Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Knowledge on common snakes of Sri Lanka, bite prevention, first aid and associated factors among the adults of Ragama medical officer of health area(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) Jayasinghe, A.G.; Hettiarachchi, I.U.; Ilukpitiya, I.S.L.; Imanji, R.P.C.; Huzair, M.M.M.; Jayatissa, R.N.U.; Kurukulasuriya, S.A.F.INTRODUCTION: Snakes, being keystone species in maintaining the existence of ecosystems, always have had a unique influence on humans throughout history. Poor public understanding of snakes has contributed to an increase in disease burden from snakebites. World Health Organisation identifies snake bites as a neglected tropical disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge on common snakes of Sri Lanka and snakebites among the adults of Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using cluster sampling with a sample population of 637 residents (323 females, 314 males, mean age of the population 41.31, SD of 15.59). Interviewer administered questionnaire was used. A unified score was calculated for each participant considering ability to identify of common snakes, knowledge on venom status, bite prevention measures and first aid for snake bites. Participants who achieved 50% or above were attributed with 'good knowledge'. SPSS (version 22) was used. Statistically significant associations were identified by performing the Chi-square test. RESULTS: 59% of the total population had a 'good knowledge'. Of the highly venomous snakes, 98% identified Naja naja, 57% identified Daboia russelii, 44% identified Hypnale Spp and Craspedocephalus sp, 36% identified Bungaurus ceylonicus and 28% identified Bungarus caeruleus. Statistically significant associations regarding knowledge were recognised with sex, previous education on snakes and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: The population had a satisfactory knowledge and awareness on the domains examined. Statistically significant associations were noted between knowledge and sex, participants' occupation and previous education on snakes.Item Gatekeeper training for vendors to reduce pesticide self-poisoning in rural South Asia: a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial(BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2022) Weerasinghe, M.; Pearson, M.; Turner, N.; Metcalfe, C.; Gunnell, D.J.; Agampodi, S.; Hawton, K.; Agampodi, T.; Miller, M.; Jayamanne, S.; Parker, S.; Sumith, J.A.; Karunarathne, A.; Dissanayaka, K.; Rajapaksha, S.; Rodrigo, D.; Abeysinghe, D.; Piyasena, C.; Kanapathy, R.; Thedchanamoorthy, S.; Madsen, L.B.; Konradsen, F.; Eddleston, M.Introduction: Pesticide self-poisoning kills an estimated 110 000-168 000 people worldwide annually. Data from South Asia indicate that in 15%-20% of attempted suicides and 30%-50% of completed suicides involving pesticides these are purchased shortly beforehand for this purpose. Individuals who are intoxicated with alcohol and/or non-farmers represent 72% of such customers. We have developed a 'gatekeeper' training programme for vendors to enable them to identify individuals at high risk of self-poisoning (gatekeeper function) and prevent such individuals from accessing pesticides (means restriction). The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the gatekeeper intervention in preventing pesticide self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. Other aims are to identify method substitution and to assess the cost and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Methods and analysis: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial of a gatekeeper intervention is being conducted in rural Sri Lanka with a population of approximately 2.7 million. The gatekeeper intervention is being introduced into 70 administrative divisions in random order at each of 30 steps over a 40-month period. The primary outcome is the number of pesticide self-poisoning cases identified from surveillance of hospitals and police stations. Secondary outcomes include: number of self-poisoning cases using pesticides purchased within the previous 24 hours, total number of all forms of self-harm and suicides. Intervention effectiveness will be estimated by comparing outcome measures between the pretraining and post-training periods across the divisions in the study area. The original study protocol has been adapted as necessary in light of the impact of the COVID-19. Ethics and dissemination: The Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University, Sri Lanka (ERC/2018/30), and the ACCORD Medical Research Ethics Committee, Edinburgh University (18-HV-053) approved the study. Results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals.