Re-thinking technology and its growing role in enabling patient empowerment

© The Author(s) 2018. The presence and increase of challenges to eHealth in today’s society have begun to generate doubts about the capability of technology in patient empowerment, especially within the frameworks supporting empowerment. Through the review of existing frameworks and articulation of patient demands, weaknesses in the current application of technology to support empowerment are explored, and key constituents of a technology-driven framework for patient empowerment are determined. This article argues that existing usage of technology in the design, development and implementation of patient empowerment in the healthcare system, although well intentioned, is insufficiently constituted, primarily as a result of fragmentation. Systems theory concepts such as holism and iteration are considered vital in improving the role of technology in enabling patient empowerment

Phytohyperaccumulator-AMF (arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi) interaction in heavy metals detoxification of soil

Phytohyperaccumulator-AMF (arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi) interaction in heavy metals detoxification of soil  

Exploring patient empowerment : presenting an enhanced model for delivery in practice

Patient empowerment evolved as a strategy to address multi-faceted healthcare management issues. Studies over the past decades have provided different patient empowerment frameworks, but even with the emergent frameworks, there is no marked desired result. To date there has been no reliable patient empowerment. This thesis is driven by the ambition to enable greater patient empowerment in our global healthcare services.The methodological approach adopted was a mixed methodology approach based on taxonomical analysis, questionnaire study and focus group discussions. To better understand a patient empowered system, this work explored empowerment, patient empowerment and the role of technology. The thesis built through critical analysis on the knowledge of existing patient empowerment frameworks coupled with technology practice to develop an improved patient empowered system. Through review of existing frameworks and articulation of patients’ demands, weaknesses in current structures to support empowerment are determined.This thesis provides a platform for articulating an improved patient empowerment model, which considered systems theory ideas such as holism and iteration. Further research would propose implementing a trail of this model in practice and exploring with a wider range of stakeholders its potential for integration in the NHS or other health service organisations

Effect of Bureau De Change Establishment on the Stability of Exchange Rates in Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Bureau de change establishment on the stability of the exchange rate in Nigeria. Ex post-facto and correlation research designs are employed for this study. The sample relied on for the purpose of this work was for the period from 2008-2018. The study relies on secondary data sources such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, internet, speeches, and document from CBN, NSE and Bureau for public enterprises. The data estimation technique used was ordinary least squares. The findings of the study revealed that the bureau de change establishment impact the stability of the exchange rate in Nigeria. The result indicated that is the long-run relationship between Bureau De change and stability of the exchange rate. The study recommended that participants in the foreign exchange market should undertake forward transactions to serve as an insurance cover (shield) for their spot transactions. The exchange rate of the bureau de change should be closely monitored by monetary authorities to reduce the gap between these rates and the official rates. The government should adopt measures that would bring down the exchange rate of the naira to a US dollar so that Nigerian producers who make use of imported raw materials can continue in business. Keywords: Bureau De Change, Exchange Rate, Stability, Monetary, Naira. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-6-01 Publication date: February 29th 202

Spirituality, Power, and Feminism: Historical Narratives of Bori Practice among the Women in Sabon Birni District of Sokoto State

From time immemorial, human beings and humanity in general have been guided by intangible spiritual and supernatural forces. This is mainly through religious associations. Indeed, any type of religion usually comes along with distinct ideological beliefs. These beliefs guide its followers along the distinct religious practices, as well as the social, economic and political lives they should practice. These religious beliefs and practices as they satisfy the needs of their believers in many facets of life, forms intangible dimensions of reality. They, therefore, form an integral part of human history because their influences on historical processes are extremely profound. The people inhabiting sizable portions of the defunct Gobir Kingdom in particular and Hausaland in general are not left behind in this sense. This is because; they have their own distinct traditional religious beliefs and practices, mainly based on the belief in, and the worship of Iskoki (spirits). One of the major ideologies and practices in this respect is the Bori practice (that of Spirit Possession). This paper has examined Bori practice which is a female domain among the Gobirawa, led by a female priestess called Inna, who was both spiritually and politically influential in the defunct Gobir Kingdom. The paper also discusseds the persistence, continuities and changes in the practice of Bori among the Gobirawa women in Sabon Birnin Gobir as affected by the introduction of Islam, the 1804 Jihad, and more contemporaneously, the infusion of modernityKey words: Gobir, Women, Bori, Religion and Politic

