Significant Association Of Gender Research Articles

Retirement preparedness: A study of gender, marital status, and motivation factors by using a theory of planned behavior model

Although working men and women share common retirement concerns, women encounter unique challenges in securing their retirement. These challenges arise from factors such as part-time work, intermittent work histories, and potential wealth disparities. Marital status also exerts a profound influence on retirement decisions. Marital status significantly impacts their financial security as they approach retirement. This study investigates the intricate relationship between gender, marital status, and theory of planned behavior factors that influence retirement planning among older adults. Utilizing data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and RAND, the research analyzed 2,657 participants aged 50 to 62, all of whom reported full or part-time employment. Also, the research leveraged the theory of planned behavior to examine motivational factors affecting retirement planning. The study’s findings highlight the significant association of gender with expected retirement timing, revealing that married women typically anticipate retiring earlier than both unmarried women and men. In addition, older adults who secure retirement resources tend to retire earlier. It is important to develop tailored policies and initiatives to address the specific retirement challenges women face. It is imperative to develop retirement support systems that consider the gender, marital statuses, and retirement resources of older adults, and to give special attention to those who are vulnerable. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay of gender, marital status, retirement motivation factors and retirement planning among older adults.

Missed opportunity: a clinical data linkage study of guideline‐directed medical therapy and clinical outcomes of patients discharged with acute coronary syndrome who attended cardiac rehabilitation programs

AbstractBackgroundAlthough guidelines recommend guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), implementation is limited in clinical practice.AimTo assess the level of GDMT in ACS patients after discharge who attended cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs and association with clinical outcomes.MethodA cross‐sectional study was conducted in 13 rural and 10 metropolitan CR programs via all modes of delivery (face‐to‐face, telephone, or general practice‐hybrid) operating in South Australia, Australia. ACS patients were included if they were ≥18 years of age and were referred and attended CR programs with medication details recorded in their hospital discharge summary. GDMT was assessed according to the Australian clinical guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2016. Prescription of all the four recommended medication classes was considered optimal. Logistic regression and χ2 test were used for association.ResultsOf the 1229 patients included, 74.6% were male and 41.1% had acute myocardial infarction. Only 39.7% of patients received optimal prescription. Prescription of any three or two medication class combinations occurred for 78.3% and 94.1% of patients, respectively. Optimal GDMT was associated with fewer hospital admissions (odds ratio = 0.647, 95% confidence interval 0.424–0.987, p = 0.043) with no significant gender association. Women were less likely to be prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (p = 0.003), angiotensin receptor blockers (p = 0.007), statins (p = 0.005), and any two (p < 0.001) and three combinations (p = 0.023) of medication classes.ConclusionGDMT prescription was suboptimal in patients with ACS before attendance at CR. Primary care and CR clinicians have missed an opportunity to implement best practice guideline recommendations, particularly for women.

Assessment of the Nasopalatine Canal Length and Shape Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Morphometric Study.

The anatomical position of the nasopalatine canal in the anterior maxilla makes it one of the most important vital structures in the region. Surgical and implant procedures in this area require local anesthesia to be administered. It is, therefore, important to morphologically assess the length and shape of the nasopalatine canal for performing surgical procedures with more accuracy in this area. Cone-Beam Computed tomography scans were scrutinized using inclusion criteria of age 18 years and above, absence of any pathological lesions/fracture/surgery in the nasopalatine area, absence of orthodontic treatment or maxillary jaw correction surgeries, and exclusion criteria including CBCT scans with artifacts or error s in the area of interest, anterior implants, absence of bone diseases, trauma, surgeries, and impactions in the area of interest. A total of 360 scans were analyzed for the length and shape of the nasopalatine canals. The results of the study showed that the mean nasopalatine canal length was 12.51 mm. The hourglass shape of the canal was most common and had the highest representation in both genders, with male 80.62% and female 87.01%. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was noted in nasopalatine canal length between males and females. The study provides insight into the significant association of gender with the canal's shape and length of the canal. The length of the canal does not influence with age. These parameters are helpful for surgical planning and interventions in the anterior maxillary region.

