Hypoxaemia and its clinical predictors among children with pneumonia at a tertiary centre in Osogbo, Southwestern, Nigeria

Objective: Hypoxaemia is a feature of severe pneumonia particularly among children aged less than five years. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of hypoxaemia among children with pneumonia.Methods: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional observational study involving 129 children aged 1 - 59 months with both clinical and radiological pneumonia. The haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SPO ) was 2 obtained at presentation. Hypoxaemia was defined as SPO < 90 percent. 2Result: Of the129 subjects studied, 49 (38.0%) had hypoxaemia. The clinical signs that were significantly associated with hypoxaemia were central cyanosis (p= 0.012), grunting (p= 0.014), nasal flaring (p< 0.001), lethargy (p< 0.001), restlessness (p= 0.002), loss of consciousness (p< 0.001), and inability to feed (p< 0.001). A combination of nasal flaring with central cyanosis, grunting or tachypnoea were significant predictors of hypoxaemia (p= 0.029, 0.017 and <0.001 respectively). Tachypnoea and nasal flaring had the highest sensitivity and specificity among the clinical signs for hypoxaemia. Prolonged hospital stay (> 5 days) and mortality were significantly associated with hypoxaemia (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Hypoxaemia is common among children hospitalized for pneumonia. It is an important determinant of hospital stay and outcome. Keywords: Hypoxaemia, pneumonia, hospitalized children, under-fives, clinical predictors

Challenge of COVID-19 and Nigerian Economic Change: The Way Forward

The Nigerian Economic implication of COVID-19 motivated this study. The study discussed the argument and counterargument within scientific discussions on the challenge of COVID-19 on Nigerian Economy. The broad objective of this study is to investigate the Nigerian Economic Change and Challenge of COVID-19 as well as the way forward. The specific objective is to determine the relationship between Nigerian Gross Domestic Product and COVID-19 comparing 2019 and 2020 Nigerian Economic Change, the study also aimed at establishing the way out of COVID-19. Descriptive statistics method of data analysis was used to present the results and findings of the study. The research design adopted in this study is ex-post facto. In this research, the type of data analysis that will be employed is descriptive statistics. The techniques will involve a view and appraisal of the effect of COVID-19 on Nigerian economy. That notwithstanding, the methodology can produce useful and meaningful results. To achieve this, quantitative analysis involving the use of percentages, degrees and graphical charts for the explanation of the data collected will be employed. Findings revealed that the coronavirus pandemic lockdown reduced the volume and value of production in Nigeria and affected the gross domestic product of Nigeria which almost jeopardized the Nigerian economy. Findings also revealed that resumption of offices and trading activities leads to an increase in the level and volume of production in Nigeria and this led to an increase in the value of GDP in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that the Nigeria government should pay more attention to the Nigerian health sector in terms of funding, equipping hospitals, and training of medical staff. Nigerians should make use of preventive measures of COVID-19 which is the best way out of COVID-19; this will prevent shutting down of sectors and lead to a very high level of production in Nigeria. The study is highly unique as it will make Nigerians to know the effect of COVID-19 on Nigerian Economy. The study will shed light on different ways out of Coronavirus. The data to be analyzed covers 2019-2020 Nigerian quaterly Gross Domestic Product

Abnormal biochemical parameters among term neonates with perinatal asphyxia and their non-asphyxiated controls in Osogbo

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal biochemical parameters among neonates with perinatal asphyxia in comparison to their non-asphyxiated controls.Methodology: This is a prospective case - control study involving 54 asphyxiated term neonates and 54 non-asphyxiated term babies at LAUTECH teaching hospital, Osogbo. Serum levels of Sodium, Bicarbonate, Chloride, Calcium and Potassium were determined daily for 72 hours in both groups using standard methods. The results were compared.Results: The overall prevalence of abnormal biochemical parameters namely hyponatraemia, hypocalcaemia, metabolic acidosis, hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia among the asphyxiated versus non-asphyxiated babies in the first 72 hours of life were 30.9% vs 19.8% (p < 0.020); 28.4% vs 4.9% (p < 0.000); 30.9% vs 3.1% (p < 0.0001); 27.2% vs 25.9% (p < 0.200) and 24.7% vs 3.1% (p < 0.070) respectively.Conclusion: Babies with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy stage III significantly showed the worst biochemical parameters; early estimation of serum electrolytes in neonates with perinatal asphyxia may be appropriate for timely intervention. &nbsp

Assessment of Clinical Information Quality in Digital Health Technologies: International eDelphi Study

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs), such as electronic health records and prescribing systems, are transforming health care delivery around the world. The quality of information in DHTs is key to the quality and safety of care. We developed a novel clinical information quality (CLIQ) framework to assess the quality of clinical information in DHTs. Objective: This study explored clinicians' perspectives on the relevance, definition, and assessment of information quality dimensions in the CLIQ framework.Methods: We used a systematic and iterative eDelphi approach to engage clinicians who had information governance roles or personal interest in information governance; the clinicians were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using semistructured online questionnaires until consensus was reached on the information quality dimensions in the CLIQ framework. Responses on the relevance of the dimensions were summarized to inform decisions on retention of the dimensions according to prespecified rules. Thematic analysis of the free-text responses was used to revise definitions and the assessment of dimensions.Results: Thirty-five clinicians from 10 countries participated in the study, which was concluded after the second round. Consensus was reached on all dimensions and categories in the CLIQ framework: informativeness (accuracy, completeness, interpretability, plausibility, provenance, and relevance), availability (accessibility, portability, security, and timeliness), and usability (conformance, consistency, and maintainability). A new dimension, searchability, was introduced in the availability category to account for the ease of finding needed information in the DHTs. Certain dimensions were renamed, and some definitions were rephrased to improve clarity.Conclusions: The CLIQ framework reached a high expert consensus and clarity of language relating to the information quality dimensions. The framework can be used by health care managers and institutions as a pragmatic tool for identifying and forestalling information quality problems that could compromise patient safety and quality of care.Public Health and primary carePrevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD

Assessment of clinical information quality in digital health technologies: international eDelphi study

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs), such as electronic health records and prescribing systems, are transforming health care delivery around the world. The quality of information in DHTs is key to the quality and safety of care. We developed a novel clinical information quality (CLIQ) framework to assess the quality of clinical information in DHTs. Objective: This study explored clinicians' perspectives on the relevance, definition, and assessment of information quality dimensions in the CLIQ framework. Methods: We used a systematic and iterative eDelphi approach to engage clinicians who had information governance roles or personal interest in information governance; the clinicians were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using semistructured online questionnaires until consensus was reached on the information quality dimensions in the CLIQ framework. Responses on the relevance of the dimensions were summarized to inform decisions on retention of the dimensions according to prespecified rules. Thematic analysis of the free-text responses was used to revise definitions and the assessment of dimensions. Results: Thirty-five clinicians from 10 countries participated in the study, which was concluded after the second round. Consensus was reached on all dimensions and categories in the CLIQ framework: informativeness (accuracy, completeness, interpretability, plausibility, provenance, and relevance), availability (accessibility, portability, security, and timeliness), and usability (conformance, consistency, and maintainability). A new dimension, searchability, was introduced in the availability category to account for the ease of finding needed information in the DHTs. Certain dimensions were renamed, and some definitions were rephrased to improve clarity. Conclusions: The CLIQ framework reached a high expert consensus and clarity of language relating to the information quality dimensions. The framework can be used by health care managers and institutions as a pragmatic tool for identifying and forestalling information quality problems that could compromise patient safety and quality of care.</p