Browsing by Author "Jayasinghe, V."

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    Healthy lifestyle profile scale for elderly: A novel tool to assess healthy lifestyle among young elderly live in South Asian settings
    (Medknow Publications, 2024) Jayasinghe, V.; Ferdinando, R.; Abeysena, C.
    BACKGROUND: Many lifestyle modification interventions have been introduced for young elderly population (aged from 60 to 74 years) in Sri Lanka to improve their health and well being. However, little is known about the outcome of those interventions as there is no valid tool available to measure the level of a healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to develop and validate a new tool to assess the level of healthy lifestyle among young elderly in Sri Lanka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An operationalized definition of the healthy lifestyle was formulated. Items for the tool were identified following a literature review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The content validity of the tool was ensured by the panel of experts. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to explore factor structure and construct validity, respectively. The internal consistency, test–retest, and interobserver reliabilities of the tool were also assessed. RESULTS: Sixty two items were identified initially, and they were reduced to 31 based on experts’ opinion. Out of those, 28 items were loaded into 8 factors during the EFA. The results of the CFA showed a satisfactory model fit. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha >0.7), test–retest, and interobserver reliabilities (Interclass correlation coefficients >0.7) were also found to be satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The tool was named the Healthy Lifestyle Profile Scale for Elderly (HLPSE). The HLPSE is a valid and reliable tool to assess the level of healthy lifestyle among Sri Lankan young elderly.
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    Preliminary survey on avifaunal diversity at Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary, Sri Lanka
    (4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Dissnayake, D. M. D. S. M.; Jayasinghe, V.; Gunawardena, M. P.
    Sri Lanka shelters a rich avifaunal diversity and the Bellanwila – Attidiya sanctuary (BAS) is of much importance as a habitat for birds. The diurnal avifaunal diversity was studied along the Nedimala canal of the Weras Ganga belonging to the BAS, from July 2016 to February 2017, using the fixed distance line transect method. All birds seen within one hundred meters on either side of the canal were recorded, at three different sessions of the day (morning 6:30-8:30 h, noon 11:30-1:30 h and evening 3:30-5:30 h). A total number of 2592 of individuals belonging to 62 bird species, 29 families and fifteen orders were recorded during the study period. These included the globally near-threatened (NT) Spot Billed Pelican (Pelicanus philippensis). Only migratory species recorded during the months of January and February was the Indian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi). Using the recorded data, the relative abundance of each bird species was calculated. The calculated relative abundance indicates that the House Crow (Crous splendens) was the most common bird (10.61) followed by Little Comorant (Microcarbo niger) (5.86), Rose Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameria) (5.71) and Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) (5.02). The Brown Shrike (Lanius seristatus) was the least observed bird (0.04). Furthermore, the calculated diversity index values depict a relatively high diversity of 3.62 for the Shannon index and 0.9625 for Simpson’s Index. According to the records, it was revealed that birds are more active during the morning hours. Even though the study site is in close proximity to densely populated residential areas; it still provides vital habitat to a large number of bird species. Although, due to the increasing number of invasive species and pollution around the canal, a decrease in the avifaunal composition, especially considering aquatic bird species, has been observed which ensures that measures to protect and conserve the Bellanwila – Attidiya Sanctuary should be taken