Awareness In General Population Research Articles

Women's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception on Personalized Risk-Stratified Breast Cancer Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia.

Breast cancer is commonest cancer among Malaysian women and screening is essential for the early detection. Therefore our study aimed at measuring the levels of knowledge, attitude and perception towards personalized risk stratified breast cancer screening in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Malaysia to assess the knowledge, perception and attitudes of the women in Malaysia. The study was conducted using an online questionnaire, and samples were obtained using convenience sampling. The questionnaire was distributed trilingual in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. The data was collected with content validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and General Linear Model analysis in SPSS (Version 27). A total of 201 respondents' data were analyzed. From our study we were able to summarize that the women in Malaysia have a suboptimal knowledge towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening as only 48.9% aware of the term for personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening. Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents (96.7%) showed positive attitudes towards the importance of risk assessment and screening. Experience of participating in health education programmes about breast cancer and personalized risk-stratified screening was found to be significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and perception towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening. General population's awareness of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening was insufficient despite their favourable attitude towards the disease. A multimodal strategy may be used to improve women's knowledge, attitude, and perception of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening.

Assessment of Italian Population Awareness on One-Health, Zoonoses and the Mpox Vaccine: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

In recent decades, the rise of zoonotic diseases has emerged as a significant human health concern, highlighting the interconnectedness of human and animal health within the framework of the "One Health" (OH) concept. This study, conducted in Italy in 2023, sought to gauge the general population's awareness of OH and zoonotic diseases while identifying influencing factors. Additionally, it aimed to assess awareness of an Mpox virus vaccine, particularly pertinent due to the 2022 outbreak across Europe. The online cross-sectional study encompassed 1058 participants, revealing that 54.26% were unfamiliar with OH and zoonoses. Median knowledge scores were 12 points (IQR = 9-15) for zoonoses and 8 points (IQR = 6-11) for OH. Notably, factors such as age, economic situation, healthcare employment, educational level, and health literacy significantly influenced knowledge scores. Merely 26.8% of participants were aware of the existence of an Mpox vaccine, with healthcare workers, individuals engaged in animal-related work, and non-heterosexual men demonstrating higher awareness. The findings underscored a limited public understanding of zoonotic diseases and One Health, with variations observed across specific demographic groups. Given the potential impact on public health, urgent educational initiatives are warranted. Moreover, the study highlighted a low awareness of the Mpox vaccine, emphasizing the necessity for targeted awareness campaigns directed at both professionals and the general public.

General Population Awareness of Primary Immune Deficiency Disease in Children in the Arar Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDD) are of various types and severities, and they are associated with a delay in diagnosis. Early diagnosis of PIDD helps to improve the quality of life of affected children and prevent permanent consequences such as organ damage. Hence, awareness of PIDD is a must in the community to aid in early detection. Objectives The study aims to investigate the general population's awareness of PIDD in children in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional design was utilized to determine the awareness of PIDD in children in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia. The participants were selected through an online self-administered questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results A total of528 participants were involved in the current study. The majority of the sample population falls within the 20-30 age range. 9.1% of respondents know a child with primary immunodeficiency. Additionally, participants were aware of certain symptoms, such as delayed growth and chronic diarrhea, with rates of 47.0% and 34.1%, respectively. On the other hand, symptoms like otitis media and sinusitis have lower awareness rates of 25.8% and 33.3%, respectively. Conclusion This study can help in developing targeted awareness campaigns and educational programs to improve the understanding of primary immune deficiency disease among the general population in Saudi Arabia. This, in turn, can lead to earlier diagnosis and better management of the disease in children, ultimately improving their quality of life.

Awareness Regarding Medicolegal Aspects of Medical Services Among Reproductive Age Women: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

The government has implemented various laws to regulate medical practice and improve the quality of health care services. This study evaluated the general population's awareness of various medicolegal aspects related to the medical profession. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Knowledge of laws and ethics related to medical practice was assessed based on a well-structured questionnaire including 25 items. Women were categorized based on their score into low (below 50th percentile), medium (50th -75th percentile), and high (above 75th percentile) awareness. Results: A total of 334 women were recruited. The mean age of the women in the study was 30.29±6.58 SD years; most women were between 20-30 (56.28%). Most women were graduates (33.23%), followed by postgraduates (29.04%). The majority of women were unemployed (housewives: 64.67%, students: 4.49%), followed by skilled workers (22.75%), semi-professional, and professionals (8.08%). High awareness about the various medicolegal aspects was seen in 25.1% of women, while 29.04% had medium awareness and 45.80% had low awareness. It was also seen that the women with higher education(p=0.002) and those employed (0.001) had better knowledge. Further, graduate housewives had better awareness than non-graduate housewives. Conclusion: Education and self-independence significantly affected awareness of medicolegal issues among our women. Assuring the right to education and empowering women with self-independence will go a long way in ensuring active participation in medical decision-making.

