MEDICINAL PLANTS AND FORMULATIONS USED BY THE SOREN CLAN OF THE SANTAL TRIBE IN RAJSHAHI DISTRICT, BANGLADESH FOR TREATMENT OF VARIOUS AILMENTS

The Santals form the largest tribal community in northern Bangladesh reside primarily in Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions, where they live in the districts of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh. Although they are fast losing their traditional medicinal practices, they still have their own medicinal practitioners who rely mostly on medicinal plants for treatment of a variety of ailments. The traditional medicinal practices vary quite extensively between the twelve clans of the Santals. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey amongst the Soren clan of the Santal community residing in two villages of Tanor Santal Para in Rajshahi district to collect information on their use of medicinal plants. Interviews were conducted of the two existing Santal traditional medicinal practitioners of the Soren clan with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and using the guided field-walk method. Plant specimens as pointed out by the practitioners were collected and pressed on the field and identification completed at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. Information on 53 medicinal plants distributed into 32 families was obtained in this survey. Ailments treated by these plants included skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders, gastro-intestinal disorders, sexual dysfunctions, sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, helminthiasis, pain, urinary problems, filariasis, leprosy, tuberculosis, epilepsy, snake bite, enlarged heart, and paralysis. The medicinal plants used by the Santals merit further scientific studies for some of their formulations are used to treat diseases like diabetes, paralysis, enlarged heart, tuberculosis, and filariasis for which modern medicine has no known cure or medicines have developed resistant vectors

TRIBAL FORMULATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF PAIN: A STUDY OF THE BEDE COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PRACTITIONERS OF PORABARI VILLAGE IN DHAKA DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

The Bedes form one of the largest tribal or indigenous communities in Bangladesh and are popularly known as the boat people or water gypsies because of their preference for living in boats. They travel almost throughout the whole year by boats on the numerous waterways of Bangladesh and earn their livelihood by selling sundry items, performing jugglery acts, catching snakes, and treating village people by the various riversides with their traditional medicinal formulations. Life is hard for the community, and both men and women toil day long. As a result of their strenuous lifestyle, they suffer from various types of pain, and have developed an assortment of formulations for treatment of pain in different parts of the body. Pain is the most common reason for physician consultation in all parts of the world including Bangladesh. Although a number of drugs are available to treat pain, including non-steroidal, steroidal, and narcotic drugs, such drugs usually have side-effects like causing bleeding in the stomach over prolonged use (as in the case of rheumatic pain), or can be addictive. Moreover, pain arising from causes like rheumatism has no proper treatment in allopathic medicine. It was the objective of the present study to document the formulations used by the Bede traditional practitioners for pain treatment, for they claim to have used these formulations over centuries with success. Surveys were conducted among a large Bede community, who reside in boats on the Bangshi River by Porabari village of Savar area in Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Interviews of 30 traditional practitioners were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was observed that the Bede practitioners used 53 formulations for treatment of various types of pain, the main ingredient of all formulations being medicinal plants. Out of the 53 formulations, 25 were for treatment of rheumatic pain, either exclusively, or along with other types of body pain. A total of 65 plants belonging to 39 families were used in the formulations. The Fabaceae family provided 7 plants followed by the Solanaceae family with 4 plants. 47 out of the 53 formulations were used topically, 5 formulations were orally administered, and 1 formulation had both topical and oral uses. 8 formulations for treatment of rheumatic pain contained Calotropis gigantea, suggesting that the plant has strong potential for further scientific studies leading to discovery of novel efficacious compounds for rheumatic pain treatment

