Controlled trial of oral channa striatus extract and glucosamine sulphate among primary knee osteoarthritis patients

Background Knee osteoarthritis is the commonest form of arthritis worldwide with significant impact on the health-related quality of life. Complementary and alternative medicine use in osteoarthritis is gaining popularity. Channa striatus, an indigenous fresh water fish in Malaysia is well-known for its nutritional and medicinal value in traditional medicine. The current evidences support its therapeutic potential in treating primary knee osteoarthritis patients. Objectives The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of oral Channa striatus extract and Glucosamine sulphate in improving knee symptoms and physical function, as well as in rescue analgesic consumption among primary knee osteoarthritis patients. Methods Seventy eight patients with primary knee osteoarthritis were enrolled into this doubleblind randomized controlled trial and assigned to receive either Channa striatus 500 mg/day (n = 39) or Glucosamine sulphate 1500 mg/ day (n = 39) for six months. The efficacy outcome measures were Western Ontario and Mc Master Osteoarthritis Index WOMAC index for pain, stiffness and physical function, Visual Analogue Scalefor pain during movement and Analgesic score for rescue analgesia consumption. These outcomes measures were assessed using an intention-to-treat analysis. All patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months post randomization. Results All the baseline characteristics were comparable between Channa striatus and Glucosamine sulphate group. Of 78 patients randomized, 73 completed the study (Channa striatus, n = 36 and Glucosamine sulphate, n = 37). There were no statistically significant difference between these two groups in WOMAC index, Visual Analogue scale and Analgesic score after 6 months of intervention. However, there were statistically significant improvement in all the domains of WOMAC index based on time for Channa striatus group from baseline to 3 months up to 6 months. Although there were improvement observed from 3 to 6 months of treatment, they were not statistically significant. All the safety profile parameters were normal for both groups before and after the intervention. Conclusions Channa striatus 500 mg/ day is comparable to Glucosamine sulphate 1500 mg/ day in improving pain, stiffness and physical function in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. It could be a new alternative treatment with good safety profile for medium to long term management of knee osteoarthritis

Effectiveness of a technology-based injury prevention program for enhancing mothers’ knowledge of child safety: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Provision of anticipatory guidance for parents is recommended as an effective strategy to prevent injuries among young children. Technology-based anticipatory guidance has been suggested to reinforce the effectiveness of injury prevention and improve parents’ knowledge of child safety. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a technology-based injury prevention program with parental anticipatory guidance for enhancing mothers’ knowledge of child safety. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 308 mothers will be recruited from the antenatal clinics and postnatal wards of two major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Participating mothers will be randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group will be given free access to a technology-based injury prevention program with anticipatory guidance, whereas mothers in the control group will be given a relevant booklet on parenting. The injury prevention program, available as a website or on a mobile app, includes behavioral components based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The primary outcome measure will be the change in the mother’s knowledge of child safety. The secondary outcome measures will be age-appropriate domestic safety knowledge, attitudes, intentions, perceived behavioral control, and self-reported behavior related to home safety practice. We will also determine dose-response relationships between the outcome measures and the website and mobile app usage. Results: Enrolment of participants will begin in October 2016. Results are expected by June 2018. Conclusions: Parents will be able to easily access the domestic injury prevention website to find information regarding child injury prevention. It is anticipated that the technology-based intervention will help parents improve their knowledge of child safety and raise their awareness about the consequences of domestic injuries and the importance of prevention. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02835768; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02835768 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation/6lbXYM6b9)

A cross-sectional study on level of knowledge and level of attitude towards asthma among the sampled population aged 13 years and above of Rumah Uming and Rumah Cherida, Meradong, from 20th November 2006 to 26th January 2007

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough. Asthma affects people of all ages. In Malaysia, asthma was among the commonest conditions that accounted for outpatient department attendance. Asthma is not curable, yet an asthmatic patient can live a normal life ifit is well-controlled. Objectives: The objective of this study is to study the level of knowledge and level of attitude towards asthma among the sampled population aged 13 years and above in Rumah Uming and Rumah Cherida from 20th November 2006 to 26th January 2007. Methodology: A cross-sectional study on level of knowledge and level of attitude towards asthma was carried out. The sample size of 90 respondents was chosen using a simple random sampling method. Data collection was done by means of interview-guided questionnaire, and all collected data was entered and analysed using SPSS software version 13. The statistical tests that were used include Pearson correlation test, chi-square test, independent sample t-test, ANOV A test, Spearman rho test, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The main source of information regarding asthma was obtained from mass media. The study showed more than half of the respondents had poor level of knowledge in terms of general knowledge and signs and symptoms (62.2%), risk factor and triggering factor (55.6%), and treatment and prevention of asthma (60.0%). However, 56.7% of respondents had good knowledge about complications of asthma. There was a significant relationship between total level of knowledge with gender (p = 0.034), household income (p = 0.018), and personal and family history of asthma (p = 0.008). Females, higher income group and respondents with personal and family history of asthma showed better score of knowledge. Most of the respondents had good attitude in terms of seeking knowledge (65.6%) and prevention of asthma (53.3%), however 55.6% showed poor attitude in terms of the treatment of asthma. Significant association was found between total level of attitude and level of education (p = 0.042). There was also a positive relationship between the total level of knowledge and the total level of attitude towards asthma among the respondents (p = 0.023). Conclusion: The study revealed a significantly higher level of knowledge among the respondents who were female, with higher household income and with personal and family history of asthma

Effectiveness of a Technology-Based Injury Prevention Program for Enhancing Mothers’ Knowledge of Child Safety: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Provision of anticipatory guidance for parents is recommended as an effective strategy to prevent injuries among young children. Technology-based anticipatory guidance has been suggested to reinforce the effectiveness of injury prevention and improve parents’ knowledge of child safety. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a technology-based injury prevention program with parental anticipatory guidance for enhancing mothers’ knowledge of child safety. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 308 mothers will be recruited from the antenatal clinics and postnatal wards of two major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Participating mothers will be randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group will be given free access to a technology-based injury prevention program with anticipatory guidance, whereas mothers in the control group will be given a relevant booklet on parenting. The injury prevention program, available as a website or on a mobile app, includes behavioral components based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The primary outcome measure will be the change in the mother’s knowledge of child safety. The secondary outcome measures will be age-appropriate domestic safety knowledge, attitudes, intentions, perceived behavioral control, and self-reported behavior related to home safety practice. We will also determine dose-response relationships between the outcome measures and the website and mobile app usage. Results: Enrolment of participants will begin in October 2016. Results are expected by June 2018. Conclusions: Parents will be able to easily access the domestic injury prevention website to find information regarding child injury prevention. It is anticipated that the technology-based intervention will help parents improve their knowledge of child safety and raise their awareness about the consequences of domestic injuries and the importance of prevention. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02835768; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02835768 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation/6lbXYM6b9)