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Background Internship is the time period when young doctors learn to balance between professional and personal lives. If they have good awareness and practice of any kind of physical activity during this period, it will help them to continue it forward. This enables them to educate and inspire people and patients around them. The main objectives of this study were to assess patterns of physical activity among medical interns and to understand the factors preventing physical activity among them. Methodology This cross-sectional survey was carried out among interns of a tertiary care hospital in western Maharashtra from July 2022 to September 2022. Ethical clearance was obtained before starting data collection. The survey was administered to those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The questionnaire was adopted from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. The data collected were entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and analysis was done using MedCalc v.18.2.1 (MedCalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium). Results A total of 220 interns were enrolled in the survey, of which 13 were removed due to incomplete data and 28 interns did not participate in the study. Finally, 179 interns were included for analysis in the study. The response rate was 87.27%. The mean age of participants was 23.12 years. The study population consisted of 72 (40.22%) males and 107 (59.78%) females. Among participants, 33 interns (18.44%) were involved in vigorous activity during work, and 108 interns (60.34%) were involved in moderate physical activity during work. The median time of a sedentary lifestyle was 300 minutes per day and was more common among males. Cumulatively busy working schedules and exam preparation were the important reasons for reduced physical activity. Conclusion There is a gap in the practice of physical activity among interns. A sedentary lifestyle was more prevalent among male interns than in female interns. The main constraints were demanding working hours and the pressure of competitive exams. Medical students will become doctors in the future who can advise their patients on healthy lifestyle habits. We recommend that it is necessary to promote physical activity in medical schools and to reinforce the importance of physical exercise in the medical curriculum.
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INTRODUCTION: The rising prevalence of obesity has become a global public health crisis. Traditional screening tools like body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) have limitations, prompting the need for simpler, more effective alternatives. Neck circumference (NC) has emerged as a promising tool due to its simplicity, affordability, and reliability. The study aimed to evaluate neck circumference as a screening tool for obesity among female adults, alongside measuring BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), WC, and NC, and establishing NC cut-off values using body fat percentage as the gold standard. Additionally, it sought to compare the predictive accuracy of these measures for assessing obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted from March 2023 to October 2023, involved 362 female students from a health sciences university in Western Maharashtra, India. The participants provided informed consent and underwent anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, and neck circumference. Body fat percentage, measured using a bioimpedance analyzer, served as the reference standard. RESULTS: The study identified a neck circumference (NC) cut-off of 31.3 cm using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, showing robust sensitivity (71.23%) and specificity (79.02%) for detecting obesity defined by body fat percentage. Waist circumference (WC) showed the highest sensitivity (73.97%) for diagnosing obesity in females, followed by NC (71.23%). CONCLUSION: Neck circumference is a practical, cost-effective, and reliable screening tool for obesity, offering advantages over traditional methods. Its noninvasive nature and ease of measurement make it suitable for large-scale screening, contributing to the early detection and management of obesity-related health risks. This study supports the inclusion of NC in routine clinical assessments and public health initiatives.
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Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) pose significant public health challenges globally, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by healthcare providers in managing and preventing STIs/RTIs in India. Materials and methods In-depth interviews were conducted with eight healthcare providers, including counselors, gynecologists, and dermatologists, working in government settings. A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore challenges related to patient care and healthcare system resources. Results The study revealed significant gaps in patient knowledge and awareness about STIs/RTIs, with misconceptions affecting treatment-seeking behavior. Social stigma and cultural barriers were identified as major obstacles to open communication and timely care. Gender-specific challenges in healthcare-seeking behavior and partner notification were noted. Healthcare providers reported inconsistent availability of treatment kits and medications, as well as challenges in ensuring patient compliance. The need for improved healthcare infrastructure, including specialized clinics and better interdepartmental coordination, was highlighted. Conclusion Addressing STI/RTI management challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including enhancing public awareness, ensuring consistent medication supply, establishing specialized clinics, and improving interdepartmental coordination. These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to improve STI/RTI management and prevention in resource-limited settings.
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Introduction Cancer remains a critical global health issue, particularly in developing countries, where timely diagnosis and effective treatment are often hindered by numerous barriers. These obstacles exacerbate the cancer burden and contribute to disparities in care. This study explores the barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment from the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers in rural India, aiming to inform targeted interventions and improve outcomes. Methods This qualitative study was conducted from April to May 2024 at a tertiary cancer hospital in rural Western Maharashtra, India. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with five cancer patients and four healthcare practitioners. Participants were selected through purposive sampling until information saturation was achieved. Interviews were conducted in local languages and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key barriers and themes. Results The study identified several major themes related to barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Patients highlighted a lack of awareness and understanding of cancer, significant financial burdens, challenges in accessing healthcare facilities, and emotional distress. Healthcare practitioners noted systemic issues, including inadequate diagnostic capabilities, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and a shortage of specialized providers. Both groups emphasized the impact of cultural beliefs and stigma, as well as the limited support systems available to patients. Conclusion The findings highlight the complex interplay of factors contributing to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment in rural India. Addressing these barriers requires multifaceted interventions, including increasing public awareness, improving healthcare infrastructure, and enhancing support systems for patients. Policy development should focus on these areas to reduce disparities and improve cancer care outcomes in resource-limited settings.
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Background Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) directly reflects the burden of health expenses that households bear. Despite the availability of social security schemes providing healthcare benefits, a high proportion of Indian households are still incurring OOPE. In order to recognize the reasons behind OOPE, a comprehensive understanding of people's attitudes and behavior is needed. Methodology By purposive sampling, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide in the catchment area of urban and rural health centers of a tertiary healthcare hospital. Interviews were conducted in Marathi and Hindi and were audio tape-recorded after taking informed consent. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English, followed by a thematic analysis. Results Although most participants knew that government hospitals provide facilities and experienced doctors, inconvenience and unsatisfactory quality deter them from utilizing government facilities. A few had experiences with government schemes; almost all concur that the formality and procedure of claiming insurance are cumbersome and all have had bad experiences. Cost of medications and consultation accounted for the majority of the healthcare expenditures. While some participants had benefitted from insurance, few regretted not enrolling in one. Conclusion The awareness regarding government schemes was derisory. Government-financed health insurance schemes and their utilization are crucial to reducing OOPE. Efforts should be made to increase accessibility to public healthcare services. Nevertheless, there is potential to redress the barriers to improve scheme utilization.