Job embeddedness and turnover intentions: The moderating role of affectivity traits, career stages and perceptions of organisational politics

The study tested the applicability of job embeddedness (JE) theory in Ghana. It also examined moderating effects of affectivity traits, career stage and perceptions of organisational politics (POP) on the JE–turnover intentions relationship. Analyses revealed that composite JE and its dimensions and sub-dimensions (except community fit) were negatively related to turnover intentions. Affectivity traits, POP and career stages moderated the JE–turnover intentions relationship. The study expands the predictive validity of JE to Ghana and adds to the few moderators that have been identified in previous studies. Strategies for increasing managerial employees’ embeddedness and reducing their turnover are proposed

Opportunities to participate in formal and informal vocational learning activities and work-related outcomes in small professional services businesses

Small businesses are characterised by resources constraints; therefore, their managers need to know the exact nature of additional benefits, beyond knowledge and skill acquisition, that might accrue from employee participation in different types of learning activities. However, research that simultaneously examines the attitudinal and behavioural outcomes of opportunities to participate in formal and informal learning activities is sparse, especially in small businesses. The present study addresses this area of neglect by exploring associative relationships between opportunities for employees to participate in (1) formal learning activities and (2) informal learning activities and three important work-related outcomes: affective commitment, innovative behaviours, and work engagement. Data from 203 respondents in small professional services businesses were analysed and the results provide preliminary evidence that opportunities to participate in each type of learning activity are associated with differing outcomes. Opportunities to participate in formal learning activities were positively associated with heightened levels of affective commitment, work engagement, and innovative behaviours, while opportunities to participate in informal learning activities were positively related to work engagement. We provide suggestions for future research and outline practical implications of our analysis. © 2019, © 2019 The Vocational Aspect of Education Ltd

Potential for Energy Savings in Educational Institutions in Ghana

This paper presents the results of an energy audit carried out to assess the potential of energy savings in educational institutions in Ghana using the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as the case study institution. It also outlines a simple and effective technique for such an audit. The College of Engineering; one of the six Colleges of KNUST was used as the study location. Light bulbs and fans at the classrooms, corridors, laboratories and washrooms were monitored for energy wastage. The monitoring period was one month. The energy wastage over the period was estimated to be 1718.24kWh, which is high. The yearly energy wastage at KNUST for the areas assessed is projected to be 95.276MWh, which is alarming. Urgent steps are therefore needed to curb this wastage.Keywords: Energy auditing, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency measures, Energy saving and Energy wastag

ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION AND SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Awareness of conservation and safety issues regarding electrical energy use among students is critical. This study has determined the level of electricity conservation and safety awareness among senior high school students in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study was carried out through the administration of questionnaires to eight hundred and eighty-three students in five selected schools in the study region. The study assessed awareness levels based on gender, programme of study and academic study level. The questionnaires were developed to establish student’s knowledge of specific energy conservation practices relating to various consumer appliances, their motivation or otherwise to support institutional efforts to reduce energy consumption as well as their awareness of specific issues regarding electric shocks and electric fires. Analysis of the administered questionnaires point to the fact that a very high percentage of the students in all the three categories considered are aware of most of the issues presented to them. Also, a high percentage of them are inclined towards factors that motivate energy savings. Of the categories evaluated, females, students in the first level of study, and those studying Home Economics had the highest average awareness levels. The findings of this study will be very useful for educational campaigns concerning electricity use

Potential for Energy Savings in Educational Institutions in Ghana

This paper presents the results of an energy audit carried out to assess the potential of energy savings in educational institutions in Ghana using the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as the case study institution. It also outlines a simple and effective technique for such an audit. The College of Engineering; one of the six Colleges of KNUST was used as the study location. Light bulbs and fans at the classrooms, corridors, laboratories and washrooms were monitored for energy wastage. The monitoring period was one month. The energy wastage over the period was estimated to be 1718.24kWh, which is high. The yearly energy wastage at KNUST for the areas assessed is projected to be 95.276MWh, which is alarming. Urgent steps are therefore needed to curb this wastage. Keywords: Energy auditing, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency measures, Energy saving and Energywastag

Lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia among Ghanaian men: a hospital-based cross-sectional prospective study

