Padmal de Silva

National Institute of Health Sciences

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Dinesh Bhugra

King's College London

Janet Treasure

King's College London

Ambepitiyawaduge Pubudu De Silva

Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

Melanie Marks

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Prasad Katulanda

University of Colombo

Isurujith Kongala Liyanage

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Chandrika Neelakanthi Wijeratne

University of Colombo

Sumedha Wijeratne

University of Colombo

Lalini Rajapakse

University of Colombo

Sultana O. Y. Sulaiman

Cooperative Institutions

King's College London

University of Colombo

University College London

Psychiatry Research Trust

Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

University of London

UNSW Sydney

Maudsley Hospital

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

University of Oxford

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The Joys of Bill-Watching

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (2005)

Padmal de Silva

This paper provides a brief account of Bill-Watchers Anonymous, an unofficial organization dedicated to the task of observing, and reporting on, a major figure in British clinical psychology. The aims and objectives are summarized. Some of the findings made by the members, based on direct observation and investigation, are highlighted. The essentially rewarding nature of this work is emphasized.

10.1017/s1352465805002390

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Factors influencing cure rates of non‐dermatophyte mold and Candida onychomycosis: analysis of outcomes in 81 patients who completed treatment

International Journal of Dermatology (2016)

Ranthilaka R. Ranawaka Padmal de Silva

Onychomycosis shows a poor response to current topical, oral, or device-related antifungal therapies. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the cure rates of non-dermatophyte mold and Candida onychomycosis.Eighty-one patients who completed treatments were divided into "cured" and "non-cured" groups. The statistical significance of differences between the two groups was studied.Male gender (P < 0.01), long duration of disease before the initiation of treatment (P < 0.02), three or more infected nails (P < 0.0002), continuous exposure to water and detergents (P < 0.05), frequent exposure to mud and soil (P < 0.01), barefoot walking (P < 0.025), concomitant diabetes and hypertension (P < 0.04), eczema (P < 0.03), and associated paronychia (P < 0.01) had negative effects on cure rates of onychomycosis. Patient age, occupation, site of illness (hand, foot or big toe), type of disease (distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis or total dystrophic onychomycosis), pathogenic fungi, and treatment modality had no statistically significant impact on cure rate.To minimize the failure rate of antifungal therapies in the treatment of onychomycosis, patients are advised to start treatment as soon as possible, and to avoid predisposing factors such as exposure to water, detergents, mud and soil, and barefoot walking.

Dermatophyte

Concomitant

Nail disease

10.1111/ijd.13426

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Effects of health educational and participatory consumer group interventions in improving food handling practices in regional director of health services area Kalutara, Sri Lanka: non-randomized controlled community trial

BMC Public Health (2024)

Lasantha Krishan Hirimuthugoda Padmal de Silva Palitha Abeykoon

Abstract Introduction Safe and nutritious food is the key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, the elderly, and the sick. Methods The study consisted of two phases, a descriptive cross-sectional study, and an intervention study. Both studies were conducted in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The descriptive cross-sectional study [food handlers ( n = 904), food establishments ( n = 421)] was conducted with the objective of determining factors associated with food handling practices among food handlers and in food establishments. The interventional study was a three-arm non-randomized controlled community trial ( n = 50 per arm) with interventions of a participatory consumer group, educational package group, and control group. Results The food establishments assessment tool (FEAT) contained 11 domains including 75 items with more than a hundred assessment points with a guide to conduct an assessment of food handling. The descriptive cross-sectional study found that food handlers’ knowledge of food handling practices of storing milk, fish, and meat and fast-food items containing fish and meat was very poor (96.6%). Visibility of the last place of processing inside the food establishments to consumers was inadequate (19.2%) and the absence of the above-mentioned factor was significantly associated with an unsatisfactory level of food handling score in food establishments ( p = 0.03). The unsatisfactory level of food handling was significantly higher among food establishments with non-personal ownership ( p = 0.005), a low number of notices issued by legal authorities ( p = 0.02), dereliction of duty by owners/managers on supervising ( p < 0.001) and lack of medical certification to food handlers ( p < 0.0001). Participatory consumer group intervention and educational package interventions were effective in improving food handling practices in food establishments and among food handlers ( p < 0.0001). Two independent sample analysis using the Mann–Whitney U test showed, the best improvement in food handling practices was by participatory consumer group intervention ( p < 0.0001) and the second was educational package intervention ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions Knowledge and practices of food handling among participants were poor. A participatory consumer group is more effective than an educational package on improving food handling practices both among food handlers and in food establishments.

