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BACKGROUND: Screening of hemoglobin (Hb) before blood donation is one among the vital tests. It is performed to select a blood donor to prevent the collection of blood from an anemic person. However, no accurate, cost-effective, reliable, and standardized method is available to estimate Hb. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of filter paper cyanmethemoglobin (FPCH) method with the automated hematology analyzer in the estimation of Hb concentration for screening of a suitable donor. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study in which the blood samples of 2000 patients visiting KLE's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital, Belagavi, were collected in vials and directly estimated for Hb using automated hematology analyzer. To evaluate the efficacy of FPCH, 20 μL of blood sample was transferred onto Whatman filter paper and dried at room temperature. After drying, it was placed in 5 mL of Drabkin's solution for 30 min. Optical density was estimated by measuring the absorbance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The correlation coefficient, paired t-test, and difference between the means of both the methods were calculated. RESULTS: The mean Hb estimated by FPCH was 11.25 g/dL and automated hematology analyzer gave 11.35 g/dL. The difference in the means of both the methods was 0.1 g/dL. Paired t-test was done to test the level of significance and the result was 8.151 (95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.13 g/dL, P < 0.001). The correlation coefficient was found to be 0.976 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: FPCH is an efficient method, which is comparable to the automated hematology analyzers for Hb estimation. It could be used as an alternative screening tool for detection of Hb in a blood donation camp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A study of the association between vitamin D deficiency and dry eye syndrome (DES) in the Indian population.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based observational study. Sixty patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/dl) who met the inclusion criteria were sent to the Eye OPD from the Endocrinology OPD (case) were compared to 60 subjects with normal vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/dl) who attended the Eye OPD (controls). The examination of the tear film was done using Whatman filter paper in Schirmer test I and Schirmer test I (with anesthesia). The tear film break-up time (TFBUT) was determined by slit-lamp examination using the fluorescein stain, and scoring using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) was done.Results: A significant difference in the mean values of Schirmer I and Schirmer I test (with anesthesia) (P < 0.001) was seen between the case and control groups. A significant difference in the mean values of TFBUT (P < 0.001) and OSDI scores (P < 0.01) was also seen between the two groups.Conclusion: A positive association was found between vitamin D deficiency and dry eye on comparing the above parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the effect of smoking on tear film parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in chronic smokers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which included 60 (120 eyes) smokers who have smoked at least 10 pack-year and an equal number of healthy subjects as a control for comparison. In addition to history, a detailed slit-lamp examination was done to evaluate the anterior and posterior segments. All patients underwent Schirmer's I test (SIT) with Whatman-41 filter paper, tear meniscus height (TMH), and RNFL with a Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and tear film breakup time (TBUT) with 2% fluorescein and cobalt blue filter using slit-lamp biomicroscopy.Results: The (mean ± SD) age of the participants was 56.48 ± 10.38 years. There was a statistically significant reduction in tear film parameters in smokers compared to nonsmokers (P = 0.000). The incidence of MGD was found to be higher in smokers when compared to nonsmokers with a P value of 0.000. RNFL in all four quadrants was also significantly reduced in smokers compared to nonsmokers (P = 0.00).Conclusion: This study shows that chronic smoking leads to an increased incidence of dry eye disease and is associated with RNFL thinning. Smoking can result in cumulative RNFL loss in patients with ocular neurodegenerative disorder and OCT of these patients may have to be interpreted keeping this in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematological disease. There is an incidence. We aimed to evaluate the scientometrics characteristics of the scientific production on BPDCN between 2011 and 2020. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional and retrospective bibliometric study was performed. The search was executed in the Scopus database. Data were extracted based on a formula developed using thesaurus MeSH (Medline) and Emtree (Embase) terms. The retrieved papers received 11.2 citations per paper. Four of the ten most productive authors were from the United States. The institution with the highest impact (1064 citations) and the highest scientific output (46 papers) was the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). RESULTS: The journal "Movement Disorders" rated first with 18 articles and 643 citations in terms of productivity and impact, and articles published in Q1 journals surpassed the remaining quartiles. The most cited articles had national collaboration. Conclusion the number of papers on BPDCN has been rising, yet journals with a higher quality tend to keep the similar publication rates, although they have shown a slight increase in the recent years. CONCLUSIONS: High-income countries' international collaboration is crucial for increasing publications impact; hence, greater collaborations between researchers and institutions from countries around the world are needed to expand knowledge on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective methods of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hand drying is the end point of hand hygiene. Hand drying after hand hygiene is less explored, and the practice varies in different facilities. This explorative study was done to know the various hand-drying methods and practices of healthcare workers in Indian settings. This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study initiated from a tertiary care setup in Uttarakhand. Healthcare workers over 18 years of age directly involved in patient care were enrolled. A semi-structured questionnaire with both open-ended and close-ended questions was used with snowballing sampling technique. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Out of the eligible 395 respondents, 62.8% were female. The mean age of the respondents was 31.34 ± 8.44 years and average working hours were 8.87 ± 2.97 (range 4-24) hours. Only 72.7% did hand hygiene always before touching a patient. Nurses were more compliant about hand hygiene than doctors (P < 0.0001). A total of 82.8% were aware of appropriate hand-drying methods. Staff in the Intensive care unit Intensive care unit (ICU) setup were more aware of hand drying practices (P = 0.033). A total of 21.8% wiped their hands on their clothing to dry their hands. This was more in staff from paraclinical departments (P = 0.001). A total of 35.7% used handkerchiefs to dry hands. Resident doctors used handkerchiefs more than senior doctors or nursing staff (P = 0.01). A total of 49.9% of respondents spent less than 10 seconds in hand drying. Hand-hygiene knowledge is high among healthcare workers in India, but the knowledge of appropriate hand-drying practices is lacking. There is wide variation in the practice of hand drying. Better hand drying guidelines and incorporating hand drying as the essential endpoint of the hand hygiene ritual are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As compared with traditional paper-based charts, population-specific Saudi Growth Charts (SGC) integrated into electronic health records offer several functionalities. However, few studies have explored clinicians' perceptions and practices related to the recording of growth parameters as they adapt to the electronic methods. Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate clinicians' use of the recently adapted electronic SGC versus other known electronic international growth charts. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed on 116 pediatricians serving at the university medical center. An online questionnaire that included the types of growth charts used, clinicians' confidence level with the electronic interface, and documentation practices for children's growth parameters was uploaded using the SurveyMonkey® platform, and participants were invited to participate through an e-mailed link. Data were analyzed using the IBM software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for Windows®. Results: Most of the pediatricians (76.7%) reported using electronic-based growth charts in preference to paper-based charts, whereas 17.3% preferred using both. Seventy-five percent agreed that the SGC can accurately diagnose underweight Saudi infants and children, as compared with 56% for the World Health Organization and 44% for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. Height, weight (body mass index), and nutritional status were the most documented parameters. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed physicians with longer experience in pediatric clinical practice years demonstrated lesser documentation of growth parameters. In addition, physicians caring for more number of children per week were more likely to frequently document growth parameters (P = 0.003). Conclusion: The integration and implementation of the electronic version of SGC have been encouraging, and the SGC shows promising results in recording child growth parameters for Saudi children with minimum discrepancies in interpretation as compared to the other international growth charts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fundamental principles of healthcare practices and policies are derived from good quality research. Doctors collectively are a source of vast sums of invaluable information. This information if effectively utilized can improve and strengthen the healthcare system. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the ecosystem of an Indian medical researcher. Objectives: To understand (1) the obstacles faced by medical professionals (2) the challenges encountered at various steps (3) the gaps in research knowledge and (4) the means to rectify them. Method: Doctors from medical schools, hospitals, and in private practices were approached. Data were collected through online and physical questionnaire. Data were analyzed and studied. Results: The total number of participants in this study is 212. Case reports (51.9%) and case-control studies (51.14%) are the most frequently conducted types of research. Lack of access to research journals (43.9%) and absence of proper guidance or mentorship (37.39%) are the commonly faced challenges among individuals who have pursued research, whereas busy schedule is the top-cited reason for not pursuing research (34.24%) and discontinuing research (57.4%). Coordinating time schedule with mentees is a challenge for mentors (49.2%). Doctors also face the greatest difficulty (48.12%) and delay (47.4%) in the publication process. On the other hand, personal interest (60.15%) and job requirement (46.61%) are the top facilitators for research. A small percentage has or knows someone that has plagiarized (21.32%) or falsified data (33.49%). Most of the doctors agree that research experience should be a mandatory part of undergrad training (81.6%). Conclusion: We believe interest, impact and importance of research can be the best developed and emphasized in the training years. Institutional support, adequate mentorship and an uplifting research environment can go a long way in motivating the doctors and tackling the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major public health concern among Indian adolescents. Pre- and post-natal depression can often alter fetal development and have negative consequences on the physical and mental health of the mother. This paper aims to draw attention to the prevalence of depression and its correlates among currently married, ever-pregnant adolescents from two Indian States, i.e. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Methods: This study utilizes data from a subsample (n = 3116) of the prospective cohort study Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) among 10 to 19 year-old adolescents. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of depression by sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. To further access the predictors associated with depression a logistic regression model was applied. Results: Around one-tenth (9%) of pregnant adolescents had depression. Regression analysis indicated that substance use, religion, autonomy, considering attempting suicide, premarital relationship, violence, dowry, adverse pregnancy outcome, menstrual problem, and parental pressure for the child immediately after marriage were significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: This study confirms the pre-existing annotation that teen pregnancy is linked with depression. Findings indicate that Adolescent mothers experiencing violence, and a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of developing depression. These study findings call for an urgent need to address depression among adolescent mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Almost 70% of women residing in urban areas and 48% of women in rural areas use sanitary napkins in India. According to menstrual health alliance India (MHAI), single sanitary pad will take about 500-800 years to decompose as the plastic used in manufacturing is nonbiodegradable and causes severe noxious effects contributing to global warming through the production of planet warming fuels which eventually have severe impact on environment sustainability. Hence, the study was undertaken to contribute the evidence for the "Clean and Green India". Aim: To know the perception and practice of disposal of sanitary napkins among young college-going females in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted throughout the country employing a self-administered questionnaire using a survey link sent through social media. