Search

Introduction: Prescription patterns significantly impact healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Evaluating these patterns using World Health Organisation (WHO) indicators helps identify areas for improvement and ensures rational drug use. The present study was conducted to evaluate prescription patterns via WHO indicators, aiming to uncover insights, identify discrepancies and enhance prescription quality within the institute for improved healthcare outcomes. Aim: To evaluate drug prescription patterns using WHO prescription indicators in the prescriptions of outdoor patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chhattisgarh, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology at Department of Pharmacology, Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, from July 15, 2023, to October 15, 2023 (a duration of 3 months), involving 1,000 outpatient prescriptions at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (BRAM), Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) (No./MCI/Ethics/2023/45 Raipur, dated 12/07/2023). Data were collected using a digital form and analysed statistically. Parameters evaluated included the average number of medicines per prescription, the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, the percentage of prescriptions containing antibiotics, the percentage of prescriptions containing injections, and the percentage of drugs prescribed from the Essential Drug List (EDL). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data, and analysis was performed using Microsoft (MS) Excel 2021. Results: The present study included 1,000 prescriptions. A total of 4,320 medicines were prescribed across these prescriptions, with 2,853 (66.04%) prescribed by their generic name. Injections accounted for 483 (11.18%) prescriptions, while antibiotics were included in 663 (15.34%) prescriptions. Additionally, 2,973 (68.81%) medicines were prescribed from the EDL. The average number of medicines prescribed per prescription was 4.3. Conclusion: The study revealed that while certain aspects of prescription practices aligned with WHO indicators, notable discrepancies persisted. The percentage of antibiotics prescribed per prescription was in accordance with WHO guidelines. Strategic measures are needed to enhance prescription practices and align them more closely with WHO guidelines.

Background: The decoding of human genome helped to design pharmacological agents like Biologicals and Biosimilars which can target the affected etiological aberrations. Biological agents are large complex molecules produced by recombinant techniques in a living system for therapeutic or diagnostic uses and have revolutionized treatment of many diseases. Patent expiry of Biologicals has led to the development of Biosimilars which are similar in efficacy & safety and have no clinically meaningful differences, but are not identical to Biologicals and undergo fewer clinical trials than their reference biologicals. Clinicians’ in- depth knowledge of these agents is important to optimize the use of cost-effective & easily accessible options. Methods: This is a cross sectional observational study conducted between Feb-March 2020 in Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy Oncology Department of Dr B.R.A.M. Hospital & Pt. J. N. M. Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, using a self-administered, structured questionnaire consisting of 15-question among 30 clinicians prescribing Biologicals and Biosimilars. Results: 83.3% of clinicians were familiar with the term ‘Biologicals’ & ‘Biosimilars’. 60% believed that Biosimilars are same as Generic Medicines and have the same potency as Biologicals. 53% assumed that Biologicals & Biosimilars can be switched. 50% were able to explain the difference or similarity between Biologicals and Biosimilars. Conclusion: The findings reveal that the clinicians had good knowledge about Biologicals and Biosimilars but lacked application of this knowledge in clinical practice. This highlights a need for regular educational initiative to reduce the knowledge deficit & its application in clinical practice. Further, there must be a National Treatment Guidelines on use of Biologicals and Biosimilars.

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is the commonest preventable health care–associated infection among postoperative cases. Several guidelines are available for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) and other measures which prevent SSI. National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), India, has also provided a guideline for prevention of SSI in 2016. In this study we have compared the NCDC, India, guideline with WHO (World health organization) and American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) guidelines. The timing of antimicrobial agent administration is the only parameter which is included in all the three guidelines. As per NCDC and ASHP it should be within 60 minutes of incision while as per WHO it is within 120 minutes of incision. Materials and Methods This was a prospective observational study—104 patients undergoing surgery in general surgical ward between January 2016 and June 2017 were included in this study. The NCDC guideline was compared with WHO and ASHP guidelines. Real data comparison was done for those parameters which were included in all the three guidelines. Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and chi-square test. Results None of the patients in our study received SAP within 60 minutes of incision. In 70% cases it was administered within 2 hours of incision and in the remaining 30% it was administered after more than 2 hours. There was no significant difference in the incidence of SSI among these two groups. Conclusion NCDC SAP guideline helps in rational use of antimicrobials. Increasing the duration for SAP may be added in the NCDC guidelines. Inclusion of certain additional parameters like weight-based doses and consideration for other comorbidities will help in patient- and procedure-specific SAP. Antimicrobial stewardship should be encouraged in all the hospitals and should follow local antimicrobial resistance pattern. This will assist in therapy decision, policy making, and evidence-based treatment.

