Anesthesia students' perception of the educational environment and academic achievement at Debre Tabor University and University of Gondar, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Excellence in Anesthesia education has been advocated to meet the current and future needs of the society. Educational environment plays significant role in determining students' learning and academic achievement. This study assessed the perception of Anesthesia students on their educational environment and it association with their academic achievement at Debre Tabor University and University of Gondar. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed on 3rd and 4th year students. Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to assess students' perception on their educational environment. Perceived performance, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and 100 MCQ items were used to assess the academic achievement of the students. An independent t-test was used to assess the differences in the perception of educational environment and academic achievements. Bivariate and multivariable linear regressions were fitted to assess the relationship between perception on educational environment and academic achievement. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance. RESULT: A total of 123 students (91 from University of Gondar and 32 from Debre Tabor University) were participated on this study. The study showed no statistically significant differences between the groups on the perception of students on the educational environment on DREEM total and subscale scores, and academic achievements. However, there were statistically significant differences in some items of the educational environment measures. On multivariable linear regression; entrance exam result, students' perception of teachers, students' academic self -perception and students' social self-perception showed positive correlation with students' academic achievement (ß = 0.003 & P = 0.04, ß = 0.009 & P = 0.9, ß = 0.06 & P = 0.42, ß = 0.06 & P = 0.39, ß = 0.14 & P = 0.015 and ß = 0.13 & P = 0.023) respectively. CONCLUSION: The perception of students on the educational environment was found to be more positive and there was no statistically significant differences in total and domains of DREEM scores and academic achievement of students between the two institutions. Entrance exam result and more positive perception of the educational environment were positively associated with academic achievement of students.

Incidence and associated factors of post-dural puncture headache among orthopaedic patients after spinal anesthesia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of a complication of spinal anaesthesia, influenced mostly by various factors including the patient's age, spinal needle size and design and sex. This headache can be severe and debilitating, preventing ambulation and limiting daily living activities. Objective: This study assessed the incidence and associated factors of PDPH among patients who received spinal anaesthesia for orthopaedic procedures at the Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from June to August 2022. Methods: Prospective cohort study design was employed using Consecutive sampling method among patients who received spinal anaesthesia for orthopaedics procedure at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from June to August 2022. Data were collected by face to face interview and direct observation based on questionnaire. The data were entered to epidata 4.6 and analyzed by SPSS version 20 software. A total 95 patients aged 16-75 was participated in study. Those independent variable that were significant on binary logistic regression at P less than 0.2, were analyzed on multivariate regression, and considered significant association with PDPH at P value less than 0.05. Result: Ninety-five study participants were included in our study of which 19 (20%) had developed PDPH. Among patients who develop PDPH; 9.5% of the patients reported moderate pain while 10.5% experience mild PDPH and 80% of patient has no pain. The BMI and age were found to have significant association with PDPH [(P value 0.018, adjusted odds ratio 8.738, 95% CI, 1.461-52.269) and (P value 0.011, adjusted odds ratio 12.146, 95% CI, 1.753-84.170)], respectively) to PDPH. Conclusion and recommendation: The incidence of PDPH was found to be higher in Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The hospital management and the anaesthetists should minimize the magnitude of by strictly following different preventive strategies.

