Knowledge of risk factors, beliefs and practices of female healthcare professionals towards breast cancer in a tertiary institution in Lagos, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer is the leading female malignancy in Nigeria. Screening for early detection has led to reduction in mortality from the disease. It is known that attitudes of physicians and motivation by community nurses influence uptake of screening methods by women. This study aims to investigate knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, beliefs about treatment and practice of screening methods among a cohort of female healthcare professionals in Lagos, Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, beliefs about treatment and practice of screening methods among 207 female doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals working in a university teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling method was employed. Chi square test, analysis of variance and Mantel-Haenszel test were performed in data analysis using SPSS v10.0 and Epi Info version 6 statistical packages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Female doctors obtained a mean knowledge score of 74% and were the only professional group that had satisfactory knowledge of risk factors. Majority (86%) believed that early breast cancer is curable while half of participants believed that prayer can make breast cancer disappear from the affected breast. Eighty three percent practice breast self-examination (BSE) once a month and only 8% have ever had a mammogram. Age, knowledge of risk factors, profession and beliefs were not significantly associated with rate of BSE in this study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results from this study suggest the need for continuing medical education programmes aimed at improving knowledge of breast cancer among female healthcare providers other than doctors.</p

Effect of Pasteurization and Preservation Treatment on the Quality of “kunun zaki” made from Sorghum (Sorghum biocolor)

Objective:This study was designed to determine the effect of pasteurization and preservation treatments on the shelf-life of &ldquo;kunun zaki.&rdquo; Materials and Methods: &ldquo;Kunun zaki&rdquo; was prepared from sorghum using improved method. The prepared &ldquo;kunun&rdquo; was divided into 9 equal portions. The 1st four samples were pasteurized (10 &ndash; 25 minutes). The 2nd four samples were pasteurized (10 &ndash; 25 minutes) and preserved with 120ppm of sodium metabisulphite each. The 9th portion was the control. The samples were kept at ambient temperature (29&plusmn;2&deg;C) for nine weeks. The following parameters were monitored; protein content, ash, fibre, pH, specific gravity, microbial load. Means and standard deviation were calculated for triplicate determinations. Results: Proximate analysis showed that moisture content ranged between 88.20%-89.42%. Protein content ranged between 1.94-2.46% with the sample pasteurized for 25mins in combination with preservation having the highest protein content (2.46%). Ash and fibre contents were found to be low in all the samples. pH was acidic in all the samples ( pH 4.12-5.96). Specific gravity at week 0 was between 1.036 &ndash; 1.044, while at week 9 it ranged between 1.045 &ndash; 1.049. There was no microbial growth in all the samples at week 0. However at week 1 Microbial count of 2.0 x104c&fnof;&mu;/ml was observed in the control. At week 5, microbial growth in the range of 2.0 x 103 &ndash; 3.5 x 104 was observed in all the samples. Conclusion: Pasteurization treatment in combination witho preservation treatment had slightly higher protein contents than the control sample. They also had a longer stable shelf-life compared to the samples given pasteurization treatment only.Keywords: &ldquo;kunun zaki&rdquo;, pasteurization, sodium metabisulphite, shelf-life, physical properties, proximate composition

Topical‑intracameral anesthesia in manual small incision cataract surgery: A pilot study in a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Africa

Background: Cataract remains a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) is currently practiced as the technique of choice in Sub‑Saharan Africa to reduce the backlog of cataract blindness. Optimal pain control during surgery remains a challenge to cataract surgeons.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the use of aqueous topical/intracameral anesthesia in MSICS.Materials and Methods: In this hospital‑based case series, consecutive patients presenting at the eye clinic with operable cataract and willing to have surgery were enrolled. Baseline sociodemographics (age, sex, and occupation), type of cataract by morphology, pain perception, and surgeons experience were recorded. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed. A P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The surgeries were performed on 30 eyes of 16 (53.3%) males, and 14 (46.7%) females (sex ratio, 1:0.9) who were aged 60.3 ± 16.32 standard deviation (SD) (95% confidence interval [CI] of mean; 53.94–66.13) (range; 20–98 years). Using the visual analog scale, the mean pain score was 2.7 SD ± 2.215 (1.87–3.53 95% CI). There was no correlation between degree of pain perception and gender (P = 0.806) or age (P = 0.388). Patient’s cooperation was excellent in 22 (73.3%) of patients. Intraoperative complications occurred in 3 (10%) of patients.Conclusion: The mean pain score in this study is low. There is no correlation between perception of pain with gender or age. Surgeons experience is excellent in most of the cases. This method of anesthesia in MSCIS is adequate for patient’s comfort and safe cataract surgery.Key words: Anesthesia, cataract surgery, intracameral, topica

Analyzing the effects of organizational trust and organizational commitment in anti-productivity behaviours in managerial approach dimension to achieve a strategic competitive advantage

It is observed that negative approaches in organizational functioning and attitudes towards work have recently become increasingly common. Such developments weaken employees’ feelings of commitment and dedication to the organization and work. To improve the organizational commitment and dedication of the employees, first, the causes of emotions that inhibit these emotions and solution methods to eliminate alienation to work should be analyzed. In this study, anti-productivity behaviours, their causes, factors that influence the formation of organizational trust and commitment, and the relations between anti-productivity behaviours will be evaluated