Swapna Pillai - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Swapna Pillai
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, 2017
Background: The Direct Observation of Treatment (DOT) is an important component of the country's ... more Background: The Direct Observation of Treatment (DOT) is an important component of the country's TB Control strategy. Standards of TB care in India and the End TB strategy emphasised the importance of a patient-centered approach to foster adherence. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the perception of people with Tuberculosis in Kerala regarding DOT, mechanisms to make the treatment of TB more patients centered and to identify the preferable mechanisms to ensure adherence. Methods: Six focus group discussions were conductedtwo among people with TB from rural area, two among people with TB in urban area, one among multipurpose health workers of rural area and one among key field staff of TB control in urban area. Results: Patients who were on a strict DOT were unhappy about the issues of confidentiality, patient inconvenience and provider centered approach. A flexible, patient centered approach were a family member can act as the DOT provider with guidance from a trained health worker was evolved as the most acceptable and comfortable mode of treatment to majority of the TB patients. They felt that a strict external monitor as a DOT provider was not a necessity in majority of the cases. Only practical way to effectively incorporate ICT in monitoring patient compliance in current scenario was identified as daily phone call reminders. Patients also expressed their concerns in keeping the medicines for entire duration at home. Conclusion: A flexible patient wise individualized system based on patient's behavior, literacy and awareness along with attitude of family members is needed to ensure adherence to anti TB drugs.
Journal of primary care & community health, Jul 1, 2016
An outbreak investigation was initiated following a report of unusual occurrence of acute gastroe... more An outbreak investigation was initiated following a report of unusual occurrence of acute gastroenteritis in Ashramam area, Kollam district, Kerala, India. House to house survey was conducted to identify cases. Person, place, and time analysis was done. Hypothesis was generated based on findings from cross sectional study, anecdotal evidences, laboratory investigation, and environmental observations. Univariate analysis was done generating odds ratios and confidence intervals to identify factors associated with the disease. A total of 57 cases were reported. Attack rate was highest among children younger than 14 years (22%). Among them, 91.2% (52/57) of the cases and 45.8% (169/369) of the people who had not developed the disease were dependent on pipe water (OR 12.31; 95% CI 4.81-31.52) for drinking purpose. The time frame of the disease occurrence, environmental observations, anecdotal evidences, and the results of analytical study indicated the possibility of the acute gastroente...
Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2020
Aim To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of obese and lean women with polycyst... more Aim To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of obese and lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To confirm the significance of body mass index (BMI) in classifying PCOS. Materials and methods This was a comparative cross-sectional study done at Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, in 1 year. Women who attended the hospital diagnosed to have PCOS based on Rotterdam's criteria were divided into lean and obese with BMI cut-off of 23. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics of both were compared. Body fat percentage was calculated using Harpenden skinfold calipers, and based on it, the lean group was found to have a normal weight, and obese subgroup with body fat percentage more than the cut-off. Result There was a significant difference in age, hirsutism score, and family history of diabetes and PCOS between the groups. The systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and serum low-density lipoprotein (S.LDL) were statistical...
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, 2017
Background: The Direct Observation of Treatment (DOT) is an important component of the country's ... more Background: The Direct Observation of Treatment (DOT) is an important component of the country's TB Control strategy. Standards of TB care in India and the End TB strategy emphasised the importance of a patient-centered approach to foster adherence. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the perception of people with Tuberculosis in Kerala regarding DOT, mechanisms to make the treatment of TB more patients centered and to identify the preferable mechanisms to ensure adherence. Methods: Six focus group discussions were conductedtwo among people with TB from rural area, two among people with TB in urban area, one among multipurpose health workers of rural area and one among key field staff of TB control in urban area. Results: Patients who were on a strict DOT were unhappy about the issues of confidentiality, patient inconvenience and provider centered approach. A flexible, patient centered approach were a family member can act as the DOT provider with guidance from a trained health worker was evolved as the most acceptable and comfortable mode of treatment to majority of the TB patients. They felt that a strict external monitor as a DOT provider was not a necessity in majority of the cases. Only practical way to effectively incorporate ICT in monitoring patient compliance in current scenario was identified as daily phone call reminders. Patients also expressed their concerns in keeping the medicines for entire duration at home. Conclusion: A flexible patient wise individualized system based on patient's behavior, literacy and awareness along with attitude of family members is needed to ensure adherence to anti TB drugs.
Journal of primary care & community health, Jul 1, 2016
An outbreak investigation was initiated following a report of unusual occurrence of acute gastroe... more An outbreak investigation was initiated following a report of unusual occurrence of acute gastroenteritis in Ashramam area, Kollam district, Kerala, India. House to house survey was conducted to identify cases. Person, place, and time analysis was done. Hypothesis was generated based on findings from cross sectional study, anecdotal evidences, laboratory investigation, and environmental observations. Univariate analysis was done generating odds ratios and confidence intervals to identify factors associated with the disease. A total of 57 cases were reported. Attack rate was highest among children younger than 14 years (22%). Among them, 91.2% (52/57) of the cases and 45.8% (169/369) of the people who had not developed the disease were dependent on pipe water (OR 12.31; 95% CI 4.81-31.52) for drinking purpose. The time frame of the disease occurrence, environmental observations, anecdotal evidences, and the results of analytical study indicated the possibility of the acute gastroente...
Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2020
Aim To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of obese and lean women with polycyst... more Aim To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of obese and lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To confirm the significance of body mass index (BMI) in classifying PCOS. Materials and methods This was a comparative cross-sectional study done at Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, in 1 year. Women who attended the hospital diagnosed to have PCOS based on Rotterdam's criteria were divided into lean and obese with BMI cut-off of 23. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics of both were compared. Body fat percentage was calculated using Harpenden skinfold calipers, and based on it, the lean group was found to have a normal weight, and obese subgroup with body fat percentage more than the cut-off. Result There was a significant difference in age, hirsutism score, and family history of diabetes and PCOS between the groups. The systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and serum low-density lipoprotein (S.LDL) were statistical...