Nisha Jha

Bio: Nisha Jha is an academic researcher from Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pharmacovigilance & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 48 publications receiving 394 citations. Previous affiliations of Nisha Jha include Kathmandu Medical College & Gyanvihar University.

A study of sensitivity and resistance of pathogenic micro organisms causing UTI in Kathmandu valley.

Abstract: A retrospective study was conducted in five hospitals to observe the prevalence of organisms causing UTI and their sensitivity to antibiotics. Methodology: Altogether, data from five hundred samples of urine from five hospitals in Kathmandu was collected for this study from January 2005 to April 2005. Result: A total of 244 samples were found to be positive. Altogether six types of organisms were isolated as the causative factors. E. coli (49%), S. aureus, (coagulase positive) (23%), Proteus species (3.6%), Klebsiella (9.71%), Pseudomonas (0.8%) and Citrobacter (2.8%). Analysis of the samples showed that UTI was more common in females of younger age group as comp ared to males. The common age group for females was 21-30 years, whereas that for males was 31-40 years in all the hospitals except in hospital A, where the maximum number of females was from 31-40 years and males were between 71-80 years. The most common organism to cause UTI was found to be E. co li (49%), followed by S. aureus (23%) and Klebsiella (9.71%). All the organisms causing UTI were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and amoxycillin and ciprofloxacin was found to be least effective. Similarly, in three hospitals, B (88.2%), D (64.7%) and E (65.3%), amoxycillin was found to be most effective, amikacin and gentamycin (92.5%) was most effective in hospital C, and nitrofurantoin in hospital A (78%). The second commonest organism, i.e., S. aureus (23%) was most sensitive to cephalosporin (88.8%) of second generation, followed by nitrofurantoin (77.7%), amikacin (80.6%) and norfloxacin (65.5%). The third common organism, Klebsiella (9.71%) was most sensitive to norfloxacin (75%) and nitrofurantoin (75%). Lastly, Pseudomonas was resistant to all the antibiotics in hospital A, D and E, nil in hospital B and sensitive to amikacin (100%) in hospital C.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards medicines among school teachers in Lalitpur district, Nepal before and after an educational intervention

Abstract: Few studies regarding Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards medicines among school teachers have been carried out in Nepal Obtaining baseline KAP is important to note deficiencies and plan appropriate interventions School teachers have to know about medicines as they can be an important source of information about rational and safe use of medicines The department of Clinical Pharmacology, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, conducted a study regarding KAP of school teachers about medicines before and after an educational intervention from April 2011 to December 2011 The study was done in selected schools of Lalitpur district Teachers were selected on a voluntary basis after obtaining written informed consent Gender, ethnic or caste group, native place, age, educational qualifications, subject taught were noted An educational intervention using a combination of methods like presentations, brainstorming sessions, interactive discussions using posters and distribution of information leaflets about the use of medicines was conducted The KAP and overall scores among subgroups according to gender, age, level of education, subject, ethnicity, type of school (primary vs secondary and government vs private school) were studied KAP and overall scores before and after the intervention was compared using Wilcoxon signed ranks test as the scores were not normally distributed A total of 393 teachers participated before and after the intervention The median (interquartile range) knowledge, attitude and practice scores before the intervention were 63 (10), 23 (5) and 270 (48) respectively while the overall score was 356 The median knowledge, attitude and practice scores after the intervention were 71 (10), 28 (5) and 270 (48) respectively while the overall score increased to 369 Maximum possible score of knowledge, attitude and practice were 100, 40 and 320 respectively Scores improved significantly for knowledge (p<0001), attitude (p<0001) and total scores (p<0001) but not for practice (p=0528) The intervention was effective in improving knowledge and attitude of the teachers More studies among school teachers about their knowledge, attitude and practice about medicines are required in Nepal

Prevalence of adverse drug reactions with commonly prescribed drugs in different hospitals of Kathmandu valley.

Abstract: Objectives: To study the prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in five different hospitals of Kathmandu Valley.

Effect of an educational intervention on knowledge and attitude regarding pharmacovigilance and consumer pharmacovigilance among community pharmacists in Lalitpur district, Nepal.

Abstract: Pharmacovigilance activities are in a developing stage in Nepal. ADR reporting is mainly confined to healthcare professionals working in institutions recognized as regional pharmacovigilance centers. Community pharmacists could play an important role in pharmacovigilance. This study was conducted among community pharmacists in Lalitpur district to examine their knowledge and attitude about pharmacovigilance before and after an educational intervention. Knowledge and attitude was studied before, immediately after and 6 weeks following the intervention among 75 community pharmacists. Responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A pretested questionnaire having twelve and nine statements for assessing knowledge and attitude were used. The overall scores were obtained by adding the ‘knowledge’ and ‘attitude’ scores and ‘overall’ scores were summarized using median and interquartile range. Wilcoxon signed-rank test for repeated samples was used to compare the differences between knowledge and attitude of the pharmacists before and after the educational program. Knowledge scores [median (interquartile range)] improved significantly between pre-test [39 (44–46)], post-test [44 (44–44)] and retention period of 6 weeks after the intervention [46 (43–46)]. Knowledge score improved immediately post-intervention among both males [44 (41–47)] and females [44 (43–45)] but the retention scores (after 6 weeks) were higher [46 (42–48)] among males. Attitude scores improved significantly among females [46 (44–48)]. The overall scores were higher among pharmacists from rural areas. Knowledge and attitude scores improved after the educational intervention. Further studies in other regions of the country are required. The national pharmacovigilance center should promote awareness about ADR reporting among community pharmacists.

Medicine, rationality, and experience: an anthropological perspective.

Abstract: Inevitably, reading is one of the requirements to be undergone. To improve the performance and quality, someone needs to have something new every day. It will suggest you to have more inspirations, then. However, the needs of inspirations will make you searching for some sources. Even from the other people experience, internet, and many books. Books and internet are the recommended media to help you improving your quality and performance.

Adverse Drug Reactions in Children—A Systematic Review

Abstract: Background Adverse drug reactions in children are an important public health problem. We have undertaken a systematic review of observational studies in children in three settings: causing admission to hospital, occurring during hospital stay and occurring in the community. We were particularly interested in understanding how ADRs might be better detected, assessed and avoided. Methods and Findings We searched nineteen electronic databases using a comprehensive search strategy. In total, 102 studies were included. The primary outcome was any clinical event described as an adverse drug reaction to one or more drugs. Additional information relating to the ADR was collected: associated drug classification; clinical presentation; associated risk factors; methods used for assessing causality, severity, and avoidability. Seventy one percent (72/102) of studies assessed causality, and thirty four percent (34/102) performed a severity assessment. Only nineteen studies (19%) assessed avoidability. Incidence rates for ADRs causing hospital admission ranged from 0.4% to 10.3% of all children (pooled estimate of 2.9% (2.6%, 3.1%)) and from 0.6% to 16.8% of all children exposed to a drug during hospital stay. Anti-infectives and anti-epileptics were the most frequently reported therapeutic class associated with ADRs in children admitted to hospital (17 studies; 12 studies respectively) and children in hospital (24 studies; 14 studies respectively), while anti-infectives and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were frequently reported as associated with ADRs in outpatient children (13 studies; 6 studies respectively). Fourteen studies reported rates ranging from 7%–98% of ADRs being either definitely/possibly avoidable. Conclusions There is extensive literature which investigates ADRs in children. Although these studies provide estimates of incidence in different settings and some indication of the therapeutic classes most frequently associated with ADRs, further work is needed to address how such ADRs may be prevented.