bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitude, and health seeking behavior on leprosy among urban adults in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu
Authors: S Gopalakrishnan , Grace G Angeline , P Sujitha , Eashwar V. M Anantha 
Published: June 2021

Introduction:
Although various measures are taken to create awareness about the epidemiological features of leprosy and encourage health-seeking behavior, they have seldom been able to tackle the high incidence of new leprosy cases in India.

Objective:
To determine Leprosy-related knowledge, attitude, and health seeking behavior among the urban population in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Materials and Methods:
This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample size of 640 people above 18 years of age residing in the study area, selected by multistage random sampling. A structured pretested questionnaire was used for data collection, and the data analysis was done using SPSS version 22.

Results:
Among the study participants, 54.7% of the participants had adequate knowledge and 23.3% had favorable attitude towards leprosy. With regard to knowledge, 66% of the participants believe that leprosy is a serious disease, and 71.2% of them were aware of transmission of leprosy from person to person. With regard to attitude, 57.7% were afraid of being diagnosed with leprosy, and 57% felt compassion and desire to help those diagnosed with leprosy. With regard to health-seeking behavior, around 83% preferred treatment from government hospitals and allopathic treatment. Male sex, occupation, education, and marital status were found to be having statistically significant association with knowledge, while the latter two were found to be associated with favorable attitude towards leprosy.

Conclusion:
Unfavorable attitude and inadequate knowledge regarding leprosy was found among the study participants. Behavior change communication programs have to be enhanced at community level to improve the knowledge and attitude regarding leprosy among the population.
A community-based cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude, and perceptions about asthma among healthy adults in rural South India
Authors: Daniel Jefferson , Inbaraj Leeberk Raja , Jenkins Sam , Ramamurthy Prashant Hanumanthappa , Isaac Rita 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Evidence suggests that proper knowledge and perceptions about asthma result in a positive correlation with compliance with medications and regular medical follow-up. Assessing the level of knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) in the community is essential for planning public health interventions. There is a lacuna on community-based KAP study on asthma in rural India, as most of the existing evidence is from hospital-based studies in an urban setting.

Methods:
We interviewed 280 healthy adults from 14 villages in South India using the Chicago community asthma survey-32 (CCAS-32) questionnaire. We noted the frequency distribution of responses to the questions and scored KAP on symptoms, triggers, and treatment, and performed bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:
The mean age was 37.7 years ranging from 18 to 62 years. Almost half of them (47%) had primary or middle school education. 40.7% and 57.9% believed severe headache and tightness of chest were symptoms of asthma, respectively. Similarly, 38.2% and 48.4% thought asthma was a hereditary and contagious disease, respectively, whereas 41.8% of perceived asthma medications could be addictive. Having witnessed “patients with asthma” was associated with KAP on symptoms and triggers while younger age and having a relative with asthma were associated with KAP on treatment independently. Participants who had relatives with asthma were three times [(OR 3.04; 95% (1.5–6.1)] more likely to have good KAP compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion:
Asthma knowledge and perceptions are sparse in rural India. Adequate investments in public awareness are the need of the hour.
Study to identify predictor of hypoxia in COVID-19 infection
Authors: Rai Deependra K. , Thakur Somesh 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Given the limited availability of critical care resources in our country, it is important to identify reliable predictors of hypoxia in patients with COVID-19 infection. We thus sought to compare differential predictive values of demographic, clinical, and laboratory measures and identify predictor for hypoxia in COVID-19 infection.

Materials and Methods:
This is single-center retrospective analysis of patient admitted at AIIMS Patna between 15th June and 15th Aug. All the patients who had oxygen saturation less than 94% grouped under hypoxic group while ≥94% in non-hypoxic group at room air. Statistical analysis: Logistic regression model used to determine the predictor of hypoxia in COVID-19 infection.

Results:
Total 73 were used for analysis. Study patients had a mean age of 55.05 ± 12.7 year, of whom 78.08% were male (57/73). 39 (53.42%) patients were found hypoxic at time of admission while 34 (46.56%) were non-hypoxic. Presence of dyspnoea significantly found more frequently in hypoxic patients (P = 0.0003). Patients with O2 saturation of less than 94% have more likely to have diabetes (P = 0.002) and hypertension (P = 0.02). Analysis of laboratory variables showed that leucocytosis (P = 0.007) and neutrophilia (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in hypoxic group compare to non-hypoxic group. Univariate regression model showed patient with any one comorbidities, diabetes, or hypertension was found as strong risk factor for hypoxia after COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:
This is the first study to identify predictor of hypoxia in COVID-19 infection. Patient with any one comorbidities, diabetes, or hypertension was found strong risk factor for hypoxia after COVID-19 infection. Among lab variable, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, and CRP (>27.5 mg/L) were found as predictor of hypoxia in COVID infection.
Clinical audit on assessment of non-glycemic parameters in diabetic patients by physicians
Authors: S Ramya , Anand Arjun , Bhaskar Swapna , Prasad Shankar 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem in family practice causing multiple micro and macrovascular complications; the prevention of which should be the main aim of treating physicians. Lack of proper assessment can hasten the complications and a meticulous screening system is a prerequisite in every diabetic patient's evaluation.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of screening for non-glycemic parameters in type 2 DM patients by physicians in an outpatient setting.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital during December 2019. A total of 254 patients with type 2 DM without any complications were randomly selected for screening as per the criteria developed by RSSDI [Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India].

