Translational medical research in Nigeria:Challenges, prospects and recommendations for the future

In this review we discussed the challenges and prospects for translational medical research in Nigeria, a developing African country. We also provided some relevant recommendations on how to improve the future of translational medical research in the Nigeria

Palliative care awareness amongst religious leaders and seminarians: a Nigerian study

Introduction: There exists scanty literature on the awareness of Nigerians towards palliative care. This study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of religious leaders and seminarians in Ibadan, Nigeria, on palliative care. Methods: Data obtained from a cross-section of 302 religious leaders and seminarians in the metropolitan city of Ibadan, Nigeria, were used in this research. Study tool was a self-administered questionnaire which obtained information from the participants about their bio-data and knowledge of palliative care. Data analysis was done using the SPSS version 16 Software. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 28.99 years, with 55.6% of them being within the age range of 21 to 30 years. The majority (94%) were males, 68.5% were single and 79.8% were seminarians. Only 31.8% have heard of palliative care before, 12.6% knew a health facility where palliative care is rendered in Nigeria, while 21.9% knew that chaplains are members of the palliative care team. Conclusion: The level of awareness of palliative care among religious leaders and seminarians in Ibadan, Nigeria, is low. There exists the need to educate Nigerian religious leaders and seminarians on palliative care

A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Review of Dental Research Productivity of Universities in North East of England: Policy Implications

Introduction: To evaluate the dental research productivity of the universities in the North East of England (NEE). Methods: We collected the bibliometric data of the dental publications of the five NEE universities from SCOPUS. Collected data were analysed using the Microsoft Excel 2021 software. Results: Dentistry was the health science subject area with the lowest volume of research productivity in two-fifth of the NEE universities. The NEE universities contributed <4% of the total dental research publications in the UK. Newcastle University was the NEE university with the highest volume of dental research productivity. The level of inter-institutional dental research collaborations among the NEE universities was very low. The USA-based institutions were the most productive foreign institutions collaborating with NEE universities. The study identified the five most published dental researchers at the NEE universities. Each of the NEE universities had at least 15.8% of its total dental research publications in the British Dental Journal. Conclusion: The findings obtained in this study gives a reflection of dental research productivity of NEE universities. There is a need to strengthen dental research capacity of universities in the NEE

A protocol to identify the barriers and facilitators for people with severe mental illness and/or learning disabilities for PErson Centred Cancer Screening services (PECCS)

Objectives: To identify the barriers and facilitators that people with severe mental illness and people with learning disabilities may encounter when accessing cancer screening and make recommendations for implementing reasonable adjustments throughout cancer screening services. Methods and Analysis: An 18-month sequential, mixed-methods study comprising of two phases of work and underpinned by Normalisation Process Theory, recruiting from across the North-East and North Cumbria. The first phase aims to identify the barriers and facilitators for people with severe mental illness in accessing cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening. A systematic review of eight databases (Part 1a; PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022331781) alongside semi-structured interviews of up to 36 people with severe mental illness (Part 1b) will occur. Additional characteristics indicating populations whose perspectives may not have been accounted for in the systematic review will be targeted in the interviews. Potential participants will be identified from a range of settings across the North-East and North Cumbria, including through social media and gatekeepers within National Health Service Trusts and charities. Interviews will be analysed using framework analysis, which will be in line with the Normalisation Process Theory. The second phase of the project (part 2a) involves triangulating the results of the systematic review and interviews with existing research previously completed with people with learning disabilities accessing cancer screening. This will be to identify population specific barriers and facilitators across people with learning disabilities and people with severe mental illness to access cancer screening services. Following triangulation, part 2b will include designing and planning a future study involving stakeholders in cancer screening to explore the feasibility, practicality, and priority for implementing the recommendations to improve person centred cancer screening services (PECCS). Ethics and dissemination: This study has received Teesside University ethical approval, Health Research Authority approval (IRAS: 310622) and favourable opinion (REF: 22/PR/0793). Findings will be disseminated through a range of academic and non-academic modes including infographics, blog posts and academic publications

Medical Ethics

Medical ethics is very important at this time of medicine due to the covid-19 pandemic which has caused a lot of mortality and morbidity world wide. Medical is important in guiding clinicians and other healthcare workers not to cause harm while caring out their duties. There are various aspects of medical ethics such as negligence, do not cause harm, beneficent and others. Not practicing medical ethics has caused some physicians to face litigation by their patients and clients and also face medical disciplinary boards. Some have even been suspended from medical practice for a number of months or years or even have their names struck off from the register of the licensing board of their country