Vol. 2 No. 01 (2021)

A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Associated with Malnutrition among Community-dwelling Malnourished Older People in Kandy District, Sri Lanka

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Associated with Malnutrition among Community-dwelling Malnourished Older People in Kandy District, Sri Lanka Damayanthi, H.D.W.T; Abdullah, K.L; Moy, F.M Introduction: Nutrition plays an important role in older people. Numerous factors are associated with malnutrition among community-dwelling older people. However, little is known about how malnourished older people experience their nutritional status. This study aimed to explore how malnourished community-dwelling older people perceive the factors associated with their nutritional status. Methods: An explorative qualitative design was performed in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. A group of 150 malnourished community-dwelling older people identified from a cross sectional survey were invited for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A purposive sampling method was used. Fifteen FGDs were conducted among 85 participants. A thematic analysis was done to identify relevant themes related to malnutrition status. Results: The mean age of the participants was 68.74 years (SD± 6.32). Their age range was 60 to 97 years. Four main themes were identified through FGDs: (1) factors affecting dietary patterns, (2) food choices, (3) health status, and (4) psychological challenges. Conclusions: Community-dwelling malnourished older people stated factors associated with their dietary patterns, such as age-related factors, food choices, health status and mental status, lead to their malnutrition status. Public health professionals must understand and recognize these realities to improve the nutritional status of community-dwelling older people.

Assessment of Knowledge and Healthcare Related Practices of Caregivers Regarding Home Management of Children with Nephrotic Syndrome

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment of Knowledge and Healthcare Related Practices of Caregivers Regarding Home Management of Children with Nephrotic Syndrome Madhushani, J.S.S; Bandara, W.V.R.T.D.G Introduction: Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) is the commonest chronic glomerular disorder characterized by heavy proteinuria, hypoproteinaemia, oedema and hyperlipidaemia. Parental motivation and involvement are essential for home management of a child with NS. This study was conducted to assess caregivers' knowledge and healthcare related practices regarding home management of children with NS. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers (n=94) attending the Paediatric Nephrology Clinic (PNC) at the Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The majority of the respondents (71.3%) were mothers. The majority of children with NS in the study sample were boys (70.2%), and their mean age was 7.6±3 years. About 40.4% of children had onset of disease at the age of 2-3 years. The majority of participants (53.2%) had scored more than 75 marks for knowledge. The practice score of the majority (66.0%) was between 50-100. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher in the participants who have managed their child with NS for 6-8 years (p=0.006) and for 9-11 years (p=0.019), compared to the participants who have managed their child with NS for 3-5 years. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher in the participants with the family history with NS in compared to the participants without family history of NS (p=0.001). A statistically significant association was found between mean practice score and the number of living children in the family (p=0.009). Mean practice score of the participants who had more than four living children was significantly higher than the participants who had two living children in their family (p=0.002). However, a significant negative correlation was observed between knowledge on NS and healthcare related practices of the participants (r= -0.240, n=94, p=0.020, 2-tailed). Conclusions: The overall knowledge and practices of parents/caregivers regarding home management of children with NS attending to the PNC, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka, was adequate and satisfactory.

Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction and Patient-physician Relationship in an Out- Patient Department Re-engineered through a Health Information Management System: A Descriptive Study Done at a Major Women’s Hospital in Sri Lanka

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction and Patient-physician Relationship in an Out- Patient Department Re-engineered through a Health Information Management System: A Descriptive Study Done at a Major Women’s Hospital in Sri Lanka Madhuwanthi, R.M.; Marasinghe, R.B Introduction: Health information management is one of the major pillars in a health system that improves the effectiveness and efficiency of health services. It is essential to assess the patient perception towards re-engineered services provide through Hospital Information Management Systems (HIMSs) and how this implementation affects the doctor-patient relationship. The objective of the study was to describe the extent of patient satisfaction towards Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, pharmacy service and patient-physician relationship in the OPD, re-engineered through a HIMS, at the Castle Street Hospital for Women (CSHW), Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 362 out-patients aged over 18 years attending the OPD of the CSHW during 2018-2019. Consecutive sampling method, and an interviewer-administrated questionnaire were used to collect data. The quantitative analysis was done using the SPSS software version 23. The sentiment analysis was performed to analyze comments given by patients using the Rapid Miner software. Results: All participants were females with a mean age of 41years (±13.58). Almost all participants were satisfied with overall services provided by the OPD (99.7%) and the pharmacy (98.4%). The majority (65.3%) agreed that implementation of the HIMS had improved the doctor-patient relationship. All reported comments regarding the re-engineered services of the OPD were ‘positive’. The study also suggests considering providing information in all common languages while announcing the patient’s OPD number at the waiting area in future implementations. Conclusions: The majority of patients were satisfied with the overall OPD services provided through implementation of the HIMS at the CSHW, Sri Lanka

Knowledge and Attitudes on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its Associated Factors among a Selected Population of Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinics in Mathugama, Western Province of Sri Lanka

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Knowledge and Attitudes on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its Associated Factors among a Selected Population of Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinics in Mathugama, Western Province of Sri Lanka Wimalajeewa, T.M.D.Y.D; Hettiaratchi, U.P.K Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has become an emerging metabolic disorder around the world leading to type 2 diabetes mellitus in two generations, including the mother and the offspring. Complications associated with GDM can be prevented by proper management of the disease. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes on GDM and its associated factors in a selected population of pregnant mothers in Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among eight antenatal clinics in the Mathugama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area, Sri Lanka. Pregnant mothers of less than 20 weeks of gestation (n=150) attending the above clinics were selected by convenience sampling. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. The SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics, visual binning, independent sample t-test and bivariate correlation were used as statistical tools. Results: Only 4.7% of participants had developed GDM previously. The mean gestational age of the study participants was 12±5 weeks. The mean percentage knowledge score regarding GDM was 36.1±23.3%. Only 20.0% had good knowledge and 35.3% had poor knowledge about GDM. Age (p=0.017), level of education (p=0.024), history of GDM (p=0.033), and family history of diabetes mellitus (p=0.025) had significant associations with the knowledge on GDM. In addition, positive correlations were found between the mean knowledge score for GDM and gestational age (p=0.001), and the gravidity (p=0.018) of the participants (p<0.05). Conclusions: Only a minority of the study group (20.0%) had good knowledge about GDM while, more than 50.0% of the participants showed positive attitude towards the management of GDM. Therefore, taking measures to enhance the pregnant mothers’ knowledge regarding GDM is a timely and important action that ultimately leads to healthy pregnancy outcomes.