Early evidence of implementation of District Residency Programme: experiences and challenges of residents in Rajasthan, India

BackgroundDistrict Residency Programme (DRP) was introduced by National Medical Commission as mandatory three-months training program for postgraduate residents. The program was for the first time implemented in April 2023 in Rajasthan. However, it ran into several teething problems, especially for residents. With a lack of any precedence, this study was planned to explore experiences and challenges of residents posted in DRP.MethodsCross-sectional study was conducted at 12 DRP sites attached to SMS Medical College, Jaipur between August-October 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from residents who had completed DRP. Questions were scored on a five-point Likert scale. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to show association.ResultsOnly around 17% residents felt that the learning objectives of DRP were fulfilled and nearly 60% residents felt isolated from academic activities and parent department. Over half of the residents were never posted with their concerned specialty services. Around four-fifth residents felt concerned about safety at least sometimes and more than three-fourth residents were dissatisfied with basic amenities. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests showed significant association of gender and specialisation strata with multiple outcome variables.ConclusionThe study finds high degree of dissatisfaction among residents towards learning objectives, academic learning, and basic amenities during DRP. There was also a clear lack of specialty-exposure and high concerns of safety, especially for female residents. The study findings should alarm and inform policymakers and administrators to improve DRP implementation so as to better achieve laid objectives.

Evaluating the General Population of Saudi Arabia for Their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Dementia.

Introduction Dementia, a prevalent neurological condition, has a significant global impact on individuals and communities. Despite affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide, with an expected tripling by 2050, there are currently no widely available disease-modifying treatments. Recent efforts have concentrated on strategies involving legislation, regulations, and population-wide initiatives to address dementia risk, diagnosis, and care. Methods This cross-sectional survey engaged 6123 participants in Saudi Arabia, utilizing a multistage sampling design across provinces and cities. The study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi Arabian general population regarding dementia. Results Participants displayed diverse opinions on dementia knowledge, with females exhibiting higher rates of knowledge, attitudes, and practices than males. Notably, 97.2% of females were aware of dementia compared to 78% of males. The perception of dementia as a healthcare priority was significantly higher in females (84.1%) than in males (59.6%). Older females (≥65) were identified as the age group most associated with dementia (92.50%) compared to males (71.10%). Conclusion While participants demonstrated excellent knowledge of hearing about dementia, understanding symptoms, and identifying modifiable factors, their knowledge regarding prevention and curability was found to be inadequate. A significant gender association was observed, with females exhibiting higher knowledge, attitudes, and practices than males.

Clinico-epidemiological profile of non-survivors of COVID-19 during the last two waves in a tertiary care hospital of North India: A retrospective descriptive study

Background: SARS-CoV-causing COVID-19 resulted in mortality, and the clinic-epidemiological profile at the time of admission of patients who died later could provide an insight into pathophysiological consequences due to infection. Method: Retrospective observational study of 64 RTPCR-confirmed COVID-19 non-survivors was conducted from April - June 2021 and January February 2022. Data were analyzed, and a P value&lt;0.05 was taken as significant. Results: 60.94% and 39.06 % were males and females, and 26.57% &amp; 73.43 % of patients had moderate and severe disease, respectively. Fever, cough, and dyspnea were the most common presenting symptoms. 78.12% and 21.88% had pre-existing (diabetes and hypertension were most common) and no co-morbidities, respectively. 65.62 &amp; 17.19 % of patients had bilateral and unilateral ground glass opacities, respectively. Thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, elevated monocytes, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of 7.52 were hematological findings. D dimer was elevated. ABG showed low PaO2 and SPO2 %. ALT and AST were elevated. Tachycardia was also present. Compared to the first wave, no significant association of gender with severity was found. However, the percentage of male patients was higher. The association of the duration of stay and co-morbidity with disease severity was significant in both the first and subsequent waves of COVID-19. Conclusion: Co-morbidity, disease severity, and radiological lung opacities play a role in the outcome of COVID-19. The associated findings are hematological, renal, liver, cardiovascular, and arterial blood gas derangements.

