International Conference on Nursing and Allied Health for Sustainability [ICoNAHS] 2025

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/4287

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Sri Lanka

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    PublicationOpen Access
    Food Habits Changes and their Impact on Young Adults During COVID-19 Lockdown in Sri Lanka
    (School of Nursing, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Chamodini, H. W. T.; Mihirani, N. H. G. M.; Sandamali, P. G. S.; Dilrukshi, A. N.; Perera, A. C. H.; Sewwandi, K. P. A.
    Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in many aspects of life. Nutrition is one important aspect that has been impacted both positively and negatively. Pandemic mitigation strategies restricted the movement of people, disrupting food production, distribution, and accessibility. On the other hand, the quantity and the quality of nutrition were also altered considerably. Young adults are vulnerable to multiple changes, including nutrition. It has been a timely requirement to study these changes during challenging situations, and the findings can be utilized to introduce nutritional guidelines during pandemic periods and nutritional recovery guidelines during post -pandemic periods. The study explores alterations in dietary habits and lifestyle patterns among Sri Lankan young adults during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 118 participants aged 18-30 through an online questionnaire. The study revealed decreased consumption of vegetables, fruits, and chocolates, accompanied by higher levels of water intake and more frequent dinners. Physical activity levels declined significantly, while body weight and sleep duration increased. The research highlights the lockdown's multifaceted impact on young adults' health, emphasizing the need fortargeted nutritional and physical activity guidelines during such crises and even during post -pandemic periods.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Integrating Western Medicine with Ayurveda in Sri Lanka: Innovative Approaches to the Holistic Management of Thalassemia
    (School of Nursing, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Thilakasiri, T
    Thalassemia is a common hereditary anaemia in Sri Lanka, posing significant clinical and economic challenges. Standard Western treatment with transfusions and iron chelation improves survival but has limitations, including iron overload, high costs, and limited curative options. Ayurveda offers holistic therapies, such as Pandurog Chikitsa, which utilizes herbal formulations like Triphaladi Avaleha and Dhatri Lauha, that may complement Western care by improving quality of life and reducing complications.This study proposes an integrative management model combining Western medicine, Ayurvedic therapy,and digital health tools. Methods included a literature review, simulated expert interviews, and development of a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) -compatible electronic health record (EHR) prototype. Results confirm approximately 2,000 transfusion-dependent patients in Sri Lanka, withcarrier frequencies of 2.8% for β-thalassemia and up to 10% for α-thalassemia. Standard care challenges include mean ferritin levels often exceeding 2500 ng/mL and a significant budget impact. Ayurvedic adjuvant trials showed improved symptom control, slower ferritin rise, and modest extension of transfusion intervals by 3–5 days. The EHR prototype demonstrated the potential to integrate patient data across systems, but it also revealed gaps in the digital infrastructure. Integrating Ayurveda with moderncare could help manage transfusion side effects and improve holistic well-being, though challenges remain in evidence generation, policy support, practitioner training, and health IT integration. This model supports maintaining essential Western interventions while adding Ayurvedic supportive care, offering a feasible approach to enhance outcomes and serving as a potential blueprint for other chronic disease management in Sri Lanka.