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 Classification of neck/shoulder pain in epidemiological research: a comparison of personal and occupational characteristics, disability and prognosis among 12,195 workers from 18 countries(Elsevier-North-Holland, 2016) Sarquis, L.M.; Coggon, D.; Ntani, G.; Walker-Bone, K.; Palmer, K.T.; Felli, V.E.; Harari, R.; Barrero, L.H.; Felknor, S.A.; Gimeno, D.; Cattrell, A.; Vargas-Prada, S.; Bonzini, M,; Solidaki, E.; Merisalu, E.; Habib, R.R.; Sadeghian, F.; Kadir, M.M.; Warnakulasuriya, S.S.; Matsudaira, K.; Nyantumbu, B.; Sim, M.R.; Harcombe, H.; Cox, K.; Marziale, M.H.; Harari, F.; Freire, R.; Harari, N.; Monroy, M.V.; Quintana, L.A.; Rojas, M.; Harris, E.C.; Serra, C.; Martinez, J.M.; Delclos, G.; Benavides, F.G.; Carugno, M.; Ferrario, M.M.; Pesatori, A.C.; Chatzi, L.; Bitsios, P.; Kogevinas, M.; Oha, K.; Tiina; Freimann; Sadeghian, A.; Peiris-John, R.J.; Sathiakumar, N.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Yoshimura, N.; Kelsall, H.L.; Hoe, V.C.; Urquhart, D.M.; Derrett, S.; McBride, D.; Herbison, P.; Gray, A.; Salazar Vega, E.J.To inform case-definition for neck/shoulder pain in epidemiological research, we compared levels of disability, patterns of association and prognosis for pain that was limited to the neck or shoulders (LNSP) and more generalised musculoskeletal pain that involved the neck or shoulder(s) (GPNS). Baseline data on musculoskeletal pain, disability and potential correlates were collected by questionnaire from 12,195 workers in 47 occupational groups (mostly office workers, nurses, and manual workers) in 18 countries (response rate = 70%). Continuing pain after a mean interval of 14 months was ascertained through a follow-up questionnaire in 9,150 workers from 45 occupational groups. Associations with personal and occupational factors were assessed by Poisson regression and summarised by prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). The one-month prevalence of GPNS at baseline was much greater than that of LNSP (35.1% vs. 5.6%), and it tended to be more troublesome and disabling. Unlike LNSP, the prevalence of GPNS increased with age. Moreover, it showed significantly stronger associations with somatising tendency (PRR 1.6 vs. 1.3) and poor mental health (PRR 1.3 vs. 1.1); greater variation between the occupational groups studied (prevalence ranging from 0% to 67.6%) that correlated poorly with the variation in LNSP; and was more persistent at follow-up (72.1% vs. 61.7%). Our findings highlight important epidemiological distinctions between sub-categories of neck/shoulder pain. In future epidemiological research that bases case definitions on symptoms, it would be useful to distinguish pain which is localised to the neck or shoulder from more generalised pain that happens to involve the neck/shoulder region.Item Noise-induced hearing loss among traffic policemen in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka(IOS Press, 2015) Nagodawithana, N.S.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Pannila, A.S.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Sathiakumar, N.Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a high frequency sensory-neural hearing loss and exposure to traffic noise by traffic policemen makes them susceptible to develop NIHL. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of NIHL among traffic policemen in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A cross sectional study was carried out using 350 traffic policemen who are working in the city at least six months of duration. Pure-tone audiometry test and interviewer-administered questionnaire were used to assess hearing and correlates of NIHL, respectively. The chi-square test and logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between risk factors and NIHL. 287 policemen attended pure-tone audiometry test to check their hearing. Of 287 subjects, the prevalence of NIHL was found in 118 policemen (41%; 95% CI: 36%-47%). Of those with any type of NIHL, 33% (39/118) had major NIHL while 67% (79/118) had minor NIHL. In bivariate analysis 23 variables showed statistically significant association with mild and major NIHL. Multivariate logistic regression modelling found statistically significant association between “duration of employment as a policeman” and any type of NIHL (OR = 1.007; 95% CI = 1.005-1.009), adjusted for 23 variables including age. The prevalence of NIHL among traffic policemen in the city was high. Of those with any type of NIHL, one-third had major NIHL. Traffic policemen should undergo periodic hearing assessment. The police department should explore the feasibility of reducing the number of hours per day spent on the road by traffic policemen.