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 Effectiveness of providing health education to caregivers of hospitalized children with asthma for the prevention of recurrent attacks: a quasi-randomized trial(Informa Healthcare, 2020) Perera, N.; Abeysena, C.OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of health education intervention for caregivers of children with asthma, focused on preventing recurrent attacks and improving knowledge. METHODS: A quasi-randomized trial of 177 caregivers of asthmatic children was conducted in government hospitals in a district of Sri Lanka. At the time of discharge from the hospital, a health education booklet was prepared and given to the caregivers in the intervention group, along with individual explanation and discussion. The caregivers' knowledge of asthma and preventive practices was assessed. The primary outcome was the proportion of children with recurrent attacks of asthma who needed doctor visits during the three month post discharge period. The intention-to-treat principle was applied for data analysis.RESULTS: In comparison to the control group, the intervention group had a 76% significant reduction in visits to the doctor for recurrent attacks (95% CI:45%-90%) and a 75% significant reduction in hospital admissions required for asthmatic children (95% CI:16%-93%) at the end of three months of intervention. The mean score of knowledge of asthma in the intervention group was 1.73 units higher at three months (p < 0.01) and 1.47 units higher at six months (p < 0.01) than the control group. The mean score of preventive practices for asthma in the intervention group was 1.25 units higher at three months (p = 0.02) and 1.15 units higher at six months (p < 0.01) versus the control group.CONCLUSION: Health education intervention significantly decreased doctor and hospital visits at three months. In addition, caregiver knowledge of asthma and preventive practices also improved. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: SLCTR/2010/007.Item Rhinitis and asthma: it's one airway after all(Medicine Today Pty Limited, 2006) Amarasiri, D.L.; Douglass, J.The concept of `united airways disease - that allergic asthma and rhinitis are manifestations of a single inflammatory airways disease - is supported by laboratory and epidemiological studies and by treatment responsesItem Prevalence of asthma and atopic symptoms in children aged 5-11 years(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2003) Karunasekera, K.A.W.; Perera, K.P.J.; Perera, M.T.P.R.; Abeynarayana, J.OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence of asthma and atopic symptoms in a group of school children aged 5-11years and to look at prevalence of usage of asthma medications. SETTING: Three schools in Gampaha District in August 1998. METHOD: A questionnaire translated into Sinhala was distributed to parents/guardians of 2195 children aged 5-11 years in Grades 1-5 of the schools and the filled questionnaires were collected through class teachers. Asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were defined using the clinical criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergic Conditions (ISAAC). Data was analysed using Epi Info version 6. Chi squared test and Chi squared test for trend were used for significance testing. RESULTS: Return rate of questionnaire was 93%. Sixty six percent were completed by mother, 30% by father and rest by guardian. Prevalence of asthma was 23% and of exercise induced asthma 11%. Prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis was 10% and eczema 3%. Within the specific group of asthma, in response to leading question "Has your child had asthma" only 19% of parents gave a positive answer. Prevalence of asthma in males did not significantly differ from that in females (p=0.5). A decreasing trend of asthma was observed with increasing age in girls (p less than 0.05). Eighty four percent of asthmatic children were using salbutamol orally and 9% without asthma in study population were also using salbutamol. CONCLUSIONS: One in 5 children aged 5-11 years in study population had asthma but parental perception about asthma was poor. More than 80% of asthmatics had some medications for the disease.Item Risk factors of childhood asthma: a Sri lankan study(Oxford University Press, 2001) Karunasekera, K.A.W.; Jayasinghe, J.A.C.T.; Alwis, L.W.G.R.A case-control study was carried out to evaluate the genetic and environmental risk factors of childhood asthma in a group of Sri Lankan children. Three hundred cases (admitted with symptoms of asthma) and 300 age-matched controls were compared over a period of 23 months commencing in January 1996. Family history of atopy, feeding habits in infancy, bronchiolitis in infancy, passive smoking, exposure to dust and dampness, and exposure to pet animals were studied as risk factors for asthma. The risks associated with social factors were also studied. The risk associated with variables were calculated using the chi-squared test in the bivariate analysis and the forward logistic regression model in the multivariate analysis. Parental asthma, asthma in a sibling and in a relative, parental allergic rhinitis, discontinuation of breastfeeding after 6 months in infancy, bronchiolitis in infancy, living in a dusty environment, and a father with primary education compared to secondary education were independently associated with an increased risk of asthma (p 0.05). This study reinforces the view that asthma has a multifactorial aetiology. Influence of paternal asthma is more than that of maternal asthma. As a preventive measure continuation of breastfeeding beyond 6 months is important.