Patients' and Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Preoperative Informed Consent Procedure Obstacles and Potential Solutions, 2021: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Informed consent discussions are individualized not only with regard to the patients' surgical condition and goals but also with their varying information needs, health literacy, and anxiety. Information is lacking regarding the views of patients and concerned healthcare professionals on the informed consent process. Objective: This study is aimed to explore patients' and healthcare professionals' perceived barriers during informed consent process and identify suggested solutions for improvement. Methods: Patients who underwent elective surgery, anesthetists, and surgeons were the subjects of a qualitative study employing focused group discussions and in-depth interviews. The study participants were chosen through the use of purposeful sampling. Results: The main barriers identified by the patients include: inadequate explanation about the intended procedure, family's influence in the decision-making, fear of surgery, fear of light/power interruption, inadequate time for discussion, and not letting the family members attend the discussion. On the other hand, healthcare professionals also identified various barriers, which includes: inability of patients to understand the information, limited time to discuss with patients in detail, poorly designed informed consent form, poor awareness of patients, fear of patient refusal for surgery if the risks and associated health problems are explained, lack of adequate investigation to confidently explain about the disease condition, use of medical jargons, poor documentation habit of professionals and lack of legal system regarding ethical dilemmas. Conclusions and Recommendation: Patients and healthcare professionals have identified avoidable barriers that need the attention of concerned health professionals, educators, and the healthcare delivery system.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals towards postoperative pain management at a referral hospital in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain (POP) is a form of acute pain following surgery. It results from tissue injury during surgical procedure like skin incision, tissue dissection, manipulation and traction. It is one of the immediate postoperative complications. Despite new standards, guidelines and different strategies the practice of postoperative pain management is found to be inadequate. We aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice on postoperative pain management practice among Health professionals working at XX Referral Hospital. METHOD: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health professionals regarding to Post-operative pain management at XX Referral Hospital 2020 from 118 health professionals. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire and was verified, coded and entered to Epi Info Software version 3.5.4 and then it was exported and analyzed by SPSS version 20 Software. After analysis frequency and percentages was used to summarize the finding. RESULT: The overall finding of the study revealed that health professionals had good knowledge (58.4%), unfavorable attitude (44.9%), and poor practice (24.58%) towards post-operative pain management. CONCLUSION: Non physician anesthetists have good knowledge, attitude and practice towards post-operative pain management. But the overall attitude and practice of health professionals' towards post-operative pain management is poor.

Patients' satisfaction and associated factors towards preoperative informed consent process: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Informed consent is a process that needs time and effort to satisfy patients' desires. Patient dissatisfaction on preoperative informed consent process may be caused by multiple factors of clinical practice. This study aimed to assess patients' satisfaction and associated factors of informed consent process among elective surgical patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 postoperative patients who signed the informed consent for elective surgery. A systematic sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. Modified Leiden perioperative patient satisfaction tool was adapted to assess patients' satisfaction with preoperative informed consent process. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 4.20 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was computed to identify independent variables associated with patient satisfaction towards preoperative informed consent process. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance. Results: The overall satisfaction of patients with preoperative informed consent process was 70.3%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that, being male (AOR: 4.75, 95% CI: 2.47-9.16), primary school (AOR: 8.42, 95% CI: 4.74-7.55), secondary school (AOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 5.74-8.62), rural residence (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 2.1-3.9) and received general anesthesia (AOR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.62-5.26) were significantly associated with patients' satisfaction with the informed consent process. Conclusion: The overall patients' satisfaction on preoperative informed consent process was relatively low. Being male, low level of education, living in rural area, and receiving general anesthesia were significantly associated with patients' satisfaction on informed consent process. Surgeons and anesthesia professionals need to work more to improving the satisfaction of patients with preoperative informed consent process. Researchers are expected to do periodic assessment of patients' level of satisfaction and factors affecting satisfaction.

Knowledge and attitude of the community towards epilepsy in Northwest Ethiopia: A huge gap on knowledge and attitude of the community.

BACKGROUND: Misconception about epilepsy in Ethiopia is higher which in turn affects overall quality of life of the individuals. This research was aimed to assess knowledge and attitude of the community towards epilepsy in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was entered by Epi data version 4.2 and analyzed by SPSS version 24. Descriptive and analytical statistical procedures, with 95% confidence interval were employed and significance level was determined at p-value < 0.05. RESULT: A total of 782 respondents were participated with the response rate of 96.1%. About 66.2% of respondents had poor knowledge and 67.0% had unfavorable attitude, towards epilepsy.In multivariate logistic regression, younger age, rural resident, not knew someone with epilepsy, did not have witness of seizure episode, and did not take prior training were associated with poor knowledge. Male sex, rural resident, did not know someone with epilepsy, did not have witness of seizure episode, did not take prior training, and had poor knowledge were associated with unfavorable attitude towards epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Majority of participants had poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude. Public education about epilepsy is recommended to modify misconceptions and to promote positive attitudes.