Knowledge and practices regarding leishmaniasis in Portugal - Comparison between blood donors and health students/professionals

Objective

To compare the current knowledge and practices regarding leishmaniasis among blood donors and health students and professionals, in Portugal.

Material and methods

Data were collected through the application of two questionnaires (one online and one in paper) with similar questions in two distinct cross-sectional independent studies, each targeting one of the groups. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics.

Results

In total, 3763 blood donors, 254 students and 232 professionals were included in the comparative analysis. Over 95% of students and professionals, but only around 70% of blood donors had previously heard of leishmaniasis. Over 90% of participants in each group admitted leishmaniasis affected animals, but only in the professional group over 90% were aware of human leishmaniasis.

Conclusions

Even though canine leishmaniasis is recognized by many blood donors and by most students and professionals, awareness of the disease in humans is less common, highlighting the importance of promoting an approach to this infection through a One Health lens.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding zoonotic diseases among cat and dog owners in Bangladesh

The close relationship between human and companion animals like cats and dogs raises public health concerns regarding the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases in Bangladesh. The study aimed to evaluate the cat and dog owners' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception concerning zoonotic diseases for designing effective interventions and reducing disease transmission. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 480 pet owners in various region of Bangladesh. For data collection, a structured, closed-ended questions were implemented. The data collection was anonymous and individuals were chosen through a random selection method. Responses were classified to evaluate comprehensive knowledge, using a threshold value of ≥65%. Quantitative score was created to measure Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices, and these scores were divided into categories of good and poor knowledge, positive and negative attitudes, as well as correct and incorrect practices. The analysis included the application of both descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that females made up more than half of the survey participants (55.2%), with the predominant pet owned being cats (73.1%). Overall, only a small portion (21.25%) of the survey respondents demonstrated good knowledge about the topic as measured by a dichotomous outcome. A larger proportion of participants (84.58%) exhibited a positive attitude towards zoonotic diseases. However, when it came to correct practices, about one-third (29.79%) of performed satisfactorily. It is noteworthy that 90.4% of the participants exhibited a high level of understanding regarding the transmission of rabies through dog bites. The knowledge and practices of owners were markedly impacted by their education, occupation, and geographic location. Furthermore, 48.1% identified 'social media' as their primary source of information, and 80.0% regarded vaccination as a preventive measure. The study reveals gaps in knowledge and practices of risks regarding zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Bangladesh. It is crucial to implement focused educational initiatives and preventative measures to effectively tackle gaps in knowledge concerning zoonotic diseases and to avert potential infections.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes among the general community of Pakistan

This study sought to evaluate the influence of knowledge, attitude, and practices assessment on diabetes related to obesity in Pakistani society. Data was collected both through door to door and online survey approaches from 518 participants by using a pre-validated questionnaire. A total of 15.6% were underweight, 61.2% were normal weight, 17.2% were overweight and 5.8% were in obesity class I and 2.9% were classified as obesity class II. The co-occurrence of obesity and diabetes was 29% (n = 22) among diabetic individuals (n = 84). A majority of the residents (59.1%) were from cities. While 94% of the participants responded to what obesity was, 83.8% knew what diabetes was. Fast food, soft drinks, and mayonnaise were deemed to be healthy by 75.1% of the respondents. Obesity was viewed as a disease by 94.8%, a major health issue by 78.2%, and a weight-loss necessity by 44.6% of participants. Only 24.9% exercised every day, and 23.9% engaged in any physical activity daily. The majority of respondents (50.6%) never tried to lose weight and 23.2% ate junk food daily. The sociodemographic variables showed that the age ranges of 25-34 years (P < 0.001; OR 0.531), 45-54 years (P < 0.05; OR 0.527), and urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 0.128) had a significant association with knowledge. The factors of urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 3.996), being unmarried (P < 0.001; OR 1.95), and having an income of 51,000-70,000 (P < 0.001; OR 11.29) showed a very highly significant association with a good attitude regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes (P < 0.05). Similarly, practices of the participants showed significant association with BMI range of 18.5-24.9 and 25-29.9 (P < 0.001). Our study revealed significant knowledge and understanding of the relationship between obesity with diabetes. However, it was observed that majority of respondents exhibited fundamental knowledge regarding obesity and diabetes, there was a notable absence of understanding regarding crucial elements, such as the significance of maintaining a healthy body weight, participating in physical activity, and implementing appropriate dietary strategies for weight control. We recognize the necessity for education initiatives and strongly encourage them to assist individuals in managing diabetes resulting from obesity.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to dietary salt among older adults in Abha, Saudi Arabia

The need to foster successful aging has intensified with the aging of the global population. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning dietary salt consumption and to investigate the correlations between sociodemographic variables and salt-related KAP. A structured interview was administered to a cohort of 200 older adults in Abha City, Saudi Arabia, recruited through a convenience sampling approach. The evaluation of salt-related KAP revealed widespread low knowledge (91.5%) as participants scored less than 3, negative attitudes (85.5%) scored less than 12, and predominantly unsatisfactory practices (69.5%) with scores less than 26. Noteworthy differences emerged between participants with poor overall KAP (81.5%) and those with good KAP (18.5%). Significantly weak negative correlations were found between age (r=-0.212), marital status (-0.236), and body mass index (-0.243) with overall KAP. Further examination revealed a significantly weak positive correlation between attitude and practice (r = 0.141). KAP scores show a highly significant positive correlation with overall KAP scores (r = 0.169, 0.352, 0.969). The uncovered correlations contribute to a valuable understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding salt-related KAP. This understanding guides the design of targeted interventions, such as health education programs, promoting successful aging and public health outcomes.

Transparency in Cognitive Training Meta-analyses: A Meta-review

Meta-analyses often present flexibility regarding their inclusion criteria, outcomes of interest, statistical analyses, and assessments of the primary studies. For this reason, it is necessary to transparently report all the information that could impact the results. In this meta-review, we aimed to assess the transparency of meta-analyses that examined the benefits of cognitive training, given the ongoing controversy that exists in this field. Ninety-seven meta-analytic reviews were included, which examined a wide range of populations with different clinical conditions and ages. Regarding the reporting, information about the search of the studies, screening procedure, or data collection was detailed by most reviews. However, authors usually failed to report other aspects such as the specific meta-analytic parameters, the formula used to compute the effect sizes, or the data from primary studies that were used to compute the effect sizes. Although some of these practices have improved over the years, others remained the same. Moreover, examining the eligibility criteria of the reviews revealed a great heterogeneity in aspects such as the training duration, age cut-offs, or study designs that were considered. Preregistered meta-analyses often specified poorly how they would deal with the multiplicity of data or assess publication bias in their protocols, and some contained non-disclosed deviations in their eligibility criteria or outcomes of interests. The findings shown here, although they do not question the benefits of cognitive training, illustrate important aspects that future reviews must consider.

A comparative analysis of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards influenza and influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in Kyrgyzstan prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

Influenza, a globally significant respiratory illness with pandemic potential, affects around 1 billion individuals annually, leading to increased risk for severe illness and mortality. Despite recommendations from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and MoH prioritization, influenza vaccination coverage rate among HCWs in Kyrgyzstan remains low, ranging between 16 % and 46 % over the past five years. Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) dynamics of HCWs regarding influenza vaccinations, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for refining national strategies and institutional approaches to enhance vaccination coverage rates in this important risk group.

METHOD

This study employed cross sectional investigations aimed at assessing KAPs among HCWs regarding influenza disease and vaccination. Conducted prior to and during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project involved 2400 participants from diverse medical disciplines. EPI Info was utilized to run biostatistical analyses, with descriptive and logistic regression models, to elucidate the dynamics of KAP over time.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that HCWs with over 5 years of experience were more likely to get vaccinated or recommend it to patients (p = 0.000). Low confidence in vaccine effectiveness influenced on recommendations of influenza vaccination in pre-pandemic time, where insufficient (95 %CI 0.08-0.6; p = 0.003) or uncertain assurance in vaccine effectiveness (95 %CI 0.007-0.18; p = 0.000) was a barrier for vaccine promotion during the pandemic. The study underscores to consider mandatory influenza vaccination for HCWs which may impact on likelihood of flu vaccination (p = 0.001). Priority groups for influenza vaccination shifted during the COVID-19 period, emphasizing older adults, individuals with existing conditions, and HCWs, compared to the pre-pandemic focus on HCWs, children, and patients with pre-existing conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our investigation provides valuable insights into HCWs KAP concerning influenza vaccination in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting the need for targeted interventions addressing factors influencing vaccine acceptance. The study suggests policy implications, advocating for the revision of national strategies to strengthen capacity building for medical staff.

A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver's health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of children under-five in conflict-affected communities of the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey involving internally displaced persons (IDPS), host population, and their children under-five was conducted across 80 communities. The survey was conducted from May to June 2021. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Malaria prevalence for children under-five was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) on blood samples. Association between variables and displacement status was measured using chi square test and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge on malaria prevention.