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS version 20.0. Result: The study population comprised 484 young college girls with a mean age of 20.92 ± 1.86 years and 96.9% of them are using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent aids. The most common method employed for the disposal of sanitary napkins was dumping them in the bin (87.4%). About 63.2% of them had no knowledge about sanitary napkin-burning machines. Around 92% think that improper disposal of sanitary napkins can cause health problems. Conclusion: The findings from the study revealed that a significant number of women were practicing noneco-friendly disposal methods and menstrual hygiene aids which are a bane to the ecosystem. Study warrants the education and training of females to achieve a green and clean sustainable India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, information technology has been introduced in the nursing departments of many hospitals to support their daily tasks. Nurses are the largest end user group in Hospital Information Systems (HISs). This study was designed to evaluate data processing in the Nursing Information Systems (NISs) utilized in many university hospitals in Iran. Methods and Materials: This was a cross-sectional study. The population comprised all nurse managers and NIS users of the five training hospitals in Khorramabad city (N = 71). The nursing subset of HIS-Monitor questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed by the descriptive-analytical method and the inductive content analysis. Results: The results indicated that the nurses participating in the study did not take a desirable advantage of paper (2.02) and computerized (2.34) information processing tools to perform nursing tasks. Moreover, the less work experience nurses have, the further they utilize computer tools for processing patient discharge information. The "readability of patient information" and "repetitive and time-consuming documentation" were stated as the most important expectations and problems regarding the HIS by the participating nurses, respectively. Conclusions: The nurses participating in the present study used to utilize paper and computerized information processing tools together to perform nursing practices. Therefore, it is recommended that the nursing process redesign coincides with NIS implementation in the health care centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the climate change discourse, a body of scholarship focusing on how people perceive climate change and its impact is increasing. However, in the Indian context, such scholarship is limited. Objective: This paper aims to describe the perceptions of people on climate change and its health impacts, which were captured as part of a larger study. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected 983 households in four districts spread across Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Results: For 72% of respondents, the perception was not related to climate change per se. Their perceptions were contextual and were based on the anomalies which are observed in the immediate weather conditions. The health impacts of climate change were also not understood at the first place, but with probing 64% of respondents were able to report seasonal diseases. Conclusion: Perceptions of the people regarding climate change are more linked to their own experiences with their local weather conditions rather than the overall concept. This also explains their lack of comprehension about the health impact of climate change, but a sound understanding of seasonal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "CoviSainik Program" was implemented in collaboration with the Ambuja Cement Foundation and Community Medicine Department in rural districts of eight states of India from May to December 2021 to create a cadre of volunteers. The aim of the present paper is to describe the program and evaluate it so that the findings can be the guiding tool for policymakers to replicate a similar program. Material and Method: A cross-sectional, mixed-method – concurrent study design was adopted to evaluate the program for its short-term outcomes such as gain in the basic knowledge of COVID-19 amongst master trainers and their feedback and program output viz – the proportion of volunteers trained and their profile by census sampling. Motivational factors, experiences of volunteers, and outcomes of COVID-19 work in their villages were explored by purposive with maximum diversity sampling with 62 online in-depth interviews and 8 online focus group discussions (FGDs). Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the pre-test (12.8 ± 5.6) and post-test (25.9 ± 9.3) scores of the Master Training Program evaluation test. Out of 6534 trained volunteers, 5901 worked as volunteers, and amongst those, 47.1%, 35.1%, and 17.8% worked for ≤3 months, 3 to 6 months, and ≥6 months, respectively, in their villages. The major themes generated for motivational factors to join the program were altruism, savior nature, generating awareness, and concern for others. The major outcomes generated by trained volunteers COVID-19 vaccination were in raising awareness on COVID-19 appropriate behavior and early identification of COVID-19 cases in their villages. Conclusion: The "CoviSainik Program" was successful in creating cadres of trained volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of conflict and war crisis on dental students is poorly understood. Given the prolonged conflicts and political instability in the Arabic-speaking countries, it is crucial to investigate the effect of these conditions on dental students. This study aimed to assess the impact of protracted war on dental students by comparing the personal, university, and wider context challenges they face across war-affected and unaffected countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including a convenience sample of dental students from 13 universities in 12 Arabic-speaking countries. Respondents were those at entry and exit points of their undergraduate dental training. A self-administered paper questionnaire collected anonymized data on sociodemographics, and personal, university, and wider context challenges that students were facing. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were carried out. Results: The overall response rate was 64.8%. The mean age was 21.2 (standard deviation = 2.1) years, with 68% of participants being female. After adjusting for age and sex, dental students in Arabic-speaking countries affected by protracted war crisis were significantly more likely to report wider context challenges compared to their counterparts in unaffected countries (n = 2448; beta = 1.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.10–1.13; P < 0.001). Discussion: Dental students in Arabic-speaking countries affected by protracted war crisis were more likely to suffer from wider context challenges such as difficulties in attendance due to the deterioration of security and lack of flexibility of teaching time to accommodate the different circumstances induced by the war crisis. Supporting dental students in areas affected by protracted war crises is needed and may include developing online dental education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Propylthiouracil (PROP) (a medicated tool) and hormonal fingerprint (second to fourth digits [2D:4D]) ratio can be used for detection of caries which is most prevalent oral health disease.Aim: This study aims to determine the role of genetic taste sensitivity and hormonal fingerprint (2D:4D ratio) on caries risk susceptibility.Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational and cross-sectional study. It was conducted on 570 children aged 6-12 years. PROP sensitivity test was done by PROP impregnated filter paper strips and subjects were divided accordingly into supertasters, medium-tasters, and nontasters. 