KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF INFORMED CONSENT AMONG DENTAL PATIENTS

Obtaining informed consent from the patient is fundamental. The consent document should be in local language and should be simple and easy to understand. The awareness and knowledge on informed consent among both patients and the physician is essential in order to practice an efficient process as it is a continuous, two- way communication where transparency and partnership plays an important role.This study was undertaken to examine patients knowledge and awareness about informed consent process. 100 patients attending the Out Patient department were interviewed through questionnaire to assess the awareness and knowledge of the informed consent process. The present study revealed the percentage of patients who were aware of the informed consent process and the information provided in it.

Comparative assessment of efficacy of artery ligation versus rubber band ligation for management of haemorrhoids in Southern Rajasthan

Background: One of the commonest complaints presenting in the surgical out patient department (OPD) is haemorrhoids. Commonest types of haemorrhoids are grade II and III. There is a wide number of modalities that can be adopted for their management. It depends on the skill of the surgeon and preferences of the patient. The present study was designed to ascertain if two modalities of artery ligation and band ligation are comparatively equal or not in managing symptomatic grade II and III haemorrhoids in Rajasthan.Methods: The study comprised of 100 subjects who were randomly divided in two groups based on the procedure to be followed. The subjects were told about the study and its objective.Results: The observations reported that among the selected study population there were more relapses in band ligation as compared to artery ligation.Conclusions: This led to the conclusion that despite its painful and traumatic methodology, haemorrhoid artery ligation still provides a better outcome.

Frequency of Backache and its Management in Pregnant Women Attending IUH OPD

Objective: Frequency of backache and its treatment among pregnant women attending Isra University Hospital (IUH) OPD. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Out patient’s department of obstetrics\Gynaecology Isra hospital Hyderabad from February 2019 to Augusts 2019. A total of 80 pregnant women irrespective of their age, marital and literary status, visiting out-patient department of Isra University were included. All the females were assessed regarding backache and its treatment at gynaecological OPD. All the information was recorded via study proforma. Data was analyzed via SPSS version 20. Results: A total of 180 pregnant women were studied, and most of the women 40% were in age group of 31-40 years. Out of all, 22.2% women were primigravida, 40.6% were multigravidas and 36.7% women were grand multigravidas. The history of backache before pregnancy was among 20% of the females and 62.2% of women had developed backache during pregnancy, while 12.8% women had no complaint of backache. Out of 121 females who had backache during pregnancy, 28.30% had an onset of pain during 1st trimester, in 23.30% during 2nd trimester and in 48.30% during 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Out of all 32.20% women got relieved by taking rest, 63.90% women took analgesics as a treatment measure and 3.3% women took some other treatment options. Conclusion: It was observed that the more than 60% of all pregnant women experienced backache and mostly during 3rd trimester. Most of the females took treatment in the form of analgesics and some women got relieved by taking rest. Keywords: Pregnancy, backache, Management

Pattern of Psychiatric Morbidities and Sociodemographic Profiles of Patients Attending Out-Patient Department (OPD) at Iftikhar Psychiatric Hospital, Peshawar

Background: Psychiatric disorders are the major causes of disability worldwide. Due to cultural differences, the patterns of mental disorders vary globally and there is need to study the patterns of psychiatric disorders in our region. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to know the pattern of various psychiatric morbidities as well as socio demographic characteristics of patients attending out-patient department (OPD) at Iftikhar Psychiatric Hospital, Peshawar. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Iftikhar Psychiatric Hospital, Peshawar from 1st June 2020 to 31st January 2021. During this period, a total of 150 patients were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected for variables like gender, age, marital status, urban/rural background, employment status and psychiatric diagnosis. For the variables of continuous type like age, mean and standard deviation were calculated. Diagnosis was made using ICD-10 diagnostic classification system. All the variables were presented as frequencies and %ages. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Conclusion: Male predominance was observed in the study. Maximum numbers of psychiatric patients were in the age range from 18-40 years. Majority of the study participants were married, employed and belonged to urban background Regarding psychiatric morbidities, the most common were neurotic, stress related and somatoform disorders (38%) followed by mood disorders (28.66 %)., schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (17.33%) and substance misuse disorders (10%). Keywords: ICD-10; Psychiatric morbidity; out-patient department

