Anthropometric Measurement of Hand Dimension and Their Correlation with Height in Undergraduate Students of a Medical College in Nepal

Introduction: Height is important for determination of basic energy requirement, standardization and identification. It is also useful for measuring physical capacity and adjusting drug dosages. Sometimes the exact height cannot be determined directly because the patient is unable to stand as a result of neuromuscular weakness, deformities of axial skeleton, loss of lower limbs and in case of amputation. Forensic investigations of skeletal remains also face the problems. Under such circumstances, height can be estimated by hand dimensions.Methods: Hand dimensions and height were measured on 239 medical students in the Department of Anatomy using standard instruments. Among them 120 were females and 119 were males. Correlation between height and hand dimensions was studied. Regression equation was derived for estimation of height from hand dimensions. Results: The correlations between height and hand dimension were statistically significant in both genders (p<0.05). The Pearson correlation between height and hand length was 0.616 and between height and hand breadth was 0.353 in males. Those coefficients for females were 0.706 and 0.198 respectively. Regression equations were formulated for height with hand length in males and females. Conclusion: Height can be predicted from hand length. Hand length showed moderate (males) to strong (females) positive correlation with statistical significance whereas hand breadth showed weak positive correlation with statistical significance

Sex Determination from Radiological Assessment of the Sacrum in Nepalese Population: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Human skeleton shows variable degree of sexual dimorphism, but definitive inference can be obtained from only a few bones, sacrum being one of them. The morphometric differences of the bone will be helpful to obstetricians, as it shows special adaptations in females for child bearing. It is also important for physical anthropologists and forensic scientists for sex determination. The aim of this study was to find out whether sex could be determined by using sacral parameters from X-ray images of pelvis. Methods: The study included antero-posterior X-ray images of pelvis with clearly visible 680 sacra (311 of males and 369 of females) obtained by computer generated random numbers from records in the Department of Radiodiagnosis of a medical college in Nepal. X-ray images with the sacrum suspected for fractures and pathological diseases were excluded. Inbuilt software “CR Konica Minolta Aero DR/CR CS7” was used for measurements. Results: The mean sacral length and mean transverse diameter of S1 vertebra were higher in males; whereas, mean sacral breadth, mean left ala length, mean right ala length, mean ala length, mean sacral index and mean alar index were higher in females. These differences in sacral parameters between the two sexes were statistically significant (p<0.05). The percentage of bones identified by demarking points of sacral index was 15.17% and 0.32% respectively in the males and the females. Conclusion: The result of the present study supported determination of sex of an individual from radiological assessment of sacrum

Nasal Parameters and Facial Index in Medical Undergraduates: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Face has priority in identification of an individual. Nose occupying the middle of face is animportant sense organ that helps in respiration. Nose and face can be classified into different types accordingto nasal index and facial index. The aim of this study was to analyze nose and face type and find out itsdominance in different sex of Nepalese and Indian population. Methods: This was a quantitative observationalstudy conducted on 156 medical students using simple sampling method. Data were collected then nasalindex and facial index were calculated. Descriptive statistical data i.e. mean, standard deviation, togetherwith the independent-samples t-test results for anthropometric variables of nasal and facial parameters insex and Nationality (Nepalese and Indian) were analyzed. Results: All the measurement values were morein males compared to females, but the sexual dimorphism in nasal index (male 76.25 ± 7.75, female 75.70± 8.05) and facial index (male 85.77 ± 8.1, female 82.97 ± 7.63) is not statistically significant. Chi-squaretest revealed significant difference in face type among Nepalese and Indian population. Mesorrhine wasthe most common type of nose in both the population. Nepalese had commonly euryprosopic type of facewhile Indians had hypereuryprosopic type of face. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism was not significant inboth nasal and facial parameters while type of face was helpful in differentiation of Nepalese and Indianpopulation

Professionalism among nurses working in a tertiary hospital

Introduction: Professionalism in nursing practice ensures the safety and quality of patient care. A high level of professionalism is essential for developing a professional identity. This study aims to find out the nurses’ professionalism and professional identity. Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in September 2021 among nurses of Patan Hospital. Data were collected using the Snizek-Revised Professionalism Inventory and Adam’s Professional Identity Scale via online Google form and printed forms. Spearman’s rho test was used to analyze the correlation between professionalism and professional identity. The associations of professionalism and professional identity with the personal characteristics of nurses were measured by Pearson’s Chi-square test.  Result: A total of 386 nurses participated in the study. Of the participants, only 181(46.95%) had a membership in any nursing professional organization. A high level of professionalism was perceived by 205(53.1%) with the highest mean score (16.9±3.20) for a sense of calling to the nursing profession and the lowest mean score (15.94±3.31) for using the professional organization as a major referent. Most nurses 211(54%) perceived a high level of professional identity. A positive significant correlation was found between professionalism and professional identity (p<0.01). Age (p=0.02) and nursing title (p=0.03) had a significant association with professional identity.  Conclusion: More than half participants had a high level of professionalism and professional identity.  There was a positive significant correlation between professionalism and professional identity.  Age and nursing job title were significantly associated with professional identity. Keywords: nurses, nursing profession, professional attitude, professional identity, professionalism

Translation and cultural adaptation of EORTC QLQ-LC 29 into Nepalese language for lung cancer patients in Nepal

Background: The quality of life (QoL) of patients with lung cancer (LC) may be affected by disease-related limitations such as patients’ functioning, the severity of symptoms, financial problems resulting along with the side effects of the treatment. The objective of this study was to translate LC-specific QoL questionnaire EORTC QLQ-LC29 into Nepalese language for Nepalese LC patients. Methods: In the process of translation, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) translations guidelines were followed. The translated questionnaire was pilot-tested in a sample of 15 patients with LC. Descriptive statistics were calculated with SPSS version 21.0. Results: All steps of the EORTC translation guideline were followed successfully. Fifteen lung cancer patients were included in the pilot study. Sixty percent were male and the mean age was 49.87 (range 21–76 years). For all items not related to thoracic surgery, patients used the entire range of the response options from 1 to 4 and no missing responses were observed. The highest mean (indicating a high symptom burden) was observed for the item number. 35 (shortness of breath; Mean = 3.33, SD = 1.11) and the lowest mean for an item number. 45 (dizzy; Mean = 1.73, SD = 0.96). Conclusion: The Nepalese version of EORTC QLQ-LC29 is a result of a successfully conducted rigorous translation procedure, and is highly comprehensible as well as acceptable to Nepalese LC patients. Thus, the Nepalese version of EORTC QLQ-LC29 is ready to be used in international clinical studies as well as in Nepalese clinical practice

The association of women's empowerment with stillbirths in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 2.6 million stillbirths occur each year. Empowering women can improve their overall reproductive health and help reduce stillbirths. Women empowerment has been defined as women's ability to make choices in economic decision-making, household and health care decision-making. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate if women's empowerment is associated with stillbirths. METHODS: Data from 2016 Nepal Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) were analysed to evaluate the association between women's empowerment and stillbirths. Equiplots were generated to assess the distribution of stillbirths by wealth quintile, place of residence and level of maternal education using data from NHDS 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 data. For the association of women empowerment factors and stillbirths, univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 88 stillbirths were reported during the survey. Univariate analysis showed age of mother, education of mother, age of husband, wealth index, head of household, decision on healthcare and decision on household purchases had significant association with stillbirths (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, only maternal age 35 years and above was significant (aOR 2.42; 1.22-4.80). Education of mother (aOR 1.48; 0.94-2.33), age of husband (aOR 1.54; 0.86-2.76), household head (aOR 1.51; 0.88-2.59), poor wealth index (aOR 1.62; 0.98-2.68), middle wealth index (aOR 1.37; 0.76-2.47), decision making for healthcare (aOR 1.36; 0.84-2.21) and household purchases (aOR 1.01; 0.61-1.66) had no any significant association with stillbirths. CONCLUSIONS: There are various factors linked with stillbirths. It is important to track stillbirths to improve health outcomes of mothers and newborn. Further studies are necessary to analyse women empowerment factors to understand the linkages between empowerment and stillbirths

Prevalence of pterygium and outcome of pterygium surgery in hilly western Nepal

Introduction: Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for pterygium; however, prevention of recurrence is a challenge. Several techniques have been tried to reduce the fibro-vascular activity aiming to reduce rate of recurrence such as B-irradiation, conjunctival and limbal auto-grafting, anti-mitotic drugs, and amniotic membrane transplantation. This study reports the magnitude of the disease in a hilly region of western Nepal and outcome of excision and conjunctival autografting for pterygium surgery. Methods: A prospective study was done from 1st July 2015 to 31st December 2016 in which all patients with primary pterygium presented to Palpa Lions Lacoul Eye Hospital from 1st July 2015 to 30th June 2016 were treated and followed up for next six months. Patients were treated medically or surgically as indicated. Data on age, sex, visual acuity, extent of disease, treatment modality, complications, and outcome were collected and analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test, and Anova tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were 18,960 patients in total attending hospital for various conditions among which 290 (1.5%) had pterygium. There were 186 (64.1%) female and 104 (35.9%) male and this difference was significant (p&lt;0.001). The mean age was 47.42 yrs (SD=14.23) with age ranging from 20 to 80 years. Right eye was affected more (43.1%) than left eye (33.1%); remaining 23.8% had bilateral disease. Grade-1 disease occurred in younger age compared to Grade-2 and Grade-3 disease. All grade-1 patients were managed medically; grade-2 and grade-3 patients were equally likely to be managed medically or surgically. There were no major intra or post-operative complications. Minor post-operative complications noted were subconjunctival hemorrhage, corneal scarring, suture gaping, and conjunctival cyst among others. Conclusion: Despite much advanced techniques in pterygium surgery, pterygium excision combined with conjunctival autograft is found to be a safe and effective method for treating pterygium in developing world

Current practices, gaps, and opportunities on the role of clinical pharmacists in cancer pain management:Perspectives from Nepal

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