ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality and severe economic loss; especially in the patients who are in productive years of life. The objective of our study was to find out the etiological pattern and distribution of traumatic brain injury at Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. Prospective study. This study was carried out at surgical wards at DHQ hospital, Mirpur from Nov 2012 to April 2013. In this study epidemiological and clinical data of all the patients with traumatic brain injury admitted in surgical wards at DHQ hospital, Mirpur were included. A total of 309 patients with traumatic brain injury were admitted. The age range was between 3 years to 80 years. The mean age was 23.8 years. The most commonly affected age group was between 25-30 years [89.3%]. Males were predominant [81.9%]. Students involved constituted 44.7% of patients. Commonest mode of trauma was pedestrians hit by motorized vehicles [70%] followed by physical assaults [15.9%]. Majority of the patients [88.3%] were from local district and 70.2% reached the hospital within two hours of trauma. 46.6% of the patients had a GCS of 13-15 on arrival. 3.9% had subdural hematoma while 1% of patients had skull fractures and intracerebral bleeds. Overall mortality was 5.8%. Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury affecting the young population at Mirpur and led to 5.9% mortality and 9.5% total dependency in the affected population. Better traffic control system and awareness can reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injuries
ABSTRACT
Limb loss is one of the most devastating complications of Diabetes mellitus. Prevention is possible only with a well educated patient. We set out to assess patient education by physicians and foot care awareness in patients attending our DHQ Hospital. Descriptive study. This study was carried out at the DHQ Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir from 01.12.2012 to 30.03.2013. This was a descriptive study involving 311 patients attending DHQ Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. The patients were chosen by convenience sampling. The patients could be either type 1 or type 2 diabetics. A total of 18 multiple-choice questions were used. Patients less than 40 years were excluded from the study. 314 patients were enrolled in the study. 37.62% of patients were aged 40 to 50 years. Females comprised 52.41% of the patients. 49.52% of patients were illiterate. About a third of patients [31.51%] visited their doctor weekly or fortnightly. A size-able number of patients [39.55%] had never or rarely been guided about life style changes by their doctors. 68.17% of patients had never or rarely been guided about diabetic complications. Only 23.15% patients were aware about foot care. Pearson Chi-Square values were highly significant P<0.0001 for education and foot care awareness. Patient education by physicians is almost non-existent in Pakistan and needs to be improved. Improving literacy will improve patient foot care awareness