Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a record of electrical activity of the heart. PQRST waves represent
the electrical activities of atria and ventricles. A complete three-dimensional electrical activity is
possible to be recorded using a 12-lead ECG. The normal and different routinely-met clinical ECG
are elaborated and discussed. This routine, normal and abnormal ECG, like arrhythmias and heart
block records as well as their clinical notes shall be educational information for the medical students.
Medication errors (MEs) are preventable mistakes that occur when there is a failure in the treatment process of any disease that can cause potential harm to patients. Having an effect on patients, health outcomes and costs incurred, it does burden our economically-developing country. Database systems have been created worldwide for the reporting of MEs, but varying countries practise different classifications of MEs hence it poses a challenge to categorize them. This makes it next to impossible to fully curb this continual problem. There are a number of classifications of MEs, based on mistakes and errors based on skills, based on the mistakes itself, based on symptoms and based on the stages of drug delivery system. This review summarizes the pre-existing classifications of MEs.
A 40 year old, Muslim patient was brought to the clinic for his chronic 20-year long problem alcohol drinking habits. He was treated in the nursing home and was further directed to the in house rehabilitation centre. Psychotherapists after counselling sessions after a detailed behaviour analysis arrived at cognitive behaviour therapy combined with electric shock aversion therapy after consent from the patient. Seven sessions of therapy, relieved the alcohol craving habit. Patient’s insight and preparedness to lead an alcohol free family life was the major positive behavioural asset. Electric shock therapy with psycho-education and counselling found to benefit long term alcohol problem behaviour.
The main objective of this study was to obtain information regarding the effects of educational and socio-economic status of the patients on the prescribing pattern of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by the qualified medical personnel in the outpatient departments (OPDs) of two selected polyclinics in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 200 selected patients (100 from each polyclinic) attending the OPDs were interviewed using a questionnaire. Again data were collected, photocopied and later analyzed. Educated and higher income group of patients mostly attended in a Private Polyclinic (PPC) whereas less educated and lower income group of patients generally attended UMS Polyclinic (UPC). This was reported as a probable reason for the wide variations in the prescribing pattern with respect to pharmacological subclasses of NSAIDs in the OPDs of two polyclinics. The present results strongly support that probable reason. The number of patients taking NSAIDs before coming to hospital was more in PPC compared to UPC. They were influenced by pharmacists, friends and doctor’s advice given previously. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that overall prescribing pattern of NSAIDs among two polyclinics is rational.