2D:4D ratio was obtained by measuring length ratio of index to ring finger using Vernier caliper. Dietary preferences of the subjects were recorded. The evaluation of decayed, missing, and filled teeth/deft indices was done.Statistical Analysis: Intergroup comparisons were performed using One-way ANOVA test, independent t-test and Chi-square test at 5% significance level.Results: Positive correlation between nontasters, low digit ratio, sweet likers, and high caries index was found with a high significant difference.Conclusion: Genetic taste sensitivity and hormonal fingerprint (biological marker) can be used for detection of caries as the present research confirmed impact of hormones on taste perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of gender identification utilizing palatal rugae. Materials and Methods: The size of the sample that was selected included 100 people. They were made up of 50 men and 50 women, all in between the ages of 18 and 25. To examine their palatal rugae patterns, casts were made after taking maxillary impressions. Based on the size and rugae amount found on the left as well as the right sides, the palatal rugae patterns were investigated. Rugae patterns have been recognized based on the categorization provided by Thomas and Kotze (1983). Statistical Analysis: Chi-square analysis has been used. Results: There were comparative variations in the shape of rugae patterns among male and female individuals. The study revealed that the circular pattern was higher in males (P < 0.01) as compared to females and the unification pattern was comparatively greater in females (P < 0.05) as compared to males. The most predominant pattern that was seen in both genders was the wavy pattern that was seen to be present in 57.17% of males and 53.42% of females. The rugae number on the right and left sides did not exhibit any significant variations. Conclusions: This research thus exhibits a relevant difference in patterns of rugae and also confirms the uniqueness of patterns in each individual. Hence, it could be utilized as an adjunct to other tools for identification in the forensic sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluates the satisfaction of urology residents with the Saudi Board of Urology (SBU) Training Program and identifies areas of weakness and strength to improve the educational environment, surgical competency, and overall satisfaction of urology residents with the program. Methods: We administered an electronic self-made questionnaire that included two sections. One comprised demographic data (age, gender, weight, height, marital status, level of training, city of training, and center of training), while the other concerned SBU evaluation (satisfaction with different aspects of training, such as ways of assessment, mentors' feedback, surgical competency, research, and strengths and weaknesses of SBU). Results: The overall satisfaction of urology residency program was 28.8% while 44.2% of residents had a neutral response. The highest level of satisfaction with clinical and surgical practice was among graduates (56.9%) and Riyadh residents (45.1%). Furthermore, good work/life balance received the lowest level of satisfaction (5.2%) among senior residents, while good clinical experience received the highest level (62.7%) among the graduates. Residents reported a high exposure in endourology and pediatric urology, while transplant, reconstructive, and neurourology had the lowest exposure. Forty-two percent of respondents undertook research during their residency training, but most respondents (54%) did not publish any research papers during their training. Sixty-two percent of graduates felt that their training program did not prepare them adequately to perform well on the board examinations. Conclusion: Our results confirmed that satisfaction of residents with the urology program process is variable according to the city of training. Having high satisfaction level in some cities reflects the improvement of urology training program after restructuring. We identified new areas in need of improvement, namely lack of mentorship, clear and formal assessment process, and variation of training process between central and peripheral programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smartphones are being used for several educational purposes. The Internet serves a vital role in the dissemination of information. Objectives: This observational cross-sectional study aimed to identify the most common smartphone applications/health Internet sites visited by dental care providers in the KSA and to assess factors that impact on the choices of the Internet site/applications by dental care providers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was used. Data on demographics and smartphone usage were collected. Besides, participants were able to add their suggestions at the end of the study using a free open box. The statistical significance was at P > 0.05. Results: A total of 151 valid responses were collected. Of these, the majority were female (57.6%). All the participants had a smartphone, and 36.4% spent 6 to <8 h surfing. Google Scholar (81.5%) was the most used source for finding information, followed by PubMed (69.5%) and Wikipedia (49%). Almost 95.4% of participants used their smartphones to read scientific papers. Nearly 71.5% of respondents said that they used their smartphones for social networking. Conclusions: Most dental care providers regularly use smartphone applications/health Internet sites for education and research. In this study, we found many Internet sites and applications commonly used by the interns, which can be reviewed, updated, and utilized by the curriculum committee and included in the teaching process as this will save time and effort in training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary objective is to assess the vulnerability of Matrija Bhava for the causation of metabolic disorders in the purview of epigenetics. Data Source: This study was conducted at the PG Department of Rachana Sharir, CBPACS, New Delhi, and AIIMS, New Delhi. Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects of metabolic disorders, namely diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypothyroidism cases, were taken to collect the data. The self-structured information sheet/case paper pro forma followed by a consent form was used to record all the data of the subject along with their mother's history (at the time of pregnancy) included in the study. All the observations were recorded and furnished for statistical analysis. Results: It was observed that Lavana, Madhura, Amla, and Katu Rasa Ahara; Viruddha Ahara, Ratrijagrana and Divaswapna were observed as a potential factor affecting the Metabolism of the mother at the time of their pregnancy with the subject; thereby causing related metabolic disorders to the subject. Conclusion: Maternal factors (Matrija Bhava) are vulnerable to cause metabolic disorders in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The socio-environmental aspects of southern Assam reflect a general pattern of backwardness. Moreover, child healthcare resources in the region are inadequately used, leading to low vaccination coverage. Given this background, this paper attempted to comprehend wealth-based inequality in full vaccination in rural areas of southern Assam. Methodology: Based on a multistage cluster sampling approach, 360 children of 12–23 months were selected from the study area. To identify the predictors of a child, a non-linear model was estimated by using the generalized linear model (GLM) approach followed by Erreygers decomposition technique to quantify the wealth inequality in the obtained predictors in explaining the disparity in full vaccination. Result: The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination recorded the highest vaccination coverage, at nearly 90% and the lowest was observed for the measles vaccine, around 61 percent. Slightly more than half of the eligible children (54 percent) were vaccinated against all the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)-recommended vaccines. The decomposition analysis revealed that the occupation of the child's father, maternal age, birth order of the child, and health-seeking behavior such as antenatal care (ANC) were the prime factors related to inequality in full vaccination in the region. Conclusion: Vaccination coverage in the region has improved over time, however, full vaccination is concentrated towards the economically advantaged section of the society in rural southern Assam. Targeted, context-specific, and expanded government initiatives could aid in addressing the overall wealth-related full vaccination inequalities in the valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sterilisation principles, which are a basic prerequisite for invasive interventional procedures, may not be respected sometimes during ultrasonography-guided interventions, with the routine practice of simply wiping off the gel from the probe head after scanning using dry soft tissue paper. Introduction The use of ultrasound (US) in anaesthesia and intensive care has evolved over time to become an unavoidable component of modern practice. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are useful in assessing student performance, covering a wide range of topics in an objective way. Its reliability and validity depend upon how well it is constructed. Defective Item detected by item analysis must be looked for item writing flaws and optimized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MCQs for difficulty levels, discriminating power with functional distractors by item analysis, analyze poor items for writing flaws, and optimize.Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study involving 120 MBBS students writing formative assessment in Ophthalmology. It comprised 40 single response MCQs as a part of 3-h paper for 20 marks. Items were categorized according to their difficulty index, discrimination index, and distractor efficiency with simple proportions, mean, standard deviation, and correlation. The defective items were analyzed for proper construction and optimized.Results: The mean score of the study group was 13.525 ± 2.617. Mean difficulty index, discrimination index, and distractor efficiency were 53.22, 0.26, and 78.32, respectively. Among 40 MCQs, twenty-five MCQs did not have non-functioning distractor; 7 had one, 5 had two, and 3 had three. Of the 20 defective items, 17 were optimized and added to the question bank, two were added without modification, and one was dropped.Conclusion: Item analysis is a valuable tool in detecting poor MCQs, and optimizing them is a critical step. The defective items identified should be optimized and not dropped so that the content area covered by the defective item is not kept of the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research is important in medical and dental sciences to improve healthcare. Faculties play an important role in research productivity and student motivation in research. Aim: The aim of this paper was to assess the attitude and experiences of dental post-graduate teachers toward article writing and reading and to discuss the barriers faced by them. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 dental post-graduate teachers from various Dental Colleges in South India participated as the study group. A questionnaire relating to publishing practices was distributed, and the results were analyzed. Result: Majority of the study group (82%) were involved in the publication with many (48.4%) doing so for career progression. Journal prestige was the main reason for selection of journals. Lack of time was the main reason for those not involved in the publication. Conclusion: This study revealed the positive attitude of teachers toward scientific reading and writing. They only require motivation and time [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental illness disproportionately affects the physical, psychological, and social well-being of prisoners worldwide at a far higher rate than the general population. Depression is one of the common mental illnesses. However, in low- and middle-income countries, relatively little research has been undertaken to assess the prevalence and the factors that contribute to depression among prisoners. Aim: This paper aims to assess the burden and predictors of depression among male inmates in a central jail in Odisha. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among male prisoners in one of the central jails of Odisha. A total of 146 samples were selected using a random sampling method and 105 completed the interview. The socio-demographic characteristics and PHQ-9 scale were used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis. Result: In the overall study sample, 25.7% of inmates were diagnosed with moderately severe depression, and 27.6% were diagnosed with severe depression. Binary logistic regression showed that higher education, being accused of a crime, and having low social support are all significant predictors of depression in prisoners. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the significance of understanding the role of social support in prison and assisting policymakers in developing policies that make it more inmate-oriented, resulting in increased prisoner mental well-being and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Professional drivers are mostly exposed to heavy workload, like night shifts, long working hours and irregular schedules, leading to high prevalence of psychiatric disorder, including fatigue, memory loss, and insomnia leading to road traffic accidents and injury. The present paper evaluates the relationship between unsafe behaviors and accident risk in heavy vehicle drivers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 303 professional drivers in Kashan. Unsafe behavior was measured using the Driving Behavior Questionnaire. In addition, a questionnaire was developed to assess the number of accidents and sociodemographic factors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approaches were employed in the evaluated research hypothesis. Results: The results revealed that the average age of participants was 43.15, consisting of passenger vehicle drivers (20.1%) and commercial vehicle drivers (79.9%). The majority were married (94%). Participants drove for an average 11.