pharmacists do not frequently perform these routine care-related services in actual practice. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.

Assessment of Agility in Elderly Population of Islamabad

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-163
Author(s):  
Maheen Khan ◽  
Sana Bashir ◽  
Humaira Hussain ◽  
Tayyaba Saman ◽  
Rida Fatima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Population ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Normative Values ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Missing Data Analysis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean

Background: Agility is considered as one of the important components of physical fitness. In older adults, it is of utmost importance in response to any stimulus. The objective of this study was to determine normative values of agility in elderly population of Islamabad. Methods: A Cross-Sectional Survey was conducted in community settings of Islamabad from February–July 2019 after approval by the Ethical Review Committee of Foundation University Islamabad.  The calculated sample size was found to be 267, but due to missing data, analysis was done on 250(100 females and 150 males).   Participants were selected by convenient sampling. Physically independent participants were included and diseased population (severe musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary disorders), decreased functional status affecting hearing, vision, memory recall was excluded from the study. PAR-Q was utilized in uncovering any possible health risks linked to exercise. For evaluation of agility, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) Agility Test was performed. Agility scoring is based on time in seconds, with higher score representing less agility, and agility score of less than 62 represents good agility. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age, BMI and agility score of participants were 60.7±5.81 years, 26±4.30 kg/m² and 22.42±5.2 respectively. There was significant difference (P<0.001) in agility between males and females, with the mean agility score higher in females as compared to males. Similarly, Agility score was significantly high in females as compared to males in BMI range of 18.5 to >30 and all age categories. Conclusion: Elderly population of Pakistan has good agility score

scholarly journals Association Between Anthropometric Factors and Balance Among Elderly Fallers and Non-Fallers: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pothiraj Pitchai ◽  
Reshma Gurav ◽  
Srishti Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: Falls are an emerging public health problem causing a cascade of medical, functional, and socio-economic consequences. Apart from other widely explored risk factors affecting balance, anthropometric factors are also known to have an impact on balance. However, this relationship hasn’t been studied extensively in older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the anthropometric factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Mass (BFM), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Lower Limb Length (LLL), Foot Length (FL) and balance in the elderly among fallers and non-fallers. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 fallers and 100 non-fallers, aged 60 years and above. These participants were recruited by a stratified random sampling technique from Navi Mumbai region. All the above anthropometric factors were measured and recorded. Each participant’s balance was assessed using the Mini-BESTest scale. Obtained scores were analysed in SPSS software; descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficient, and Z scores were applied. Results: A sample size of 100 non-fallers, 50% male and 50% females, participated in this study. Among those participants classified as “fallers,” 56% were males and 44% were females. The mean age of the non-fallers was 66±5.01 and the mean age of the fallers was 67.72±6.73. In fallers, WHR showed good negative correlation (r= -.807), BFM as moderate (r= -.577) and BMI as fair (r= -.426) whereas in non-fallers, BMI showed moderate (r= -.546) and fair negative correlation for both WHR (r= -.303) and BFM (r= -.441). However, LLL and FL in both groups show little or no correlation. The Association of all anthropometric factors with the balance between fallers and non-fallers showed no-significant difference. It may be inter-group variance for age, gender and BMI, as participants were not matched for these variables during the recruiting phase. Additionally, the reason for the fall was not explored, thus adding to the limitations of our study. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the impact of increased WHR, BFM and BMI on balance in the elderly fallers and non-fallers. Thus, it is important to screen these factors while assessing biological risk factors for predicting falls. This study further recommends exploring the normative value for anthropometric factors in a healthy elderly population.

