Next-generation Solutions for Indian Health Care: Strengthening the Impact of Allied Health

The contributions of allied health professionals to patient care is well recognized in developed countries. In developed countries, allied health providers can reach the general public easily and cater to the health care needs of the society. However, medical dominance in developing countries often curtails the autonomy of allied health professionals. The Public Health Foundation of India prepared a report in 2012 on allied health professionals in India. This report explained the role of the AHP in improving the health status of the country. The objective of this commentary is to provide a possible opportunity for better integrating the allied health professions in the provision of health care in India based on the report prepared by the Public Health Foundation of India

Health Profession Student’s Readiness Towards Online Learning as a Component of Blended Learning

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify the entry-level health profession students’ perception and readiness to adopt online learning as a component of blended learning (BL). Methods: A cross sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was administered using Google forms. Entry level Health professionals’ education (HPE) graduate students of a higher education institute in India completed the survey (N= 628). The questionnaire was developed from the literature and content validated by experts. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Institutional ethics committee. Results: Out of 628 responses, 603 fully completed questionnaires were included for analysis. Of the participants, 98 % owned a smartphone, whereas 67% possessed either a laptop or a stationary computer. 60 % of the respondents reported at least one hour of internet access per day for learning purposes. Most of the participants were comfortable in accessing online learning materials and interacting with peers. The majority of the participants (77.4%) were willing to spend 10 to 20 hours per week on online learning. Conclusion: Entry Level HPE graduate students were ready to adopt online learning as a component of BL. Providing necessary infrastructure and creating online learning materials needs to be considered

Relationship Between Body Adiposity and Arterial Stiffness in Young Indian Adults

ABSTRACT Background: Obesity is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors and is linked with arterial stiffness. This study was undertaken to establish the relationship between regional adiposity and arterial stiffness using simple noninvasive techniques. Methods: In total, 181 young Asian Indian adults aged 18–28 years (mean age 21.9 ± 2.2) were measured for adiposity and arterial stiffness. Total body fat percentage was derived from skinfold thickness of various body sites. Body mass index and waist‑hip‑ratio were also measured. Arterial stiffness was measured using a SphygmoCor with a carotid‑radial pulse wave analysis technique. Results: Significant gender differences were observed on anthropometric variables including skinfold thickness (P < 0.05) and all the arterial stiffness variables (P < 0.05) except pulse wave velocity. Systolic pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index (AIx), AIx at 75% heart rate, and aortic systolic pressure had statistically significant correlations with all three adiposity variables (P < 0.05). Significant correlations were found in a higher number of variables in the females. Physical activity had negative correlations with arterial stiffness and adiposity variables (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Arterial stiffness measured by carotid‑radial pulse wave analysis is strongly related to adiposity measured from skinfold thickness in females. Females had higher arterial stiffness and adiposity compared with men. These findings could be helpful in future research using noninvasive arterial stiffness measurements

Effect of exercise in preventing Chemotherapy-induced Cardiotoxicity among breast cancer population: A Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review is to identify the effect of exercise training in preventing Chemotherapy-induced Cardiotoxicity among breast cancer survivors

Knowledge, attitudes, and barriers towards evidence-based practice among physiotherapists in Malaysia

Background: Recently, there has been an increased need for all healthcare disciplines to provide interventions that are effective and evidence based. This has led to more implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical settings. Following this, research regarding EBP gained attention to determine its uptake into the physiotherapy profession. Although there are numerous studies to determine the attitudes and barriers of physiotherapists towards EBP, most of them were done in developed nations. As for Malaysia, little research has been carried out, much less among physiotherapists. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitude, and barriers towards the implementation of EBP among physiotherapists in Malaysia. Methods: A survey was conducted among the members of the Malaysian Physiotherapy Association and other practicing therapists in Malaysia. One hundred and two responses were collected throughout a span of 2 months. Results: Respondents agreed that EBP is necessary to practice and that it helps in decision making as well as improving patient care. Eighty-one percent of the respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they had received formal training in EBP. However, 61% of the respondents reported that strong evidence is lacking to support their interventions. Thirty percent of the respondents reported reading <2 articles per month, with 57% stating that they read two to five articles in a typical month. This study also found time constraints, limited access to search engines, and lack of generalizability of research evidence as the top three barriers to implementing EBP. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Malaysia had a positive attitude towards EBP and are inclined towards implementing evidence into their clinical practice. They are interested in attending courses to improve their knowledge and skills in EBP. Keywords: evidence-based practice, physiotherapist

Effect of an IT-supported home-based exercise programme on metabolic syndrome in India

We studied the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme with information technology (IT) support in people with metabolic syndrome in India. Ninety-four participants with metabolic syndrome (mean age 50 years) were randomized into two groups. Both groups received a 12-week home exercise programme and Group 2 received additional IT support for health education. Before and after the exercise programme, participants were measured for arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry, exercise capacity using an incremental shuttle walk test and quality of life (QoL) using the SF-36 questionnaire. Sixty-one participants completed the post intervention tests. There was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, mean pressure and aortic systolic pressure in both groups. Pulse wave velocity, aortic pulse pressure and aortic diastolic pressure showed significant reductions only in Group 2. There were no significant changes in QoL measures, except vitality in Group 2. There was significant improvement in fasting blood glucose in Group 2, cholesterol in Group 1 and triglycerides in both groups. The participants’ exercise capacity did not change significantly, although the mean duration of regular exercise was 7.2 weeks for Group 1 and 10.0 weeks for Group 2 (P = 0.019). Metabolic syndrome was reversed in 16% of the participants in both groups. IT support, through mobile text messages and phone calls, may be helpful in metabolic syndrome. Longer-term studies are now required

Acute changes in arterial stiffness following exercise in people with metabolic syndrome.

Background: This study aims to examine the changes in arterial stiffness immediately following submaximal exercise in people with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Ninety-four adult participants (19–80 years) with metabolic syndrome gave written consent and were measured for arterial stiffness using a SphygmoCor (SCOR-PVx, Version 8.0, Atcor Medical Private Ltd, USA) immediately before and within 5–10 min after an incremental shuttle walk test. The arterial stiffness measures used were pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic pulse pressure (PP), augmentation pressure, augmentation index (AI), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) and ejection duration (ED). Results: There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in most of the arterial stiffness variables following exercise. Exercise capacity had a strong inverse correlation with arterial stiffness and age (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Age influences arterial stiffness. Exercise capacity is inversely related to arterial stiffness and age in people with metabolic syndrome. Exercise induced changes in arterial stiffness measured using pulse wave analysis is an important tool that provides further evidence in studying cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome