Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of ophthalmologists about adenoviral conjunctivitis transmission and treatment : An online survey for Turkish ophthalmologists.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis in Turkish ophthalmologists, to provide an overview of the treatment and prophylaxis of adenoviral conjunctivitis, and to analyze the data in the context of evidence-based treatment recommendations. METHODS: An online questionnaire consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions about the characteristics of the respondents, the individual adenoviral conjunctivitis history of the ophthalmologists, their practice's approaches, and prescription preferences were emailed to Turkish ophthalmologists. RESULTS: The survey was emailed to 500 ophthalmologists; 45% of them returned the questionnaire. According to the responses, the history of adenoviral conjunctivitis infections was positive in 46.7% (n: 120), recurrent attack prevalence was 16.2% in ophthalmologists. Lubricants (67.6%) are the most preferred first-line treatment options for adenoviral conjunctivitis, followed by povidone-iodine (59.6%), topical antibiotics (51.1%), topical antivirals (29.3%), topical corticosteroids (26.7%), and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (19.6%). A total of 98.2% preferred to dismiss infected patients. The preferred prophylaxis options were frequent hand washing/use of gloves (97.8%), disinfection of medical devices (95.1%), isolation of infected patients (79.1%), hand hygiene with gemicides (58.7%). The percentage of single-dose eye drop selection was 46.2. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this survey showed that most Turkish ophthalmologists generally follow international guidelines for the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis. The treatment algorithm is still controversial, so ophthalmologists should be aware of treatment guideline updates in line with evidence-based recommendations. Having sufficient knowledge of the basic characteristics of viruses is important to control the spread of the disease.

Comparação do tratamento homeopático e convencional numa epidemia de conjuntivite / Comparison between homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic

Objetivo: Comparar os resultados dos tratamentos homeopático e convencional na epidemia de conjuntivite viral em 1997 em Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materiais e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 67 pacientes diagnosticados e hospitalizados durante uma epidemia de conjuntivite viral que aconteceu entre julho e setembro de 1997 na área de saúde de Ranchuelo, divididos em dois grupos; um grupo de 47 pacientes foi submetido a tratamento convencional, e em segundo grupo de 20 pacientes a tratamento homeopático. Resultados: Comprovou-se que o tratamento homeopático induziu a cura em menor tempo, o tratamento convencional requereu quase o dobro do tempo. Além do mais, o tratamento homeopático teve custo menor que o convencional, que foi mais do dobro. Conclusões: Foi demostrada a ação benéfica do tratamento homeopático no controle da epidemia, enquanto que a cura aconteceu num tempo mais breve e com menos custo que o tratamento convencional.(AU)

Aim: To compare results of homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic in 1997 in Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materials and methods: Retrospective study comprising 67 patients diagnosed and hospitalized during a viral conjunctivitis epidemic between July and September 1997 in Ranchuelo health district divided in two groups; one group comprising 47 patients was given conventional treatment, and a second group comprising 20 patients was given homeopathic treatment. Results: Homeopathic treatment elicited faster healing, since conventional treatment required almost twice as long. Moreover, cost of homeopathic treatment was lowed compared toconventional treatment, the latter was more than twice as expensive. Conclusions: Homeopathic treatment proved beneficial to control this epidemic since healing was faster and less expensive than conventional treatment.(AU)

Comparação do tratamento homeopático e convencional numa epidemia de conjuntivite / Comparación del tratamiento homeopático y convencional en una epidemia de conjuntivitis / Comparison between homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic

