ABSTRACT
Background: Second generation antihistamines are first line therapy for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Sedation has been always a concern as a side effect of antihistamine for both patients and treating dermatologist. It is always better to prefer non-sedative antihistamine for CSU. Bepotastine is such promising non-sedative agent. Aim and Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of bepotastine and levocetirizine in patients of CSU. Materials and Methods: This is a double arm, open label, randomized, and controlled study. Out of 99 patients, 50 patients belonged to Group A while 49 belonged to Group B. Subjects in Group A received bepotastine 10 mg twice daily while subjects in Group B received levocetirizine 5 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline, day 14, day 28, and day 56 using Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) and Urticaria Control Test (UCT) for efficacy; and visual analog scale (VAS) for safety, that is, sedation. Results: The fall in mean UAS scores was statistically significant at day 14, day 28, and day 56 for both Groups A and B (P < 0.05) on intragroup comparison. While comparing the overall improvement between the two groups, there was no significant difference in UAS and UCT score at day 14, day 28, and day 56 between Group A and Group B, respectively (P > 0.05). At day 56, there was significant difference in mean VAS of Group A and B. Only one patient in Group B developed headache. Conclusion: Thus, both levocetirizine and bepotastine are equally effective for the treatment of CSU. Bepotastine has less sedative potential than levocetirizine.
ABSTRACT
Background: Medical education is an extensively evolving field. Not only the medical curriculum keeps changing with time, so does the requirements for the students and teachers. Chalk and board is traditionally the most commonly used method of teaching whereas PowerPoint (PPT) presentation is the new generation most commonly used method. Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the preference and perspectives of the undergraduate MBBS students’ pertaining to the two most commonly used audiovisual teaching aids namely chalk and board verses PPT presentation. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving two batches of MBBS undergraduate students. Results: A total of 144 students participated in the study. Eighty-four students were from 2nd year and 60 students from final year MBBS. In our study, we got favorable responses (Likert scale 4 and 5) for chalk and board method in 84 (58%) and for PPT presentation in 60 (41.9%) of students. One hundred and nineteen (82.6%) students preferred class notes over handouts. Most of the parameters were comparable among the two methods except the statements of lecture being interesting, interactive, better problem-solving, and emphasis on important points being in favor of chalk and board; and those of clarity, better diagrams ad flowcharts, covering more topics, and clinical case demonstration were in favor of PPT. Conclusion: No single aid is perfect in all aspects. Hence, a suitable aid should be chosen depending on the topic, clinical scenario, level of complexity of topics, and understanding that is required.
ABSTRACT
Background: Healthcare providers are still hesitant in prescribing generic medicines due to several misconceptions about bioequivalence, efficacy, quality, and safety of generic medicines as compared to their branded counterparts. Proper teaching and training help in positive changes in perception as well as the prescribing and dispensing practices of healthcare providers. Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were to study the knowledge and perception about the generic medicine among 2nd year MBBS and nursing students and to find out the differences between the student’s responses. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving 83 2nd year MBBS students and 60 2nd year nursing students in Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar (M.P.), India. Assessment of knowledge and perception about generic medicines using the normal 5-point Likert scale and calculation using the independent-samples Mann–Whitney U-Test and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for differences observed among the two groups. Results: Only 33% of MBBS students and 17% of nursing students were select correct answer for bioequivalence limits. Almost 82% of MBBS and 53% of nursing students were agreed toward generic medicines are less expensive than brand name medicines (P = 0.00). Only 45% of MBBS students and 15% of nursing students were disagreed toward generic medicines are of inferior quality to branded drugs (P = 0.001). About 37% of MBBS students and 20% of nursing students were disagreed toward generic medicines are less effective and less safe than brand name medicines (P = 0.01) and only 12% of MBBS students and 7% of nursing students were disagreed toward brand name medicine which are required to meet higher safety standards than generic medicines (P = 0.09). Conclusion: In our study, we found that significant knowledge gap with regard to the regulatory bioequivalence limits for generic medicines and misconceptions about generic drugs is also quite prevalent. Educational interventions are most important tool to improve knowledge and change in perceptions among healthcare students about generic medicines and eventually promote practice of prescribing cost-effective generic drugs.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prescription pattern monitoring studies are tool for assessing the prescribing, dispensing, and distribution of medicines prevailing in a particular area. The main aim of such studies is to facilitate rational use of medicines. Irrational prescribing leads to increased incidence of adverse effects, drug interactions, and emergence of drug resistance. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate drug prescription pattern of outpatient department patients as per the drug use indicators developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and also the occurrence of different medication errors. Materials and Methods: 662 prescriptions were evaluated. The WHO core drug prescribing indicators analyzed were Average number of medicines prescribed per patient encounter, percentage of medicines prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounters with an antibiotic, injections, or fixed-dose combination (FDC), score of generic prescription, and justification for the use of brand names. The categories of prescription errors which were studied were legibility, absence of doctor identity, diagnosis, drug dosage, and duration. Results: The most common medication error was lack of treatment duration (75.1%) and illegibility of the prescriptions (61.9%). Most of the drugs were prescribed in generics. About 72.5% of the prescriptions had 100% generic score. Although the use of brand names was not justifiable in most cases. The use of injectables, antibiotics, and FDC was 0.9%, 46.5% and 76.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Such studies should be done regularly to evaluate the lacunae in drug prescribing patterns and improve them.
ABSTRACT
One day old chicks of Japanese quail were exposed to different photoperiods (LD, 8:16, 13.5:10.5, 16:8 and LL) and observations (testes weight, cloacal gland size, body weight and circulating thyroxine and triiodothyronine) were taken at the age of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 16 weeks. Results indicate that immediate reproductive development occurred in birds exposed to long photoperiods (greater than 12 hr). Growth under LD 8:16, was not apparent till 7th week and by 16 weeks, degree of gonadal development was similar in all the birds, irrespective of photoperiodic treatment. Whereas body weight of the intermediate and long day (LD 13.5:10.5, 16:8 and LL) treated birds increased upto 5th week and remained constant thereafter. But the chicks maintained under short day length (LD 8:16), showed spontaneous increase till the end of the study and birds were much heavier compared to all other groups. Plasma T4 concentration increased with increasing age till 9th week and remained unaltered thereafter. On the other hand T3 level did not change till 7th week followed by a decline. It is suggested that the initiation and degree of gonadal growth in quail depends on the availability of daily photoperiod, until the achievement of full breeding condition. Peak level of T4 observed in 9 week old birds may be involved in the development of photorefractoriness at that age.