scholarly journals Patient Satisfaction with Community Pharmacies Services: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Punjab; Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aziz ◽  
Wenjing Ji ◽  
Imran Masood ◽  
Muhammad Farooq ◽  
Muhammad Malik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Pharmacy Services ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Purpose: Patient satisfaction can identify specific areas of improvement in community pharmacy services. Currently in Pakistan, no evidence exists in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the needs of patients and the current standards of pharmacies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2016 and June 2017. A pilot tested questionnaire was used to collected the data from 1088 patients of 544 community pharmacies. Likert scale and one way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Results: The response rate of community pharmacies was 80% and that of purchasers was 68.1%. The mean age of participants was 35.2 years. The mean overall satisfaction score of participants was 2.78/5.00. Many patients were dissatisfied (1.65/5.00) with parking facilities provided by pharmacies. Pharmacy service time fulfilled the requirements of most patients (4.16/5.00). The counseling person’s good attitude (3.99/5.00) was credited by purchasers. Level of patient satisfaction with the availability of medicines (3.19/5.00), safe storage of medicines in pharmacy stores (3.66/5.00), and quality of medicines (3.41/5.00) were almost moderate. Many patients were very satisfied (4.35/5.00) with readable instructions for their medications. Approximately half of the patients were dissatisfied with the waiting time. Many patients were also dissatisfied (2.28/5.00) with the knowledge of the counseling person. Patients perceived that staff interest in patient recovery (2.24/5.00) was low. No significant difference in level of satisfaction with regard to participant’s characteristics was found. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated a low level of patient satisfaction with regard to community pharmacy services in Pakistan. These services need improvement.

scholarly journals Aesthetic evaluation of lip position with respect to profile divergence: A silhouette based study.

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1640-1644
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ilyas ◽  
Asmi Shaheen ◽  
Muhammad Usman Khalid ◽  
Maria Tanveer ◽  
Ansar Bilal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Aesthetic Evaluation ◽  
Lay Persons ◽  
Ideal Position ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dental Hospital ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Significant Bearing

Objective: To determine the mean attractiveness and score of lip position that is rated by orthodontists and lay persons in different levels of profile divergence as seen in silhouette images. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Punjab Dental Hospital/de’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore. Period: January 2020 to July 2020. Material & Methods: Lay people were selected from the hospital and orthodontic postgraduate trainees were selected from the college. An ideal profile image was constructed and converted to silhouette. By changing position of subnasale and soft tissue pogonion horizontally in relation to true vertical line, divergence of profile was changed and 3 forms of straight/normal profile were created. Three sets of profiles were created (1 anterior divergent, 2 straight divergent, 3 posterior divergent) and each set consisted of 5 images with different degrees of lip protrusion. Results: There were 50% of both genders in orthodontists and 48% males and 52% females in lay person with mean ages 28.74±2.55 and 34.66±7.30 years respectively were part of the study. There was significant difference found between orthodontists and lay person for anterior divergent profile with normal position (4.54±0.61 and 4.68±0.47 with P<0.05). Conclusion:  The normal lip position is viewed as the most ideal position; however the same does not have any significant bearing to the straight divergent profile, in which the assessments of various groups were uncertain.

A cross-sectional study on knowledge and attitude toward Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among adults in selected regions of Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
Kingston Rajiah ◽  
Sajesh Kalkandi Veettil ◽  
Ng Sze Wei
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Attitude Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge and attitude of adult Malaysians about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to understand the variation in the knowledge and attitude toward TCM among different demographic groups of adult Malaysian population and to determine the pattern of TCM use among adult Malaysians.: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey using the convenience sampling method. A total of 400 adult Malaysians were recruited for this study. An interview-administered questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to analyze the data. The reliability of survey data in this study may affect since closed-ended questions are used.: The more commonly utilized therapy was herbal medicine (n=192, 82.1%), acupuncture (n=79, 33.8%) and oriental massage (n=58, 24.8%). The mean knowledge score and mean attitude score for the respondents were 5.00±1.71 and 7.17±2.10 respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean knowledge score between genders, among TCM users and non-TCM users, people of different education levels and ethnicity.: There were more TCM users than non-TCM users and the use of TCM was higher in females than males. The most popularly used TCM modalities were herbal medicines and acupuncture. Gender, education, ethnicity and use of TCM had a significant effect on adults’ knowledge toward TCM.