Assessment of Awareness and Knowledge of Proton Pump Inhibitors Among the General Population in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

This descriptive observational cross-sectional study aimed to assess the general population's awareness, attitudes, and behaviours towards proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage, as well as their knowledge about associated side effects, in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. An autonomous online survey was conducted from June 15, 2023, to September 1, 2023, using social media. The survey targeted adult residents of Qassim and collected a total of 1090 respondents. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and probit regression using R version 4.3.1 (RStudio, Boston, MA). A significance level of p<0.05 was utilized to interpret the results. A total of 1050 samples, limited to residents of Qassim, were analyzed. Significant associations were observed between awareness of PPIs and factors such as side effects (adjOR = 1.19, 99% CI: 1.08-1.31), widespread PPI use (adjOR = 1.24, 99% CI: 1.12-1.38), PPI usage (adjOR = 2.47, 99% CI: 2.18-2.82), and optimal PPI timing (adjOR = 1.30, 99% CI: 1.13-1.50). Additionally, age, educational attainment, and employment in the medical field significantly influenced awareness gaps related to potential side effects, PPI prevalence, adherence to medical prescriptions, and optimal timing for PPI usage. The current study concludes that a significant portion of individuals in the Qassim region lack awareness regarding the potential side effects of PPI usage. Comprehensive healthcare education is required to bridge awareness gaps regarding PPIs and foster informed medication practices. By grasping the intricacies of individual perceptions, medical engagement, and demographic factors, healthcare providers and policymakers can collaboratively empower individuals in the Qassim region to make informed choices regarding their health and medication usage.

DENTAL IMPLANTS AS AN OPTION FOR MISSING TOOTH/TEETH REPLACEMENT: A STUDY ON PATIENT AWARENESS AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Objectives: This study was designed with an aim to assess the level of awareness regarding dental implant as a treatment modality for the replacement of missing teeth in the patients reporting to dental outpatient department and to determine their sources of information regarding implants. Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study to assess the awareness about dental implants and the related sources of information in 350 patients who reported to Department of Dentistry, Shyam Shah Medical College Rewa, Madhya Pradesh from 1st October 2022 to 31st December 2022. Results: Only 36.86% (n=129) of participants had heard of dental implants. Among these patients (N=129), only 30.23 % (n=39) received information about dental implants from dentists. Only 4 (3.10%) patients had themselves undergone treatment with dental implants. Awareness regarding implant composition was poor with only 6.98% (n=9) participants being aware that implants are made of titanium. Fear of surgery (33.33%) and high treatment cost (30.23%) were the most common limiting factors that governed the decision of patients regarding undergoing treatment with dental implants. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate a low level of awareness about dental implants as a treatment option for replacing missing teeth. A very less number of participants received information from reliable sources. It is important to create awareness in general population regarding feasibility of implants for prosthetic rehabilitation and to make implant treatment easily accessible and affordable.

Blood Pressure Measurement Based on the Camera and Inertial Measurement Unit of a Smartphone: Instrument Validation Study.