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 9.2) with the average speed 85.9 km/h (SD = 13.2). The DB questionnaire had validity and reliability (the factor loading, alpha Cronbach, composite reliability, and average variance extracted were more than 0.5, 0.7, 0.7, and 0.5, respectively). The SEM's results showed proper fit indices for the tested model (x2/df = 2.37; confirmatory fit index = 0.83; root mean square error of approximation = 0.06). Conclusions: The main factors of the driver to get involved in a traffic accident and dangerous driving behavior are followed: (a) driver's education level, (b) driver's experience, (c) hours of driving, (d) driver's drug use habit, and (f) risky and slip. It was noted that the level of road safety awareness is low. It can be decided that additional exertions should be made for arranging and imposing road safety and active traffic law legislation to encourage traffic safety responsiveness of the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infection is the most common cause of hospitalisation and the second most common cause of mortality amongst haemodialysis (HD) patients, after cardiovascular disease. Hand hygiene (HH) reduces infections and enhances patient safety across all settings. However, the lack of compliance with HH amongst health-care providers is problematic worldwide. With the above background, a study was conceptualised to ascertain the current status of the HH practices during a complete HD procedure among nursing staff of an HD unit at a tertiary healthcare teaching institute in India. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 October, 2018, to 10 December, 2018. A structured checklist for HH during a complete HD procedure was developed as per the WHO's five moments of HH. One hundred and fifty HD procedures were observed for compliance appropriate number of HH. Data analysis was done using the SPSS version 22. Results: Despite being a very simple step, the compliance rates of health-care workers (HCWs) in HH were found extremely poor, ranging from 23% to 35% only. Reasons for non-compliance by HCWs told by them were: poor nurse-to-patient ratio, frequent turnover of nursing staff, lack or inadequate training and lower level of competency among HD staff. Conclusion: The high number of times an HD staff is required to perform HH could be a reason for lack of compliance. However, compliance can be improved by continuous education and supervision and by providing, in convenient locations, sufficient number of sink with soap dispensers, paper towels, hand lotions and Anti-Bacterial Hand Rubs (ABHRs) placed at each patient station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression in pregnancy affects nearly one in five women in low- and middle-income countries and is associated with adverse obstetric and neonatal outcome. Burden of morbidity is high, but specialized mental health resources are meager. Effective low intensity psychosocial interventions hold promise to fill the treatment gap for maternal depression. In this paper, we aim to describe the process of development of a stepped care model incorporating screening, providing brief intervention, and referral pathways developed for managing depression in pregnancy in antenatal care health facilities in India. Methodology: Using complex intervention development and evaluation method of Medical Research Council, United Kingdom, we searched evidence-based strategies from preexisting manuals, conducted formative research for need assessment and stakeholder engagement, and developed the intervention following an expert review panel. We conducted pilot testing to assess the feasibility and acceptability of intervention supplemented by three focused group discussions. Results: Manual review identified psychoeducation, empathetic listening, behavior activation, and supportive counseling as important elements. Need assessment revealed huge gap in perinatal mental health knowledge. Nearly 92% of total 272 perinatal women had poor awareness and 35%-70% of total 62 health-care providers had poor knowledge. In qualitative interview, women reported depressive symptoms as a normal part of pregnancy and had poor help seeking, behavior symptoms of depression were more prominent. A stepped care algorithm was developed for screening all expectant mothers in each trimester for depression using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Women with PHQ-9 score >19 or reporting self-harm ideation were urgently referred to psychiatrist. Women with PHQ-9 score 5-19 were given brief intervention for depression in pregnancy intervention by antenatal nurse. The intervention developed consists of three sessions of psychoeducation, relaxation exercise, and mental health promotion, each lasting 20 min and at gap of 2 weeks each. Service providers and mothers reported good acceptability of psychosocial intervention and reported satisfaction with content and delivery of intervention. Conclusion: Low intensity brief psychosocial interventions can be adapted for implementation if relevant stakeholders are engaged at each step right from development of such as screening, intervention pathway to delivery, and effectiveness study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and Anemia are important public health nutritional problems in India. Objective: To assess nutritional status and prevalence and correlates of undernutrition, anemia, and VAD among children. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out adopting systematic random sampling. Information on socio-demographic particulars was collected and 20 µL blood was collected for hemoglobin and free-flowing drop on Whatman filter paper for Vitamin A estimation. Hemoglobin was estimated using indirect cyanmethemoglobin and Vitamin A by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Nutritional status was assessed using the WHO Child Growth Standard. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia and VAD was 68% and 59%, respectively, while underweight, stunting, and wasting was 30%, 55%, and 11%, respectively, among under 5 year children. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed no significant association of anemia and VAD with any sociodemographic variables, while the odd of stunting was four times higher among children of mothers engaged in labor and two times among children from low-income group, while underweight was two times higher among children from households not having sanitary latrine. Exclusive breastfeeding was observed to be associated with undernutrition among infants. Conclusions: Anemia, VAD, and stunting were high among children. Low intakes of green leafy vegetables and milk and milk product may be the reasons for the higher prevalence of anemia and VAD. There is a need to strengthen supplementation of iron and folic acid tablets and Vitamin A and also public distribution system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main aim is to analyze the prescription forms to evaluate the completeness of these forms, and we also aim to bring to light the factors which need to be emphasized on while writing a prescription. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study. Prescriptions of 200 patients visiting the gynecology and antenatal outpatient department (OPD) were evaluated using a specially designed questionnaire containing specific questions pertaining about OPD prescriptions, and a score of 0, 1, or 2 was allotted to each question. Results: In an audit of 200 OPD prescription papers, complete name, age, date of consultation, sex, and OPD registration number of the client were present in 100% prescriptions as it was preprinted. Legible handwriting was seen in 93%. Essential medicines advised were available in the hospital dispensary in 77%. Dosage schedule/doses were clearly written in 85%. Prescription duly signed and the name is written (legibly)/stamped in 87%. The highest score for a prescription was found to be 17/17 and the lowest score for a prescription form was 8/13. Conclusion: Many areas are lagging in prescription writing, especially writing presumptive diagnosis and salient features of clinical examination. Physicians need to improve their prescription writing skills for the benefit of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Travel