Physicians' perception of task sharing with non-physician health care workers in the management of uncomplicated hypertension in Nigeria: A mixed method study.

INTRODUCTION: Task sharing and task shifting (TSTS) in the management of hypertension is an important strategy to reduce the burden of hypertension in low-and middle-income countries like Nigeria where there is shortage of physicians below the World Health Organization's recommendations on doctor-patient ratio. The cooperation of physicians is critical to the success of this strategy. We assessed physicians' perception of TSTS with non-physician health workers in the management of hypertension and sought recommendations to facilitate the implementation of TSTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an explanatory sequential mixed method study. TSTS perception was assessed quantitatively using a 12-item questionnaire with each item assigned a score on a 5-point Likert scale. The maximum obtainable score was 60 points and those with ≥42 points were classified as having a good perception of TSTS. Twenty physicians were subsequently interviewed for in-depth exploration of their perception of TSTS. RESULTS: A total of 1250 physicians participated in the quantitative aspect of the study. Among the participants, 56.6% had good perception of TSTS in the management of hypertension while about two-thirds (67.5%) agreed that TSTS program in the management of hypertension could be successfully implemented in Nigeria. Male gender (p = 0.019) and working in clinical settings (p = 0.039) were associated with good perception. Twenty physicians participated in the qualitative part of the study. Qualitative analysis showed that TSTS will improve overall care and outcomes of patients with hypertension, reduce physicians' workload, improve their productivity, but may encourage inter-professional rivalry. Wide consultation with stakeholders, adequate monitoring and evaluation will facilitate successful implementation of TSTS in Nigeria. CONCLUSION: This study showed that more than half of the physicians have good perception of TSTS in hypertension management while about two-thirds agreed that it could be successfully implemented in Nigeria. This study provides the needed evidence for increased advocacy for the implementation of TSTS in the management of hypertension in Nigeria. This will consequently result in improved patient care and outcomes and effective utilization of available health care personnel.

Ebstein's Anomaly: An Unanticipated Differential Diagnosis of Egg-on-Stick Appearance and the Diagnostic Dilemma.

BACKGROUND Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital cardiac abnormality with diverse anatomic and spectra of clinical presentations. This heart anomaly occurs in approximately 1 per 200 000 live births and accounts for <1% of congenital cardiac diseases. The main pathologic finding is "atrialization" of the basal region of the right ventricle. EA has been described extensively in the literature; however, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of EA presenting with "egg-on-stick" appearance. CASE REPORT A 42-year-old woman presented on account of 2 years of progressive abdominal swelling, early satiety, and progressive weight loss. There was an associated history of dyspnea on exertion, easy fatigability, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea. General examination revealed egg-on-stick appearance: visible distended abdominal wall veins and massive ascites with no pedal edema. Overall, pertinent cardiovascular examination findings and echocardiographic features are in keeping with EA. CONCLUSIONS We present the likely first case of egg-on-stick appearance as part of the presentation of EA, which posed a diagnostic dilemma. Echocardiography can help in unraveling this dilemma.