Current Trends in E-Human Resource Management and its Impact on Personal Effectiveness: An Empirical Study Concerning Informational Technology Employees

Objective: To examine the current E-Human Resource Trends and its effect on personal effectiveness of an employee concerning Information Technology employees in and around Hyderabad, and Indian Metro. Method: The four independent factors related to E- Human Resource Management (EHRM), the E-Hiring 5 items, E-Rewards &amp; Recognition (4-items), E-Payroll Process 5 items, E-Performance Management 5 items and the one dependent factor Personal Effectiveness with 6 items were measured. The data are gathered through a structured questionnaire consisting of 25 items to measure the above said 5 factors published on the Google Form, and a link to 400 Information Technology employees provided through WhatsApp, Messages, and other methods. Results: The reliability of the research instrument measured estimating Cronbach’s alpha statistic that ranged from 0.69 to 0.90, split-half (odd-eve) correlations, ranged from 0.60 to 0.81, and Spearman Brown Prophecy, ranged from 0.71 to 0.93 indicating strong reliability and internal consistency. The multiple regression results indicate that mode explain 16% of variance when all the independent variables entered simultaneously in the model. Further, the E-HRM factors E-Hiring, E-Rewards &amp; Recognition, and E-Performance Management are statistically significant (P&lt;0.05; p&lt;0.001) influencing the personal effectiveness of the information technology employees. There were statistically significant gender association with personal effectiveness of the information technology employees. Conclusions: The study provides the valuable insights into the application of E-Human Resource Management factors like E-Hiring, E-Rewards and Recognition, E-payroll Process and E-Performance Management. The E-HRM will enhance employee productivity, organizational performance and employee personal effectiveness. The organizations will be beneficial on application of E-HRM for employee management.

Gender Differences in Academic Rank, Leadership, and Awards Among NIH Grant Recipients in Diagnostic Radiology.

Objective: Females have been traditionally underrepresented in academia across multiple medical specialties, including radiology. The present study investigated primary investigators (PIs) who received National Institutes of Health (NIH) radiology funding between 2016 and 2019 to establish if there was a correlation between NIH grants, gender, academic rank, first and second tier leadership positions, geographic location, and professional awards. Materials and Methods: Funding information was obtained from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditure and Results (RePORTER) website for 2016-2019. Information for each PI was obtained from academic institutional websites, LinkedIn, and Doximity. Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square analyses were performed to compare and determine associations between gender and the stated variables of interest. Results: Of the 805 radiology PIs included in this study, 78% were male. There was a significant association of gender with the attainment of the highest academic rank (p = 0.026), with females occupied more of the assistant professor ranks (M:F = 1:1.5) and less of the professor ranks (F:M = 1:1.2). Between genders, there was no significant difference in first and second tier leadership positions (p = 0.497, p = 0.116), and postgraduate honors and awards (p = 0.149). The greatest proportion of grants was awarded in the setting of sole male PIs (55%) and the least proportion of grants were awarded when the contact PI and other project leader were female (1%). Conclusion: Despite having similar academic credentials, including number of leadership positions and postgraduate honors and awards, female radiology PIs who have received NIH grants continue to be underrepresented in higher academic ranks.

Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice among Patients at a University Hospital in Guangzhou, China.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of patients regarding dental caries prevention in a university hospital in Guangzhou, China. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based KAP survey was conducted in a cross-sectional manner at the First Affiliated Hospital in Guangzhou, China, from 1 September to 30 September 2022. Questionnaires were distributed to eligible patients, resulting in the participation of 251 individuals. The questionnaire consisted of five sections capturing socio-demographic data and exploring participants' knowledge, attitudes, practice, and accurate preventive dental caries knowledge. Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear model with univariate tests were used for analysis. Results: The study results show that the knowledge score 7.97 (±0.91) and attitudes score 7.67 (±0.89) among the participants were good while the practice score was 6.80 (±0.81) moderate. The majority of participants identified tooth infections (81.3%), bacteria (92%), and sugar (89.2%) as the main causes of gum bleeding and tooth decay. Brushing (96%) and fluoride (80.5%) were also recognized as essential for preventing tooth decay. Of oral diseases, 94% were recognized as potentially affecting overall health. The vast majority ranging from 92.8% to 98%, believed that oral health is crucial to overall health and that regular check-ups and proper brushing habits are beneficial. There is a significant association of gender with age (p = 0.018), occupation (p = 0.050), lifestyle habit (p = 0.012), and knowledge score; whole education is significantly associated with practice score (p = 0.050). Conclusions: The majority of patients exhibited accurate knowledge and attitudes with moderate practice towards dental caries prevention, with socio-demographic factors playing a major role. However, effective implementation of dental health education programs across the healthcare system is still required to further enhance outcomes.

Students' Perspectives of the Economic, Financial, and Psychological Effects of Online Learning and Its Gender Association: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jordanian Universities.

Jordan declared a quarantine in March 2020 and shut down all educational institutions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. E-learning was a novel way to continue the educational process in the wake of the pandemic. The study evaluates online learning (OL), aiming to examine the economic, financial, and psychological effects of OL on students, as well as their concentration, university instructors' efficiency, and satisfaction with OL. This research also explores the gender association of OL effects in Jordanian universities. This is a cross-sectional study. A self-filled questionnaire was generated using an online form and distributed to students at public and private universities through social media. The questionnaire utilized a five-point Likert scale to assess various aspects related to OL. The main evaluation involved a Chi-square test and posthoc test to examine gender-based differences in the factors associated with OL. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.721 and a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.7. A total of 720 responses were collected and analyzed. The results revealed a significant gender association with the economic/financial (P=0.001) and psychological (P=0.002) effects of OL. It was observed that 65.3% of students reported feeling depressed due to online learning. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between students' concentration and university instructors' efficiency (P=0.00). Interestingly, only 14.72% of students believed university instructors were 100% efficient in teaching theoretical and practical subjects. Additionally, 55% of the students expressed their desire for university instructors to record lectures for ease of access. The study concludes that OL's poor economic/financial effects disproportionately affect female students. On the other hand, male students were more likely to strongly disagree with the poor psychological effects of OL. Moreover, female students were more inclined to strongly disagree with the notion that OL has no psychological effect. Lastly, significant findings indicate that both students and university instructors share equal responsibility for the success of OL in Jordanian universities.

Correlation of CYP2R1 gene promoter methylation with circulating vitamin D levels among healthy adults.

Despite being a tropical country, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in India with studies indicating 40-99 per cent prevalence. Apart from calcium and phosphate metabolism, vitamin D is involved in cell cycle regulation, cardiovascular, hepatoprotection. The metabolism of vitamin D is regulated by vitamin D tool genes (CYP2R1/CYP27B1/CYP24A1/VDR). The promoter regions of some of these genes have CpG islands, making them prone to methylation induced gene silencing, which may cause a reduction in circulating vitamin D levels. Epigenetic basis of vitamin D deficiency is yet to be studied in India, and hence, this pilot study was aimed to analyze whether methylation levels of CYP2R1 gene were correlated with the levels of 25(OH)D in healthy, adult individuals in Indian population. In this cross-sectional study, healthy adults of 18-45 yr of age with no history of malabsorption, thyroidectomy, chronic illness or therapeutic vitamin D supplementation were recruited. DNA methylation analysis was carried out by methylation specific quantitative PCR. Serum calcium, phosphate and vitamin D levels were also quantified. Statistical analysis was done by R 4.0.5 software. A total of 61 apparently healthy adults were analyzed. The serum vitamin D levels did not correlate with CYP2R1 methylation levels in our study population. Significant positive correlation was observed between age and serum vitamin D levels. Significant association of gender was found with CYP2R1 methylation levels. This study found no significant correlation between levels of CYP2R1 methylation and circulating 25(OH)D deficiency. Further studies on the Indian population having a larger sample size including entire vitamin D tool genes, among different ethnic groups may be conducted to elucidate molecular etiology of circulating 25(OH)D deficiency. The high prevalence of normal serum calcium and phosphate levels among vitamin D deficient subjects in this study coupled with the strikingly high prevalence of the deficiency at the national level, may suggest the need to revise the cut-off criteria for vitamin D deficiency in the Indian population.

