The impact of Transformational and Transactional Leadership styles on Organizational learning in health care context

The aim of this research is to examine the impact of leadership styles on organizational learning in health care context at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) in Al Ain region. The study uses a quantitative methodology to answer the research questions. The findings suggest that both transactional and transformational leadership styles are associated with organizational learning. The transformational leadership is linked with organizational learning through learning goal orientation and trust in leaders whereas transactional leadership style is linked with organizational learning through performance goal orientation. The research findings can help senior executives to put strategic plans for their organizational learning development. Also, the research is expected to provide a baseline for health care policy makers on how they can initiate and create a context of organizational learning through enhancements of the leadership role

A Clinical Audit of blood component transfusion practices in Paediatric intensive care unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi

Background: To audit the practices involved in blood component transfusion in the management of patients in paediatric intensive care unit of our hospital and to determine the appropriateness of transfusion after comparing them with clinical practice guidelines recommended by Royal Children Hospital (RCH). Methods: All patients admitted in pediatric intensive care which were managed with blood component transfusions were retrospectively audited for 8 weeks. Management details including indications of transfusion and its appropriateness were recorded. Clinical practice guidelines recommended by Royal Children Hospital (RCH) were used as standards. Results: One hundred and ninety-two transfusions were done during the study period out of which 58 percent were done to males and 41 percent to females. Majority of transfusions were done in infants (44%) and O Positive blood group was found rampant among blood groups of all recipients (33.3%). Red cell concentrates were predominantly (55.7%) and appropriately (72%) transfusion among all blood components. Platelet concentrates were most inappropriately transfused (57%) followed by fresh frozen plasma (54%) and red cell concentrates (27%). There was significant percentage of inappropriate transfusion of all blood components (p=0.00). Conclusion: All blood components were significantly found inappropriately transfused, commonest component being platelet concentrates

Immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of curcumin

Turmeric is a widely used spice derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Having been used as a dietary spice, it has drawn scientists’ attention to the possible medicinal benefits of its active compounds called curcuminoids which consist of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcmin. Considering wide range of pharmacological properties that curcumin offers, numerous studies have investigated its potency as a therapeutic agent in various diseases such as autoimmune, cardiovascular, neoplastic, pulmonary, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. With regard to its wide array of health benefits and published data on the underlying mechanisms of its action, a complex interaction between three main events including inflammation, oxidative stress, and immunity, seems to contribute to different therapeutic roles of this compound. Hence, this review discusses the current knowledge on the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory roles of curcumin with the hope of recruiting curcumin as a therapeutic agent in future therapeutic regimen in order to enhance the efficacy of the treatment, as well as decreasing the adverse effects of synthetic chemical drugs

Successful Parenting in the Contemporary Era of Technology in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the developing countries having low literacy rate in contemporary era of technology (Male: 72.5% and Female:51.8% but varies regionally), holding 180th position in the list of 221 big or small countries of the world. Media (social/electronic/print) has replaced parents, therefore, children learn and follow, as they find/listen/watch on it, parents have no more control over their children and consequently their teaching is no more effective. But in the present era of challenges/difficulties where parents find themselves hopeless/helpless, we find some parents have performed or are very successfully performing their duties. The objective of this research study was to discover the techniques used or parenting style followed by those successful parents. For the purpose, through snowball sampling procedure hundred (100) parents were selected. A questionnaire consisting close-ended questions was distributed among the participants and the purpose was to keep selected respondents on required track or provide them technical terms used in the world or to have fixed responses, while open-ended questions were posed to explore the techniques or parenting style adopted by them. The quantitative responses were analyzed using SPSS, while quantitative responses were sorted, labelled and quantified. The results show that parenting style or technique of using yardstick as per nature of a child is the reason behind successful parenting in the parent era

The Relationship between Career Plateau and Job Burnout among Employees of Teaching Hospitals Affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 2012

Background: Workforce reaches the plateau in its career after which job promotion is less probable.The present study aimed to study the relationship between career plateau and job burnout among employees of teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional study carried out in 2012. The statistical population was the financial and administrative workers of teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was done through the stratified appraoch. Data collection was done through questionnaires on career plateau and job burnout that their validity and relieability had already been confirmed. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, ANOVA, t-test) through SPSS19. Results: Career plateau rate was relatively high, while the rate of job burnout and its components were moderate. There was a significant correlation (r= 0.408) between career plateau and job burnout (P<0.001). The results also show that career plateau and job burnout are significantly related with employees age group, their educational degree and work experience. Conclusions: Regarding the high rate of career plateau in this study, hospital administrators should recruit basic strategies such as education, structural flexibility, identification of competent staff, job enrichment and motivation to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of their human resources

Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing The Effect Of Oral Rehydration Therapy With And Without Racecadotril In The Management Of Acute Diarrhea In Children

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of racecadotril in children with acute diarrheal illness. Methods: This randomized case-control study was conducted at Watim General Hospital over four months from April to July 2023. A total of 120 children aged 3 months to 12 years with acute diarrhoea were included and randomly allocated to two groups. Group A (n=60) received standard treatment with oral rehydration therapy, while Group B (n=60) received oral rehydration therapy, zinc, probiotics, and racecadotril. The primary outcome measured was the mean duration of illness, and the secondary outcome was the number of stools 48 hours after the start of treatment. Data were collected using a pre-designed proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: The study population had an average age of 50.35±41.52 months, with equal gender distribution. The mean duration of illness in Group A was 2.72±1.34 days, while in Group B, it was 2.70±1.29 days. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean duration of illness between the two groups (p=0.945). Conclusion: This study did not demonstrate a significant reduction in the mean duration of illness for children with acute gastroenteritis using standard treatment with or without racecadotril. Further investigations and large-scale studies may be needed to establish the efficacy of racecadotril in the management of acute diarrhoea in children

Need of physical and chemical restraints: Experiences at inpatient psychiatric ward in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

In psychiatry, agitated / aggressive patients are often treated with de-escalation techniques. If this does not work, physical or chemical restrains are required; but in the event of resistance, seclusion is applied. We report the findings of baseline study of experiences of physical and chemical restraints in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, where 104 files were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age of patients was 32.5 ±14.3 years with 54.8% men, while the average length of stay was 11.5 ±9.3 days. Agitation, violent behaviour, and aggression were the most common indications for restraints. In total, 94.5% of patients had both physical and chemical restraints with the latter being used as the first choice in 70 patients; whereas, 67.1% of patients\u27 families were not informed before application of restraints. The seclusion need assessment was conducted in 4.1% of patients

Blood Loss through AV Fistula: A Case Report and Literature Review

Little has been written about acute blood loss from hemodialysis vascular access. We describe a 57-year-old Caucasian male with an approximately 7 gm/dL drop in hemoglobin due to bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm in his right brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF). There was no evidence of fistula infection. The patient was successfully managed by blood transfusions and insertion of a tunneled dialysis catheter for dialysis access. Later, the fistula was ligated and a new fistula was constructed in the opposite arm. Aneurysm should be considered in cases of acute vascular access bleeding in chronic dialysis patients