An Empirical Study on the Use Intention of Electronic Cash Collection System in Nigerian Federal Hospitals

It is a well-known fact that the use of electronic systems around the globe has facilitated and enhanced the efficiency in organizations. In light of this, federal hospitals in Nigeria have started using electronic collection system for cash collection purposes. Electronic cash collection system (e-collection) is a computerized system designed to handle cash collections with a view to block revenue leakages that are widespread within the Nigerian public sector organizations. However, the continuous use of the system is being faced with great resistance by those employees that were purposely meant to use it. In view of that, the aim of this paper is to investigate factors that could influence employee’s intention to use e-collection system in the performance of their duties. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was adapted with an extension of computer self-efficacy variable with a view to providing additional explanation to the model. Partial Least Square (PLS) was used to analyse 116 responses from e-collection users in investigating the relationship between three independent variables (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, computer self-efficacy) and the dependent variable (intention). The results of the analysis revealed that positive and significant relationships exist between the independent variables and the dependent variable except between perceived usefulness and intention. Recommendations were made to the hospital authorities to educate and enlighten the concern employees on the usefulness and benefits of the new system

Human rhinosporidiosis of the nasal cavity: a case report.

Rhinosporidiosis is a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It is endemic in some parts of Asia and commonly involves the mucous membrane of the nose presenting with nasal obstruction, a nasal mass, and epistaxis. The main treatment for rhinosporidiosis remains surgical excision, although it may recur after excision. Rhinosporidiosis is a condition that clinicians should keep in mind when managing patients with nasal masses even in non-endemic areas. Case presentation: A 52-year-old housewife presented with a 9-month history of left progressive nasal obstruction and progressive enlarging left nasal growth associated with recurrent nasal bleeding and nasal discharge. She had a history of rearing animals and bathing in ponds as well as engaging in farming activities. Examination revealed a fleshy polypoid mass attached to the nasal septum by pedicle and filling the whole of the left nasal cavity covered with a mucopurulent nasal discharge with associated contact bleeding. She had endoscopic resection under local anaesthesia with cauterization of the base of the mass with a silver nitrate pencil. A histopathological diagnosis of rhinosporidiosis was made. Conclusion: Rhinosporidiosis is rare in our environment, its presentation mimics that of nasal tumours. Therefore, it should be part of the differential diagnosis; both clinicians and pathologists should have it at the back of their minds when managing patients with nasal masses even in non-endemic areas

Influence of permeability and injection orientation variations on dispersion coefficient during enhanced gas recovery by CO2 injection

This investigation was carried out to highlight the influence of the variation of permeability of the porous media with respect to the injection orientations during enhanced gas recovery (EGR) by CO2 injection using different core samples of different petrophysical properties. The laboratory investigation was performed using core flooding technique at 1300 psig and 50 degree C. The injection rates were expressed in terms of the interstitial velocities to give an indication of its magnitude and variation based on the petrophysical properties of each core sample tested. Bandera Grey, Grey Berea, and Buff Berea sandstone core samples were used with measured permeabilities of 16.08, 217.04, and 560.63 md respectively. Dispersion coefficient was observed to increase with decrease in permeability, with Bandera Grey having the highest dispersion coefficient and invariably higher mixing between the injected CO2 and the nascent CH4. Furthermore, this dispersion was more pronounced in the horizontal injection orientation compared to the vertical orientation with, again, the lowest permeability having a higher dispersion coefficient in the horizontal orientation by about 50%. This study highlights the importance of the permeability variation in the design of the injection strategy of EGR and provides a revision of the CO2 plume propagation at reservoir conditions during injection

Laboratory-confirmed hospital-acquired infections:An analysis of a hospital's surveillance data in Nigeria

Objective: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are a global problem and a major public health concern in hospitals throughout the world. Quantification of HAI is needed in developing countries; hence we describe the results of a 2-year surveillance data in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methodology: This study is a 2-year review using secondary data collected at a tertiary referral center in northwestern Nigeria. The data was collected using surveillance forms modeled based on the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) protocol. Descriptive statistics were used to present results as frequencies and percentages. Result: 518 patients developed HAI out of 8216 patients giving an overall prevalence of 6.3%. The mean age of the patients was 35.98 years (±15.92). Males constituted 281 (54.2%). UTI 223 (43.1%) was the most prevalent HAI. Overall, E. coli 207 (40.0%) was the most frequent isolates followed by P. aerugenosa 80 (15.4%). There was a high prevalence of cloxacillin resistant S. aureus (67.9%) and gram-negative rods resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance across the board was more than 90%. Conclusion: There is a high burden of HAI especially UTI in our hospital with resistance to commonly used antibiotics documented. Keywords: Public health, Infectious diseas

