Background: Cessation of tobacco is important to prevent non-communicable diseases and mortality. Smokers frequently approach doctors for various health ailments. This opportunity can be utilized to give tobacco cessation advice. This study aims to assess the clinician’s practice perspectives barriers and need for the training related to tobacco cessation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore tobacco cessation practices of clinicians of a teaching hospital attached to Medical College in Hassan, Karnataka, India. Pre-tested, pre-structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all the clinicians in person. All the Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Senior Residents and Junior Residents in the departments coming in contact with smokers were included in the study and patients were also interviewed to assess their smoking status, willingness to quit and counselling by physicians using pre-structured oral questionnaire.Results: Almost 84.4% of clinicians said they ask about smoking history but only 50.9% said they assess patients’ willingness to quit smoking. 37% assist patients to quit smoking and 29.8% arranged follow up visits. 25% of clinicians mentioned undergraduate and postgraduate training prepared them to help patients quit smoking. Remaining said it was inadequate. All agreed that it is their role to help, motivate, discuss, speak, refer and monitor patients who smoke to quit.Conclusions: Majority of the doctors believed that they play a very important role in tobacco cessation activities. There is a need for Undergraduate and postgraduate skill based training to assist patients quit the tobacco habit. The study showed a need for adherence and reinforcement of tobacco cessation guidelines.
Background: The burden of breast cancer is increasing in both developed and developing countries; the peak occurrence of breast cancer in developed countries is above the age of 50 whereas in India it is above the age of 40. Reproductive factors contribute most to the development of breast cancer. Nulliparity, more age at first live birth and no breastfeeding are major reproductive risk factors for breast cancer in the developed countries. The role of reproductive factors in the development of breast cancer in Indian population is different as compared with that seen in the western population. Objective of this study was to find out some of the various risk factors of breast cancer among patients attending the tertiary care hospital in Hassan.Methods: The case control study was conducted at surgery wards of Sri Chamarajendra district hospital which is a teaching hospital. The calculated number of cases was 110, including 110 controls total 220 individuals were included in the study. A case was defined as any female patient histopathologically confirmed to have breast cancer.Results: The maximum cases (38%) were between 51 to 60 years of age group. Age at menarche, age at first child birth, age at marriage and age at menopause reported significant risk for breast cancer.Conclusions: Information, education and communication activities regarding these risk factors, early signs and symptoms of breast carcinoma, and breast self‑examination should be imparted to the women to create awareness about this fatal disease.
Background: Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is an essential component of revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Any type of delay (patient delay, health system delay) may worsen the disease, increase the risk of death and enhance disease transmission in the community. The study intended to know the extent of patient delay and health system delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients and to assess factors associated with patient and health system delay. Methods: A cross sectional study on 217 new smear positive tuberculosis patients aged above 15 years who were registered between Nov-2008 to Sept-2009 for DOTS under RNTCP in Mysore tuberculosis unit was included in the study. Interview was conducted using pre tested semi structured questionnaire within 2 months of diagnosis to minimize recall bias. Results: The median delay among 217 participants was 27 days due to patient delay, 17 days due to health system and 49 days in total delay respectively. The delay in seeking care was more than one month in 39% patients. In 44% of patients there was more than 15 days delay in the diagnosis by the health care providers. In 10% of patients treatment was not initiated within 7 days of diagnosis. Conclusions: More specific and effective health education to the general public on seeking of appropriate medial consultation through proper channel is likely to decrease patient delay. Continuing medical education for private practitioners is needed to encourage vigilance for TB and earlier use of diagnostic tests.
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