The need for specific first aid and emergency knowledge whilst trekking in remote areas – results of the ADEMED (Aachen DEntal and MEDical) Expedition to the Annapurna region, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24
Author(s):  
C. Scharfenberg ◽  
K. Lechner ◽  
S. v.d. Giet ◽  
M. Hettlich ◽  
V. Schöffl ◽  
...  

Introduction: Fellow trekkers are often the first responders to their comrades in remote settings. Not everyone undertakes First Aid (FA) training when travelling to remote settings away from comprehensive healthcare, whether travelling independently or in a group. The syllabus of standard urbanised FA courses does not fully cover the needs of such trekkers (ie altitude illnesses). We evaluated the FA and emergency knowledge of trekkers en route in the remote Nepalese Himalayas. Material and methods: A questionnaire about FA, trekking emergencies and water hygiene knowledge was completed by a cohort of 453 trekkers passing through Manang (3,519 m), Nepal, who volunteered their participation. A previously validated questionnaire consisted of 20 multiple choice questions (each using a five-point Likert scale) was used, followed by a subjective self-assessment of 17 key topics using a 5-point rating scale from very good to unsatisfactory knowledge. Demographic data including FA and climbing experience was also collected. Results: The participants generally showed a poor knowledge in FA and trekking emergencies, even though 20.8% had some occupational medical training. In total 59.5% of possible answers were answered correctly. On average each participant managed to answer only one out of 20 questions (5.4%) completely correct. The most unsatisfactory results concerned the following topics, each with only 2.4% correct answers: hypothermia/resuscitation, rescue strategies and rip fractures. The best results were for HACE 33.8%, cranio-cerebral injury 33.6%, angina pectoris/heart attack 31.8% and hypovolemic shock 28.7%. The majority of participants had very limited experience of climbing mountains, rock climbing or ice climbing. Conclusions: This study provides essential data identifying deficiencies in standard FA courses that are targeted for urban settings, and not for trekkers in a remote setting far away from comprehensive health care and rescue. There is a need to develop readily accessible FA curriculums specific to trekkers that would provide education on preventative care prior to, during, and after treks, and to improve their knowledge of medical care of trekking injuries and emergencies.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adem GOK ◽  
Osman ATAS

Abstract Background/Aim: Individuals exposed to trauma are most often brought or directed to the nearest healthcare facility by their relatives. In Turkey, most widely available healthcare services are provided by family physicians at primary care Family Health Centers and patients expect receiving treatment for TDI from medical doctors when they do not immediate access to a dentist. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude about traumatic dental injuries among family physicians working at family health centersin Turkey. Material and methods: A total of 110 family physicians participated in the study. Participants were family physicians who attended a meeting organized by Elazığ Provincial Directorate of Health. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 16 multiple choice questions assessing both demographic data, knowledge and attitude about traumatic dental injuries was distributed to family physicians during the meeting.Results: The results obtained from 86 fully responded questionnaire forms, %75 of family physicians didn't receive any education on TDI. 86% of Family physicians feel that they don't have adequate knowledge about TDI. 53.5% of the family physicians reported that they have come across patients with TDI at least once at their practice. 39.5% of the physicians did not know the importance of extra-oral time. Sterile sponge was selected as the best transport media for avulsed tooth by 22.6% of the participants. Regarding physicians’ attitude, 75% think that education should be provided in medical schools about TDI.Conclusions: This study revealed that the majority of family physicians lack the knowledge needed to manage avulsion and crown fracture cases. Hence, educational programs are necessary during and after medical training for family physicians to provide proper management for traumatic dental injuries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheuk-Him Ho ◽  
Tsz-Kit Chan ◽  
Nicholas ATC Leung ◽  
Reynold Leung ◽  
Kit-Ling Fan ◽  
...  

