by iphindia | Dec 28, 2015 | Latest Updates
IPH faculty Dr. Vijayashree Yellappa, attended judicial workshop; Tuberculosis, Human Rights and Law at Chicago University, Delhi Centre.
Despite the fact that tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease, it is the leading cause of death worldwide in 2014. Recognising the urgency to tackle the problem, University of Chicago, Delhi Centre, organised a Judicial workshop titled- Tuberculosis, Human Rights and Law 19- 20 December 2015. Workshop comprised of judges and other legal professionals in order to familiarize the legal community in India and other Commonwealth jurisdictions with the legal and human rights issues associated with TB. Along with judges and lawyers, participants also included medical and public health experts, civil society, and people living with TB and former TB patients.
by iphindia | Dec 21, 2015 | EPHP, Latest Updates
With a broad theme of ‘Equitable India: All for Health and Wellbeing’, the 3rd edition of EPHP will focus on three major thematic areas: ‘equity in health and healthcare’; ‘intersectoral action for health’; and ‘from better knowledge to improved policies and practice’. For details about EPHP 2016 and the thematic areas please see here. We are pleased to invite proposals from institutions/individuals for organized sessions as part of the EPHP 2016. We have limited space for upto six sessions that closely fit the thematic areas. These sessions will run concurrently with other planned sessions of the conference.
The proposal, written in MS Word format with no more than 1000 words, shall have following details:
- Session title (upto 15 words)
- Session objectives and overview (upto 250 words)
- Brief profiles and contact details of session organizer and contributors/speakers (provide weblinks to detailed profiles wherever available) (upto 250 words)
- Description: Summary of contributions, target audience, significance/relation to selected thematic area(s), suggested format, role of contributors, moderation/management approach.
- Each abstract will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee based on:
- Relevance to conference theme and thematic areas
- Technical merit and clarity of proposal
- Engagement of policy-makers and civil society groups
- Potential for active involvement by audience
- Logistical feasibility
The proposals shall be submitted via email to ephp@iphindia.org with ‘proposal for organized session at EPHP 2016’ in the subject line latest by January 20, 2015. For queries, write to ephp@iphindia.org or call 80-26421929.
by iphindia | Dec 17, 2015 | Latest Updates
2nd paper on POCT ( Point of Care Test) project, published in BMC Health Services Research
Dr. Vijayashree Yellappa , faculty of IPH, Bengaluru in collaborative work among IPH, Maastricht University, Netherlands, and Mac Gill University, Canada published second paper from the POCT (Point of Care Test) project.
Abstract
Background: The core objective of any point-of-care (POC) testing program is to ensure that testing will result in an actionable management decision (e.g. referral, confirmatory test, treatment), within the same clinical encounter (e.g. POC continuum). This can but does not have to involve rapid tests. Most studies on POC testing focus on one specific test and disease in a particular healthcare setting. This paper describes the actors, technologies and practices involved in diagnosing major diseases in five Indian settings – the home, community, clinics, peripheral laboratories and hospitals. The aim was to understand how tests are used and fit into the health system and with what implications for the POC continuum.
Methods:
The paper reports on a qualitative study including 78 semi-structured interviews and 13 focus group discussions with doctors, nurses, patients, lab technicians, program officers and informal providers, conducted between January and June 2013 in rural and urban Karnataka, South India. Actors, diseases, tests and diagnostic processes were mapped for each of the five settings and analyzed with regard to whether and how POC continuums are being ensured.
Results:
Successful POC testing hardly occurs in any of the five settings. In hospitals and public clinics, most of the rapid tests are used in laboratories where either the single patient encounter advantage is not realized or the rapidity is compromised. Lab-based testing in a context of manpower and equipment shortages leads to delays. In smaller peripheral laboratories and private clinics with shorter turn-around-times, rapid tests are unavailable or too costly. Here providers find alternative measures to ensure the POC continuum. In the home setting, patients who can afford a test are not/do not feel empowered to use those devices.
Conclusion:
These results show that there is much diagnostic delay that deters the POC continuum. Existing rapid tests are currently not translated into treatment decisions rapidly or are not available where they could ensure shorter turn-around times, thus undermining their full potential. To ensure the success of POC testing programs, test developers, decision-makers and funders need to account for such ground realities and overcome barriers to POC testing programs.
Link to read more about 2nd paper on POCT ( Point of Care Test) project, published in BMC Health Services Research : Click here
by iphindia | Dec 17, 2015 | Latest Updates, urban health project
Case note, written by Jenna Paulson during her internship with the Urban Health Action Research Project
Based on her internship with the Urban Health Action Research Project at IPH under the guidance of Dr. Thriveni, faculty of IPH and Shannon L Sibbald, PhD (Assistant Professor, Western University), Jenna Paulson from Western Cape University, Ontario written a case note titled, “Youth as change agents”.
BACKGROUND :
Kadugondanahalli (KG Halli), a neighbourhood within the urban slums of Bangalore, India, is riddled with barriers and challenges to navigation within the healthcare system. Residents, faced with a multitude of problems, including chronic conditions, primarily Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, have poor access to healthcare services and are, thereby, faced with high out-ofpocket expenditure. The youth, especially, are confronted with extremely challenging living conditions. Healthcare services at KG Halli are not integrated, quality of care is poor, and these trends are perpetuated by the strong power dynamics that exist at both state and national levels. For the past three years, Dr. Thriveni, Urban Health Systems project manager and Public Health Specialist at the Institute of Public Health (IPH), has been advocating on behalf of the local youth to improve their living circumstances.
Link to read more about Case note, written by Jenna Paulson : Click Here
by iphindia | Dec 9, 2015 | Latest Updates
Dr.Vijayashree Yellappa, Faculty at IPH presented a study at 46th World Conference on Lung Health at Cape Town
( 2nd December – 6th December).
Title of the presentation: Retail Private Pharmacist’s referral practices and perceptions to collaborate with National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP): Qualitative Study, South India.
The study findings were part of a larger study conducted for World Bank in 2013 in Karnataka, India, to evaluate the Results based financing strategies for TB care.
Retail Private Pharmacist’s (RPP) knowledge and perceptions to collaborate with National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP): Qualitative Study, South India
Vijayashree Yellappa, Hima Bindu, Neethi V Rao, Devadasan Narayanan
Background: In India, RPPs are often first and repeated point of contact for patients. NTP is involving RPPs through Indian Pharmaceutical Association by training them to identify and refer chest symptomatics to NTP for TB diagnosis. We conducted this study to assess RPP’s (i) knowledge and referral practices (ii) stocking and dispensing of TB drugs (iii) kickbacks to providers.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 RPPs in Bangalore (urban=19) and Tumkur district (rural=21) during 2013 from Karnataka, India. RPPs were randomly selected from the register maintained with district drug controller.
Link to know more Abstract details: Click here
by iphindia | Dec 3, 2015 | ePHM-Advance, Latest Updates, post_slider
Live interaction of Student-teacher are very essential for engagement of students, especially, in an e-learning environment. Online learning is most effective when courses are led by a live teacher and students can interact with that teacher in real-time. The mere presence and active involvement of an instructor motivates students and helps them navigate challenging content, inspiring them to improve their performance. During such interactions, instructors bring in knowledge beyond the curriculum. Keeping this in mind, we organized a live hangout session with Prashanth, our subject matter expert and students of ePHM 2015. The students and Prashanth discussed on various topics like systems thinking, national health programmes, private sector regulation, etc. Here is a video of their interaction.
