{"title":"Profile of patients coming to the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation for locomotor disability certification: a 5-years observational study","authors":"Sucheta Saha, S. K. Gupt, Suprakash Mandal","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241289","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The persons with locomotor disability are eligible for various social welfare benefits from the Government under ‘The persons with disabilities (Equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995’ along with other causes of disabilities like blindness, hearing impairment etc. and recent enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Understanding the utilization of services is crucial in enhancing assistance for individuals with certifiable disabilities. This study aimed to observe the clinico-demographic profile of patients coming to outpatient Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitations for locomotor disabilities certification and 5 years’ trend in the number of patients getting disability certificate.\u0000Methods: This retrospective study was based on the data taken at time of disability certification in a multispecialty tertiary care government medical college in Northern India. All persons with locomotor disability who were issued disability certificate between 2014 and 2018 were included in the study.\u0000Results: A total of 857 patients were issued disability certificates during the study period of 2014 to 2018. Among the 744 adult patients, only 149 (20%) were female. Most of them were urban residents. In locomotor disability, post-polio residual paralysis was the most common diagnosis encountered, followed by amputations and cerebral palsy. Most of the applicants were having a disability of 40-50%.\u0000Conclusions: Awareness has to be generated about the disability benefits and disability certification. Utilisation of services by females should be encouraged. Robust data and literature need to be built up for prevention and management of locomotor disability.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141004482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Suhasini Kanyadi, Shivalingappa Javali, Nabeel Ahmed Gadi
{"title":"Sleep quality and its correlates among undergraduate students of a medical school in North Karnataka, India","authors":"Suhasini Kanyadi, Shivalingappa Javali, Nabeel Ahmed Gadi","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241280","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Poor sleep quality is a global health concern and is fast becoming one of the silent epidemics. Sleep quality among medical students is of particular interest as they are considered high risk groups for developing sleep related issues because of their demanding schedules. This study aims to estimate the magnitude of poor sleep and its correlates among undergraduate medical students of a medical school in Belgaum, India.\u0000Methods: An institutional based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 undergraduate medical students using a self-administered questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The potential determinants of quality of sleep were identified using logistic regression. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant and adjusted odds ratio with 95%CI was used to present the strength of association.\u0000Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality among medical students was 69.3%. Factors like gender, female students (AOR=2.381, 95%CI=1.359-4.172), being overweight or obese (AOR=2.499, 95%CI=1.297-4.817) were associated with poor sleep quality. Students with good sleep hygiene (AOR=0.415, 95%CI=0.231-0.745) and who did not use technology during bedtime (AOR=0.38, 95%CI=0.168-0.878) were less likely of having poor sleep quality at p<0.05.\u0000Conclusions: Prevalence of poor sleep quality among substantial proportion of medical students in the current study is alarming. The already existing personal and professional development programme committee can conduct routine screening to assess sleep quality among students and focus on programmes to improve their sleep hygiene.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141013237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huda Ahmed Alsoweih, A. A. Fageehi, Jubran Hussain Hadadi, Ibrahim Mahdi Sharahili, Fawzya Abdulaziz Alsubhi, I. Aljabry
{"title":"The impact of digital health technologies on pharmacy services and patient care","authors":"Huda Ahmed Alsoweih, A. A. Fageehi, Jubran Hussain Hadadi, Ibrahim Mahdi Sharahili, Fawzya Abdulaziz Alsubhi, I. Aljabry","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240954","url":null,"abstract":"This comprehensive review delves into the profound impact of digital health technologies on the landscape of pharmacy services and patient care. The integration of electronic prescribing medication adherence apps, and tele-pharmacy services has revolutionized medication management in pharmacies. This amalgamation has not only streamlined processes but has also significantly minimized errors, leading to enhanced operational efficiency. Pharmacists, equipped with wearable devices, now engage in remote patient monitoring, allowing for personalized interventions and proactive healthcare strategies. The incorporation of genomic data, data analytics, and clinical decision support systems marks a transformative