MEDICINAL FORMULATIONS OF A KANDA TRIBAL HEALER – A TRIBE ON THE VERGE OF DISAPPEARANCE IN BANGLADESH

The Kanda tribe is one of the lesser known small tribes of Bangladesh with an estimated population of about 1700 people (according to them), and on the verge of extinction as a separate entity. To some extent, they have assimilated with the surrounding mainstream Bengali-speaking population, but they still maintain their cultural practices including traditional medicinal practices, for which they have their own tribal healers. Nothing at all has been documented thus far about their traditional medicinal practices and formulations, which are on the verge of disappearance. The Kanda tribe can be found only in scattered tea gardens of Sreemangal in Sylhet district of Bangladesh; dispersion of the tribe into small separated communities is also contributing to the fast losing of traditional medicinal practices. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the traditional healers of the Kanda tribe (in fact, only one such healer was found after extensive searches). Information was collected from the healer with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. A total of 24 formulations were obtained from the healer containing 34 plants including two plants, which could not be identified. Besides medicinal plants, the Kanda healer also used the body hairs of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and bats (Pteropus giganteus giganteus) in one of his formulation for treatment of fever with shivering. The ailments treated by the Kanda healer were fairly common ailments like cuts and wounds, skin diseases, helminthiasis, fever, respiratory problems (coughs, asthma), gastrointestinal disorders (stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea), burning sensations during urination, various types of pain (headache, body ache, toothache, ear ache), conjunctivitis, poisonous snake, insect or reptile bites, jaundice, and bone fractures. A number of important drugs in allopathic medicine like quinine, artemisinin, and morphine (to name only a few) have been discovered from observing indigenous medicinal practices. From that view point, the formulations used by the Kanda healer merit scientific studies for their potential in the discovery of cheap and effective new drugs. Scientific validation of the medicinal formulations of the Kanda healer can also be effective for treatment of ailments among this tribe, which does not have or does not want to have any contact with modern medicine

EFETIVIDADE DA INTERVENÇÃO EDUCACIONAL DIGICARE NA MELHORIA DAS HABILIDADES DE COACHING CLÍNICO DE ESTUDANTES DE ENFERMAGEM E MEDICINA NO VIETNAME E BANGLADESH: UM PRÉ- E PÓS-ESTUDO EXPLORATÓRIO

Coaching has become an important approach to support self-management of patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in healthcare education. Studies conducted in European countries have emphasized the significance of formal coaching training in enhancing the competencies of healthcare students. However, in Southeast Asia, where NCDs pose a serious public health concern, there is a lack of such training opportunities. To address this issue, an exploratory pre and post study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the DigiCare educational intervention in improving clinical coaching skills. Nursing and medical students from six universities in Vietnam and Bangladesh were invited to participate. The intervention included both theoretical and practical classes with interactive methods and home assignments, with a total duration of over 10 contact hours. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using the Self-Efficacy and Performance in Self-management Support instrument, which was translated and culturally adapted to both countries. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in students’ overall competence scores from before (M = 2.6, SD = .67) to after the intervention (M = 3.05, SD = .55), with a medium effect size (p < .001; d = .73). The DigiCare educational intervention appears to be a low-cost and meaningful addition to the curriculum of both nursing and medical universities across countries, with potential benefits in the development of students’ clinical coaching competencies.O coaching tornou-se uma abordagem importante para apoiar a autogestão de pacientes com doenças não transmissíveis (DNTs) na educação em saúde. Estudos realizados em países europeus têm enfatizado a importância do treinamento formal em coaching para aprimorar as competências dos estudantes de saúde. No entanto, no Sudeste Asiático, onde as DNTs representam uma séria preocupação de saúde pública, há uma falta de oportunidades de treinamento nesse sentido. Para abordar essa questão, foi conduzido um pré- e pós-estudo exploratório para avaliar a eficácia da intervenção educacional DigiCare na melhoria das habilidades de coaching clínico. Estudantes de enfermagem e medicina de seis universidades no Vietname e em Bangladesh foram convidados a participar. A intervenção incluiu aulas teóricas e práticas com métodos interativos e tarefas domiciliares, totalizando mais de 10 horas de contato. Avaliações pré e pós-intervenção foram conduzidas utilizando o instrumento de Autoeficácia e Desempenho no Suporte à Autogestão, que foi traduzido e adaptado culturalmente para ambos os países. Análises estatísticas mostraram uma melhoria significativa nas pontuações gerais de competência dos estudantes, de antes (M = 2,6, DP = 0,67) para depois da intervenção (M = 3,05, DP = 0,55), com um efeito médio (p < 0,001; d = 0,73). A intervenção educacional DigiCare parece ser uma adição de baixo custo e significativa para o currículo de universidades de enfermagem e medicina em diferentes países, com benefícios potenciais no desenvolvimento das competências clínicas de coaching dos estudantes

ADAPTAÇÃO CULTURAL E VALIDAÇÃO PSICOMÉTRICA DO QUESTIONÁRIO SELF EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE IN SELF-MANAGEMENT SUPPORT (SEPSS) EM ESTUDANTES DE GRADUAÇÃO EM ENFERMAGEM E MEDICINA DE BANGLADESH