Biostatistics

Cross-sectional study

Hand washing

10.1186/s12889-024-18481-2

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Development of a food handling practices assessment tool based on the Sri Lanka food regulations

SAGE Open Medicine (2023)

Lasantha Krishan Hirimuthugoda Padmal de Silva Palitha Abeykoon Sameer Tunio Hasadari Pamoda Madarasinghe

Objectives: Neither the current assessment tool of Sri Lanka for food establishments is based on prevailing Food Regulations 2011 nor did its focus cover serious adaptions for precautions upon prevention of the diseases. The study aims to develop a food handling practices assessment tool based on the Sri Lanka Food Regulations 2011 and to assess food handling practices using a developed tool in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara. Methods: The study consisted of developing food establishments’ assessment tool (FEAT) in accordance with Food (Hygiene-1742/26) Regulations of Sri Lanka 2011 and assessing the food establishments using the developed tool in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The development of FEAT was carried out to mark inspection scores for food establishments conforming to Food Regulations, others reviewed international food safety protocols and agreements following key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Fully developed FEAT was transferred to a mobile application for ease of use, and assessments were conducted among 421 food establishments in three Medical Officer of Health areas. Results: FEAT contained 11 domains including 75 items with more than 100 assessment points including a guide to conducting an assessment of food handling, compared to the current version of the assessment tool in Sri Lanka. The majority of participants included in the qualitative assessment agreed to include a 1–5 scoring scale to report hygiene levels and to use hygiene regulation to develop FEAT as a legal basis. The highest percentage of food establishments (69.4%) in the “Good” category were in the Bandaragama Medical Officer of Health Area and the highest percentage of food establishments (54.5%) in the “very poor” category were in the Walallawita Medical Officer of Health Area. Food establishments taking precautionary measures, which are not assessed in the current tool, were good, but maintenance of processing area and installation of overhead structures and fitting were poor in food establishments in all three Medical Officer of Health Areas. Conclusions: The novel food assessment tool FEAT is a completely valid instrument for food establishments. It is designed for easy administration and supports reliable assessments. Overall food handling practices of food establishments in the Kalutara Regional Director of Health Services area following assessment with FEAT were in the “satisfactory” category.

Sri lanka

Needs assessment

10.1177/20503121231196009

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Citations (1)

Sexual consequences of non-sexual trauma

Sexual and Marital Therapy (1999)

Padmal de Silva

Abstract This paper discusses the sexual consequences of non-sexual traumatic experiences. While there is a large literature on the sexual effects of traumatic events in the sexual domain, relatively little has been written about the development of psychosexual problems following other traumatic experiences. Here, this phenomenon is discussed and illustrated. Data from a series of clients are provided, with some detailed case examples. Pathways to the development of sexual impairment from non-sexual trauma are also discussed. The need to enquire about sexual functioning in the overall clinical assessment of traumatized individuals is emphasized. Finally, some comments are made on treatment.

Psychosexual development

Sexual Functioning

10.1080/02674659908405400

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Perceptions of Depression in a Community Sample in Dubai

Transcultural Psychiatry (2001)

Sultana O. Y. Sulaiman Dinesh Bhugra Padmal de Silva

Although words describing depression may not exist across all cultures, the symptoms of depression do. In a study of the Arab community in Dubai, we conducted four focus groups, two each with males and females, to identify the terms and descriptions people use for depression, what symptoms they associate with it, their views on its causes, and their strategies for coping with it. All individuals knew someone who met the description of depression. The key symptoms of depression identified included: social withdrawal, feeling afraid, irritability, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, sadness, crying, excessive thinking, feeling bored and loss of interest in sex. Causes of depression identified included: stresses in the family and in the society, relationships, lack of support, marital conflicts, and problems with children. The most effective coping strategy identified was that of going to religious places and talking to religious professionals.

Irritability

Sadness

Depression

10.1177/136346150103800204

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Citations (39)

The principles of Buddhist psychology

Behaviour Research and Therapy (1988)

Padmal de Silva

10.1016/0005-7967(88)90120-9

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Citations (51)