Browsing by Author "Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A"

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Acceptability of a web-based character strengths module for early adolescent school children
(Postgraduate Institute of Medicine University of Colombo, 2023) Chandradasa, M.; Williams, S.; Sumanasiri, S.; Selliah, S.; Gunarathne, P.; Paric, A.; Ravindran, N.; Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A; Ravindran, A.
BACKGROUND: Frequent socio-political conflicts in the past decades have adversely affected the well-being of youth in Sri Lanka. There is a need to support youth development, mitigate past trauma, and promote social harmony. School-based interventions to improve character development, emotional regulation, and tolerance have good evidence and may benefit adolescents in Sri Lanka. Our objective was to develop a novel character strength program in Sinhala to promote Leadership, Empathy, Altruism, Personal Growth, and Social Responsibility (LEAPS). This program consists of ten web-based modules and is facilitated by teachers. This initial evaluation focuses on the first module and its acceptability among students and teachers. METHOD: Program modules were developed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist with the support of mental health and educational experts. The first module was piloted among grade 8 students (12-14 years) and teachers of two schools in the Gampaha District. It was designed to be interactive and contains various cultural activities and questions. On completion, participants gave feedback online via Likert scales. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. RESULTS: A total of 115 students and 66 teachers participated. Overall, more than 95% of students and teachers found the module appropriate and suitable. The students had more favourable ratings for the module compared to the teachers on aspects of understanding the content (p<0.001), ability to complete by self (p<0.001), suitability to age (p<0.001), shorter time for completion (p<0.001) and suitability of the design (p<0.001). Both groups suggested that the pictures and activities be increased. CONCLUSIONS: Teaching character strengths using a web-based intervention was well accepted by adolescent students and teachers in Sri Lanka.
Brain drain among Sri Lankan psychiatrists
(Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2023) Chandradasa, M.; Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A
No abstract available
Substance use disorders and their correlates among inmates in a Sri Lankan prison
(Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, 2021) Hapangama, A.; Dasanayake, D.G.B.M S.; Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, H.J.
Introduction Substance abuse and dependence are common among prison populations. However, there is few data regarding this problem in Sri Lankan. Objective: To determine the prevalence of substance use disorders among inmates in a Sri Lankan prison Method: A semi- structured interviewer administered questionnaire and ICD 10 clinical diagnostic criteria were applied to 410 randomly selected male and female prisoners in minimum/medium security settings in the largest prison in Sri Lanka. Results: 75.6% (95% CI 71.2 – 79.5) of prisoners had lifetime substance use disorder while 24.4% (95% CI 20.2– 28.6) met criteria for current substance use disorder. 56.8% and 67 % of participants met criteria for lifetime alcohol and tobacco use disorders, respectively, while and 42 %and 25.6% had lifetime cannabis and opioid dependence, respectively. Factors significantly associated with lifetime substance use disorder were male gender, residence in an urban area, younger age and being unemployed or having only temporary employment. 23% of participants who met criteria for dependence were intravenous substance users. Conclusions: Services should be improved in the prison health system to minimize harm from substance use disorders.