Even though several mobile apps that can measure blood pressure have been developed, the data about the accuracy of these apps are limited. We assessed the accuracy of AlwaysBP (test) in blood pressure measurement compared with the standard, cuff-based, manual method of brachial blood pressure measurement (reference). AlwaysBP is a smartphone software that estimates systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) based on pulse transit time (PTT). PTT was calculated with a finger photoplethysmogram and seismocardiogram using, respectively, the camera and inertial measurement unit sensor of a commercially available smartphone. After calculating PTT, SBP and DBP were estimated via the Bramwell-Hill and Moens-Korteweg equations. A calibration process was carried out 3 times for each participant to determine the input parameters of the equations. This study was conducted from March to August 2021 at Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital with 87 participants aged between 19 and 70 years who met specific conditions. The primary analysis aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the test method compared with the reference method for the entire study population. The secondary analysis was performed to confirm the stability of the test method for up to 4 weeks in 15 participants. At enrollment, gender, arm circumference, and blood pressure distribution were considered according to current guidelines. Among the 87 study participants, 45 (52%) individuals were male, and the average age was 35.6 (SD 10.4) years. Hypertension was diagnosed in 14 (16%) participants before this study. The mean test and reference SBPs were 120.0 (SD 18.8) and 118.7 (SD 20.2) mm Hg, respectively (difference: mean 1.2, SD 7.1 mm Hg). The absolute differences between the test and reference SBPs were <5, <10, and <15 mm Hg in 57.5% (150/261), 84.3% (220/261 ), and 94.6% (247/261) of measurements. The mean test and reference DBPs were 80.1 (SD 12.6) and 81.1 (SD 14.4) mm Hg, respectively (difference: mean -1.0, SD 6.0 mm Hg). The absolute differences between the test and reference DBPs were <5, <10, and <15 mm Hg in 75.5% (197/261), 93.9% (245/261), and 97.3% (254/261) of measurements, respectively. The secondary analysis showed that after 4 weeks, the differences between SBP and DBP were 0.1 (SD 8.8) and -2.4 (SD 7.6) mm Hg, respectively. AlwaysBP exhibited acceptable accuracy in SBP and DBP measurement compared with the standard measurement method, according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization protocol criteria. However, further validation studies with a specific validation protocol designed for cuffless blood pressure measuring devices are required to assess clinical accuracy. This technology can be easily applied in everyday life and may improve the general population's awareness of hypertension, thus helping to control it.

Awareness in general population about the home modifications which are necessary to prevent falls in community dwelling elderly

Background: Falls are considered to be one of the “geriatric giants”. The living room, bathroom, bedroom and staircase are common areas where falls occur within home. Many elderlies who fall even if they remain uninjured, become apprehensive causing them to cut down on their activities of daily living and becoming less active, weaker, further increasing their chances of falling. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance to scrutinize the awareness about the home modifications. The study was conducted to examine if the general population is aware of the home modifications necessary to prevent falls in community dwelling elderly. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 300people between 30 to 50 years old who were not medical professionals. Convenience sampling was used. A self-structured questionnaire was prepared and clearance of ethical committee was obtained. After taking people’s consent they were asked to fill the questionnaire. Results: Results show that out of 300 participants people are aware of non-slippery floors (70%), railings at the staircase (62%). People are least aware of the following modifications: glare free paints (20%), door knobs can be replaced with lever handle (40%), install adhesive strips on the staircase (30%). Conclusions: Results show that out of 300 participants people are aware of non-slippery floors (70%), railings at the staircase (62%). People are least aware of the following modifications: glare free paints (20%), door knobs can be replaced with lever handle (40%), install adhesive strips on the staircase (30%).

AWARENESS OF CONTRACEPTION USE AMONG FEMALES IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

Background:Over the past few decades, there has been a remarkable increase in the general population awareness regarding the usage of contraception. effective strategies should be implemented to raise awareness of the appropriate use of contraceptives among Saudi population. Study aim: This study aims to assess the level of awareness of contraceptive use among females and male participation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A quantitative approach was utilized, with a cross-sectional design. The participants was selected through convenience sampling from Riyadh. The data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire consisting of four sections: demographic characteristics, awareness and attitudes towards contraceptive methods, contraceptive use and male participation, and access to contraceptive services. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results:The study included 503 participants, 39.6% of them were 31- 40 years old. 80.7% of participants used contraceptives before (75.6% of them used oral pills, 41.9% used IUD, and 32.3% used condoms). 46.6% used contraception always, 30.8% a lot, and 21.4% use it scarcely. 31% of study participants have good awareness score, 55.7% have moderate awareness, and 13.3% have poor awareness. Also, 17% of participants have weak perception score, 20.2% had moderate perception, and 62.8% had good perception scores. Conclusion:The study illustrates low awareness and perception of contraceptives among studied females in Saudi Arabia. A significant association between awareness scores of participants regarding contraceptives with their age, educational level, marital status, job and monthly income. However, perception of contraceptives was not associated with any of the sociodemographic characters.

