Browsing by Author "Jayawardana, P. L."

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    Administrative posts in public health institution
    (College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 2007) Jayawardana, P. L.
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    Ill-health retirement at a health agency between 1991 and 1994
    (Oxford University Press, 2005) Jayawardana, P. L.
    AIM: To describe factors related to the process of ill-health retirement (IHR) among employees of three hospital trusts. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out at a health agency on retirements recorded by the management due to ill-health between1991 and 1994. Relevant data were extracted from records maintained in the occupational health department. RESULTS: Among the 339 retirements recorded by the management as due to ill-health, 100 (29.5%) records could not be retrieved. Of the 239 records available for analysis, information regarding full- or part-time work was available for 164 (69%) employees. Further information from the individual's general practitioner or specialist was obtained for 106 (44%) employees and redeployment considered for 52 (22%) employees. The total number of employees who were recommended IHR was 125 (52%). One hundred and forty of the cases reported 220 disease conditions at pre-employment while 170 (71%) cases reported 229 disease conditions at retirement. In 37 (15.5%) the disease condition that led to retirement was the same as that at pre-employment. The commonest of these were musculoskeletal (46%; 17/37) and psychiatric (11%; 4/37) disorders. Twenty-one percent of all the retirements were due to work-related conditions. The time taken to arrive at the decision of IHR was more than 1 year for 20 (8%) employees. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that many aspects of the IHR process did not meet the current suggested standards.
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    Level of empowerment for tobacco control in a rural low-income district in Sri Lanka
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2018) Perera, K. M. N.; Guruge, G. N. D.; Jayawardana, P. L.
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Health is determined by a range of factors and health promotion incorporates enabling individuals and communities to have control over determinants of their health. Tobacco, a well-established determinant of ill-health, is portrayed as a factor that is difficult to be controlled Psychological empowerment for tobacco control encompasses an individual's sense of control over tobacco related issues, the foundation for strengthening community actions against tobacco. This study aimed to describe the psychological empowerment for tobacco control in Monaragla District.METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Psychological empowerment was operationalized based on Zimmerman's definition into a 27 item scale under intrapersonal, interactional and behavioural domains. developed via a modified Delphi technique was validated for the local context. The interviewer administered tool assessed participants recruited via a multi-stage cluster sampling technique using a household (N=1160) survey RESULTS: Response rate was 98 6% (n=l 144). the majority (92 1 %; n=l054), felt they have a responsibility to participate in tobacco control even though only 21.9% (n=251) has ever participated in such activities at least once in their lifetime. Perceived mastery, motivation, competence, awareness and efficacy for tobacco control among participants were satisfactory. Interactional domain, assessing participants' preparedness to act, received the highest scores (M=23 5; SD=5 9) among all the domains.CONCLUSION: Perceived mastery, motivation, competence, awareness and efficacy for tobacco control were satisfactory. However, level of action did not match the levels of intrapersonal and interactional domains that reflect preparedness to act. Unused potential for tobacco control exists among the community to act against tobacco.
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    Non-specific occupational health conditions among brass workers at Gadaladeniya, Sri Lanka
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2004) Jayawardana, P. L.
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of exposure to metal dusts, fumes and high temperature levels among brass workers in comparison to a control group. STUDY DESIGN: Analytical cross-sectional study. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and fifty four brass workers were matched for age with 154 controls selected from the local population. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to determine the presence of acute and chronic symptoms and metal fume fever. Haemoglobin and blood zinc and copper levels were measured using the cyanmethaemoglobin technique and atomic absorption spectrophotometry respectively. Thermal environmental measurements were carried out by determining wet bulb and globe temperature (WBGT) levels and air velocity. RESULTS: Among the chronic symptoms anorexia (OR = 3.3), distaste (OR = 8.3), and aches and pains (OR = 4.0) were significantly higher in the study group. Among the acute symptoms at work, cough (OR = 4.2), dry nose (OR = 6.8), tearing (OR = 6.3), and itchy eyes (OR = 6.3) were significantly higher in the study group. Sweating was significantly higher in the control group. Metal fume fever was significantly higher among the study group with an OR of 7.6. Levels of both copper and zinc were significantly higher in the study group, although both median and mean values were lower than the normal reference ranges. The recommended WBGT level of 26.1 degrees C for an air velocity of less than 1.53 m/s for heavy work was exceeded only in two workshops. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of non-specific symptoms was higher among brass workers. It is necessary to take preventive measures.
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    Ventilatory function of factory workers exposed to Tea Dust
    (1997) Jayawardana, P. L.; Udupihilla, M.
    A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the effect on ventilatory capacity in workers exposed to tea dust for at least five years during the sifting process of tea manufacture compared to a control group of field workers who were not exposed to tea dust previously. Fifty-three subjects each in the study and control groups were matched for age, sex, ethnic group and height. Prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was obtained by questionnaire. Spirometric measurements included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1.0) and forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%). The study group had a chest radiograph. The odds ratio for any chronic respiratory symptom was 11.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.7-39.4) in the study group. Mean values for the spirometric tests were lower in the study group; the differences in FEV 1.0 and FEF 25-75% were significant. Tuberculosis was not found in the study group, while one subject (2.4%) had radiological evidence of bronchiectasis. It may therefore be concluded that chronic tea dust exposure causes increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and a significant degree of small airways obstruction.