Comparison of Shisha Smoking Behavior among Medical and Pharmacy Students

Background: Health care workers are respected in every society and have a strong influence on the behaviour of the community. In order to reduce the shisha dependence in the Pakistani population, it is necessary to evaluate the perspective of future doctors and pharmacists regarding this addiction as they become role models for the future generations. Objective: The aim is to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of shisha use among medical students and pharmacy students in order to assess their support in the anti-shisha campaigns of Pakistan. Methodology: Cross sectional study was performed in four major medical universities of Karachi, Pakistan through a modification of the WHO global health survey questionnaire. Result: 398 medical students and 470 pharmacy students were included in the study which showed that currently 9.6% pharmacy students and 4.8% medical students used shisha daily (p = 0.000). Pharmacy students started shisha use in less than 15 years of age while this number was 29.5% among medical students (P = 0.000). Moreover, 44.6% pharmacy students and 50% medical students were not planning to quit this addiction within the next six months. 14% of pharmacy students and 20.4% in medical students (P = 0.002) were unaware that passive smoking caused lung cancer, while 23.4% pharmacy students and 33.5% medical students rejected it as cause of heart diseases (p = 0.006). Conclusion: A significant number of medical and pharmacy students were unaware about some of the serious consequences of shisha smoking. Therefore, both groups of students need to be educated about the health hazards of shisha use, in order to control this growing menace.

Psychotherapy: A Way Forward to Improve the Quality of Life in Otalgia Patients

Introduction: Otalgia is not only an indicator of impact of disease but also impairs the daily activities and personal behaviors as is unpleasant and disturbing for the patient. It leads to decrease in functional status up to the complete disability. Nowadays the main focus of physician is to eradicate the disease or the symptoms, leaving behind the humanistic element. In diseased state, the most important point is to assess and improve the quality of life by using multidisciplinary approach. Objective: The objective is to assess the quality of life in patients having otalgia, due to any cause. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted by using modified form of WHOQOL-100 and COQOL. Data was accepted, if CFI was greater than 0.9. Qualitative data were presented as frequency and percentages and quantitative data as mean with standard deviation. ANOVA was used to assess the variations among groups. Change in behavior was assessed by using the Likert scale for each domain of WHOQOL and COQOL by a ten-point scale. Results: Majority of participants about 60.2% were male and were from the age group of 16 - 30 years. Most of the sample population were from lower socioeconomic class. Looking over the WHOQOL-100, higher score represented the higher quality of life. Variation among different socioeconomic status was non-significant for positive attitudes but was highly significant (p = 0.0020) for negative attitudes. Analyzing the COQOL scoring system, higher score reported the worse symptoms. The patient with high COQOL showed strong correlation with poor WHOQOL-100 score that was p value Conclusion: The current study highlights the need of multidisciplinary approach for the better management and improving the quality of life in patients with otalgia.

Accidental Diagnosis of Infections among Blood Donors

ntroduction: Due to widespread incidence and prevalence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), syphilis and malaria are the most common viral infections transmitted via blood transfusions. Yet there is insufficient information available about the exact prevalence of these infections among blood donors in Pakistan. The objectives of current study are to highlight the importance of blood screening among blood donors by finding the prevalence of high-risk transmissible diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis and malaria in the population of Nawabshah (Sindh) and to compare it with other provinces. Methods: A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was conducted on 37,845 blood donor volunteers at the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, in Nawabshah Sindh from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018. The data was taken from the well-maintained yearly record of the hospital blood bank. Analysis of all the data regarding blood donors was done using Statistical Program of Special Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: The most common age group was between 18 - 40 years. Donors were predominantly male (90%). HBV is the most prevalent disease amongst the blood donors of Peoples Medical College with a prevalence of 6.52% while HIV, HCV and malaria were 6.33%, 5.83% and 1.24% respectively whereas Syphilis is the least prevalent disease with a prevalence of 1.11%. Comparing with other provinces, the highest prevalence of hepatitis B was seen in Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah, Sindh whereas for hepatitis C it was the highest in Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh. Moreover, Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar was the least burdened with Hepatitis B (1.46%) and C (1.34%). Conclusion: Accidental diagnosis of blood-borne infections including Hepatitis B, C, HIV, Syphilis and malaria highlights importance of blood screening among the blood donors. There is a need of public education regarding infection prevention and transmission.