RESUMO
To study the perceptions of cancer patients and their relatives regarding disclosure of cancer related information. A cross sectional survey was conducted at Medical Oncology Ward, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from September 2009 to January 2011. A total of 114 patients and their relatives were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire. Eighty Three [73%] were male while 31 [27%] were female. Median age of cancer patients was 36 [18-70] years. Forty-eight percent [29/60] cancer patients wished for full disclosure of bad news while 39% [21/54] of their relatives wanted full disclosure [p= Not Significant]. Sixty two percent [37/60] cancer patients and 74% [40/54] relatives wanted to be informed in case of recurrence [p= Not Significant]. Over 90% of patients and relatives wanted bad news to be broken by a senior consultant. Fifty eight percent [35/60] cancer patients and 52% [28/54] relatives wished for their relatives to make treatment decisions for them [p= Not Significant]. However, 93% [56/60] of cancer patients and 78% [42/54] of their relatives wanted full information about all side-effects of treatment [p < 0.02]. Fifty eight percent [35/60] cancer patients and 32% [17/54] relatives wanted their close relatives to be present while bad news was being broken [p<0.007]. Almost half of patients wished for full disclosure of information regarding cancer diagnosis. Over 90% patients wanted full information regarding all side-effects of chemotherapy. It is recommended that training regarding how to break bad news be made mandatory part of our medical training both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
RESUMO
This study was carried out among arsenic-exposed and non-exposed people of Bangladesh to assess and compare their cardiac status based on electrocardiographic (ECG) findings. For the purpose of the study, participants were included in three groups: arsenic-exposed persons with arsenicosis (arsenicosis group), arsenic-exposed persons without arsenicosis (non-arsenicosis group), and persons not exposed to arsenic (non-exposed group). Each group included 50 respondents. In this study, no significant difference in heart rate, rhythm, axis, and pulse rate interval was detected among the arsenicosis, non-arsenicosis and non-exposed groups. A significant difference in corrected QT interval between the arsenicosis and the non-exposed group (p<0.05) was observed. On the contrary, no statistically significant difference in corrected QT interval between the non-arsenicosis and the non-exposed group was found. Abnormal QRS complex was found among 14%, 8%, and 2% of the arsenicosis, non-arsenicosis, and non-exposed groups respectively. ECG findings, indicative of left ventricular hypertrophy, ischaemic heart disease, and right bundle branch block, were high among the arsenicosis group. Overall, abnormal ECG findings were high (58%) among the respondents of the arsenicosis group and were highly significant (p<0.001). The findings revealed that there was a significant association between ECG abnormalities and arsenic exposure.