Predictors of Satisfaction with Wound Care Services in an Outpatient Setting in Kano, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: With the global increase in chronic wounds and the paucity of studies on patient experiences at wound care facilities, we assessed the factors associated with satisfaction with wound care services among patients or their caregivers in a Northwest Nigerian outpatient setting. METHODS: Participants were systematically selected from patients or their caregivers attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, for wound dressing. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and satisfaction with service domains. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. RESULTS: There were 170 participants. Their mean age was 31.9±11.4 years, and they were mainly female (55.3%). The overall satisfaction rate was 85.9% (146/170); however, 51.8% and 55.3% of participants were dissatisfied with the advice on home wound care and waiting time, respectively. Employment status, wound location, having sickle cell disease, needing a wheelchair to reach the wound dressing room and perceived availability of a wheelchair were associated with overall satisfaction (P<0.05). The predictors of overall satisfaction were chronic wounds, wound in areas other than the lower limbs/buttocks, and perceived availability of wheelchairs. CONCLUSION: The overall satisfaction rate was high despite service gaps. However, future improvement in patient satisfaction will require addressing challenges such as the waiting time before wound dressing, equipment (e.g., wheelchairs), and staffing.

CONTEXTE: Avec l'augmentation mondiale du nombre de plaies chroniques et le manque d'études sur les expériences des patients aux centres de soin des plaies, nous avons évalué les facteurs associés à la satisfaction des services de soins des plaies chez les patients ou leurs soignants dans une établissement de soins ambulatoires du nord-ouest du Nigeria. MÉTHODES: Les participants ont été systématiquement sélectionnés parmi les patients ou leurs soignants fréquentant la clinique externe générale de l'hôpital universitaire d'Aminu Kano à kano, pour le traitement des plaies. Un questionnaire structuré auto-administré a été utilisé pour obtenir des informations sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et cliniciques et leur satisfaction à l'égard des services. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de méthodes statistiques descriptives et inférentielles. RÉSULTATS: Il y avait 170 participants. Leur âge moyen était de 31,9±11,4 ans, et ils étaient principalement des femmes (55,3 %). Le taux de satisfaction global était de 85,9 % (146/170) ; cependant, 51,8 % et 55,3 % des participants étaient insatisfaits des conseils sur le traitement des plaies à domicile et du temps d'attente, respectivement. Le statut professionnel, l'emplacement de la plaie, le fait d'avoir une drépanocytose, besoin d'un fauteuil roulant pour atteindre la salle de pansements et la disponibilité perçue d'un fauteuil roulant étaient associés à la satisfaction globale (P<0,05). Les facteurs prédictifs de la satisfaction globale étaient les plaies chroniques, les plaies situées dans des zones autres que les membres inférieurs/fesses et la disponibilité perçue des fauteuils roulants. CONCLUSION: Le taux de satisfaction globale était élevé malgré les lacunes des services. Cependant, l'amélioration future de la satisfaction des patients nécessitera relever des défis tels que le temps d'attente avant le pansement des plaies, l'équipement (p. ex., les fauteuils roulants) et la dotation en personnel. MOTS-CLÉS: Patients externes, Caractéristiques des patients, Satisfaction des patients, Soins des plaies, Pansements.