Awareness of general population towards obesity and bariatric surgery in Western region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey

Introduction: Obesity is considered a chronic condition caused by an abundance of body fat; it significantly rises morbidity and the risk of early death. Severe obesity is thought to be best treated with bariatric surgery hence the number of these procedures is increasing recently in Saudi Arabia thus our aim is to assess the general population’s awareness regarding obesity and bariatric surgery complications in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: The design of this study is cross-sectional; it was carried in Umm Al-Qura University. Respondents were from Saudi Arabia’s Western region and the sample was collected via an online questionnaire from October 2022 to December 2022. Results: 1122 respondents were collected in the study. 664 (59.2%) were females compared to 458(40.8%) males, Ages of participants ranged from 15 to 46 years with a mean age of 24.3 ± 13.9 years. The overall knowledge of participants was good accounting for 641(57.1%) compared to 481(42.9%) were having poor knowledge. Conclusion: Overall knowledge among the general population regarding obesity and bariatric surgery complications in the Western region of Saudi Arabia was sufficient. Yet, more studies should be conducted all over Saudi Arabia to assess general population awareness and identify any factors influencing the level of knowledge to enhance them through medical education.

Chronic kidney disease prevalence and awareness in middle age and young old: Regional comparative study in Japan.

Patients with chronic kidney disease are not aware of the illness because of its asymptomatic nature, but the association of disease progression and awareness in general population has not been sufficiently analysed on a large scale. We analysed the nationwide annual specific health checkup covering more than a half of the overall population at aged 40-74 in Japan, approximately 29.4 million people as of 2018, in combination with parameters to represent regional characteristics. The rate of the examinees with kidney dysfunction, an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 , was 1.0%, while that of examinees with of dipstick proteinuria ≥ (+) was 3.7%. Next, we conducted a regional comparative study on 335 medical administrative areas divided in the country. The regional rate of examinees aged 65-74 over the total examinees was positively correlated with the prevalence of kidney dysfunction (r = 0.72, p < .0001). Additionally, the mean rate of examinees aware of their 'chronic kidney failure' was 0.6%, and the awareness rate was correlated with the prevalence of both kidney dysfunction (r = 0.36, p < .001) and positive dipstick proteinuria (r = 0.31, p < .001) in those aged 65-74 at the regional level. Association of nephrology care resources with the prevalence or awareness was unclear at the regional level. We found a regional association of chronic kidney disease prevalence and awareness in a recent young old population in Japan. Further studies are needed to evaluate the patient screen and referral at the individual level.

Stirred, ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted extraction process of β-carotene from Rhodotorula glutinis in biorefinery downstream

Due to the general population awareness about the specific health hazards of synthetic chemical dyes, natural colorant materials have been gaining attention in the past several years. Among them, β-carotene is widely used as a soluble orange–red pigment in food industry, while also presenting medical care benefits. Thus, considerable efforts have been dedicated to the development of an efficient serial, cost effective and sustainable extraction process for its recovery. Herein, solid–liquid (SLE), ultrasound-assisted (UAE) and microwave-assisted (MAE) equilibrium separation were carried out using 4 organic solvents for β-carotene isolation of from Rhodotorula glutinis yeast. Results suggested that technique-wise, UAE performed similarly to SLE, whereas MAE was not as optimal. According to the solvent applied, the colorant followed the increasing trend: dichloromethane < diethyl ether < dimethyl carbonate < ethyl acetate. The latter resulted in 45 ± 3 μg g−1, 42 ± 2 μg g−1 and 41 ± 3 μg g−1, while being extracted with UAE, SLE and MAE, respectively. These operation findings show the positive relationship effect of the greener solvent during the SLE, UAE and MAE activity for the optimisation of high-added value molecular compound, pro-vitamin A, from fungi. Additionally, a diffusion-based model system was implemented for the first time to determine mass transfer phenomena. When correlated with experiments, good measurement accuracy was validated; hence, showing promising results as a predictive model in future research studies, especially mechanistic.

Knowledge, attitude and awareness among diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients about the association between diabetes and oral health.

Global prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing with an estimate to affect 593 million worldwide by 2035. Current evidence clearly states an association between oral diseases and diabetes mellitus with manifestations like periodontitis, peri-implantitis, xerostomia, etc. Despite this obvious link, knowledge, awareness and attitude of general population towards this are not fully understood. To assess public knowledge and awareness on association between diabetes and oral health and assess their attitude towards oral hygiene care and maintenance. A three-part structured questionnaire was developed with multiple choice questions and circulated among patients visiting a private dental college. A total of 502 questionnaires were evaluated, and results were statistically analysed. Student-t test and Chi-square test using SPSS software. Majority of the participants were male and lived in urban area. 41.8% respondents had diabetes, out of which 86.7% had no awareness of the type. A significant number of non-diabetic individuals had awareness of excessive sugar intake as a cause of diabetes. Greater number of diabetic patients (96.7%) reported dry mouth, whereas only 53.3% had periodontal complications. 90% participants use tooth brush as oral hygiene aid. Only 10.6% participants follow regular dental visits. Majority of subjects (60.6%) listed their friends and family as major source of information. More people are aware of systemic complications of diabetes as compared to oral problems. A better interdisciplinary relationship is required among dentists and physicians to improve knowledge and awareness of general population.

