Pre-Ramadan diabetes risk stratification and patient education.

The fast (Sawm) is one of the religious obligations "Pillars" of Islam. The target audience of pre-Ramadan diabetes risk stratification and pre-education are the healthcare providers (particularly the Primary care physicians), diabetic patients and community members including general public. As per IDF-DAR (International Diabetes Federation & Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance) guideline, it is advisable that healthcare providers should arrange pre-Ramadan session (appointment) at least 6-8 weeks prior to Ramadan quantify/stratify the patient risk category and educate all the diabetic patients on Ramadan aspects of Diabetes Mellitus.

Parenteral iron therapy in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of total dose infusion of low molecular weight iron dextran with divided doses of intravenous iron sucrose for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, over a period of two years from January 2008 to December 2009.

Public health and the undergraduate medical curriculum: are we preparing physicians for the 21st century?

Objective: To investigate the adequacy of the undergraduate medical curriculum in Pakistan to address primary healthcare and public health needs of the community at national level.

Methods: The cross-sectional study used standardised pilot-tested instruments from January 12 to July 14, 2010. Stratified purposive sampling technique was employed to include public and private-sector medical colleges in the study.

Pakistan's health system: performance and prospects after the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Pakistan has undergone massive changes in its federal structure under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. To gain insights that will inform reform plans, we assessed several aspects of health-systems performance in Pakistan. Some improvements were noted in health-systems performance during the past 65 years but key health indicators lag behind those in peer countries.

Predictors of depression in patients presenting with dyspeptic symptoms in a GI clinic.

Background: The association between dyspepsia, H. pylori and psychological distress has remained a topic of intense debate over the past several decades. In Pakistan, where depression is highly prevalent and dyspepsia is possibly present in a high percentage of population, little data exist about these common health problems.

Misoprostol for term labor induction: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol with vaginal dinoprostone for term labor induction.

Material And Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial done in the Obstetrics Department, Shifa Community Health Centre, Shifa International Hospital (Teaching Hospital of Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad). All pregnant women at term pregnancy coming for induction of labor were enrolled.

To determine the probable causes of death in an urban slum community of Pakistan among adults 18 years and above by verbal autopsy.

Objective: To identify the probable causes of deaths through verbal autopsy and identify the health problems prevalent in underprivileged and marginalized communities.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted at the community of Nurpur Shahan (Urban Slum), Islamabad, Pakistan in January 2010. W.

Association of passive smoking with respiratory symptoms and clinical correlates, among married women, in a rural community in Islamabad.

Objective: To investigate the association of passive smoking with respiratory symptoms and clinical correlates in married women in a rural area of Pakistan.

Method: A Cross-sectional study was carried out on married women of Nurpur Shahan (rural Islamabad) by means of an Interviewer administered questionnaire. Systematic sampling of households was done.

Investigating the awareness level about diabetes mellitus and associated factors in Tarlai (rural Islamabad).

Objectives: To determine the baseline level of awareness amongst a rural community about Diabetes Mellitus (irrespective of type 1 or type 2), its risk factors and complications.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted at the community of Tarlai, Islamabad, Pakistan, in January of 2008. A structured questionnaire was used and 300 adults (age > or = 18 years) were assessed on their knowledge regarding awareness of Diabetes Mellitus, its risk factors and complications.

Attitudes and perceived barriers of tertiary level health professionals towards incident reporting in Pakistan.

Background: A limited framework of incident reporting exists in most of the health care system in Pakistan. This poses a risk to the patient population and therefore there is a need to find the causes behind the lack of such a system in healthcare settings in Pakistan.

Aims: To determine the attitudes and perceived barriers towards incident reporting among tertiary care health professionals in Pakistan

Materials And Methods: The study was done in Shifa International Hospitals and consisted of a questionnaire given to 217 randomly selected doctors and nurses.

The structure and function of a new clinical skills and medical informatics laboratory (SCIL) in a developing country--a two year institutional experience.

Objective: To combine clinical skills and medical informatics learning by offering a combined 'SCIL' rotation to third year medical students and to determine its long-term impact.

Methods: A combined clinical skills and medical informatics laboratory (SCIL) was set up at our institution with international collaboration. Nine months to one year after formal third year SCIL rotations were conducted, a questionnaire rated on (1-5) Likert Scale was administered to the inaugural class undergoing this rotation.

Validity of pipelle endometrial sampling in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Background And Objectives: We compared endometrial sampling by pipelle endometrial curette with conventional dilatation and curettage (D&C) in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Methods: Endometrial sampling with pipelle curette was performed on 100 patients followed by formal D&C. Samples were labeled as A and B, respectively, and sent to a histopathologist who was blinded as to the method of sampling.

Investigating socio-economic-demographic determinants of tobacco use in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Background: To investigate the socio-economic and demographic determinants of tobacco use in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Methods: Cross sectional survey of households (population based) with 2018 respondent (1038 Rural; 980 Urban) was carried out in Rawalpindi (Pakistan) and included males and females 18-65 years of age. Main outcome measure was self reported daily tobacco use.

Training in reference management software--a part of new medical informatics workshops in Pakistan.

Background: Researchers in Pakistan can increase writing productivity, reduce errors in manuscripts and improve quality of their papers by hands-on workshops on bibliographic reference software.

Methods: A workshop was conducted in an interactive tutorial format using an overhead projector to show screenshots of software at each step. Our Workshop included: starting the Endnote program (www.

Clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome and response to metformin therapy.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of diagnosing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) predominantly on clinical features and the response to metformin therapy.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa College of medicine and Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from January 2003 to July 2006.