Characteristics of COVID-19 cases and factors associated with their mortality in Katsina State, Nigeria, April-July 2020

Introduction: COVID-19 was first detected in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria on 4 April 2020. We characterized the cases and outlined factors associated with mortality. Methods: We analysed the COVID-19 data downloaded from Surveillance Outbreak Response, Management and Analysis System between 4 April and 31 July 2020. We defined a case as any person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test within that period. We described the cases in time, person, and place; calculated the crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with mortality. Results: We analysed 744 confirmed cases (median age 35, range 1-90), 73% males and 24 deaths (Case fatality rate 3.2%, Attack rate 8.5/100,000). The outbreak affected 31 districts, started in week 14, peaked in week 26, and is ongoing. Highest proportion of cases in the age groups were 26.7% (184) in 30-39, 21.7% (153) in 20-29 years, and 18.3% (129) in 40-49 years. While the highest case fatality rates in the age groups were 35.7% in 70-79, 33.3% in 80-89 years, and 19.4% in 60-69 years. Factors associated with death were cough (AOR: 9.88, 95% CI: 1.29-75.79), age ≥60 years (AOR: 18.42, 95% CI: 7.48-45.38), and male sex (AOR: 4.4, 95% CI: 0.98-20.12). Conclusion: Male contacts below 40 years carried the burden of COVID-19. Also, persons 60 years and above, with cough have an increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Risk communication should advocate for use of preventive measures, protection of persons 60 years and above, and consideration of cough as a red-flag sign

Solubility trapping as a potential secondary mechanism for CO2 sequestration during enhanced gas recovery by CO2 injection in conventional natural gas reservoirs : an experimental approach

This study aims to experimentally investigate the potential of solubility trapping mechanism in increasing CO2 storage during EGR by CO2 injection and sequestration in conventional natural gas reservoirs. A laboratory core flooding process was carried out to simulate EGR on a sandstone core at 0, 5, 10 wt% NaCl formation water salinity at 1300 psig, 50 °C and 0.3 ml/min injection rate. The results show that CO2 storage capacity was improved significantly when solubility trapping was considered. Lower connate water salinities (0 and 5 wt%) showed higher CO2 solubility from IFT measurements. With 10% connate water salinity, the highest accumulation of the CO2 in the reservoir was realised with about 63% of the total CO2 injected stored; an indication of improved storage capacity. Therefore, solubility trapping can potentially increase the CO2 storage capacity of the gas reservoir by serving as a secondary trapping mechanism in addition to the primary structural and stratigraphic trapping and improving CH4 recovery

Assessment of Legibility of Handwritten Prescriptions and Adherence to W.H.O. Prescription Writing Guidelines in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria – Kaduna State, Nigeria

Introduction: The issues of incorrectness and incompleteness for written prescriptions may result to dispensing errors and unintended outcomes of care. The objective of the study was to assess the legibility of handwritten prescriptions and adherence to W.H.O. prescription writing guidelines in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. Method: A cross-sectional prospective study design was used, and existing prescriptions were sampled from selected in-patient and outpatient pharmacy units of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. This was approved by the ethics and research committee of the institution. The prescriptions were then evaluated for quality based on the layout, legibility, and clarity of the details in the prescriptions and screened for medication errors. Result: The extent of prescribing drugs by generic name was (68.37%), the legibility percentage was moderate and the percentage of prescriptions in which details of the drug, route of administration, and duration of treatment were complete was 85.23%, 80.80%, and 82.40%, respectively. The doctor's signature (84.87%) was present in the prescriptions. Many of the prescribers did not use to indicate patients’ weight, age, and clinic on prescriptions, these are deviations from good prescribing practices while total medication error was 38.01%. Conclusion: Prescribers have a duty of care to their patient and a professional duty to their colleagues (pharmacists) to ensure drug prescriptions are readily identifiable. Interventional techniques such as the use of printed or electronic prescriptions can improve the ease of interpreting information and reduce medication errors