Awareness of Triage System in Emergency Departments among the General Public in Saudi Arabia

Background: The emergency department (ED) is a healthcare environment where patients are treated for various conditions. The Triage system is a tool used to prioritize patients based on the urgency associated with their cases. A recognition of the triage system increases satisfaction, whereas long time waiting is associated with poor patient outcomes. There needs to be more literature regarding public awareness outside of the COVID era; thus, we aim to provide data on general population awareness of the triage system used in ED in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from July 2022 to January 2023. The selection of sampling was made by convenience sampling, and data were obtained from an online questionnaire. Results: The study included 650 participants. 60% of them were females, and 40% were males. 54.6% of participants know that there is a medical triage system in emergency departments, which is considered a low percentage, as 45.4% did not know about the triage system in emergency departments, which would negatively affect patient satisfaction. In addition, 63.4% of study participants did not know that there are urgent care centers that provide treatment outside of emergency departments, and 47.4% did not know that health centers or urgent care centers can treat most emergency cases. Conclusion: The general Saudi population is unaware of emergency department triage systems. There should be an effort to spread awareness of the triage system. In addition, developing further training and education in emergency department triage to address knowledge deficits and incorrect triage beliefs is critical.

Open science in China: Openness, economy, freedom & innovation

Taking credit for digitalization and platformization, China has initiated its open science infrastructure implementation and made an effort to focus on open access (OA) journals and data sharing over the past two decades. With the continuous development need, issues and concerns have caught in attention, including data accessibility, research transparency, general population awareness and communication of science, public trust in science, and scientific research and innovation efficiency. This paper has unfolded the maze of open science stance in China and elaborated on its current economy, openness and freedom extents, and future innovation potential towards a global open science community, within depth and scope of both the Chinese and Western scholars’ interpretations.

Prevalence of inadequate vitamin D level and its predictors in children presenting with torus fractures.

Review of the published articles does not show any study done to see if children with torus fracture are with Vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine association of inadequacy of Vitamin D level with torus fracture and its predictors in children in Karachi Pakistan. Patient underage of 13years came with torus fracture were included in study, and managed non-operatively with below elbow cast. Proforma was made which includes demographic data (age, gender, nutritional status) and exposure to sunlight, dietary habits, kind to apparel and type of accommodation they were living at. All participants underwent measurement of serum vitamin D level. Out of 558 children presented with limb fractures in emergency department, 190 (34.05%) had torus fracture, with mean age of 6.0 ± 4.2years. 93 (48.94%) in pre-school group, 59 (31.05%) in school and 38 (20%) were breast-fed. On nutritional status, malnourished were 72 (37.89%), out of which 32 (44.44%) had first-degree malnutrition. On vitamin D level status only 52 (27.36%) participants had Vitamin D within normal range while 86 (45.26%) were found Vitamin D deficient. We found that vitamin D level is directly related to nutritional status, duration of sun exposure maternal vitamin d levels and not significantly related to age, gender, type of accommodation and different fabric types. In this study torus fracture in children is significantly associated with Vitamin D deficiency, with common predictors including nutritional status, maternal Vitamin D level for lactating mothers and duration of exposure of sunlight. Vitamin D supplementation in children can prevent a significant number of fractures via national programs for food fortification and increase the awareness of general population on the importance of sunlight exposure and intake of food rich in Vitamin D.

Knowledge, attitude &amp; practice (KAP) of diabetes in Berhampur, Odisha, India- An observational study

Diabetes mellitus type -2 is a silent disease and a group of metabolic disorders which results high blood glucose level for a long period due to lack of insulin production ,less insulin action now recognized as one of the fastest growing chronic disease to public health in almost all countries of the world and leading cause of Morbidity and Mortality. Positive knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) are important for Diabeties patients and the level of awareness of general population is needed. The present study is planned with the aim to determine the level of K AP about T2DM among diabetic patients in a urban settings of Berhampur, at M.K.C.G. Medical college &amp; hospital, Ganjam, Odisha, India. The study was conducted at M.K.C.G. Medical College &amp; Hospital, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha which is a field practice area of Department of Endocrinology. The study was conducted between 1st may and 15th may. KAP study is an important parameter to validate the awareness about Diabetes mellitus type-2 .Need for the study is required To assess the knowledge and knowledge on practice of self care management of patients with diabetes mellitus. KAP(Knowledge,Attitude,Practice )The Institutional Ethics Committee clearance was duly sought before the conduct of study. Attitude and Practice questionnaire was prepared as described after establishing its validity of the patients. Mean score of KAP of Type-II Diabetes mellitus is calculated from the questionnaire prepared for KAP Studies.

