Browsing by Author "Jha, Nisha"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Publication Antibiotics Use in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Thapa, Bibechan; Pathak, Samyam Bickram; Jha, Nisha; Sijapati, Milesh Jung; Shankar, Pathiyil RaviAbstract Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. The widespread and improper antibiotics use is the leading cause of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients is the basis for the use of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19. COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted antibiotic stewardship and increased the global usage of antibiotics, worsening the antimicrobial resistance problem. The use of antibiotics among COVID-19 patients is high but there are limited studies in the context of Nepal. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on hospitalised COVID-19 patients from April 2021 to June 2021 in a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2078/79/05). The hospital data were collected in the proforma by reviewing the patient’s medical records during the study period of 2 months. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 106 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of antibiotic use was 104 (98.11%) (95.52-100, 95% Confidence Interval). About 74 (71.15%) of patients received multiple antibiotics. The most common classes of antibiotics used were cephalosporins, seen in 85 (81.73%) and macrolides, seen in 57 (54.81%) patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients was found to be higher when compared to other studies conducted in similar settings.Publication Mean Knowledge Score of Self-Medication among First and Second Year Medical and Dental Students in a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Kafle, Sajala; Jha, Nisha; Pathyil, Ravi ShankarAbstract: Introduction: Self-medication is common among medical students. Medical and dental students can also educate the population about the use of medicines. The aim of the study was to find the mean knowledge score of self-medication among first and second year medical and dental students at a medical college in Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in a medical college from 1st to 28th February 2021 using a structured online questionnaire after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Committee (approval number 077/78/32). Convenience sampling method was undertaken. The responses were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Results: Out of 173 students the mean±SD knowledge score was 79.47±6.76. The mean knowledge score of the participants of age group 17-18, 19-20 and 21-22 years were 83.8, 79 and 79.1 respectively. The mean knowledge scores of the male and female participants were 80.2 and 78.6 respectively. Similarly, the knowledge scores of respondents from undergraduate medical and dental backgrounds were 80.1 and 77.7 respectively. Conclusions: Knowledge of self-medication was high among the students. However, educational sessions to further improve and strengthen knowledge can be carried out to improve the knowledge.Publication Perceived Prevalence, Awareness and Attitude towards Counterfeit Medicines among Community Pharmacists of Kathmandu Valley: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study(Nepal Medical Association, 2024) Kafle, Sajala; Jha, Nisha; Bhandary, Shital; Shankar, Pathiyil RaviAbstract Introduction: Counterfeit medicines are a significant problem globally. In a developing country like Nepal, community pharmacists play an important role in dispensing medicines. The study was done to assess community pharmacists’ perceived prevalence, awareness and attitude towards counterfeit medicines in Kathmandu valley. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Data was collected conveniently from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur districts in March 2022 after obtaining ethical clearance from Nepal Health Research Council (reference no. 2200) and taking written informed consent from Community Pharmacists. Results: Among the 343 pharmacists who participated, 250 (72.89%) were from Kathmandu, 57 (16.62%) were from Lalitpur, and 36 (10.50%) from Bhaktapur. Most 252 (73.47%) were aged between 20 to 30 years, 222 (64.72%) were male, 239 (69.68%) had done a Diploma in Pharmacy, 201 (58.60%) had working experience of more than 5 years and 342 (99.71%) had done their education in Nepal. Their median perceived prevalence of counterfeit drugs was 10.00% but only 2.30% had clear knowledge of such practice. 332 (96.79%) believed that actions should be taken against community pharmacists dispensing counterfeit drugs, 325 (94.75%) believed that pharmacists who dispense counterfeit medicines are unprofessional; 338 (98.54%) stated that there should be strong law against counterfeit medicine sales. Conclusions: Median perceived prevalence of counterfeit medicines was 10.00% but only 2.30% were aware of counterfeit medicine dispensing. Out of 343 pharmacists, 332 (96.79%) mentioned that action should be taken against those pharmacists knowingly dispensing counterfeit medicines and 338 (98.54%) stated that there should be strong law against counterfeit medicines.Publication Treatment of COVID-19 Patients during Second Wave in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal(Institute of Medicine, 2022) Devkota, Pragya; Bajracharya, Omi; Manandhar, Tejendra; Kafle, Sajala; Jha, Nisha; Kafle, Kumud K; Sijapati, Milesh JABSTRACT Introduction: The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Nepal in April 2021. It was caused by genetic variants of SARS-CoV2. The objective of the study was to find out severity of patients, their treatment and approximate drug cost for the treatment of COVID-19 in the second wave. Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, data of all patients who tested positive and were admitted in KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital between April 2021 – July 2021 was collected for the study. A total of 215 patients were included. Results: Among the cases admitted, 190 (88.4%) patients were symptomatic. ICU/HDU admission was done in 113 (52.5%) cases, among which 33 (29.2%) patients received ventilator support. The patients treated in isolation unit were 102 (47.4%). Among the patients admitted, 23 (10.7%) were vaccinated. Severe cases were 80 (37%), moderate cases were 71 (33%) and mild cases were 49 (23%). Antibiotics were used in 190 (88.4%) cases. More than one antibiotics were used in 141 (65.6%) cases. Antifungals were used in 39 (18.1%) cases. Other drugs like corticosteroids were used in 185 (86%), proton-pump inhibitors in 179 (84.3%), antihistaminics in 169 (78.4%) and anticoagulants in 165 (76.7%), Vitamin C in 153 (71.2%), Vitamin D in 152 (70.7%) and zinc in 140 (65.1%) cases. The number of patients discharged after recovery was 151 (70.2%) and 41 (19.5%) patients died. The average drug cost was NPR. 3,246 in mild, 27,645 in moderate and 76,420 in severe cases. Conclusion: Majority of patients were treated in ICU/HDU. Most commonly used drugs were antibiotics, corticosteroids and anticoagulants. Mortality was high in the second wave. Keywords: Cost, COVID-19, drugs