Pune (Voice news Service) : The KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune today launched a short film to create awareness about respiratory diseases. The 15-minute film is financially supported by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit in Respiratory Health (RESPIRE) at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
This film is a story targeted at rural audiences which aims to raise awareness about respiratory health, focusing on COPD and Asthma, including preventive measures, available treatments, and rehabilitation possibilities. The film also sheds light on the important work being done at the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Centre at KEM Vadu.
Dr Parag Khatavkar, Chest Physician, KEM Hospital Research Centre said that respiratory diseases, especially COPD and Asthma are amongst the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed diseases. The film will help reduce the confusion and increase awareness about the disease and its diagnosis. The film also attempts to debunk myths, misconceptions and superstitions surrounding the disease and tries to de-stigmatise the use of inhalers and similar treatments. Such films are necessary to clarify misunderstandings regarding respiratory diseases. The stigma attached to using an inhaler is high and such films are necessary to de-stigmatise the use of inhalers and other similar treatments
Diksha Singh, KEM Hospital Research Centre who conceptualised and coordinated the film production process added that the intention is to have screenings in the urban as well as rural areas and further post it across all social media platforms. The film will also be screened in the waiting areas of the General as well as Chest Department OPDs, Private Chest clinics and study clinics at the Vadu Rural Health Program
Dr Sanjay Juvekar, Professor and Head, Vadu Rural Health Program, KEM Hospital Research Centre informed that the Pulmonary Rehabilitation study was the first instance of a PR being systematically introduced in rural India and demonstrates effects of PR on improving health & quality of life of Chronic Respiratory Disease patients.
Basic concept/ Storyline of the short film
A recently retired man residing in the urban area, an athlete who aspires to run a marathon and a middle-aged housewife in the rural area are facing symptoms like breathlessness, cough, wheezing and reduced exercise capacity. When each of them decides to visit a doctor at their nearest convenience, they get themselves diagnosed and discover/ learn about the preventive measures, available treatments, and rehabilitation possibilities. The healthcare professionals also help these patients debunk many myths, misconceptions and superstitions surrounding the disease and inhaler use as well as educate them about the appropriate techniques to use them.
Research work at KEM Hospital Research centre
· The KEM Hospital Research Centre works with a mission to provide evidence-based, sustainable and rational health care solutions for the rural population using globally relevant community-based ethical research. Various vaccine trials and projects on social sciences, medical sciences, epidemiology, health technology, biotechnology, anthropology, pharmacy and many more are conducted at the Centre.
· A locally suitable PR Centre was made using the already existing ERS guidelines and the feedacks received from the caregivers and care recipients. The Pulmonary Rehabilitation centre at Vadu Rural Health Programme, KEMHRC, Pune was inaugurated in December 2020 by the hands of the Pune District Health Officer, Dr. Bhagwan Pawar.
· Various disease burden and surveillance projects like the BOLD study as well as the 4CCORD studies have been completed in the past.
