Background Nepal is a resource-constrained country where primary caregivers of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients face increasing physical, social, emotional, and economic burdens. This study aimed to assess the level of primary caregiver burden and the association between caregiver burden and sociodemographic factors of SCI patients and their caregivers. Methods The burden of caregivers was evaluated in 71 primary caregivers through face-to-face interviews using the Zarit Burden Interview Scale (ZBI-22). Based on the total ZBI-22 score, caregiver burden was classified as little or no, mild to moderate, moderate to severe, and severe. Results The mean caregiver burden score was 46.28 ± 12.05. Moderate to severe burden was more common (63.4%), followed by severe (18.3%), mild to moderate (11.3%), and little or no burden (7.0%). Caregivers were more worried about “what the future holds for patients (3.07 ± 1.22) and what should do more for patients (3.04 ± 1.01)”. Several sociodemographic factors, such as marital status (P = 0.009), activities of daily living (P = 0.038), monthly family income (P = 0.023), and time spent caring for patients (P = 0.028), were statistically significantly associated with the burden on primary caregivers. Conclusions Our results showed that primary caregivers experienced a high burden of care, primarily related to fear and uncertainty about the patient’s future, patient’s dependency, caregiver exhaustion and finances. Several sociodemographic factors of patients and their caregivers were associated with the burden of the primary caregivers.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is the commonest gynecological problem in females of childbearing age. The severity of dysmenorrhea catalyzed females to use home remedies or self-medication to relieve pain. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to find out the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and self-management practices in medical and dental students. Materials and Methods: Female students who had painful menstrual cycles were included. A self-responding semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to demographic, menstrual characteristics and self-management practices. The severity of primary dysmenorrhea was estimated by using the Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMSS). Descriptive statistics were used to present the study findings using SPSS version 11.5. Results: Out of 143 students, mild severity of primary dysmenorrhea was more common 85 (59.4%), followed by moderate 44 (30.8%) and severe 14 (9.8%) dysmenorrhea. Over two-thirds 124 (86.7%) of respondents used home remedies alone or in combination with analgesic drugs 87 (60.8%). Mefenamic acid 44 (50.6%) was the most common self-medicated drug. Among the respondents who practiced self-medication, the majority had used drugs once a day 68 (78.2%), and more than half of them 57 (65.5%) took medication for one day, and 59 (67.8%) had insufficient knowledge about drug dose. Conclusion: Most of the respondents experienced the mild severity of primary dysmenorrhea. Home remedies were the most commonly used methods of self-management. The majority of the respondents did not receive medical consultation, but they were preferred self-medication. Encouragement for medical consultation along with the implementation of educational awareness programs to control morbidity associated with primary dysmenorrhea is recommended.

Introduction: Menstrual cycle is a periodic physiological process in women of childbearing age. Menstrual disorders may affect the daily activities and quality of life among reproductive age group women worldwide. Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the menstrual disorders and its effects on academic performance among the nursing students of Purbanchal University School of Health Sciences. Methodology: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among 170 undergraduate nursing students of Purbanchal University School of Health Sciences, Gothgaun. Proportionate followed by simple random sampling (lottery method) was adopted. Data was collected through self administered method using semi structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 16.0. Female with systemic health problems, any diagnosed pelvic pathology (fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease), positive pregnancy test, and lactating mothers were excluded from the study. Results: Among 170 respondents, most of them (87.1%) had some form of premenstrual symptoms. Majority of them (77.6%) had dysmenorrhea. There was statistically significant association between dysmenorrhea and academic performance with class absenteeism (p=0.009), lack of concentration in class (p<0.001), not able to prepare for exam (p=0.014), mood swings (p=0.043), difficulty in participating in extracurricular activities and difficulty in public speaking (p=0.007). Premenstrual syndrome was also significantly associated with class absenteeism (p=0.012), sleeping desire during lectures (p=0.031) and mood swings (p=0.001). Conclusion: Menstrual disorders were significantly high among the nursing students and most of them were suffering from premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea. It had significant impact on academic performance of nursing students.

Background: Health care professionals, especially nurses who frequently use an IV cannula in the hospital setting, must have good knowledge, be well trained, and have experience in the insertion of this device. Improper use of this vascular access device can lead to many complications, such as extravasation, infiltration, inflammation, obstruction, phlebitis, infection, sepsis, and thrombophlebitis. Objective: To assess the knowledge of intravenous cannulation and the association between knowledge levels and selected sociodemographic variables among BSc. Nursing students at the School of Health Sciences of Purbanchal University. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed. A total of 95 students were enrolled in this study, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The χ2 statistic was used to find the association between knowledge levels and the selected demographic variables. Results: Of the 95 nursing students, none obtained 100% knowledge scores. More than half of the students (55.8%) had adequate knowledge, and 44.2% had inadequate knowledge about intravenous cannulation. A statistically significant relationship was observed between knowledge level and the academic year of the students (P = 0.011). Conclusion: More than half of the nursing students had adequate knowledge about intravenous cannulation, while 44.2% of the students had inadequate knowledge that needed to be improved. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the knowledge level and academic year of the students, indicating that educational level significantly affected their knowledge. Key words: Intravenous cannula, Knowledge, Nursing students.