Assessment of Knowledge Regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among Teachers in Selected Government Schools: A Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that typically first manifest early in childhood and often persist into adulthood which can affect the academic achievement, well-being and social interactions of children. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge about ADHD among the government school teacher and to find the association between ADHD knowledge with their demographic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross section descriptive research design was adopted. A total of 112 numbers of samples were selected from government schools of Janakpurdham, Nepal by use of purposive sampling. The information was collected through the use of the Knowledge Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (KADDS) tool, and subsequently, data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: The result revealed that 43.8% demonstrated insufficient knowledge, while only 56.2% possessed adequate knowledge. There was significant association of gender and the ADHD knowledge among the government school teachers (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient knowledge about ADHD was noted among school teachers, indicating a need for the government to provide targeted training and in-service education in this field.

Perceptions and Practices of Sanitary Workers toward Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Vaccination in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Rawalpindi: A Cross Sectional Analytical Study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sanitary staff at selected tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: study was conducted from Nov 2021 to May 2022. In four Tertiary Care Hospitals in Rawalpindi Pakistan.&#x0D; Methodology: The sample size of 200 was calculated as per the reference study. Convenience sampling technique was used.Hospital cleaners over the age of 18 who worked daily in all clinical units and were involved in cleaning, waste collection and disposal.&#x0D; Results: In this study majority of the participants were males 178(89%) and majority 75(38%) were of age group 35-44 years and 45-54 years 69(35%). More than two third 156(78%) were married. Almost equal proportion of participants had middle 83(42%) and primary 77(39%) education There was significant association of gender with knowledge of Hepatitis-B (pvalue=0.004), knowledge of cure (p-value=0.001) and symptoms (p-value=00.02), transmission through blood transfusion (pvalue=0.027). There was also significant association between age group and provision of HBV vaccination to the staff (pvalue=0.009), knowledge of availability of HBV vaccination at hospital (p-value=0.001), screening for HBV (p-value=0.025),handling of sharps carefully (p-value=0.000), vaccination status for HBV (p-value=0.010), wearing gloves during work (pvalue=0.017).&#x0D; Conclusion: the study offers helpful information into potential idiosyncrasies of sanitary workers and hospital cleaners that may serve as the foundation for future, more extensive studies.

Exploring employee well-being during the COVID-19 remote work: evidence from South Africa

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated a shift to remote working for previously office-based employees in South Africa, impacting employee outcomes such as well-being. The remote work trend is expected to continue even post the pandemic, necessitating for organizational understanding of the factors impacting employee well-being. Using the Job Demands–Resources model as the theoretical framework, this study aims to understand the role of job demands and resources as predictors of employee well-being in the pandemic context.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered online survey questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data about remote workers’ (n = 204) perceptions of specifically identified demands, resources and employee well-being. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation and moderated hierarchical regression were used to analyse the data.FindingsThis study found that job demands in the form of work–home conflict were associated with reduced employee well-being. Resources, namely, job autonomy, effective communication and social support were associated with increased employee well-being. Job autonomy was positively correlated to remote work frequency, and gender had a significant positive association to work–home conflict. Social support was found to moderate the relationship between work–home conflict and employee well-being. Findings suggest that organizations looking to enhance the well-being of their remote workforce should implement policies and practices that reduce the demands and increase the resources of their employees. The significant association of gender to work–home conflict suggests that greater interventions are required particularly for women. This study advances knowledge on the role of demands and resources as predictors of employee well-being of remote workforces during COVID-19 and beyond.Originality/valueThis paper provides insight on employee well-being during COVID-19 remote work. Further, the findings suggest that organizations looking to enhance the well-being of their remote workforce should implement policies and practices that reduce the demands and increase the resources of their employees. The significant association of gender to work–home conflict suggests that greater interventions are required particularly for women. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study carried out to explore the employee well-being during COVID-19 pandemic and will be beneficial to stakeholders for understanding the factors impacting employee well-being.

