Communication skills workshop for doctors, resulting in better healthcare delivery

Objective: To assess the role of workshop in communication skills training of doctors resulting in better healthcare delivery

Study Design: Quasi-experimental interventional study

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Bahawalpur, from Jun 2013 to Aug 2013

Material and Methods: The participants were divided into two groups, those who received the intervention [n=10] and those who received the placebo [n=5]. Intervention was offered in the shape of a workshop that imparted knowledge via lectures and handouts and skill and attitude via audiovisual tapes and role playing. The placebo comprised of an academic workshop which had nothing to do with communication skills. The patients of both groups of doctors were given DISQ [Doctors interpersonal skills questionnaire] and their level of satisfaction based on their interaction with the doctors was evaluated

Results: The overall reliability of the study design and the method of its administration, pre and post the administration of the intervention was 93.2% and were deemed high enough to be considered reliable. The patients of doctors who received the intervention scored a mean of 37.2350 on DISQ with SD of +/- 8.68139 before intervention and mean of 42.0550 with SD of +/- 10.22176 after intervention. The patients of doctors who received the placebo scored a mean of 35.7100 with a SD of +/- 9.81166 before placebo and mean of 36.5900 with SD of +/- 8.55770 after placebo. The p-value was =0.001 [highly significant] when intervention group was compared before intervention and after intervention. However p-value was 0.433 [not significant] when control group was compared before and after placebo

Conclusion: Doctors who received the workshop designed to enhance the effectiveness of their communication skills were able to satisfy their patients to a greater degree compared as to those who received the placebo

Diagnostic accuracy of plain potassium hydroxide mount and culture in tinea pedis

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of direct microscopy in clinically diagnosed cases of tinea pedis by keeping culture as gold standard. validation study. Department of Dermatology Military Hospital and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi from January 2008 to July 2008. One hundred clinically diagnosed cases of tinea pedis were subjected to direct microscopy with 10% KOH and fungal culture. Direct microscopic examination was positive in 34% and culture in 60% of the cases. The sensitivity and specificity of direct microscopy were 38.33% and 72.5%, respectively keeping culture as gold standard. Direct microscopy had a positive predictive value of 67.65% and negative predictive value of 43.94%.Direct microscopy with 10% KOH may not be sufficient alone therefore cultures should be used for a definitive diagnosis

Frequency of pigmented birthmarks in newborns of various ethnic groups of Pakistan

To determine the frequency of various types of pigmented birthmarks in neonates of different ethnic background born at PNS Shifa, with in 48 hours of birth. Descriptive Cross sectional study Department of Dermatology and Department of Obstetrics, PNS Shifa, Karachi. The study was conducted for six months, from 1st March 2008 till 31st September 2008. Patients and Two hundred newborn children of both sexes, born by any mode of delivery and belonging to different social classes and ethnic groups, in their first 48 hours of life were recruited. Each baby was physically examined, after taking consent from the mother, so as to assess the type, colour and distribution of the pigmented birthmark. All demographic features were recorded in a proforma and a digital photograph of each baby with a pigmented birthmark was also taken. Pigmented birthmarks observed included Mongolian blue spot, caf‚-au-lait macules and congenital melanocytic nevi. Among the ethnic groups these nevi were more prevalent among groups with darker skin colour and black hair. Mongolian blue spot are the commonest pigmented birthmarks observed followed by caf‚-au-lait macules and congenital melanocytic nevi