Influence of well-being and quality of work-life on quality of care among healthcare professionals in southwest, Nigeria

The Nigerian healthcare industry is bedevilled with infrastructural dilapidations and a dysfunctional healthcare system. This study investigated the influence of healthcare professionals' well-being and quality of work-life (QoWL) on the quality of care (QoC) of patients in Nigeria. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted at four tertiary healthcare institutions in southwest, Nigeria. Participants' demographic information, well-being, quality of life (QoL), QoWL, and QoC were obtained using four standardised questionnaires. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics included Chi-square, Pearson's correlation, independent samples t-test, confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation model. Medical practitioners (n = 609) and nurses (n = 570) constituted 74.6% of all the healthcare professionals with physiotherapists, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists constituting 25.4%. The mean (SD) participants' well-being = 71.65% (14.65), QoL = 61.8% (21.31), QoWL = 65.73% (10.52) and QoC = 70.14% (12.77). Participants' QoL had a significant negative correlation with QoC while well-being and quality of work-life had a significant positive correlation with QoC. We concluded that healthcare professionals' well-being and QoWL are important factors that influence the QoC rendered to patients. Healthcare policymakers in Nigeria should ensure improved work-related factors and the well-being of healthcare professionals to ensure good QoC for patients

Patients’ satisfaction with physiotherapy management of chronic mechanical neck pain in physiotherapy departments of public hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria: a mixed-method study

Introduction: The study was aimed at determining patients’ satisfaction level with physiotherapy in the management of chronic mechanical neck pain (CMNP) in physiotherapy departments of the 3 public hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: A mixed-method design that involved 51 and five both purposively selected participants for the cross-sectional survey (CSS) and qualitative study, respectively. For the CSS, data was collected using the MedRisk instrument and analyzed using the Chi-square test at p ≤ .05. For the qualitative study, patients’ satisfaction was explored through a focus group discussion (FGD) and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: For CSS, 49.0% and 7.8% of the participants reported excellent and fair satisfaction, respectively, with physiotherapy in the management of CMNP. There was no significant association of patients’ satisfaction level with: age (p = .588); sex (p = .851); and marital status (p = .409). For the FGD, three themes (patients’ experience with physiotherapists; patient satisfaction with physiotherapy services; patient satisfaction with other health care services) that emerged further explained that participants were satisfied with physiotherapy management of their CMNP. However, they were not satisfied with the attitude of the record officers, constancy of the same treating physiotherapists, and unavailability of resources. Conclusion: Patients with CMNP are satisfied with the physiotherapy care they received

Selected Physical Fitness Parameters in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Apparently Healthy Controls: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The study aimed to compare the physical fitness of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ST2DM) and apparently healthy non-diabetic controls (NDC). Methods: Thirty-two ST2DMs and 32 NDCs were recruited for a comparative cross-sectional study. Flexibility, balance, power, and strength were assessed using sit-up and sit and reach (SR), one leg stand, horizontal jump (HJ), and hand grip tests, respectively. Cardiovascular endurance was assessed using Vo2max estimated with a 6-minute walk test. Also, body composition was estimated using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and percent body mass. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The alpha level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Static balance was significantly higher in the NDCs (11.1 ± 12.6 vs 5.5 ± 5.0 sec; p = 0.047) than in the ST2DMs. Hand (34.6 ± 19.9 vs 23.6 ± 12.7 kg; p = 0.001) and leg (122.4 ± 42.8 vs 26.5 ± 43.9 cm; 0.001) strength/power were significantly higher in the NDC group compared with the ST2DM. The SR test, a measure of flexibility, was significantly higher in the NDC (SDM = 12.2 ± 19.8cm, NDC = 35.3 ± 8.8cm, p = 0.001). BMI (28.7 ± 4.3 vs 26.4 ± 41kgm-2; p = 0.048), WC (104.2 ± 8.0 vs 94.2 ± 8.7cm; p = 0.001) and WHR (1.0 ± 0.6 vs 0.9 ± 0.7; p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the ST2DM than in the NDC. There was no significant difference in the estimated VO2max between the subject group and the control group. Conclusion: Balance, flexibility, and strength were significantly lower, while measures of adiposity are significantly higher in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with non-diabetic controls