Browsing by Author "Wijekoon, S."

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    Fixed low-dose triple combination Antihypertensive Medication vs usual care for blood pressure control in patients with mild to moderate hypertension in Sri Lanka: A Randomized Clinical Trial
    (American Medical Association, 2018) Webster, R.; Salam, A.; de Silva, H.A.; Selak, V.; Stepien, S.; Rajapakse, S.; Amarasekara, N.; Amarasena, N.; Billotm, L.; de Silva, A.P.; Fernando, M.; Guggilla, R.; Jan, S.; Jayawardena, J.; Maulik, P.K.; Mendis, S.; Mendis, S.; Munasinghe, J.; Naik, N.; Prabhakaran, D.; Ranasinghe, G.; Thom, S.; Thisserra, N.; Senaratne, V.; Wijekoon, S.; Wijeyasingham, S.; Rodgers, A.; Patel, A.; TRIUMPH Study Group
    IMPORTANCE: Poorly controlled hypertension is a leading global public health problem requiring new treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a low-dose triple combination antihypertensive medication would achieve better blood pressure (BP) control vs usual care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized, open-label trial of a low-dose triple BP therapy vs usual care for adults with hypertension (systolic BP >140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg; or in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease: >130 mm Hg and/or >80 mm Hg) requiring initiation (untreated patients) or escalation (patients receiving monotherapy) of antihypertensive therapy. Patients were enrolled from 11 urban hospital clinics in Sri Lanka from February 2016 to May 2017; follow-up ended in October 2017. INTERVENTIONS: A once-daily fixed-dose triple combination pill (20 mg of telmisartan, 2.5 mg of amlodipine, and 12.5 mg of chlorthalidone) therapy (n = 349) or usual care (n = 351). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the proportion achieving target systolic/diastolic BP (<140/90 mm Hg or <130/80 mm Hg in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included mean systolic/diastolic BP difference during follow-up and withdrawal of BP medications due to an adverse event. RESULTS: Among 700 randomized patients (mean age, 56 years; 58% women; 29% had diabetes; mean baseline systolic/diastolic BP, 154/90 mm Hg), 675 (96%) completed the trial. The triple combination pill increased the proportion achieving target BP vs usual care at 6 months (70% vs 55%, respectively; risk difference, 12.7% [95% CI, 3.2% to 22.0%]; P < .001). Mean systolic/diastolic BP at 6 months was 125/76 mm Hg for the triple combination pill vs 134/81 mm Hg for usual care (adjusted difference in postrandomization BP over the entire follow-up: systolic BP, -9.8 [95% CI, -7.9 to -11.6] mm Hg; diastolic BP, -5.0 [95% CI, -3.9 to -6.1] mm Hg; P < .001 for both comparisons). Overall, 419 adverse events were reported in 255 patients (38.1% for triple combination pill vs 34.8% for usual care) with the most common being musculoskeletal pain (6.0% and 8.0%, respectively) and dizziness, presyncope, or syncope (5.2% and 2.8%). There were no significant between-group differences in the proportion of patient withdrawal from BP-lowering therapy due to adverse events (6.6% for triple combination pill vs 6.8% for usual care). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with mild to moderate hypertension, treatment with a pill containing low doses of 3 antihypertensive drugs led to an increased proportion of patients achieving their target BP goal vs usual care. Use of such medication as initial therapy or to replace monotherapy may be an effective way to improve BP control.
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    Teachers’ Perspectives on Using Modern Audio-Visual Aids to Teach English Literature
    (Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Wijekoon, S.
    A twentieth century Chinese philosopher stated that one picture is worth a thousand words (Ashaver and Iguve, 2003). By proving this statement, previous studies have documented that the modern audio visual aides have a significant impact on teaching, bringing a highly productive learning environment for students. Due to its significance, in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Education has provided audio visual equipment and has conducted training programmes under several projects for government school teachers to exploit them in the teaching process. Yet, most teachers of English Literature have not paid much attention to using modern technology. This study was conducted to explore the teachers’ perspectives on this area. Four teachers who teach English Literature as an optional subject for grade ten students were selected from four government schools; St’ Anthony’s Girls’ College, Hemmamali Girls’ College from Kandy district, and Government Science College and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Modal School from Matale District were selected as the participants of this study. Data was gathered through semi structured interviews and this qualitative data was analysed thematically. The analysis revealed that teaching English Literature using audio-visual aids is partially successful. However, it is not very practical due to the lack of educational facilities within the classrooms, the absence of pedagogical knowledge and skills to teach with digital equipment, the lack of instructional material and organizational conflicts. The findings suggest the need for further teacher training programmes particularly on the effective use of the equipment and for effective instructional material.