MATERIALS AND METHODS: A content development team which consisted of three consultant rheumatologists developed the booklet. Content validation was performed by a panel of evaluators consisted of eleven physicians (four consultant rheumatologists, two clinical specialists, and five medical officers), who were involved in gout management. Face validation was performed by ten patients with gout.
RESULTS: Item-Content Validity Index ranged from 0.9 to 1 with regards to relevancy, clarity, ambiguity and simplicity. Side effects of uricosuric agents were added to the draft based on an evaluator's comment. Item-Face Validity Index was 1, which indicated that all patients were in 100% agreement with all items.
CONCLUSION: We developed and validated our Gout Treat-to- Target booklet. There was high agreement in I-FVI and I-CVI among physicians and patients.
CASE REPORT: Here, we present a case of a young man who has childhood asthma with the last attack more than 10 years ago presented with symptoms suggestive of acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. As the symptoms failed to improve after standard asthma management, anaphylaxis was suspected, and he was given intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg which leads to symptom improvement. However, he developed another attack shortly after improvement while under observation.
CONCLUSION: The objective of this case report is to emphasise the importance of keeping anaphylaxis in mind whenever a patient has treatment-refractory asthma, and also the anticipation of biphasic reaction that warrants adequate observation period especially those who are likely to have developed it.
METHOD: Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 73) attending endocrine clinic at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were randomised to either control (n = 36) or intervention group (n = 37) after screening. Patients in the intervention group received an intervention from a pharmacist during the enrolment, after three and six months of the enrolment. Outcome measures such as HbA1c, BMI, lipid profile, Morisky scores and quality of life (QoL) scores were assessed at the enrolment and after 6 months of the study in both groups. Patients in the control group did not undergo intervention or educational module other than the standard care at UKMMC.
RESULTS: HbA1c values reduced significantly from 9.66% to 8.47% (P = 0.001) in the intervention group. However, no significant changes were noted in the control group (9.64-9.26%, P = 0.14). BMI values showed significant reduction in the intervention group (29.34-28.92 kg/m(2); P = 0.03) and lipid profiles were unchanged in both groups. Morisky adherence scores significantly increased from 5.83 to 6.77 (P = 0.02) in the intervention group; however, no significant change was observed in the control group (5.95-5.98, P = 0.85). QoL profiles produced mixed results.
CONCLUSION: This randomised controlled study provides evidence about favourable impact of a pharmacist led diabetes intervention programme on HbA1c, medication adherence and QoL scores amongst type 2 diabetes patients at UKMMC, Malaysia.
Aims: This study explores the lived experiences of chronic pain among immigrant Indian women in Canada.
Methods: Thirteen immigrant Indian women participated in one-on-one interviews exploring daily experiences of chronic pain.
Results: Using thematic analysis informed by van Manen's phenomenology of practice, four themes emerged: (1) the body in pain, (2) pain in the context of lived and felt space, (3) pain and relationships, and (4) pain and time. Women revealed that their experiences were shaped by gender roles and expectations enforced through culture. Specifically, a dual gender role was identified after immigration, in which women had to balance traditional household responsibilities of family labor and care alongside employment outside the home, exacerbating pain.
Conclusions: This research uncovers the multifaceted nature of chronic pain and identifies factors within the sociocultural context that may place particular groups of women at greater risk of living with pain.
METHODS: A total of 110 hospitalized geriatric patients aged 60 years and older were selected using convenience sampling method in a cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic data and medical history were obtained from the medical records. Questionnaires were used during the in-person semistructured interviews, which were conducted in the wards. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of each domain of quality of life.
RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that activities of daily living, depression, and appetite were the determinants of physical health domain of quality of life (R(2)=0.633, F(3, 67)=38.462; P<0.001), whereas depression and instrumental activities of daily living contributed to 55.8% of the variability in psychological domain (R(2)=0.558, F(2, 68)=42.953; P<0.001). Social support and cognitive status were the determinants of social relationship (R(2)=0.539, F(2, 68)=39.763; P<0.001) and also for the environmental domain of the quality of life (R(2)=0.496, F(2, 68)=33.403; P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: The findings indicated different predictors for each domain in the quality of life among hospitalized geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus. Nutritional, functional, and psychological aspects should be incorporated into rehabilitation support programs prior to discharge in order to improve patients' quality of life.
CASE PRESENTATION: However, here we report a case of DNPE with a slightly different presentation where there is no preceding trauma and has symptoms that mimic severe pneumonia. He presented with high fever, dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain. Despite on 10 L of oxygen supplementation via high flow mask and already given bolus intravenous antibiotic, the patient still tachypnoeic and was persistently in type I respiratory failure. His chest X-ray showed consolidative changes. Upon further investigation revealed no evidence of DVT on Doppler ultrasound and normal D-dimer level. Due to the high index of suspicion by the attending physician, PE was suspected and later confirmed with computed tomography pulmonary angiography scan. He was successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy. The objective of this case report is to share the difficult experience of diagnosing PE when the presentation highly atypical and mimics severe pneumonia.
CONCLUSION: And with such a masquerading presentation, one can easily miss the diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, there are very few similar cases reported.