How Little Do We Know about HIV and STIs Prevention? Results from a Web-Based Survey among the General Population.

Background: Prevention campaigns have led to a significant decrease in new HIV diagnoses in Western Europe, while other sexual transmitted infections (STIs) have shown an opposite trend. Several educational programs are promoted among young students, whereas informational campaigns addressing the general population are scarce. We aimed to investigate the level of awareness regarding STIs among the general population. Methods: We proposed a questionnaire regarding STIs and HIV to the general population in Italy. We assigned 1 point to correct, 0.5 point to partially correct, and 0 point to wrong answers. We collected data about age, sex, region of origin, level of education and whether they were health workers. Results: Overall, 2183 people answered the questionnaire, of which 555 aged over 50 years old. Being male, older than 50 years old, retired or unemployed, not educated, and no regular use of condoms were associated with lower scores. Only 16% of participants knew the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) campaign. Overall, 2131 (97.6%) people think more educational campaigns should be offered. Of interest, 80% said the questionnaire led them to learn more about HIV and STIs. Conclusion: Our study reveals several gaps in general population awareness about HIV and STIs, especially among people aged over 50 years old. Most participants stated that the questionnaire was a learning opportunity. These data suggest that improvement of knowledge could start from easy-to-dispose medium, such as surveys and questionnaires delivered through social media. Furthermore, particular attention should be paid to population segmentation and campaign tailoring to enhance interventions effectiveness. Our data reinforce the need for more informational and educational campaigns tailored to the specific segments of the population.

EFFECTS OF COMMONLY AVAILABLE WHITENING CREAMS ON THE HAIR FOLLICLES OF GUINEA PIG SKIN

BACKGROUND: The trend of lightening the skin is becoming a serious problem. Depigmentation creams are widely available as nonprescription cosmetic preparations in many local markets and shops.&#x0D; OBJCETIVES: To determine the effects of over the counter available skin whitening creams on the hair follicles of guinea pig skin. To highlight the significance of awareness in general population about the use of non-prescription skin lightening creams.&#x0D; METHODS: Sample size of 48 adult, guinea pigs were used in this experiment. The animals were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (control group) this group was applied with no cream and group II, III and IV (experimental groups) all were applied with skin whitening creams A, B and C respectively once every day, six days a week for four and eight weeks duration. The skin specimens were examined at histological level.&#x0D; RESULTS: Microscopic examination after 4 weeks duration showed variable degree of increased size of hair follicles from 104.8µm in group l to the maximum of 130.5µm in group lll. The effects were exaggerated after eight weeks duration.&#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION: The use of skin lightening creams caused varying degrees of side effects so damage the skin.

Insight and Behaviour of General Population Regarding Modifiable Risk Factors for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Aim: To assess the awareness of general population regarding risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore from 1st January 2021 to 30th September 2021. Methodology: Four hundred and ninety two subjects were enrolled. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data concerning knowledge attitude and practices of study participants regarding CVD. Results: Majority of the participants were aware of the fact that by reducing BMI &lt;25237(48.1%), good control of blood pressure335 (68.1%), regular exercise, 286(58.1%), reduce stress 457(92.9%), and avoid smoking 391(79.5%) were the majors modification of risk factors that are required for the prevention of CVD. Only few 76(15.4%), 120(24.4%) 54(10.9%) were aware of other risk factors modification including; maintain high level of HDL and maintain low levels of LDL, avoidance smokeless tobacco respectively as preventive measure of CVD. However there was a misconception that the fatty meals and saturated fats do not increase cholesterol and are beneficial for heart health. Major reasons for not being able to adopt a healthy lifestyle were limited access to outdoor and indoor exercise (68%), financial constraints (61%) inability of individuals to avoid passive smoking (51%) and busy life style (44%). Conclusion: General population has sufficient knowledge regarding risk factors and prevention of CVD. Somehow they are not practicing healthy lifestyle for disease prevention. There is a need to counsel people to adopt healthy lifestyle and avoid risk factors leading to CVD.