ABSTRACT
Background: The study has been performed to evaluate the efficacy of budesonide delivery by different form of devices like nebulizer, metered dose inhaler and dry powder inhaler to adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma. The changes in pulmonary function test parameters have been consider for evaluation.Methods: This prospective study was undertaken to assess the relative efficiency of budesonide administered from devices like nebulizer, metered dose inhaler and dry powder inhaler in adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma. Fifty subjects where administered budesonide (1mg) via nebulizer, budesonide (400 microgram) by metered dose inhaler and dry powder inhaler consecutively each week for four weeks under direct supervision. To analyze the effect of budesonide delivered through different devices pulmonary function test was carried out on the subject before and one hour after administration of the drug on each visit.Results: No significant difference in Peak expiratory flow rate (P=0.77), forced expiratory volume in one second (P=0.851), forced vital capacity (P=0.178) and forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity ratio (P=0.298) was seen after giving budesonide by different devices.Conclusions: Budesonide delivered by different devices (nebulizer, metered dose inhaler, and dry powder inhaler) have similar effect on lung function in patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma. In the daily clinical practice, the correct choice of an inhaler device should be related with the patient's characteristics. They may be used interchangeably depending on availability, cost and compliance of the patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of Pakistani women about breast cancer
Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Sep 2012 to Feb 2013
Material and Methods: Two hundred adult female patients and their accompanying attendants were randomly selected [Those with breast complaints were excluded] in outpatient department of military hospitals and were interviewed. In order to gather data patients were asked to reply through a questionnaire along with their demographic profile structure questionnaire, comprising of 28 questions [included both open and closed ended], was used to collect data which was analyzed in the end with the help of SPSS version 15
Results: Mean age of participants was 37.5 +/- 7.5 years. Majority were married [87 percent], housewives [89 percent] with average family income of Rupees 15000 [53 percent]. Majority 94 percent [n=188] had heard about breast cancer. Questions regarding knowledge showed that participants awareness about relationship of breast cancer with obesity, smoking and increasing age was more than 50 percent. Up to 70 percent women had knowledge of breast lump as main symptom of breast cancer. Knowledge regarding diagnostic modalities was very poor. Only 16 percent knew about FNAC/Biopsy and 7.5 percent about mammography. A large majority [90 percent] showed positive attitude and were ready to see a doctor immediately in case they felt a lump in breast but practices of breast self-examination were poor [39 percent]
Conclusion: It was concluded that knowledge of most respondents was limited, practices were poor, but attitude towards breast cancer was positive. Lack of education, socio-cultural taboos and getting information from wrong sources surfaced as leading reasons of unawareness