Peer influence and its impact on behavior among South Indian adolescents: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Peer influence, the development of attitudes, and behavioral changes are some of the phenomenal changes that happen in adolescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to find out the association between peer influence and behavior among 355 adolescents within the age group of 16 to 18 years, randomly chosen from Pre-university schools of Udupi district, Karnataka using the Peer Influence Scale (PIS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULT: The results indicate that their peers highly influenced 43.9% of the participants. Meanwhile, 23.1% and 7.9% of adolescents who participated in the survey showed borderline and abnormal behavior, respectively. The association between peer influence and behaviour was assessed using the Chi-square test; the results (χ2=14.545, P = 0.001) revealed that peers highly influence adolescent behavior and change adolescent conduct significantly. CONCLUSION: Adolescents should be aware of the accepted and non-accepted behaviors in society and be wise in choosing the right peers who later influence their behavior. Parents need to check the conduct of their children and guide them in developing their identity.

Madison to Manipal: A narrative review of modified assertive community treatment programs.

BACKGROUND: Assertive community treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based approach providing comprehensive individualized care for the patients with various mental illness, has been adapted variably across the world in terms of patient-staff ratio, selection of patients, the pattern of service delivery and frequency of contact. We aim to review the extant literature on the modifications of ACT programs for severe mental disorders and their effectiveness. METHODS: Studies on modified ACT approaches for mental illnesses were searched in multiple databases. We adopted a rapid appraisal approach. The searches were restricted to articles published in English. We appraised the fidelity assessment of the ACT studies wherever available. In addition, we assessed the study quality using a grading tool based on ten practice components of ACT. RESULTS: We found 23 reports (10 RCTs and 13 non-controlled studies) on modified ACT. The extant literature on modified ACT programs is heterogeneous. The modifications in ACT included changes in patient-to-staff ratio, team composition, service hours, and interventions carried out. Most controlled studies were conducted in high-income settings and had inconsistent outcome, possibly due to the comprehensive nature of the 'usual care.' In contrast, modified ACT services from low and middle-income countries reduced hospitalization rates and improved treatment adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Modifications in ACT programs were done to cater to specific subpopulation and the changes in program structure to suit the resources and setting. The outcome of modified ACT appears heterogenous, though the findings from low and middle-income countries are promising.

The role of legal medicine professionals in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among female victims of sexual assault.

Sexual violence can have an overwhelming impact on the victim's physical and mental health; the consequences include unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Therefore, the examiners must assess victims for possible pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections as a part of the sexual assault examination. This article aims to orient the medico-legal examiners towards their role in preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among victims of sexual assault. Prompt detection of pregnancy or STIs is critical, as any delay would adversely affect the successful administration of emergency contraception and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections.

Needs, challenges, and coping strategies among primary caregivers of schizophrenia patient: A systematic review & meta-synthesis.

INTRODUCTION: Deinstitutionalization and rising psychiatric care in society have led to an increase in the role of caregivers of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize qualitative research findings that explored the needs, challenges, and coping strategies among the primary caregivers of a schizophrenia patient. METHODOLOGY: The electronic databases namely PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and ClinicalKey were searched to identify relevant articles published from 2005 to October 2021. The quality of the included articles was independently appraised by two reviewers using Walsh and Downe criteria and was analysed thematically. The meta-synthesis was modelled on Lucas framework. RESULTS: The richness of information across 38 papers involving 543 participants was noteworthy. The needs of the primary caregivers were rehabilitation and vocational centre, information and education, self-help groups, augmented healthcare services, and communication and collaboration. The challenges reported were treatment expenses, bizarre beliefs, self and other directed harm and violence, therapeutic noncompliance, onerous caregiving task, crumbling family relations, misconception and discrimination, and self-stigmatization. The coping strategies adopted were problem-focused coping, emotional coping, behavioural coping, coping through social support, religious coping and cognitive reappraisal. CONCLUSION: The primary caregivers provide unparalleled service to the health system and for the patient. The healthcare providers need to give undue attention to the unmet needs and challenges of the caregivers, which would benefit the health system by enabling the caregivers in providing long-term care for the schizophrenic.

Quality of life and empowerment among women.

BACKGROUND: Few women in history were respected by society because of their contributions to the field of science, arts, politics, and so on, but in general, women are deprived of their rights and being refrained from decision-making in major areas of individual and family life. This research tried to investigate the degree of empowerment and quality of life (QOL) of the women to find out the relationship between empowerment and QOL of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory survey was carried out among 210 purposively selected married women aged between 20 and 49 years in a selected municipality area of West Bengal. Data were obtained by one-to-one interviews using Women Empowerment Interview Schedule and WHOQOL Scale BREF. RESULTS: The mean total QOL score of the women was found as 98.59 ± 13.61. The transformed scores in the physical, psychological, social relation, and environmental domains were 74.92 ± 14.97, 66.58 ± 15.78, 81.00 ± 18.07, and 65.28 ± 17.99, respectively. The degree of empowerment was calculated as 64.71 ± 6.79. Among the women, 5% had poor, 62% had medium, and 33% had a high degree of empowerment. A weak positive correlation (r = 0.325, P = 0.001) was found between QOL and empowerment. Significant associations were established between empowerment and education (Fisher's exact = 13.975 [0.007]) and education gap with husband (Fisher's Exact = 8.68, P 0.069). Multiple regression analysis between empowerment dimensions and QOL shows that personal or family dimensions, including health, are a significant predictor for the QOL (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Most of the women had medium degree of empowerment. Increased degree of empowerment improves their QOL of women. Women should be aware of their rights that can enhance the empowerment in different dimensions of life.