RESULTS

A total of 2386 adults participated in the study and 1543 RDTs were conducted for children under-five. Adequate levels of knowledge and attitudes on malaria prevention was recorded among 1258 (52.9%) of the participants, with very strong evidence to suggest the level to be higher among the host (59.5%) compared to the IDPs (49.5%) and returnees (39.7%) (p < 0.001). Good practices towards malaria prevention was 43.3%, with very strong evidence indicating lower levels among IDPs (42.8%) and returnees (28.5%) compared to the host (49.4%) (p < 0.001). Malaria prevalence for children under-five was 54.0% and adequate health-seeking for suspected episodes of malaria was 53.0%, without any difference among IDPs (51.78%) and returnees (48.7%) compared to host populations (55.4%) (p = 0.154). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that there was quite strong evidence to suggest primary and secondary levels of education have higher odds of having correct knowledge of malaria prevention (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.64, p = 0.015 and AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.15-2.82, p = 0.010 respectively). There was very strong evidence to suggest that owning a radio or a television was associated with greater odds of having a higher knowledge on malaria prevention (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.233-1.81, p = 0.000 and AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18-1.84, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Over half of the population have correct knowledge and attitudes towards malaria prevention but gaps in complete knowledge remained. Some of the caregivers know the correct malaria preventive practices coupled with largely unsatisfactory treatment approaches and reflected by the high prevalence of malaria among their children. In order to effectively treat malaria, innovative strategies should target community participation.

Perception, practice, and barriers toward research among pediatric undergraduates: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey

BACKGROUND

Scientific research activities are crucial for the development of clinician-scientists. However, few people pay attention to the current situation of medical research in pediatric medical students in China. This study aims to assess the perceptions, practices and barriers toward medical research of pediatric undergraduates.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among third-year, fourth-year and fifth-year pediatric students from Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China via an anonymous online questionnaire. The questionnaires were also received from fifth-year students majoring in other medicine programs [clinical medicine ("5 + 3") and clinical medicine (5-year)].

RESULTS

The response rate of pediatric undergraduates was 88.3% (68/77). The total sample of students enrolled in the study was 124, including 36 students majoring in clinical medicine ("5 + 3") and 20 students majoring in clinical medicine (5-year). Most students from pediatrics ("5 + 3") recognized that research was important. Practices in scientific research activities are not satisfactory. A total of 51.5%, 35.3% and 36.8% of the pediatric students participated in research training, research projects and scientific article writing, respectively. Only 4.4% of the pediatric students contributed to publishing a scientific article, and 14.7% had attended medical congresses. None of them had given a presentation at a congress. When compared with fifth-year students in the other medicine program, the frequency of practices toward research projects and training was lower in the pediatric fifth-year students. Lack of time, lack of guidance and lack of training were perceived as the main barriers to scientific work. Limited English was another obvious barrier for pediatric undergraduates. Pediatric undergraduates preferred to participate in clinical research (80.9%) rather than basic research.

CONCLUSIONS

Although pediatric undergraduates recognized the importance of medical research, interest and practices in research still require improvement. Lack of time, lack of guidance, lack of training and limited English were the common barriers to scientific work. Therefore, research training and English improvement were recommended for pediatric undergraduates.

Practice of complementary and alternative medicine use in North Indian children with type 1 diabetes: an exploratory study

Purpose

Intermittent or concurrent use of Complementary and Alternative medicines (CAM) with insulin may have adverse effects in children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM). This study explores the practices of CAM use in children with T1DM.

Methods

An exploratory study was conducted among parents of children with T1DM attending a tertiary-level diabetes clinic. Data were collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire.

Results

Two-hundred parents were invited; 183 (91.5%) completed the study. The mean age of the children was lower among CAM users than others (7.9 ± 4.3 vs 9.3 ± 4.3 years, p 0.032). The two groups were similar in gender, family income, parental education, and age at diagnosis. Sixty-seven (36.6%) had used CAM. The parents' reasoning for CAM use was to cure diabetes (62.7%), to improve glycemic control (28.3%), or considering it harmless (17.9%). The most commonly used CAMs were Ayurveda (32.8%) and homeopathic preparations (31.3%). The time interval between diagnosis and CAM use ranged from 1 day to 4 years. The duration of CAM use varied widely; 50.7% used CAM for < 1 month. Only 10 CAM users had HbA1C estimated during CAM use; their mean HbA1C was 12.4 ± 3.6%. Twenty-seven CAM users (40.2%) reported poorer glycemic control; 26.8% had no effect, and the rest had undefined effects due to too short duration of use.

Conclusion

CAM, mostly herbal, is frequently used among children with T1DM in North India and has detrimental effects on glycemic control. This information should be used during diabetes education to avoid medical emergencies related to sub-optimal insulin dosing.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-023-00663-9.

Patient information leaflet in the era of digitalisation: a cross-sectional study on patients' attitudes and practices

BACKGROUND

Patient information leaflets (PILs) are documents that are standardized in nature and provide guidance for patients or caregivers on the safe and effective use of medicines. Previous evidence suggests that written information is linked to enhancing the amount of information remembered. Currently, patients have become more involved in digital searches for information. However, there is variability in the quality and reliability of information obtained from the web. According to Saudi Food and Drug Authority regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to supplement each pharmaceutical product entering the Saudi market with a digital leaflet in addition to a paper leaflet. This research aimed to evaluate patients' attitudes and practices towards PILs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design using an anonymous online self-administered questionnaire was adopted. The study took place in Saudi Arabia between October and December 2022. A convenience sampling strategy was used to recruit the study participants. The questionnaire was adapted from previous research that investigated patient attitudes and practices towards PILs.

RESULTS

A total of 463 participants agreed to take part in the study and completed the questionnaire. Physicians were the top utilized source for getting medicine information (92.7%), followed by pharmacists (84.7%), PILs (67.4%), searching the Internet (53.6%), and consulting family and friends (31.7%). About 78% of the participants reported often or always reading PILs for new drugs (78.2%), but this percentage was lower (45.4%) for repeat prescriptions. A positive perception towards PILs was observed among the study participants. While 54.6% of the participants indicated a preference for having both paper and digital information leaflets, 33.3% reported a preference for paper leaflets, and 12% indicated a preference for digital formats.

CONCLUSION

Although patients had positive perceptions towards PILs, physicians were the top-consulted source for medicine information. Pharmacists should educate patients about the importance of referring to PILs which can also be accessed electronically in the case of a preference for a digital format, as the quality and reliability of the information obtained from the web cannot be confirmed.

Heterogeneity in practices to reduce the risk of transmission of Clostridioides difficile in healthcare settings: a survey of ESCMID Study Group for Clostridioides difficile (ESGCD) members

Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections. The main objective was to assess the current landscape of CDI infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. An anonymous survey of IPC practices for CDI was conducted between July 25 and October 31, 2022. Precautions for symptomatic patients were applicable for 75.9% and were discontinued 48 h minimum after the resolution of diarrhea for 40.7% of respondents. Daily cleaning of CDI patients' rooms was reported by 23 (42.6%). There was unexpected heterogeneity in IPC practices regarding the hospital management of CDI.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Prevention Barriers Related to Childhood Lead Poisoning Among Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese Parents in Northeast Ohio, United States

The study objectives were: (i) to develop and administer a survey to assess childhood lead poisoning (CLP) knowledge, attitudes, practices and prevention barriers (KAP-B) among the Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese (NSB) community in Northeast Ohio; and (ii) to examine the association between socio-demographic characteristics of NSB parents and their understanding of CLP as measured by the constructs of knowledge and attitudes. A Nepali language KAP-B questionnaire was developed and 200 NSB parents with at least one child ≤ 7 years of age from the Akron Metropolitan Area, Ohio were interviewed. NSB parents demonstrated a low level of knowledge about CLP prevention measures. While 82% lived in pre-1978 houses, only 27.5% perceived their house/neighborhood to be potentially lead contaminated. Only 33% of the parents reported understanding lead-related information provided by their child's healthcare provider. Low-level CLP awareness among NSB community emphasizes a need for culturally tailored and linguistically appropriate community-level CLP educational intervention programs in this vulnerable community.

Exploring global mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice of complementary feeding: A scoping review

Complementary feeding refers to the practice of providing solid foods and liquids in addition to breast milk when a baby reaches 6 mo of age. This becomes necessary to meet a baby's nutritional needs because of the potential nutrient insufficiency of breast milk alone. This review serves as an effective means to comprehensively understand the intricate and evolving nature of complementary feeding practices, often influenced by cultural, regional, and parental factors, from a literature perspective that acknowledges the dynamic aspects of complementary feeding. The data in this study were extracted and presented according to the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews, as guidelines. The studies were conducted using digital databases such as PubMed, Springer Link, and Science Direct from 2014 to 2022. A total of 1205 eligible studies were retrieved from the three databases searched, with 17 articles finally reviewed for data extraction. Overall, there remains a gap between mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding complementary feeding. Addressing these disparities within and between countries necessitates targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance mothers' understanding, align attitudes with guidelines, and promote healthier practices for the well-being of children.