medicine deals with prevention and management of health problems of travelers to avoid or reduce the risk of avoidable illnesses. Primary healthcare physicians are the key individuals to provide the same. The objective of current study was to explore the level of knowledge, attitude, and current practical application of travel medicine among primary health care physicians serving in the Riyadh Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 210 primary healthcare physicians serving in Riyadh Health Cluster was conducted using a paper-based self-administered questionnaire collecting information on socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude as well as practice of travel medicine. Results: The majority of study participants were females (117, 55.7%) and 63% (n = 133) were non-Saudi physicians. More than 30% that is 66 participants had clinical experience of less than 5 years and around 67% (i.e., 141) participants were serving at the designation of registrar/senior registrar. One hundred sixty-seven participants (79.5%) had ever provided health advice to the travelers. Majority of the study participants had gained information on the travel medicine through Ministry of Health guidelines (66%). Nearly 11.4% participants were not sure about the cause of occurrence of typhoid infection. As reported by 30.5%, travelers never really sought advice on the travel insurance. Nearly 79.5% participants reported to have provided post-travel consultation for diarrhea, followed by respiratory infection (45.2%), fever (42%), and skin problems (21%). Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of travel medicine among primary healthcare physicians was found to be sub-optimal in Riyadh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of workplace hazards, occupational diseases, and deaths contribute significantly to the increase in the global burden of diseases. The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) workers experience occupational stressors throughout the process of waste management that affects their well-being and results in high rates of occupational health problems. It is vital to understand the workplace practices and occupational morbidities of the MSW workers to ensure their safety and well-being. In this context, the study aimed to explore the occupational health and safety practices at the place of work among the MSW workers in Karimnagar and Hyderabad in Telangana, India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two cities of Telangana. A total of 394 MSW workers were surveyed. The number of MSW workers in Karimnagar and Hyderabad were 152 and 194, respectively. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to the MSW workers to study the occupational morbidities and workplace safety practices. Focused group discussions were conducted among the MSW workers in both cities. In-depth interviews of sanitary supervisors in Karimnagar were conducted. Semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides were used with questions on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, work environment, protection strategy, and healthcare utilization. MS Excel and NVivo-12 were used for data analysis. Results: Musculoskeletal problem was the major reported morbidity among the MSW workers (76.6%). Injuries were reported more among the MSW workers in Hyderabad (39.7%) along with a fear of being hit by vehicles while working on the main roads. About 88.7% of the MSW workers had less than secondary education. There was a wage difference between the contract and permanent MSW workers. There was a lack of provision of personal protective equipment and poor working conditions, overall. Lack of basic amenities such as the provision of drinking water and toilets apart from inadequate social security and healthcare facilities was reported. Conclusion: This paper highlights the unsatisfactory working environment and high-occupational morbidities among the MSW workers in Telangana. There was a lack of basic amenities at the workplace making it difficult for the MSW workers. A comprehensive approach which focuses on the health and safety with social security for the MSW workers is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prosocial behaviour is one of the key features of the development of school-going adolescents. Therefore, the current paper focuses on the prosocial behaviour of school-going adolescents in Kollam District, Kerala. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study where 600 school-going adolescents, their parents and 60 class teachers were selected through cluster sampling method. English and Malayalam version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was administered among respondents. Chi-square and multiple linear regression models were used for analysing the data. Results: Self-report of prosocial behaviour predictors were significantly associated with gender (P < 0.01), urban-rural settings (P < 0.001) and government-private schools (P < 0.001). Parents' report shows highly significant relationship with gender (P < 0.001) whereas teachers' report is significantly related to urban-rural settings (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The current study found that one-fifth of school-going adolescents had borderline to abnormal (self – 17.4%; parents' – 16.9%; teachers' report – 20.8%) prosocial behaviour. School-going adolescents should involve in volunteer activities and campaigns for better development in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: During an earlier outbreak of dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV) and swine flu in Tamil Nadu, India, Kabasura Kudineer and Nilavembu Kudineer were used to control the febrile episodes. No research is conducted in the past to understand the attitude and beliefs of people towards using Kabasura Kudineer as a means to improve immunity in people, especially in Tamil Nadu, the birthplace of Siddha medicine which led the researcher to conduct the study. Aims: The researcher in the present paper aims to understand the attitude, belief and self-use of Kabasura Kudineer among people in Tamil Nadu, India. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among various people in Tamilnadu, India wherein data was collected from 200 participants. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study involving explanatory/descriptive research design was considered for the study. Statistical Analysis Used: For the analysis of collected data statistical package for SPSS software version 25.0 was used. Results: The urban participants who participated in the study were 80.5% and the rural participants were 19.5%. The significant P value (0.002) indicated that people use kabasura kudineer because allopathic medicine is less effective medicine and the significant P value (0.001) shows that kabasura kudineer is taken as a self-medication among Tamil Nadu people. Conclusions: The findings of the study revealed the better empowerment of people in the select region towards the use of Kabasura Kudineer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is shown that neuropeptides can be transported from pulp chamber to periodontal ligament through apical foramen and accessory canals. Therefore, clinical pulpal pain leads to expression of preinflammatory neuropeptides such as substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). This study aimed to evaluate levels of SP and NKA in GCF of carious and healthy permanent teeth, comparatively. