Modeling LIS Students\u27 Intention to Adopt E-learning: A Case from University of Nigeria, Nsukka

E-learning is one of the emerging issues in LIS education in Nigeria and students in the LIS profession have been adopting some of these technologies in enhancing their professional skills. E-learning is becoming increasingly prominent in higher education, with Universities increasing provision and more students signing up. In University of Nigeria, E-learning is at its infant stage, though a good number of the students have been introduced to it, and some of the students have already started using it for some courses. This paper examines factors that predict UNN LIS students’ intention to adopt e-learning. Understanding the nature of these factors may assist Nigerian Universities in promoting the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. Data was collected through a survey of 50 LIS students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The technology adoption model is utilized in this study. Two more independent variables are added to the original model, namely, the pressure to act and resource availability. The results show that there are five factors that can be used in modeling students’ intention to adopt e-learning. These factors are attitudes toward e-learning, perceived usefulness of e-learning, perceived ease of e-learning use, pressure to use e-learning, and the availability of resources needed to use e-learning

Modeling LIS Students\u27 Intention to Adopt E-learning: A Case from University of Nigeria, Nsukka

E-learning is one of the emerging issues in LIS education in Nigeria and students in the LIS profession have been adopting some of these technologies in enhancing their professional skills. E-learning is becoming increasingly prominent in higher education, with Universities increasing provision and more students signing up. In University of Nigeria, E-learning is at its infant stage, though a good number of the students have been introduced to it, and some of the students have already started using it for some courses. This paper examines factors that predict UNN LIS students’ intention to adopt e-learning. Understanding the nature of these factors may assist Nigerian Universities in promoting the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. Data was collected through a survey of 50 LIS students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The technology adoption model is utilized in this study. Two more independent variables are added to the original model, namely, the pressure to act and resource availability. The results show that there are five factors that can be used in modeling students’ intention to adopt e-learning. These factors are attitudes toward e-learning, perceived usefulness of e-learning, perceived ease of e-learning use, pressure to use e-learning, and the availability of resources needed to use e-learning

A case of platelet refractoriness in a patient with acute myelogenous leukaemia and paraplegia: management in a low resource setting

Background: Acute myelogenous leukaemia is a type of acute leukaemia more commonly seen in adults than in children and usually presents with features of anaemia, neutropoenia and thrombocytopoenia (pancytopoenia). Red cell transfusions and the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor usually correct the anaemia and neutropoenia respectively while platelet concentrates are required for correction of thrombocytopoenia. However, some patients develop platelet refractoriness where they fail to achieve expected increment in platelet count following platelet transfusions which may be fatal because severe thrombocytopoenia may lead to bleeding into vital organs including the brain. The aim of this report is to document the management of platelet refractoriness in a patient with acute myelogenous leukaemia and paraplegia, with correction of thrombocytopoenia in a low resource setting.Methods: Data was obtained from the case notes of a 14 year old male with acute myelogenous leukaemia and paraplegia who developed platelet refractoriness. A review of literature was done by searching on Google and PubMed.Results: A 14 year old male who presented with pancytopoenia and paraplegia was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukaemia. He had multiple transfusions and developed platelet refractoriness. Despite severe thrombocytopoenia and platelet refractoriness, he was commenced on chemotherapy and achieved remission.Conclusion: Paraplegia is an uncommon presentation of central nervous system involvement in acute myelogenous leukaemia. Platelet refractoriness is a feared complication occurring in haematological malignancies. The acute myelogenous leukaemia complicated by platelet refractoriness was treated successfully in a low resource setting.Keywords: Platelet refractoriness; Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia; Acute myeloid leukaemia; paraplegia; AML; Nigeri

The Use of Social Networking Sites among the Undergraduate Students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka

This study was carried out to investigate the use of social networking sites among the undergraduate students of university of Nigeria Nsukka. In the context of today’s electronic media, social networking sites have come to mean individuals, using the Internet and web application to communicate in previously impossible ways. This is largely the result of a culture-wide paradigm shift in the uses and possibilities of the internet itself. The objectives of the study are to ascertain the various categories of social networking sites used by UNN Undergraduates, to examine the extent of usage of social networking sites by UNN Undergraduates, to examine their (UNN Undergraduates) purposes of using social networking sites, to determine the benefits of using social networking sites and to identify the dangers associated with social networking and to proffer strategies to ameliorate such dangers. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design which was employed to derive responses from a sample size of 150 undergraduate students of university of Nigeria Nsukka who were selected via random sampling techniques. Data were collected from this population using questionnaire. The 150 respondents completed and returned the questionnaire correctly representing 100% response sate. Means (x) were used to analyze the six research questions that guided the study. The result of the study reveals that mostly all the student were using the social networking sites in interaction with friends, connecting to their class mates for online study and for discussing serious national issues and watching movies etc. There are also laudable benefits of using social networking sites and dangers associated with social networking and such dangers can be ameliorated using the strategies available in the work. Drawn from the findings, it was recommended that university Authorities should organize seminars to enlighten students on the not-so good aspects of social networking sites etc. In addition useful suggestions for further research were equally made