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common in the elderly. This study sought to determine the prevalence of LUTS among patients visiting the urology clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana and to explore its presentation patterns.Methods: Simple randomized sampling technique was used to recruit 225 subjects with a mean age of 67.96±14.57 (range=40-100years) in a prospective cross-sectional study. LUTS related characteristics and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire were employed to obtain relevant data.Results: The average IPSS of the studied participants was 17.52±7.83. Based on the IPSS, the prevalence of LUTS suggestive of BPH was 88.89%. Bladder storage symptoms were also recorded at 88.59% whilst prostate enlargement based on digital rectal examination (DRE) was 60.4% among the studied subjects.  PSA levels ≥4.0ng/ml gave a prevalence of 81.5%. The prevalence of prostate enlargement defined as PSA ≥1.5ng/ml was 85.23% among the studied subjects whilst 63.11% of the subjects examined had troublesome LUTS. Urgency was the most predominantly reported LUTS (93.3%) among the subjects studied.Conclusions: This study has clearly shown that, the most prevalent urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia were bladder storage symptoms and urgency. These symptoms when present clinically therefore, suggest benign prostatic hyperplasia and that the prevalence estimates of LUTS in older men are relatively higher at diagnosis.

Non-malaria fevers in a high malaria endemic area of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: The importance of fevers not due to malaria [non-malaria fevers, NMFs] in children in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly being recognised. We have investigated the influence of exposure-related factors and placental malaria on the risk of non-malaria fevers among children in Kintampo, an area of Ghana with high malaria transmission. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2011, a cohort of 1855 newborns was enrolled and followed for at least 12 months. Episodes of illness were detected by passive case detection. The primary analysis covered the period from birth up to 12 months of age, with an exploratory analysis of a sub-group of children followed for up to 24 months. RESULTS: The incidence of all episodes of NMF in the first year of life (first and subsequent) was 1.60 per child-year (95 % CI 1.54, 1.66). The incidence of NMF was higher among infants with low birth weight [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.22 (95 % CI 1.04-1.42) p = 0.012], infants from households of poor socio-economic status [aHR 1.22 (95 % CI 1.02-1.46) p = 0.027] and infants living furthest from a health facility [aHR 1.20 (95 % CI 1.01-1.43) p = 0.037]. The incidence of all episodes of NMF was similar among infants born to mothers with or without placental malaria [aHR 0.97 (0.87, 1.08; p = 0.584)]. CONCLUSION: The incidence of NMF in infancy is high in the study area. The incidence of NMF is associated with low birth weight and poor socioeconomic status but not with placental malaria

Acute otitis externa: Consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and core outcome set development.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence for the management of acute otitis externa (AOE) is limited, with unclear diagnostic criteria and variably reported outcome measures that may not reflect key stakeholder priorities. We aimed to develop 1) a definition, 2) diagnostic criteria and 3) a core outcome set (COS) for AOE. STUDY DESIGN: COS development according to Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) methodology and parallel consensus selection of diagnostic criteria/definition. SETTING: Stakeholders from the United Kingdom. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Comprehensive literature review identified candidate items for the COS, definition and diagnostic criteria. Nine individuals with past AOE generated further patient-centred candidate items. Candidate items were rated for importance by patient and professional (ENT doctors, general practitioners, microbiologists, nurses, audiologists) stakeholders in a three-round online Delphi exercise. Consensus items were grouped to form the COS, diagnostic criteria, and definition. RESULTS: Candidate COS items from patients (n = 28) and literature (n = 25) were deduplicated and amalgamated to a final candidate list (n = 46). Patients emphasised quality-of-life and the impact on daily activities/work. Via the Delphi process, stakeholders agreed on 31 candidate items. The final COS covered six outcomes: pain; disease severity; impact on quality-of-life and daily activities; patient satisfaction; treatment-related outcome; and microbiology. 14 candidate diagnostic criteria were identified, 8 reaching inclusion consensus. The final definition for AOE was 'diffuse inflammation of the ear canal skin of less than 6 weeks duration'. CONCLUSION: The development and adoption of a consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and a COS will help to standardise future research in AOE, facilitating meta-analysis. Consulting former patients throughout development highlighted deficiencies in the outcomes adopted previously, in particular concerning the impact of AOE on daily life