Browsing by Author "Karmacharya, Biraj Man"
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Publication Effectiveness of Structured Counseling Program for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Essential Hypertension(Nepal Health Research Council, 2024) Shrestha, Anmol Purna; Shrestha, Abha; Shrestha, Roshana; Karmacharya, Robin Man; Thakur, Chanda; Shrestha, Rashmi; Vaidya, Nirish; Karmacharya, Biraj ManBackground: The burden of hypertension is high in our context. Poor adherence contributes to poor hypertension control. This pilot study aims to study the effect of structured counseling programs on antihypertensive therapy adherence and blood pressure control. Methods: This is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design type I- Quasi-experimental feasibility study. We recruited newly diagnosed hypertensive patients under antihypertensives with 50 each in the intervention and control group. We adapted existing guidelines to devise a structured counseling program. The intervention group underwent the counseling program. We called both groups after one month to assess the adherence and blood pressure control. Results: We recruited 100 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Twenty-two participants dropped out in the one-month follow-up visit. Among the remaining 78 individuals, 73 (94%) demonstrated good adherence. The post-intervention median (IQR) of medication adherence scores assessed with the Medication Adherence and Report Scale (MARS) in the intervention and control groups after one month was 50 (48-50) and 48 (43.5-50) respectively (p=0.015). The immediate knowledge score increased significantly in the intervention group after the structured counseling. Nevertheless, there was no significant change in systolic and diastolic pressure recordings in the intervention group one-month post-intervention when compared to that of the control group. Conclusions: The findings of this pilot study suggest that the structured counseling program should be tailored to local needs and should be compounded with regular follow-ups for reinforcement, drug reminders, and family and peer support along with a collaborative effort to ensure adherence and control. Keywords: Adherence; antihypertensive; hypertension management; structured counseling.Publication Profile of Clients of HIV Testing and Counseling in a Tertiary Care Center and Need of Testing in Tuberculosis(Society of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists of Nepal (SODVELON), 2019) Shrestha, Smriti; Karn, Dharmendra; Tamrakar, Dipesh; Madhup, Surendra; Karmacharya, Biraj ManAbstract: Introduction: Sexually transmitted infection is public health issue that amplifies HIV burden globally. At National Center of AIDS and STD Control, annual reported STI are rising steeply recently. Incidence of HIV is 0.03% while prevalence in adult population is less than 1%. National HIV testing guidelines 2017 recommends HIV tests should be performed in tuberculosis and medical conditions. However, it is not routinely done in Nepal. Objective: To assess profile of STI and HIV among patients attending HIV testing and counseling center of tertiary hospital, and to assess fraction of tuberculosis patients undergoing HIV testing. Materials and Methods: All patients attending HIV testing and counseling center were tested for HIV. Tests for STI were done based on patient symptoms. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS. Results: Suspected STI (41.1%) was commonest cause of HIV testing. Among STI, gram positive diplococcic were noted in 11.5% and 3.4% had PCR positive Chlamydia. Only 19.4% (7 out of 36) of total tuberculosis patients in hospital were screened for HIV, among which, 57.14% (4 out of 7) were seropositive for HIV, which is noteworthy. Conclusion: Our study shows patterns of STI, and that gonorrhea and chlamydia could be underdiagnosed in Nepal. Every patient with tuberculosis should routinely be screened for HIV. But only small fraction of tuberculosis patients underwent HIV screening, out of which HIV positivity was high, reflecting the gap and need for routine HIV screening in TB patients. Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV infections, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, TuberculosisPublication Shifting The Paradigm: Nepal as a Potential Leader in The Field of Medical Education(Kathmandu University, 2011) Karmacharya, Biraj ManNA