Boswellcoleman2988
ified the SDS as a useful screening tool for BUD with a high sensitivity and specificity compared to interview outcomes. Statistically, correlates were identified between duration and type of benzodiazepine prescribed and BUD suggesting emphasis on these factors when prescribing benzodiazepines.Appendicitis is a common childhood condition requiring surgical intervention and delayed diagnosis can have serious consequences. This report describes the case of a child who presented with an acute abdomen and intestinal obstruction. Multidetector (MD) CT demonstrated a left-sided caecum and an inflamed appendix with a faecolith. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) post-processing was key in identifying the appendicular artery and determine the diagnosis. At surgery, however, a mobile caecum and the appendix were positioned on the right side.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of mortality in persons living with HIV (PLWH). Sputum-based diagnosis of TB in patients with low CD4 counts is hampered by paucibacillary disease and consequent sputum scarcity or negative sputum results. Urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) has shown promise in the point-of-care detection of TB in this patient subset but lacks sensitivity, and its exact role in a diagnostic algorithm for TB in South Africa remains to be clarified.
The objective of this study was to better define the patient profile and the TB characteristics associated with a positive urine LAM (LAM+ve) test.
This multicentre retrospective record review examined the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of hospitalised PLWH receiving urine LAM testing with sputum-scarce and/or negative sputum GeneXpert
(mycobacterium tuberculosis/resistance to rifampicin [MTB/RIF]) results.
More than a third of patients, 121/342 (35%), were LAM+ve. The positive yield was greater in the sputum-scarce thSelective use of the LAM test in the critically ill is likely to maximise the diagnostic yield, improve the test's predictive value, and reduce the time to TB diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
Medication adherence remains a challenge in the management of mental healthcare users (MHCUs), despite it being regarded as crucial for better health outcomes. Nurses at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities can play an important role through nursing presence in enhancing MHCUs' medication adherence.
This article aimed to investigate the relationship between MHCUs' self-reported medication adherence and their perception of the nursing presence by registered nurses in PHC.
An urban health district in Gauteng province, South Africa.
A quantitative, descriptive correlational, cross-sectional design was used. The sample included 180 MHCUs. Data were collected using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale and the Presence of Nursing Scale.
The overall adherence level of respondents was partially adherent, with an average score of 6.45 out of a total score of 10. Respondents also reported a low level of perceived nursing presence demonstrated by registered nurses, with an average score of 72.2 out of 125. There is a correlation between nursing presence and medication adherence. This holds significant value for future research in nursing presence. These findings also provide registered nurses in PHC with a valuable tool to improve medication adherence, namely nursing presence.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women worldwide. Whilst current evidence indicates the therapeutic benefits from the use of chemotherapy, self-perceived cognitive difficulties emerged as a frequent occurrence during and after chemotherapy treatment in breast cancer patients.
The current study sought to investigate self-perceived cognitive impairment in a group of breast cancer patients in semi-rural South Africa.
The patients were recruited from an outpatient oncology clinic at a semi-rural, tertiary academic hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.
In a randomised, quantitative, time-based series study, 30 female patients aged 21-60 years (mean age = 50 years) diagnosed with stages II and III breast cancer on CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil) (
= 10) and FAC (fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) (
= 20) chemotherapy regimens, completed the self-reported Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognition (Fact-Cog) test as a measure of subjective cognitive functioning at three points during the course of treatment (T
, T
, T
).
The results of the paired sample
-tests showed the scores on the Fact-Cog test confirmed significant cognitive decline for both treatment groups from baseline (T
) to completion (T
) of chemotherapy; CMF group,
(9) = 2.91,
= 0.017 and the FAC group
(19) = 4.66,
< 0.001.
This study confirms that self-reported subjective cognitive impairment is common in breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy in a sample of South African patients. The results have implications for the overall care of cancer patients.
The context-based knowledge engendered by the current study is expected to augment the continuum of care for breast cancer patients.
The context-based knowledge engendered by the current study is expected to augment the continuum of care for breast cancer patients.
Tuberculosis (TB) is strongly influenced by nutritional status, with nutrition interventions being likely to have an impact on the prevalence of disease, response to drugs and quality of life.
