13 research outputs found
Assessment of ICT Literacy and Usage among Undergraduates in Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
No full textThe study investigated the accessibility and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among undergraduates at Yezin Agricultural University (YAU) in Myanmar, focusing on their ICT literacy competencies. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study employed stratified random sampling to select 239 students for data collection through structured questionnaires during the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year, complemented by face-to-face interviews. Findings revealed that students owned an average of two ICT devices and spent over seven hours daily using them, with mobile devices being particularly prominent. Senior students demonstrated more frequent computer use compared to juniors, and over 90% had taken ICT-related courses. Websites were the primary source for information retrieval, while group discussions were preferred for communication. However, the study noted minimal use of multimedia resources and artificial intelligence (AI). Students exhibited competent basic skills in computers and smartphones, but their proficiency in software like Microsoft Office and audio/video editing was only medium, with significant gaps in Learning Management Systems (LMS) and AI technologies. Upper-semester students showed slightly better ICT skills than their lower-semester counterparts. The undergraduates in the YAU were found to have moderate ICT literacy skills (mean = 2.99). The study highlighted the need for enhanced training in multimedia and AI applications to equip students for contemporary digital challenges. It also found a significant correlation between the number of ICT tools used and skill level (r = 0.242, P < 0.01). The insights gained from the study can be applied to refine educational practices, including those related to learning, teaching, and administration, thus supporting the pursuit of quality education in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)
Effect of medications with anti-cholinergic properties on cognitive function, delirium, physical function and mortality: a systematic review
No full textObjectives: to determine the effect of drugs with anti-cholinergic properties on relevant health outcomes.Design: electronic published and unpublished literature/trial registries were systematically reviewed. Studies evaluating medications with anti-cholinergic activity on cognitive function, delirium, physical function or mortality were eligible.Results: forty-six studies including 60,944 participants were included. Seventy-seven percent of included studies evaluating cognitive function (n = 33) reported a significant decline in cognitive ability with increasing anti-cholinergic load (P <0.05). Four of five included studies reported no association with delirium and increasing anti-cholinergic drug load (P > 0.05). Five of the eight included studies reported a decline in physical function in users of anti-cholinergics (P <0.05). Three of nine studies evaluating mortality reported that the use of drugs with anti-cholinergic properties was associated with a trend towards increased mortality, but this was not statistically significant. The methodological quality of the evidence-base ranged from poor to very good.Conclusion: medicines with anti-cholinergic properties have a significant adverse effect on cognitive and physical function, but limited evidence exists for delirium or mortality outcomes. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved
Community-based MDR-TB care project improves treatment initiation in patients diagnosed with MDR-TB in Myanmar
No full textBackgroundThe Union in collaboration with national TB programme (NTP) started the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in 33 townships of upper Myanmar to improve treatment initiation and treatment adherence. Patients with MDR-TB diagnosed/registered under NTP received support through the project staff, in addition to the routine domiciliary care provided by NTP staff. Each township had a project nurse exclusively for MDR-TB and 30 USD per month (max. for 4 months) were provided to the patient as a pre-treatment support.ObjectivesTo assess whether CBMDR-TBC project’s support improved treatment initiation.MethodsIn this cohort study (involving record review) of all diagnosed MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in project townships, CBMDR-TBC status was categorized as “receiving support” if date of project initiation in patient’s township was before the date of diagnosis and “not receiving support”, if otherwise. Cox proportional hazards regression (censored on 31 Dec 2016) was done to identify predictors of treatment initiation.ResultsOf 456 patients, 57% initiated treatment: 64% and 56% among patients “receiving support (n = 208)” and “not receiving support (n = 228)” respectively (CBMDR-TBC status was not known in 20 (4%) patients due to missing diagnosis dates). Among those initiated on treatment (n = 261), median (IQR) time to initiate treatment was 38 (20, 76) days: 31 (18, 50) among patients “receiving support” and 50 (26,101) among patients “not receiving support”. After adjusting other potential confounders (age, sex, region, HIV, past history of TB treatment), patients “receiving support” had 80% higher chance of initiating treatment [aHR (0.95 CI): 1.8 (1.3, 2.3)] when compared to patients “not receiving support”. In addition, age 15–54 years, previous history of TB and being HIV negative were independent predictors of treatment initiation.ConclusionReceiving support under CBMDR-TBC project improved treatment initiation: it not only improved the proportion initiated but also reduced time to treatment initiation. We also recommend improved tracking of all diagnosed patients as early as possible.</div
