A cross-sectional study was conducted on patient satisfaction with health services at the Out Patient Department of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, with the aim determining the relationship between satisfaction and explanatory factors. Suggestions and comments from the patients were also revealed in this study. Using a structured questionnaire, data were derived from 251 patients using the OPD services. Descriptive statistics were used to describe satisfaction level and independent variables while the relationships between these factors were determined by Chi-square test. The average score of patient satisfaction was 3.5 and 10.4% of the patients were highly satisfied with health services.Patients were highly satisfied with courtesy (45.8%), quality of care (44.2%), physical environment (41.8%), convenience (24.7%), and out of pocket cost (23.5%). Regarding predisposing factors, attitude were significantly associated with level of satisfaction (p=0.002). The majority of the patients were concerned about waiting time to seek a doctor's service and counter services are being delayed due to not enough staff being available. Strategies emphasizing improving the image of the hospital should be continuously implemented while the attitude of the patients could change with good reputation of hospital. Patient satisfaction surveys can be conducted in each unit to get the real picture for further strategies.

Introduction:Occupational stress among teachers represents a major global public health issue. Research into the prevalence of occupational stress among secondary teachers in Sri Lanka has not been conducted due to the absence of a valid and reliable instrument to accurately measure teachers occupational stress in the Sri Lankan cultural context. Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) is a valid and reliable 49-item self-administered tool to assess occupational stress among teachers.Objectives: To translate the TSI to Sinhalese, culturally adapt and to assess its validity, reliability and acceptability among secondary school teachers in Sri Lanka Methods: The TSI was culturally adapted and translated to Sinhala language. This was validated among systematically selected 305 secondary school teachers in Gampaha District. Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed against the validated General Health Questionnaire-30 and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed using LISREL-8.8 to evaluate construct validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability and acceptability were assessed simultaneously. Results:The original two-factor model: stressors and manifestations of stress, with model fit indices (GFI=0.76; CFI=0.96; RMSEA=0.065) was considered an appropriately fitting valid model to assess occupational stress. Its reliability was confirmed by good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.875) and test-retest reliability (correlation co-efficient of 0.769-0.857). Conclusions & Recommendations:The TSI-Sinhala was found to be a valid, reliable and acceptable tool recommended to estimate occupational stress among secondary school teachers in Sri Lanka. The Department of Education can utilize this tool to assess occupational stress among secondary grade teachers, to take necessary preventative and supportive interventions for teachers who are in need.

Introduction: Rice milling often carried out in the informal work sector generates paddy dust which is a hazard to the respiratory health of mill workers. Sri Lankan rice mill workers have shown reluctance in using respiratory protective apparatus during rice milling.Objectives: To describe the barriers for the use of respiratory protective devices during rice milling Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the divisions of Ampara and Uhana in Ampara District in Sri Lanka during February 2016. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted among rice mill workers, health professionals and government officers related to rice milling industry. Data were analysed using content analysis method. Results:The rice mill workers' non-use of respiratory protective methods was mainly due to their negligence in personal respiratory health care and lack of support from the employer, health care institutes and other related institutes. Low level of comprehension of workers and less manpower in health care and other institutions were other contributing factors.Conclusions: Low priority given for respiratory health care by the workers, poor work environment and less support from the mill owner and relevant government authorities have resulted in non-use of respiratory protective devices among rice mill workers. Improving unhealthy work behaviour such as non-use of respiratory protective devices of the informal work sector is recommended using industry-based health education programs.