No abstract

Context: Increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and ageing population has parallely increased the need for Palliative care. Unavailable, inaccessible, and inadequate palliative care services in our setting increased the need for volunteers. In Puducherry, palliative care programme was implemented through trained volunteers in 2015. Aims: To explore the experiences of volunteers who provide palliative care and also to get feedback on volunteering from the patients who received care. Settings and Design: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out at two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) working for palliative care in and around Puducherry. Methods and Material: Participants were selected purposively to include seven volunteers and eight patients to attain information saturation. The time period of this study was between September and October 2018. Analysis Used: Manual thematic analysis was done to identify codes, which were grouped to form categories and themes. Results: Factors that facilitated participants to take up the role of volunteers were witnessing the death of family members with unmet palliative care when required and experiences in organizations working for elderly and disabled children. Improvement in patients’ condition and patient satisfaction motivated them to continue, despite lack of resources and social support. Their perception was of having become bolder and empathetic by working as palliative care volunteers. Patients reported satisfaction with the provision of drugs and other materialistic support like clothes and sweets during festivals; however, their basic and financial needs remained unmet. Conclusion: The palliative care programme or the National programme for elderly should focus on components that would improve the quality of palliative care by reducing patients’ dissatisfaction. Support in terms of provision of drugs, financial help and nutrition is necessary to improve both the patients’ and volunteers’ satisfaction in palliative care services.

Introduction and Aim: The change in human behaviour has created a social phobia wherein a human use either computers or any other electronic gadgets to defend himself from social contact. Nomophobia is fear of not having mobile phones and the stress associated with it. Increased use of mobile phones among students  has changed the scenario and it is no more a luxury but a necessity. Social interaction has decreased and electronic gadgets have become the master. This has led to development of neuropsychological issues. The purpose of the study is to find out the prevalence of nomophobia among college students and to explore the association between nomophobia and stress, anxiety and depression.  Materials and Methods: Randomly selected 167 medical and dental students were given questionnaires to assess the prevalence of nomophobia. Separate questionnaires were given to assess stress, anxiety and depression. Results: Results showed a wide prevalence of nomophobia (59%) among students. 14%, 29%, 8% of students were seen having severe/ extreme depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Conclusion: Nomophobia was significantly associated with stress and depression (P ?0.05). Students have to be periodically screened to identify stress, anxiety and depression and counselled about the constructive usage of mobile phones.

Background The Union Territory of Puducherry has a high rate of suicide in India. This study aims to find the prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan and suicide attempts and the risk factors of suicidal behaviours. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above in rural and urban areas of Puducherry, India. Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale questionnaire was used. Prevalence ratio was estimated to assess the factors associated. Results The 12-month and lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation was reported to be 12.5% (95% CI: 10.4–15.0%) and 20% (95% CI: 17.4–22.9%), respectively. About 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3–1.5%) and 2.1% (95% CI: 1.2–3.3%) of the participants had suicide plan in past 12 months and ever in their lifetime, respectively. Around 1% (95% CI: 0.5–2.0%) and 5.7% (95% CI: 4.3–7.6%) of the participants had attempted suicide in past 12 months and ever in their lifetime, respectively. Family issues, physical abuse, unemployment and place of residence were significantly associated with suicidal ideation in multivariable analysis. Conclusion Prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt were very high in the study area. Unemployment, physical abuse and family issues were significantly associated with suicidal behaviour.

Background In a cohort of persons with diabetes (PWDs) seeking care at a tertiary care center, we aimed to determine the proportion of PWDs eligible and willing for down referral to primary health centers (PHCs). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study among PWDs on treatment for at least 1 year. PWDs with stable blood sugar, no history of cardiovascular events and proliferative retinopathy were considered as ‘eligible’ for primary care management. Results Of the total 1002 PWDs, mean (SD) age was 56 (12) years; 62% were male and 81% were from rural areas. About half (49%) of them were on insulin, and 52% had comorbidities. In total, 45.6% (95% CI: 42.3–48.8%) were eligible to be managed at PHCs. Among those who were eligible, 46.6% were willing to go back to PHCs. Males (APR = 1.16), people with diabetes for more than 10 years (APR = 1.23), and the presence of comorbidities (APR = 1.13) were significantly associated with unwillingness. Quality of medicines (46%) and poor facilities (40%) at PHCs were the main reasons for unwillingness. Conclusions About half of the PWDs availing care at tertiary hospitals can be managed at primary care settings; of those, only half were willing to receive care at PHCs.