Have we bothered to ask? Exploration of the attitude of teachers toward participating in inclusive education research

OBJECTIVE

The importance of research cannot be overemphasized. Research findings serve as a guide for the enactment of development policies and legislation. However, not all members of the target population willingly participate in a study. The current study explored the reasons why some individuals refused to partake in inclusive education research in a developing country, Ghana. The journaling helped to capture the voices of 87 participants who refused to take part in a larger inclusive education survey study.

RESULTS

The study found that the participants did not take part in the research because of reasons such as lack of financial gain, bad experience with previous research, lack of direct benefit, and lack of time. The findings of the study and its implication for policymaking in Ghana and research studies in sub-Saharan Africa are discussed.

Knowledge, perceptions and practices towards diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-methods scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise current evidence on knowledge, perceptions and practices towards type 2 diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods scoping review, which included 101 studies (seventy-three quantitative, twenty qualitative and eight mixed methods) from seven electronic databases.

SETTING

Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2023.

PARTICIPANTS

Men and women without diabetes with mean ages ranging from 20 to 63 years.

RESULTS

The majority of participants in most studies knew the three main diabetes modifiable risk factors - excess weight, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. However, most people with excess weight in almost all studies underestimated their weight. Further, the self-described ideal body weight was between midpoint of normal weight and the upper limits of overweight in most quantitative studies and was described as not too skinny but not too fat in qualitative studies. In the majority of studies, participants reported low engagement in weight control, high regular sugar intake, and low regular fruit and vegetable intake but moderate to high engagement in physical activity. Barriers to reducing diabetes risk were social (e.g. societal perceptions promoting weight gain) and environmental (e.g. limited affordability of healthy foods, high accessibility of Western diets and lack of physical activity facilities).

CONCLUSION

There is a need for multicomponent type 2 diabetes prevention interventions that increase knowledge of identifying diabetes risk (e.g. what constitutes excess weight) and create social and physical environments that support healthy lifestyles (e.g. societal perceptions that promote healthy living, increased availability and affordability of healthy foods and physical activity facilities).

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards Kawasaki disease from caregivers of children with Kawasaki disease: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of caregivers of children with Kawasaki disease toward Kawasaki disease.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at four hospitals in China from March 2023 to June 2023. The KAP scores were evaluated using a self-designed questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.840; KMO = 0.7381). Correlations between dimension scores were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the relationships among factors.

RESULTS

Of 643 surveyed, 49.50% were male caregivers. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 7.12 ± 2.34 (possible range, 0-11), 29.23 ± 5.67 (possible range, 12-60), and 21.57 ± 5.34 (possible range, 6-30). Knowledge correlated with attitude (r = 0.172, P < 0.001) and practice (r = 0.280, P < 0.001). Attitude was significantly related to practice (r = 0.598, P < 0.001). SEM showed knowledge had a positive effect on attitudes (β = 0.581, P < 0.001) and practices (β = 0.786, P < 0.001). In addition, attitudes also positively affected practices (β = 0.554, P < 0.001). Occupation type (β = 0.598, P = 0.025) and monthly per capita income (β=-0.750, P = 0.020) had different effects on attitudes, while monthly per capita income also had negative effects on practices (β=-0.410, P = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of children with Kawasaki disease have moderate knowledge and unfavorable attitudes but proactive practices toward this disease. The results could help design an educational intervention to improve KAP, which could translate into better patient management and outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Supporting patient decision-making in non-invasive prenatal testing: a comparative study of professional values and practices in England and France

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which can screen for aneuploidies such as trisomy 21, is being implemented in several public healthcare systems across Europe. Comprehensive communication and information have been highlighted in the literature as important elements in supporting women's reproductive decision-making and addressing relevant ethical concerns such as routinisation. Countries such as England and France are adopting broadly similar implementation models, offering NIPT for pregnancies with high aneuploidy probability. However, we do not have a deeper understanding of how professionals' counselling values and practices may differ between these contexts.

METHODS

In this paper, we explore how professionals in England and France support patient decision-making in the provision of NIPT and critically compare professional practices and values. We draw on data from semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

Both English and French professionals emphasised values relating to patient choice and consent. However, understandings and application of these values into the practice of NIPT provision differed. English interviewees placed a stronger emphasis on interpreting and describing the process of counselling patients and clinical care through a "principle" lens. Their focus was on non-directiveness, standardisation, and the healthcare professional as "decision-facilitator" for patients. French interviewees described their approach through a "procedural" lens. Their focus was on formal consent, information, and the healthcare professional as "information-giver". Both English and French professionals indicated that insufficient resources were a key barrier in effectively translating their values into practice.

CONCLUSION

Our findings illustrate that supporting patient choice in the provision of NIPT may be held as an important value in common on a surface level, but can be understood and translated into practice in different ways. Our findings can guide further research and beneficially inform practice and policy around NIPT provision.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Patient Safety among nurses in health centers

OBJECTIVE

To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward patient safety among nurses working at primary and comprehensive health care centers in Jordan; to identify factors that predict KAPs among nurses.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted using a convenience sample of 307 primary health care nurses in Jordan. A self-reported questionnaire (KAPs) toward patient safety was distributed to the nurses between August 2022 and October 2022.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the mean score of knowledge was 9.51 out of 11 (SD = 1.35), the mean score of attitudes was 57.66 out of 75 (SD = 9.17), and the mean score of practices was 5.64 out of 8 (SD = 1.72). Where 59% of participants reported good knowledge about patient safety. 61% of participants reported positive attitudes toward patient safety. A significant regression equation was found (R² = 0.073, F= (2.94), p = 0 0.003). Age and having information on patient safety during continuing education were significant predictors of the attitude score (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to implement patient safety education programs and training.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among medical workers toward outpatient diabetes information platform

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices among medical workers toward outpatient diabetes information platform.

METHODS

This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2023 and June 2023 at the First Hospital of Zhangjiakou, China. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of medical workers, and assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices toward outpatient diabetes information platform.

RESULTS

A total of 685 questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 603 (88.03%) were female, 432 (63.07%) work in a tertiary hospital, 548 (80.00%) have a bachelor degree, 270 (39.42%) of them work in the department of internal medicine and 315 (45.99%) of them received previous training on outpatient diabetes information platform. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 4.32 ± 1.27 (possible range: 0-6), 56.76 ± 5.72 (possible range: 14-70), and 32.22 ± 8.42 (possible range: 9-45), respectively. 350 (51.09%) of them have sufficient knowledge, 168 (24.53%) have positive attitudes and 395 (57.66%) have active practices. Pearson correlation analysis showed that knowledge was positively correlated with attitudes (r = 0.397, P < 0.001), and attitudes were positively correlated with practices (r = 0.306, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that primary hospital (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.14-0.71, P = 0.005), secondary hospital (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32-0.72, P < 0.001), doctor (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.39-4.28, P = 0.002) were independently associated with sufficient knowledge. Knowledge (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.29-1.73, P < 0.001), community hospital staff (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05-0.88, P = 0.032) were independently associated with positive attitudes. Attitudes (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09-1.17, P < 0.001), junior college (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.07-2.77, P = 0.026) were independently associated with active practices. The structural equation model demonstrated that knowledge had a direct effect on attitudes (path coefficient = 0.521, P < 0.001), and attitudes had a direct effect on practices (path coefficient = 0.542, P < 0.001). Moreover, the type of hospital had a direct effect on knowledge (path coefficient = 0.085, P < 0.001). Additionally, previous training on the outpatient diabetes platform had direct effects on attitudes (path coefficient = 0.191, P < 0.001) and practices (path coefficient = 0.184, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings revealed that medical workers have insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes and inactive practices toward the outpatient diabetes information platform. Comprehensive training programs are needed to improve medical staff's practices in this area.

Effect of health belief model-based educational intervention on prostate cancer prevention; knowledge, practices, and intentions

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer screening is a crucial preventive element for improving the survival rates of prostate cancer. Therefore, our research objective was to investigate the effect of health belief model-based education on prostate cancer knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive health practices among adult and older adult males.

METHODS

A one-group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental study design was carried out at the one-day outpatient clinics affiliated to General Alexandria Main University Hospital. We enrolled 110 men aged 45-75 years old in a health belief model-based educational intervention program. Various questionnaires were utilized to gather data before, immediately after, and three months following the intervention. These questionnaires included the socio-demographic questionnaire, Prostate Cancer Knowledge Questionnaire (PCKQ), Prostate Cancer Screening-Health Belief Model Scale (HBM-PCS), Prostate Cancer Preventive Practices Questionnaire (PCPPQ), and one question regarding the intention to undergo PC screening.

RESULTS

Participants' knowledge about prostate cancer screening improved significantly immediately after the program and this positive change was maintained at the follow-up (p = 0.000). Furthermore, participants' perceptions and preventive practices towards prostate cancer screening had changed significantly after program completion and at follow-up (p = 0.000). After program completion, many of the participants (92.7%) expressed their intention to undergo prostate cancer screening within the coming six months (p = 0.000). The younger age group (45-49 years) showed higher scores in their perception of prostate screening (p = 0.001). Higher education and income were significantly associated with higher scores in the three scales (p = 0.000 in all scales).