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on twenty children referred to Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who had a painful permanent first molar. Sampling was done by sterile paper cone from GCF of the mentioned teeth and the intact tooth of the other side of the jaw in the same patient. Values of SP and NKA were measured by ELISA test. Results: The mean concentration of SP in GCF of painful carious and healthy teeth was 2.65 ± 0.56 and 1.83 ± 0.65 pcgr/ml, respectively. This value was 2.29 ± 0.29 and 1.61 ± 0.35 pcgr/ml for NKA concentration in carious and healthy teeth as well. Conclusion: Significant higher levels of both SP and NKA in GCF of painful carious teeth were observed, which is in line with previous studies' findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, Vitamin A, and iodine are important public health problems in India. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess subclinical Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and anemia among women and preschool children from Northeast India. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out by adopting systematic sampling in Phek district of Nagaland. Data were collected from women on sociodemographic particulars, and finger prick blood was collected for hemoglobin and free-flowing drop for Vitamin A estimation on Whatman no. 1 filter paper. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 27%, 40%, 44%, and 52% among preschool children, nonpregnant nonlactating women, lactating mothers, and pregnant women, respectively, whereas VAD was 37% among preschool children and 24%-32% among adult women. The prevalence of VAD was observed high among those living in kutcha house, illiteracy of head of households, big family size, and low per capita income. Conclusions: Anemia and VAD are important public health problems among tribal population in spite of the rich biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a pre-diabetic condition and has been reported in patients with acanthosis nigricans (AN) and acrochordon. AN and acrochordon are claimed to be cutaneous markers of IR. Aim: The purpose of this paper was to study the association of AN and acrochordon with IR. Methods: It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study. Both groups were assessed for IR by using homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Results: A total of 70 cases and an equal number of controls were studied. IR was observed more in cases (41.4%) compared to controls (17.1%) (P < 0.01). Mean HOMA-IR value was also significantly higher in cases (4.32 ± 4.44) compared to controls (2.27 ± 0.90) (P < 0.05). Limitations: Low number of cases and controls were taken in the study. Association with hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome was not elicited. Conclusions: AN and acrochordons were found to be associated with IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of age in children and teenagers is significantly influenced by dental maturity. It has been shown that estimating age by examining the calcification of permanent teeth yields precise and accurate methods and outcomes. It has become a vital instrument in forensics. In pediatric dentistry, age estimate is important for identifying developmental milestones. It may also be used to determine the child's age in cases when the date of birth is unknown, which is important for treatment planning. Understanding the existence of different abnormalities, such as oligodontia and congenital lack of teeth or teeth, is also made easier with an understanding of dental age. There is no study in the literature on dental age estimation that is done in the Bengal Population. This population-based cross-sectional study estimates the chronological age, and dental age using Willems's and Cameriere's age estimation methods. The study is a comparative evaluation among all the groups and the paper will include the descriptive methodology, results based on the data that is yet to be subjected to statistical analysis, followed by conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUNDS: Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) application is among presurgical management (PSM) techniques used for infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP). It helps to approximate the palatal cleft and to reshape the nasoalveolar complex prior to primary lip repair. This study aimed to explore types of PSM and the dental speciality provision for infants with CLP in Baghdad. The status of NAM usage and surgeons' perceptions toward NAM usage were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire study that collected responses of surgeons perform primary lip and nose repair regarding PSM. The questionnaire was distributed amongst public and private hospitals in Baghdad. Twenty surgeons were enrolled (only those surgeons who perform primary repair for infants with CLP); two females and eighteen males. RESULTS: The majority of participants' responses suggested that the majority of infants with CLP were provided with baby feeding plates and lip straps. Six surgeons reported that a percentage of their patients who have been provided with NAM. PSM in Baghdad was mostly supplied by orthodontists and plastic surgeons, and the next most likely providers were prosthodontists. 82.35% of the surgeons found that primary surgical repair procedures were easier with NAM than for the other infants. The rest have not perceived any differences. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists, surgeons and prosthodontists were involved in providing PSM. Baby feeding plates and lip straps were the most common PSM in Baghdad, although NAM is not uncommon. Most surgeons believe that using NAM made surgical procedures easier and permitted the prediction of surgical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is scantly available in Iran, although it is the cost-benefit strategy in cardiac patients, It has not been established how CR is delivered within Iran. This study aimed to determine: (a) availability, density and unmet need for CR, and (b) nature of CR services in Iran by province. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional sub-study of the global CR audit, program availability was determined through cardiovascular networks. An online survey was then disseminated to these programs in June 2016–2017 which assessed capacity and characteristics; a paper-based survey was disseminated in 2018 to nonresponding and any new programs. CR density and need was computed based on annual incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in each province. Results: Of the 31 provinces, 12 (38.7%) had CR services. There were 30 programs nationally, all in capital cities; of these, programs in 9 (75.0%) provinces, specifically 22 (73.3%) programs, participated. The national CR density is 1 spot per 7 incident AMI patients/year. Unmet need is greatest in Khuzestan, Tehran and west Azerbaijan, with 44,816 more spots needed/year. Most programs assessed cardiovascular risk factors, and offered comprehensive services, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team, comprised chiefly of nurses, dietitians and cardiologists. Median dose is 14 sessions/program in supervised programs. A third of programs offered home-based services. Conclusion: Where programs do exist in IRAN, they are generally delivered in accordance with guidelines. Therefore, we must increase capacity in CR services in all provinces to improve secondary prevention services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]