Undergraduate research - a tale of three African institutions

BACKGROUND : The inclusion of research in undergraduate medical curricula benefits students as well as the scientific community. Multiple studies report the presence of one or more barriers to research training in these curricula. OBJECTIVES : This paper presents and compares three studies done regarding the teaching of research in undergraduate medical curricula in South Africa, Sudan and Uganda. METHODS : Two cross-sectional study designs (South Africa and Sudan) and one interventional study design (Uganda) were conducted. Both cross-sectional studies used mixed methods while the Ugandan study used a quantitative method. A total of 41 faculty members and 554 students participated. The studies used a combination of surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and document analysis. RESULTS : Participants from all three studies valued research and considered it useful and relevant to their studies. The findings from the South African and Sudanese studies align with the ‘Four I’s’ framework that summarise the barriers to research training as lack of initiative, impulse, incentive and idols. The Ugandan study demonstrated improved self-reported knowledge and attitude (specifically anxiety) among participants after completion of a short course on research.http://www.bioline.org.br/hsFamily MedicineSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Transitions of health care interventions from hospital to home for low income countries: a scoping review protocol of systematic reviews.

This scoping review seeks to explore the existing interventions of healthcare transition through reviewing the existing reviews. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses provide a comprehensive summary of interventions characteristics to researchers, policymakers and practitioners in low-income countries

The Needs of Patients With Chronic Disease in Transitional Care From Hospital to Home in Sudan: A Qualitative Study

The growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases demands improved post-discharge care. The Sudanese healthcare system faces challenges in providing coordinated care for patients with chronic conditions after hospital discharge. This qualitative study explored the experiences of patients with chronic disease in transitional care from hospital to home to identify improvement targets. Purposive sampling was used to interview 17 participants from different hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using principles of content analysis to identify themes and the relationship between them. Thematic analysis revealed 4 main themes describing the perceived needs of the patients. These were (1) feeling well-informed about post-discharge care goals and plans; (2) feeling cared for during hospital admission and follow-up visits; (3) feeling safe during the transitional care process; and (4) having access to follow-up services. This study highlights the importance of improving hospital patient education through effective communication to facilitate care transitions

Prevalence of convergence insufficiency among secondary school students in Khartoum, Sudan

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the prevalence of convergence insufficiency (CI) in a school-based population in Sudan. This study sought to determine the prevalence of CI and its related clinical characteristics among Sudanese secondary school students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Central Khartoum North, Sudan, in the academic year 2013/2014. A total of 4211 secondary school students, with a mean age of 15.5 ± 2.5 years, underwent complete eye examination, and were screened for symptoms associated with near work. Near and distance heterophoria was measured with the alternate cover test using a prism bar; near point of convergence (NPC) and positive fusional vergence (PFV) at near were determined. RESULTS: Of the 4211 students screened, 329 (7.8%) were diagnosed with CI. Of these, 173 (52.6%) students were male and 156 (47.4%) were female; there was no significant relationship between sex and CI (P > 0.05). Standard schools had a higher prevalence of CI (43%) than geographic schools (36%) and there was a significant association between CI and the type of school (P < 0.05). In most of the students (78.42%), CI was due to both remote NPC and decreased PFV; in 20.36% of the students, CI was due to remote NPC only, and in very few students (1.22%), it was due to decreased PFV only. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CI is prevalent in the secondary school population in Central Khartoum North, Sudan

Physician experiences with teleconsultations amidst conflict in Sudan

Abstract The current conflict in Sudan severely hinders the accessibility of health services across the country. To address this, several initiatives were proposed including offering services using teleconsultations. This study aimed to assess Sudanese doctors' teleconsultation experience, perception, and concerns during the recent conflict. This cross-sectional survey focused on Sudanese medical officers, residents, specialists, and consultants living inside or outside the country having a practice license from the Sudan Medical Council and conducting teleconsultations with Sudanese patients during the conflict period. The questionnaire was distributed to personal and professional contacts and via social media platforms in the English language among doctors who provided teleconsultation during the conflict. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 26. The study enrolled 2463 clinicians from 17 different specialties, and females represented more than half the sample (56.8%). Internal medicine was the most frequent specialty (36.1%) and the majority (68.7%) of clinicians had less than 5 years of work experience. Voice call was the most frequent platform (50.1%) used for teleconsultation during the conflict and had the highest convenience score (p < 0.01), whereas messaging platforms had the lowest score. Most clinicians (73.3%) agreed that teleconsultations created a trusted patient-physician relationship and provided good-quality care (61.8%). However, 85.1% highlighted the importance of physical touch in medical practice. Clinicians were concerned that incomplete information (81.4%), missed diagnosis (76.8%), medicolegal problems (71.0%), and prescription errors (68.4%) could arise with teleconsultations. Most respondents (70.7%) emphasized the importance of continuing to offer teleconsultation even after the war abated. In conclusion, physicians who participated in the current study agreed that teleconsultation provided quality care even in this dire crisis in Sudan. Based on our study findings, we recommend upscaling telemedicine interventions including teleconsultations at the national level. This would require unified coordination efforts of a wide mix of stakeholders to address concerns identified in the current study