Results:
Complete history and physical examination were done by physicians in all the participants. Measurement of blood pressure at every visit was done in about 95% of patients and 90% of them were counseled for cessation of smoking. But only about 60% or less of patients were screened for microalbuminuria, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Advice on comprehensive foot care was also not a regular practice among physicians.

Conclusion:
This clinical audit showed that 90% of the patients had undergone only 4 of the 9 RSSDI recommended screening. The other parameters had been carried out in only among 40 to 60% of the patients. Thus, primary care physicians have to emphasize on the subtle but important criteria like ophthalmic examination, peripheral neuropathy and microalbuminuria during regular outpatient visits.
Mobile phone use while driving
Authors: Almansoor Laila Abdulrahman , Jahan Saulat 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Globally, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) cause around 1.35 million deaths annually. Distracted driving, a risk factor for MVA, includes diversion of attention from driving because of use of mobile phone.

Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of mobile phone use and to explore task management strategies, risk perception and attitude towards mobile phone use while driving among Qassim University students.

Methods:
An online cross-sectional survey among 212 randomly selected medical (n = 83) and engineering students (n = 129) of Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, through semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire, designed using Google forms. The survey was conducted from February to March 2020.

Results:
The overall prevalence of mobile phone use while driving was 93.4% (medical students: 96.4%; engineering students: 91.5%). Around 49.5% participants 'often' or 'always' used mobile phone while driving. Among task management strategies, 169 (79.7%) participants were 'likely' or 'very likely' to lower their driving speed while 90 (42.5%) were 'likely' or 'very likely' to increase control over the steering while using mobile phone during driving. Regarding risk perception, 173 (81.6%) participants thought that they were 'unlikely' or 'very unlikely' to have MVA on looking at phone continuously for more than 2 s, and 185 (87.3%) participants thought that they were 'unlikely' or 'very unlikely' to have MVA by texting or browsing while driving. Thirty-six (17%) participants reported MVA because of distraction by mobile phone use while driving.

Conclusion:
High prevalence of mobile phone use during driving and low perceived risk of experiencing MVA because of mobile phone use was found among Qassim University students. Creating awareness on risks of mobile phone use while driving is recommended.
Clinico demographic profiling of the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infected children admitted in tertiary care hospital in North India
Authors: Singh Charu , Angurana Suresh Kumar , Bora Ishani , Jain Neha , Kaur Kanwalpreet , Sarkar Subhabrata 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Acute bronchiolitis is fatal disease involving lower respiratory tract of infants and children of paediatric age group. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is responsible for causing more than 70% hospital admissions of children aged less than 2 years thus making a necessity for accurate and timely diagnosis.

Aims:
The main aim of study was clinicodemographic correlation of RSV positive children presenting to our tertiary care hospital.

Setting and Design:
It is a retrospective study done between December to January 2018.

Materials and Methods:
Detection of RSV antigen from nasophyrangeal aspirates using Mouse Monoclonal anti RSV Antibody (by Novatetra) and Goat Anti Mouse Antibody conjugated with FITC as secondary antibody.

Results:
A total of 147 samples were received in the laboratory and 20 were tested as positive for RSV Antigen. Totally, 19/20 children were aged less than 1 year and with a male predominance. The most common symptom was cough and respiratory distress. Eight percent of the children showed wheezing and 18/20 required assisted ventilation. The clinical course in one child deteriorated leading to death of that patient.

Conclusions:
The timely diagnosis and management of RSV infected children is utmost needed to prevent morbidity and mortality. The premorbid conditions can assist to differentiate the viral from bacterial pneumonia and thus enable speedy recovery of the child.
Oral pain and infection control strategies for treating children and adolescents in India
Authors: Kaul Rahul , Sandhu H. S. , Talwar Brijinder Singh , Chengappa DMM , Bali Atul , Koul Rishu 
Published: June 2021

Introduction:
Oral and dental health form an integral part of complete well being of an individual and society at large. Promoting oral health and societal progression go hand in hand.