CONCLUSION

The study findings emphasized the effectiveness of the designed health educational program based on the HBM on PC preventive behaviors, through significantly improving participants' knowledge level, perceptions, practices, and intentions to PC screening. The program is highly recommended for prostate cancer preventive health practices among both adult and older adult males.

Community engagement and antimalarial drugs medication as the first line of defense in the fight against antimalarial drug resistance in some endemic localities in Cameroon

Objectives

Malaria burden is primarily owing to resistance of parasites and vectors to frontline drugs and insecticides, respectively. Increasing awareness of factors contributing to parasite resistance to antimalarials within communities is crucial. This study assessed how community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) influence factors contributing to antimalarial resistance across four malaria ecological zones in Cameroon.

Methods

To accomplish this, structured questionnaires were administered to 980 volunteers from four geographical locations in English or French (the official languages of Cameroon). The data were organized and tested for normality. Spearman rank correlation was used to examine the connection between KAP and malaria.

Results

The mean KAP scores were 5.69 ± 1.47, 5.91 ± 1.25, and 5.66 ± 1.84, respectively, on a nine-point scale. Antimalarials commonly used were artemisinin-based combination therapies (37.96%), chloroquine (4.29%), quinine (22.24%), paracetamol (12.96%), and native drugs (19.80%). Up to 49.49% of the participants practiced self-medication, whereas 76.43% bought medications from licensed pharmacies, 10.61% bought from roadside vendors, and 23.57% relied on traditional/herbal medicines. We observed significant and medium positive linear correlations at P <0.01 between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.528), knowledge-practice (r = 0.400), and attitude-practice (r = 0.496).

Conclusions

Despite the general fair level of awareness of proper management and use of antimalarial drugs in the communities, the high level of self-medication and gross neglect of certain risk factors that may promote the emergence and spread of drug-resistant parasites is concerning.

Current frailty knowledge, awareness, and practices among physicians following the 2022 European consensus document on Frailty in Cardiology

Aims

Aging-related cardiovascular disease and frailty burdens are anticipated to rise with global aging. In response to directions from major cardiovascular societies, we investigated frailty knowledge, awareness, and practices among cardiologists as key stakeholders in this emerging paradigm a year after the European Frailty in Cardiology consensus document was published.

Methods and results

We launched a prospective multinational web-based survey via social networks to broad cardiology communities representing multiple World Health Organization regions, including Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. Overall, 578 respondents [38.2% female; ages 35-49 years (55.2%) and 50-64 years (34.4%)] across subspecialties, including interventionists (43.3%), general cardiologists (30.6%), and heart failure specialists (HFSs) (10.9%), were surveyed. Nearly half had read the consensus document (38.9%). Non-interventionists had better perceived knowledge of frailty assessment instruments (fully or vaguely aware, 57.2% vs. 45%, adj. P = 0.0002), exercise programmes (well aware, 12.9% vs. 6.0%, adj. P = 0.001), and engaged more in multidisciplinary team care (frequently or occasionally, 52.6% vs. 41%, adj. P = 0.002) than interventionists. Heart failure specialists more often addressed pre-procedural frailty (frequently or occasionally, 43.5% vs. 28.2%, P = 0.004) and polypharmacy (frequently or occasionally, 85.5% vs. 71%, adj. P = 0.014) and had consistently better composite knowledge (39.3% vs. 21.6%, adj. P = 0.001) and practice responses (21% vs. 11.1%, adj. P = 0.018) than non-HFSs. Respondents with better knowledge responses also had better frailty practices (40.3% vs. 3.6%, adj. P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Distinct response differences suggest that future strategies strengthening frailty principles should address practices peculiar to subspecialties, such as pre-procedural frailty strategies for interventionists and rehabilitation interventions for HFSs.

Practices and knowledge of general practitioners on erectile dysfunction: A practice survey

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and underestimated sexual disorder. This sexual concern, which should raise the suspicion of an underlying coronary artery disease, is rarely broached by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this work was to establish an inventory of the practices and knowledge of general practitioners when faced with a case of ED.

METHODS

This survey is a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study targeting GPs' practice. Answers were collected through a self-questionnaire, "KIKI SAIT?", online that explored: demographic data, level of practice and theoretical knowledge regarding ED.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-seven GPs took part in this study. Regarding their practice, 80.2% of doctors expected the patient to bring up the subject. Few clinicians managed ED according to recommendations of the French Association of Urology. More than 30% referred the patient to a urologist, cardiologist or endocrinologist. In total, 57.6% of practitioners prescribed a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) as first-line treatment. Regarding their knowledge, 67.8% of doctors considered their level of knowledge about PDE5I to be poor, 96.6% about intracavernosal injections, 88.7% about vacuum devices and 91% about penis rings. The main obstacle retained was the lack of medical knowledge (71.2%). Clinicians who rarely consulted for ED were less confident in explaining possible treatments (25/63 versus 18/113, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Strengthening initial training and providing a practical algorithm for the management of ED could be useful to help general practitioners detect ED, which could be a sentinel of coronary heart disease.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Analysis of characteristic and postexposure practices of occupational blood and body fluid exposures among health care workers in Chinese tertiary hospitals: a retrospective ten-year study

BACKGROUND

Occupational blood and body fluid exposure (OBEs) is a highly concerning global health problem in health facilities. Improper or inadequate post-exposure practices increase the risk of infection with bloodborne pathogens. Understanding risk factors for OBEs and evaluating the post-exposure practices will contribute to healthcare workers' (HCWs) well-being.

METHODS

This study retrospectively synthesized and reviewed the 10-year data (from 2010 to 2020) on OBEs in a tertiary teaching hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 519 HCWs have reported OBEs, increasing yearly from 2010 to 2020. Of these, most were nurses (247 [47.2%]), female (390 [75.1%]), at 23-27 years old (207 [39.9%]). The hepatitis B was the primary bloodborne pathogen exposed to HCWs, with 285 (54.9%) cases, internal medicine was the main exposure site (161 [31.0%]), and sharp injury was the main exposure route (439 [84.6%]). Data analysis shows that there are significant differences between exposure route, exposed pathogens, and exposure site among the different occupational categories (X2 = 14.5, 43.7, 94.3, all P < 0.001). 3.3% of HCWs did not take any post-exposure practices. For percutaneous exposure, 4.7% did not rinse the wound, 3.3% did not squeeze out the wound, and 2.3% did not disinfect the wound. In the case of mucosal exposure, 90.4% clean the exposure area immediately.

CONCLUSIONS

The data from the past decade underscores the seriousness of current situation of OBEs in Chinese tertiary hospital, particularly among young HCWs, and with hepatitis B as the predominant blood-borne pathogen. This study also identifies HCWs may take incorrect post-exposure practices. It's crucial in the future to discuss the effectiveness of main groups targeted for focused specialty-specific guidance for the prevention of such accidents, meanwhile, to include blood-borne disease immunity testing in mandatory health check-ups. Additionally, focus on optimizing post-exposure practices, offering significant steps toward prevention of such incidents and reducing infection risks should also be considered in future studies.

Survey on vasectomy practices in France in 2022

OBJECTIVES

Prior to the publication of the recommendations of the French Association of Urology (AFU) on vasectomy, we conducted a survey to assess current practices and required training interventions in France regarding vasectomy.

METHOD

An invitation with a link to a 38-item questionnaire on MonkeySurvey was sent in November 2022 to the 1760 urologist members of the AFU.

RESULTS

A total of 352 (20%) urologists completed the survey. Among the participants, 20% reported refusing the surgery to patients aged 25 to 30 years old and 17% if they had no children, respectively. Three quarters of participants mentioned systematically performing a scrotal exam at the time of the pre-vasectomy consultation. Forty-one percent of respondents reported systematically performing vasectomy under general anesthesia. While 56% of participants mentioned performing a minimally invasive technique for exposing the vas, 70% said they were willing to learn the no-scalpel technique for this purpose. The most frequently reported occlusion techniques combine excision of a vas segment and ligation of both ends of the divided vas. Only 26% reported performing fascial interposition and 4% using the "open end" technique. A post-vasectomy semen analysis showing less than 100,000 non-motile sperm per millilitre makes only 38% of respondents recommending stopping other contraceptive methods. Half of the respondents considered that current reimbursement fee structure for the procedure restrains the development of this clinical activity.

CONCLUSION

Our survey suggests that vasectomy practice and services in France do not meet the international standards. We identified the clinical and organizational changes needed to improve practices and access to vasectomy services in France.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Grade 3.

Cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy: cross-sectional survey of knowledge and prevention practices of healthcare professionals in French-speaking Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Lack of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) knowledge among healthcare professionals has been proven to be the main threat to pregnant women's awareness, preventing them from reducing the risk of infection. The aims of this study were to assess the knowledge and practices of French-speaking Swiss perinatal professionals in terms of CMV prevention, as well as the sociodemographic-professional factors that influence them.

