Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Adults with Asthma in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Asthma is one of the common chronic diseases globally. There is paucity of data on perceived stress among patients with asthma in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the extent of perceived stress and its association with coping strategies among adults with asthma. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 100 adults with asthma were consecutively recruited from the Respiratory Clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. They completed a questionnaire containing demographic details, Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) Scale and Asthma Specific Coping Scale(ASCS). RESULTS: Most of the respondents were female (56%, n = 56) with mean age of 38.8 (±16.5), and FEV1% predicted was 78.9%±24.5. Sixty-three (63%) participants had high levels of perceived stress. Patients with asthma who had high perceived stress were significantly younger than those with low perceived stress (χ2 = 2.66; p=0.01). The mean scores of coping strategies for asthma patients with high stress level was generally higher compared with those with low stress level, and was significantly higher in the adaptive coping strategy (t=-3.36; p=0.01) and its subscales. For asthma specific coping scale, there was significant difference between those with high perceived stress and low perceived stress in the positive appraisal (t=-2.95, p=0.004) and ignoring asthma (t=-2.09, p=0.040) subscales. CONCLUSION: The level of perceived stress is high among Nigerian patients with asthma. This study showed that the more stressed they are, the more they are likely to use coping strategies.

CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIFS: L'asthme est l'un des maladies chroniques courantes dans le monde. Il y a peu de données sur stress perçu chez les patients asthmatiques au Nigeria. Ceci étude visant à déterminer l'étendue du stress perçu et son association avec des stratégies d'adaptation chez les adultes asthmatiques. MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive transversale dans laquelle100 adultes asthmatiques ont été recrutés consécutivement parmi les clinique respiratoire de l'Université Obafemi Awolowo Enseignement Complexe hospitalier, Ile-Ife, Nigéria. Ils ont complété un questionnaire contenant des détails démographiques, Stress perçu Échelle (PSS), Brève orientation d'adaptation aux problèmes rencontrés(Brief-COPE) Échelle et échelle d'adaptation spécifique à l'asthme (ASCS). RÉSULTATS: La plupart des répondants étaient des femmes (56 %, n = 56)avec un âge moyen de 38,8 ans (±16,5 ans) et un VEMS 1 % prédit était78,9 %±24,5. Soixante-trois (63 %) participants avaient des niveaux élevés destress perçu. Patients asthmatiques qui avaient une perception élevée le stress était significativement plus jeune que celui des personnes ayant une faible perceptioncontrainte (χ2 = 2,66; p = 0,01). Les scores moyens des stratégies d'adaptation pour les patients asthmatiques avec un niveau de stress élevé était généralement plus élevé par rapport à ceux ayant un faible niveau de stress, et était significativement plus élevé dans la stratégie d'adaptation adaptative (t =-3,36; p = 0,01) et sessous-échelles. Pour l'échelle d'adaptation spécifique à l'asthme, il y avait une différence entre ceux qui ont un stress perçu élevé et un stress faiblele stress perçu dans l'évaluation positive (t=-2,95, p=0,004) et ignorer les sous-échelles de l'asthme (t = -2,09, p = 0,040). CONCLUSION: Le niveau de stress perçu est élevé chez patients nigérians souffrant d'asthme. Cette étude a montré que leplus ils sont stressés, plus ils sont susceptibles d'utiliser l'adaptation stratégies. Mots-clés: Stress perçu, Stratégie d'adaptation, Asthme, Adaptatif adaptation.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of yoruba version of the short-form 12 health survey.

Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the psychometric properties of the Y-SF-12. It appears to be valid and may be an appropriate tool for assessing health-related quality of life among Yoruba population. The tool may help to improve the health outcomes of individuals, and redress health inequalities in low and middle-income countries. Background: Short Form 12 (SF-12) health survey has found its utility in clinical and research settings because of its short length that spares time. Though several translations into other languages do exist there is none available in Yoruba language. Hence, this study's objective was to culturally adapt and determine the reliability and validity of the Yoruba translated version of the SF-12. Methods: Forward and backward translations of SF-12 into Yoruba version of SF-12 (Y-SF-12) were done using the International Quality of Life Assessment Project Guidelines. Healthy participants were assessed using both English and Yoruba versions of SF-12 for the validation phase, and two weeks later were reassessed with the Y-SF-12 for the reliability phase. Results: Participants were 225 males and 171 females. The mean scores for each scale range from 73.4 to 86.1, with no gender difference. All scale and domain scores evidenced a negative skew and ranges from -1.79 to -0.62. Concurrent validity (0.879 - 0.938) and convergent validity (0.786 - 0.907) appeared to be good as reflected by their correlation values. The internal consistency of Y-SF-12 was good as Cronbach's Alpha ranged between 0.899 and 0.968, while the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged between 0.775 and 0.949.