Transition between child and adult services for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): findings from a British national surveillance study

Background Optimal transition from child to adult services involves continuity, joint care, planning meetings and information transfer; commissioners and service providers therefore need data on how many people require that service. Although attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently persists into adulthood, evidence is limited on these transitions. Aims To estimate the national incidence of young people taking medication for ADHD that require and complete transition, and to describe the proportion that experienced optimal transition. Method Surveillance over 12 months using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System, including baseline notification and follow-up questionnaires. Results Questionnaire response was 79% at baseline and 82% at follow-up. For those aged 17-19, incident rate (range adjusted for non-response) of transition need was 202-511 per 100 000 people aged 17-19 per year, with successful transition of 38-96 per 100 000 people aged 17-19 per year. Eligible young people with ADHD were mostly male (77%) with a comorbid condition (62%). Half were referred to specialist adult ADHD and 25% to general adult mental health services; 64% had referral accepted but only 22% attended a first appointment. Only 6% met optimal transition criteria. Conclusions As inclusion criteria required participants to be on medication, these estimates represent the lower limit of the transition need. Two critical points were apparent: referral acceptance and first appointment attendance. The low rate of successful transition and limited guideline adherence indicates significant need for commissioners and service providers to improve service transition experiences

Seven steps to mapping health service provision: lessons learned from mapping services for adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the UK.

BACKGROUND: ADHD affects some individuals throughout their lifespan, yet service provision for adults in the United Kingdom (UK) is patchy. Current methods for mapping health service provision are resource intensive, do not map specialist ADHD teams separately from generic mental health services, and often fail to triangulate government data with accounts from service users and clinicians. Without a national audit that maps adult ADHD provision, it is difficult to quantify current gaps in provision and make the case for change. This paper describes the development of a seven step approach to map adult ADHD service provision in the UK. METHODS: A mapping method was piloted in 2016 and run definitively in 2018. A seven step method was developed: 1. Defining the target service 2. Identifying key informants 3. Designing the survey 4. Data collection 5. Data analysis 6. Communicating findings 7. Hosting/updating the service map. Patients and members of the public (including clinicians and commissioners) were involved with design, data collection and dissemination of findings. RESULTS: Using a broad definition of adult ADHD services resulted in an inclusive list of identified services, and allowed the definition to be narrowed to National Health Service (NHS) funded specialist ADHD services at data analysis, with confidence that few relevant services would be missed. Key informants included patients, carers, a range of health workers, and commissioners. A brief online survey, written using lay terms, appeared acceptable to informants. Emails sent using national organisations' mailing lists were the most effective way to access informants on a large scale. Adaptations to the methodology in 2018 were associated with 64% more responses (2371 vs 1446) collected in 83% less time (5 vs 30 weeks) than the pilot. The 2016 map of adult ADHD services was viewed 13,688 times in 17 weeks, indicating effective communication of findings. CONCLUSION: This seven step pragmatic method was effective for collating and communicating national service data about UK adult ADHD service provision. Patient and public involvement and engagement from partner organisations was crucial throughout. Lessons learned may be transferable to mapping service provision for other health conditions and in other locations

The Digital Network of Networks: Regulatory Risk and Policy Challenges of Vaccine Passports

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.The extensive disruption to and digital transformation of travel administration across borders largely due to COVID-19 mean that digital vaccine passports are being developed to resume international travel and kick-start the global economy. Currently, a wide range of actors are using a variety of different approaches and technologies to develop such a system. This paper considers the techno-ethical issues raised by the digital nature of vaccine passports and the application of leading-edge technologies such as blockchain in developing and deploying them. We briefly analyse four of the most advanced systems – IBM’s Digital Health Passport “Common Pass,” the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass, the Linux Foundation Public Health’s COVID-19 Credentials Initiative and the Vaccination Credential Initiative (Microsoft and Oracle) – and then consider the approach being taken for the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Each of these raises a range of issues, particularly relating to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the need for standards and due diligence in the application of innovative technologies (eg blockchain) that will directly challenge policymakers when attempting to regulate within the network of networks

The transition from children's services to adult services for young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder : the CATCh-uS mixed-methods study

This is the final version. Available on open access from the NIHR Journals Library via the DOI in this recordADHD was previously seen as a childhood developmental disorder, so adult mental health services were not set up to support ADHD patients who become too old for child services. This is the first in-depth study of the transition of ADHD patients from child to adult health services in the UK. Our objectives were to explore: o how many young people with ADHD are in need of services as an adult o what adult ADHD services are available o how ADHD stakeholders experience transition from child to adult services Design An interactive mixed method design was adopted with three study streams; (1) a twelve-month surveillance study with nine month follow-up to find out how many young people required ongoing medication when too old for child services (929 surveys completed by child clinicians); (2) a mapping study to identify and describe services for young adults with ADHD (2,686 respondents to online surveys for patients and health workers and Freedom of Information requests to service providers and commissioners); and (3) a qualitative study to explore key stakeholder experience of transition from child to adult services (144 interviews with 64 ADHD patients, 28 parents, 52 clinicians working in child or adult secondary health services and 14 general practitioners). Members of the public advised each stage of the study. Results Corrected for non-response and case ascertainment, the annual incidence of young people with an ongoing need for medication for ADHD lies between 270 and 599 per 100,000 people aged 17 – 19 years. Of 315 eligible cases for transition, 64% of referrals were accepted but only 22% attended their first adult services appointment. Our interactive map describes 294 unique services for adults with ADHD across the UK; 44 were ‘dedicated’ ADHD services (defined chapter 4). Few services provide the full range of recommended provision, most focused on diagnosis and medication. They were unevenly distributed across the UK, with nearly all ‘dedicated’ services in England. Exploring stakeholders’ experiences revealed how invested they are in continuing ADHD treatment and the architecture of services impacted transition. An association between ADHD, education and continuance of medication into young adulthood, plus parent involvement and feeling prepared for transition and adult life with ADHD, influenced investment. However, even if invested; how accessible adult services were; how patient needs fitted with the remit of the adult service; and the level of patient information available impacted transition outcomes. The results also highlighted how GPs can end up as care-coordinator during transition by default. Limitations Transition estimates were based on those who want medication, so indicate a minimum level of need. Conclusions Few of those who need ongoing support for their ADHD successfully transfer to adult services, and a small proportion of those who transfer experience optimal transitional care. Adult ADHD service provision is patchy. Even among ‘dedicated’ services, few provide the whole range of NICE recommended treatments. Future Work We a need to evaluate various models of transitional care and adult ADHD provision, as well as develop and evaluate psycho-social interventions for young people and adults with ADHD. Funding The National Institute for Health Research - Health Services and Delivery Research Programme.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Note the change of title. The title of the author accepted manuscript (and the original title of this record) was "Young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in transition from children's services to adult services (CATCh-uS): a mixed methods national scoping study

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Antidepressants in Pregnancy and Congenital Anomalies: Analysis of Linked Databases in Wales, Norway and Funen, Denmark

Background: Hypothesised associations between in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and congenital anomalies, particularly congenital heart defects (CHD), remain controversial. We investigated the putative teratogenicity of SSRI prescription in the 91 days either side of first day of last menstrual period (LMP). Methods and Findings: Three population-based EUROCAT congenital anomaly registries- Norway (2004–2010), Wales (2000–2010) and Funen, Denmark (2000–2010)—were linked to the electronic healthcare databases holding prospectively collected prescription information for all pregnancies in the timeframes available. We included 519,117 deliveries, including foetuses terminated for congenital anomalies, with data covering pregnancy and the preceding quarter, including 462,641 with data covering pregnancy and one year either side. For SSRI exposures 91 days either side of LMP, separately and together, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (ORs, 95%CI) for all major anomalies were estimated. We also explored: pausing or discontinuing SSRIs preconception, confounding, high dose regimens, and, in Wales, diagnosis of depression. Results were combined in meta-analyses. SSRI prescription 91 days either side of LMP was associated with increased prevalence of severe congenital heart defects (CHD) (as defined by EUROCAT guide 1.3, 2005) (34/12,962 [0.26%] vs. 865/506,155 [0.17%] OR 1.50, 1.06–2.11), and the composite adverse outcome of 'anomaly or stillbirth' (473/12962, 3.65% vs. 15829/506,155, 3.13%, OR 1.13, 1.03–1.24). The increased prevalence of all major anomalies combined did not reach statistical significance (3.09% [400/12,962] vs. 2.67% [13,536/506,155] OR 1.09, 0.99–1.21). Adjusting for socio-economic status left ORs largely unchanged. The prevalence of anomalies and severe CHD was reduced when SSRI prescriptions were stopped or paused preconception, and increased when >1 prescription was recorded, but differences were not statistically significant. The dose-response relationship between severe CHD and SSRI dose (meta-regression OR 1.49, 1.12–1.97) was consistent with SSRI-exposure related risk. Analyses in Wales suggested no associations between anomalies and diagnosed depression. Conclusion: The additional absolute risk of teratogenesis associated with SSRIs, if causal, is small. However, the high prevalence of SSRI use augments its public health importance, justifying modifications to preconception care