Context:Studies have reported that clinical research has experienced tremendous growth during past few decades with many multinational pharmaceutical companies recruiting millions of Indians in clinical trials (CTs). However, there is hardly any literature that talks about the participants, their knowledge, and awareness of CTs. It is important that the general public is aware about CTs so that they can take their own informed decision to participate in CTs.Aim:To assess public awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward CTs and their views on various methods to create awareness about CTs.Materials and Methods:Cross sectional survey was conducted with 200 non trial participants (NTPs) and 40 trial participants (TPs).Results:TPs were significantly (P < 0.0001) older than NTPs. More than 80% of both TPs and NTPs mentioned participation in CT helps advance medical science and strongly felt that there is a need to create awareness about CTs. Nearly 70% of TPs could not remember the phase of the trial while 20% did not know which type of trial they had participated. The main reason for participation in the trial was physician's advice. About 80% of both TPs and NTPs felt that participation in CT will increase with free medications and advice from friends/relatives who had good experience with trial.Conclusion:Results of this pilot study revealed need to create CT awareness among the general public. However, considering ethno-cultural, regional, and literacy-level differences throughout the country, a nationwide study would be appropriate to provide reliable results about awareness of CTs among Indians.

Back pain in children is a complex phenomenon, which has been shown to be associated with physical and psychosocial factors. None of the studies on Indian children have investigated the possible association between back pain and psychosocial factors. We decided to determine the prevalence of back pain in students and association with both physical and psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 163 students from two city schools. Physical factors were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Strengths and difficulties questionnaire was used to assess psychosocial factors. The studied sample consisted of 49.7% boys and 50.3% girls. Mean school bag weight was 6.1±2.4 kg (range: 2.2–15.6 kg). Mean weight of school bag as a percentage of body weight was 13.5±6.2%. Approximately 76% students carried more than 10% of their body weight. The prevalence of back pain (over last 1 month) was 53.9%. No associations were found between back pain and weight of school bag, weight of school bag as a percentage of body weight and physical activities. Significant associations were found between back pain and number of hours spent watching television [odds ratio (OR): 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–7.5; P=0.003], history of injury to the back (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.47–15.8, P=0.003), presence of a family member complaining of back pain (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.25–3.14, P=0.002), conduct (P=0.042) and hyperactivity problems (P=0.045). Thus, there appears a need to consider psychosocial factors along with physical factors when evaluating a young student with back pain.

Idiopathic clubfoot is the most common congenital anomaly of the lower extremity. YouTube has emerged as an important source of health-related information for patients and families. Parents seek information about clubfoot on YouTube. However, the quality of these videos remains unknown. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the quality of YouTube videos about clubfoot. We searched YouTube for clubfoot videos using appropriate keywords. English language videos with more than 10 000 views were included. Three fellowship trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons independently assessed the videos and classified them into corporate, hospital, education and private. The quality of information was assessed using the Modified DISCERN and JAMA benchmark scores. The search yielded 12 060 videos of which 42 were analyzed. There were 9 (21%) videos from corporate organizations, 12 (29%) from hospitals, 3 (7%) from educational organizations and 18 (43%) by private individuals. The mean Modified DISCERN score was 2.1 ± 1.07 (range 0.3–4) and mean JAMA benchmark score was 0.9 ± 0.65 (range 0–2). Educational videos had highest mean Modified DISCERN score (3.1 ± 0.85) and private videos, the least (1.43 ± 1). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Hospital videos had highest mean JAMA benchmark score of 1.3 ± 0.6 as compared with private videos which had the least mean score of 0.5 ± 0.6. This difference was also statistically significant (P = 0.001). The results of our study indicate that the quality of information on idiopathic clubfoot on YouTube needs improvement. Videos from educational and hospital sources should be preferred over private sources.

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Background: Cervical cancer is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity in women. Naked eye visual screening (NE test) and Pap test are commonly used for cervical cancer screening. Both tests have inherent limitations like low sensitivity (Pap test) and subjectivity in interpretation, lack of permanent record and overestimation (NE test). Here, Smart Scope ® visual screening test (SS test) was compared with NE and Pap tests. Smart Scope ® is a small, hand-held device that captures cervical images attached to a tablet to store data. Objective: To compare SS test with Pap and NE tests. Study Design: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India, over 16 months. A total of 509 women in the age group of 25 to 65 years were included in the study as per the inclusion criteria. All the participants underwent Pap test, NE test and SS test. Screen positives on any one test were advised colposcopy and biopsy. Results: Out of 154 screen-positive women, 49 visited for follow-up colposcopy-guided biopsy. Nine incidental biopsies of screen-negative women were included in the data. Thus, statistical analysis was carried out based on 58 available histopathology results. Out of 58 biopsies, 8 were normal, 30 were benign lesions, 18 were precancerous and 2 were cancerous lesions. SS test was found to have a sensitivity and NPV of 100% each, PPV of 45.4% and a specificity of 36.8%. Sensitivity and specificity of NE test was 90% and 39.5% respectively, PPV was 43.9% and NPV was 88.2%. Pap smear had a sensitivity of 25% and specificity of 84.2%, PPV of 45.5% and NPV of 68.08%. Conclusion: SS test has great potential to be a primary screening test in low-resource settings due to its better sensitivity and NPV as compared to NE and Pap tests.