Objetivo: Comparar os resultados dos tratamentos homeopático e convencional na epidemia de conjuntivite viral em 1997 em Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materiais e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 67 pacientes diagnosticados e hospitalizados durante uma epidemia de conjuntivite viral que aconteceu entre julho e setembro de 1997 na área de saúde de Ranchuelo, divididos em dois grupos; um grupo de 47 pacientes foi submetido a tratamento convencional, e em segundo grupo de 20 pacientes a tratamento homeopático. Resultados: Comprovou-se que o tratamento homeopático induziu a cura em menor tempo, o tratamento convencional requereu quase o dobro do tempo. Além do mais, o tratamento homeopático teve custo menor que o convencional, que foi mais do dobro. Conclusões: Foi demostrada a ação benéfica do tratamento homeopático no controle da epidemia, enquanto que a cura aconteceu num tempo mais breve e com menos custo que o tratamento convencional.(AU)

Aim: To compare results of homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic in 1997 in Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materials and methods: Retrospective study comprising 67 patients diagnosed and hospitalized during a viral conjunctivitis epidemic between July and September 1997 in Ranchuelo health district divided in two groups; one group comprising 47 patients was given conventional treatment, and a second group comprising 20 patients was given homeopathic treatment. Results: Homeopathic treatment elicited faster healing, since conventional treatment required almost twice as long. Moreover, cost of homeopathic treatment was lowed compared to conventional treatment, the latter was more than twice as expensive. Conclusions: Homeopathic treatment proved beneficial to control this epidemic since healing was faster and less expensive than conventional treatment.(AU)

Objetivo: Comparar los resultados de los tratamientos homeopático y convencional sobre la epidemia de conjuntivitis viral del año 1997 en Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo de un total de 67 pacientes que se diagnosticaron y se ingresaron durante la epidemia de conjuntivitis viral que se produjo en los meses de julio a septiembre de 1997 en el área de salud de Ranchuelo, conformados en dos grupos, un primer grupo de 47 pacientes tratados con medicamentos convencionales y un segundo grupo de 20 pacientes tratados con medicamentos homeopáticos, Resultados: Se comprobó que el tratamiento homeopático produjo la curación en menor tiempo, necesitando el otro tratamiento casi el doble del tiempo y además, que el tratamiento homeopático demostró ser más barato que el convencional, siendo el costo de éste último más del doble. Conclusiones: Quedó demostrada la buena acción del medicamento homeopático sobre la epidemia, con la curación que se produjo en mucho menos tiempo y con menos costo que con los otros medicamentos.(AU)

Comparação do tratamento homeopático e convencional numa epidemia de conjuntivite / Comparación del tratamiento homeopático y convencional en una epidemia de conjuntivitis / Comparison between homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic

Objetivo: Comparar os resultados dos tratamentos homeopático e convencional na epidemia de conjuntivite viral em 1997 em Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materiais e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 67 pacientes diagnosticados e hospitalizados durante uma epidemia de conjuntivite viral que aconteceu entre julho e setembro de 1997 na área de saúde de Ranchuelo, divididos em dois grupos; um grupo de 47 pacientes foi submetido a tratamento convencional, e em segundo grupo de 20 pacientes a tratamento homeopático. Resultados: Comprovou-se que o tratamento homeopático induziu a cura em menor tempo, o tratamento convencional requereu quase o dobro do tempo. Além do mais, o tratamento homeopático teve custo menor que o convencional, que foi mais do dobro. Conclusões: Foi demostrada a ação benéfica do tratamento homeopático no controle da epidemia, enquanto que a cura aconteceu num tempo mais breve e com menos custo que o tratamento convencional.

Aim: To compare results of homeopathic and conventional treatment in a conjunctivitis epidemic in 1997 in Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Materials and methods: Retrospective study comprising 67 patients diagnosed and hospitalized during a viral conjunctivitis epidemic between July and September 1997 in Ranchuelo health district divided in two groups; one group comprising 47 patients was given conventional treatment, and a second group comprising 20 patients was given homeopathic treatment. Results: Homeopathic treatment elicited faster healing, since conventional treatment required almost twice as long. Moreover, cost of homeopathic treatment was lowed compared to conventional treatment, the latter was more than twice as expensive. Conclusions: Homeopathic treatment proved beneficial to control this epidemic since healing was faster and less expensive than conventional treatment.

