Application of models of behavior change communication in various stages of healthcare

A resource-limited country like India calls for a deeper focus on preventive health than it is now. So far, behaviour change communication (BCC) has been more or less limited to campaigns and awareness activities. Treating physicians applying BCC interventions in their clinics is particularly rare. This article aims to describe the role of BCC at the primary healthcare level in preventing diseases. The article also attempts to highlight the importance of BCC in helping cure and rehabilitate patients. Evidence-based interventions can be derived from BCC models that help physicians handle their patients better. Health education an already defined domain of health promotion will be the key to achieving the said goal. It promises to be one of the cheap and effective tools in achieving the vision of universal healthcare. It provides room for flexibility and customised care for each patient. After a thorough understanding of various models and theories of BCC, a physician should be able to apply them on a regular basis in their day-to-day interaction with patients in the most scientific manner possible.

Contact tracing of health care workers as a part of health system strengthening: lessons learnt from field experience

Health care workers (HCWs) are the frontline workers working tirelessly during the pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The same HCW, after duty, is exposed to his/ her community which again increases the risk of infection. Hence, with an increased risk of exposure, we cannot afford to lose our frontline workers due to sickness or more. In the absence of any definitive antiviral treatment, unclear modes of transmission, burnout working hours, fatigue, societal stigma related to disease etc., a HCW is exposed to psychological distress and many a time develops an anxiety/panic condition which can increase the chances of work-place error and thus can increase the likelihood of infection. In this article, we have shared our experience with contact tracing among HCWs, what we have learned in the past two years, and proposed a way forward.

Totally implantable venous access ports: Retrospective review of long-term complications in 81 patients.

Aim of The Study: A totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) has become an essential prerequisite for many chemotherapy protocols. It is serving its purpose very well, but its use is not without complications. We are presenting our experience with these devices (TIVAPs). Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the totally implantable venous access ports in 81 patients at our hospital between January 2009 and March 2011 for long-term problems which include postoperative and follow-up problems, excluding the immediate complications which occur at the time of insertion. Results: Catheter malfunction was the most common complication (9.87%, 0.40/1000 device-days of use/observation). Catheter-related bloodstream infections were present in 5 (6.17%) patients (0.25/1000 device-days of use/observation). The mean life of the catheter was 246 days. Only 11.1% ports required removal during the treatment period. Overall, patients either completed treatment (82.8%) or died (6.1%) while receiving treatment. Conclusion: TIVAPs provide safe and reliable vascular access for patients on chemotherapy but require utmost care by a dedicated team of trained medical professionals and paramedics experienced with the use of such ports, in order to minimize the complications and their continued use while administering treatment.

Jaundice in pregnancy: a clinical study.

In a study on jaundice during pregnancy it was observed that the incidence of jaundice in pregnancy was 1 in 429. Majority of the cases were primigravida, 70% of cases were between 20 and 30 years of age, 60% of the patients were unbooked, 25% of cases were with severe degree of jaundice in respect to serum bilirubin level and 70% cases were with anaemia. There were preponderance of cases in 3rd trimester. Majority of the cases (60%) had jaundice-delivery interval of above 4 weeks. Among the causes virus hepatitis was commonest one (80%). Maternal mortality was recorded as 1 in 20 cases and perinatal mortality was 7 in 17 births (41%).

Outcome of teenage pregnancy and labour: a retrospective study.

During the period of study of 3 years (1985-1987), 4698 (18.68%) cases of labour in teenage mothers were recorded out of a total of 25,142 deliveries in the obstetric unit. Preponderance of primigravida (76.6%) and cases from rural areas (51.3%) were recorded. Antenatal care was nil or inadequate in 48.6% cases. Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia affected teenage mothers (10.6%) were much more frequent than mothers of 20 years of age and above (5.2%). Incidence of 30% low birth weight baby, 20.1% prematurity and 16.4% perinatal mortality were recorded.