Physical Activity Health Communication for Adults with Mood Disorders in the United States

Using national representative data, this study sought to examine receipt of physical activity communication and counseling among adults with mood disorders in comparison to the general population in the United States. The sample consisted of adult primary-care visits in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care and National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between mental health status and receipt of physical activity communication and counseling. Overall, less than 20% of visits included physical activity communication and counseling. Controlling for covariates, visits for adults with a mood disorder diagnosis were associated with an increased odds of including physical activity communication and counseling, odds ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 1.45]. Although adults with mood disorders were more likely to receive physical activity communication and counseling, most primary-care visits for adults in the United States did not include physical activity communication and counseling

Heavy Metal Analysis of Industrial Discharges in Lagos, Nigeria

Waste water samples from three different industrial areas in Lagos state (Ikeja, Apapa and Victoria Island) spanning the dry and wet seasons, were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Cd, Mn and Fe using the atomic absorption spectroscopic method. The mean values of Fe were within the FMEnV and WHO limits used as standard while the mean values of Cd, Cu, Pb and Mn exceeded these limits indicating that these industries constitute source of pollution to the human lives and ecosystem in the areas involved. Utilization of improved method of treatment and frequent awareness to the compliance of the industries were recommended

Evaluating Motivational Interviewing in the Physician Assistant Curriculum

Purpose Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based technique that enables clinicians to help patients modify health behaviors. Although MI is an essential tool for physician assistants (PAs), the extent to which it is addressed in PA curricula in the United States is unknown. This study is a comprehensive description of MI education in PA programs in the United States. Methods Data are from the 2014 Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Program Survey. Descriptive statistics were conducted on de-identified data from all 186 PA programs in the United States. Results Of the 186 PA programs surveyed, 72.58% (n = 135) reported at least one course providing MI training. Availability of courses providing training in skills essential to the MI process varied. Having a course with verbal communication training was most frequently endorsed, and having a course with training in developing discrepancy was least frequently endorsed. The most popular teaching modality was lecture (84.95%, n = 158), whereas only 41.40% (n = 77) and 58.60% (n = 109) reported role play with evaluation and standardized patient exercises with evaluation, respectively. Conclusions More than 70% of programs included at least one course in their curriculum that provided training in MI, suggesting that PA programs recognize the importance of MI. Instruction in change talk was not provided in nearly half of the programs. Role-play and standardized patient exercises with evaluation were underused methods despite their proven efficacy in MI education. As the first comprehensive benchmark of MI education for PAs, this study shows that although most programs address MI, opportunities exist to improve MI training in PA programs in the United States

Adequacy of Depression Treatment in Spouses of Cancer Survivors: Findings From a Nationally Representative US Survey

Background Recent research suggests that mental health problems in spouses of cancer survivors are associated with worse mental health in the survivors themselves. Adequately treating spousal mental health problems therefore represents an opportunity to improve outcomes for both cancer survivors and their co-surviving family members. Objective Using nationally representative data, this study sought to determine how depression treatment differs between spouses of cancer survivors with depression compared to the general married population and assess rural/urban disparities in treatment. Design The design of the study is cross sectional. Participants Data are from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, a household-based survey of US adults; we concatenated data from 2004 to 2013. We identified spouses of cancer survivors (n = 225) and a comparison group of married adults (n = 3678). Main Measures Key measures included depression, guideline concordance of depression treatment (at least four prescriptions related to depression treatment, or at least eight psychotherapy or counseling visits), and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regressions evaluated the association between whether their spouse had cancer and receipt of guideline-concordant treatment, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics; secondary analyses included rurality as a moderator. Analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design. Key Results Spouses of cancer survivors were 33% less likely to receive guideline-concordant depression treatment than comparison spouses (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45–0.99), controlling for covariates. Rural-urban disparities were observed: rural spouses of cancer survivors were 72% less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11–0.68) than rural comparison spouses. Spouses of cancer survivors and comparison spouses were no different in their receipt of any treatment versus no treatment. Conclusions Spouses of cancer survivors with depression may be at increased risk of non-guideline-concordant depression treatment, particularly in rural areas. The findings have implications for identifying and educating individuals with depression in primary care and other clinical areas

Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurship Capacity Development from the Perspective of a Nigerian University

The importance of the entrepreneurship educational curriculum and its teaching approach to enterprise skills development in Nigeria was examined in this study. Also examined was the relevance and adequacy of the entrepreneurship education (EE) taught in tertiary institutions to students’ development of entrepreneurship capacity (EC). The study identified the learning perspective as the appropriate teaching approach to achieve the objectives of EE syllabus in Nigeria and a major instrument that could lead to greater level of entrepreneurship capacity being developed in the students of EE. The study therefore recommends that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) should review the national tertiary educational and related policies to reflect the dynamics in today’s world of globalized economy.Keywords: Entrepreneurship education, Entrepreneurship capacity, Curriculum, Self-employment, Teaching approac