Incidence of Development of Hydrocephalus after Excision and Repair of Spina Bifida Aperta in Infants

Objective: To find out the incidence of hydrocephalus after excision and repair in infants presenting with Spina Bifida Aperta.&#x0D; Materials &amp; Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department, Children Hospital &amp; The Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2021 to October 2021. A total of 62 infants of both genders presenting with spina bifida Aperta undergoing repair were included. Data of the patients, i.e., name, age, gender, head circumference, location, and width of the defect, accompanying bladder, limb anomalies, radiological, laboratory findings, and diagnosis (meningocele or meningomyelocele) were noted. Patients were followed postoperatively for 1-month, and the incidence of post-surgery hydrocephalus was noted.&#x0D; Results: Out of 62 children, 36 (58.1%) were male and 24 (41.9%) female. The mean age was noted to be 138.82 days. Most children, 36 (58.1%), were found to have meningocele. The most frequent local meningocele/meningomyelocele was noted to be lumbosacral, 22 (35.5%). Post-surgery hydrocephalus was noted among 11 (17.1%) cases. No significant association of gender, age, head circumference, defect size, the maximum dimension, diagnosis (meningocele or meningomyelocele), or location was noted with post-surgery hydrocephalus among study cases (p &gt; 0.05). No mortality was reported.&#x0D; Conclusion: Meningomyelocele and lumbosacral location of the defect were among the prominent factors affecting the incidence of post-surgery hydrocephalus.&#x0D; Keywords: Spina Bifida Aperta, Meningiocele, Myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, lumbosacral

Gender Specific Correlation between Lip Print, Fingerprint and Blood Groups among Adults aged 20-30 Years attending a Tertiary Health Care Centre

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine gender specific correlation between lip print, finger print and blood group among 120 adult clinical cases in a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu. Lip prints were collected using lipstick and cellophane sheet. Thumb print was collected using commercially available ink pad and white paper and analyzed using hand held magnifying lens. Blood group was noted at the time of recording lip and thumb print. A statistically significant association of gender with fingerprint (p=&lt;0.001) and lip print (p=0.001) was found. A strong co-existing relation have been found between gender and the loop fingerprint-lip print type I’- blood group O and arch fingerprint–lip print type I’– blood group ‘O’.

Antibiotic awareness and its usage in hospitals: Do our nurses possess adequate knowledge and practice?

: Antibiotics play a monumental role in infectious diseases control and management and have been used in all drug treatment strategies. But the inappropriate use and practice of antibiotics among health professionals results in adverse effects and accelerates the growth of microbial resistance against the majority of effective antibiotics. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge and practice of antibiotic awareness and its usage among staff nurses working in hospitals and also to identify the association of demographic factors on knowledge and practice of antibiotic awareness and its usage.: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 100 staff nurses (4 males and 96 females) were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a questionnaire to assess the knowledge and a rating scale for practice about antibiotics awareness and usage.About 50 percent of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of antibiotic awareness and its usage, and 72 percent had very good practice of antibiotics usage in hospitals. A highly significant, weak positive correlation (r=0.316, at p ˂ 0.01) between knowledge and practice of antibiotic awareness and usage among staff nurses was obtained. A significant association of gender with practice (χ =59.64, p = 0.002) and educational qualification with knowledge was found (χ=53.82, p = 0.017).: The study results suggested that staff nurses in general have good knowledge of antibiotic awareness and usage and very good practice in antibiotic usage. However, there should be effective training programs to consistently keep the knowledge and practice of staff nurses regarding antibiotic awareness and its practice at a satisfactory level and to raise awareness among those who demonstrated less knowledge and practice for its judicious use and practice.

Seroprevalence of rickettsial infection in northern Cyprus: A study among hunters.

