A cross-sectional examination of growth indicators from Thai adolescent girls: Evidence of obesity among Thai youth?

Background: Few studies have examined growth data from adolescent girls in Southeast Asia and almost none have been carried out in Thailand. Thus this study examines growth data from Thai adolescent girls.

Aim: Cross-sectional growth data from a sample of Thai girls were compared to reference data from healthy well-nourished girls. It is hypothesized that the reference girls will be taller and heavier than the Thai girls; however, the growth indicators will also indicate that obesity is present among Thai girls.

Subjects and methods: Anthropometric and age at menarche data were collected from a sample of 319 adolescent girls ages 11–17 years living in suburban Thailand.

Results: Thai girls are heavier than the reference girls at ages 11–13 years yet are shorter and lighter than the reference girls at ages 14–17 years. The data also reveal that 18.4% of the girls are overweight or obese as classified by the CDC BMI-for-age percentile growth curves.

Conclusion: The findings suggest the presence of overweight and obesity among this adolescent Thai population. These data may reflect the impact of the improved economic situation of Thailand as well as the impact of body image concerns among these young girls.     

Determinants affecting the well‐being of people in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries

The aim of this research was to examine the determinants/factors affecting the well‐being of the Thai and Lao people, and the factors that predict the well‐being of those respective peoples. Eight hundred and sixty participants were recruited from three major regions of Thailand and Laos and were selected using multistage random sampling. A self‐reported well‐being questionnaire was developed using the theoretical framework of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and a questionnaire assessing their perceptions/attitudes concerning the factors affecting their well‐being was administered. The major findings were the following: (i) the factors affecting the well‐being and the self‐reported well‐being of Thais and Laotians were significantly different; and (ii) the factors predicting the well‐being of Thais included the living and working environment and the availability of medical information and technology at their hospitals. On the other hand, one of the factors predicting the well‐being of Laotians was their attitudes toward their society and its cultural values. A comprehensive and system‐wide review of mental‐health policy planning to improve the well‐being of people in Thailand and Laos in accordance with those predicted factors is recommended.     

Gabapentin does not improve multimodal analgesia outcomes for total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

This study assessed whether gabapentin given preoperatively and for two days postoperatively (in addition to patient-controlled analgesia [PCA] morphine, acetaminophen, and ketorolac) is effective in reducing morphine requirements and moderating pain scores when compared with placebo for primary total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

This single-centre double-blind randomized controlled trial was undertaken in patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty. All subjects received acetaminophen 1,000 mg and ketorolac 15 mg po preoperatively. Postoperatively, subjects received PCA morphine, acetaminophen 1,000 mg every six hours, and ketorolac 15 mg po every six hours. Subjects received either gabapentin 600 mg po preoperatively followed by 200 mg po every eight hours for two days or matching placebo. The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption at 72 hr following surgery. Secondary outcome measures included pain scores and patient satisfaction.

Results

There were 52 subjects in the gabapentin group and 49 subjects in the placebo group. The average cumulative morphine consumption at 72 hr postoperatively was 66.3 mg in the gabapentin group and 72.5 mg in the placebo group (difference ?6.2 mg; 95% confidence interval ?29.1 to 16.8 mg; P = 0.59). Mean pain scores at rest, with passive movement, or with weight bearing were similar in both groups at corresponding time periods for the first three days following surgery. In addition, mean patient satisfaction scores and hospital length of stay were similar in the two groups.

Conclusion

Gabapentin 600 mg po given preoperatively followed by 200 mg po every eight hours for two days has no effect on postoperative morphine consumption, pain scores, patient satisfaction, or length of hospital stay. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01307202.     

The effect of the one-to-one interaction process with group supportive psychotherapy on the levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice for patients that have experienced organ loss: An alternative nursing care model

This quasi-experimental research examined the effect of the one-to-one interaction process with group supportive psychotherapy on the levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice for patients that have experienced organ loss. Eighty patients from the hospital units were selected by matched pairs and paired according to gender, interval of age, type and time length of organ loss. Simple-random sampling was used to allocate each subject in the experimental and control groups, which consisted of 40 pairs. Questionnaires included hope, anxiety and self-care practice assessments. The experimental treatments consisted of the one-to-one interaction process with group psychotherapy. The results showed that the patients that received treatments in the experimental group had higher mean scores regarding the differences in levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice than those in the control group. This integrative approach is an alternative method for giving patients self-confidence in their self-care practice, in maintaining hope and in reducing anxiety. The method assisted patients in understanding their own problems and corrective actions so that they could be accepted by others by exchanging their feelings, thoughts, opinions and experiences through confrontation and self-exploration both individually and in group.     

The growing burden of obesity in Thailand: a review of current trends and policies

In recent years, there has been a rise in obesity-related diseases in transitional countries. These countries, once plagued with problems related to infectious disease and poverty, now face a dual burden of both chronic and infectious diseases. Thailand has recently experienced significant economic growth, and as a result, the numbers related to obesity and obesity-related diseases have risen significantly. Thailand is an important region to examine the timely issue of obesity-related policy because Thailand has been a model for successful public health interventions and policies throughout Asia. Further, such policies have significant implications for other regions of the world experiencing similar health transitions.