Background: Hospital diet is an integral part of the management of inward patients. The quality of hospital food plays a major role in determining the overall satisfaction of patients with regards to their hospital stay. Objective: To investigate the level of patient satisfaction with regards to the diet supplied at Teaching Hospital (TH), Karapitiya. Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted among 316 patients who received inward treatment at TH Karapitiya and consumed hospital diet. Data were collected using an interview-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results: During the study period, only 27% of the inward patients consumed hospital diet. Of 316 included in the analysis, 13.6% rated hospital diet "good", 59.7% "fair", and 26.6% "unsatisfactory". Patients were satisfied with the quantity of all types of food provided (above 85%), time of food distribution (90%), temperature of food (85%) and texture (86%). However, 31% of patients were unsatisfied with taste, 40% were unsatisfied with the smell of food and 29% were unsatisfied with the diversity of food provided. No significant association was found between overall satisfaction regarding food service and the patients' age, gender, ethnicity, educational level or length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Patient perception on hospital food service at TH, Karapitiya was mostly favourable although patients were less satisfied about the quality of food. The proportion who consumed hospital food was low. Attempts must be taken to enhance the taste, smell and the diversity of food provided.

No abstract

In persistent asthma, the regular use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on daily basis is the mainstay of therapy. As little is known about the use of ICS in the local set up, this study was planned to identify how the ICS are used, compliance of patients and factors that limit the correct use of ICS. To describe the adherence to the guidelines; in prescribing and dose titration and to assess the correct technique of using inhaler device.Also to describe patient factors that limit adherence to guidelines. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 106 Physician-diagnosed bronchial asthmatics attending medical clinics in Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. Patients were between the age of 12-93 years. 67% were between 41-70 years. 67.9% patients were prescribed appropriate optimal treatment according to the guidelines. 67% of patients showed a good compliance to the prescribed medications. The commonest reasons for poor compliance were unaffordability of drugs (56.75%) and improvement of symptoms as felt by the patients (18.9%). Compliance declined with the duration of follow up. 64.2% were following the correct inhaler technique. The most critical step in the inhaler technique was the 'breath holding for 10 seconds' (only 41.3% adhered to this). Males were significantly (chisquare test; =0.01) better in practicing the proper inhaler technique as compared to females. Majority of patients need ICS as the primary treatment with some requiring long acting bronchodilators. Programs to improve the knowledge of doctors would be beneficial to improve the adherence to the guidelines. Supplying ICS free of charge by the hospital, at least in the initial years, and continuous health education would improve the compliance to ICS. The inhaler technique should be checked at least in nonresponders. When checking the inhaler technique special attention should be paid to the ability of holding breath after inhalation and females are the most vulnerable group. Changing over to metered dose inhaler with a spacer device should not be delayed in repeated failures of dry powder inhalers.