shift towards precision medicine within pharmacies. These technologies empower pharmacists to design tailored treatment plans based on individual genetic profiles, thereby optimizing therapeutic outcomes. As pharmacies increasingly embrace these digital tools, they metamorphose into dynamic healthcare hubs. Beyond traditional roles, pharmacies now offer virtual consultations and actively participate in patient education initiatives. This paradigm shift underscores a commitment to patient-centered care, exemplified by improved medication safety and a more interconnected healthcare ecosystem. The ongoing integration of digital health technologies holds promise for continued advancements in pharmacy services. This trajectory signifies a significant departure towards a more proactive, personalized, and technologically driven approach to patient care. The review underscores the transformative potential of digital health technologies in redefining the role of pharmacies and elevating the standards of patient-centered healthcare delivery.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140701439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Preeti Elizabeth Jossy, Parvathi Nandini, Parvathy R. Nair, Nimisha J. S., Niveditha V. S., Arya Rahul
{"title":"Knowledge, attitude and perceived barriers to telemedicine among medical professionals: a cross sectional study","authors":"Preeti Elizabeth Jossy, Parvathi Nandini, Parvathy R. Nair, Nimisha J. S., Niveditha V. S., Arya Rahul","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240932","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Telemedicine, an evolving technology in India's healthcare sector, offers promising avenues for improving healthcare accessibility and delivery. Its successful implementation relies on several factors, including the comprehension of its concepts, skill acquisition, attitude toward technology, and conducive work environments among healthcare professionals. Despite the pressing need for enhanced healthcare in developing countries like India, telemedicine remains more advanced in developed nations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers to telemedicine among medical professionals at government medical college Trivandrum and KIMS health Trivandrum.\u0000Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 150 medical professionals across various departments was conducted using a structured questionnaire via the Kobo toolbox, an online survey tool. The collected data were analyzed to assess the understanding of telemedicine, attitudes toward its adoption, and barriers encountered by respondents.\u0000Results: The analysis revealed that while a commendable 35.3% of respondents exhibited a good understanding of telemedicine, the majority 64.7% lacked sufficient knowledge in this domain. However, there was a positive disposition towards telemedicine adoption, with 64.7% displaying strong positive attitudes, 24.7% expressing moderate attitudes, and 10.7% indicating lower inclinations. Notably, human resource availability emerged as the most prevalent barrier, while sustainable practices were cited least frequently.\u0000Conclusions: While many medical professionals showed support for telemedicine, their knowledge was limited, and the study identified multiple barriers to its adoption. Urgent action is needed to narrow the disparity between telemedicine's potential and its actual use in India's healthcare system.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140735325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antenatal care quality assessment methods in India: a systematic review","authors":"Priya Kataria, Naresh Kumar, Mahendra Singh","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240931","url":null,"abstract":"Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the most important pillars in improving maternal health. There is a considerable gap between the coverage of ANC and quality of ANC in India. Although monitoring the number of visits or contacts remains important, the WHO ANC guidelines’ focus is on the quality and content of the care received. We did a review of literature regarding the quality of ANC assessment in India from 2017 to 2023. The literature review was done by two researchers independently on electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, PubMed central, Embase and ScienceDirect, to search the methods that are used to assess the quality of ANC in India. We included the studies that have done assessment of the quality of ANC with specific ‘content’ and ‘criteria’ to define quality ANC (QANC). There are two dimensions for assessing ANC quality. ANC Visits (their number and time of registration) and the services received during ANC visits. We found three types of approaches to ANC quality assessment: 1) making categories depending on content of ANC visits and/or number of ANC visits; 2) scoring system where score is assigned to each service and a particular cut off is set to be called QANC and 3) combination of both (using scores to form categories). The literature on quality assessment of ANC is scarce. There is a need for a standard quality of care method and terminology to assess the quality of ANC that can be applied throughout the country.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140735121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Turki Ibrahim Alzahrani, Jaman Saad Binsaad, Abdullah Ahmed Almasabi, Faeyz Musleh Alharthi, Abdullah Salem Alqarni, Salman Nasser Albaqami, Muhannad Saeed Alqahtani, I. Aljabry
