RESUMEN
Background: Globally, approximately 2.5 lakh deaths occur every year, with majority of cases from low and middle income countries. Burns is one of the major cause of mortality and morbidity in India with around a million people affected by burns every year. This study has been aimed to study the socio-demographic profile of burn patients and also to evaluate the etiology, manner, and circumstances of occurrence of burn injuries along with their outcome. Methods: This record based retrospective study was conducted Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Records were analyzed and information related to socio-demographic details, etiology of burns, place of burn, manner of burns were extracted. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Results: The study included 154 participants. Majority of the participants were in the age group of 21-30years (n=50, 32.5%) followed by 31-40 years (n=35, 22.7%).More than half of the participants were females (n=84, 55%). When the etiology for burns were analyzed most of the cases were due to scalds (n=64, 41.5%) followed by flames (n=n=58, 37%). More than three fourth of the burn cases were accidental in nature (n=128, 83.1%) followed by suicidal burns (n=22, 14.2%) Conclusions: Even in the era of technological advancement burns still remains as a major issue of concern in most of the developing countries including India. It
RESUMEN
Background: Infections occurring from waste produced in health care establishments are more when compared to any other type of waste. There is inadequate and inappropriate knowledge of biomedical waste management among health care personnel which might have serious health consequences and pose a threat to the environment. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge of health care professionals about the proper disposal of biomedical waste and practice in following preventive measures while handling bio medical waste. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at three tertiary care teaching hospitals attached to Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangalore. Health care professionals comprising of doctors, nurses, lab technicians and class IV employees were enrolled in the study based on convenient sampling technique after obtaining their informed written consent. The data was collected using a pre tested, semi structured questionnaire. SPSS Version 16.0 was used for entering the data and analysis. Results: It was found that doctors had better knowledge compared to other health care professionals about the correct disposal of needles (n=56, 84.8%) and disposal of discarded medicines (n=45, 68.2%). Knowledge about the correct disposal of tubes and catheters were almost equal among doctors (n=47, 71.2%) and nurses (n=47, 73.4%). Only 44.5% (n=97) of health care professionals were utilizing all the personal protective equipments while handling bio medical waste. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the awareness regarding proper disposal of biomedical waste was better among doctors, staff nurses and lab technicians when compared to class IV employees.
RESUMEN
Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of individualized progressive resistance strength training (PRT) program in improving the confidence level among the institutionalized elderly with balance impairment, in comparison with traditional balance exercise (TBE), and combination of both (COMBI). Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between June 2008 and December 2012 in the geriatric care homes, Mangalore, India. Methodology: The eligible subjects were assigned to 3 groups (TBE, PRT and COMBI) using block randomization technique and allocation concealment was done. PRT group received strength training for the key muscles (hip flexors, extensors and abductors, knee flexors and extensors, ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors) essential for maintenance of balance. TBE group received conventional balance training and the participants of the COMBI group received TBE and PRT interventions alternately. All the three groups received their respective interventions 4 times a week for 6 months. The data was collected at baseline, 3rd and 6th month and the analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15. Both per-protocol and intention to treat methods of analyses were used. Results: Mean age of the 54 elderly participants (18 in each group) was 75.17 years and the comparison of the baseline variables revealed homogeneity between the groups. Between the baseline and six months, all the three groups showed notable reduction in Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) scores. The change scores (pre-post intervention) of FES were notable for all the three groups, but the statistical test did not reveal any significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: Individualized structured PRT intervention targeting the key muscles of lower limbs for balance maintenance, for a period of 6 months, is comparable to TBE in improving the falls efficacy. This in turn reduces self-induced functional restrictions among the non-frail elderly people living in geriatric homes.