METHODS

This observational study used a cross-sectional design to collect data-via an anonymous electronic questionnaire in French distributed to gynecologists-obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives via various channels: e-mails and social networks of partner centers, professional associations, and conferences. The 41-item questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic and professional characteristics, general CMV knowledge, national recommendation knowledge and prevention practices. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 110 gynecologist-obstetricians, 5 general practitioners and 226 midwives participated in the study. While more than 80% of practitioners were familiar with protective hygiene measures, significant gaps were highlighted concerning the transmission routes, as well as the signs of short- and long-term congenital CMV infection. Regarding practice, 63.3% of participants provided information on CMV to their patients, mainly during the first antenatal visit. Among those who did not, lack of knowledge and forgetfulness were the two main reasons cited. Concerning systematic screening, 45.7% of participants offered it to their patients, and 37.3% only offered it to "at risk" groups. The existence of national guidelines on CMV was known by 62.0% of participants. Multivariable analysis revealed that working as a gynecologist-obstetrician was independently associated with higher score of preventive practices, while performing ultrasound or preconception consultations was independently associated with a higher score of general CMV knowledge, and working in a university hospital was independently associated with a higher score of Swiss recommendation knowledge. A level of training higher than the basic medical or midwifery diploma and participation in fetal medicine symposia both promote a higher score of CMV knowledge and prevention practices in line with current recommendations.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the significant gaps in CMV knowledge among French-speaking Swiss caregivers along with the heterogeneity of their prevention practices. To raise awareness among pregnant women and reduce the burden of congenital CMV infections, improving professional knowledge through access to specific training and standardizing practices should be a national priority.

Assessment of perceived dengue risk and prevention practices among youth in Bangladesh

Dengue fever is a global public health concern, especially in countries like Bangladesh. This study examines youth perceived dengue risk, and preventive practices, providing valuable insights into their behavior regarding this mosquito-borne disease. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in various regions of the Dhaka district in Bangladesh. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,358 participants using convenience sampling, spanning the period from September 2 to October 10, 2023. A semi-structured questionnaire covered informed consent, socio-demographic data, and questions about perceived dengue risk scale (12 items), and prevention practice (13 items). Participants' mean age was 22.02 ± 1.58 years. The average scores for perceived dengue risk, and prevention practices were found to be 51.39 ± 12.01 (out of 96), and 55.57 ± 14.55 (out of 104) respectively. Previous dengue history, history of other vector-borne diseases, gender, educational level, father's educational qualification, employment status, adequate sleep duration, father's occupation, etc. are factors associated with higher risk and prevention practices regarding dengue. The research underscores the importance of tailoring prevention strategies for different demographics, raising awareness, and promoting active engagement in preventive measures. These insights are crucial for developing effective public health policies and campaigns to combat dengue.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents regarding the red flags of developmental milestones in children aged 0-5 years in Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Developmental delays in children are assessed in four basic domains: gross motor, fine motor, social, and language. Early years of life are crucial in a child's development, so it is imperative that parents be aware of developmental milestones to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment in case of a developmental delay. This study assessed parental knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding children's developmental milestones and associated "red flags".

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. 390 parents, who had at least one child under 5 years of age, with no diagnosed developmental delay, were interviewed during outpatient clinic visits. The questionnaire consisted of three components to assess parental knowledge, attitude, and practices.

RESULTS

59% and 54% of parents had poor knowledge of gross and fine motor milestones respectively; In the social domain, 56% of the respondents had inadequate knowledge. 42% had inadequate knowledge of language milestones; 29% of parents strongly agreed that their pediatricians provide satisfactory information regarding red flags of developmental milestones. 60% of parents strongly agreed that their child's developmental delay would be a cause of concern for them. In the case of developmental delay, 55% of parents said they would consult a general pediatrician, 11% preferred a pediatric neurologist, 21% opted for a developmental pediatrician and 13% opted for a family physician. Residence and family systems were found to be associated with language-related milestones with significantly higher odds of knowledge among urban residents than rural ones and a significantly lower likelihood of language milestones knowledge among joint families than nuclear families. Female gender was found to be significantly associated with positive attitude.

CONCLUSION

The majority of our respondents showed considerably poor knowledge regarding developmental milestones. This highlights the need to devise ways to educate parents on this subject to enable them to vigilantly monitor their child's developmental status and any associated abnormalities and ultimately facilitate the right course of action.

Role and Responsibilities of Various Stakeholders in Pharmacovigilance (PV)

In this review paper, we have analyzed the potential and issues associated with Pharmacovigilance (PV). The analysis is divided into four sections: background, stakeholders, data sources, and medicinal chemistry. Each section discusses the current state, the future trends, and the best practices of Pharmacovigilance (PV). The main purpose, methods, results, and implications of our analysis are summarized.

BACKGROUND

Pharmacovigilance (PV) is the science and practice of monitoring, evaluating, understanding, and preventing adverse drug reactions. Pharmacovigilance (PV) was established by the World Health Organization in response to the thalidomide tragedy of 1961. The main purpose of Pharmacovigilance (PV) is to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs in clinical practice. Stakeholders: Pharmacovigilance (PV) involves various stakeholders, such as patients, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities. Each stakeholder has a different role and responsibility in reporting, processing, analyzing, and communicating information about adverse drug reactions. Patient engagement is a key factor for enhancing Pharmacovigilance (PV) practices.

DATA SOURCES

Pharmacovigilance (PV) relies on data from various sources, such as clinical trials, spontaneous reports, electronic medical records, biomedical literature, and patient-reported data in online health forums. These data sources can provide valuable insights into the real-world use and safety of drugs, as well as the preferences and needs of patients. However, these data sources also pose challenges in terms of quality, validity, reliability, and accessibility. Medicinal Chemistry: Medicinal chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the design, synthesis, and evaluation of new drugs and their biological effects. Medicinal chemistry can enhance Pharmacovigilance (PV) practices by finding new therapeutic indications for existing drugs or compounds that have already been tested for safety and efficacy. Medicinal chemistry also requires careful design and evaluation of covalent inhibitors, bi-substrate inhibitors, stabilizers of protein non-effective conformations, and hydrophobic pocket modifiers to ensure their safety and efficacy.

IMPLICATIONS

Pharmacovigilance (PV) is a dynamic and evolving discipline that requires collaboration, regulation, education, and innovation to improve patient safety and care. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential and issues associated with Pharmacovigilance (PV) practices.

Recognition and Practice of Hypopituitarism After Traumatic Brain Injury and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Japan: A Survey

INTRODUCTION

Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are at a high risk of hypopituitarism, and should benefit from early diagnosis and management. However, data on awareness, attitudes, and practices of physicians treating hypopituitarism post-TBI/SAH are limited. The objectives of this study were to gain an understanding of the awareness of Japanese neurosurgeons and endocrinologists towards hypopituitarism post-TBI/SAH and the need for pituitary function assessments in these patients; and to assess the practices and perspectives of these specialists on screening patients with this condition.

METHODS

An observational, cross-sectional study was performed that included a Web-based survey of practicing neurosurgeons managing ≥ 1 new patients with TBI/SAH per year or endocrinologists with ≥ 1 new patients per year with a history of TBI/SAH.

RESULTS

Of the 316 respondents (201 neurosurgeons [male, 95.5%]; 115 endocrinologists [male, 77.4%]), 75.6% of neurosurgeons and 81.7% of endocrinologists were aware of the probable occurrence of hypopituitarism post-TBI/SAH, and 79% neurosurgeons and 93.8% endocrinologists considered pituitary function impairment after TBI/SAH to be either very important or important. Hypopituitarism after TBI/SAH was recognized as an important concern by both neurosurgeons (79%) and endocrinologists (93.8%). Although many respondents agreed that such patients remain undiagnosed and untreated, pituitary function assessment post-TBI/SAH has only been performed to a limited extent. The awareness that post-TBI/SAH hypopituitarism is often transient and can progress over several weeks or months was lower in neurosurgeons (46.8%) than in endocrinologists (66.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The level of awareness of hypopituitarism post-TBI/SAH was lower among Japanese neurosurgeons than among endocrinologists. Educational programs and detailed guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of hypopituitarism post-TBI/SAH are warranted.

Reproductive health services: attitudes and practices of Saudi community pharmacists

BACKGROUND

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are a crucial provision of public health. The consequences of having suboptimal SRH services include unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, reproductive cancers, and sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections. This study was conducted to assess the role community pharmacists play in providing SRH, their practices, and their attitudes toward fulfilling the exciting demand.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire was used. The study was conducted among community pharmacies across the Asir region.

RESULTS

A total of 196 community pharmacists were included in this study. The majority of pharmacy chains reported selling pregnancy tests (93.9%) compared to independent pharmacies (72.9%), p value (0.0001). Similarly, community pharmacists working in pharmacy chains educated patients on pregnancy tests (78.2%) more often than those working in independent pharmacies (62.6%), p value (0.03). Ovulation tests were sold more frequently in pharmacy chains (74.3%) than in independent pharmacies (52.08%), p value (0.004). Providing education on these products followed the same pattern with (72.9%, 47.9%), respectively, p value (0.003).

CONCLUSION

The majority of pharmacists reported selling pregnancy tests and ovulation and educated patients regarding both these test kits. However, these services were more widely available in pharmacy chains than in independent pharmacies. Pharmacists exhibited a positive attitude toward SRH, exhibiting social accountability and an ethical responsibility to fulfill their role.

