Factors associated with fatigue in hip and/or knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and best evidence synthesis

Objective: The aim was systematically to identify and evaluate factors related to fatigue in individuals with hip and/or knee OA. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest and Web of Science Core Collections databases. Inclusion criteria comprised cross-sectional, case-control or longitudinal studies on patients with a diagnosis of hip and/or knee OA that included self-reported fatigue measures. Study quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute quality appraisal tool, and factors were synthesized within a bio-behavioural framework. Study designs and quality were combined to determine current evidence levels using best evidence synthesis grading. The full review protocol is available from PROSPERO (PROSPERO 2019: CRD42019138571). Results: Twenty-four studies were included, of which 19 were high, 4 moderate and 1 low quality. There was strong evidence of an association between poor self-reported physical function and high depressive symptoms with higher fatigue. Moderate evidence of an association was found between severe pain, high numbers of co-morbidities and low physical activity levels with higher fatigue. There was moderate or limited evidence of no association between most sociodemographic factors and radiographic OA severity with fatigue. Conclusion: Targets for fatigue management might include improving physical function, reducing depressive symptoms, pain and co-morbidities, and increasing physical activity levels. There is a need for more rigorous longitudinal studies to understand the causal effect of fatigue determinants within the hip and knee OA populations

Prevalence and pattern of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian bricklayers

BACKGROUND: Typically, bricklayers in developing countries’ contexts manually lay bricks, concrete blocks and other similar materials to construct walls and buildings which make them susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). The burden of WRMSDs among this high-risk group seems has not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the prevalence of WRMSDs among bricklayers in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 118 consenting bricklayers from a Nigerian setting was carried out. The standardized Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire and a proforma were used to profile the prevalence of WRMSDs and socio-demographic information of the respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p <  0.05. RESULTS: The 12-months and 7-days prevalence of WRMSDs were 87.3% and 67.4% . Shoulder (61.0%) and the low-back (59.3%) were the two most affected anatomical sites based on 12-month prevalence. WRMSDs affecting the knees (6.8%) was the most disabling in carrying normal work routines. Working for less than 10 years was significantly associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder (odd ratio (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09 to 0.87) and wrist region (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.73). Having neck pain led to higher odds (OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.68) of taking a break from work among the bricklayers. CONCLUSIONS: WRMSDs were high among Nigerian bricklayers. Years of work experience was associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder and wrist. In addition, taking work breaks was associated with neck pain

Physical activity during covid-19 lockdown: Relationship with sedentary behaviour, health-related quality of life, loneliness, and sleep quality among a sample of Nigerian adults

COVID-19 lockdown, targeted at preventing the spread of coronavirus, had deleterious effects on physical and psychosocial health. This study examined the association between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), loneliness and quality of sleep of 507 Nigerian adults during the COVID-19 lockdown. Five hundred and seven respondents (aged 18-67 years) from 12 States completed an online survey on RedCap. Questionnaires comprising the Stages of Change scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International Sedentary Assessment Tool, UCLA Loneliness Questionnaire, Short Form-12 Health Survey, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. Respondents were categorised based on exercise behaviour as non-exercisers, non-regular exercisers, or regular exercisers; and based on age into 18-24, 25-34, 35-44 and > 44 years categories. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. About 33.1% of respondents did not meet moderate-to-vigorous PA levels. The physical component of HRQoL was positively associated with total PA (p = 0.04). Among the non- exercisers, the odds of being regular exercisers during pre-COVID-19 lockdown were significantly higher for the 35-44 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.44, 8.48, p = 0.01) and > 44 years age groups (OR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.16, 7.62, p = 0.02) relative to 18-24 years age category. During COVID-19 lockdown, > 44 (OR = 3.65; 95% CI: 1.47, 9.07, p = 0.005), 35-44 (OR = 6.42; 95% CI 2.75, 14.96, p = 0.001) and 25-34 (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.15, 4.80, p = 0.02) years age categories had significant higher odds of being regular exercisers compared to the 18-24 years age group. There was a high rate of physical inactivity among Nigerian adults during the COVID-19 lockdown, which was directly influenced by the physical components of HRQoL. Older age was an independent predictor of exercise behaviour before and during the COVID-19 lockdown among Nigerian adults

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

An Analysis of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Butchers in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Butchering is often associated with high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). However, published work on the prevalence of WRMSDs among butchers in Nigeria is scarce. This is important because meat processing practices differ across geographical and cultural locations. This study was therefore aimed at analyzing WRMSDs among butchers in Kano metropolis. Methods: Sociodemographic and work-settings information was obtained from 102 male cattle butchers (age, 37.49 ± 11.68 years) through survey. Information on the prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal disorders was obtained from the respondents using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Additional information on health seeking practices was also obtained using a pro forma. Associations between the prevalence of WRMSDs and each of the sociodemographic data and work settings were explored using Chi-square analysis. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The 12-month and point prevalence rates of WRMSDs among butchers in this study were 88.2% and 74.5%, respectively. Whereas lower back complaints (66.7%) were the overall and lower body quadrant's most commonly reported WRMSDs among the butchers surveyed, wrist/hand complaints were the leading upper quadrant's (45.1%) most commonly reported WRMSDs among the respondents. There were significant associations between age and majority of WRMSDs in the body regions. Only 23.3% of the 90 individuals who had WRMSD visited the hospital to seek redress for their WRMSD. Conclusion: The prevalence of WRMSDs is high among butchers in Kano Metropolis. Few individuals with WRMSD utilize healthcare facilities. Age is a major risk factor in this setting

