Compliance With Infection Prevention Guidelines By Health Care Workers at Ronald Ross General Hospital Mufulira District

Objective: To determine the level of health-care workers’ compliance with Infection Prevention Guidelines and identify factors that influence compliance at Ronald Ross General Hospital, Mufulira District. Methods: A quantitative study was carried out in 2007. Convenient sampling method was used. Data was obtained using a self administered interview schedule and an observation checklist. A total of 77 health care workers who included Doctors, Registered Midwives and Nurses, Enrolled Midwives and Nurses, clinical Officers, Laboratory Technicians and physiotherapists took part in the study. Additionally, 40 out of the 77 interviewed health workers were observed carrying out at least one procedure requiring compliance with the Infection Prevention (IP) guidelines. Results: The study revealed that, high compliance was associated with inclusion of Guidelines in the Curricular, high knowledge of infection prevention/hospital acquired infections, positive attitude towards infection prevention and availability of materials for infection prevention. The study further reviewed revealed varied levels of compliance on different components of infection prevention. The highest level of compliance (100%) was with single use of needles and syringes while the lowest (35.1) was with decontamination of needles and syringes with 0.5% chlorine solution prior to disposal. Compliance with hand hygiene was moderate (61%). Conclusion: The study findings suggest a need for inclusion of Infection Prevention Guidelines in the health workers’ curricular, provision of in-service training in infection prevention protocols and improvements in the supply of materials for infection prevention

Stress and Coping Mechanisms Among Breast Cancer Patients and Family Caregivers: A Review of Literature

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy of women worldwide accounting for 23% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases. It is also the leading cause of cancer mortality, representing 14.1%. In Zambia, it is second to cervical cancer and its incidence is steadily increasing. A diagnosis of cancer regardless of stage is a stressful event impacting on all facets of the patient’s life and that of her family caregivers. To minimize the impact, adaptive coping mechanisms are required.Aim of the review: The aim of the review was to gain an in-depth understanding of the stress and coping mechanisms used by breast cancer patients and family caregivers.Materials and methods: A comprehensive review of publications for the period 1980-2010 cited on Pub Med, Hinari, British National Index, African Journal Online was undertaken. Search terms included “stress”, “coping”, “breast cancer”, “coping mechanisms”, “coping mechanisms by breast cancer patients and family care givers”.Search Results: Of the 22 articles reviewed, 13 focused on coping with breast cancer, 5 on stress and adaptation to cancer and the last 4 on experiences of family members on care of the terminally ill. Eighteen of the 22 used solely qualitative methodology while 4 used mixed methods. Analysis of the articles revealed 4 predominant coping mechanisms for both the patient and family: (a) seeking social support, (b) reliance on God, (c) positive suggestion/attitude or re-affirmation and (d) acquisition of information and education.Conclusions: A diagnosis of breast cancer is a stressor to both the patient and the family caregivers.Coping mechanisms/strategies are therefore required in order to adapt. Keywords: Breast cancer, Stress, Coping, Patient and Family caregiver