Aim:
To investigate dentists' attitudes about pain and infection control while treating children and adolescents by assessing their recommendations of pre- and postoperative analgesics and antibiotics, and use of local anesthesia (LA) for definitive treatment in different clinical scenarios.

Materials and Method:
A total of 400 dentists, both general dental practitioners (GDPS) as well as specialist dentists, were surveyed over a period of 2 months by using a pre-tested close-ended questionnaire. The data was statistically analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test and backward logistic regression analysis for analysis of categorical variables and independent variables, respectively. Level of significance was set at 5%.

Results:
It was found that there was a gross overuse of antibiotics and analgesics and under use of LA by GDPs compared to specialist dentists. Postoperative antibiotics and analgesics were used more commonly than preoperative antibiotics and analgesics. These strategies were used more often in permanent teeth than primary teeth except the use of LA, which was used with equal frequency in both primary as well as permanent dentition.

Conclusion:
Dependence on antibiotics and analgesics for achieving pain and infection control in children has to be minimized and focus has to be shifted on judicious definitive treatment involving use of LA, aseptic techniques, and behavior management techniques.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care professionals on laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Tapasyapreeti , Relan Jay , Subramanian Arulselvi , Lathwal Amit 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is currently a global public health concern. Thorough knowledge of diagnostics of COVID-19 amongst health care professionals (HCPs) is critical for timely and accurate diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice among HCPs related to the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

Materials and Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on KAPs regarding COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis. Knowledge and practice scores were calculated and categorized based on the number of correct responses. Predictors of knowledge and practice scores were identified by logistic regression analyses.

Results:
In all, 347 HCPs participated. Most participants had an average knowledge score and suboptimal practice score. Independent predictors of getting an average knowledge score were being indirectly involved in laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 (odds ratio, OR: 2.591; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.106–6.070), and having a government website as a major source of information (OR: 6.184; 95% CI: 1.185–32.286). Of all, 66.3% thought that testing rate for COVID-19 detection in India is unsatisfactory and 67.2% feared getting infected at work due to delays in test results. Most participants (90.5%) felt that more training programs related to laboratory diagnosis are needed. Practice scores significantly differed among HCPs of opposite sexes, different professions, and different information sources.

Conclusions:
Our results highlight the need for planning constructive strategies to improve KAP among HCPs related to the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Timely dissemination of correct information to HCPs by the health authorities is critical to win this battle against COVID-19.
Bariatric metabolic surgery
Authors: Bhandari Vinod , Kosta Susmit , Bhandari Mohit , Bhandari Mahak , Mathur Winni , Fobi Mathias 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Bariatric metabolic surgery is evolving as an option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with obesity and T2DM, warranting more studies on the efficacy of bariatric metabolic surgery on T2DM.

Objective:
To determine T2DM remission in patients with obesity and T2DM with up to two years follow-up after bariatric metabolic surgery.

Materials and Methods:
A retrospective review of prospectively maintained data was undertaken to identify patients who had T2DM and underwent bariatric surgery at a single centre in 2016. Data collected included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1c, hypertension, (HTN), Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), initial weight and the weight at intervals of 6, 12, and 24 months. Data on the treatment of T2DM before the surgery was also collected. The criteria of the American Diabetes Association were used for the definition of T2DM remission. Only the data on patients in this study who had more than 12 months’ follow-up information was analysed.

Results:
Two hundred and eighty patients with T2DM were identified. 191 patients had more than 12 months’ follow-up information. Mean age and BMI were 49.58 ± 10.64 years and 44.03 ± 7.86 kg/m2 respectively. There were 29 patients on insulin, 21 (10.9%) on insulin only and 8 (4.2%) on insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). One hundred and forty-six patients (76.4%) were on OHA, 134 on a single OHA and 12 on more than one OHA. Twenty-six patients (13.6%) were newly diagnosed with T2DM when they came in for bariatric metabolic surgery. One hundred and fifty-six patients (81.7%) achieved complete remission. 14 (7.3%) of these patients used to be on insulin with or without OHA and 142 (74.3%) were patients either on OHA or no OHA. There were 12 (6.4%) patients in partial remission. There was improvement in 23 (12.04%). Eight patients were on insulin but at lower doses and 15 were on a single OHA. The average percentage of total weight loss at 6, 12 and 24 months was 29.7%, 33.9% and 35.6% respectively. Patients with shorter duration of T2DM had higher remission rates as compared to patients with longer duration (r = −0.874, P = 0.001). There was also a significant resolution of HTN (81.8%) and OSA (82.3%) after bariatric metabolic surgery.

