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Context:The Workload Indicators of Staffi ng Need (WISN) human resource planning and management tool, developed by Shipp (1998) and popularized by the World Health Organization (WHO), gives health managers a way to analyze and calculate correct staffi ng levels in health facilities. In present study, WISN tool was used to assess a District Hospital in terms of staffi ng of laboratory technicians to understand the staffi ng need against the existing workload of health system. Aims: To assess the staffi ng needs of laboratory technicians in District Hospital using WISN method. Settings and Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods:The present study is a cross-sectional survey involving observation, record review, and personal interview. Study was performed in a District Hospital of Madhya Pradesh. There were six laboratory technicians in the District Hospital and all of them were included in the study. The staffi ng pattern and need of laboratory technicians in District Hospital was estimated and WISN indicators calculated. Statistical Analysis Used: Rate ratio and proportions were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: WISN calculation showed that District Hospital in which the study was done requires 16 laboratory technicians in order to provide the volume of health services in its annual statistics in accordance with the professional standards (activity standards) for these services, thus having a shortage of 10 technicians. Conclusion: The laboratory technicians in the District Hospital where study was conducted are constantly under pressure to match the existing workload due to shortage of manpower. Appropriate human resources management and planning can contribute greatly to the improvement of effi ciency of their work by ensuring optimum workload.

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Background: Hearing is one of the key features of communication. Hearing aids are prescribed when a person suffers from hearing loss. There have been many updates in the technology of hearing aids like speech enhancements, Noise reduction, microphone focus but still some people find difficulty in listening to phone calls and media streaming. Integration of Bluetooth technology with hearing aids is giving a satisfactory response and helping hearing aid users to overcome existing challenges with mobile phones. Objective: To measure the satisfaction level of hearing aid users with the use of Bluetooth technology. Method: Quantitative, Cross-sectional study was conducted 20 Audiology clinics across Delhi and National Capital Region for a period of 1 year. A total of 55 samples were taken in the study from the clinics for a duration of 1 year. Pre-tested questionnaire was used for collecting the data and face to face interviews were conducted. Results: Bluetooth streaming when used with the hearing aids, participants reported a significant improvement on multiple parameters improved listening on phone calls in both quiet and noisy environments, lesser repetitions, improved, music listening, confident in using hearing aids in public places, better listening over video calling and extended wearing time. Conclusion: Hearing aids with Bluetooth technology is becoming an essential aspect of hearing aid. His has been building confidence of using hearing aids and increasing wearing time. Bluetooth hearing aids are also providing a solution to the limitation of using personal listening devices.

Background: Middle-ear diseases in children pose a significant burden to the healthcare system. Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, cold, and cough often initiate middle ear disease. It results in mild to moderate hearing impairment that can be detrimental to the child's linguistic development. It can further lead to behavioural and cognitive problems. The study was designed to establish a relationship between common middle pathologies like CSOM and OME with hearing loss in children. Objective: To determine the prevalence of middle ear pathology and its association with hearing loss in slum children of Delhi. Methods: A study was conducted with 269 children aged five to ten years. The children were screened by otoscopic examination, followed by Tympanometry and then by Pure Tone Audiometry. Results: The prevalence of middle ear problems was 24.2%, out of which the prevalence of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) was 10.8%, Otitis media with effusion (OME) was 12.3% and Acute Otitis Media (AOM) was 1.1%.  A significant correlation (p< 0.005) was found between hearing loss and middle ear pathology like CSOM and OME. Out of the 65 children with ear pathology, hearing loss was detected in 55 children, out of which 29 children with CSOM, moderated conductive hearing loss was detected in 28 children and out of 33 OME children, mild to moderate conductive hearing loss was detected in 26 children. Conclusion: The article highlights the high prevalence of middle ear pathology in underprivileged children. The study also concludes the high probability of conductive hearing loss in these children. It is recommended that there is more need for awareness for early detection and treatment of middle ear infection to avoid any language and behavioural problems in the future. Also, the disparity between children living in urban and rural areas needs to be bridged.