ABSTRACT
Global shifting of disease burden from communicable to non-communicable diseases [NCDs] has led to large proportion of deaths in developed and developing countries. Gravity of the situation is further intensified in low and middle-income countries due to major health system inadequacies in responding to the emerging challenge. Similar situation is being faced by Pakistan where despite availability of comprehensive National Action Plan, no significant improvement is seen at policy level. Prior to development of any intervention, there is need to assess the issue of NCDs through health system perspective. This will help us to understand interplay of various factors crucial for health system's response to NCDs. World Health Organization [WHO] framework of six building blocks will help us in identification of bottlenecks in our system and areas that are not performing well. Gaps and inadequacies in the system can be tackled through appropriate measures like development of knowledge, skills, system thinking and leadership to enable our system to respond to NCD challenges effectively and efficiently. Political commitment, good financing, collaborative working, comprehensive integrated NCD plan, team-based services to patients through care pathways, incorporation and incentivization of general physicians, efficient logistics support, integrated health information system with development of population based surveillance system and use of multi-sectorial and holistic approach can lead to efficient control of NCDs in the country
ABSTRACT
Background: Orientation programs are globally common and conducted in medical schools. This study was conducted to assess students' perceptions and to quantify students' feedback
Methods: This study was conducted at Rai Medical College, Sargodha, Pakistan. Students' feedback was sought related to the organization of orientation program, topics covered and the material presented to them, benefits gained by them and logistics. Being on the Likert scale, Median scores were calculated for each response. Suggestions were asked at the end using open ended questions
Results: Response Rate was 100% [n=97]. When asked about the organization of the entire week, topic preparations, and speakers' presentations, students agreed that it was good, with the median score of 4 out of 5. Students also agreed regarding their better orientation towards what they would be taught during their 5 year MBBS course, with median scores of 4. Regarding logistics arrangement, the score was 3.5
Conclusion: Assessment of feedback obtained from students helps in analyzing the effectiveness of the program and shows that conducting orientation sessions gives clarity to the students and alleviates their anxiety
ABSTRACT
Health system in Pakistan has witnessed evolution and dates back to the medieval, traditional health care, health for all approach, primary health care approach and health systems strengthening approach for better health outcomes. The main objectives of health system are improvement in health, fairness in distribution of risk and finances and responsiveness to the non medical needs of the population. With decreasing expenditure on health care, booming private health sector and flourishing pharmaceutical industry, government can only reduce catastrophic health expenditures by the poor and impoverished through an efficient, effective, accessible and responsive public health system. Inter sectoral collaboration, community participation, social protection, equitable distribution of resources, people centric health policy, health work force development, evidence based health information system and quality assurance of essential medicines will strengthen health system in Pakistan
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] regarding elderly age health problems among adults of Rawalpindi
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Airport Housing Society Rawalpindi from July 2011 to Nov 2011
Material and Methods: A total of 200 households of age 50-59 years were included in the study by convenient sampling technique [115 males and 85 females]. Adult population of the age 50-59 years with physical and mental disabilities were excluded from the study. Data collected after taking informed consent was analyzed by SPSS 17
Results: Mean age of respondents was 54.78 +/- 3.41 years. Knowledge regarding age limit of senior citizens was 140 [70%]. A total of 174 [87%] knew about increased incidence of fall with increasing age but only 53 [26.5%] did any practical change. About 152 [76%] considered that prior knowledge about geriatric age problems can help plan for old age; efforts to get information about elderly age problems were reported by 170 [85%]. There was a significant association between level of knowledge and efforts to stay healthy [p<.001]. The difference between level of knowledge of males and females was significant [p=.007]
Conclusion: Prior knowledge among residents of the society was found to be a more preferred option to give people information about optimal aging, but this should be started at a much earlier time by facilitating information, to restore physical health to have a healthy and functional elderly individual in the society
ABSTRACT
The subject of adenomyosis was not given its due share of attention in the past owing to which sufficient data is not reported on its incidence in the Pakistani population. The present study was designed to determine the incidence of adenomyosis and its association with other pathological. In a one-year period, 303 hysterectomies were performed at the gynaecology department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. Histopathological reports were retrieved from the pathology laboratory of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore. The incidence of adenomyosis was found to be 26.37%. No association between adenomyosis and endometrial carcinoma could be demonstrated. However, chronic cervicitis, endometrial hyperplasia and leiomyoma were noted to have varying degrees of association with adenomyosis