Ratrijagarana night wakefulness and its impact on Manasika Bhava mental characteristics among industrial workers: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Nidra (sleep), Ahara (food) and Brahmacharya (abstinence) are the three sub-pillars of health and alterations in these basic pillars of health can lead to mortality and morbidity. Among these, Nidra has a critical role in the biological and psychological functioning of the body. The circadian rhythm is the physiological machinery that controls and regulates physiological activities throughout the 24 hours in conjunction with the day and night. The synchronicity of the circadian rhythm and adequate sleep is essential for maintaining normal physical and mental health. This study, therefore, was undertaken as a descriptive cross-sectional survey to evaluate the impact of Ratrijagarana (night wakefulness) on Manasika Bhava (mental characteristics) among industrial workers aged between 19 and 25 years from both genders. Maniasika Bhavas were assessed using Manasa Bhava Pariksha (MBP), a 20 item questionnaire. The results indicate a substantial change in Mana (non-distracted mind), Chinta (anxiety/worry), Dhairyam (courage), Harsha (joy), Veeryam (energy), Shraddha (desire), Medha (intelligence), Avasthaana (stability of mind), Vignyaana (knowledge), Sanjna (recognition), and Smriti (memory). Among these, Sanjna, Medha and Mana and Veeryam are most affected, with positive ranks scoring 115, 107 and 104. Vignyaana, (χ2(6) = 162.031; p = .001) Veerya (χ2(4) = 12.688; p = .013) and Shraddha (χ2(6) = 12.558; p = .05) also showed significant association with sleeping hours per day. These encouranging results need further corroboration through future studies with larger sample size and diverse populations.

The effectiveness of a sexual assault nurse examiner-grounding program (SANE-GP) on knowledge, skill and practice regarding sexual assault examination (SAE) among nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Udupi district, India: A study protocol.

The medico-legal care of victims of sexual assault is very challenging, and requires specific knowledge and skills. Professionals in the emergency departments of hospitals might not have specialised training in forensic science. Nurses have a very significant role in these settings, but they lack any formal forensic training. This study aims to develop a sexual assault nurse examiner-grounding program (SANE-GP) for Indian nurses to inculcate knowledge and skill regarding sexual assault examination. The study adopts a three-stage Delphi technique to develop the training module and uses a time-series design to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. A questionnaire on nurses' knowledge on sexual assault examination (KQSANE-I) will be developed in phase-I and subsequently used in phase-II. The protocol of SANE-GP will help the medical community to implement the program across India. The implementation of SANE-GP can also help to start a sexual assault nurse examiner network.

Qualitative Methods in Health Care Research.

Healthcare research is a systematic inquiry intended to generate robust evidence about important issues in the fields of medicine and healthcare. Qualitative research has ample possibilities within the arena of healthcare research. This article aims to inform healthcare professionals regarding qualitative research, its significance, and applicability in the field of healthcare. A wide variety of phenomena that cannot be explained using the quantitative approach can be explored and conveyed using a qualitative method. The major types of qualitative research designs are narrative research, phenomenological research, grounded theory research, ethnographic research, historical research, and case study research. The greatest strength of the qualitative research approach lies in the richness and depth of the healthcare exploration and description it makes. In health research, these methods are considered as the most humanistic and person-centered way of discovering and uncovering thoughts and actions of human beings.

The Lived Experience of Victims of Catastrophic Coastal Erosion: A cycle of impact, consequence and recovery.

OBJECTIVES: Environmental hazards are part of the Earth's natural cycle and are ongoing within human history. When vulnerable situations meet environmental hazards, disasters occur where human and natural costs could be enormous. This study aimed to explore the experiences of the victims of coastal erosion during the monsoon season. METHODS: Seven victims of catastrophic coastal erosion in the Kollam District of Kerala, India, were interviewed from December 2013 to February 2014. The study followed Edmond Husserl's descriptive phenomenological method. RESULT: These interviews constituted the primary data source. Three main themes with eleven subthemes emerged from these data. The main themes were impact, consequences and recovery. The subthemes were living in constant fear, escaping from the catastrophe; cataclysmic sea waves and their tumultuous behaviour, instant damage and destruction, the epoch of losses; agony and suffering; homelessness-helplessness-sleeplessness mixed with fear; government aid only in dreams; haunting memories; never-ending daily needs; first home and native land; and the desire to go back to the site of the disaster. CONCLUSION: From the derived themes, a phenomenon associated with coastal erosion evolved. The phenomenon is termed "Catastrophic coastal erosion: A cycle of impact, consequences, and recovery."

Relationship between emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and assertiveness among South Indian youth: A descriptive, cross-sectional study from Karnataka.

Youth involves a lot of mental health issues. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and assertiveness among 432 youth (18-23 years) from selected colleges of Udupi district, Karnataka using Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and Youth Assertiveness Scale. The mean emotional intelligence among youth was 124.99 ± 18.71, whereas the mean self-esteem and assertiveness scores were 18.48 ± 3.33 and 60.706 ± 7.077, respectively. Linear relationships among the key variables were assessed using the Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient. Self-esteem and assertiveness showed a weak positive relationship (r = 0.282 and 0.288, P = 0.001 respectively) with emotional intelligence, whereas the relationship between self-esteem and assertiveness also revealed a positive relationship (r = 0.367, P = 0.001). The significant correlation between these variables indicates a need for regular assessment among the youth. Rising self-esteem and training in assertiveness help the individual to use his emotions wisely and improve emotional intelligence.