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2024-02-24T22:50:17ZAwareness towards COVID-19 and preventive strategies practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic among employees in four divisional secretariats in Matara district, Sri Lanka
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/7274
Title: Awareness towards COVID-19 and preventive strategies practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic among employees in four divisional secretariats in Matara district, Sri Lanka
Authors: Bandara, D.M.O.T.K.; Shavindi, J.M.L.; Herath, H.M.H.I.; Uyangoda, U.K.; Mudalige, W.M.D.U.L.; Rupasinghe, H.N.I.G.; Abeywikrama, H.S.; Kumarasinghe, R.L.; Priyadarshani, U.G.N.; Kisokanth, G.
Abstract: Introduction: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is an important and
urgent threat to global health. Public awareness on COVID-19 and its prevention is one of the feasible
strategies to prevent the spreading of the disease.
Objective: To assess the awareness towards COVID-19 emergence and the preventive strategies practiced
during the COVID-19 pandemic among permanent employees in Devinuwara, Malimbada, Matara and
Thihagoda Divisional Secretariats in Matara district, Sri Lanka.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over a one-year period from December 2021,
among 319 participants selected using the systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested and validated interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analyses were
performed using SPSS version 26.0, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results: Most of the participants (80%) were females (79.6%) and 85% of them were married. Of the
participants, 85% showed a high awareness towards COVID-19. The Mean awareness score was
78.14±7.98. There were significant associations between gender, age, and civil status with the level of
awareness towards COVID-19 emergence (p<0.05). Females (78.98 ±7.77) had a higher mean awareness
score than males (74.88 ±8.05) (Independent sample t-test). Nearly 92% of the participants reported good
adherence to preventive strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic with a mean practice score of
86.22±8.64. There were significant associations between gender, age, and civil status with the mean
practice scores towards COVID-19 emergence (p<0.05). Forgetfulness, busyness, and lack of resources
were identified as factors contributing to poor hygiene practices.
Conclusion: Even though a high level of awareness towards COVID-19 and favorable adherence to
preventive strategies among participants have been observed in the study, there were few factors associated
with poor hygienic practices. Relevant authorities need to address these gaps by providing health education
and continuous awareness creation.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZKnowledge, attitude and practices toward leptospirosis among the farmers in Ma-Eliya, Kurunegala
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/7272
Title: Knowledge, attitude and practices toward leptospirosis among the farmers in Ma-Eliya, Kurunegala
Authors: Hewarathna, B.P.; Shopijen, E.; Jayarathne, S.W.C.R.; Chamara, W.I.; Lakmali, W.S.D.; Nizran, S.M.; Sampath, V.W.A.; Weerawarna, A.W.K.S.; Amarasinghe, T.S.; Premakumara, G.A.S.
Abstract: Background: Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria leptospira which is
considered as a public health threat globally. Poor Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) towards this
disease can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To assess the KAP related to leptospirosis among the farmers in Ma-Eliya, Kurunegala district.
Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 farmers in Ma-Eliya,
Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess the KAP
toward leptospirosis. Cutoff scores for knowledge were 75%, 50-74%, and 50%, which were regarded as
good, satisfactory, and poor respectively. For attitudes toward leptospirosis, ≥ 70% was considered as
satisfactory and < 70% unsatisfactory, while ≥ 60% was considered as satisfactory and < 60% unsatisfactory
for practices on leptospirosis. Data analysis of the data was done using SPSS version 26.0. The level of
significance was considered to be p<0.05.
Results: The majority of the study participants were male (69.70%). The mean age of the farmers was
50.49 ±12.34. The majority of the study participants (60.6%) had been educated about leptospirosis by the
Public Health Inspector. It was found that most of the study participants (82.60%) had poor knowledge
37.38±12.86 related to symptoms, transmission, complications and prevention of the disease.
Unsatisfactory attitudes were demonstrated by the majority of the participants (43.63%) and 58.15% of the
farmers showed unsatisfactory practices towards disease prevention. Gender was statistically significantly
associated with the level of knowledge (p=0.003), attitude (p=0.014) and practices (p=0.001) regarding
leptospirosis.
