Health guidelines across the globe are based on research. More often than not, high quality research can only be found in ‘the West’. This results in Pakistan’s health guidelines being dependent on research that is not local
One of our objectives is to produce high quality research via an extensive Database that we are always growing. The Sugar Hospital has over 10,000 patient files and our community work continually records data too. 2018 onwards, together we will be accumulating a 30,000 diabetes related episodes annually.
We aim to:
- Use the data to learn and improve our services through clinical and service audits
- Conduct both prospective and retrospective epidemiological studies in local communities
- Publish and share our work in magazines and medical journals
- Present and share our experiences with colleagues, patients and public at local, national and international levels
- Provide authentic clinical, economical and social evidence to policy makers to facilitate formulating strategy, planning and offer piloting partnerships to address the NCD burden in KP and Pakistan
Diabetes and peripheral Neuropathy (proposed)
September to December 2022, a cross sectional survey was conducted by Dr. Ahmedyar Hasan to assess the prevalence of signs/ symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes, attending “Circle of care”, at Sugar hospital. Study duration was four months and Google questionnaire has been filled by the Foot Care department, with informed patient consent, after ethical approval at Sugar hospital. Data analysis and writing up is in progress
Diabetes and Ramadan
March 2022, we participated in the 2nd round of multicenter study with Baqai University Karachi, Quata, Lahore and Pakistan Medical Center Dubai, to observe the frequency of major complications among fasting people with diabetes of different risk categories. Findings were published. Evidence-based risk factors for major complications during Ramadan fasting in people with diabetes grouped under IDF-DAR risk categories.
Research and Ethics
December 2021, we formally establish our AIMS Research Ethics Committee (REC) construction, at Sugar hospital. REC consisted of total 11 members. A chair person, a general Secretary, four technical member (3 doctors, one university teacher), one lay person representing the community, one Imam (religious leader), two patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and one ex politician. Since that time REC has approved 12 research projects from collaborative university students. Eight research projects were completed by MPhil and MSc students, from Khyber University, 2 from Agriculture University and 2 from Nutrition Department, Peshawar University. These projects were based at sugar hospital for data collection in type 2 diabetes patients, and usually of four to six weeks duration at one time.
Patient Satisfaction Survey
During September 2021, a patient satisfaction survey was conducted, at Sugar Hospital, to assess feedback from patients to measure their satisfaction with the quality of the healthcare service provided to them and to improve on our short comings. Click here for more information
Diabetes and nutrition
During May 2020, Nutrition Department, Sugar Hospital, has developed a 2.5 minutes nutrition/ diet related educational video and written material, in Urdu language, for patients with diabetes. This project was designed by UK-based AIMS volunteer, Dr. Yusra Amanullah, during COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information