Journal Issue: Vol. 21 No. 02 (2023): Issue 59 Apr-Jun
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1999-6217
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Perceived Burden of Care among Parents of Children with Sickle Cell Disease
(Nepal Health Research Council, 2023) Nai, Saraswoti; Ranjitkar, Uma Devi; Pandey, Apsara
Abstract
Background: Children affected with Sickle Cell Disease mostly depend on their parents for assistance which creates physical, emotional, social, and financial burdens among the parents. The objective of this study was to find out the level of perceived burden of care among parents of children with sickle cell disease in a hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used with a quantitative approach. The data were collected using a structured interview schedule using the Zarit Burden Interview scale among 152 parents attending the social service unit of Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj. A nonprobability purposive sampling technique was used. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 20. The Chi-square test was used to measure the association between the level of burden of care and selected variables.
Results: One hundred and fifty-two parents were included in the study, among which more than half (58.6%) were fathers. More than half (52.0%) of parents perceived mild to moderate burden with a Mean±SD score of level of burden is 1.26±0.44. A significant statistical association was found between the level of burden of care and the relationship to the child (p=0.002), and the type of family (p=0.04).
Conclusions: The study showed that the majority of the parents’ perceived a mild to moderate burden.
Keywords: Burden of care; parents; sickle cell disease; zarit burden interview
Comparison of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis and Modified Computed Tomography Severity Index Scores in Predicting the Outcome in Acute Pancreatitis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Nepal
(Nepal Health Research Council, 2023) Pandey, Rajesh; Pathak, Rahul; Jha, Anurag; Gnawali, Arun; Koirala, Dinesh
Abstract
Background: It is important to identify the severity of acute pancreatitis in the early course of the disease.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 83 patients with acute pancreatitis. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis scores were assessed within 24?hours of admission, and the modified computed tomography severity index score was calculated in those patients who underwent contrast enhanced computed tomography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of scoring systems were calculated. The area under the curve was calculated for assessing the prognostic value of scoring systems.
Results: The modified computed tomography severity index was the most accurate score in predicting severity and local complications with an area under the curve of 0.92 and 0.91, respectively. The Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score was the most accurate in predicting organ failure and the need for intensive care unit admission with an area under the curve of 0.70 and 0.78 respectively.
Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that modified computed tomography severity index and Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis scores had overall better predictive value than the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in predicting severity, organ failure, local complication, and need for intensive care unit admission.
Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; APACHE II; BISAP; modified CTSI
Prevalence and Comparision of Conventional Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease Between Clinical and Nonclinical Staff
(Nepal Health Research Council, 2023) Khadka, Sunita; Dhungana, Suraksha; Prajapati, Dipanker; Dhungana, Murari; Dangol, Prati Badan; Shakya, Roji; Tamrakar, Binita; Kandel, Unnati; Adhikari, Chandra Mani
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the globe. A number of studies have shown that hospital staff are vulnerable to cardiovascular disease due to a certain risk of shift duty. It is important to identify cardiovascular risk factors among hospital staff. The aim of this study is, to assess the prevalence of conventional risk factors of cardiovascular disease among hospital staff.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among staff working at a Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center, a tertiary cardiac center in Nepal. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between independent variables and cardiovascular diseases. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20.
Results: A total of 250 hospital staff participated in this study. Among them, 137 were clinical staff and 113 were non-clinical staff. The mean age of clinical staff and the non-clinical staff was 33.69 ± 7.02 years and 38.7 ± 10.58 years respectively with a total of 66.8% females. Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia was less in clinical staff compared to non-clinical staff. The mean systolic, diastolic BP was high in non-clinical staff ( P-value 0.001), moreover mean HDL-C was low (1.2 ± 0.2 mmol). BMI was significantly low in clinical staff. [standardized ?= -0.24; 95% CI: -2.90, -0.88].
Conclusions: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were high in non-clinical staff compared to clinical staff.
Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; conventional risk factors; hospital staff
Demographic Profile and Outcome of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
(Nepal Health Research Council, 2023) Bastola, Ramchandra; Shrestha, Shree krishna; Sigdel, Bhawana; Poudel, Drishti; Ghimire, Sunita; Ghimire, Amrita; Khadka, Khim Bahadur; Basnet, Anjali
Abstract
Background: Pediatric intensive care provides better observation as well as an intensive treatment, which helps to cure, support, and provide better outcomes for sick children. This study aimed to describe the demographic profile and the outcome of PICU patients, and evaluate the relationship of diagnostic categories with treatment and outcome.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a six-bedded PICU from 1 March 2021 to 1 March 2022. Bivariate analysis was used to identify the association between dependent and independent variables.
Results: The infants admitted below 6 months of age were 63 (22.3%) and had male predominance accounting for 64%. The main portal of entry of the admitted cases was emergency ward 214(75.6%). Most of the patients 153(54.1%) were admitted for intensive monitoring of their abnormal vitals along with critical care according to our PICU protocol. Respiratory illness 122(43.1%), neurosurgical illness 59(20.8%), and primary infectious disease 52(18.3%) were the common reason for PICU admission. Post-major surgery 2(66.7%), hematological illness 3(37.5%), and cardiac disorders 1(20%) had high mortality rates. Among the portal of admission, the majority of the children (80.0 %) who were admitted to the PICU through the emergency ward died before exiting from the PICU (p<0.0001).
Conclusions: Respiratory illness was the most common cause of admission and post-major surgery had the highest mortality rate. Portal of entry was statistically associated with patient characteristics and had a significant relationship with the outcome. Similar studies in other health institutions are required to further analyze the demographic profile and outcome of pediatric critical care in Nepal.
Keywords: Infants; Intensive care; Patients; Pediatric
Health Professionals and Pharmacists Awareness and Attitude Towards Counterfeit Medicine
(Nepal Health Research Council, 2023) Chaudhary, Sabina
Abstract
Background: Counterfeit medicine is not only illegal, but it is also an insidious threat and poses serious public health and safety concern. Health professionals can play an important role in campaign against counterfeit drugs by staying vigilant, reporting suspicious products and preventing the distribution of counterfeit medicine. The present study aims to assess the awareness and attitude towards counterfeit medicine among health professionals and pharmacists in Nepal.
Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 264 health professionals and pharmacists of Saptari, Nepal. Samples were recruited by quota sampling technique and pretested, self-administered questionnaire were used for collecting data regarding socio-demographic, knowledge and attitude on counterfeit medicine. Descriptive & inferential statistics were used to analyze the data generated.
Results: This study found that mean knowledge score of respondent was 12.11±4.3 and only 31.7% (n=39) of the respondents had good knowledge on counterfeit medicine while 44.7% (n=55) showed moderate and 23.6% (n=29) had poor knowledge levels. Nurses, paramedics and pharmacists scored statistically lower than doctors, however there was no significant difference in knowledge between nurses and pharmacists (p<0.001). Mean attitude score was 3.82 (±0.68) and majority of respondents (85.3%) showed favorable attitude towards counterfeit medicine. Respondents having poor knowledge level had statistically significant unfavorable attitude towards counterfeit medicine
Conclusions: The study highlighted the need for counterfeit medicine awareness campaigns and training to enhance the role of health professionals and pharmacists to recognize and report suspicious medicine and prevent counterfeit medicines-associated harms.
Keywords: Attitude; counterfeit medicine; health professionals; knowledge; pharmacists