Sujata Sapkota - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sujata Sapkota

ABSTRACT Background: Older people are potentially at greater risk of medication error. Gaining in... more ABSTRACT Background: Older people are potentially at greater risk of medication error. Gaining insight into the physicians prescribing pattern in order to identify prescribing problem is the fundamental step in improving the quality of prescription and patient care.

Public Health in Practice, 2020

Objectives: To explore how informal waste workers (IWWs) working in Kathmandu Valley perceive ris... more Objectives: To explore how informal waste workers (IWWs) working in Kathmandu Valley perceive risks associated with waste work and what they do to mitigate them. Study design: Qualitative Study Design. Methods: A mix of one-to-one semi-structured interviews (n ¼ 18) and focus group discussions (n ¼ 4) with IWWs were undertaken. Participants were recruited purposively using snowball sampling. All interviews and discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated and subsequently analysed thematically. Results: The IWWs perceived discrimination and health risks as the main risks associated with waste work. IWWs reported considerable stigma and discrimination not only from the wider society but also from family members and within their own profession. Similarly, the occupational risks most frequently recognized were physical injuries and cuts from working with waste. However, the potential risks from hazardous chemicals present in or generated from waste were not articulated by participants. Mitigation strategies to combat the risks included avoidance, greater care and the use of informal means of "protection". Awareness of the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited. The key barriers to the use of PPE identified included costs, the lack of easy availability of PPE and the inconvenience of working with PPE. Conclusions: The vulnerability of informal waste workers in Nepal is multifaceted. A range of policy and regulatory measures, along with interventions that promote greater social inclusion and occupational support are needed to promote IWW's health and safety.

A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly aroun... more A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly around the world in early 2020, and it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March. COVID-19 continues to have a large impact on individuals, societies, and on national health systems across the globe. Due to its novelty and impact, it has challenged all health care systems. The ways in which governments and health systems have responded have varied widely across the world. In the case of Nepal, the pandemic represented a major test for the newly decentralised health system, created as a result of the implementation of the 2015 federal constitution. This paper forms a part of our large on-going study of the decentralisation of the country’s health system. The study is run by the Universities of Sheffield, Huddersfield and Bournemouth in the UK and PHASE Nepal and Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences in Nepal, and is funded by the UK Health Systems Rese...

SAGE Open Medicine, 2013

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem with an increasing incidence and pr... more Background: Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem with an increasing incidence and prevalence, poor outcomes, and high cost. Patient involvement forms the keystone in the management of chronic kidney disease. This study evaluated effects of pharmacist-provided counseling in dialysis patients in terms of their knowledge, attitude, and practice outcomes. Methods: A total of 64 patients with chronic kidney disease were enrolled into the prospective, pre–post study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients regarding chronic kidney disease were assessed and recorded via baseline questionnaire. Case group patients were counseled regarding chronic kidney disease, their medication, diet, and lifestyle, and they were also provided with informative leaflet, whereas in the control group patients, the pharmacist did not intervene. After 1-month intervention, knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of patients of both groups wer...

Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 2012

Background Hypertension is an important public health challenge worldwide and is most important m... more Background Hypertension is an important public health challenge worldwide and is most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease. Blood pressure determination forms an integral part of anaesthesiologist’s evaluation of hispatient’s condition prior to and during surgery. Data are not available which indicate changes in blood pressure occurring preanaesthetically in hospitalized patients. There are several risks from untreated preoperative hypertension in perioperative and postoperative phase. Objective To know the incidence of hypertension in preoperative patients undergoing major surgery Methods This retrospective observational study was based on the data collected from preanaesthetic checkup record book from January 2010 to December 2010. Results A total of 955 patients were studied and analyzed in terms of hypertension and demographic characteristics. The total incidence of hypertension in preoperative phase was 10.16%. Among them 64.9% ...

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2016

ABSTRACT Background: Older people are potentially at greater risk of medication error. Gaining in... more ABSTRACT Background: Older people are potentially at greater risk of medication error. Gaining insight into the physicians prescribing pattern in order to identify prescribing problem is the fundamental step in improving the quality of prescription and patient care.

Public Health in Practice, 2020

Objectives: To explore how informal waste workers (IWWs) working in Kathmandu Valley perceive ris... more Objectives: To explore how informal waste workers (IWWs) working in Kathmandu Valley perceive risks associated with waste work and what they do to mitigate them. Study design: Qualitative Study Design. Methods: A mix of one-to-one semi-structured interviews (n ¼ 18) and focus group discussions (n ¼ 4) with IWWs were undertaken. Participants were recruited purposively using snowball sampling. All interviews and discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated and subsequently analysed thematically. Results: The IWWs perceived discrimination and health risks as the main risks associated with waste work. IWWs reported considerable stigma and discrimination not only from the wider society but also from family members and within their own profession. Similarly, the occupational risks most frequently recognized were physical injuries and cuts from working with waste. However, the potential risks from hazardous chemicals present in or generated from waste were not articulated by participants. Mitigation strategies to combat the risks included avoidance, greater care and the use of informal means of "protection". Awareness of the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited. The key barriers to the use of PPE identified included costs, the lack of easy availability of PPE and the inconvenience of working with PPE. Conclusions: The vulnerability of informal waste workers in Nepal is multifaceted. A range of policy and regulatory measures, along with interventions that promote greater social inclusion and occupational support are needed to promote IWW's health and safety.

A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly aroun... more A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly around the world in early 2020, and it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March. COVID-19 continues to have a large impact on individuals, societies, and on national health systems across the globe. Due to its novelty and impact, it has challenged all health care systems. The ways in which governments and health systems have responded have varied widely across the world. In the case of Nepal, the pandemic represented a major test for the newly decentralised health system, created as a result of the implementation of the 2015 federal constitution. This paper forms a part of our large on-going study of the decentralisation of the country’s health system. The study is run by the Universities of Sheffield, Huddersfield and Bournemouth in the UK and PHASE Nepal and Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences in Nepal, and is funded by the UK Health Systems Rese...

SAGE Open Medicine, 2013

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem with an increasing incidence and pr... more Background: Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem with an increasing incidence and prevalence, poor outcomes, and high cost. Patient involvement forms the keystone in the management of chronic kidney disease. This study evaluated effects of pharmacist-provided counseling in dialysis patients in terms of their knowledge, attitude, and practice outcomes. Methods: A total of 64 patients with chronic kidney disease were enrolled into the prospective, pre–post study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients regarding chronic kidney disease were assessed and recorded via baseline questionnaire. Case group patients were counseled regarding chronic kidney disease, their medication, diet, and lifestyle, and they were also provided with informative leaflet, whereas in the control group patients, the pharmacist did not intervene. After 1-month intervention, knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of patients of both groups wer...

Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 2012

Background Hypertension is an important public health challenge worldwide and is most important m... more Background Hypertension is an important public health challenge worldwide and is most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease. Blood pressure determination forms an integral part of anaesthesiologist’s evaluation of hispatient’s condition prior to and during surgery. Data are not available which indicate changes in blood pressure occurring preanaesthetically in hospitalized patients. There are several risks from untreated preoperative hypertension in perioperative and postoperative phase. Objective To know the incidence of hypertension in preoperative patients undergoing major surgery Methods This retrospective observational study was based on the data collected from preanaesthetic checkup record book from January 2010 to December 2010. Results A total of 955 patients were studied and analyzed in terms of hypertension and demographic characteristics. The total incidence of hypertension in preoperative phase was 10.16%. Among them 64.9% ...

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2016