Browsing by Author "Gamage, M."

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Low uptake of COVID-19 prevention behaviours and high socioeconomic impact of lockdown measures in South Asia: Evidence from a large-scale multi-country surveillance programme
(Elsevier Science, 2021) Kusuma, D.; Pradeepa, R.; Khawaja, K.I.; Hasan, M.; Siddiqui, S.; Mahmood, S.; Ali Shah, S.M.; de Silva, C.K.; de Silva, L.; Gamage, M.; Loomba, M.; Rajakaruna, V.P.; Hanif, A.A.; Kamalesh, R.B.; Kumarendran, B.; Loh, M.; Misra, A.; Tassawar, A.; Tyagi, A.; Waghdhare, S.; Burney, S.; Ahmad, S.; Mohan, V.; Sarker, M.; Goon, I.Y.; Kasturiratne, A.; Kooner, J.S.; Katulanda, P.; Jha, S.; Anjana, R.M.; Mridha, M.K.; Sassi, F.; Chambers, J.C.; NIHR Global Health Research Unit for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in South Asia.
BACKGROUND: South Asia has become a major epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding South Asians' awareness, attitudes and experiences of early measures for the prevention of COVID-19 is key to improving the effectiveness and mitigating the social and economic impacts of pandemic responses at a critical time for the Region. METHODS: We assessed the knowledge, behaviours, health and socio-economic circumstances of 29,809 adult men and women, at 93 locations across four South Asian countries. Data were collected during the national lockdowns implemented from March to July 2020, and compared with data collected prior to the pandemic as part of an ongoing prospective surveillance initiative. RESULTS: Participants were 61% female, mean age 45.1 years. Almost half had one or more chronic disease, including diabetes (16%), hypertension (23%) or obesity (16%). Knowledge of the primary COVID-19 symptoms and transmission routes was high, but access to hygiene and personal protection resources was low (running water 63%, hand sanitisers 53%, paper tissues 48%). Key preventive measures were not widely adopted. Knowledge, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 prevention measures were low amongst people from disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Fifteen percent of people receiving treatment for chronic diseases reported loss of access to long-term medications; 40% reported symptoms suggestive of anxiety or depression. The prevalence of unemployment rose from 9.3% to 39.4% (P < 0.001), and household income fell by 52% (P < 0.001) during the lockdown. Younger people and those from less affluent socio-economic groups were most severely impacted. Sedentary time increased by 32% and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake increased by 10% (P < 0.001 for both), while tobacco and alcohol consumption dropped by 41% and 80%, respectively (P < 0.001), during the lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identified important knowledge, access and uptake barriers to the prevention of COVID-19 in South Asia, and demonstrated major adverse impacts of the pandemic on chronic disease treatment, mental health, health-related behaviours, employment and household finances. We found important sociodemographic differences for impact, suggesting a widening of existing inequalities. Our findings underscore the need for immediate large-scale action to close gaps in knowledge and access to essential resources for prevention, along with measures to safeguard economic production and mitigate socio-economic impacts on the young and the poor. KEYWORDS: COVID-19; Preventative measures; Socioeconomic impact; South Asia; Surveillance system.
Management strategies for common viral infections in pediatric renal transplant recipients
(Baishideng Publishing Group, 2024) Ranawaka, R.; Dayasiri, K.; Sandamali, E.; Gamage, M.
Viral infections have been considered as a major cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation in pediatric cohort. Children are at high risk of acquiring virus-related complications due to immunological immaturity and the enhanced alloreactivity risk that led to maintenance of high immunosuppressive regimes. Hence, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of such infections are of paramount importance. Among all viral infections, herpes viruses (herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus), hepatitis B and C viruses, BK polyomavirus, and respiratory viruses (respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus and adenovirus) are common in kidney transplant recipients. These viruses can cause systemic disease or allograft dysfunction affecting the clinical outcome. Recent advances in technology and antiviral therapy have improved management strategies in screening, monitoring, adoption of prophylactic or preemptive therapy and precise treatment in the immunocompromised host, with significant impact on the outcome. This review discusses the etiology, screening and monitoring, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of common viral infections in pediatric renal transplant recipients.
