Updated BG Prasad Socioeconomic Classification, 2014: A Commentary.

Modified BG Prasad socioeconomic scale is widely used to determine the socioeconomic status of study subjects in health studies in India. It is an income-based scale and, therefore, has to be constantly updated to take inflation and depreciation of rupee into account. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for industrial workers (IW) is used to calculate updated income categories for January 2014. Details of the calculations involved will enable young researchers to calculate specific income categories for their research work. State-specific CPI values are also available on the Department of Labour website and should be used to determine more accurate income categories for the study area.

Knowledge about Transmission Dynamics of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Background : Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect women who also bear much more severe morbidity, get severe consequences if not treated and even transmit disease to offsprings during pregnancy. Improving awareness and knowledge of STIs is a key for prevention but majority females don’t have this information making them more susceptible to STIs and reinfections. Objectives : To determine the awareness and level of knowledge about transmission dynamics of STI among the female patients attending Gynecology out-patient department and to assess the various factors related with it. Methodology : Cross-sectional study was conducted among female patients presenting to Gynecology OPD of a tertiary hospital in Delhi with signs and symptoms suggestive of STIs. Exit interview of 100 patients was done by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Knowledge level was graded into Poor knowledge (0-8) and Good knowledge (9-16) on a 16-point score card. Chi square was applied. Results : Only 62 (62%) patients had heard about STIs. The fact that STIs can be prevented by abstinence, being faithful and condoms was known to 25 (25%), 35 (35%) and 28 (28%) patients respectively. Only 21 (21%) patients had good knowledge, significantly more among literates and working females. Reinfection was reported by 9 (9%) patients and it was significantly more in migrants. Conclusion Knowledge of respondents about STIs is very low, particularly among illiterates and housewives. There is a potential to control STIs by making females aware of the uses of condom. Reinfection was significantly more in migrants, so there is a need to focus IEC services to migrants.

A study of job satisfaction and work environment perception among doctors in a tertiary hospital in Delhi.

Background : Many doctors are dissatisfied with their jobs, which is due to long working hours and overwork. This can affect patient care and reduce quality of care. Objectives : To study job satisfaction among doctors in a tertiary hospital in Delhi and the various factors related with it. Materials and Methods: Data collection was done among 250 doctors on tenure-based job, selected by stratified random sampling, in a teaching hospital in Delhi, by using a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical Analysis : Proportions and Chi-square tests. Results : The mean number of work-hours among doctors was 9.7 +/- 2.7 hours per day, and the mean number of night shifts was 5.6 per month. About half (49.6%) of the doctors were dissatisfied with the average number of work-hours per day. Dissatisfaction was significantly more in those who had an average of> 8 work-hours per day and who had >/=8 night shifts per month. About half (45.6%) of the doctors considered their salary as 'bad,' and this was significantly more among unmarried doctors, interns and those who had >/=8 night shifts per month. More than half (55.2%) of the doctors were dissatisfied with their choice of profession, i.e., being a doctor, as compared to other professions. Conclusions : A significant proportion of doctors were found to be dissatisfied with the average number of their work-hours and salary. Factors like the average number of work-hours per day and the number of night shifts per month were found to have a significant relation with dissatisfaction. Further studies are needed to explore how best the work-hours of doctors could be adjusted to improve their job satisfaction.