Assessment of On-Farm Travel Characteristics of Small Scale Farmers In Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Transport needs of the farmers have not been properly quantified, most importantly on the farm which is the main hub of his activities. A study was conducted to assess on-farm travel characteristics of small scale farmers in Nigeria during farming activities. On-farm movement parameters such as working speed, workrate, field efficiency, power consumption and distance travelled were evaluated for some farm operations. The working speed during planting of maize and fertilizer application (manual) were both 0.088 m/sec; bed construction had a working speed of 0.013 m/sec. The workrate of planting operation was 0.044 ha/hr while bed making operation had a workrate of 0.0062 ha/hr. The results showed that operations like bed construction, ridging and weeding which were more tedious operations had lower workrate, working speed and travel distance compared to the less tedious operations like planting and fertilizer application. Also more power was consumed for ridging and bed construction than planting or fertilizer application. &nbsp

Assessment of Trace Metal Contaminations in Vegetables Around Riparian Area of Ogbomoso

Different types of waste consisting of everyday items from different sources that are discarded by the public are commonly disposed at the bank of a river in which vegetables are planted. The vegetables planted are assumed to be polluted with some heavy metals as a result of municipal waste. These heavy metals accumulate in the body and enter through the food. The heavy metals sometimes are so much in the body that they pose a great hazard to human body. Four heavy metals Lead (Pb), Chromium, (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Zinc (Zn) were studied in comparison with FAO/WHO standard.The research was carried out in Ogbomoso at three different locations Arada, Ikose and Beulah. Vegetables sample were uprooted at the river bank of these locations at three varying distances (10m, 15m and 20m) away from the river. The vegetables samples were kept in a labeled brown envelopes and oven dried for 48 hours at 23oC to remove moisture. The dried samples were then taken to the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training at Ibadan for analysis.The results showed that the level of concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn found in the vegetable planted in riparian area of Ogbomoso are safe for human consumption because the metals found were in conformation with FAO/WHO standard. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-18-05 Publication date:September 30th 201

Searching for Appropriate Crude Oil Price Benchmarking Method in the Nigerian Budgeting Process

One of the fundamental challenges facing policymakers in Nigeria is the benchmarking of crude oil price in the budgeting process. Appropriate projection of future behavior of crude oil price is imperative in setting and achieving macroeconomic objectives of the government. This paper surveyed the various forecasting models and examined the current Moving Average benchmarking method to determine the best forecasting model for Nigeria. Using quarterly data from 2005Q1 to2012Q4 on oil price benchmark, the study finds that ARIMA model is the best forecasting model for projecting Nigeria’s crude oil price benchmark. Based on this scenario, it was also found that $80 could be the appropriate crude oil price benchmark for 2013 fiscal year. The study suggests that benchmarking of crude oil should be based on the crude oil price fundamental to enhance predictability of policy and promote macroeconomic stability. Key words: Budget Process, Forecasting Models, Predictability and Macroeconomic Stabilit

Impact of Microfinance Banks on Poverty Alleviation in Selected Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of microfinance banks on poverty alleviation in selected Local Government Areas of Oyo State. Standard of living of the respondents was examined; relationship between size of loans and standard of living and the extent to which women has benefitted from microfinance bank activities were also evaluated. The study was carried out in three Local Government Areas which were selected using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. 150 customers of microfinance banks were selected. Primary data were analyzed using Foster Greer Thorbecke; Matching Framework Analysis and Partial Correlation. The results revealed that poverty index of the respondents reduced from 0.1668 to 0.1551 after collection of loans which implied that microfinance banks has impacted positively on their living standards. The extent at which women has benefitted from microfinance banks ranges from 65% to 74% between 2007 and 2010. The result indicated that women are increasingly benefitting from microfinance activities in contrast to yester years when there was gender disparity skewed against women. Moreover, the relationship between size of loan, asset acquisition and profit after loan were positive and significant with P = 0.085 and r = 0.152, this revealed that as the size of loan increases, asset acquisition and profit also increases. It was recommended that the size of loans given to customers should be increased in order to enhance their standard of living and consequently alleviate poverty. Microfinance banks should encourage formation of cooperative societies through which they can give out loans to customers. Keywords: Microfinance bank, Poverty, Living standard, Nigeri