Background: The healthcare need of the elderly in Hong Kong is a major issue. Foreign domestic helpers, especially those from the Philippines, play a significant role in response to the healthcare need of a home-dwelling elder as they are often the sole caregiver of the elders. Objectives: This study primarily aimed at exploring the Filipino domestic helpers’ knowledge of and attitude to managing a medical emergency of a home-dwelling elder. Methods: This was a questionnaire survey of the Filipino domestic helpers working in Hong Kong and was conducted from 1 July 2015 to 29 February 2016. The survey collected their demographic data, evaluated their first aid knowledge by a test of multiple-choice questions and assessed their attitudes to providing first aid to the elders they cared in terms of confidence and perceived responsibility. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings. Results: In all, 398 Filipino domestic helpers were surveyed. Most had completed university education. About one third had been trained in first aid. The average mark attained by the respondents on first aid knowledge assessment was 4.5 (full mark = 16). Their knowledge was especially poor in heat exhaustion, choking, external bleeding, epistaxis and scald injury. Their median confidence score was 10 (full score = 15) and median perceived responsibility score was 13 (full score = 20). Conclusion: The first aid knowledge among the Filipino domestic helpers surveyed in this study was poor. They were not confident enough in providing first aid to an elder and their perceived responsibility was also low.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23
Author(s):  
Marwa M. Hegab ◽  
Maha Abdelkawy

Background: A consensus was reached for a new classification system for periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions and was proposed by a group of world experts in 2017. Since then, there have been ongoing debates among periodontists regarding the application of the new classification. This study aims to shed light on the current understanding of the new classification among Egyptian periodontists. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was performed using an anonymous manually distributed questionnaire in various universities in Egypt. The validated questionnaire included 15 questions – 13 multiple choice questions with a Likert scale and two open ended questions, in addition to demographic data of the participant. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages, and binary and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The clarity of the new classification was the only significant predictor for satisfaction. An increase in clarity scores was directly associated with an increase in satisfaction scores (odds ratio = 5.521, 95% CI = 2.198 – 8.844, P-value = 0.001). Only 24.2% of the participants actually applied the new classification. There was a high approval rate on the introduction of “health on reduced periodontium” and the classification of peri-implant conditions. However, there was a huge dissatisfaction with applying the staging and grading system as well as the omission of aggressive periodontitis. Conclusions: This survey has identified important gaps between theory and practice and bridging these gaps by revising the controversial points would help develop a clearer, simpler system for clinicians to improve patients’ oral health.


Author(s):  
Abdullah Musleh ◽  
Sarah Ali AlShehri ◽  
Anas Mohammed AlShehri ◽  
Sultan Khalid Kadasah ◽  
Mohammed Sharaf Alshahrani ◽  
...  

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Epistaxis is the common occurrence of bleeding from the nose. It is usually noticed when blood drains out through the nostrils. There are two types: anterior (the most common), and posterior (less common, more likely to require medical attention). Sometimes in more severe cases, the blood can come up the nasolacrimal duct and out from the eye<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted in main five hospitals in Aseer region targeting residents dealing with emergency room (ER) cases during the period from 1st July to 31st July, 2018. Data were collected using a pre-structured written questionnaire by the researchers. The questionnaire composed of three parts. First part was for residents’ demographic data. Second part considered epistaxis cases rate and treatment. Third part covered 10 questions for knowledge regarding epistaxis<span lang="EN-IN">.  </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total sample of 165 residents was involved with ages ranged from 27 years to 32 years old and 65.5% of the sampled residents were males. Exact of 47.3% of the residents were ER residents and 24.2% were general practitioners (GPs)<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-IN">Conclusions:</span></strong><span lang="EN-IN"> Nearly one out of each four residents had good awareness level regarding epistaxis especially GPs and ER residents. Position of patients with epistaxis and sites of epistaxis were the only items well known by residents. </span></p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Hong ◽  
Saroj Rai ◽  
Huabing Qian ◽  
Ruikang Liu ◽  
Jin Li