Conclusion: The overall knowledge regarding leptospirosis was poor, while attitude and practices of the
farmers of Ma-Eliya were unsatisfactory. Thus, improvement in knowledge needs to be achieved through
health education sessions and information dissemination which could lead to improved attitude and
practices towards the management and control of leptospirosis.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZCross-cultural adaptation and validation of Sinhala version of quality of nursing work life scale
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/7271
Title: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Sinhala version of quality of nursing work life scale
Authors: Pathmakanthi, A.M.; Warnakulasuriya, S.S.P.
Abstract: Introduction: The quality of work life refers to the quality of the relationship between employees and total
work environment of an organization. As there is no scale to determine the work-life quality of Sri Lankan
nurses, a measurement tool is essential which is culturally acceptable.
Objective: To validate Brook’s Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale (QNWL) in Sinhala language, to assess
the quality of work life of Sri Lankan nursing professionals.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for
children in Sri Lanka. A total of 369 nurses were selected using simple random sampling. After a 2-week
interval, 73 nurses were retested. The translate-retranslate method was used to determine language and
content validity of the scale and expert opinion was sought. The reliability of the scale was determined with
the test-retest reliability. After obtaining the Ethical approval, data on socio-demographic characteristics,
work-related information and QNWL were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were
analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The validity of the Sinhala version of Brook’s quality of work life was considerably very high.
The scale was tested for content validity of the Sinhala adaptation taking into consideration expert opinion.
The overall Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.85, whereas the subscales ranged between 0.35 and 0.86. The
test–retest correlation for the total scale was r= 0.99. There was not a significant difference between test
administration sessions given two weeks apart.
Conclusion: The study findings revealed that there was a moderate QNWL. The results of the present study
show that the Sinhala version of the Quality of Nursing Work-Life Scale is a valid measurement tool for
determining the quality of the work-life among nurses in Sri Lanka2023-01-01T00:00:00ZKnowledge, Practice, and Attitudes of Self-medication of Antibiotics among Medical and Nursing undergraduates of University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/7269
Title: Knowledge, Practice, and Attitudes of Self-medication of Antibiotics among Medical and Nursing undergraduates of University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Authors: Chathurika, J.N.; Darshika, P.G.K.; Kajipan, B.; Lakrandi, P.P.M.; Prabhani, S.D.D.; Sanjayath, K.; Thanuraj, T.; Wijayananda, P.T.A.; Nayanamali, M.A.A.; Menike, W.A.R.P.
Abstract: Background: Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide emergency with a substantial healthcare and economic
burden resulting in multi-drug resistant infections. Knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare
undergraduates can significantly influence antibiotic use as future healthcare professionals.
Objective: To study Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of Self-Medication of Antibiotics (SMA)
among medical and nursing undergraduates of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to January 2023 among 401
nursing and medical undergraduates. Data was collected using a pre-designed self-administered
questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS version 26. A significant level was set as p<0.05 and results
were presented in terms of descriptive statistics. Associations between demographics and KAP were
defined in terms of Pearson’s chi-squared test. Mean comparisons of KAP between two faculties were
performed using an independent sample t-test.
Results: The study participants have a female majority (62.30%) aged 23-26 years (63.10%). Among the
study subjects, only 19.10% of medical undergraduates and 23.30% of nursing undergraduates have good
knowledge of SMA with a mean score of 9.79 (SD =2.10). Most participants (64.80%) have positive
attitudes with a mean score of 7.71 (SD=1.69) and 64.58% have good practices toward SMA with a mean
score of 8.45 (SD=2.28). Statistically significant associations were found between knowledge and the
academic year (p=0.001) and age groups (p<0.001). Moreover, 46.1% have self-medicated themselves
within the last year whereas Amoxicillin (15%) has the highest frequency. A significant association was
identified between knowledge and practice of SMA (p<0.001) and between attitude and practice of SMA
(p<0.001).
Conclusion: Results showed that participants with good knowledge have significantly good practices of
SMA. Participants with positive attitudes tend to follow good practices related to SMA. Despite having a
good knowledge of antibiotics, the majority of the undergraduates have an average attitude regarding SMA
which is not satisfactory in a healthcare-related undergraduate population.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z