Infection prevention and control in computed tomography: creating a national survey

BACKGROUND

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for quality healthcare, with healthcare associated infections (HAI) a known risk to patients requiring medical imaging (MI). To date, few papers have adopted a national approach to understanding or benchmarking the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practice (KAP) of IPC in the context of MI and no validated surveys or scales are identified in the literature. The Computed Tomography (CT) suite is a unique MI environment where radiographers deliver prescription medicines to patients via intravenous (IV) means through an injector system. This paper describes the development of a survey that informs the use of IPC processes in the CT suite.

METHODS

Standard Precautions via current national guidelines formed the benchmark of the survey, with a KAP survey used as the framework to explore IPC. The questions and associated responses are developed based on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines, industry/professional protocols and adapted to the equipment and practices commonly used in the CT suite of MI departments by radiographers and nurses.

RESULTS

Key survey development steps are described to include the justification of the benchmarking source, the survey framework and design. Detailed information is given to show the evolution of truth statements and sources, KAP question variations, and rationales for the methodology of question responses. National guidelines are mapped to survey questions and responses and pilot testing reflections are included.

CONCLUSION

This paper reports on the construction of a standardised KAP survey for IPC specific to the CT suite in the Australian healthcare setting. The survey is ready for dissemination amongst MI departments. Documented use will aid validation and reliability as a survey tool to measure and map IPC specifically in relation to IV contrast administration.

Dairy farmers' knowledge, awareness and practices regarding bovine lameness in Malaysian dairy farms

Given the data paucity on dairy farmers' perspectives regarding bovine lameness and hoof diseases, particularly in South East Asian countries, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices toward lameness and hoof health among dairy cattle farmers in Malaysia. An online-based and face-to-face survey was conducted among 114 dairy farmers from four states in Peninsular Malaysia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis and an independent sample t-test. Overall, farmers demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and attitude regarding lameness and its impact on dairy cattle welfare and production. Lameness was ranked the second most important health issue in dairy farms after mastitis. Notably, 90% reported the presence of at least one lame cow on their farms, and 55% stated lameness as the reason for culling their cows. While sole ulcer was the hoof lesion mostly identified by farmers, 75% of them underestimated lameness prevalence on their farms and rarely implemented management strategies such as preventive hoof trimming and footbath. Farmers' educational qualification influenced their understanding of the impact of lameness on dairy cattle production. Despite reflecting satisfactory knowledge and attitude towards lameness in dairy cows, farmers in this study need to improve their current management practices to address lameness problem in their herds. Educating farmers on the importance of early detection and prompt treatment, and preventive measures are crucial for lameness control and improving hoof health in these dairy farms.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Women of Reproductive Age on Human Papillomavirus Infection, Cervical Cancer and Vaccination in Otukpo, Nigeria

Background

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of human papilloma virus (HPV) is a necessary measure in curtailing delayed diagnosis and poor control practices. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices vis-à-vis HPV infection, cervical cancer and vaccination among women.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 selected health-care facilities in Otukpo metropolis and it involved 168 pregnant women. The data were collected using structured questionnaire, and analysed for descriptive and analytical statistics using Epi Data Version 3.1 and SPSS statistical package Version 21.

Results

Most of the respondents (75.0%) have heard of human papilloma virus and their information source were mostly the health-care providers. In total, 132(78.6%) agreed to take the vaccine if offered for free but 152(90.5%) stated that it is imperative to seek the opinion of health providers before vaccine uptake. However, only 27(16.1%) have undergone recommended checkup for human papilloma virus/cervical cancer and 23(13.7%) have taken at least a vaccine dose. Some respondents 66(39.3%) had good knowledge while 95(56.6%) demonstrated positive attitude. However, most respondents 161(95.8%) demonstrated poor practices.

Conclusions

There is enormous need to improve HPV sensitization especially in women due to cervical cancer associated risks. Healthcare personnel are therefore encouraged to create more awareness on HPV infection and screening of cervical cancer (CC) via counseling sessions and communications tool like the new media. KAP approach is a critical tool towards successful CC screening and HPV control.

Cervical cancer screening among female health workers: Evidence from a secondary health facility in Northern Malawi

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if identified early. Although health workers have a critical role in influencing beliefs and practices of the entire population, some studies have shown paradoxical efforts among female health workers themselves-a threat towards attainment of the triple-intervention strategy as propagated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of cervical cancer screening among female health workers. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data entry and analysis were carried out using IBM Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0 (SPSS, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA). The response rate was 65.4 % and mean age of 32 years with standard deviation=±8.397. The majority of participants were nurses n = 31 (43.3). There was poor knowledge on signs/symptoms and risk factors as only 15.7 % were aware of multiple sexual partners, 7.1 % for each early sexual encounter and uncircumcised men as risk factors. Regarding willingness, 77.1 % were willing to have the screening test. Their practices were rated poor as only 35.7 % (n = 25) had ever undergone screening within the past 6 years. There was poor knowledge, fair attitudes and poor practices of cervical cancer screening among female health workers. As part of the efforts to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG) target 3.4 and the attainment of WHO 90-70-90 target by 2030; this study recommends scaling up health education, social mobilization and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to support awareness, detection and treatment of cervical cancer. Acceptability of the current screening methods must be further explored.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards epilepsy in morocco: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to assess knowledge, practices and attitudes of the general Moroccan population towards epilepsy and to highlight predictive factors.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Casablanca-Settat Moroccan region. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and item answers from 400 people with epilepsy (PWE) and without epilepsy caregivers on dependent variables: knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards epilepsy. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0. Statistical significance was set when P value < 0.05.

RESULTS

The rates of poor knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward epilepsy were 11.5 %, 41 %, and 66.6 %, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of having poor knowledge about epilepsy was favored by lack of education (ORa = 4.31;CI95%:1.83-10.13;p = 0.001) and the absence of familiarity with epilepsy (ORa = 4.05;CI95%:1.92-8.54;p < 0.001). The risk of preferring allopathic practices to treat epilepsy was associated with lack of education (ORa = 2.21;CI95%:1.01-4.82;p = 0.046), residence in a city outside Casablanca (ORa = 2.33;CI95%:1.06-5.15;p = 0.035), age over 59 years (ORa = 2.50;CI95%:1.26-4.95; p = 0.008), residence in a rural areas (ORa = 4.41;CI95%:2.61-7.47;p < 0.001) and absence of familiarity with epilepsy (ORa = 4.08;CI95%:2.33-7.15;p < 0.001). Predictors of stigma towards epilepsy were female sex (ORa = 3.05;CI95%:2.04-4.56;p < 0.001) and the tendency to abandon anti-seizure medication for allopathic alternatives (ORa = 3.98;CI95%:2.21-7.17;p < 0.001), whereas advanced age was a protective factor (ORa = 0.57;CI95%:0.36-0.89;p = 0.014[39-59 years vs 18-29 years];ORa = 0.44;CI95%:0.23-0.82;p = 0.011[>59 years vs 18-29 years]).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of poor attitudes and treatment-seeking behavior was high. This socio-cultural context certainly impacts the quality of life and care of Moroccan PWE. These results should be considered to raise awareness in the Moroccan population.

Nurses' Knowledge, Perceived Barriers and Practices Regarding Cancer Pain Management: A Scoping Review

Nursing care plays a crucial role in the management of cancer pain, but nurses often face challenges due to inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes towards opioid use, and suboptimal pain evaluation practices. This scoping review aims to examine nurses' level of knowledge and practices in cancer pain management and identify the barriers they encounter when caring for patients with cancer. A comprehensive search of 50 articles was conducted using multiple databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase Classic + EMBASE (Ovid), The Cochrane Library (Wiley), and CINAHL. English-language scholarly publications from various countries with peer-reviewed content searched from 2018 to 2023, resulting in the identification of 25 articles for full text evaluation. After excluding five articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 20 articles were analyzed in detail. Three primary themes emerged regarding nurses' knowledge and practices in cancer pain. The findings underscore the need for enhanced education initiatives and a multidisciplinary approach to improve nurses' competency in managing cancer pain. By expanding their understanding and expertise in pain management, oncology nurses can greatly contribute to improving the well-being of cancer patients. It is crucial to address the identified barriers through educational interventions, enabling nurses to provide optimal pain control and high-quality care. Let's empower nurses to conquer cancer pain with knowledge, compassion, and unwavering dedication! Together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of cancer patients.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of patients with chronic pharyngitis toward laryngopharyngeal reflux in Suzhou, China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China toward laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China at the otolaryngology outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between November, 2022, and May, 2023. Data was collected through a self-designed online questionnaire encompassing the sociodemographic characteristics and three dimensions of KAP. The questionnaire was administered using SoJump, and data were exported from this platform. Subsequently, statistical analysis, including Structural Equation Modeling, was performed using SPSS 22 software to evaluate the KAP scores.

