Journal/Magazine Articles
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This collection contains original research articles, review articles and case reports published in local and international peer reviewed journals by the staff members of the Faculty of Medicine
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Item Prevalence and correlates of asthma among selected garment factory workers at the Free Trade Zone, Ekala(College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 2015) Jayawardana, P.; Abeysena, C.Objective To determine prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) and its correlates and respiratory functions among selected garment factory workers (GFW) at the Free Trade Zone, Ekala. Methods This consisted of a cross sectional descriptive and an analytical study. It was conducted at three selected garment factories and a clinic setting in Ekala. Study group for first component included 674 GFW who have worked for 1 or more years at the current garment factories. Control group for second component included 100 participants who have never worked in garment factories. Study instruments consisted of an interviewer administered questionnaire and spirometry. Bivariate analysis was followed by multiple logistic regressions. Results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall prevalence of BA among GFW was 32.3% (95% CI:28.8-36.0%). Prevalence of “probable occupational asthma” among asthmatic GFW was 49.5% (95% CI:42.7-56.4%). Being a GFW (OR=3.5, 95% CI:1.9-7.2) and age >30 years (OR=1.5; 95% CI:1.1-2.1) were significantly associated with prevalence of BA. Among GFW, FEV1.0 and PEFR were significantly lower among asthmatics compared to non asthmatics, and FVC, FEV1.0, and PEFR among those exposed to dust for >3 years compared to ≤3 years. Conclusions Prevalence of bronchial asthma was higher among Garment Factory Workers. However, respiratory functions were lower only among those who were asthmatics.Item Qualitative assessment of breast cancer early detection services provided through well woman clinics in the district of Gampaha in Sri Lanka(Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention, 2013) Vithana, P.V.; Hemachandra, N.N.; Ariyaratne, M.; Jayawardana, P.BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in Sri Lanka. Early detection can lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality. The objective here was to identify perceptions of public health midwives (PHMs) on the importance of early detection of breast cancer and deficiencies of and suggestions on improving existing breast cancer early detection services provided through Well Woman Clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative study using four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among 38 PHMs in the Gampaha district in Sri Lanka and the meetings were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison and identifying themes and categories. RESULTS: All the PHMs had a firm realization on the need of breast cancer early detection. The four FGDs among PHMs revealed non-availability of guidelines, inadequacy of training, lack of skills and material to provide health education, inability to provide privacy during clinical examination, shortage of stationery, lack of community awareness and motivation. The suggestions for the improvements of the programme identified in FGDs were capacity building of PHMs, making availability of guidelines, rescheduling clinics, improving the supervision, strengthening the monitoring, improving coordination between clinical and preventive sectors, and improving community awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the FGDs can provide useful information on components to be improved in breast cancer early detection services. Study recommendations were training programmes at basic and post basic levels on a regular basis and supervision for the sustainance of the breast cancer early detection program.Item Educational intervention on breast cancer early detection: effectiveness among target group women in the district of Gampaha, Sri Lanka(Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention, 2015) Vithana, P.C.; Ariyaratne, M.; Jayawardana, P.PURPOSE: The present study concerns the effectiveness of an educational intervention for improving knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of breast cancer early detection among target group women (TGW) in the district of Gampaha, Sri Lanka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a community-based intervention. Two medical officer of health areas in Gampaha district were selected using random sampling as intervention (IA) and control (CA). Public health midwives (PHMs) in the IA were exposed to the educational intervention first, conducted the same among the TGW through PHMs. KAP was assessed using an interviewer- administrated questionnaire among 260 TGW from each area selected using cluster sampling before and six months after the intervention. RESULTS: The overall median scores for KAP among TGW in IG increased significantly from pre intervention level of 54% (IQR: 46-59%), 50% (IQR: 41-59%), and 0% (IQR: 0-20%) to post intervention level of 77% (IQR: 72-82%), 68% (IQR: 59- 76 %) and 40% (IQR: 20-60%) respectively. In CG, overall median scores for KAP remained almost the same at pre intervention 54% (IQR:44-59%), 50% (IQR:36-59%) and 0% (IQR: 0-20%) and post intervention 54% (IQR:46-59%), 50% (IQR:36-64%) and 0% (IQR: 0-20%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The educational intervention was found to be effective.Item Validation of the Sinhala version of 30-item General Health Questionnaires(DRUNPP Sarajevo, 2012) Abeysena, C.; Peiris, U.; Jayawardana, P.; Rodrigo, A.BACKGROUND: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is a widely used instrument to detect non potential psychotic psychological problems. The Sinhala translation of GHQ 30 has been widely used for research purposes in Sri Lanka, but details pertaining to the validation procedure have not been published. Objective: To determine the criterion validity of Sinhala versions of GHQ 30. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross sectional study including 374 patients aged 18 to 75 years ,attending Out Patient Department of Colombo North Teaching Hospital between June 2009 to September 2010. Self administered Sinhala version of GHQ 30 was completed by the participants. Clinical Examination was done blindly to the GHQ score by a Psychiatrist based on ICD 10 classification of Depression/Anxiety/social dysfunction as reference standard. Cutoff values for GHQ 30 was determined by applying Receiver Operation Characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Optimal cutoff levels were 5/6 for GHQ 30 with a sensitivity of 67.5% (95%CI: 59%–76%) and a specificity of 80% (95%CI: 75%–85%). Optimal cutoff levels were not changed by sex, age and educational levels. The area under the ROC curve for GHQ 30 was 0.79. Despite above, multilevel likelihood ratios of >1 were obtained only for total scores of ≥7 for GHQ 30. CONCLUSIONS: GHQ 30 displays adequate validity for use in the Sinhala speaking primary care setting attendees for assessing psychiatric disorders.