ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It has been realized by senior researchers that interest in biostatistics is very poor among medical professionals. Knowledge of biostatistics plays an important role in medical research. Studies conducted about knowledge, attitude toward biostatistics by many researchers, but there were no works about factors in relation to it. Considering this gap, we tried to develop a new instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Item generation and questionnaire formation were done using focus group discussion involving seven experts from different departments of medical colleges. Face validity and content validity and pilot testing were carried out step by step. In estimating reliability, internal consistency measured after collecting data from 66 study participants. Data were collected through self-administered paper-based questionnaire where response in each item was in five-point Likert scale. Cronbach's alpha for reliability analysis was used. RESULTS: In first stage, item generation through FGD, then face validity was assessed by senior faculties. Content validity was checked by Aiken's V index. In initial stages, with six items, Cronbach's alpha was 0.805. Scale mean and variance were 24.24 and 27.26. After final reliability testing, it became 0.866 with four items where scale mean and variance came to 15.85 and 16.38. CONCLUSION: All the six items were important factors. Reliability improved when knowledge in statistics in higher secondary level and biostatistics classes in PG course were eliminated as factors. More qualitative research is needed for better understanding of this concept.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neonatal seizure (NS) reflects serious underlying brain injury, requiring immediate evaluation and early treatment. In neonates, phenobarbitone and phenytoin are used primarily to control the seizures. If uncontrolled, widespread off-label use of midazolam and levetiracetam was practiced. These drugs gained popularity though there are no such studies available on literature search comparing them. The present study was designed to explore these lacunae using these two drugs in refractory cases. To study the efficacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of midazolam and levetiracetam not responding to usual line of therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 69 neonates in the NICU and Department of Pharmacology in Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal. Patients receiving midazolam or levetiracetam when uncontrolled with first line antiepileptics, namely, phenobarbitone and phenytoin, were considered eligible. The study variables were time to control seizure, seizure recurrence and frequency, and treatment-related adverse events. analysis used Mann-Whitney U-test were applied Comparison with respect to time to control and Chi-square test were applied to detect difference in proportion for ADRs. The SPSS Statistics 17.0 was used for analysis. RESULTS: We compared the time periods to control neonatal seizure for effectiveness between levetiracetam and midazolam showing no significant difference (P = 0.190). Comparing the portion of recurrences in two groups gives statistically nonsignificant (P = 0.878) result. Only respiratory depression was seen in the levetiracetam group (12.90%) and midazolam group (18.42%). All adverse events were 'probable' as per the WHO-UMC criteria, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs (P = 0.533). CONCLUSIONS: Both midazolam and levetiracetam are equally effective and safe in NS not responding to usual line of treatment.