A Study on Linguistic and Literary Characteristics of Sanskrit Language arising from the Buthsarana
(Department of Sanskrit, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, 2016) Gamage, M.
Buthsarana composed by vidyachakravarthi during the polonnaruwa era could be identified as a literary and a religious text. When examining the contents of Buthsarana it appears that the objective of the writer was to generate Buddhist religious devotion with the reader while panegyrizing the nine fold righteous virtues of Lord Buddha. But it is conspicuous from Buthsarana that it describes the Sanskrit linguistic literature that dominated during the Polonnaruwa era. It is obvious that Sanskrit language and the poetic tradition had influenced Buthsarana linguistically and literally. Objective of this research is to conduct a study on above factors. Certain other works can also be noted that reveals the manner of the Sanskrit influence was acquired by Sinhala literature during the Polonnaruwa era. Among them, the text adapted for this research is Buthsarana. This is a research conducted in association of primary and secondary sources. The text Buthsarana as primary sources and critical ideas of post classical experts and Sanskrit language and literature texts will be associated as secondary sources. Main expectation from this comparative study, a fresh aggregation of knowledge could be contributed regarding Sanskrit language, literature and above the manner in which Buthsarana acquired its influence.
What information and the extent of information research participants need in informed consent forms: a multi-country survey
(BioMed Central, 2018) Karbwang, J.; Koonrungsesomboon, N.; Torres, C.E.; Jimenez, E.B.; Kaur, G.; Mathur, R.; Sholikhah, E.N.; Wanigatunge, C.; Wong, C.S.; Yimtae, K.; Abdul Malek, M.; Ahamad Fouzi, L.; Ali, A.; Chan, B.Z.; Chandratilake, M.; Chiew, S.C.; Chin, M.Y.C.; Gamage, M.; Gitek, I.; Hakimi, M.; Hussin, N.; Jamil, M.F.A.; Janarsan, P.; Julia, M.; Kanungo, S.; Karunanayake, P.; Kollanthavelu, S.; Kong, K.K.; Kueh, B.L.; Kulkarni, R.; Kumaran, P.P.; Kumarasiri, R.; Lim, W.H.; Lim, X.J.; Mahmud, F.; Mantaring, J.B.V.; Md Ali, S.M.; Mohd Noor, N.; Muhunthan, K.; Nagandran, E.; Noor, M.; Ooi, K.H.; Pradeepan, J.A.; Sadewa, A.H.; Samaranayake, N.; Sri Ranganathan, S.; Subasingha, W.; Subramanium, S.; Sulaiman, N.; Tay, J.F.; Teng, L.H.; Tew, M.M.; Tharavanij, T.; Tok, P.S.K.; Weeratna, J.; Wibawa, T.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Wongwai, P.; Yadav, S.; FERCAP Multi-Country Research Team
BACKGROUND: The use of lengthy, detailed, and complex informed consent forms (ICFs) is of paramount concern in biomedical research as it may not truly promote the rights and interests of research participants. The extent of information in ICFs has been the subject of debates for decades; however, no clear guidance is given. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of research participants about the type and extent of information they need when they are invited to participate in biomedical research. METHODS: This multi-center, cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted at 54 study sites in seven Asia-Pacific countries. A modified Likert-scale questionnaire was used to determine the importance of each element in the ICF among research participants of a biomedical study, with an anchored rating scale from 1 (not important) to 5 (very important). RESULTS: Of the 2484 questionnaires distributed, 2113 (85.1%) were returned. The majority of respondents considered most elements required in the ICF to be 'moderately important' to 'very important' for their decision making (mean score, ranging from 3.58 to 4.47). Major foreseeable risk, direct benefit, and common adverse effects of the intervention were considered to be of most concerned elements in the ICF (mean score = 4.47, 4.47, and 4.45, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Research participants would like to be informed of the ICF elements required by ethical guidelines and regulations; however, the importance of each element varied, e.g., risk and benefit associated with research participants were considered to be more important than the general nature or technical details of research. Using a participant-oriented approach by providing more details of the participant-interested elements while avoiding unnecessarily lengthy details of other less important elements would enhance the quality of the ICF.