Contact Investigation of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients: A Mixed-Methods Study from Myanmar
No full textThere is no published evidence on contact investigation among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients from Myanmar. We describe the cascade of contact investigation conducted in 27 townships of Myanmar from January 2018 to June 2019 and its implementation challenges. This was a mixed-methods study involving quantitative (cohort analysis of programme data) and qualitative components (thematic analysis of interviews of 8 contacts and 13 health care providers). There were 556 MDR-TB patients and 1908 contacts, of whom 1134 (59%) reached the health centres for screening (chest radiography and symptoms). Of the latter, 344 (30%) had presumptive TB and of them, 186 (54%) were investigated (sputum microscopy or Xpert MTB/RIF®). A total of 27 TB patients were diagnosed (six bacteriologically-confirmed including five with rifampicin resistance). The key reasons for not reaching township TB centres included lack of knowledge and lack of risk perception owing to wrong beliefs among contacts, financial constraints related to loss of wages and transportation charges, and inconvenient clinic hours. The reasons for not being investigated included inability to produce sputum, health care providers being unaware of or not agreeing to the investigation protocol, fixed clinic days and times, and charges for investigation. The National Tuberculosis Programme needs to note these findings and take necessary action
Evaluation of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a Community-delivered Integrated Malaria Elimination (CIME) model in Myanmar: protocol for an open stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial
No full textIntroduction In the Greater Mekong Subregion, community health workers, known as malaria volunteers, have played a key role in reducing malaria in the control phase, providing essential malaria services in areas with limited formal healthcare. However, the motivation and social role of malaria volunteers, and testing rates, have declined with decreasing malaria burden and reorientation of malaria programmes from control to elimination. Provision of additional interventions for common health concerns could help sustain the effectiveness of volunteers and maintain malaria testing rates required for malaria elimination accreditation by the WHO.Methods and analysis The Community-delivered Integrated Malaria Elimination (CIME) volunteer model, integrating interventions for malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, childhood diarrhoea and malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)-negative fever, was developed based on global evidence and extensive stakeholder consultations. An open stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial, randomised at the volunteer level, will be conducted over 6 months to evaluate the effectiveness of the CIME model in Myanmar. One hundred and forty Integrated Community Malaria Volunteers (ICMVs, current model of care) providing malaria services in 140 villages will be retrained as CIME volunteers (intervention). These 140 ICMVs/villages will be grouped into 10 blocks of 14 villages, with blocks transitioned from control (ICMV) to intervention states (CIME), fortnightly, in random order, following a 1-week training and transition period. The primary outcome of the trial is blood examination rate determined by the number of malaria RDTs performed weekly. Difference in rates will be estimated across village intervention and control states using a generalised linear mixed modelling analytical approach with maximum likelihood estimation.Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by Institutional Review Board, Myanmar Department of Medical Research (Ethics/DMR/2020/111) and Alfred Hospital Ethics Review Committee, Australia (241/20). Findings will be disseminated in peer-review journals, conferences and regional, national and local stakeholder meetings.Trial registration number NCT0469588
Support package to all MDR-TB patients from diagnosis to treatment initiation under the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in Myanmar, 2015–16.
No full textSupport package to all MDR-TB patients from diagnosis to treatment initiation under the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in Myanmar, 2015–16.</p
Map of Myanmar showing 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships across four states/regions of upper Myanmar, 2015–16.
No full text*CBMDR-TBC project–community-based multi-drug resistant tuberculosis care project.</p
Flow chart showing treatment initiation cascade stratified by CBMDR-TBC status among diagnosed MDR-TB patients in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships of upper Myanmar, January 2015-June 2016.
No full text*MDR-TB: Multi drug resistant tuberculosis. aPatient considered receiving support if date of project initiation in patient’s township was before the date of MDR-TB diagnosis, date of MDR-TB diagnosis is missing for 20 patients and therefore could not be classified. bwhether patients were under CBMDR-TBC project or not cannot be ascertained as date of diagnosis was missing. cfollow-up period from diagnosis ranged from 6 months to 2 years.</p
Baseline characteristics of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships in Myanmar.
No full textBaseline characteristics of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships in Myanmar.</p
Factors associated with treatment initiation among patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in thirty three CB MDR-TBC project townships in Myanmar.
No full textFactors associated with treatment initiation among patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in thirty three CB MDR-TBC project townships in Myanmar.</p