Abstract Background: For adolescents of severely displaced proximal humeral fracture (PHF), surgery is a good choice yielding excellent outcomes. Kirchner wire (KW) is a cost-effective choice for fixation, and this study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of external fixator (EF) vs. KW for the treatment of PHF in adolescents. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on external fixator for PHF in children and adolescents.Methods: Patients of PHF operated in our institute, from January 2008 to January 2016, were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, including sex, age at the time of surgery, operated side, and hardware choice, were collected from the hospital database. Preoperative radiographs were reviewed and classified according to Neer-Horwitz classification. Shoulder function was evaluated during 12th month follow-up using rating scale of the American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES). Complications, including infection, malunion, nonunion, stiffness of the shoulder joint, and failure of fixation were also recorded.Results: Thirty-five patients, including 23 males and 12 females, were included in the EF group, whereas 40 patients, including 25 males and 15 females, were included in the KW group (P = 0.867). The average age of patients in the EF group was 13.3 ± 1.7 years, and that of KW was 13.6 ± 1.8 years (P = 0.409). Patients in both groups were followed-up for at least 12 months. The operative time in the EF group (42.4 ± 11.2, min) was significantly shorter than those in the KW group (54 ± 13.6, min), P < 0.001. The frequency of fluoroscopy in the EF group (12 ± 2.4) was significantly less than those in the KW group (17 ± 2.8), P < 0.001. The rate of open reduction was significantly higher in KW (35%) group than those in the EF group (0%), P < 0.001. There was no nonunion, malunion cases in both groups.Conclusion: External fixator is superior to Kirschner wire in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in adolescents with shorter operative time, lower rate of ORIF and comparable clinical outcomes.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S61-S61
Author(s):  
Siqi Xue ◽  
John Hodsoll ◽  
Ameer Bukhsh Khoso ◽  
Muhammad Omair Husain ◽  
Imran B Chaudhry ◽  
...  

AimsAmong low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), bipolar disorder is recognized as one of the leading causes of disease burden for adults and is associated with marked suicide risk. There are limited data on suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder from LMICs. This study presents cross-sectional data on the prevalence of suicidality and associated patient characteristics among patients with bipolar depression in Pakistan, a lower-middle income country and the fifth most populous country in the world.MethodParticipants were recruited through outpatient psychiatric clinics in between 2016–2019 in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi between 2016–2019. Participants were aged 18 to 65 years with a known diagnosis of bipolar disorder and currently in a depressive episode. Suicidality was assessed using the suicide item of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and levels of severity were categorized as absent, mild/moderate, or severe. Biometric data and biomarkers were obtained. Descriptive statistics were used to describe prevalence and proportional odds regression models were applied to establish correlates to suicidal ideation.ResultAmong the 266 participants, 67% indicated suicidality of any level and 16% endorsed severe suicidality. Lower body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88–0.98), higher HAM-D score (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.16–1.43), lower C-reactive protein (CRP) level (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.40–0.70), and increased number of inpatient hospitalizations (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03–1.31) were identified as significant predictors of suicidality in the fully adjusted regression model. No patient demographic data, including age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, and years of education were associated with severity of suicidality.ConclusionThere exists a high prevalence of suicidal ideation among patients with bipolar depression in Pakistan. Our findings add to the limited literature on suicidality in bipolar disorder in the LMIC context and suggest roles of biological variables such as BMI and CRP level in predicting suicidal ideation and potentially suicidal behaviours in bipolar depression. More studies are needed to see whether such findings can be replicated in other similar LMIC settings, and to explore potential physiological pathways linking BMI, inflammatory biomarkers and suicidality in bipolar disorder.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 602-05
Author(s):  
Umair Ali ◽  
Muhammad Wajid Munir ◽  
Jahanzeb Maqsood ◽  
Mahwash Jamil ◽  
Syed Saif Ur Rehman ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate factors resulting in reluctance of initiation of insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Medical OPD of a private tertiary care multi-specialty hospital in Islamabad, from Apr to Jul 2019. Methodology: Patients with diabetes mellitus between age of 30-70 years, who had poor glycaemic control on two oral antidiabetic drugs having HbA1c>9% and were insulin naïve, were included in this study. A validated questionnaire was developed which had two sections; first including the demographic data of the study populations and second having closedended dichotomous questions which were asked from patients by the treating physicians Results: A total of 180 patients with diabetes mellitus eligible for insulin therapy were included in the study, among them 52 (28.9%) were agreed to initiate the insulin. Negative attitude and beliefs include painful way of administration 85 (66.4%), difficult insulin storage 98 (76.6%), risk of hypoglycemia 82 (64.1%).The mean negative perception Score was 7.35 (SD 0.98). Conclusion: Psychological insulin resistance is present in significant diabetic population, and it is a big obstacle in insulin therapy initiation and compliance.


