ABSTRACT
Background: Whatsapp and Facebook are the communication apps which facilitate the exchange of instant messages, pictures, videos and thus help in connecting the people with each other. Although it has brought many benefits, these benefits have come at a price. People spend more than usual hours on social networking and find it difficult to concentrate on their work and studies. This study was planned to assess the effects of Whatsapp and Facebook on academic, professional and social lives of medical students and resident doctors. Methods: The study was conducted on 480 medical students and 275 resident doctors. The data were collected with the help of a questionnaire designed for gathering the effects of Whatsapp and Facebook on academic, professional and social lives of medical students and resident doctors. Results: Majority of the participants (98.3%) used both Whatsapp and Facebook and spent 1-2 hours per day on Whatsapp and Facebook. Nearly 45% participants said that usage of Whatsapp and/ Facebook had a positive impact on their study performance. More than half of the participants (54.6%) agreed that Whatsapp and Facebook use affected their mood and reduces their interpersonal interaction with family and friends. Conclusions: Study concludes that Whatsapp and Facebook have positive impact in academic and professional lives of medical students and doctors. However, excessive use of social networking sites for recreational purposes has negative impact on their mental and social health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of ascitic fluid. It is highly mortal and recurrent condition, so prophylaxis with Norfloxacin (NOR) or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) seems to play an important role in the prevention of further episodes of SBP. Aims of the study were to assess the effect of TMP-SMX/NOR on the sensitivity pattern of fecal E. coli after long term prophylaxis in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) and to compare the efficacy of TMP-SMX and NOR in prophylaxis of SBP.Methods: An interventional, prospective, open label, single center study conducted in Maulana Azad medical college, New Delhi, India. 52 patients of SBP or with high risk of SBP were screened and finally 39 patients were recruited. Stool sensitivity testing of fecal E. coli was done and they were divided into TMP-SMX group(n=18) and NOR group(n=21) according to sensitivity. After 45±3 days (7 weeks) their stool sample was re-examined for change sensitivity pattern of E. coli. Efficacy variables like any episode of SBP, fever (FEV) resolution of ascites (ASC), bacteremia (BACT), extraperitoneal infection (EPI), liver transplantation (LT) or death (D) were noted throughout the period of 24 weeks.Results: Resistance developed in 60% vs. 48% in TMP-SMX vs. NOR group(p=0.46) after 45 days of prophylaxis. By the end of 24 weeks, Incidence of SBP (29%vs. 25%, p>0.99), episodes of FEV(P=0.60), EPI(p>0.99), ASC(p>0.99) and death (14% vs. 16%, p>0.99) were almost similar in both the groups (TMP-SMX vs. NOR) respectively.Conclusions: Both TMP-SMX and NOR showed same degree of resistance and found equi-efficacious when administered as long-term prophylactic therapy in SBP. TMP-SMX can be a suitable as well as cost effective alternative to NOR for the prophylaxis of SBP.
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to gather data regarding drug buying practices in Delhi to compare the same in rural pharmacies in surrounding area. A cross sectional study was conducted as exit interviews using pretested Performa with customers visiting randomly selected pharmacies of Delhi and rural Haryana. Out of 280 consumers interviewed 140 belonged to urban areas and 140 to rural areas. In both areas male and younger consumers are significantly high. Most consumers in both set ups took medication after physician’s prescription in comparison to self medication. Source of information for self medication was media in urban and friends in rural areas. Alteration in brand name was more in rural areas. Antimicrobials and NSAIDs in rural areas and drugs for cardiovascular diseases and oral hypoglycemic drugs in urban areas are major purchased drug groups.