Perceived Stress and its Relationship with Coping Strategies among Doctors at a Tertiary Hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Medical doctors are prone to stress and utilize a variety of coping strategies. This study aims to measure the level of perceived stress and its relationship with coping strategies among doctors working in a tertiary hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study using a self-administered questionnaire containing Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief COPE Scale to assess perceived stress and coping strategies among different cadres of doctors. Out of the 217 questionnaires distributed, 185 completed copies were analysed. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were less than 35 years (mean = 33.6 ±6.21) and the rate of perceived stress was 43.2%. The mean scores of Perceived Stress Scale and Brief COPE were 23.08 (±6.58) and 59.46 (±12.05). Socio-demographic factors significantly associated with perceived stress were age less than 35 years, being single, working in the hospital and years of practice less than 5 years and being house-officer or registrar (p< .001). Respondent that were not stressed reported significant higher mean scores in active coping and positive reframing but lower mean scores in humor (p< .05). Also, they reported significant lower mean scores in maladaptive coping and its subscales (p<.003). Perceived stress had a significant negative correlation with active coping (p=.017) and positive correlation with maladaptive coping and all its subscales (p< .006). Only age of respondents significantly predicted perceived stress among respondents (p = .003). CONCLUSION: There is high level of stress among a sample of Nigerian doctors. Hence, there is a need for stress management program among them.

Economic Cost of Asthma and Psychiatric Morbidity in Nigerian Patients with Asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is known to constitute a huge economic burden to its sufferers and their carers. There is a dearth of studies documenting this burden among asthmatics in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the relationship between economic cost and psychiatric morbidity among stable Nigerian patients with asthma. METHODS: 85 patients with asthma completed a socio-demographic and illness-related questionnaire, the modified Economic Cost Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ 12). Associations between socio-demographic characteristics, illness related variables, psychiatric morbidity and the direct, indirect and total costs in relation to asthma were assessed. RESULTS: The average annual total, direct and indirect cost were $309, $190.65 and $118.34 respectively per patient for subjects with asthma. Direct cost constituted 62.7% while the indirect cost was 38.3% of the total cost for asthma. Drugs and hospitalisation were leading contributors to direct costs for asthma. Psychiatric morbidity was found to be present in 35% of subjects with asthma, those with psychiatric morbidity had a higher economic burden. CONCLUSION: The economic cost of asthma is high, psychiatric morbidity increases this cost. The cost is largely due to drugs and hospitalisations for exacerbation. There is an urgent need to optimize means of helping to minimize this cost and increase measures for detecting and treating psychiatric morbidity.

The relationship between obsessive compulsive symptoms and quality of life in Nigerian patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) are relatively common in schizophrenia. Their presence and severity can affect the quality of life (QoL) of schizophrenia patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of OCS on the subjective QoL of the Nigerian outpatients with schizophrenia. It also determines the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with OCS. METHOD: A cross-sectional study involving 232 patients with schizophrenia completed socio-demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire. OCS was examined with Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (OCI) and QoL was assessed using the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire. RESULT: Most of the schizophrenia patients with OCS were unmarried, unemployed, had an earlier onset, longer duration of illness, and were on higher doses of antipsychotics. They reported lower QoL and more severity of symptoms of schizophrenia when compared to those without OCS. The OCI total and it's subscales had negative weak to moderate relationship with all the domains of the WHOQoL Bref. Being unemployed, dosage of antipsychotic medication, negative symptoms and OCI total were the predictors of the total quality of life among Nigerian schizophrenia patients. CONCLUSION: OCS are very common and reduce QoL of schizophrenia patients. Hence, there is a need to routinely screen patients with schizophrenia for OCS and manage them appropriately.

Impact of intimate partner violence on anxiety and depression amongst women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Research into intimate partner violence in the Nigerian environment has been limited. The objective of this study was to determine, amongst a sample of women attending the Enuwa Primary Health Care Center, Ile-Ife, the association between intimate partner violence and anxiety/depression. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 373 women who attended the antenatal clinic and welfare units of a primary health centre in Ile-Ife using the Composite Abuse Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a socio-demographic scale as instruments. Slightly over a third (36.7 %) reported intimate partner violence within the past year, 5.6 % had anxiety and 15.5 % were depressed. Anxiety and depression in the respondents were significantly associated with intimate partner violence. Women were ten times more likely to report being depressed and 17 times more likely to report anxiety if they were in violent relationships. This research has shown that the magnitude of intimate partner violence within the study population is comparable to those found in the developing countries. There are significant associations between intimate partner violence, anxiety and depression amongst the study population and this fact undoubtedly has implications for the mental health of the Nigerian woman.

Psychosocial aspects of epilepsy in Nigeria: a review.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a chronic disorder marked by intermittent, often unpredictable seizures which may be embarrassing and disruptive to the normal activity of daily living. This review was undertaken to provide information / data on the prevalence, seizure types, treatment issues and psychosocial impact of epilepsy in Nigeria. METHOD: We searched the PUBMED database with emphasis on studies conducted in Nigeria using a combination of the following words: epilepsy, seizure, convulsion, prevalence, epidemiology, psychiatric morbidity, social issues, quality of life, cognition, school performance, treatment issues and Nigeria. RESULT: 48 relevant studies that met the criteria were reviewed. The point prevalence of epilepsy varies from 5.3 to 37 per 1000 in Nigeria. Most studies showed a predominance of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Nigerian patients with epilepsy suffer social deprivation and discrimination in education, employment, housing, marital life as well as associated psychiatric morbidity. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy, a stigmatizing disorder in Nigeria, has a significant impact on the day to day functioning of those with the condition.