Attitude and acceptability of assisted reproductive technology among women in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, northern Nigeria

Background: Infertility couple affects the couple's life, work, health, personality, identity and quality of life. The aim of the study is to determine the attitude and acceptability of assisted reproductive technology among women at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that involved three 350 women attending infertility clinic. They were recruited via convenient sampling method using semi-structured questionnaire. The data obtained was managed using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant and the result obtained was presented in charts and tables.Results: Among the 350 women recruited, their ages ranged between 14-58 years with a modal age of 25-35 yeas (58.0%) and a mean of 28.59±6.7. They are mostly (78.6%), of the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group. Almost all (98.9%) of them were married and unto 40.5% of them were in polygamous marriage. Majority, 36.9% had tertiary education, and about same proportion, about half, 51.7%% were gainfully employed. About 60.3% of them were nulliparae with a mean duration of infertility of 5.07±4.8 years. Approximately half, 53.1% had secondary infertility and only about half, 51.4% will accept ART if offered. Unfortunately, among those who declined, majority (40.9%) had no reason for doing so. There was statistically significant association between educational status and acceptance of assisted reproductive technology (ART) at p value 0.02.Conclusions: The acceptance of ART in our environment is influenced by the educational status and number of living children

PROBLEMS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS CAMPS, MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed problems of internally displaced Junior Secondary School Students in Maiduguri IDPs camps Borno State, Nigeria. The one research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adapted for the study. Five IDPs Camps were sampled, with the population of 2,369 of which 1,075 were males and 1,294 were females. Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain 222 males and 275 females. Research instruments were used for data collection, which was developed by the researcher with the help of the supervisor and assistance from an expert in Measurement and Evaluation Department of Social Science Education, University of Maiduguri. The data collected was describe using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages in answering the research questions while chi-square was used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the displaced students were faced with educational, health and challenges of basic needs. The study also found that there was significant gender difference in problems of displaced Junior Secondary School Students in Maiduguri IDPs Camps. The study also concluded that female’s students experienced more psychological problems compared to male students. It, therefore, recommended that Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) Borno State chapter should be visiting the IDPs camps to interact and providing counselling services to the IDPs and also if there is need of referral, they should refer them to appropriate bodies. Article visualizations

An Impact Assessment of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) On Employees’ Productivity in Adamawa State, Nigeria

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Compatibility and formulation of diesel degrading consortia using bacteria isolated from contaminated soil

Soil contamination with diesel spillage is an increasing environmental challenge that damages living ecosystems. Efficiency of single bacterium in degrading diesel oil pollutants is faced with slow performance limitation. Therefore, the use of consortia is shown to be better, due to synergism, multi-enzymatic activity and potential for diversified catabolic functionalities. This study is aimed at formulating effective bacterial consortia that can degrade diesel in polluted environments. Four diesel degrading bacteria as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus roseus and Rhodococcus specie were isolated and used for consortia formulation. Purity testing was performed on the isolates prior to consortia formulation, before their compatibility was tested by cross-spreading them on nutrient agar. Consortia formulation was made using Bacteria resting cells in Phosphate Buffer Saline based on compatibility testing and mathematical permutations. For on their ability to survive diesel on Bushnell-Haas Agar (BHA), consortia 2, 9 and 11 showed the best results among which consortium 11 was chosen as the best, considering growths on the medium within a 72 hrs period. The growth of the organisms before consortia formulation and after was also evaluated, which suggest that the consortium perform better than individual strains. Analysis of Variance showed significant statistical differences (p&lt;0.05) between constituents of consortia, and diesel degradation on 2% (v/v) BHA. The degradation performances of the various consortia on BHA were furthermore separated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The colony counts obtained indicate that degradation was performed better by the consortia than individual strains. The findings of the study contribute towards illuminating inter-microbial relationships and microbial ecology especially within groups of diesel degrading bacteria. Further studies are imperative, to maximally harness the potentials of these bacteria for applications in large scale diesel biodegradation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Key Words: Consortia, Diesel, Bacterial Biodegradation, Haemocytometry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp