Analysis of Profitability of Commercial Dog Breeding Ventures in Thrissur and Ernakulam Districts of Kerala

Kerala's commercial dog breeding enterprise is a promising one with the potential to reduceyouth unemployment and provide a livelihood. However, the state lacks authentic information on factors affecting profitability of commercial dog breeding business. The present study was conducted to identify the association between factors that affect profitability of commercial dog breeding in Kerala. The study was conducted using an ex-post facto research design on 60 commercial dog breeding units selected randomly from Thrissur and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.Data collection was done using a pretested-structured interview schedule. Study revealed that years of experience, number of dogs reared, number of puppies born, cost of veterinary care, level of adoption and labour cost were correlated with profitability of commercial dog breeding enterprise

Patients' and physicians' experiences of atrial fibrillation consultations and anticoagulation decision-making:a multi-perspective IPA design

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' and physicians' experiences of atrial fibrillation consultations and oral anticoagulation decision-making. DESIGN: Multi-perspective interpretative phenomenological analyses. METHODS: Participants included small homogeneous subgroups: AF patients who accepted (n=4), refused (n=4), or discontinued (n=3) warfarin, and four physician subgroups (n=4 each group): consultant cardiologists, consultant general physicians, general practitioners and cardiology registrars. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Transcripts were analysed using multi-perspective IPA analyses to attend to individuals within subgroups and making comparisons within and between groups. RESULTS: Three themes represented patients' experiences: Positioning within the physician-patient dyad, Health-life balance, and Drug myths and fear of stroke. Physicians' accounts generated three themes: Mechanised metaphors and probabilities, Navigating toward the 'right' decision, and Negotiating systemic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-perspective IPA design facilitated an understanding of the diagnostic consultation and treatment decision-making which foregrounded patients' and physicians' experiences. We drew on Habermas' theory of communicative action to recommend broadening the content within consultations and shifting the focus to patients' life contexts. Interventions including specialist multidisciplinary teams, flexible management in primary care, and multifaceted interventions for information provision may enable the creation of an environment that supports genuine patient involvement and participatory decision-making

Low literacy and written drug information: information-seeking, leaflet evaluation and preferences, and roles for images

Background Low-literate patients are at risk to misinterpret written drug information. For the (co-) design of targeted patient information, it is key to involve this group in determining their communication barriers and information needs. Objective To gain insight into how people with low literacy use and evaluate written drug information, and to identify ways in which they feel the patient leaflet can be improved, and in particular how images could be used. Setting Food banks and an education institution for Dutch language training in the Netherlands. Method Semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews were held with low-literate participants (n = 45). The thematic framework approach was used for analysis to identify themes in the data. Main outcome measure Low-literate people’s experience with patient information leaflets, ideas for improvements, and perceptions on possible uses for visuals. Results Patient information leaflets were considered discouraging to use, and information difficult to find and understand. Many rely on alternative information sources. The leaflet should be shorter, and improved in terms of organisation, legibility and readability. Participants thought images could increase the leaflet’s appeal, help ask questions, provide an overview, help understand textual information, aid recall, reassure, and even lead to increased confidence, empowerment and feeling of safety. Conclusion Already at the stages of paying attention to the leaflet and maintaining interest in the message, low-literate patients experience barriers in the communication process through written drug information. Short, structured, visual/textual explanations can lower the motivational threshold to use the leaflet, improve understanding, and empower the low-literate target group

Intracranial Hypertension Induced by Megestrol Acetate Withdrawal

Intracranial hypertension has been associated with endocrine dysregulation in conditions such as obesity, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, excess of Vitamin A, Addison disease, and corticosteroid use/withdrawal (1-6). Megestrol acetate (MA), commercially known as Megace, is a synthetic progesterone used as an appetite stimulant for cachexia secondary to cancer or AIDS and more recently used to treat failure to thrive (FTT) in the pediatric population (7-10). MA administration has been linked to adrenal insufficiency with variable clinical presentations (10-13). The use of MA in our patient links MA usage with intracranial hypertension

The impact of health literacy on cardiovascular disease

Richard S Safeer1, Catherine E Cooke2, Jann Keenan31CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Baltimore, MD, USA 2Pfizer, Inc., Ellicott City, MD, USA; 3Staying Healthy Media, Pikesville, MD, USAAbstract: One’s ability to read, listen, and comprehend health information is a vital element of maintaining and improving health. However, 90 million people in the United States exhibit less than adequate health literacy skills. Given that more than 70 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases, it is certain that every physician’s practice is affected by health literacy issues. Those with language and cultural issues tend to be the most affected. Yet numerous studies find physicians do a poor job of assessing their patients’ health literacy skills. Patients are also unaware of the steps they should take, and how to take them, to improve their health and prevent complications. Numerous studies find, however, that outcomes can be improved with targeted patient education and improved physician communication skills that take into account patients’ health literacy levels. Unfortunately, the health care system is only beginning to recognize this problem and take action to overcome its negative impact. By improving the communication process with patients, physicians may be able to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Keywords: health literacy, cardiovascular disease, adherence

Design and Development of Miniaturized Pulse Oximeter for Continuous Spo2 and HR Monitoring with Wireless Technology

This paper demonstrates the design of a Pulse Oximeter using 8 bit Atmel Microcontroller .The Oxygen Saturation of blood (SpO2) and Pulse Rate are the two important parameters for monitoring patientrsquos health condition. The method that has been used to measure pulse rate is widely known as photo-plethysmo-graphy (PPG). The Pulse Oximeter is one of the medical device used to measure SpO2 and pulse rate of a person and its readings is analyzed using developed algorithm. The proposed system consists of Finger tip sensor, Analog device, 8 bit Atmel Microcontroller circuit and display unit (PC). The oxygen saturation of blood can be calculated by measuring different intensities of red and infrared lights operating at different wavelengths of 660nm and 940nm. The pulse rate can be calculated by measuring the peaks of IR signal between the elapsed time. All these parameters are measured and then transferred to PC via Bluetooth for displaying the results. Practically, any body part can be used to measure pulse rate through the sensor, although fingertips and earlobes are commonly targeted