RESULTS

A total of 487 valid questionnaires were collected, with 275 (56.35%) female patients. The mean score of KAP were 4.76 ± 2.93 (possible range: 0-11), 33.10 ± 4.46 (possible range: 8-40), 31.29 ± 6.04 (possible range: 8-40), respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude dimensions (r = 0.413, P < 0.001), knowledge and practice dimensions (r = 0.355, P < 0.001), and attitude and practice dimensions (r = 0.481, P < 0.001). Structural equation modeling revealed that education exhibited positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.476, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.600, P < 0.001), and having family history of chronic pharyngitis showed positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.580, P = 0.047), experienced with reflux symptoms showed positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.838, P = 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.631, P = 0.085). Moreover, knowledge showed positive effect on attitude (β = 0.555, P < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.351, P < 0.001). Attitude, in turn, showed positive effect on practice (β = 0.511, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic pharyngitis had inadequate knowledge, positive attitudes and suboptimal practices toward LPR. Education, family history of chronic pharyngitis, experienced with reflux symptoms might have effect on their KAP.

Assessment of knowledge and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Worldwide exclusive breastfeeding is still recommended as a successful strategy even during the COVID -19 pandemic to lower infant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at EL-Morabeen Family Medicine Center in rural Damietta, Egypt among 178 lactating women who were chosen by using the purposive sampling technique. A developed structured questionnaire consisting of four parts was used to gather data from March to May 2022. Univariate analysis for descriptive data and bivariate analysis through the chi-square test were performed.

RESULTS

The current study revealed that 73% of the studied rural women did not receive any breastfeeding counseling during antenatal visits and 61.2% of them believed that coronavirus was transmitted through breastmilk. Only 15.2% of them breastfed their infant exclusively for 6 months, 88.2% of mothers delayed breastfeeding initiation after delivery and 48.3% administered the prelacteal feeds. A total of 98.3% of rural women had never made skin-to-skin contact, and 79.2% of them had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, a statistically significant association between good knowledge and practice with highly educated women aged 26-30 years, with a monthly income of 4000-6000 L.E was found. Furthermore, only 26.4% and 26.1% of rural women had good knowledge and practice scores respectively.

CONCLUSION

Suboptimal breastfeeding practices, such as delayed onset of breastfeeding, low percentages of exclusivity, early weaning, prelacteal feeding administration, and lack of skin-to-skin contact during the COVID -19 pandemic were prevalent among the studied rural mothers. Breastfeeding counseling for all pregnant women and implementation of evidence-based practices in the health care system, such as the early initiation of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, are recommended.

Perceptions and practices of self-management among adult patients with gout at a primary care clinic: A qualitative study

Introduction

Gout is a chronic disease commonly associated with other comorbidities. Patients' perceived quality of life empowers them in managing their health. Self-management is imparted as part of management among patients with chronic disease. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of self-management among patients with gout from different ethnic groups in Malaysia.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted among Malay, Chinese and Indian patients with gout via semi-structured in-depth interviews at the primary care clinic of University Malaya Medical Centre in either English or Malay language. All participants had a gout duration of more than 6 months and were either taking urate-lowering drugs or not using them at all.

Results

A total of 20 participants were successfully recruited for the study. Among the participants, 18 were men, while two were women. Further, nine were Malays; six, Chinese; and four, Indians. The age ranged from 29 to 81 years, while the gout duration ranged from 1 to 30 years. From the interviews, three themes emerged: experiences with gout, types of self-management of gout and factors influencing self-management of gout.

Conclusion

Diet control is the main self-management practice of patients with gout. Traditional medicine practices include natural methods such as consumption of different types of vegetable juices, pineapple and papaya. Each ethnicity has its own unique beliefs and food cultures. By understanding the self-management practices of patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds, healthcare practitioners can tailor the treatment of gout to individual needs.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices and associated factors regarding high output stoma of ileostomy among colorectal surgical nurses: a multicentre cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

High output stoma(HOS) is one of the most common complications after ileostomy, leading to fluid and electrolyte disturbances and renal dysfunction, and increasing the risk of readmission. Routine health education for HOS should be provided, and nurses, as the primary educators, should have adequate knowledge and skills in this area. However, there is a paucity of research on the knowledge and practice of HOS management. This study used the Knowledge, Attitude and Behavioural Practice Model to assess the management of HOS by colorectal surgery nurses and to explore the factors that influence it.

METHOD

Using a multi-centre, cross-sectional study design, 398 colorectal surgery nurses from 6 hospitals in 6 cities in 6 provinces were surveyed using a structured electronic questionnaire to assess general information and knowledge, attitudes and management practices and training needs related to HOS of ileostomy.

RESULTS

Colorectal surgery nurses' knowledge and practice of HOS was low. The presence or absence of training is an important factor influencing nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practice, with most nurses having no training and stoma specialist nurses scoring relatively high on knowledge and practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses play a very important role in the management of HOS, but this study shows that the current level of knowledge and practice of HOS among colorectal surgery nurses is concerning, and whether or not they have received training is the most critical influencing factor; therefore, training related to HOS is urgently needed.

Rural-Urban Inequities in Tuberculosis-Related Practices in Equatorial Guinea

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality from a single infectious disease agent. Equatorial Guinea is a country with high estimated TB incidence in 2021 (275 cases per 100,000 population) and low TB case detection (42%). Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for TB control. Failure to seek adequate health care increases the disease's transmission and leads to poor treatment outcome, the mortality, even for easily manageable conditions. Information regarding community management of TB and treatment-seeking patterns in Equatorial Guinea is rare. The aim of this study was to explore differences in TB health-seeking behaviour among urban and rural population TB cases in Equatorial Guinea and the factors associated with this behaviour.

METHODS

A national cross-sectional study of 770 household caregivers was conducted in 2020 in Equatorial Guinea using multistage stratified sampling. The 284 caregivers that reported having had a TB case in their family were included in this study. A practice index was created. Poisson regression with robust variance was performed with the practices index as dependent variable to assess the factors associated with the health-seeking behaviour.

RESULTS

Most of the cases (65%) have had good TB health-seeking practices. However, 23.2% of TB cases reported having abandoned treatment before 6 months. A higher probability of having good TB practices was observed with being women, aged and living in rural area. Those who were TB cases themselves have heard about TB on the radio, and had high knowledge about TB, hand also good practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in tuberculosis health-seeking behaviour between rural and urban populations highlight the challenges existing in the fight against this infectious disease. The National Tuberculosis Control Program has to reinforce the health system needs to strengthen the follow-up of TB patients taking into account the population at risk of inappropriate TB behaviour.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Adoption of on-farm feed safety practices among livestock farmers: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Compliance with feed safety standards and practices on the farm promotes sustainable livestock production and can positively affect the environment and human health. This study aims to examine farmers' on-farm adoption of feed safety practices and determine the differences in adoption according to the socio-economic characteristics of farmers. An online survey was conducted to collect the study data. The study participants consisted of 442 livestock farmers in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. The study findings revealed that farmers highly adopted categories of feed purchasing (77.9 %) and feed mixing and distribution (75.05 %), whereas they were considered as a moderate level adoption regarding feed storing (70.9 %). The cluster analysis results showed two main patterns of adoption- "high adopters" and "moderate adopters"-based on the average level of adoption for 25 feed safety practices examined. The cluster of "high adopters" accounted for 59.9 % of the sample and had higher average adoption in all practices examined. The findings revealed that there are significant differences between the two segments of farmers, corresponding to gender, membership in livestock association, extension contact, raising sheep, and feeding system. This study proposes the regular monitoring of farms to ensure strict adherence to feed safety regulations, with the implementation of awareness and capacity development initiatives pertaining to feed safety concerns.

Knowledge and practice of infection control during radiology procedures among radiography undergraduates in Sri Lanka

INTRODUCTION

Sufficient knowledge and adherence to infection control measures are essential for healthcare workers to effectively combat healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Radiography undergraduates should stay updated and proficient in their infection control practice. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practice of infection control measures during radiological procedures among radiography undergraduates in Sri Lanka.

METHOD

A web-based, descriptive, self-administered, cross-sectional study was conducted. The questionnaire collected data on demographic, knowledge and practice related to infection control measures from radiography undergraduates.

RESULTS

A total of 167 radiography undergraduates returned the completed questionnaire. The majority (88%) have never participated in infection control programs. The mean knowledge and practice scores were 58% and 41.1%, indicating moderate and poor levels, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the overall knowledge of infection control when considering the academic year (p = 0.001) and the duration of clinical exposure (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between practice and gender, age, ethnicity, academic year and duration of clinical exposure (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that knowledge of nosocomial infection was moderate and practice was inadequate among most of the radiography students surveyed. This highlights the need to reassess the educational components of radiography programs to incorporate practical and comprehensive teaching, learning and monitoring of infection control measures.

Understanding knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to dietary sodium intake in a multi-ethnic population in Singapore

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to fill the current gap in the understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB) related to dietary Na among adult residents in Singapore.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between October and December 2020 on 955 participants selected through random sampling.

SETTING

The survey was conducted in Singapore.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were recruited from the Singapore Population Health Study Online Panel.