This study examined the relationship between music preferences (MP), listening styles (LS), functions of music (FoM), perceived rasa (music) and personality traits (PT – Big Five Factors). A sample of 77 young adults (M = 39; F = 38; M = 22.7 years) completed measures of the above constructs and data were analysed via correlations, one-way ANOVA, post hoc tests, and T-tests. Significant correlations were found between LS and PT; MP and PT; FoM and PT; FoM and emotion; and LS and FoM. Findings indicated stronger preferences for genres namely Romantic songs, Soft songs and Filmy (Sad) songs. Gender difference existed in terms of MP, perceived emotions and LS. Music listening mainly served as a ‘source of pleasure and enjoyment’ and which ‘calms, motivates, or reminds of past events’. Musical genres inducing santoṣa rasa were perceived significantly higher in female participants. Based on the findings, a ‘music engagement model for Young Adults’ describing their music behaviour, have been proposed.

Menopause refers to the cessation of menstruation. Menopause brings about a deficiency of estrogen and a period of bone loss that extends till the end of life and is responsible for development of osteoporotic fractures in women. Prevention of vertebral fractures, non-vertebral fractures and hip fractures in post-menopausal women can be effectively done by Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as it prevents bone loss following menopause and can delay development of osteoporosis as seen on DEXA scan. HRT use however is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, genito-urinary problems, breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer and the risk of venous thromboembolism. However in selected postmenopausal women with early menopause or with postmenopausal symptoms short-term use of HRT/Raloxifene/Tibolone is currently permitted to alleviate symptoms.

Background: Dissociative Trance Disorder (DTD), is a complex psychological condition characterized by abrupt trance-like states and altered consciousness, commonly seen in young women throughout various regions of India. Currently, there is a lack of research on the experiences of Indian adolescent girls with DTD and how inaccurate medical information affects their quest for suitable care. This study aims to develop a thorough comprehension of the help-seeking patterns and experiences of adolescent girls with DTD, specifically concerning encountering medical misinformation. By identifying the obstacles, they face and the cultural beliefs that shape their decision-making, this research seeks to guide interventions and initiatives aimed at enhancing care and support for this group. Method: Six adolescent girls and young women, who sought therapy at a district hospital in Sikkim were recruited for the study. They were interviewed extensively and their interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Result: Three super-ordinate themes that emerged were: challenges in seeking diagnosis and treatment; emotional and psychological struggles; support and healing journey. Conclusion: Misinformation surrounding DTD in India impacts the help-seeking behaviours of adolescent girls, leading to delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment. Cultural beliefs, reliance on exorcism, and insufficient healthcare professional training contribute to this problem. Awareness campaigns are necessary to correct misconceptions and misinformation and promote accurate understanding among parents, communities, and healthcare providers. Culturally sensitive approaches, accurate information dissemination, and collaboration among stakeholders are crucial for improving care and support for individuals affected by DTD in India. Additionally, it is acknowledged that certain religious beliefs resist empirical evidence, but it is vital to recognize that not all religious beliefs are misinformation solely based on scientific evidence. As we address the impact of cultural beliefs, it is essential to strike a balance between respecting individual faith and promoting evidence-based interventions.

The burn patients need a very special care as besides skin burn; they can have associated mechanical injuries, inhalational injury and altered physiology with the risk of hypothermia. Once the patient survives from the acute phase, the appropriate wound management is the further challenge. The psychological trauma starts from time of injury to long after survival. Thus focused approach of burn patients allows critical care support, early surgical excision and closure of the burn wounds, patient and family psychosocial support, patient and family education, continuous long-term rehabilitation, re-entry into the society and reconstructive surgical needs.

Trauma during pregnancy is an important cause of nonobstetrical cause of maternal mortality & morbidity. Apart from type of injury affecting the maternal & fetal outcome there are several life threatening complications unique to pregnancy like abruption placentae, uterine rupture, amniotic fluid embolism, & direct fetal trauma which needs immediate interventions. Maternal assessment & management during pregnancy needs special consideration to physiological changes during pregnancy as well as fetal surveillance to improve the maternal & fetal outcome. All pregnant trauma patient needs multi disciplinary approach involving obstetrician, neonatologist, obstetric anaesthetist & trauma surgeons.