Multi-Center Study of Thromboplastin Calibration Precision – Influence of Reagent Species, Composition, and International Sensitivity Index (ISI)

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (01) ◽  
pp. 035-040 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M H P van den Besselaar ◽  
R M Bertina
Keyword(s):  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
The Other ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rabbit Brain ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Bovine Plasma ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
International Sensitivity Index

SummaryFour thromboplastin reagents were tested by 18 laboratories in Europe, North-America, and Australasia, according to a detailed protocol. One thromboplastin was the International Reference Preparation for ox brain thromboplastin combined with adsorbed bovine plasma (coded OBT/79), and the second was a certified reference material for rabbit brain thromboplastin, plain (coded CRM 149R). The other two thromboplastin reagents were another rabbit plain brain thromboplastin (RP) with a lower ISI than CRM 149R and a rabbit brain thromboplastin combined with adsorbed bovine plasma (RC). Calibration of the latter two reagents was performed according to methods recommended by the World Health Organization (W. H. O.).The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions: 1) Is the calibration of the RC reagent more precise against the bovine/combined (OBT/79) than against the rabbit/plain reagent (CRM 149R)? 2) Is the precision of calibration influenced by the magnitude of the International Sensitivity Index (ISI)?The lowest inter-laboratory variation of ISI was observed in the calibration of the rabbit/plain reagent (RP) against the other rabbit/plain reagent (CRM 149R) (CV 1.6%). The highest interlaboratory variation was obtained in the calibration of rabbit/plain (RP) against bovine/combined (OBT/79) (CV 5.1%). In the calibration of the rabbit/combined (RC) reagent, there was no difference in precision between OBT/79 (CV 4.3%) and CRM 149R (CV 4.2%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the precision of the ISI of RC obtained with CRM 149R (ISI = 1.343) and the rabbit/plain (RP) reagent with ISI = 1.14. In conclusion, the calibration of RC could be performed with similar precision with either OBT/79 or CRM 149R, or RP.The mean ISI values calculated with OBT/79 and CRM 149R were practically identical, indicating that there is no bias in the ISI of these reference preparations and that these reference preparations have been stable since their original calibration studies in 1979 and 1987, respectively.International Normalized Ratio (INR) equivalents were calculated for a lyophilized control plasma derived from patients treated with oral anticoagulants. There were small but significant differences in the mean INR equivalents between the bovine and rabbit thromboplastins. There were no differences in the interlaboratory variation of the INR equivalents, when the four thromboplastins were compared.

AWARENESS ABOUT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN GENERAL POPULATION OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
Nadia Tariq ◽  
Tamkeen Jaffry ◽  
Rahma Fiaz ◽  
Abdul Majid Rajput ◽  
Sadaf Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
General Population ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Indoor air pollutants are increasingly being associated with respiratory illnesses leading to high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are not sufficient epidemiological studies from Pakistan which assess level of awareness of indoor air pollution resulting in respiratory diseases in population. Methods: This cross sectional survey was carried out on general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Sample size was 223 study subjects selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Knowledge of the study subjects was determined with regard to indoor air pollution, its effects on health and different sources of indoor air pollution with the help of a questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational status and socio economic status on the level of awareness was also analyzed. Results: Out of total 223 participants, 115 were males and108 females. Participants aware of indoor air pollution were 91.5% and adequate awareness about its sources was 80.7%. Those who knew indoor air pollution is detrimental to health were 95.1%. Awareness about building construction dust as source of indoor air pollution was maximum (84.8%). There was significant difference in awareness among participants with different monthly incomes and educational status and also between males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad has fairly good awareness about sources of indoor air pollution. Use of harmful material causing indoor air pollution should be limited or substituted with better ones where possible.

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