This study was conducted to investigate rickettsial seropositivity among hunters, a high-risk population for tick-borne diseases in northern Cyprus. Serum samples were collected from 300 hunters from different locations during the 2017-2018 hunting season (November 2017 - February 2018). The samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using slides coated with Rickettsia slovaca, a species belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG). During the sample collection, a questionnaire was also applied to evaluate possible risk factors for rickettsial seropositivity. Of the 300 serum samples, six (2.0%) were found to be IgG-positive with a titer of 1:64. While all seropositive individuals were male, the statistical analysis revealed no significant association of gender with rickettsial seropositivity (p=1.000). Other factors including age (p=0.414), residential places of the participants (p=0.347), hunting years (p=0.694) or hunting abroad (p=1.000) did not significantly affect the IgG positivity. Also, no statistical correlation was found between a history of an arthropod (tick, louse, or flea) bite and rickettsial seropositivity (p=1.000). To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates rickettsial seropositivity among human population in northern Cyprus. Our study suggests that awareness should be raised among the people especially involved in outdoor activities such as hunting, and control programs should be implemented to prevent possible rickettsiosis cases. Further serological studies using other Rickettsia spp. antigens, as well as molecular studies that search for Rickettsia spp. in humans, animals and arthropods are needed to obtain more comprehensive data on rickettsiosis in northern Cyprus.

Lead the way or leave the way: Early experience of management of emergency pelvi-acetabular surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Objective: To report the early experience, the relationship of surgical site infection after pelvi-acetabular fracture fixation with certain possible risk factors, and organizational protocol for emergency pelvic surgery currently being used during the COVID-19 pandemic by an integrated team of orthopedic surgeons. Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Department of Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, “Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. Period: March 2020, to August 2020. Material &amp; Methods: A total of 25 patients diagnosed with acetabular fractures were included. Fracture patterns were classified according to judet and letournel and young burgess classification systems. Factors studied included patient’s age, gender, body mass index, fracture pattern, type of surgery, comorbidities, smoking status, associated injuries, surgical site infections and mortality. Results: In a total of 25 patients, 21(84.0%) were male and 4(16.0%) female patients with overall mean age as 38.04±14.58 years. Overall, mean BMI was 23.20±2.60 kg/m2. There were 12(48.0%) patiens who had hypertension while 4 (16.0%) smokers. There were 21 (84.0%) patients who did not have any associated injuries while 3 (12.0%) had the associated extremities. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 5.08±0.76 days. The results revealed no significant association of Gender with these parameters (p &gt; 0.001). Conclusion: There is no added risk of infection and mortality for the provision of emergency trauma services to pelvi-acetabular fractured patients even during panic and pandemic situations.

Epidemiological Aspects Of Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a common ocular disease which not only affects vision but can also compromise the quality of life of patients to a greater extent. If it is not properly managed it can lead to decreased vision due to corneal complications. This study was conducted to evaluate the epidemiological aspects of allergic conjunctivitis. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Ophthalmology department of Federal General Hospital, from June 2018 to June 2020. We enrolled 236 patients of allergic conjunctivitis. Data collection form consisted of a structured questionnaire, records of ocular findings using slit lamp biomicroscope and skin prick test results. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. The mean age (±SD) of study population was 22.71±13.11 years, 60.2% were females. Most common type of conjunctivitis was vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) 46.2%, followed by perennial (27.1%), seasonal (17.4%) and atopic (9.3%). There was significant association of type of conjunctivitis with the age, pvalue< 0.001. VKC was prevalent in patients of age <20 years. There was a significant association of gender with type of conjunctivitis, p-value =0.000. Perennial variety was more prevalent in females while VKC was common in males. Collateral atopy was present in 52.1% patients. Corneal involvement was seen in 17.8% patients. There was a significant association between corneal involvement and interference with daily visual activities, p-value 0.034. SPT was positive in 79.7% patients. Ocular allergies/ conjunctivitis was more prevalent in female population. VKC is the most common type of allergic conjunctivitis, prevalent in males of age <20 yrs. Allergic rhinitis was the most common co-morbidity followed by dermatitis.