ABSTRACT
Background: Stigma towards adults with mental illness is a longstanding and widespread phenomenon. Stigmatizing attitudes are prevalent not only among the general population but also among doctors. Negative stereotyping of people with mental illness (PMI) leads to prejudice and discrimination, affecting all aspects of their medical care and well-being. The present study attempted to explore stigmatizing attitudes among doctors towards PMI.Methods: The research was observational and cross-sectional in design carried out on doctors in a medical college. Socio-demographic data including field of specialization, experience, and academic post were recorded. The community attitudes towards mental illness (CAMI) and social distance scale were administered. Social desirability bias was corrected for by using the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale.Results: Around 54 doctors from the specializations of medicine (n=24), surgery (n=19), and non-clinical fields (n=11) participated. We found no significant differences in attitudes towards mentally ill and social distance between medical specializations (p-values >0.05) even after adjusting for the effects of social desirability bias. Years of specialization experience (p=0.037) and having a family member or close friend with mental illness (p=0.012) were significantly associated with higher scores in the community mental health ideology sub-scale of CAMI. Higher social restrictiveness (p=0.014) and lower community mental health ideology (p=0.008) were associated with greater social distance from PMI.Conclusions: Doctors are not immune to biases and stigmatizing attitudes towards PMI. These attitudes are present across all fields of medical specialization and must be addressed by mental health professionals to ensure optimal care of this vulnerable population.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Plantar fasciitis is a common pathological condition that affects the hind foot. Management of plantar fasciitis employs use of various non-surgical and surgical treatment methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of steroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis in adults. Materials and Methods: From January 2016 to June 2017, fifty patients aged >18 years with plantar fasciitis symptomatic for three months or more were injected with a single dose of methylprednisolone acetate with 2% lignocaine. Assessment was done using visual analogue scale (VAS) and foot function index (pain sub-scale). Patients were followed-up for a period of 6 months. Results:There was significant reduction in VAS score and improvement in foot function index at 1 and 3 month follow-up (p<0.001) as compared to pre-injection score but this VAS reduction or improvement in foot function index was not significant at 6 month follow-up (p=0.057 and 0.729 respectively). There were no major adverse effects of the steroid injection. Conclusion: A single dose of corticosteroid injection provides only a short term benefit in plantar fasciitis.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Trigger finger is a condition that causes triggering, snapping or locking on flexion of the involved digit. Treatment modalities are conservative (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, splints or corticosteroid injections) or operative (percutaneous or open release of A1 pulley- the first annular pulley of the fibro-osseous sheath of the fingers situated at the level of the metacarpophalengeal joint). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroid injection for trigger finger in adults.Material and Methods: Fifty patients with 54 trigger digits were treated by one or two injections of methylprednisolone acetate with 1% lignocaine. Patients were followed-up for a period of 6 months.Results: Symptoms and signs resolved in 79.63% of the injected digits. Local adverse reactions to steroid injection- pain at the injection site and steroid flare were self-limiting. There was no tendon rupture or post-injection infection.Conclusion: The study concludes that steroid injection is an effective first line treatment for trigger finger in most patients.