In an aging society, healthcare professionals and students face increasing demands to actively involve patients in the decision-making process regarding their health conditions and lifestyles. Self-management support is considered a best practice that aligns with the patient-centered care paradigm in Bangladesh. However, there is currently no instrument available to assess healthcare professionals’ competencies in this field, particularly during their early education and training period. The aim of this study was to translate the Self Efficiency and Performance in Self-management Support (SEPSS) instrument into Bangla and validate its psychometric properties in a sample of undergraduate healthcare students in Bangladeshi higher education institutions. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and cultural appropriateness of the Bangla version of SEPSS-36 among 486 nursing and medical students. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out using the chi-square model fit index (CMIN), comparative fit index (CFI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) as fit indices. The internal consistency was estimated by the Cronbach alpha coefficient. The results indicate that the CMIN (2.658) and RMSEA (.058) values suggest that the sample data and hypothetical model are an acceptable fit in the analysis, with satisfactory CFI values (.895). The reliability for all SEPSS dimensions was acceptable. The Bangla version of the SEPSS questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument that can assist healthcare educators and researchers in determining students’ competencies within this domain.Numa sociedade envelhecida, os profissionais de saúde e os estudantes enfrentam exigências cada vez maiores para envolver ativamente os pacientes no processo de tomada de decisão em relação às suas condições de saúde e estilos de vida. O apoio à autogestão é considerado uma prática recomendada que está alinhada com o paradigma de cuidados centrados no paciente em Bangladesh. No entanto, atualmente não existe um instrumento disponível para avaliar as competências dos profissionais de saúde nesse campo, especialmente durante o período inicial de educação e formação. O objetivo deste estudo foi traduzir o instrumento Self Efficiency and Performance in Self-management Support (SEPSS) para o bengali e validar as suas propriedades psicométricas numa amostra de estudantes de saúde de graduação em instituições de ensino superior de Bangladesh. Foi realizado um estudo transversal para avaliar a confiabilidade, validade e adequação cultural da versão em bengali do SEPSS-36 entre 486 estudantes de enfermagem e medicina. A análise fatorial confirmatória foi conduzida utilizando o índice de ajustamento do modelo qui-quadrado (CMIN), o índice de ajustamento comparativo (CFI) e o erro quadrado médio de aproximação (RMSEA) como índices de ajustamento. A consistência interna foi estimada pelo coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Os resultados indicam que os valores de CMIN (2,658) e RMSEA (0,058) sugerem que os dados da amostra e o modelo hipotético têm um ajustamento aceitável na análise, com valores de CFI satisfatórios (0,895). A confiabilidade de todas as dimensões do SEPSS foi aceitável. A versão em bengali do questionário SEPSS é um instrumento válido e fiável que pode ajudar os educadores e investigadores em saúde a determinar as competências dos estudantes nesta área

COMO É QUE OS ESTUDANTES DE ENFERMAGEM PERCEBEM A TECNOLOGIA EM SAÚDE? UM ESTUDO DE VALIDAÇÃO PSICOMÉTRICA DO USABILITY EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE NO VIETNAME

