ABSTRACT
Background: Prevalence of adverse drug reactions had been studied extensively in the past to find out the drug pattern distribution of ADR. In this study, authors tried to find out the prevalence pattern and its correlation with the WHO causality assessment over the 6 months.Methods: This study was done in Govt Medical College Palakkad Kerala as an observational study. Without revealing the identity of the patients as is done in ADR reporting in pharmacovigilance program, a retrospective data collection was done by collecting different types of ADR reported in this hospital for the previous six months. Only data of inpatients was collected and tabulated for different group of drugs. Then using the WHO scale of causality assessment, the ADR individually was classified to probable, possible, or certain and tabulated.Results: In this study, the prevalence pattern of drugs causing ADR was evaluated over six months in a tertiary care centre. Out of the 45 cases reported, major ADR were for antibiotics (55.5%) and anticancer agents (18.2%) and the least reported ADR were for vaccines and supplements (2.2%). In causality assessment WHO scale only one case was certain (2.2%). Here the majority Causality assessment was found to be probable (44.45%) and possible (51.2%).Conclusions: From this study it is concluded that the antibiotics has the major ADR pattern. It’s also known that the probable and possible causalities are more common when ADR are reported.
ABSTRACT
Background: Computer assisted learning (CAL) for teaching experimental pharmacology is becoming fast acceptable in many medical colleges, where there is not only shortage of animals ,support staff, financial aid but also ethical issues and unwanted cruelty to animals. The objective of this study was to ascertain the efficiency of CAL in teaching experimental pharmacology using pre-test and post- test questionnaire before and after CAL respectively and also compare the outcome among average and under performers while using CAL. Methods: Average (A, B) and under performers (C) were identified using their university exam results. All the 3 groups (A,B,C) with a sample of 30 students each underwent pre-test in the topic selected ,then they were given a brief on CAL after which they individually worked on the computer and then a post test was given. Results: All the 3 group students pre and post test result analysis showed an improved performance in the outcome with significant p values (p<0.0003, 0.0001, 0.0001). Further on comparison within the groups suggested outcome differences in underperformers in comparison with average performers (A Vs C, B Vs C p values 0.0069, 0.0009 respectively). Conclusions: Thus this study suggests that CAL is a good teaching learning method in all groups of students and the average performers outdo the underperformers in terms of outcome analysis after CAL.
ABSTRACT
Atorvastatin, lipid lowering agent has a well established safety profile both in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Statins role as anti inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects what is called pleiotropism of statins is being explored and tried in the treatment of various diseases like asthma. Here this study highlights the efficacy and tolerability of atorvastatin as an add on therapy in the treatment of chronic stable asthma this study concludes the statistical significance of atorvastatin 20mg dose as an adjuvant in chronic stable asthma.