Glaucoma Drug Prescription Pattern in North India: Public vs Private Sector Hospitals.

Background: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy associated with characteristic structural damage to the optic nerve and associated visual dysfunction that may be caused by various pathological processes. A number of pharmacological agents are used to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP), involving the usage of two or three medications concurrently. Literature is sparse regarding prescription patterns of antiglaucoma drugs, especially regarding variability in public sector vs private sector hospitals. Drug utilization studies can add insight for crafting rational, affordable, and ocular surface friendly prescriptions. Aim: This study assessed the prescription pattern in glaucoma patients of a public sector, tertiary care hospital vs a private sector tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, pertinent data of diagnosed and labeled glaucoma patients were reviewed. Data collected included demographic details, type of glaucoma, number and nature of drugs prescribed, whether innovator or generic drugs were prescribed, if fixed-drug combinations (FDCs) and preservative-free formulations were prescribed. The prescription patterns between the two sectors were compared, as were the prescription patterns between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure disease (PACD). Results: A total of 336 prescriptions were evaluated (216 from public sector, group I; 120 from private sector, group II). Travoprost 0.004% was the most prescribed antiglaucoma medication in both group I (30.09%) and group II (38.33%). Brimonidine and brinzolamide (14.17%) was the most prescribed combination in group II, while Brimonidine with Timolol (7.87%) in group I. In group I, Timolol and Travoprost were the most prescribed medications for both PACD and POAG. Conclusion: This study showed that both public sector as well as private sector tertiary care centers prescribe antiglaucoma medications in tune with current principles of rational drug use. Preservative-free drugs were preferred in both the groups for better adherence. How to cite this article: Bhartiya S, Ichhpujani P, Parmar UPS, et al.Glaucoma Drug Prescription Pattern in North India: Public vs Private Sector Hospitals. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2024;18(1):16-22.

Euryale ferox, a prominent superfood: Nutritional, pharmaceutical, and its economical importance.

Euryale ferox (also known as foxnut), belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. It is mainly grown in India, China, Japan, and Korea. It is a highly nutritious food, abundant in nutritional and bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. It is considered a functional food owing to its various health benefits such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antimelanogenic, etc. E. ferox has immense potential in both food and non-food industries. Regardless of being recognized as a superfood packed with nutritional as well as medicinal properties, it is still neglected, and there has not been much attention given to its cultivation. Therefore, in this review, the potential of E. ferox as a superfood has been explored to enhance its utilization in the development of different foods and make it available outside its growing area. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Euryale ferox is abundant in several macronutrients and micronutrients; and considered as a superfood in terms of various health benefits. E. ferox has the ability to be used in the development of different health, functional, and nutraceutical foods, which will open a new door for the food industry to combat with numerous diseases.

Primary Health Care Workforce in Southeast Asia Region, Existing Status and Strategies for Non-Communicable Diseases and Oral Health Alliance: A Scoping Review.

Oral diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share modifiable risk factors and common social determinants, thus creating new opportunities for improving oral health. The existing primary health care workers can play an integral role in NCD and oral health care integration by creating awareness, promoting oral health, controlling risk factors, and referring for timely dental care. This study aimed to identify and understand the roles of the existed human health resources working at primary health care and develop strategies to build on a unified NCD and oral health alliance human resources at this level. A scoping review was conducted to identify the primary health workforce in the Southeast Asia region, their roles and responsibility, and integration in oral health care. Various databases like NCBI (PubMed), Google Scholar, World Health Organisation (WHO)-Southeast Asia region (SEAR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare websites in SEAR were comprehensively searched from January 1980 to December 2020 for reports, reviews, and original research. The keywords used were "primary health care workers," "community health care workers," "primary oral health care in SEAR," etc. Only full-text articles in English language and reports available in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) sites of SEAR were included in the study. Information was taken from 39 full-text articles, six WHO reports, and two reports from Ministry of Health sites of SEAR. Primary health workers (PHW) are known by multiple names in different countries of Southeast Asia. They share various common roles and responsibilities. There are many opportunities for the prevention and control of oral diseases in the SEAR. Basic systems and human resources for the control of NCD are in place in many countries. Oral health can be integrated with NCD programs and policies to reduce the burden of diseases.

Feasibility of the novel 'Tobacco-Free Hospital' model and its compliance assessment at a tertiary care hospital of New Delhi, India.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is one of the biggest threats to the public health. Tobacco harms not only human health but also the environment. The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) was implemented in India in 2003. Compliance of these laws in public places is mandatory. This study presents an innovative model to make hospitals tobacco-free. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of implementation of tobacco-free hospitals among security guards, tobacco users, and key observers visiting a tertiary care dental hospital through a comprehensive strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory study was conducted in three phases. Structured training was organized for all security guards (n = 25) along with pre- and post-assessment using a validated questionnaire. All the patients and attendants entering the hospital were screened for tobacco products by security guards. Those patients who were carrying tobacco products to the hospital (n = 107) were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Opinions of key observers (n = 223) who witnessed the event were also recorded. Descriptive statistics (means, frequency distribution) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were calculated. RESULTS: At the baseline, only 20% security guards were aware about tobacco legislations, whereas after 1 month, more than 80% security guards were aware about the laws. Around two-third of study participants of both the groups were aware of COTPA Section 4. Approximately 33.6% of tobacco users and 58.4% of key observers were aware of COTPA Section 6b. Forty tobacco users in the study availed tobacco cessation services of the hospital. CONCLUSION: Every staff should be a torch bearer of tobacco control. The study highlights a comprehensive approach of integrating hospital staff and linking vital cessation services by implementing Sections of COTPA.

Stakeholder perspectives on the integration of oral health into national health schemes: A mixed-method study research design in Delhi, India.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the factors and perception of various stakeholders on the integration of oral health into the national health schemes using a mixed-method research design. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A mixed-method study was carried out in 2018 in two phases. In the first phase of the study, a pretested and prevalidated self-designed close-ended questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, perception, barriers, myths, and feasibility of the integration of oral health in national health schemes. This questionnaire was administered to 96 stakeholders consisting of a medical officer (MO), accredited social health activists (ASHA), auxiliary nurse midwifery (ANM), and dental surgeon in nine Delhi Government dispensaries. The questionnaire consisted of 42 close-ended questions and four open-ended questions. The domains and themes were identified along with the challenges and opportunities of integration for focus group discussion (FGD) after analyzing the results of the first phase. The FGD consisted of seven members representing each of the above stakeholders along with one moderator and one recorder. RESULTS: 88.3% of the ASHA workers and 85.7% of the ANM accepted that oral screening should be incorporated in their routine practice. The major barrier to the incorporation of oral health in general health was the lack of training and insufficient provision of monetary incentives. Job burnout, work situation, inadequate pay, opportunities, workload, and limited carrier development were the demotivators, whereas respect, goodwill, and recognition from the general public were the inducers. CONCLUSION: There was a strong agreement for National Oral Health schemes to be given space and priority in India. The majority agreed that they can be used as a medium for imparting oral health education. The majority of the stakeholders believed that oral health should be a part of general health and they are open to any scheme or program which would add an oral health component.