{"title":"The impact of electronic prescribing systems on clinical pharmacy practice","authors":"Turki Ibrahim Alzahrani, Jaman Saad Binsaad, Abdullah Ahmed Almasabi, Faeyz Musleh Alharthi, Abdullah Salem Alqarni, Salman Nasser Albaqami, Muhannad Saeed Alqahtani, I. Aljabry","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240933","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240933","url":null,"abstract":"This review explores the impact of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems on clinical pharmacy practice, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges associated with their use. Medication errors, a significant concern within healthcare settings, have been shown to decrease with the adoption of e-prescribing, offering a promising tool to enhance patient safety and reduce adverse drug events. However, the transition from traditional handwritten prescriptions to electronic methods introduces new challenges, including the emergence of new types of errors, such as incorrect drug selection, and potential increases in mortality rates, as observed in pediatric patient. Furthermore, it discusses the limited exploration of e-prescribing in primary care and community pharmacy settings, areas that require further investigation to fully understand the benefits and burdens of e-prescribing use. By examining barriers related to person, tasks, environment, tools and technologies, and organizational factors, this review emphasizes the importance of considering various aspects that influence the efficacy and safety of e-prescribing systems. The findings suggest a critical need for incorporating human factors principles in the design and evaluation of these systems to ensure they effectively support clinical pharmacy practice and enhance patient care.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140735742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asmita Singhal, A. Agrawal, Rashmi Parihar, Nency Sahu, Jaya Upadhyay
{"title":"Accuracy of foot length measurement for gestational age assessment in neonates: a prospective observational study in Central India","authors":"Asmita Singhal, A. Agrawal, Rashmi Parihar, Nency Sahu, Jaya Upadhyay","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240930","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Gestational age (GA) is a critical-factors in the decision making and predicting mortality and morbidities of neonates. In low resource settings where affordability and availability of first trimester scan is limited, assessment is often done by postnatal methods like expanded new Ballard score (ENBS) which are often clinical skill dependent and complex. Hence, there is a need of a simple and cost-effective method which can be readily adopted by frontline health care workers at periphery. One such method is assessment of foot length (FL).\u0000Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the level 3 NICU of Central India over a period of 18 months. Included neonates were assessed for GA by measuring FL by vernier calliper within 48 hours of birth and its validity was tested against ENBS as reference standard. Other anthropometric measurements like birth weight, head circumference and length were obtained within 48 hours of birth.\u0000Results: Total 700 neonates were included in the study. For, determining preterm newborn, the potential cut-off of FL of ≤6.86 cm, with a sensitivity of 94.6% and specificity of 73.8%. The area under ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve is 0.92.\u0000Conclusions: FL measurement is a cost-effective and time-saving simple intervention that can facilitate early identification of preterm newborns as well as help in initiating timely interventions and hence improving neonatal outcomes in resource-poor settings.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140734200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mindful aging: an insightful examination of cognitive impairment in the elderly population of Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, using Mini-Cog scale","authors":"V. M, T. D., Geetha M., Catherine Rexy D.","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240316","url":null,"abstract":"Background: By 2050, United Nations projects that one in five Indians would be 60 years of age or older. This demographic transition is likely to be accompanied by substantial rise in prevalence of cognitive problems, which will have an impact on quality of life among elderly people. Effective screening at primary level would help in identification of burden of diseases and better planning at secondary and tertiary level.\u0000Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study over a period of three months was conducted at Pulipakkam in Chengalpattu district. The estimated sample size was 215, and simple random sampling method was used. Elderly people aged 60 years and above who consented to participate were included in the study. After obtaining informed consent, they were screened using the Mini-Cog tool which combines a short memory test with a simple clock- drawing test followed by a recall component.