Objetivo: Comparar los resultados de los tratamientos homeopático y convencional sobre la epidemia de conjuntivitis viral del año 1997 en Ranchuelo, VC, Cuba. Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo de un total de 67 pacientes que se diagnosticaron y se ingresaron durante la epidemia de conjuntivitis viral que se produjo en los meses de julio a septiembre de 1997 en el área de salud de Ranchuelo, conformados en dos grupos, un primer grupo de 47 pacientes tratados con medicamentos convencionales y un segundo grupo de 20 pacientes tratados con medicamentos homeopáticos, Resultados: Se comprobó que el tratamiento homeopático produjo la curación en menor tiempo, necesitando el otro tratamiento casi el doble del tiempo y además, que el tratamiento homeopático demostró ser más barato que el convencional, siendo el costo de éste último más del doble. Conclusiones: Quedó demostrada la buena acción del medicamento homeopático sobre la epidemia, con la curación que se produjo en mucho menos tiempo y con menos costo que con los otros medicamentos.

Self-medication: initial treatments used by patients seen in an ophthalmologic emergency room.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to identify practices of self-medication in the treatment of ocular emergencies. We examine patients' use of both homemade preparations and manufactured products before seeking specialized care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analytic survey of consecutive patients seen in the ophthalmology emergency room of a teaching hospital. RESULTS: The sample included 561 subjects, 51.3% males and 48.7% females, with a mean age of 39.8 years. Prior to seeking emergency care, 40.5% reported self-medicating; 29.4% used a homemade preparation (13.9% referred to an industrialized product like boric acid as a homemade preparation), and 11.1% used a manufactured product. The most frequently used products included a boric acid solution (53.3%), a normal saline solution (35.7%), herbal infusions (6.1%) and breast milk (4.8%). Viral conjunctivitis was the most frequent diagnosis (24.4%), followed by the presence of a corneal foreign body (7.4%). No significant differences were found in the self-treatment of ocular injuries according to gender (p = 0.95), level of education (p = 0.21) or age (p = 0.14). In addition, self-medication practices were not related to the medically judged severity of the condition. CONCLUSION: Patients often attempt to treat conditions that require ophthalmologic emergency care by self-medicating with homemade or manufactured products. The most widely used products include boric acid, normal saline, leaf infusions and breast milk. This behavior occurs independently of educational level, gender, age or the nature of the ocular condition. Self-medication is a culturally driven practice that is used even in cases of acute ocular injuries.

Self-medication: initial treatments used by patients seen in an ophthalmologic emergency room

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to identify practices of self-medication in the treatment of ocular emergencies. We examine patients' use of both homemade preparations and manufactured products before seeking specialized care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analytic survey of consecutive patients seen in the ophthalmology emergency room of a teaching hospital. RESULTS: The sample included 561 subjects, 51.3 percent males and 48.7 percent females, with a mean age of 39.8 years. Prior to seeking emergency care, 40.5 percent reported self-medicating; 29.4 percent used a homemade preparation (13.9 percent referred to an industrialized product like boric acid as a homemade preparation), and 11.1 percent used a manufactured product. The most frequently used products included a boric acid solution (53.3 percent), a normal saline solution (35.7 percent), herbal infusions (6.1 percent) and breast milk (4.8 percent). Viral conjunctivitis was the most frequent diagnosis (24.4 percent), followed by the presence of a corneal foreign body (7.4 percent). No significant differences were found in the self-treatment of ocular injuries according to gender (p = 0.95), level of education (p = 0.21) or age (p = 0.14). In addition, self-medication practices were not related to the medically judged severity of the condition. CONCLUSION: Patients often attempt to treat conditions that require ophthalmologic emergency care by self-medicating with homemade or manufactured products. The most widely used products include boric acid, normal saline, leaf infusions and breast milk. This behavior occurs independently of educational level, gender, age or the nature of the ocular condition. Self-medication is a culturally driven practice that is used even in cases of acute ocular injuries.