Author(s):  
David Parizh ◽  
Maleeh Effendi ◽  
Elizabeth Dale ◽  
Julia Slater

Abstract Given ever increasing ease of access to technology, the majority of adults first turn to the internet for medical advice. The world wide web is filled with user-generated content within multiple social media platforms that lack a governing body to validate the information’s accuracy and reliability. The authors performed a qualitative review of first-aid burn resources available on YouTube using two validated scales: Modified Discern and Global Quality Scale. A search was conducted using the term “burn treatment” on September 18, 2019. Of 120 reviewed videos, 59 met their inclusion criteria. 36% (n = 21) of the speakers had formal medical training, with only 12% (n = 7) identified as burn care professionals. The mean views originating from nonmedical speakers (162,675) were more than eight times that originating from burn centers (14,975). The quality of the videos was compared by video source, speaker, and specialty. Burn centers had the highest Modified Discern and Global Quality Scale scores, 2.91 and 2.86, respectively (P &lt; .05). Additionally, the authors were able to demonstrate that there was a statistically significant higher quality of videos when the speaker was a burn care professional or had formal medical training. Unfortunately, their review demonstrated that videos originating from hospital systems and burn centers made up a minority of the online media content. These results illustrate an opportunity for improvement by way of increased content creation to bolster the online presence of the burn community and provide patients with more accurate information.


Author(s):  
Hanna Czajka ◽  
Szymon Czajka ◽  
Paweł Biłas ◽  
Paulina Pałka ◽  
Szczepan Jędrusik ◽  
...  

Thanks to vaccines, many people are not exposed to the risks associated with vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). This, however, results in growing popularity of antivaccine movements and affects global and local epidemiological situation. Vaccine hesitancy has become a significant problem not only for epidemiologists but also for practitioners. Fortunately, the hesitant group seems to be vulnerable to intervention, and studies indicate that these patients can be persuaded to undergo vaccinations. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors most strongly affecting vaccination-related attitudes and decisions. An anonymous, self-administered survey consisting of demographic data and single select multiple-choice questions regarding vaccination was conducted. The voluntary study included secondary school pupils, medical and nonmedical students, healthcare professionals, hospital and clinic patients as well as parents. A total of 7950 survey forms were distributed between January 2018 and June 2019 in south-eastern Poland. A total of 6432 respondents (80.2%) completed a questionnaire that was eligible for analysis. The positive attitude toward vaccination was significantly affected by older age, by the fact of obtaining information on vaccinations from a physician, this information’s higher quality (assessed in school grade scale), higher level of knowledge on vaccines and by the fact of denying the association between vaccination and autism in children (p < 0.001). The probability of supporting vaccinations was almost eight-fold lower among respondents believing the vaccine–autism relationship. Chance of supporting vaccination doubled in the group with a higher knowledge level. The individuals not provided with expert information on vaccination were twice as often unconvinced. Age, education and having children significantly affected the attitude toward influenza immunization (p < 0.001). Older, better educated respondents and those having children were more positive about vaccinations. The medical community still exert decisive effects on attitudes toward vaccinations. High-quality information provided by them is of great importance. Skillful and competent provision of evidence-based information disproving the myth about vaccine–autism connection and proper education of medical staff is essential in molding positive attitudes toward vaccinations.


Author(s):  
Neelam Dinkar Patil ◽  
Vaishali Rajsingh Mohite ◽  
Manisha Christanand Gholap ◽  
Mahesh Bhupal Chendake

ABSTRACTObjectives: To assess the perception of health-care personnel regarding the concept of integration in nursing, to assess the attitude of health-carepersonnel toward the concept of integration in nursing, and to determine the association of perception and attitude toward the concept of integrationin nursing with selected socio-demographic variables.Methods: Research approach adopted was descriptive survey approach. Population were 159 health-care personnel’s working at various hospitalsand institutions in Maharashtra. Purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected using structured rating scale, which consisted of3 sections. Section 1 comprising demographic data, Sections 2 and 3 consisted 10 questions to assess the perception and attitude of health-carepersonnel. Tool was developed pretesting and reliability of the rating scale was done.Results: Findings of the study showed that majority 118 (74.21%) of respondents had low perception, 41 (25.78%) had medium perception, andnone of respondents had high perception regarding the concept of integration. Classification of respondents based on the levels of attitude, the79 (49.68%) had unfavorable attitude, 75 (47.16%) had moderately favorable attitude, and 5 (3.14%) had favorable attitude.Conclusions: As the result shows that there is medium to low level of perception between the health-care personnel regarding the concept ofintegration and the attitude is also unfavorable, there is need to find out the barriers of integration in nursing profession.Keywords: Perception, Attitude, Integration, Health-care personnel.


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