\u0000Results: The 215 participants in total were screened. The mean age of participants was 66.02±3.83 years. The prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) based on Mini-Cog scale was 44.2%. Females (44.8%) had marginally higher prevalence than males (43.8%). CI was more prevalent among people over 65 years (57.6%). The likelihood of experiencing CI was higher among those who lived without their spouse (59.4%), were unemployed (53.7%), and who were smokers / alcoholics (63.7%). \u0000Conclusions: Considering the high burden of CI, there is need for long term prospective research for a comprehensive profile of mental disorders at community level. Early assessment and detection of CI could help in improving quality of life of elderly. Implementing initiatives aimed at increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and conducting widespread screening using reliable tools.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139791458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mindful aging: an insightful examination of cognitive impairment in the elderly population of Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, using Mini-Cog scale","authors":"V. M, T. D., Geetha M., Catherine Rexy D.","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240316","url":null,"abstract":"Background: By 2050, United Nations projects that one in five Indians would be 60 years of age or older. This demographic transition is likely to be accompanied by substantial rise in prevalence of cognitive problems, which will have an impact on quality of life among elderly people. Effective screening at primary level would help in identification of burden of diseases and better planning at secondary and tertiary level.\u0000Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study over a period of three months was conducted at Pulipakkam in Chengalpattu district. The estimated sample size was 215, and simple random sampling method was used. Elderly people aged 60 years and above who consented to participate were included in the study. After obtaining informed consent, they were screened using the Mini-Cog tool which combines a short memory test with a simple clock- drawing test followed by a recall component.\u0000Results: The 215 participants in total were screened. The mean age of participants was 66.02±3.83 years. The prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) based on Mini-Cog scale was 44.2%. Females (44.8%) had marginally higher prevalence than males (43.8%). CI was more prevalent among people over 65 years (57.6%). The likelihood of experiencing CI was higher among those who lived without their spouse (59.4%), were unemployed (53.7%), and who were smokers / alcoholics (63.7%). \u0000Conclusions: Considering the high burden of CI, there is need for long term prospective research for a comprehensive profile of mental disorders at community level. Early assessment and detection of CI could help in improving quality of life of elderly. Implementing initiatives aimed at increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and conducting widespread screening using reliable tools.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139851190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tharani Ravi, Yajaira Johnson-Esparza, Jessica Hernandez, Nehman Andry, Fozia Ali, Maria Del Pilar Montanez Villacampa, Rudolfo Rincon, Roger B. Perales, Raymond F. Palmer
{"title":"Clinical assessment and patient education of chemical intolerance","authors":"Tharani Ravi, Yajaira Johnson-Esparza, Jessica Hernandez, Nehman Andry, Fozia Ali, Maria Del Pilar Montanez Villacampa, Rudolfo Rincon, Roger B. Perales, Raymond F. Palmer","doi":"10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240310","url":null,"abstract":"Chemical intolerance (CI) is characterized by multi-system symptoms initiated by a one-time high dose or persistent low-dose exposure to environmental toxicants. Symptoms of this “medically unexplained illness” often include fatigue, headache, weakness, rash, mood changes, musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal, difficulties with memory, concentration, and respiratory problems. A general disease mechanism called toxicant-induced loss of tolerance (TILT) explains the initiation, symptoms, and intolerances to chemicals, foods, and medicines reported worldwide by individuals with this condition. TILT is a 2-stage disease process initiated by a major chemical exposure, or a series of low-level exposures, followed by multisystem symptoms and onset of new intolerances. Despite its prevalence of up to 20%, most primary care physicians are not aware of this disease process and thus have been unable to recognize patients with CI. This case series describes three family medicine clinic patients who had multisystem symptoms that were triggered by chemical exposures, saw multiple specialists with no improvement, who were eventually diagnosed with CI and went through a behaviorally based avoidance education program. This report describes the impact of a coordinated educational intervention for patients with CI. We offer several educational tools for health practitioners to discuss with their patients. These patient stories highlight the importance for physicians to be knowledgeable about CI in order to facilitate symptom reduction and improve the quality of life for these patients.","PeriodicalId":73438,"journal":{"name":"International journal of community medicine and public health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139799710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}