6 research outputs found

    Comparison of the Knowledge in Core Policies of Essential Drug List Among Medical Practitioners and Medical Students in Galle, Sri Lanka

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    Selection of the best and safest medicine should be one of the national economic policies in a country for good health care services. Introduction of detailed module in rational use of medicine (RUM) to pharmacology syllabus needed prior analysis of the existing knowledge among health care workers. Therefore we assessed the knowledge and attitudes of essential drug list (EDL) on medical practitioners (MPs) and medical students (MSs). Forty two MPs and 120 MSs from hospital and Faculty of Medicine were given a pretested structured questionnaire related to core policies of EDL, contents, criteria for selection and time frame for revision in RUM. Our study showed that only 29% of MPs were confident about their knowledge in EDL and 17% of them had marked it as don’t know. Study was expanded for quantitative analysis of the knowledge on the core policies of EDL on them. Knowledge on contents, criteria for selection and the time frame for revision of EDL were 63%, 83% and 17% in MPs. Of MSs, 87% had sound knowledge in core contents, 32% in criteria for selection and only 50% of MSs were aware about the correct time frame of revision of EDL. Knowledge in contents of EDL was higher in MSs (87%) than MPs(63&). MPs were not aware about EDL preparing criteria such as inclusion of generic names, common ailment, majority ailments of the people (59%, 56% and 56% respectively). In contrast, MSs had > 93% of the knowledge in all three areas. However MSs had poorer knowledge (32%) in criteria for selection of EDL than MPs (83%). Knowledge in time frame for revision of EDL was 17% in MPs and 50% in MSs. We found that MPs in the service were not convinced about their knowledge in EDL. Deficiency was significant in the core contents of the EDL preparation. Therefore we suggest that MPs need repetitive in-service training programme for practicing of RUM in the national health facilities. We need to reiterative programme in the core curriculum regarding the criteria for EDL selection. Though MSs had good knowledge in content of EDL, they are poor in criteria for selection and time frame for revision

    Rapid onset of action of costus speciosus leaf extracts on insulin resistance in experimental wistar rats

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    Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Costus speciosusleaf methanol and water extracts on insulin resistance. Methods: Male rats were divided into five groups (n=6) and IR was induced by high fat diet (19.13% fats). CS leaf methanol extract (CSlmex) and water extract (CSlwex) were prepared using standard methods. Rats were treated daily for 30 days. Group1: 0.5% Carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) 1ml, Group2: 500 mg/kg/day CSlmex in CMC, Group3: 500 mg/kg/day CSlwex, Group4: 1500 mg/kg/day CSlwex, Group5: Pioglitazone 10mg/kg/day. Serum was analysed for glucose, triglycerides and insulin at baseline and after one month. IR was calculated using indirect indices; HOMA, QUICKI and McAuley (McA). Results: All CS extracts significantly reduced the IR (p<0.05). 500mg/kg CSlmex reduced IR by HOMA, QUICKI, McA by 61.3%, 15.6%, 39.8% while 1500mg/kg CSlwex reduced HOMA by 66.6%, QUICKI by 16.1% and McA by 36.5% respectively. There was no significant change of IR in CMC group (p>0.05).IR had been reduced by pioglitazone (HOMA 32.4%, QUICKI 12.5%, McA 10%) after one month but not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: CS leaf water and methanol extracts are effective on reducing IR in rats. Pioglitazone was used as the positive control. Previous scientists had shown that pioglitazone needs minimum of three months to make a significant therapeutic effect on IR although pharmacological effect appears after one month. Our finding shows that CS may have a rapid onset of action on IR based on our biochemical evidence compared to pioglitazone. Therefore, pharmacodynamic studies are recommended to evaluate the dose response relationship.
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