The issue of evaluating the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) intangible impacts remains to be unresolved, especially when it comes to evaluating the impacts of ICTs on non-user beneficiaries. The telecentres have been established to disseminate knowledge from basic to advanced level, stimulating the socio-economic status of the underprivileged communities. After a thorough review of the literature, it is found that researchers paid much more attention towards evaluating traditional measurable impacts of telecentre (from both users and non-users perspectives) such as income, health, education. Albeit very few studies have identified non-measureable intangible impacts on users such as psychological wellbeing and empowerment, non-measureable intangible impact particularly from the non-users perspectives have largely been neglected. Telecentre has been existing for almost more than two decades, now the question is, are the nonmeasurable impacts important? Hence, we believe an alternative qualitative research methodology (The Most Significant Change) will help to evaluate the intangible impacts of ICTs perceived by its non-users such as (self-esteem, self-confidence, feelings of happiness and pride). These stories-based approach can produce diverse, unexpected and emergent impacts from the community's social perspectives, which might not be catered for by using other orthodox research approaches based on success related pre-stated indicators.
The paper explores the impact of a telecentre on the community living in Bario, a small village in the highlands of Malaysian Borneo. Specifically, it addresses indirect and intangible impacts on non-users of telecentre. Thus, far most research studies have primarily focused on direct and tangible impacts of telecentre on its users whilst impact on non-users is least covered and understood. Consequently, it was equally essential to study the concept of unquantifiable intangible impacts experienced by the non-users. Sen's "Capability Approach" (CA) was adopted to understand the impact of telecentre on human development. "The Most Significant Change" (MSC) was employed as a tool for collecting data in the form of stories from the telecentre users and non-users. The process involved gathering stories about the telecentre impact from the Bario community people. The MSC stories with significance relevance were identified and selected with the help of the community. Those were then analysed using the content analysis technique and Leximancer to identify the patterns of change experienced by the respondents. The results of the study on the whole suggests that the Bario community has benefited from the use of the telecentre, both directly and indirectly, including intangible impacts such as connectedness, a sense of belongingness, strengthened social ties, and psychological empowerment (selfesteem and self-efficacy). The theoretical approach together with methodological approach provided a base for understanding ways to conceptualize the development and determine the ways in which telecentre contributed directly or indirectly to the social and economic development of the community inhabitants.
Telecentres have been widely deployed worldwide particularly in the area of ICTD to bridge the gap between urban and rural development. This paper explores the value and impact of a telecentre on the community living in Bario, a small village in the highlands of Malaysia. The focus is mainly on the less studied tangible and intangible impacts of the telecentre on users and nonusers. This topic is discussed based on stories collected through "Most Significant Change Technique (MSC)" providing facts from the insights of the local community. In nutshell, Bario community has greatly benefited from the use of the telecentre, whether directly or indirectly, particularly in the areas of connectedness, psychological empowerment, and financial improvement. Greater awareness and use of the telecentre shall continue to benefit this small rural community in their social and economic wellbeing.
Background and Objective: Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Lahore, Pakistan is one of largest burn patients management center in country. We evaluated our latest antibiogram of burn wounds to help patients and improve the healthcare. Methods: Retrospective observational study of burn patients. Our study included all kinds of burns and all admitted patients with all ages, total burn surface area 01-80%. Wound cultures and sensitivity done on wounds swabs by culture and disc diffusion methods. Results: There were 175 cases. Total six bacteria were found in all 175 cases. The Acinetobacter species were 9 (5.1%), Klebsiella species were 110 (62.8%) and these were most common ones, Proteus species were 12 (6.8%), Pseudomonas species were 30 (17.1%), Staphylococcus aureus were 12 (6.8%) and Staphylococcus coagulase negative were 2 (1.1%). Klebsiella was most sensitive to Colistin. All 105 out of 105 were sensitive (100.0%), followed by Tigercyclin; 39 out of 65 were sensitive (60.0%) and then Meropenum 47 out of 88 were sensitive (53.4%). Conclusion: Klebsiella is the most common organism found in cultures of burn wounds and Colistin shows best sensitivity results against all bacteria found in our reports including Klebsiella.
Objectives: To evaluate various causes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and its presenting signs and symptoms. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore. Period: November 2018 to April 2019. Material & Methods: In this study 90 cases were included having age range of 14-75 years with mean age of 46.5 year with the possibility of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Screening test used for evaluating AIHAin this study include Direct and Indirect Antiglobulin Tests and Cold Agglutinin Titer (CAT). All relevant data was documented properly. Results: Total 90 cases were included in the study comprising on 71% female and 29% male cases. 22.2% cases were having primary and 77.8% were having secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Most common presenting complaint was generalized body weakness in 25(27.7%) cases and on examination most common finding was splenomegaly in 30(33.3%) cases. Hemoglobin was less than 8g/dl in 28(31%) cases. Direct Antiglobulin test was positive in 64(71%) cases, DAT and IATboth were found to be positive in 22(24.4%) cases and DAT and CAT both found positive in 4(4.4%) cases. Blood transfusion was done in 28% cases having severe anemia. Most common cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia found among study group patients was connective tissue disorder in 25(27.8%) cases. P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant and more than 0.05 was non-significant. Conclusion: In our study autoimmune hemolytic anemia was mostly found in female population with most common presentation of generalized body weakness, pallor of hands, hepatosplenomegaly and severe anemia. Most common cause found of AIHA was connective tissue disorders.
Objective: To investigate the rates of polypharmacy (PP) and its relations with accessibility to health services in chronic patients in a primary care setting. Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
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