RESULTS

Participants' mean age was 46·6 ± 14·1 years old and 58 % of them were females. Most of the participants were Chinese (82·1 %), 10·5 % were Indian and 4·5 % were Malay. Findings from the weighted data showed that most participants were aware of the health impact of high Na consumption. However, many participants were unaware of the recommended intake for salt (68%) and Na (83%), had misconceptions, and were unable to correctly use food labels to assess NA content (69%). Findings also alluded to the presence of knowledge gaps in the sources of Na in their diet. While 59 % of the participants reported to be limiting their consumption of Na, many reported facing barriers such as not knowing how to limit their Na intake. Participants also felt that there were limited options for low-Na foods when eating out and were lacking awareness of low-Na products.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlighted substantial gaps in participants' knowledge and skills in managing their Na consumption. This suggests the need for more public education and improvements in the food environment.

Monitoring delirium in the intensive care unit: Diagnostic accuracy of the CAM-ICU tool when performed by certified nursing assistants - A prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Monitoring delirium in critically ill patients is recognized as a major challenge. Although involving certified nursing assistants could be a valuable help in this field, such strategy has never been formally investigated.

OBJECTIVES

Following theoretical training, we conducted a prospective multicenter study assessing the diagnostic accuracy of a CAM-ICU delirium screening strategy performed by CNAs in clinical settings, compared to parallel blinded evaluations conducted by nurses and physicians.

METHODS

From October 2020 to June 2022, adult intensive care patients admitted in three French University teaching hospitals with Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale ≥-2 were independently assessed for delirium by the three members of the care team (clinical nursing assistant, nurse and physician) using CAM-ICU in a random order. Physician's assessment served as the reference standard for comparisons.

RESULTS

We analyzed results from 268 triplets of CAM-ICU assessments performed sequentially on 203 patients. Prevalence of delirium was 22%. Compared to physician's assessments, clinical nursing assistants demonstrated a sensitivity (Se) of 88% CI95% [80-96] and a specificity (Sp) of 95% [92-98] in detecting delirium. There was no significant difference in the performance of clinical nursing assistants and nurses (Se = 90 % [82-97] p = 0.77, Sp = 98 % [95-100] p = 0.19). We observed high agreement between results obtained by physicians and clinical nursing assistants (ĸ = 0.82) and clinical nursing assistants performance remained consistent in the subgroups at higher risk of delirium.

CONCLUSION

Evaluation of the CAM-ICU by clinical nursing assistants is feasible and should be seen as an opportunity to increase routine monitoring of delirium in intensive care patients.

IMPLICATION FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Delirium is a severe and underestimated complication of intensive care unit stay. This study results demonstrate the great performance of trained clinical nursing assistants in detecting delirium using the CAM-ICU. Further research is needed to define the most effective role for clinical nursing assistants in the routine management of delirium in intensive care patients.

Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice on modern contraceptive method and its associated factors among housemaids living in Debre Tabor town, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Contraception is widely recognized as an effective technique for avoiding unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Promoting contemporary contraceptive methods would minimize the number of unplanned pregnancies and the high number of maternal fatalities connected with unsafe abortions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of modern contraceptive methods and its associated factors among housemaid residents of Debre Tabor Town, northwest Ethiopia: METHODS: A structured questionnaire supplemented with face-to-face interviews was used to conduct a community-based cross-sectional study with 423 housemaids' women of reproductive age in Debre Tabor City. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, binary analysis, and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

A 12.8% of respondents in this study used modern contraceptive methods. A 44.68% of study participants had good knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, and 36.40% had a positive attitude towards them. Housemaids' older age, urban location, educational status, work experience, and family situation were found to be positive predictors of a good understanding of current contraceptive techniques. Housemaids' older age, urban residence, educational level, work experience, family situation, and first sex before now are all positive predictors of a positive attitude and good practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Housemaids' knowledge, attitude, and practice of modern contraceptive methods were influenced by a variety of socio-demographic factors. As a result, housemaids should be educated about modern contraceptive methods by the health sector and other stakeholders to improve their knowledge, attitude, and practices.

Health workers' adherence to the malaria test, treat and track strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic in malaria high transmission area in Eastern Uganda

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected malaria control activities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) resulting in 690,000 excess deaths in the year 2021. The authors hypothesized that COVID-19 affected the World Health Organization (WHO) Test, Treat and Track (T3) strategy that has been implemented in Uganda since 2010. In this study, health worker's adherence to the T3 strategy during COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Uganda was studied by assessing their knowledge, skills and practices.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study utilizing mixed quantitative and qualitative data collections methods was conducted at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda between November and December in 2020. Data were captured on demographics, knowledge, skills and practices for both health workers (HWs) and patients. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA 15.0 and reported as descriptive statistics, proportions and statistical associations. Moreover, qualitative data were collected via key informant interviews (KII) among purposively sampled study participants and analysed thematically using NVIVO software. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study.

RESULTS

A total of 436 study participants, of whom 103/436 (24%) and 333/436 (76%) were HWs and patients, respectively were studied. Among the HWs with mean age of 34 years (SD = 8.8 years), 81/103 (79%) had good practices, most 63/103 (61%) had good knowledge, and only 11/103 (10.7%) had good skills. Specifically, on the cadres, the laboratory personnel 19/103 (18%) had good knowledge 14/19 (74%) OR: 2.0 (95% CI 0.7-6) and were highly skilled OR: 4.6 (95% CI 1.2-18.1; P < 0.0150) compared to other cadres, respectively. Among the patients whose age ranged 3 months to 80 years (mean 17.8 years) and females 177/333 (53%); a majority 257/333 (77%) were tested, of whom 139/333 (42%) tested positive. Out of the positive cases, 115/333 (35%) were treated and tracked. About 75/333 (23%) were not tested but treated for malaria. Of the 168/239 (70.3%) patients tested, 115/168 (68.5%) were positive and treated, P = 0.0001. The KII revealed low level of In-service training, overwhelming number of patients and stock-out of supplies as a key factor for poor HW adherence to T3 strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

During COVID-19 pandemic period HWs adherence to T3 initiative was low as 27% malaria patients did not receive treatment.

Assessing hand hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Guatemalan primary school students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Hand hygiene (HH) is an important practice that prevents transmission of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. However, in resource-limited areas, where water and soap are not always available, it can be difficult to practice HH correctly and at appropriate moments. The purpose of this study was to assess HH knowledge and behaviors among students from six elementary schools in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala to identify gaps that could later inform interventions to improve HH.

METHODS

We conducted knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) surveys among primary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2022. We also observed students' HH practices at three different moments during the day, making note of the use of the HH station and materials, duration of handwashing, presence of a HH assistant, and the students' sex. We also used the Quantitative Personal Hygiene Assessment Tool (qPHAT), to measure hand dirtiness before eating, after restroom use, and upon arriving to school.

RESULTS

We surveyed 109 students across six schools. Mean scores were 4 out of 5 for knowledge, 8 out of 8 for attitudes, and 6 out of 7 for HH practices. Most students identified "before eating" as a critical moment for HH (68.8%), fewer identified "after restroom use" (31.2%), and no students mentioned HH being necessary "after coughing or sneezing". We observed 326 HH opportunities of which 51.2% performed correct HH (used water and soap for at least 20 s or used alcohol-based hand rub, where materials were available). We collected 82 qPHAT hand swabs. A Kruskal Wallis test revealed a significant difference in hand dirtiness between entering the school and after restroom use (p = 0.017), but no significant difference before eating and after entering the school (p = 0.6988).

CONCLUSIONS

The results from the KAP survey show high scores, however correct identification of key moments for HH was relatively uncommon, especially after restroom use and after coughing or sneezing. Additionally, half of HH opportunities observed had correct HH practices and on average, hands were dirtiest when arriving at school. These findings will inform interventions to improve HH practices and behaviors, which will be evaluated with follow-up data collection.

Assessment of vaccine management performance in health facilities of Mwanza Region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) initiative provides the platform needed to monitor and assess the vaccine supply chain system to identify strengths and weaknesses of the system at all levels and enhance the development of continuous improvement plan to strengthen the system. This study was conducted to determine the vaccine management performance in Health Facilities of Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out in 102 health facilities providing immunization services from eights districts of Mwanza Region in Tanzania. The World Health Organization (WHO) effective vaccine management assessment tools were used to collected data. Both quantitative and qualitative (through key informant interviews) approaches were used. The quantitative data were analysed using the existing WHO criteria for analysing effective vaccine management assessment data, while deductive thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data.

RESULTS

The finding shows that the overall score for vaccine management performance was 53% which is below the WHO acceptable minimum score of 80%. None of the health facilities had reached the benchmark but only 67% had an average performance (> = 50-< 80%). The highest health facility score was 76% and the lowest being 27%. Among the categories assessed, the highest score was on information technology with 72%, while the lowest was on standard operating procedures with a score of 43%. The major challenges which contributed to low performance were lack of training, low knowledge about vaccine management practices, unavailability of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and limited financial resources to support operations for vaccine management practices. Skills gap, incomplete stock records and management, as well as low availability of SOPs were the key challenges reported that affected vaccine management practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective vaccine management performance was low across all districts under the study. Increasing personnel capacity and ensuring availability of resources to support operations were reported as key interventions in improving vaccine management practices. Hence, effectively working on continuous improvement plan with key highlighted actions is highly recommended to all actors from national level to sub-national level managers and healthcare workers as frontline vaccine handlers.