Annual Research Symposium (ARS)

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Author: search.filters.author.de Silva, N.R.

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    Potential use of allele distribution at codon 51 of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (pfDhfr) gene as evidence for early clinical failures to sulfadoxine-pyrimethaniine in an operational area in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2004) Hapuarachchi, H.A.C.; Dayanath, M.Y.D.; Abeysundara, S.; Bandara, K.B.A.T.; Abeyewickreme, W.; de Silva, N.R.
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    Role of Aedes albopictus in transmitting dengue virus in some endemic areas in Kurunegala District
    (University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2003) Hapugoda, M.D.; de Silva, N.R.; Abesundara, S.; Bandara, K.B.A.T.; Dayanath, M.Y.D.; Abeyewickreme, W.
    Abstract Available
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    Prevalence of atopic diseases among school children in Western Province
    (University of Kelaniya, 2007) Amarasekera, N.D.D.M.; Gunawardena, N.K.; de Silva, N.R.; Weerasinghe, A.
    Background : Atopic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and eczema in children are major public health problems in developed, industrialized countries as well as in some developing countries. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of atopic diseases in schoolchildren in grade 5 in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Method : Schoolchildren in grade 5 were selected by stratified - random sampling frbm 17 schools in the Western Province. Internationally validated ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire, filled by the parent or guardian was used to collect details regarding atopic diseases. Results : A total of 640 schoolchildren were recruited. Five hundred ~nd eleven (79.8%) returned the completed questionnaire. The mean age was I 0 years (SD ± 0.3) and 55.9% of the study population was boys. Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema was 17%, 21.4% and 5% respectively, while 33.7% had one or more diseases, Thirty three (21.4%) of the children with an atopic disease was on long term treatment. Only the prevalence of allergic rhinitis showed a statistically significant difference between the two sexes, being more common in boys. Less than 30% of affected children's parents recognized that their child had either asthma or rhinitis, whereas a higher number of parents (54.2%) recognized that their child had eczema. Among children with asthma, 44.4% had rhinitis and wheezing was severe enough to disturb their sleep in 52.4% of children. Conclusion: One in 3 children in grade 5 had either asthma or rhinitis or eczema, but parental recognition of these conditions was poor. Atopic diseases are a significant health problem among schoolchildren in the Western Province.
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    Density of Aedes aegypti and Aedes Albopictus in some dengue endemic areas
    (University of Kelaniya, 2000) Hapugoda, G.P.G.M.D.; de Silva, N.R.; Abeyewickreme, W.; Rajamanthri, R.
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    Using regular student feedback to improve the MBBS course
    (Research Symposium 2009 - Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2009) Liyanage, P.L.C.K.; Fernando, G.M.O.; de Silva, N.R.
    Introduction: A new MBBS curriculum was introduced in the Medical Faculty in 2004. In order to monitor the quality, feedback is obtained from students at regular intervals, both on completion of learning modules and at the end of longer learning phases and conveyed back to teachers through the Medical Education Centre. In this study, feedback from two consecutive batches, regarding their learning experiences in the 3rd and 4th years of study was analyzed in order to ascertain changes in student satisfaction. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to the 1st and 2nd batches of students to follow the new curriculum, at the end of their 4th year of study. Feedback was obtained on 10 learning modules; the clerkships conducted by the Faculty; and the Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Mental Health & Ethics strands. Students were asked to indicate their satisfaction with the different learning activities in these course components and the proportion of responses indicating satisfaction were compared between batches. Findings: Completed questionnaires were returned by 158/168 students and 140/164 students in the 1st and 2nd batches respectively. The proportion of responses expressing satisfaction with specific learning activities ranged from a low of 24.3% for a 4th year module to a high of 96% for the Family Medicine Clerkship, both for the 1st batch. Comparison of the level of satisfaction with two 4th year modules where the 1st batch had expressed the lowest levels of satisfaction showed that student satisfaction with both modules increased significantly from one year to the next: from 221/909 responses (24.3%) to 451/853 (52.9%) for one module (chi-squared=152.1, P<0.001); and from 595/857 (69.4%) to 631/845 (75.7%) for the other module (chi-squared=5.81, P=0.016). Conclusions: Regular student feedback is useful in identifying course components that need improvement, and can be an effective means of initiating appropriate changes that improve the overall quality of the course.