Typhoid intestinal perforation in Francophone Africa, a scoping review.

Typhoid intestinal perforation (TIP) is a leading cause of peritonitis and indication for emergency surgery in Africa, with reported mortality rates up to 30% in pediatric patients. Currently, data on TIP in Western databases are primarily from countries that speak English, likely due to non-English publication and citation biases. Despite the high burden of infectious diseases in Francophone Africa, data from these countries regarding TIP remain limited. This study aims to highlight the incidence and morbidity of TIP in Francophone African countries using an extended search algorithm. We conducted a scoping review using the PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases with the keywords "peritonitis", "non-traumatic ileal perforation", and "typhoid" in Francophone African countries. Additionally, we contacted surgeons in Africa and concurrently used citation chasing to obtain data not found in western databases. In total, 32 studies from 12 countries were identified and included in this review. A total of 22 publications were in French. Patient median age was 20 years and TIP caused a median of 35% of acute peritonitis cases. Mortality rates ranged from 6-37% (median: 16%). Rate of complications ranged from 15-92% (median: 46%). Ileostomy creation as a treatment for TIP varied between hospitals (0-79%), with the highest rates reported in Niger. In Francophone Africa, TIP is associated with high morbidity and mortality, most commonly in children and young adults. Interventions, including improved sanitation and the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines into routine vaccination programs, have the potential to significantly decrease typhoid fever and its complications.

Design of a Novel Online, Modular, Flipped-classroom Surgical Curriculum for East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Objective: We describe a structured approach to developing a standardized curriculum for surgical trainees in East, Central, and Southern Africa (ECSA). Summary Background Data: Surgical education is essential to closing the surgical access gap in ECSA. Given its importance for surgical education, the development of a standardized curriculum was deemed necessary. Methods: We utilized Kern's 6-step approach to curriculum development to design an online, modular, flipped-classroom surgical curriculum. Steps included global and targeted needs assessments, determination of goals and objectives, the establishment of educational strategies, implementation, and evaluation. Results: Global needs assessment identified the development of a standardized curriculum as an essential next step in the growth of surgical education programs in ECSA. Targeted needs assessment of stakeholders found medical knowledge challenges, regulatory requirements, language variance, content gaps, expense and availability of resources, faculty numbers, and content delivery method to be factors to inform curriculum design. Goals emerged to increase uniformity and consistency in training, create contextually relevant material, incorporate best educational practices, reduce faculty burden, and ease content delivery and updates. Educational strategies centered on developing an online, flipped-classroom, modular curriculum emphasizing textual simplicity, multimedia components, and incorporation of active learning strategies. The implementation process involved establishing thematic topics and subtopics, the content of which was authored by regional surgeon educators and edited by content experts. Evaluation was performed by recording participation, soliciting user feedback, and evaluating scores on a certification examination. Conclusions: We present the systematic design of a large-scale, context-relevant, data-driven surgical curriculum for the ECSA region.

Understanding Overuse of Computed Tomography for Minor Head Injury in the Emergency Department: A Triangulated Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Overuse of computed tomography (CT) for minor head injury continues despite developed and rigorously validated clinical decision rules like the Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR). Adherence to this sensitive and specific rule could decrease the number of CT scans performed in minor head injury by 35%. But in practice, the CCHR has failed to reduce testing, despite its accurate performance. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to identify nonclinical, human factors that promote or inhibit the appropriate use of CT in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with minor head injury. METHODS: This was a qualitative study in three phases, each with interview guides developed by a multidisciplinary team. Subjects were recruited from patients treated and released with minor head injuries and providers in an urban academic ED and a satellite community ED. Focus groups of patients (four groups, 22 subjects total) and providers (three groups, 22 subjects total) were conducted until thematic saturation was reached. The findings from the focus groups were triangulated with a cognitive task analysis, including direct observation in the ED (>150 hours), and individual semistructured interviews using the critical decision method with four senior physician subject matter experts. These experts are recognized by their peers for their skill in safely minimizing testing while maintaining patient safety and engagement. Focus groups and interviews were audio recorded and notes were taken by two independent note takers. Notes were entered into ATLAS.ti and analyzed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory, an iterative coding process to determine themes. Data were double-coded and examined for discrepancies to establish consensus. RESULTS: Five core domains emerged from the analysis: establishing trust, anxiety (patient and provider), constraints related to ED practice, the influence of others, and patient expectations. Key themes within these domains included patient engagement, provider confidence and experience, ability to identify and manage patient anxiety, time constraints, concussion knowledge gap, influence of health care providers, and patient expectations to get a CT. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high-quality evidence informing use of CT in minor head injury, multiple factors influence the decision to obtain CT in practice. Identifying and disseminating approaches and designing systems that help clinicians establish trust and manage uncertainty within the ED context could optimize CT use in minor head injury.