Innovative Strategies to Grow Sales of Women-Owned SMEs in Emerging Countries

This paper is a discussion of a 2020 multiple case study research involving five female owners of retail small and medium enterprise (SME) companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multiple data collection methods employed included semistructured interviews, direct observations, review of company documents, and keeping a reflective journal. We established reliability, validity, and data saturation through triangulation. One major finding was that by deploying innovative ideas, business owners were able to overcome challenges and grow sales. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide both existing and emerging women owned SMEs with the strategies to increase patronage to grow their businesses, thereby contributing to the economic growth of their business, employees, local communities, and the Nigerian national economy

Characteristics and Blood Pressure Profile of Goitre Patients in A Tertiary Hospital in South-West Nigeria

Background: Goitre remains endemic in iodine deficient areas of the world despite widespread introduction of iodine fortified food. In Nigeria, it is the second most common condition in endocrinology clinic. There is a therefore a need to document the blood pressure profile and clinical characteristics of this condition.Objective: This study assessed the clinical characteristics, biochemical and blood pressure profile of patients with goitre in the study area and assessed their knowledge and practice of preventive measures against goitre.Methodology: A comparative study of 103 adults with goitres and 103 healthy controls. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used and venous blood samples were obtained for analyses. Variables of interest included socio-demographic, anthropometric, thyroid function, and blood pressure.Results: The mean age of the goitre group was 46.92 ± 13.85 years with 86.4% carrying the swelling for up to 5 years. Anthropometric parameters, social habits, knowledge, and practice of the preventive role of iodized salt were similar between the goitre and control  groups. Forty-six percent of the goitrous subjects were hyperthyroid. Weight and BMI were significantly higher among the hypothyroid subgroup (p<0.001), with subjects in the hyperthyroid subgroup having significantly higher pulse rate and systolic blood pressure  (p<0.001). The hypothyroid subgroup had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure and lower pulse pressure (p< 0.001).Conclusion: This study concluded that patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were more likely to have elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Routine cardiovascular status check is therefore important in goitrous patients

Assessment of functional capacity and sleep quality of patients with chronic heart failure

Background: Adequate sleep improves physical and mental alertness. However, there is a dearth of empirical data on functional capacity (FC) and sleep quality (SpQ) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Objective: This study investigated the relationship between FC and SpQ of patients with CHF and apparently healthy controls (HCs). Methods: This case-control study recruited 50 patients with CHF whose left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was <40%, attending cardiac clinics of selected government hospitals in Osun State. Furthermore, 50 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited as controls. Socio-demographic characteristics and cardiovascular parameters were assessed. The FC (VO2 max) and SpQ were assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Patients had a significantly lower FC and poorer SpQ than HCs, 4.6 ± 0.5 versus 11.3 ± 1.6 mL/kg/min (t = −3.452; p = 0.001) and 8.74 ± 1.6 versus 3.8 ± 1.3 (t = −5.371; p = 0.001), respectively. HCs were about five times more likely to walk longer distance [odds ratio (OR), 4.8; confidence interval (CI), 2.0–11.1] and had a better heart rate (OR, 2.8; CI, 1.4–5.3) than patients. SpQ had a significant negative correlation with FC of patients (r = −0.362; p = 0.001) but a significant positive correlation with HCs (r = 0.481; p = 0.041). Furthermore, there were significant correlations between FC and body mass index in both groups (CHF: r = 0.247, p = 0.022; HCs: r = 0.321, p = 0.040). Conclusion: Patients with heart failure demonstrated lower functional capacity and poorer sleep quality

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways