ABSTRACT
Background: Global incidence of ovarian malignancies is 300,000 as per GLOBOCAN 2018. The treatment protocol for advanced ovarian malignancies (stage IIIc and stage IV) includes neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Aims of the study was to determine the effect of duration of chemo interruption on disease free survival of ovarian malignancies treated by interval cytoreduction followed by surgery.Methods: A total 48 patients were studied for events such as recurrence, death, patient’s status on last follow up, peri-operative period between 3rd cycle of chemo therapy and 4th cycle of chemo therapy. Based on the median duration of peri operative period patients was classified as early or delayed receivers of adjuvant chemo therapy. Difference in duration of over-all survival and disease-free survival was analysed through Kaplan Meier survival analysis using log-rank test. Hazard ratio adjusted for background characteristics such as staging, performance status, grade of tumour were analysed using cox proportional hazard model.Results: The two peri operative period categories based on mean value (85 days) didn’t show any significant association to disease free interval (minimum-21days, maximum-146 days, Hr = 1.3, p-value = 0.52). Other established factors like stage, extent of resection, response to chemotherapy, also didn’t show any significant association. Serum marker level showed a significant negative correlation with disease free survival (minimum-9 days, maximum-30659, p-value =.04, Hr = 3.19).Conclusions: The study could not establish any correlation between peri operative period and median disease-free survival. The small sample size is a limiting factor, well controlled randomized trials may needed for further clarification.
ABSTRACT
Despite various reforms brought in health care service delivery there is always a gap between community and health care providers. Hence there is a need to explore the successful strategies to reorient the medical students towards public health relevant community needs. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and impact of community based field training imparted among medical undergraduates to identify problems related to infant and young child feeding practices and design appropriate interventions. Material and Methods: This study is a mixed method study where improvement of knowledge were assessed quantitatively through quasi experimental pre-post study design. Difference in cumulative score obtained after training was compared using student's t test. Perception of students and mentor's views on this approach in terms of benefits and challenges were explored during in-depth interviews. Transcripts of qualitative interviews were analysed using manual content analysis. Results: Total of 781 infant and young children from 30 villages were surveyed by 36 medical undergraduates. There was significant improvement in knowledge on feeding practices from the baseline [baseline mean (SD) score: 3.3 (1.5); post training mean (SD) score: 6.5 (1.1), p<0.001]. Mentors of the opinion that this community based approach had facilitated the students to acquire skills on management, communication, team spirit and professional attitude. Students had opportunity to assess spectrum of illness and the co-existing social conditions in their natural setting. Conclusion: Students as well as other stakeholders were more positive and overwhelmingly supporting this approach. This approach is feasible with better planning, institute cooperation and commitment.