A comparative study of different methods of training of rural subjects for reconstitution of oral rehydration solutions
Nagarajan, L.; Majumdar, S.; Natarajan, U.; Ganguly, N.K.; Walia, B.N.
Indian Pediatrics 26(4): 323-329
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 2599591 Document Number: 368926
Researchers conducted a comparative study on the efficacy of training 61 rural women of the Punjab in India in making oral rehydration solution (ORS) from ORS salts using 3 different techniques. The community health worker (CHW) orally instructed the 21 women in Group I. In Group II, the CHW orally instructed 20 women and demonstrated how to reconstitute the ORS salts in the sachet. The 20 women in Group III received plastic bags containing ORS salts and marked with a line printed on it to mark 1/2 liter. The CHW also orally told them what to do. A physician was present for questions for each group. After instruction, the CHW instructed all the women to return home and in 2-4 hours reconstitute the ORS salts in the presence of the CHW and a physician. The CHW or physician collected a sample of the ORS from each participant. A significant difference existed between the ideal concentration of glucose (2 g/dl), sodium (90 mEq/L), and potassium (20 Meq/L) and the concentration of Group I and Group III (p,.001). Specifically, the mean concentrations for Group I were 3.335, 128.38, and 32.995 respectively and for Group III 2.6835, 119.595, and 26.16 respectively. The difference between the ideal and Group II's concentration was less significant (p.05). Group II's concentrations stood at 2.171,97 and 21.14 respectively. No significant difference existed in the age, monthly income, and literacy status of the women. Special care should be applied when training illiterate people so as to dispel preexisting beliefs. For example, 23.8% of the women in Group I did not use the whole packet because when making tea one only uses 2-3 teaspoonfuls of sugar. This study confirms the superiority of training workers of ORS therapy using live demonstrations as opposed to giving oral instructions plus the need to establish an adequate measure of a liter of water.