The rapid advancement of technology has transformed the role of nurses and nursing students in patient care, making it an integral component of healthcare delivery. The use of innovative technologies has become commonplace in healthcare settings, creating a high-tech environment that can enhance nursing care quality and patient experience. It is essential for nursing staff and students to be receptive to incorporating such tools into their practice to ensure safe and efficient use of various forms of healthcare technology. Objective: Given the absence of an existing tool in Vietnam to evaluate healthcare students’ technology acceptance, the aim of our research was to culturally adapt, translate, and validate the Usability Evaluation Questionnaire (UtEQ) among nursing students in Vietnam. Method: We conducted a methodological and cross-sectional study in two phases: translation of the UtEQ to Vietnamese (UtEQ-V) following six stages proposed by Beaton and collaborators, and assessment of its psychometric properties in a non-probability sample of 295 Vietnamese nursing students. Results: The UtEQ-V’s reliability was found to be above 0.8 for all factors (.88–.95), while confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate goodness-of-fit indicators. Conclusion: The UtEQ-V is a reliable and valid instrument that can support nursing educators and researchers to assess students’ technology acceptance during their clinical training.O rápido avanço da tecnologia transformou o papel das enfermeiras e dos estudantes de enfermagem nos cuidados aos pacientes, tornando-o um componente integral da prestação de cuidados de saúde. O uso de tecnologias inovadoras tornou-se comum nos contextos de saúde, criando um ambiente de alta tecnologia que pode melhorar a qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem e a experiência do paciente. É essencial que a equipa de enfermagem e os estudantes estejam recetivos à incorporação de tais ferramentas na sua prática, a fim de garantir o uso seguro e eficiente de várias formas de tecnologia de saúde. Objetivo: Dada a inexistência de uma ferramenta existente no Vietname para avaliar a aceitação da tecnologia por parte dos estudantes de saúde, o objetivo da nossa investigação foi adaptar culturalmente, traduzir e validar o Questionário de Avaliação da Usabilidade (UtEQ) entre estudantes de enfermagem no Vietname. Método: Realizámos um estudo metodológico e transversal em duas fases: tradução do UtEQ para vietnamita (UtEQ-V) seguindo as seis etapas propostas por Beaton e colaboradores e avaliação das suas propriedades psicométricas numa amostra não probabilística de 295 estudantes de enfermagem vietnamitas. Resultados: A fiabilidade do UtEQ-V revelou-se superior a 0,8 para todos os fatores (.88–.95), enquanto a análise fatorial confirmatória apresentou indicadores adequados de ajustamento. Conclusão: O UtEQ-V é um instrumento fiável e válido que pode apoiar os educadores e os investigadores de enfermagem na avaliação da aceitação da tecnologia pelos estudantes durante o seu treino clínico

COMO É QUE OS ESTUDANTES DE MEDICINA E ENFERMAGEM VEEM A TECNOLOGIA DE SAÚDE? UM ESTUDO DE VALIDAÇÃO PSICOMÉTRICA DO QUESTIONÁRIO DE AVALIAÇÃO DE USABILIDADE EM BANGLADESH

The modernization of healthcare delivery is a reality in various international settings. To ensure efficient and safe use of the diverse forms of healthcare technology available, professionals and students must be receptive to incorporating such tools into their practice. Currently, there is no instrument in Bangladesh to assess healthcare students’ technology acceptance. Objective: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Usability Evaluation Questionnaire (UtEQ) among Bangladeshi healthcare students. Method: A cross-sectional study with a methodological approach was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved the translation of the UtEQ questionnaire to Bengali, following the six stages proposed by Beaton et al. In the second phase, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated using a non-probability sample of 486 undergraduate healthcare students from three higher education institutions in Bangladesh. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was estimated to find out the internal consistency. Results: Internal consistency was found to be excellent for all scale dimensions, ranging from 0.88 to 0.92, while confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate goodness-of-fit indicators. Conclusion: The UtEQ-B provides a reliable and valid method for healthcare educators and researchers to assess technology acceptance among healthcare students during clinical training in Bangladesh.A modernização da prestação de cuidados de saúde é uma realidade em vários contextos internacionais. Para garantir a utilização eficiente e segura das diversas formas de tecnologia em saúde disponíveis, os profissionais e estudantes devem estar receptivos à incorporação dessas ferramentas na sua prática. Atualmente, não existe em Bangladesh um instrumento para avaliar a aceitação da tecnologia pelos estudantes de saúde. Objetivo: Traduzir, adaptar culturalmente e validar o Questionário de Avaliação da Usabilidade (UtEQ) entre estudantes de saúde de Bangladesh. Método: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com uma abordagem metodológica em duas fases. A primeira fase envolveu a tradução do questionário UtEQ para bengali, seguindo as seis etapas propostas por Beaton et al. Na segunda fase, foram avaliadas as propriedades psicométricas do questionário usando uma amostra não probabilística de 486 estudantes de graduação em saúde de três instituições de ensino superior em Bangladesh. Foi realizada uma análise fatorial confirmatória e estimou-se o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para verificar a consistência interna. Resultados: Foi encontrada uma consistência interna excelente para todas as dimensões da escala, variando de 0,88 a 0,92, enquanto a análise fatorial confirmatória mostrou indicadores adequados de ajuste. Conclusão: O UtEQ-B fornece um método confiável e válido para educadores e pesquisadores em saúde avaliarem a aceitação da tecnologia entre estudantes de saúde durante o treinamento clínico em Bangladesh