ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The normal Central corneal thickness (CCT) ranges about 510-520 microns. It is normally seen in clinical practice that corneas which are thicker are linked with greater intraocular pressures (IOPs). The purpose of the study was to determine the central corneal thickness and establish its relationship with age and serum electrolytes in hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients. Methodology: A total of 108 subjects were included in our cross-sectional comparative study (54 hypertensive and 54 non-hypertensive). Written informed consent was taken. We measured blood pressure with mercuric sphygmomanometer. Ultrasound pachymeter was used to measure central corneal thickness while we drew 5 ml of blood for estimation of the serum electrolytes. Data was entered and evaluated using IBM SPSS 17. Quantitative variables were presented as Mean ± SD. Pearson correlation was used to find correlation of normally distributed variables p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Central corneal thickness was statistically same in hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects. Serum Na+ was significantly increased in hypertensive subjects while serum K+ and Cl- were significantly decreased in hypertensive subjects. No significant correlation was seen in hypertensive while weak negative correlation was observed between CCT and age in non-hypertensive patients. Weak positive correlation was observed between CCT and Na+ both in hypertensive and non-hypertensive. Significant correlation was observed in CCT and K+ in hypertensive while negative correlation was seen in non-hypertensive. Weak correlation was observed in CCT and Cl- both in hypertensive and non-hypertensive. Conclusion: Mean CCT was significantly lower in hypertension. CCT and age showed weak and positive correlation in hypertensive while weak and negative correlation in non-hypertensive. Serum electrolytes and CCT showed no significant correlation.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To measure levels of empathy among undergraduate dental students in Pakistani Dentistry Institute and to find the difference with respect to gender and academic year in the dental college. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at CMHLMC and IOD in Pakistan, from December 2018 to April 2019, and comprised dental students of all four years. A valid and reliable “The Toronto empathy questionnaire” was used for the collection of data. Responses were indicated on a four-point Likert scale and total scores ranged from 0-64, with higher values indicating higher levels of empathy. Eight out of sixteen items were positively worded and the remaining eight items were negatively worded. Comparison of empathy scores across the year of study was analyzed using one-way ANOVA whereas a t-test was utilized for gender differences. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: Questionnaire was returned by 281 students, with a 94% response rate. First-year dentistry students scored the highest mean score of 3.0, followed by second and third-year students by scoring 2.8 whereas the final year students obtained the lowest mean empathy score of 2.7. When mean empathy scores were compared among students of all 4 years by ANOVA test, it was found to be statistically significant, F=3.22, p=0.02. No significant differences in empathy scores were found with respect to gender (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: The present study reported a decline of empathy mean scores among dentistry students as the years of study progressed. This study reflects the need for early exposure to clinical training, educational programs and innovative teaching strategies in the undergraduate dentistry curriculum by emphasizing on dentists-patient communication skills, which in turn could encourage dentistry students to become empathetic health professionals.