Conclusion:
This study collaborates reports that there is significant remission of T2DM after bariatric metabolic surgery in patients with obesity and T2DM. There is a need for prospective, multi-centre, and long-term studies on bariatric metabolic surgery to treat patients with obesity and T2DM.
Impact of video-assisted teaching programs regarding hand hygiene among oncology nurses
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Pareek Shatrughan 
Published: June 2021

Background and Objectives:
Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures in reducing the transmission of infectious agents in health-care settings, and it assists in the prevention of infection in patients with surgical intervention. The aims of the present study were to assess the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding hand hygiene and to evaluate the effectiveness of video-assisted teaching programs on knowledge regarding hand hygiene.

Materials and Methods:
A quantitative approach and pre-experimental research design were found suitable for the study. The investigator assessed the existing knowledge among staff nurses regarding hand hygiene for the prevention of infection in patients with cancer undergoing surgery by using a structured knowledge questionnaire; they found an association between knowledge and selected demographic variables.

Results:
The majority (63.30%) of the sample were female. Nearly half of the participants belonged to the age group 21–30 years. In professional education, most (55.00%) of the samples had a diploma in nursing. Further, the mean pretest knowledge score was 15.5 ± 3.735 whereas the posttest knowledge score was 24.38 ± 4.446. Therefore, the t-test was statistically significant (P = 0.0001) and it revealed that the video-assisted teaching program was effective in enhancing the knowledge of the nurses about hand hygiene. In addition, there was a significant association between age, source of information, working experience, and area of working but no significant association was reported between gender and professional qualification.

Conclusion:
The intervention was significantly effective in enhancing the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding hand hygiene. Therefore, administrators have to implement such educational programs to increase the knowledge of nurses.
Regional Variation of Family Planning Services in Nigerian Health Facilities
Authors: Onoja Johnson A. , Sanni Olaniyi F. , Ogedengge Chris O. , Onoja Sheila I. , Abiodun Paul O. , Abubakar Aisha 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Availability and accessibility of family planning (FP) services are the major factors affecting the fertility pattern and population growth rate in low-resource settings. This study aimed at assessing the availability of contraceptive methods in Nigeria health facilities offering FP services.

Materials and Methods:
This study compared survey data on FP services available from each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The study was a descriptive analysis of variations in the availability of FP services and contraceptive methods across the regions.

Result:
Out of the 767 facilities surveyed, 375 (48.9%) were located in rural areas and 392 (51.1%) in urban areas. The Northwest had the highest male condom availability of 96.2%. The emergency contraceptive method was being offered by 35.8% of the total 636 facilities reportedly offering the service. The proportion of the facilities offering the oral contraceptive method was higher in the Northeast (100.0%), Northwest (94.9%), and South-South (92.0%) than other regions (P = 0.002). While only 9.3% of facilities in the Northeast and 10.0% in the North-Central were offering sterilization for males, higher proportions, 17.7% of South-East and 32.7% of South-South facilities were offering it. The level of stockout of at least one FP method on the day of this survey was high across all regions, with the Northeast (60.8%) and North-Central (59.9%) having the highest proportion and the Northwest having the least stockouts (46.1%).

Conclusion:
This study found inconsistent FP services across all the six regions. Also, the proportion of facilities that had a stockout of at least one contraceptive method is unacceptably high and deserves improvement interventions.
Knowledge, acceptance, and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers in Nigeria
Authors: Robinson Ebbi Donald , Wilson Peace , Eleki Beneboba Jenewari , Wonodi Woroma 
Published: June 2021

Introduction:
Health Care Workers are major influencers in vaccination, thus their acceptance or hesitancy to the covid-19 vaccine would either aid its acceptance among the populace.

Materials and Methods:
The study was a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire from December 15, 2020 to January 10, 2021 among healthcare providers living in Nigeria. The questionnaire was made up of segments that include demographics information, knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, its acceptance or hesitancy. The questionnaire was fashioned using Likert scale multiple questions of three options: YES, NO, and I Don’t know (No opinion) and Aware, Somewhat aware, and Not aware. Data collected were entered into the spreadsheet using IBM SPSS version 22.0 statistical software and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results were presented as percentages, frequency, tables, and figures.

Results:
A total of 1094 responses were retrieved. The majority are males (56.67%) with 36.93% of the respondents aged 30–39 years. PHC Worker forms 14.90% of the respondents and social media was the greatest source of information. A percentage of 45.74% have no confidence in the vaccine and 39.68% rejecting, the majority been males (47.38%). The reasons for hesitancy are concerns of effectiveness, side effects, fear of the unknown, and safety. The highest rejection was by Dental Technicians (53.03%) while the highest acceptance was Medical consultants (72.22%).

Conclusion:
The study shows that about 3 out of every 10 health workers showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for various reasons. The study recommends effective education, training, and public enlightenment to change the narrative.