Hematological changes in patients with malaria in a tertiary care hospital, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Malaria is one of the most common human infections and continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality all over the world. To assess and compare the hematological changes in common types of malaria in our patients.Methods: This observational study included 100 diagnosed malaria patients of Multan Medical and Dental college, Multan both from out patient department (OPD) and in-patient department, between March 2020 and March 2021. The diagnosis of malaria was confirmed by thick and thin film stained with Geimsa’s staining for malaria parasite and plasmodium species and the parasite index (MPI) in some cases. Complete blood counts (CBCs) were performed and WBC differential was done on all cases.Results: The most common type of malarial parasite was Plasmodium vivax followed by Plasmodium falciparum and 89% of the patient had thrombocytopenia, 70 % anemia, 23% had leukopenia and 10% had raised WBC count. The mean parasite load was 1.275±0.629%, 20 % of the cases showed neutropenia, 40 % had lymphopenia and 40 % showed monocytopenia. Of all the cases 15 % had neutrophilia, 8 % had lymphocytosis and 5 % had eosinophilia. Thrombocytopenia was slightly more in P. falciparum (58.69%) than P. vivax (30.18%) cases, p>0.05, whereas there was no significant difference in the incidence of anemia in two groups (34.68% vs 33.82%) with p>0.05.Conclusions: P. vivax is the common malarial parasite in our population. Both P. vivax and P. falciparum can cause marked hematological changes including thrombocytopenia, anemia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia.

Profile of alopecia areata in patients attending dermatology out patient department in a tertiary care hospital in Gangtok, Sikkim

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Alopecia areata is a condition that is characterized by a well-defined round or oval patches of non-scaring hair loss in scalp or any hairy area of the body. Alopecia areata has become a major health problem faced by people all over the world. This research was done to ascertain the prevalence of alopecia areata in different age group and to study its association with autoimmune diseases and systemic illnesses.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> The present hospital based descriptive study includes 52 alopecia areata patients attending dermatology out-patient department.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> It was seen that the disease can occur at any age group mostly affecting those between 21-40 years. The age of presentation varied from 14 to 48 years with male preponderance. It was found that arthritis was associated in 30.7%, ANA was positive in 7.7% and 12% had hypothyroidism. Eosinophilia was found in 34.6% and 7.7% had asthma among then.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study shows that it could be associated with autoimmunity, thyroid abnormality, atopy and inflammation.</p>

Quality Compliance in a Remotely Located PHC in India

Background: As the rural Indian health care sector is providing patient care to the community at large, evaluating the quality of services gives an insight into the level of care provided. The primary health care chose the audit evaluation voluntarily. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the service quality provided in the primary health care Centre. The study was to help understand the skill set requirements in improving the quality of care and to identify the service quality gaps and to provide the best possible solutions for the gap closures by nominating the responsible personnel. Methods: The quality of care was evaluated in three ways: staff interview, record review, and observations conducted. Six departments were chosen for evaluation: the out-patient department, in-patient department, labor room, laboratory, National health programs, and general administration. By a prepared specific checklist comprised of standards and measurable elements, an evaluation was performed. The scoring was provided as 0, 1and 2, which implied noncompliance, partial compliance, and full compliance. Results: As per evaluation, national health program areas scored the least, whereas the inpatient departments scored the highest. There were multiple gaps in the service provision areas and manpower allocation. The average mean score was 77.48. Conclusion: Keeping the national standards and guidelines, an audit evaluation was performed. Quality has to be imbibed with the optimization of resource allocation and with the mindset to provide the best possible care in the interest of the individual's wellbeing.

Prevalence of gram negative bacteria in infected burn wounds and antibiotic susceptibility pattern; a study conducted on stable burn patients reporting to out-patient department.

Objective: To study prevalence of various gram negative bacteria in infected burn wounds among stable burn patients reporting to out-patient department on follow-ups. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pathology, Sahara Medical College Narowal. Period: January to June 2020. Material & Methods: Patients with burn wounds with clinical signs and symptoms of infection but vitally stable, wound less than one month old involving < 20% body surface, reporting to out-patient door of study institution on follow-ups were enrolled into the study. Swabs of infected wounds were taken and sent for bacterial culture and sensitivity to the pathology department of the institution, where micro flora were isolated and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using standard techniques. Consent was taken from patients before including them in study. Results: Total 210 cases were studied. Gram negative bacteria were isolated from 190 cases, out of them 30% were oxidase positive ad 70% were oxidase negative. Most common organism isolated was Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (30%), followed by Proteus Sps. (25.3%) and Entero bacter Sps. (15.8%) etc. Conclusion: Among gram negative bacteria pseudomonas is a major isolated organism from infected burn wounds having high susceptibility to imipenem and cefepime.