Predictors of health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients in Ibadan Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of a fallopian tube, often as a result of tubal pregnancy. Little is known about the role of self-efficacy, health consciousness and health locus of control in health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients. BACKGROUND: An ectopic pregnancy and subsequent salpingectomy could present significant life crises for any woman with far-reaching implications. METHODS: Sixty purposively selected post-salpingectomy women (gravida 0-6; parity 0-4; mean age 34 ± 4.05 years) were included in the cross-sectional survey. A 49-item questionnaire made up of the perceived self-efficacy scale, as well as health consciousness, health orientation, health anxiety and health expectation subscales of Snell's Health Orientation Scale, was used for data collection. Descriptive (means; SD; and %) and inferential (multiple regression; t-test; and Zero-Order correlation) statistics were employed in analysis, with two hypotheses tested at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Health consciousness, health locus of control and self-efficacy jointly predicted health expectation and health anxiety with differences in independent prediction of health expectation and health anxiety. Participants with a low level of health consciousness reported a higher level of health expectation and health anxiety. A low level of self-efficacy yielded a higher level of health expectation. Participants with external health locus of control reported significantly higher levels of health anxiety. CONCLUSION: These psychological factors are pertinent in forecasting health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients. Attention to these psychological factors in the management of patients with reproductive and surgical challenges would enhance a patient-centred approach to care.

Catastrophising, pain, and disability in patients with nonspecific low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Attention has been drawn to examining the contributions of "catastrophising" to the prediction of pain and disability in individuals with low back pain (LBP). OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the proportion of patients with LBP who engaged in catastrophic thinking about pain and its association with pain intensity and disability. We also investigated the components of pain catastrophising that is predictive of disability. METHODS: A total of 275 participants with nonspecific LBP completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the quadruple visual analog scale, and the Revised Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (RODQ). The associations among pain intensity, disability, and catastrophising were investigated using t test. The components of catastrophising that best predicts disability were investigated using multiple linear regressions, and the level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The majority (85.5%) of the participants had LBP for more than 6 weeks, with 45.5% of the participants having moderate disability and 52.7% being high catastrophisers. High catastrophisers to pain had a significantly higher rating of pain intensity (p < 0.001) and higher score on the RODQ than low catastrophisers to pain. The main components of catastrophising that predicts disability were magnification (p < 0.001) and rumination (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Clinicians should screen patients with nonspecific LBP for a heightened level of catastrophic thinking and endeavour to manage such when present.

Impact of three years training on operations capacities of research ethics committees in Nigeria.

This paper describes a three-year project designed to build the capacity of members of research ethics committes to perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The project participants were made up of a cross-section of the membership of 13 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) functioning in Nigeria. They received training to develop their capacity to evaluate research protocols, monitor trial implementation, provide constructive input to trial staff, and assess the trial's success in promoting community engagement in the research. Following the training, technical assistance was provided to participants on an ongoing basis and the project's impacts were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicate that sustained investment in capacity building efforts (including training, ongoing technical assistance, and the provision of multiple tools) improved the participants' knowledge of both the ethical principles relevant to biomedical research and how effective REC should function. Such investment was also shown to have a positive impact on the knowledge levels of other RECs members (those who did not receive training) and the overall operations of the RECs to which the participants belonged. Building the capacity of REC members to fulfill their roles effectively requires sustained effort and investment and pays off by enabling RECs to fulfill their essential mission of ensuring that trials are conducted safely and ethically.

Black People Narrate Inequalities in Healthcare Systems that Hinder COVID-19 Vaccination: Evidence from the USA and the UK.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented global health emergency. As a novel condition, there is no known definitive treatment for the condition, except for the use of vaccines as a control measure. In the literature, the issue of inequalities in healthcare systems has been documented as a hindrance to COVID-19 vaccination; however, the specific inequalities in healthcare systems that hinder COVID-19 vaccination are poorly understood. Guided by the fundamental cause theory (FCT), this study aims to address this gap among Black people, a minority group vulnerable to inequalities in healthcare systems. Thirty-five Black people (age range = 21-58 years) residing in either the United States of America (USA) or the United Kingdom (UK) participated in this study. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed using thematic analysis. Most USA participants and a few UK participants narrated that no inequalities in healthcare systems hinder them from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Contrarily, most UK participants and a few USA participants narrated inequalities in healthcare systems that hinder them from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. These are mistrust of the healthcare system, health policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination, historical factors (such as historical abuse of Black bodies by health professionals), residential location, and dissatisfaction with health services. In terms of what governments must do to correct these inequalities, participants recommended the need for acknowledgment and community engagement. This is the first international collaboration to examine this problem. Important implications for theory, healthcare systems, and COVID-19 vaccination program planning are highlighted. Finally, there are members of other minority groups and vulnerable communities who are not Black people. Such groups could face unique inequalities that hinder COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, future studies should include such groups.

