Help-Seeking Behaviour of Men in Regards to Lower Bowel Symptoms

Lower bowel symptoms are common and may mimic colorectal cancer. Men have a higher risk of cancer but are reticent to seek medical help. This study aimed to explore the help seeking behaviour of men in regards to lower bowel symptoms. Quantitative survey and exploratory qualitative studies were conducted and several barriers and facilitators to help-seeking were identified. This result represents a trajectory of help seeking from symptoms to the diagnosis of colorectal disease

Unregulated Sale of Nimesulide in India

IntroductionNimesulide has been withdrawn from a number of countries. However it continues to be available over the counter in India.MethodsA survey of 1460 drug stores and 1531 families in India on their perceptions of the potential side effects of Nimesulide.Results A high proportion (78.96%) of the drug stores sold the drug without prescription from a licensed physician. More than one in four families (26.95%) preferred Nimesulide to other drugs. A relatively small proportion drug store owners and families (12.14% and 9.6% respectively) were aware of the potential adverse effects of this drug. DiscussionThere is an urgent need to tighten regulation of dangerous drugs freely available to Indian consumers. Further research to increase public awareness about drug side effects is required in order to reduce the potential for harm from under regulation

Men's Help-seeking Behavior with Regards to Lower Bowel Symptoms

Objective: To explore the barriers to help-seeking among men experiencing lower bowel symptoms. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 men recruited via purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Results: Misinterpretation of the symptoms and the attribution of the symptoms to non-medical causes were common barriers to help-seeking. Other barriers include the cost of consulting a GP, llow level of confidence in consultation, and fear of cancer diagnosis. Some participants did not seek medical advice as the symptoms were intermittent or resolved with over-the-counter medications. Conclusion: There is a need for health promotion campaigns for men with regards to seeking timely medical advice for lower bowel symptoms

Protecting Against Diabetic Foot Disease

Background: In diabetic individuals (DI), neuropathy hinders the redistribution of plantar pressure points thus leading to susceptible areas where there is constant capillary blanching which may develop into trophic ulcers. The redistribution of pressure points may precede evidence of clinical neuropathy. In this study we compare temporal redistribution of plantar pressure points (areas of capillary blanching) between normal subjects taken as controls and DI with no clinical signs of neuropathy.       Method: Four adults (45±4.55 years) diagnosed to have Type-2 Diabetes, without signs of clinical neuropathy and age -matched controls (43±3.74 years) were studied.  The subjects were asked to stand on a glass slab and a 10 minute video recording of 10 selected plantar pressure points was made. Changes in the distance of these points with reference to a defined point on Mayer’s line were measured at every 10 seconds. Standard deviation of difference of redistributed consecutive pressure point (SDPP) in cms., and fractal dimension (FD) was used to compare the two groups. Results: Combined mean SDPP (DI =0.013 ± 0.008 cms, controls= 0.196±0.233 cms,