NepMed is a Nepal MEDLINE(Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) by Nepal Health Research Council(NHRC). It includes bibliographic information for articles from academic biomedical journals covering medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry veterinary medicine, and allied health sciences.
Recent Publications
Leave Against Medical Advice amongst Pediatric Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Basnet, Sahisnuta; B.K, Ganesh; Ansari, Aslam; Adhikari, Suraj
Abstract:
Introduction: Leave against medical advice has a potentially deleterious effect on the health of a child. This is particularly alarming in case of pediatric patients as they are unable to understand the implications of it and rely on parents to make decisions regarding their health. This study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of leave against medical advice among pediatric patients admitted in a tertiary teaching hospital in Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Manipal Teaching Hospital between August 2019 and July 2020. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Ref: 256). Convenient sampling method was used. Data entry and analysis was done on Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of 1608 pediatric admissions taken in our study, the prevalence of leave against medical advice was found to be 67 (4.2%) at 95% Confidence Interval (3.22-5.18). Maximum 22 (33%) and minimum 6 (9%) patients respectively belonged to the age group from birth to 7 days and more than 10 years. Out of 67 cases, there were 36 (54%) males and 31 (46%) females.
Conclusions: The prevalence of leave against medical advice among admitted pediatric patients in our study was similar to that of other studies. It is a social health problem which can be prevented by increasing the awareness and facilitating the use of health insurance schemes. More effective communication is required between the treating physicians and the parents to prevent this detrimental practice.
Perceived Stress among Undergraduate Students in a Dental College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Khanal, Sunita; Shrestha, Sujita
Abstract:
Introduction: An individual may feel stressed when he/she is unable to cope with past, present, and future situations. A high level of stress in dental students is due to the fact that dental students need to acquire diverse proficiencies such as theoretical knowledge, clinical competencies, and interpersonal skills. So, this study was conducted to find out the prevalence of perceived stress among undergraduate students in a dental college.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year to final year students of a tertiary care centre from May-August 2020. The sample size was calculated to be 177. Convenience sampling technique was used. Data collection was done after taking ethical approval from the institutional review committee (Ref no.21/020). Data collection was done by using a selfadministered, modified Dental Environmental Stress Questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 20 software. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: The prevalence of perceived stress was found to be 80.55 (45%) at 95% Confidence Interval (37.71-52.28). Students perceived more stress from the domain related to personal factors i.e. fear of failing 78 (43.6%), academic factors i.e. examination and grades 71 (39.7%), unable to catch up with the back lock work 68 (38%), and for the clinical phase students, patients not coming or coming too late was most stressful 69 (60%) followed by getting an ideal case for clinical examination 60 (52.2%).
Conclusions: Overall stress levels were slight to severe and were comparatively higher in clinical phase students due to factors related to patients.
Skin Tumors among Biopsy Samples in Patients Attending Dermatological Out Patient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Shrestha, Shristi; Rana, Arnija; Karki, Deepika; Shrestha, Asim
Abstract:
Introduction: Skin tumors are on the rise in the Nepalese community. The different morphological pattern of skin tumors requires its meticulous categorization for understanding its effect on prognosis and treatment. Our study aimed at studying the prevalence of skin tumors among the skin biopsies performed in the dermatology outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done from skin biopsy samples from 1st January, 2017 to 31st December, 2019, at a tertiary care center. Ethical clearance was taken from the institutional review committee (IRC), Ref No: 056-077/078. Convenience sampling was done. A self-designed proforma containing questions on the patients' socio-demographic data and clinical details were used, and a biopsy of those clinically suspected to have skin tumors was done. Skin tumors were classified according to the World Health Organization 2018 classification of skin tumors. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 16. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was done, and frequency and proportion were calculated.
Results: A total of 671 skin biopsies were done during this study, out of which 125 (18.63%) at 95% Confidence Interval (15.68-21.57) were diagnosed with skin tumors. Among them, 77 (61.6%) were female, and 48 (38.4%) were male. Among the diagnosed cases, 105 (84%) were benign, and 20 (16%) were malignant.
Conclusions: The findings from our study show the increasing prevalence of skin tumors, and the results were comparable to other similar studies conducted in various parts of Nepal.
Composite Anxiety-depression among Medical Undergraduates during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study Authors
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Chalise, Pratikshya; Singh, Avilasha; Rawal, Era; Budhathoki, Pravash; Sharma, Satyasuna; Jyotsana, Pallawi; Kafle, Riju
Abstract:
Introduction: Fear and anxiety is a natural response during crisis. From constant worry of getting infected, death of loved ones, transitioning of lifestyle to loss of social connection; there can be several psychological triggers. The effect on mental health on the general population could be greater than those affected by the infection itself during the pandemic. Among medical students, who already have several other psychological afflictions, these triggers might be detrimental. Hence, this study aims to find out the prevalence of composite anxiety-depression among medical undergraduates in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical undergraduates in a tertiary care hospital from 20th December 2020 to 5th January 2021. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. The sample size was calculated and convenient sampling was done. The data were entered in International Business Machines Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of 315 participants on the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety and Depression Scale, severe composite anxiety-depression was seen in 10 (3.17%) at 95% Confidence Interval (1.23-5.1) participants, moderate in 35 (11.11%) at 95% Confidence Interval (7.63-14.58) and mild in 98 (31.11%) at 95% Confidence Interval (25.99-36.22). And 172 (54.6%) at 95% Confidence Interval (49.1-60) were normal.
Conclusions: The rapid rise of apprehension among people amidst infectious outbreaks can ensue and medical students are no exception. So, at this time of crisis, there is a need to protect their mental health and it should be emphasized and endorsed.
Metallo-β Lactamase Producing Non-Fermentative Gram-Negative Bacilli from Various Clinical Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Shrestha, Mahendra; Baral, Ratna; Shrestha, Lok Bahadur
Abstract:
Introduction: Non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli are common causes of human infections especially nosocomial infections. These organisms are usually resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents including carbapenems. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of metallo-β-lactamase producing non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli among the samples which yielded growth of bacteria in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital from February 2017 to May 2017. Convenience sampling method was used. Bacterial identification, characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done by following standard microbiological guidelines. Metallo-β-lactamase production was detected by using combined disk diffusion test and double-disc synergy test. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package of Social Science software version 16. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Among 628 samples which yielded growth of bacteria, 118 (18.79%) at 95% Confidence Interval (15.74-21.84) were metallo-β-lactamase producing non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli. Among them, 54 (45.76%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 64 (54.24%) were Acinetobacter baumannii.
Conclusions: A high prevalence of metallo-β-lactamase production was observed among the nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli than the study done in similar settings. It is mandatory to perform routine monitoring of metallo-β-lactamase producing isolates in clinical laboratories in order to help the clinicians prescribe proper antibiotics.