ABSTRACT
Background: The Information technology has revolu?onized many changes throughout the society, and also in bringing up the economic growth of the country.IT professionals are prone to various job-related complaints and symptoms which can be reduced or eliminated by using proper ergonomics. The present study was carried out to study the prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders among the Informa?on technology (IT) professionals and to determine the factors associated with musculoskeletal problems. Objec?ves:1.To study the prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders among the Informa?on Technology (IT) professionals. 2. To determine the factors associated with Musculoskeletal disorders among IT Professionals. Methodology: A cross-sec?onal study was done among 400 Informa?on technology professionals of selected IT companies of Visakhapatnam city using mul?stage sampling technique. Structured Interview schedule was taken to collect socio-demographic, personal and working details of employees. Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal ques?onnaire was used to assess the work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in rela?on to various body regions during last 12 months and last 1 week. Results:The overall musculoskeletal disorders among IT professionals was 74% of which lower back (56.7%) is the most common body region affected in the last 12 months followed by neck (43%), shoulder (28.2%), wrist/hand (8.5%), elbow (5.7%), knee (4%) and ankle (3.7%). Conclusions: The study concludes that, prevalence of work-related health problems among IT professionals are of concern. Work related musculoskeletal problems were widely reported and it was observed that, individuals who have regular physical ac?vity are less prone to Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
ABSTRACT
Background: Teaching in India is still controlled by teacher-centered class room which would make them bored and exhausted. Educators now strive to provide the most productive class room experience for their students by facilitating small group discussions within the larger class such as seminar presentation by the students etc. Hence the present study was done to assess the perception of medical students regarding seminars in the curriculum towards a small group teaching activity. Objective is to assess the perception of medical students regarding seminars as a teaching learning activity.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 4th semester undergraduate medical students of Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in the month of June 2016 to assess their perception regarding seminars in the curriculum. A pre-designed, pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: Total number of study participants were 136. Majority 110 (80.9%) of them agreed that seminar is a good academic activity and is helpful in learning. Around 96 (70%) of the students opined that seminars help students engage in higher order thinking tasks. Majority 93.4% agreed that seminars help students to overcome nervousness. About 91.9% felt seminars improve self-confidence and personality development.Conclusions: Students view that, seminars are more effective in deep understanding of the subject and critical thinking than didactic lectures and helps the students to improve self confidence and communication skills.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers amongst women. Periodic pap screening is the simplest way to diagnose precancerous lesions. Factors such as ignorance, poverty poorly developed public healthcare delivery system put women in urban slums at a disadvantage for receiving any health screening activity. Objectives of the present study were to know the prevalence of epithelial cell abnormalities of the cervix among the subjects and to study the association with clinical and demographic characteristics. Methods: A camp based descriptive study was conducted in an urban ward. All women above the age of 20 years were included in the study. Data was recorded using a pretested questionnaire. Study variables included socio-demographic characteristics, symptoms of reproductive tract infection, findings of clinical examination, and Pap smear collection and evaluation. The latter was done from 194 women aged between 20-69 years. Pap smears were made by conventional Pap smear technique and reported according to The Revised Bethesda System of classification 2001(TBS). Results: Among the 194 women, in 8 subjects, the smears collected were unsatisfactory for evaluation. Analysis was done in the remaining 186 subjects. Among the latter, in 83.9%, the smears were negative for intraepithelial lesions (NIEL) and 16.1% revealed epithelial cell abnormalities (ECA). Among those with ECA, Atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) was identified in 66.67%, Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions(LSIL) in 16.67%, Atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) and Atypical glandular cells-not otherwise specified (AGC-NOS) in 6.67% each and High grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in 3.33%. Epithelial cell abnormalities were more common in women in the age group of 30-60 years (80%), they were more common in those with age at marriage between 13-18 years (63.3%) and in those with age at first child birth between 15-19 years (56.7%). Conclusions: Therefore there is a need for Pap screening at regular intervals through camp based approach in these populations to motivate the women, increase their awareness, ensure follow up and referral and timely intervention in appropriate cases.