ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of acupressure therapy as an adjunctive therapy to pharmacological treatment on pain and health-related quality of life (QOL) among knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.Methods: One hundred KOA patients were recruited from the orthopedic out-patient clinic of the institute. The patients were allocated randomly (flipping-coin simple randomization method) into an intervention group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). Patients in the intervention group received acupressure therapy along with pharmacological treatment. Patients in the control group did not receive acupressure therapy but continued their pharmacological treatment. Changes in pain (visual analog scale, VAS) and QOL (short-form 36-item health survey, SF-36) scores at baseline (A0), during training session (A1), follow-up at the 3rd month after training (A2) and follow-up at the 6th month after training session (A3) were collected and examined. Multiple regression analysis was used to check the relationship between pain and SF-36 domains. Results: The VAS score of participants in the intervention group decreased at A3 (P=0.001). Scores of physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE) and mental health (MH) of SF-36 in the intervention group improved more as compared with the control group. Patients in the intervention group with improvement in VAS (pain) score showed greater changes in mean scores of all domains of SF-36 from baseline (all P?0.05). Except bodily pain (BP), the other domains of SF-36 were negatively correlated with pain score. Conclusion: Acupressure therapy with pharmacological treatment can improve health-related QOL and pain among KOA patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Oral cancer is the second most prevalent cancers among males in Jaipur city. Assessment of risk factors profile of patients will help the policy makers in initiating new ways to curb the usage of tobacco among masses. The present study aims to find out the risk factors profile of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients at two hospitals of Jaipur city.Methods: It was a prospective and observational study. The patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were recruited. Data on the demographic profile and clinical information were obtained from hospital and clinical records. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 14 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Chi-square test was performed to analyse the data.Results: Out of 400 oral cancer patients included in this study majority of the patients were in the age range of 40-60years and with a significant male preponderance in all the age groups (P <0.05). The most common habit among males and females was chewing. Buccal mucosa was the most commonly affected site followed by tongue. Both males and females were more likely to be diagnosed in stage 3 (p <0.05).Conclusions: There is a need to reduce the burden of this disease by educating the people about various risk factors which play role in oral cancer development.
ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of this study was to know the pattern & rationality of antimicrobial prescription by dental practitioners. Methods: It was questionnaire based cross sectional study. A total of 175 questionnaires were distributed to dental practitioners working in a tertiary care Dental College & Hospital and private practitioners in Jaipur (Rajasthan). The questionnaire contained questions about years of practice, diagnosis for which antimicrobial were prescribed, dosage and duration of antimicrobial drugs for prophylaxis, acute and chronic conditions, patient compliance & adverse effects. Data was expressed as counts and percentages. Results: Out of 175 questionnaires distributed, 150 were included in the study. 78% dentists had practices less than 5 years duration. Most common indications for which antimicrobials were prescribed were abscess, cellulitis, irreversible pulpitis, and acute gingivitis. Most common antimicrobials used for prophylaxis were Amoxycillin and Metronidazole. For the treatment of acute and chronic conditions, Amoxycillin, Metronidazole, Ofloxacin and Ornidazole alone or in combination were used. Only 20% dentist advised culture & sensitivity tests. 74% patients completed the recommended course of antimicrobials. 56% patients reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with the most common being nausea and vomiting, but only 13% dentists reported them to proper authorities. Conclusions: In this study, Amoxycillin and Metronidazole were the most common drugs used for the management of oral diseases, but were prescribed without culture & sensitivity in most cases. 56% patients reported ADRs, but only 13% dentists reported them to proper authorities. Appropriate measures need to be taken to promote rational prescribing and ADR reporting.