Indian Journal of Preventive Medicine

Not Provided

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the world. The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen dramatically over the past two decades from 4.7% (1980) to 8.5% (2014). India has the largest number of diabetic population in the world (69.2 million). The prevalence of clinical depression and presence of elevated depressive symptoms are higher among persons with diabetes compared to the general population. This association may be bidirectional. Depressed patients are also reluctant, non-compliant and fail to adhere to anti diabetic drugs and show poorer self-management when compared with those without depression. Hence there is a need to study the importance of evaluation of depression in diabetes and how socio demographic characteristics contribute towards depression. This will help in better management of this infirmity. Objective: 1.To compare the proportion of depression among chronic type 2 diabetes patients of Government and Private tertiary care hospitals. 2. To assess the association between socio-demographic variables, disease duration and diabetic complications with the depression among chronic type 2 diabetes patients. Methodology: A comparative study done in Government and private tertiary care hospitals. Diabetes patients utilizing the healthcare facility (100 each from Government and private hospitals) were the study subjects. Data was collected through pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Depression was assessed using “Hamilton Depression scale”. Results and conclusion: About half of the diabetic patients had depression. There was a significant association between depression and complications like cardiovascular symptoms, neuropathy and retinopathy and glycaemic control of study subjects.

Keywords: Depression; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes; Glycaemic Control.

  Measurement is a fundamental aspect of research in the area of infant mortality. The National Population Policy, 2000 aims at a reduction of IMR to less than 30 by 2010. The estimates on infant and child mortality at the national level and for major states of India are provided by the SRS annually. The NFHS also provides the estimates by mother’s educational level, standard of living of the households as well as the other socio economic characteristics of the households. Thus, at the state level we have good information on these estimates. Estimates of IMR can be derived directly as well as indirectly. The direct estimates are usually based on the number of infant deaths reported during the last one year per 1000 live births. The civil registration system as well as the SRS adopts this technique for providing the estimates. 

Keywords: NFHS-National Family Health Survey; SRS-Sample Registration; IMR-Infant Mortality Rate; U5MRUnder Five Mortality Rate; CMR-Child Mortality Rate.

  Introduction: According to MCI it is mandatory for every Medical postgraduate student to conduct basic level research in the form of thesis. However, due to a large number of difficulties the thesis is one of the most cumbersome activities. Aim & Objectives: 1. To determine the difficulties faced by Medical Postgraduate (PG) students in conducting their Thesis. 2. To measure the level of difficulty faced by Medical Postgraduate students in their Thesis work 3. To determine the various types of difficulties faced by Medical Postgraduate students at various levels of conducting thesis 4. To suggest possible recommendations to overcome the difficulties encountered. Materials & Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on final year PG degree students of a medical college employing Universal sampling technique. A self-administered, pre-tested, structured Questionnaire of 37 questions was completed and returned. A total difficulty score was calculated. Results: 32.47% subjects had scores corresponding to moderate level of difficulty in conducting their thesis. Selection of thesis topic, misleading literature online and heavy work schedules were few of the difficulties faced by the study subjects.

Conclusion: Study subjects faced moderate level of difficulty in conducting their thesis and had unsatisfactory knowledge of health research.

Keywords: Difficulties; Medical; Post Graduate Students; Thesis.

  Context: The biomedical waste (BMW) poses significant hazardous risk to the patients, healthcare workers, the community and environments. Healthcare professionals are at potential risk for hazards due to biomedical waste. Thus the knowledge regarding biomedical waste management among health care personnel has greater impact on health and environment. Aims: 1. To assess the knowledge regarding biomedical waste management. 2. To assess the attitude regarding biomedical waste management. Settings and Design: Hospital-based Descriptive study.
Methods and Material: A questionnaire containing questions based on knowledge and attitude regarding BMW management was administered to the study participants (25 each of Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Postgraduates, interns, senior & junior nurses, technicians, and class IV employees). Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics Results: The awareness about BMW management was poor among study subjects. Majority of them did not undergo regular training. Class IV staff were found to be unvaccinated against hepatitis B infection. BMW management attitude was found to be unsatisfactory. Conclusion: The study concluded that regular training and supervision is necessary for better healthcare waste management and implementation. 

Keywords: Biomedical Waste; Awareness; Medical; Nursing.

  Background: For general well-being and longer survival, maintaining over 95% adherence to ART is necessary. It also reduces the chance of resistance development. But side-effects from ART may lead to reduced compliance. We conducted this study with the objective of assessing effect of perceived side-effects of ART on treatment adherencein patients on ART in a tertiary hospital in Kolkata, India. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on the adults attending ART centre of R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata. Patients above 15 years of age, who received at least one year of treatment before the study, comprised the study population. Sample size was 279. We tried to determine any association between adherence level and perceived side-effects applying suitable statistical tests. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS (version 20). Results: Compared to patients with correct knowledge about side-effects of ART, those who have incorrect knowledge had 0.325 times higher chance of having inadequate adherence in last one year (p=0.04). Chi-square test shows significant association between perceived side-effect encountered during the course of treatment and adherence level of patients on ART (p=.001). Conclusion: The subjects, who knew ART may cause side-effects, in case of any adverse health situation as perceived by them as side-effects from ART, may discontinue the medication, leading to reduced adherence level. On the other hand, those who didn’t know ART may cause side-effects, will not attribute any adverse health situation to ART, and will not discontinue the medications, keeping adequate adherence level. 

Keywords: Antiretroviral Therapy; Adherence Level; HIV/AIDS; Side-Effects

  Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a multisystem disorder that is associated with number of complications. Patient's awareness and practices are crucial components in reducing the burden of diseases and its complications. Healthcare seeking behaviour is important as it determines acceptance of health care and outcomes of chronic conditions but it has been investigated to a limited extent in the developing countries. Objectives: 1) To Asses the Health Seeking Behaviour of Type II Diabetes Patients 2) To Assess the factors Influencing the Health Seeking Behaviour. Materials and Methodology: A Cross-sectional study of 200 Type II Diabetic Patients at JSS Hospital, Mysuru was conducted, Assessment of Health Seeking Behaviour using semistructered questionnaire was done. Descriptive statistics like proportionand Inferential statistics like chi-square test was done. Results: Among 200 study participants 53.5% of study subjects belongs to age group 41-60 yrs, 57.5% were males, 67.5% belongs to lower socio-economic class according to BG Prasad classification, 85% were married, 51% were Obese, 44.5% were having family history of Diabetes, 48% were having Hypertension, 68.5% were on oral hypoglycemic agents, 10.5% were on Insulin, 20.5% were on both oral hypoglycaemic agents and Insulin. 163 (81.5%) were anxious when they were diagnosed to have Diabetes, 123 (61.5%) were influenced by themselves to go for investigations, 68 (34%) were influenced by Doctors to visit hospital, 131 (65.5%) had no money as the barrier to attend hospital for check-up, 186 (93%) visit hospital once in less than 3 months, 180 (90%) of them believed oral drugs are the treatment for Diabetes, 188 (94%) prefer Allopathic medicine. Conclusion: Health seeking behaviour is the important factor which influence on the glycaemic status of Diabetes Mellitus Patients, Improving the Knowledge about disease and management plays a very important role in reducing the burden of complications. 

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Glycaemic Status; Health Seeking Behaviour