Physiotherapists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Willingness to Care for Covid-19 Patients: a Nationwide Survey in Nigeria

Introduction: COVID-19 requires an all-inclusive task sharing/shifting approach by clinical professions in order to stem the tide of the pandemic. Physiotherapists have, therefore, potential for front line duties to COVID-19 patients as part of their traditional role in acute care for patients with respiratory complications. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and willingness of physiotherapists to care for patients with COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. Method: An electronic (WhatsApp) survey of 210 licenced physiotherapists was conducted from March 2020 to July 2020 using an adapted questionnaire from a previous validated tool. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The physiotherapists displayed a high level of awareness (99.0%) about COVID-19, and the social media (96.2%), especially WhatsApp (74.8%), was the main source of information on COVID-19. 28.6% of the respondents had a sufficient level of knowledge of COVID-19. The knowledge about COVID-19 was significantly influenced by educational qualifications (p = 0.00). Also, 77.1%, 74.8% and 87.1% of the respondents werewilling to provide care for patients with COVID-19, be part of front-line care team, and care for COVID-19 survivors, respectively. Conclusion: Nigerian physiotherapists displayed an appreciable level of knowledge of COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. The surveyed physiotherapists were also willing to provide care for COVID-19 patients and survivors, as well as to be part of the COVID-19 front-line care team for

Assessment of Nigerian physiotherapy students’ knowledge, attitudes and awareness of physiotherapy roles in the prevention and management of Covid-19: a nationwide online survey

This cross-sectional study assessed Nigerian Physiotherapy students’ knowledge, attitudes and awareness of the roles of physiotherapy in the prevention and management of COVID-19.  Four hundred (400) Nigerian physiotherapy students responded to the survey via an electronic (WhatsApp) questionnaire. The survey revealed a high degree of COVID-19 awareness (98.3%) with the social media (83.3%), especially WhatsApp (70.8%), indicated as the. main source of information. 52% of the respondents exhibited a good level of knowledge of the virus, as well as anti-COVID-19 precautions and hygiene. The level of knowledge correlated with the participants’ ages; the final year (class v) had the highest knowledge score (40). While Nigerian physiotherapy students demonstrate a high level of awareness with regard to the virus and its transmission, the level of knowledge relating to physiotherapy roles in COVID-19 appears to be low

Understanding the Formation Mechanisms of Silicon Particles from the Thermal Disproportionation of Hydrogen Silsesquioxane

Crystalline silicon particles sustaining Mie resonances are readily obtained from the thermal processing of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). Here, the mechanisms involved in silicon particle formation and growth from HSQ are investigated through real-time in situ analysis using an environmental transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The nucleation of Si nanodomains is observed starting around 1000 °C. For the first time, a highly mobile intermediate phase is experimentally observed, thus demonstrating a previously unknown growth mechanism. At least two growth processes occur simultaneously: the coalescence of small particles into larger particles and growth mode by particle displacement through the matrix toward the HSQ grain surface. Postsynthetic characterization by scanning electron microscopy further supports the latter growth mechanism. The gaseous environment employed during synthesis impacts particle formation and growth under both in situ and ex situ conditions, impacting the particle yield and structural homogeneity. Understanding the formation mechanisms of particles provides promising pathways for reducing the energy cost of this synthetic route

Understanding the Formation Mechanisms of Silicon Particles from the Thermal Disproportionation of Hydrogen Silsesquioxane

Crystalline silicon particles sustaining Mie resonances are readily obtained from the thermal processing of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). Here, the mechanisms involved in silicon particle formation and growth from HSQ are investigated through real-time in situ analysis using an environmental transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The nucleation of Si nanodomains is observed starting around 1000 °C. For the first time, a highly mobile intermediate phase is experimentally observed, thus demonstrating a previously unknown growth mechanism. At least two growth processes occur simultaneously: the coalescence of small particles into larger particles and growth mode by particle displacement through the matrix toward the HSQ grain surface. Postsynthetic characterization by scanning electron microscopy further supports the latter growth mechanism. The gaseous environment employed during synthesis impacts particle formation and growth under both in situ and ex situ conditions, impacting the particle yield and structural homogeneity. Understanding the formation mechanisms of particles provides promising pathways for reducing the energy cost of this synthetic route