The aim of this research study was to determine the nutritional profile of patients with TB and TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection.
The study was conducted at Standerton TB Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken. A structured interview was conducted by the researcher with each patient. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used to determine the risk of malnutrition. Weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skinfold were measured using standard techniques. Biochemical parameters that were part of the routine hospital procedure were noted.
More than two-thirds of the participants (68%) were found to be HIV positive. Food-related side effects included loss of appetite (59%) and dry mouth (48%). According to the MUST, 70% had this research project to confirm these findings in other TB burdened areas.
Lack of collaborative capacity results in provision of fragmented health services that do not meet the needs of patients. ML324 research buy Collaborative capacity refers to the extent to which providers have influence over other healthcare workers' decision-making, and can be assessed by measuring perceptions of task interdependence, quality of interaction and collaborative influence. However, each healthcare worker may present differing perceptions that can influence their ability to collaborate effectively during provision of care. No studies that specifically assessed healthcare workers' perception of collaborative capacity in Malawi were identified.
To assess the perceptions of healthcare workers regarding collaborative capacity in Malawi.
The study was conducted at a tertiary public hospital in Blantyre city, Malawi.
The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional correlational design. The instrument used was a Care Coordination survey that had been used previously in similar studies in the United States of America. Descriptive statistics as well as univariate and multivariate analysis were computed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program version 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).
A total of 384 healthcare workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 100%. There were differences in perceptions of collaborative capacity based on the cadre of the respondent (
< 0.005). Medical staff reported higher mean scores on quality of interaction (2.94) and collaborative influence (2.65), whereas technical support staff reported the lowest mean scores across all three measures of collaborative capacity (
2.4).
Differences in perceptions about collaborative capacity suggest the need for interventions to enhance interprofessional collaboration.
The study will inform strategies to promote interprofessional collaboration.
The study will inform strategies to promote interprofessional collaboration.[This corrects the article DOI 10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1127.].[This corrects the article DOI 10.4102/hsag.v25i0.1263.].
The phenomenon of managing paediatric emergencies in the pre-hospital environment within the South African setting is poorly understood with specific regard to what emergency care personnel are experiencing when managing paediatric emergencies.
The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of emergency care personnel in managing paediatric patients in the pre-hospital environment and to understand the meaning and the significance of these experiences.
All participants were purposively sampled from emergency medical services agencies operating within the Johannesburg metropolitan city area.
This study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, phenomenological design, whereby participants purposively sampled within the Johannesburg metropolitan city voluntarily consented to one-on-one interviews (
= 10).
Three main themes, with 11 contributing categories, were identified and contextualised with available literature. Emerging from the main themes was an overall sense that managing paediatric emergencies is a negative experience, coloured with feelings of inadequacy, stress, anxiety and even fear.
The findings of this study provided new insights into what South African EMS are experiencing when managing paediatric emergencies, which enables future research efforts to identify research and practice gaps that are relevant to paediatric pre-hospital emergency care, and that are specific to the South African environment.
This research provides preliminary insight into the lived experiences of prehospital personnel managing paediatric emergencies as well as emerging recommendations for the improvement of the prehospital care of paediatric patients.
This research provides preliminary insight into the lived experiences of prehospital personnel managing paediatric emergencies as well as emerging recommendations for the improvement of the prehospital care of paediatric patients.
Caring for a preterm infant is known to be a stressful experience as these infants are at a high risk of medical sequelae and developmental delays. Early intervention is imperative for the best developmental outcome for the infant. Such interventions are often delivered through the mother or primary caregiver; however, healthcare professionals are seldom aware of all the factors that influence maternal well-being, potentially influencing her ability to provide optimal care.
To explore the experiences of a group of vulnerable women, namely, isiXhosa-speaking mothers of preterm infants living in low socio-economic circumstances in the Western Cape province of South Africa, regarding having, caring for and feeding their preterm infants within the first 6 months of the infant's life.
A follow-up clinic for preterm infants and their mothers at a public tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
The study employed a qualitative, cross-sectional design that was explorative and contextual in nature. A discussion schedule was used to guide 15 in-depth interviews with mothers that were later thematically analysed.
