Reviving medical tourism in Pakistan - A narrative review.

Medical and health care traverse geographical boundaries in the form of "Medical Tourism" with patients travelling from low and middle-income countries to developed nations and vice versa as well. Affordable medical care is also attracting patients from developed nations to countries like India, Thailand, UAE and others with international accreditation playing a key role. This also yields economic benefits for the recipient countries.

Smoking has detrimental effects on voice related Quality of Life of University Teachers.

Objective: To compare voice related quality of life of smoker and non-smoker university teachers.

Method: This Cross-Sectional descriptive study was conducted at Riphah International University over a period of six months January to June, 2022. A sample of N=352 University teachers of both genders, aged 25 to 65 years, who were faculty members and working at least 8 hours per day in teaching positions with at least one-year experience were included in the study.

Common practices of Speech and language pathologists about partner oriented training to treat aphasia.

Objective: To find the common practices among speech language pathologists regarding partner-oriented training for aphasic patients.

Methods: The exploratory, qualitative study was conducted at Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan, from March 1 to May 31, 2021, and comprised speech language pathologists working with aphasic patients for at least 5 years in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Data was collected using a structured interview guide that were conducted online.

Urdu Receptive Language Scale (URLS): Modification & development of protocol for administration in Urdu.

Objective: To conduct pretesting of Urdu Receptive Language Scale (URLS) for scale modification and development of protocol for administration on children.

Methods: This exploratory research was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 in Lahore, Pakistan. Objective was achieved by pretesting in three steps including literature review, expert review and pilot testing on infants, toddlers and children aged 0-6 years utilizing purposive sampling technique.

Treatment approaches to Motor Speech Disorders: A step towards Evidence Based Practice.

Motor Speech Disorders is an umbrella term for a set of separate dysfunctions of speech outcome associated with neurological disorders. Motor speech disorders (MSD) are classified as Speech Motor delay (SMD), Childhood dysarthria (CD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and Concurrent CD and CAS. The incidence and prevalence of MSD in population is uncertain.

Self-reported Vocal symptoms among speech language pathologists dealing with children with hearing impairment and cerebral palsy.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Ripah International University, Lahore, Pakistan from January to April, 2022 to evaluate and compare the Self-Reported Vocal symptoms among Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) practicing with children having Hearing Impairment (HI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP). The sample included 141 participants of both genders, aged 25 to 60 years, practicing with children with hearing impairment and cerebral palsy for at least one year. Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS) and Voice Activity Participation Profile (VAPP) were utilised for data collection which was analysed using SPSS Ver-23.

World Health Organization Success In Rehabilitation 2030 Including Refugees' Rehabilitation Across South Asia: A Narrative Review.

Despite acknowledging the inadequacy of rehabilitation systems to meet the ever-increasing burden of disability, the World Health Organization's Rehabilitation 2030 initiative has not highlighted nor adequately analysed the deficiencies of the rehabilitation care structures of populous countries in South Asia. The pragmatic and operational realisation of the initiative is not high in terms of visibility in developing countries with fragmented rehabilitative care structures. Hence, the current narrative review was planned to highlight the spectrum of rehabilitation healthcare in the perspective of Sustainable Development Goal-3 with reference to the most populous South Asian countries, including Pakistan.

Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on spasticity, walking and quality of life in poststroke lower limb spasticity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on lower limb function, walking, and quality of life in patients with lower limb poststroke spasticity.

Data Sources: A comprehensive and systematic electronic database search of PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest thesis Dissertation checks, Google Scholar was conducted from January 2010 to March 2022.

Review Method: Initially, the bibliography was screened to identify randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of ESWT on lower limb spasticity and functional outcomes in stroke patients.

Post-Stroke Swallowing And Communication Complications: Prevalence And Association With Comorbid Conditions And Risk Factors.

A cross sectional study utilising convenience sampling was conducted to determine the co-morbidities and risk factors in post stroke patients with swallowing and communication complications. The study recruited 150 diagnosed cases of stroke with no gender and age limitation from Combined Military Hospital, Fatima Memorial Hospital, and Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from January to June 2015. Glasgow coma scale, Modified Massey Bedside Swallow Screener, informal clinical assessment by SLP, and medical history sheet were employed for data collection, while the data was analysed using SPSS -23.

Vocal health of parents of children with hearing assistive devices.

Background & Objectives: VH (Vocal health) is the need of the hour. VH of parents of children with hearing assistive devices (HAD) reveals a literature gap, during the habilitation process of their children. To explore the vocal health of parents of children with hearing assistive devices.

International and national perspective of disability and policy disconnect in Pakistan: A narrative review.

In the developed societies, supportive environmental, physical and social conditions enable participation of persons with disabilities in the mainstream through actions, like provision of ramps and reserved parking. In contrast, in the developing countries like Pakistan, with focus on visual disability, years lost to disabilities compromise and restrict the productive life span of the disabled. The current narrative review was planned to highlight the perspective of disability in the context of Pakistan to bring to limelight the issues requiring immediate focus of the health authorities and the government through a holistic and sustainable approach.

Dysphagia and obstructive sleep apnoea in post-extubated intensive care unit patients.

Objective: To determine the relationship between dysphagia and obstructive sleep apnoea and its association with age, gender and Glasgow Coma Scale in post-extubated patients in an intensive care setting.

Methods: The correlational study was conducted from July 1 to October 31, 2021, at the intensive care unit of Evercare Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised post-extubated patients of either ender aged 45-70 years within 72 hours following extubation and having Glasgow comma scale score 11-15. Gugging Swallowing Screen and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea questionnaires were used for data collection.

