Conference Papers
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/6561
This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item A Study on cost of caring for patients with dengue fever at Professorial Medical Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Hapangama, H.A.D.C.; Attanayake, N.; Premaratna, R.; Abeyewickreme, W.Dengue fever (DF) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) may constitute a substantial economic burden on both the healthcare system and individual households in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to determine cost of caring for patients with DF and to determine the economic impact of DF on households and healthcare institution. The direct economic impact of the healthcare system and on the households of 31 laboratory confirmed dengue patients who were managed in the professorial medical wards of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama was assessed during October, 2006 to March, 2007. The institutional cost was calculated using data obtained from relevant departments of the hospital. The cost for the households of each patient was calculated using an interviewer administrated questionnaire. Of the 31 patients enrolled all had DF and none developed DHF. The median and mode for hospital admission of study sample was third day of fever (range 1-7). The mean Direct Household Cost (DHC) for a single day in hospital of a dengue patient was Rs 820.06. Over 90% of DHC consisted of cost for transportation (33.22%), food (30.44%) and for services obtained from outside hospital sources (30.14%). The mean basic institutional cost for a patient-day in a medical ward of the hospital (excluding the cost for specific management of an illness) was Rs.961.81. Total institutional cost of caring dengue patient per day was Rs. 1142.57 which comprised of cost for basic inpatient care (84.2%) and specific management of dengue fever (15.82%). Further, total cost of hospitalization due to dengue for the study sample comprised of 6.5% for drugs, 17% for investigations and 76.5% for accommodation, staff, transportation, food and other expenses. The study shows a considerable economic burden for both hospital and households due to hospitalization with dengue fever. Although this study focused on some aspects of curative care, primary prevention should be regarded as the basis for minimizing the economic and social burden. The rising demand for the laboratory investigations needs to be addressed by the public sector in a more systematic manner. The substantial burden on the household can be reduced by integration of the private sector in to the system in a rational manner and ensuring a pricing policy. "All medical and nursing staff of the Medical Wards of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital and staff of the Molecular Medicine Unit are gratefully acknowledged."Item Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on dengue control in Gampaha district.(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Abeyewickreme, W.; Hapangama, H.A.D.C.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Hapugoda, M.D.; Gunawardena, N.K.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.Dengue/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) has become a major public health problem in many parts of the tropics. In Sri Lanka, it is endemic in some parts of the country with outbreaks of dengue/ DHF. The present study was done to assess 1) knowledge regarding dengue among the general population in the district of Gampaha, 2) whether simple preventive measures are being practiced in the community. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected 2000 households in the Gampaha District from June - August, 2007 using a pre-tested structured questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue. The majority of the respondents interviewed were females (65.2%). More than 90% have had secondary education (90.2%). The main source of water supply were pipe borne (43.4%) and well water (40.6%). 64.3% households stored water for washing, drinking and cleaning purposes. More than 95% of the respondents had heard about dengue fever and its transmission. 91.3% cited that their main source of information on dengue was from television/radio. 34.3% had either received advice or participated in a training programme on dengue prevention and 7.8% had received support materials. The main preventive measure used to reduce the mosquito nuisance was personal protection with repellents (73.6%). Most of the respondents (56.8%) felt that no action was taken by the government to control mosquitoes. When respondents views were taken, the suggestions made by them to improve dengue control included, fogging (31.8%), educating people (30.5%), treating water (24.3%) and cleaning the environment (19.5%). When questions were directed at possible methods for community participation for dengue control, the majority were in favour of removing solid waste (84.15%), eliminating stagnant water collections (40.7%), removing larvae (8.75%) and covering all the water containers using lids (8.1%). The community had good understanding on dengue and the main source of information was from the electronic media. However it was found that good knowledge itself does not necessarily lead to good practices. The respondents' attitudes were found to be good and most of them were supportive of control measures. Mass media is an important means of conveying health messages to the public, thus research and development of educational strategies designed to improve behaviour and practices of effective control measures through mass media among the community are recommended. Financial support by World Health Organization TDR/WHO Multi Country Study on "Eco-Bio-Social Research on Dengue in Asia" is acknowledged.