Talha Khawar

Publications of Talha Khawar

• Vector control in cutaneous leishmaniasis of the old world: a review of literature.

  Authors: Masoom Kassi, Pashtoon Murtaza Kasi, Shah Muhammad Marri, Iqbal Tareen, Talha Khawar

  Dermatology online journal. 02/2008; 14(6):1.

  Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), a disfiguring disease, is prevalent in many parts of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Leishmaniasis is second only to malaria in terms of the number of peopleCutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), a disfiguring disease, is prevalent in many parts of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Leishmaniasis is second only to malaria in terms of the number of people affected; it is a major public health issue with significant social stigma. Although the different methods to diagnose and treat the disease are well discussed in the literature, the role of vector control in the prevention of CL has been underemphasized. Both Pubmed and Ovid search engines were used to obtain articles on prevention and control of cutaneous leishmaniasis. These materials were then screened for articles pertaining to vector control only. The World Health Organization's website along with the Cochrane database were also searched for relevant text. From this qualitative review, it can be seen that many effective interventions exist. Considering the multitude of factors involved in transmission of CL and the various effective control measures tried and tested by investigators, an interdisciplinary approach involving more than one of the above interventions would make sense. The interventions selected would then depend on the incidence of CL in that particular area, the population being targeted, the reservoir, the particular vector, the environment, the acceptability/popularity of the intervention, and the availability of funds.

• Excessive work hours of physicians in training: maladaptive coping strategies.

  Authors: Pashtoon Murtaza Kasi, Masoom Kassi, Talha Khawar

  PLoS medicine. 10/2007; 4(9):e279.

• Studying the association between postgraduate trainees' work hours, stress and the use of maladaptive coping strategies.

  Authors: Pashtoon Murtaza Kasi, Talha Khawar, Farooq Hasan Khan, Jawad Ghazanfar Kiani, Umber Zaheer Khan, Hadi Mohammad Khan, Urooj Bakht Khuwaja, Musa Rahim

  Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC. 19(3):37-41.

  BACKGROUND: The growing debate regarding long working hours of postgraduate trainees has been receiving considerable attention recently. This greater workload contributes to increasing stress. OurBACKGROUND: The growing debate regarding long working hours of postgraduate trainees has been receiving considerable attention recently. This greater workload contributes to increasing stress. Our objective was to specifically study the association between long working hours, stress and the greater use of 'maladaptive' coping strategies. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on all interns and residents at the Aga Khan University Hospital during February to May, 2005. Level of stress was measured by use of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the use of maladaptive coping mechanisms through Brief Cope-28. RESULTS: 55.1% scored over the threshold for mild stress i.e. GHQ > 3, while more than 46% of the trainees scored over the threshold of more than 4 for morbid stress. Trainees under stress reported more working hours on average as compared to those not under stress, 83.8 and 74.7 hours respectively. At the same time, those working for longer hours were more likely to have used these negative coping mechanisms, which would further contribute to more stress rather than relieving it. CONCLUSIONS: Significant levels of stress have been identified. Along with this, those working for longer hours were more likely to have used these negative coping mechanisms. Reduction of working hours is important. Simultaneously, interventions need to be planned at imparting knowledge, awareness and skills to cope with various kinds of stressors encountered by a trainee during his/her training. Additionally, limits need to be devised for the working hours of the trainees.