Association of social and psychological aspects of quality of life and educational level of patients with different orofacial cleft.

Objective: To determine the social and psychological domains of quality of life of children with orofacial clefts in the context of different types of clefts and educational levels.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Clapp Hospital and Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from September 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021, and comprised subjects of either gender aged 6-18 years having orofacial clefts. Data was collected using the CLEFT-Questionnaire along with a basic demographic sheet.

Hearing impairment and its impact on children and parents in Pakistan.

Background: Hearing impairment and its consequences in children are often worsened by late identification in Pakistan. Deep-rooted cultural beliefs make some parents reluctant to seek clinical treatment, making adaptable solutions that traverse levels of socio-ecological model necessary.

Aims: To determine the impact of hearing impairment on children's participation in social activities, and the financial burden on their parents.

Prevalence of vocal tract discomfort in patients with voice disorders.

Objective: To analyse the prevalence of vocal tract discomfort in patients with voice disorders.

Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan, from September 2020 to January 2021, and comprised voice disorder patients of either gender aged 18-65 years enrolled from Mayo Hospital, Sheikh Zayed Hospital and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. The Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale was used for data-collection.

Paediatric vocal fold nodules: management strategies to restore normal phonation-Speech-Language Pathologists perspective: A cross-sectional survey.

Vocal fold nodules are benign vocal cord lesions which develop in voice abusers, including children, though chronic cough, sinusitis, and reflux may also be the causative agents. Since low or no-evidence treatment strategies, like the boone technique, are in use in paediatrics, this study was conducted to determine the treatment strategies used by speech-language pathologists in paediatric vocal fold nodules using a cross-sectional survey at Riphah International University, Lahore, from October 2016 to May 2017. Sixty-five speech-language pathologists working with children in private clinics and multidisciplinary settings were recruited using purposive sampling.

Indiscipline in rehabilitation curriculum regulation-restricting development perspective: A narrative review.

Curriculum regulation and its oversight are indispensable and vital components of professional development. Regulatory bodies along with professional organisations have an essential role in curriculum regulation. The Pakistan Speech and Language Pathology Association, a body duly registered under the laws of Pakistan and whose governing body exclusively comprises pathologists with master's in Speech Language Pathology, has taken up the matter of standardisation and uniformity of curriculum with universities and with the Higher Education Commission.

Teaching strategies for rehabilitation curriculum: Coping with the Covid-19 situation.

The novel corona virus pandemic culminated in a global emergency shutting down educational institutions with recommendations of distant learning. Developing countries like Pakistan faced challenges in terms of keeping the education stream running. The current narrative review was planned to discuss the teaching strategies adopted by various institutes for coping with the situation created by the coronavirus disease-2019.

Dilemma of health rights of vulnerable citizens: A narrative review.

Vulnerable populations have traditionally faced non-availability of health services. Enforcement of constitutional protections to vulnerable citizens is essential to secure the health rights for them. The current narrative review was planned in the perspective of laws related to health rights by reviewing and highlighting such provisions in the constitutions of different countries and the scope of the World Health Organization (WHO), and to compare them with the on-ground situation prevailing in Pakistan.

Novel therapeutic techniques for post stroke aphasia: A narrative review.

Aphasia, an acquired language disorder, commonly results from a stroke affecting network of cortical and subcortical structures. Aphasia lacks effective standardised treatment. Neuroimaging and behavioural research indicate that some interventions promote neuroplasticity changes in aphasia.

Development & Validation of Urdu Receptive Language Scale (URLS).

Objectives: To develop "Urdu Receptive Language Scale (URLS)" for Urdu speaking Pakistani children of age 0-6 years.

Methods: This exploratory study was done at mainstream schools and day care centers on children with normal language development between the ages of 0-6 years from 1 March 2016 to 31 August 2016, by using convenient sampling technique. Firstly, the items for the questionnaire were constructed from four sources: literature review, experts, parents and direct observation of 384 Children of same age.

A Novel Virtual Reality Training Strategy for Poststroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Stroke patients suffer impairments including sensory, motor, visual, and cognitive areas, as well as gait and balance manifestations making activities of daily living difficult. In such conditions, virtual reality training can be a potential rehabilitation tool in comparison to conventional physical therapy to cater to the burden of this disability; hence, this randomized clinical trial compared the effects of virtual reality training and conventional physical therapy on balance and lower extremity function in stroke patients. The sample of 68 poststroke participants from Kanaan Physical Therapy and Spine Clinic, Lahore, Pakistan, were divided into  = 34 cases each using the lottery method with one group given virtual reality training and the other received conventional physical therapy.

Aphasia-Diagnostic Challenges and Trends: Speech-Language Pathologist's Perspective.

Objectives: To explore current aphasia assessment practices and barriers among Pakistani speech language pathologists.

Methods: Descriptive study design with qualitative parameters was used. Participants were identified using purposive sampling over a period of eight months from 1st December 2018 to 31st July 2019.

A Hospital based study on sudden sensorineural Hearing Loss: It's audiological characteristics and prevalence.

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence & characteristics of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: This cross sectional study including n=377 cases of sensorineural hearing impairment, using non-probability convenience sampling, who fulfilled the selection criteria was conducted from 1 July 2019 to 31 October 2019. Study was conducted at Audiology section of ENT department, Lahore General Hospital, Pakistan.