Dispositional and situational factors as determinants of food eating behaviour among sedentary and blue-collar workers in Nigeria's premier teaching hospital.

This cross-sectional survey investigated the role of dispositional (self-efficacy and self esteem), and situational factors (distractibility and perceived food variety) as determinants of food eating behaviour (FEB). Hospital employees (N500) in Nigeria's premier teaching Hospital participated. Results showed that self-efficacy and self-esteem jointly predicted cognitive restraint dimension of FEB (F(2499) = 26.00; R2 = 0.10; p < .05). Dispositional variables also jointly predicted uncontrolled eating (F(2499) = 17.41; R2 = 0.07; p < .05), emotional eating (F(2499)= 28.58; R2 = 0.10; p < .05), and cognitive restraint (F(2499) = 35.60; R2 = 0.13; p < .05) dimensions of FEB. Age (chi2 = 64.81; df = 1; p < .05), and marital status (chi2 = 32.74; df = 4; p < .05) were associated with FEB. Therefore, dispositional and situational variables are predictors of FEB as evidenced in previous literatures. The need for primary prevention, and assertiveness to reduce distractibility and eating disorders was highlighted towards maintaining health and efficiency at work is recommended.

Knowledge, preparedness, and attitude towards COVID-19 among health profession students in Sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional survey.

Objective: We assessed the knowledge, preparedness, and attitude of health profession students towards COVID-19 outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit participants from institutions under African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth). The survey was developed in QuestionPro software covering the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and preparedness towards the COVID-19 outbreak. Data were analysed and the association between variables was tested. Results: The mean age of the 336 students was 25•75 (±7•88) years. Most (99•7%) knew the cause of COVID-19 which could be transmitted via droplets (97•3%). Several participants vowed to adhere to preventive measures (92•3%) and claimed their curriculum equipped them with skills addressing infectious disease outbreaks (63•6%). Nursing students were better prepared than other students (p=0•001). Students from West African regions were more prepared (p=0•001) and aware they could contract COVID-19 if they cared for infected persons (p=0•001). Conclusion: Students are knowledgeable about COVID-19, adequately prepared to handle epidemics, have a positive attitude towards infection prevention, and their training institutions and government have taken adequate measures to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Funding: AFREhealth.

Influence of social support, depression, and self-esteem on burden of care among caregivers of oncology patients.

This study investigated the influence of social support, depression and self esteem on the burden of care among informal caregivers of oncology patients. The cross-sectional correlational study included 278 informal oncology caregivers. Results showed a significant main effect of self-esteem (F(1277) = 5.35, p < .05), and interaction effect of social support and depression (F(1277) = 4.86; p < 05) on caregivers' burden. Caregivers with high levels of depression (t = 4.06, df = 282, p < .001), and others with high levels of social support (t = 4.06, df = 282, p < .001) recorded significantly higher levels of caregivers' burden. This suggests the need for improving the psychological well-being of informal caregivers of oncology patients in the expanding role of family and community members in caring for cancer patients.

Role of socio-psychological factors in perceived quality of care rendered by traditional medical practitioners in Ibadan, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: It was the aim of the current research to investigate perceived service quality rendered by traditional medical practitioners and the role of socio-psychological factors in the perception. METHODS: The first part, a quantitative cross-sectional survey utilized a 93-item questionnaire to examine the influence of quality of life, general health perception, socio-economic status and personality factors on perceived service quality. The second part, a qualitative study utilized 5 FGDs and 2 KIIs to explore consumers' evaluation of perceived service quality. Five research questions were raised. The 336 purposively-selected participants were attendees of traditional-health clinics/centers in Ibadan with a mean age of x(-)=30.60±9.97. FINDINGS: The FGD respondents opined that the scope of orthodox-medicine does not cover certain illnesses. 77.8% of the participants attested to the affordability and promptness of services in traditional hospitals; acknowledging that its perceived efficacy (i.e. 56.8%) motivate patronage of traditional-health service. The 2x2x3 ANOVA revealed significant main effect of quality of life (F[1,270]=41.05, p<.001) and socio-economic status (F[2,270]=36.34; p<.001); as well as interaction effect of quality of life, general health and socio-economic status (F[1,270]=9.624, p<.002); while the regression analysis showed independent influence of extraversion (B= 0.31; p<.001), agreeableness (B=0.303; p<.001) and openness to experience (B=0.166; p<.01). CONCLUSION: This sample acknowledged that traditional health care met quality standards. The role of socio-psychological factors in the quality appraisal was established. The need for better regulation and validation of traditional health care in assuring evidence based care was suggested.