Drug utilization and prescribing pattern in the treatment of urolithiasis: a perspective on World Health Organization recommendations

Background: Drug utilization research (DUR) is essential in promoting rational use of medicine, aimed at understanding the patterns of prescription, administration, and utilization of medications. It provides valuable insights into the actual drug usage patterns for specific disease conditions. To evaluate the current utilization pattern of drugs in patients of urolithiasis in the Department of General Medicine and Surgery at Integral Institute of Medical Science and Research Hospital, Lucknow. Methods: Following the approval of the institutional ethics committee, a prospective observational study was conducted at Integral Institute of Medical Science and Research Department of general medicine and surgery over a six-month period. Urolithiasis patients’ prescriptions were analyzed to study the prescribing patterns. Information about patient demographics, co-morbidities, and the number and types of medications prescribed were collected and analyzed. Results: Out of 102 patients studied, a female preponderance over male patients was observed. The co-morbidities that are encountered most commonly were hydronephrosis, cystitis, and renal cyst. There is averaged 7 medicines per prescription, 15.25% of medicines written by the generic name, 83.33% of patients receiving antibiotics, 54.70% of patients receiving injections, and 83% of drugs prescribed are mentioned in the essential medicine list. Analgesics, antibiotics, nutritional supplements, antiemetic, alkalizing agents, and antispasmodics were among the class of medicines given. Conclusions: This study highlights the current use of medicines and drug utilization in urolithiasis management. The findings show important insights for healthcare professionals to enhance medication therapy, encourage cost-effective healthcare delivery and improve quality of patient in urolithiasis management

Assessment of Human Perception on the Impact of Climate Change and Population Growth on Water Scarcity in Katsina Urban Area, Katsina State, Nigeria

Water is part of the global resources facing a great threat from the current changing climate and population increase, its scarcity and dramatic decrease in Arid and semi-arid regions of the world implies a setback to socio-economic development. This study examines the impact of climate change and population increased on water scarcity in urban Katsina through human perception. A purposive sampling method was employed and a total of 245 questionnaires were administered to the household heads in the study area. Descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentage were used in the analysis of the collected data. The results revealed that majority (70.2%) of the respondents are aware of the changing climate and its impact on water resource. Changes in the volume of water resources over years in the study area was significantly decreased (well 67.6%, tap 72.5% and rainwater 47.3%) which resulted in scarcity as perceived by the respondents. Majority (53.8%) have no idea about the changes in volume of boreholes water. The most significant impacts of climate change on water resource in the study area were low rainfall duration and intensity, drying up of wells, lowering of water table and increase frequency and occurrence of drought. It is recommended that water resource supply infrastructures, integrated water resource management and creation of awareness on the impacts of climate change on water should be provided as part of the strategies to ameliorate the impact of climate change on water resources. Keywords: Climate change; Perception; Population Growth; Urban Katsina; Water scarcity

MODERATING ROLE OF INNOVATION CAPABILITIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL, MARKETING ORIENTATION AND SMES PERFORMANCE

In Nigeria, the SMEs sector has not been able to perform up to expectation, they have not met the expected vital and vibrant role of bringing about economic growth and development of the country. This is because the SMEs are confronted with several drawbacks and challenges they have to overcome in order to operate successfully. The main objective of the study is to examine the moderating role of innovation capabilities on the relationship between intellectual capital, marketing orientation and SMEs performance. Primary data was obtained through the use of questionnaire. The study employed the Smart PLS 3.0 in other to compute the two basic model of PLS path modelling which includes measurement model and structural model. The findings of the study revealed that intellectual capital and market orientation predict the SME performance, while innovation capability moderate the relationship between intellectual capital, market orientation and SMEs performance. The study recommended that Owners/Managers should be made to grow intellectual capital, marketing orientation and innovation capabilities of firms by recruiting very competent staff that possess skills, knowledge and abilities, train and motivate them. Owners/managers must strategically and deliberately train and retain staff for a long time to avoid losing the intellectual assets possessed by them, which could improve better performance