Culture evolves through input over generations of research and practice. The goal of Indian culture has been health and happiness for all. The conceptual approach behind all these is to uphold quality and development of efficient system in everything including health and disease. If preventive and promotive health has to be inculcated in society, then health concepts, research and practice has to be translated in the language of culture. This process of integration is culturalisation of health.

Introduction: The Indian culture has accepted the habit of drinking carbonated soft drinks. As flavored carbonated beverages gained popularity, many people especially teenagers are used to the consumption of large quantities of soft drinks all through the day neglecting their normal food habits. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on carbonated soft drinks and their effect on health among teenagers. Materials and Methods: 100 students in the age group of 13–19 years were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, 3-point Likert’s scale was used to find attitude and a check list was used to assess the practice. Results: Among teenagers, 13.8% had adequate knowledge, 23.55% had favorable attitude towards carbonated soft drinks and their effect on health. The favorable practice was shown by 28% of teenagers. Conclusion: Health education and primordial prevention would be the best way to create awareness and to adopt healthy life style and combat the problems associated with carbonated soft drink consumption among teenagers.

Background: Cancer is a dreaded disease, feared by most. Cervical cancer in particular is more distressing as the organs involved are associated with femininity, sexuality and fertility. Once a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer she has to face physical, psychosocial consequences as well as side effects of therapy. Quality of life on a whole is disturbed. This can be improved through counseling. However the wellness aspect of such patients has been ignored. In crowded Gynecology/Radiotherapy OPDs, doctors are not in a position to optimally counsel cancer patients. This compromises the quality of care. Therapy-related queries of patients and caregivers may remain unanswered. Objectives: To develop and validate a counseling protocol for cervical cancer patients and their caregivers. Methods: Pattern and profile of gynecological cancers was determined by taking retrospective data of five years (2012–2016). An information booklet was developed to counsel cancer patients and their care givers through review of literature and pilot surveys. Problems faced by cervical cancer patients (n=10) during and after treatment were noted. Case studies (using semi-structured interview schedules) were done until saturated responses were obtained. The booklet was then validated by expert judges (n=10) and patients. Results: At PGIMER, a total of 3973 patients (2012–2016) of gynecological cancers got admitted. Majority patients were of cervical cancer (63%). A definite information gap was seen amongst cervical cancer patients and their care givers. Based on these findings, it was decided to provide information to them in a special counseling room (using information booklet) where their queries were successfully resolved. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to establish a special room in hospitals where cancer patients and their care givers can be counseled to improve their quality of life.

Introduction: Holistic Health is an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. Holistic Health is related to healthy diet and physical exercise, salutogenesis, health promotion, meditation, yoga, rehabilitation techniques, exercise and trauma care, biosciences in rehabilitation and prevention of diseases. Objective: To determine perception and practices regarding holistic health among medical students. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted among 150 medical students of a medical college in MP state in India. The study was conducted through a questionnaire having questions about our daily life decisions and situations, diet and emotions. All three domains of holistic health were covered i.e. body, mind and spirit and then scored accordingly to grade the level of health. Results: There were 49 males and 101 females in the study sample. The study showed that 15% of the students perceived optimal health, 23% excellent health, 32% good health, 12% fair health, 10% below average heath, and 8% poor health. None of them perceived extremely poor health. 50.0% admitted that they eat healthy diet, and 48.0% agreed that their water intake is adequate while 46.3% get at least seven to nine hours of sleep. In addition, 38.7% admitted that they suffer from increased body weight (obesity), and only 34.0% exercise frequently. Only 37.8% of students were able to meet their financial needs and desires, 56.0% admitted that their job does not utilize all of their greatest talents, and 26% agreed that they have peace of mind and tranquillity. Conclusion: The majority of college medical students have good health but at the same time, it was found that a high percentage of the students are either unaware or are ignorant about the importance of regular physical activities and suffer from increased body weight. TStudents needs to be made aware about concept of holistic health and how to achieve it.

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects 4% to 23% women, worldwide. Obesity, insulin resistance and uncontrolled eating are usually reported in PCOS. However, there is paucity of data describing associations between eating disorder and PCOS. Aim: To compare the anthropometric profile and eating behavior polycystic ovarian syndrome cases with those of healthy age-matched women. Method: Eighty-five PCOS cases and 85 controls were selected for the study from Gyne OPD of PGIMER, Chandigarh. Anthropometric assessments were performed on the cases and controls. Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) was used for determining the eating behavior. In addition, the frequency of eating processed food from outside was recorded. Results: The average weight of the cases and controls was 65.16 kg and 57.07 kg, respectively. The average frequency of eating processed food in a month was 15 in cases and 4.41 among controls. The average raw score of uncontrolled eating was 23.26 (cases) in comparison to 18.97 (controls). Average raw scores of emotional eating were 12.67 in cases and 10.76 in controls. The cognitive restraint average raw scores were 11.34 (cases) and 13.62 (controls). The cases had higher BMI than the controls. Monthly consumption of processed food was three times higher than the controls in cases. Uncontrolled eating and emotional eating scores were significantly higher in cases. Conclusion: More of PCOS cases were overweight/ obese with higher BMI, and higher emotional eating and uncontrolled eating scores in comparison to the healthy controls.

Introduction: Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health.1 Adolescent girls should also be enabled to increase control over their health. We need to mediate on their behalf to ensure easy access to relevant information and care related to health problems of adolescent girls. Objectives: (1) To ascertain the information needs about puberty-related health problems among the adolescent school-going girls of Chandigarh. (2) To develop, validate and introduce an educational booklet among the adolescent school-going girls addressing their healthcare needs in a holistic way. Methodology: A preliminary study was conducted from Jan 2015 to May 2015 in four schools of Chandigarh (30 girls from each school). Based on the results of this study, a comprehensive booklet has been developed, validated and published covering all the puberty-related aspects of girls in a holistic way. The booklet will be introduced in 52 schools of UT Chandigarh - 26 government and 26 private schools. 16 schools have been covered till date. Results: The major problems faced by girls at puberty include irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, excess facial hair growth, obesity and acne. The booklet was developed and validated by 10 experts and 14 respondents with validation score ranging from 8 to 10. The booklet was then introduced among 16 schools and the response was quite good and encouraging. Teachers even asked for extra copies of the booklet and said “Hum library funds utilize karke aur books mangwa lenge”.

Background: Depression among adolescent is an area of increasing concern worldwide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among school going adolescents in government and private schools in a rural area of block Beri of Haryana. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a sample size of 600 students (300 males and 300 females) studying in class 8th to 12th. A pre designed, pre tested tool SCL 90 R containing 90 items was used to screen depression in these students. Depression is one of the psychiatric morbidity screened by this tool. Cut off point of estimated raw score of 1 was used to label as depression. All the statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 20. Results: The overall prevalence of depression was found to be 39.1% with mild depression to be 33.1% and moderate to severe depression to be 6%. Depression was significantly more among female students (45%) than male students (33.3%). Overall prevalence of depression significantly increased with age. It was found to be 34.3% among 13-14 years age-group, 41% among 15-16 years age-group and 57.1% among 17-19 years age-group. The association of depression with other socio demographic profile like socio economic status, literacy level of mother and father, employment status of mother was found to be non-significant. Conclusion: It is concluded from the present study that more than one – third (39%) of school adolescents suffered from depression. Reasons for such high prevalence of depression need to be determined. At the same time teachers and parents should be made aware of this problem and appropriate counselling of students should be done through regular school-based screening programme.