Informed Consent: The Surgical Patient's Experience in a Tertiary Hospital in Northwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Obtaining informed consent (IC) before a surgical procedure is the cornerstone of medical practice. The practice of IC continues to evolve as litigations increase. Most studies on patients' perspectives of IC are either old or were done in southern Nigeria. This study assessed the surgical patients' IC experience in a tertiary hospital in northwest Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed 244 consecutive patients who had elective surgeries in surgical departments of a tertiary hospital. Pretested questionnaires were used to collect data regarding their perception of the meaning of IC, the process of obtaining it, satisfaction with how it was obtained, and factors associated with satisfaction on how consent was obtained. RESULTS: Most were females (61.9%); their mean age was 34.8±14.3 years; 52.9% and 61.9% of respondents did not believe that IC enables patient-clinician shared decision-making or patient's self-decision making, respectively. Most were allowed to ask questions (83.2%), received information on the surgical procedure (91.4%), diagnosis (97.9%); however, 38.5% and 48.8% did not receive information about surgical procedures' immediate and long-term complications, respectively. Surgical procedure explanation was mostly provided by Resident Doctors (53.7%). Most (88.9%) were satisfied with how IC was obtained; satisfaction was associated with being allowed to ask questions, receiving explanations on diagnosis, surgical-procedure, complications of surgery, available alternative treatments, and when the resident/ consultants gave the explanation (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Deficiencies exist in the process of getting IC. Satisfaction with this process was high though associated with following the recommended strategies. Improving the IC process will require appropriate interventions in this and similar settings.

CONTEXTE: Obtention du consentement éclairé (CI) avant une intervention chirurgicale la procédure est la pierre angulaire de la pratique médicale. La pratique de l'IC continue d'évoluer à mesure que les litiges augmentent. La plupart des études sur les patients les perspectives d'IC sont soit anciennes, soit ont été faites dans le sud du Nigeria.Cette étude a évalué l'expérience IC des patients chirurgicaux dans un tertiaire hôpital dans le nord-ouest du Nigeria. MÉTHODES: Cette étude transversale a évalué 244 études consécutives les patients qui ont subi des chirurgies non urgentes dans les services chirurgicaux d'un tertiaire hôpital. Des questionnaires prétestés ont été utilisés pour recueillir des données concernant leur perception de la signification de l'IC, le processus d'obtention,la satisfaction à l'égard de la façon dont il a été obtenu et les facteurs associés à la satisfaction quant à la façon dont le consentement a été obtenu. RÉSULTATS: La plupart étaient des femmes (61,9 %); leur âge moyen était de 34,8 ±14,3 ansannées; 52,9 % et 61,9 % des répondants ne croyaient pas que l'IC permettait la prise de décision partagée patientclinicien ou l'auto-décision du patientfaire, respectivement. La plupart ont été autorisés à poser des questions (83,2 %),reçu de l'information sur l'intervention chirurgicale (91,4 %), le diagnostic(97,9%); toutefois, 38,5 % et 48,8 % n'ont pas reçu d'information sur les complications immédiates et à long terme des interventions chirurgicales, respectivement. L'explication de la procédure chirurgicale a été principalement fournie par médecins résidents (53,7 %). La plupart (88,9 %) étaient satisfaits de la façon dont IC a été obtenu; la satisfaction était associée au fait d'être autorisé àposer des questions, recevoir des explications sur le diagnostic, la procédure chirurgicale,complications de la chirurgie, traitements alternatifs disponibles et quandle résident/les consultants ont donné l'explication (tous P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Des lacunes existent dans le processus d'obtention de l'IC.La satisfaction à l'égard de ce processus était élevée, bien qu'elle soit associée à en suivant les stratégies recommandées. L'amélioration du processus de CI permettra nécessitent des interventions appropriées dans ce contexte et dans des contextes similaires. Mots-clés: Consentement éclairé, Kano, expérience du patient, chirurgiepatients, hôpital tertiaire.

Outcome and complications of permanent hemodialysis vascular access in Nigerians: a single centre experience.

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) carries less morbidity and mortality compared to all other forms of vascular accesses in maintenance hemodialysis patients. There is paucity of data on vascular access from sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome and complications of permanent vascular access in our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a prospective, hospital-based, longitudinal study. All consecutive patients on maintenance hemodialysis in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital who were referred to the surgical unit of for creation of permanent hemodialysis vascular access were included in the study. The patient's clinical and demographic data were documented. Data about vascular access types, outcomes, and complications were obtained over a 1-year period from the time of vascular access creation. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy four patients were operated upon between January 2008 and December 2010 with a mean age of 46.4 years (range 18-76 years) and a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Brescio--Cimino fistula was performed in 110 (63.2%) patients, brachiocephalic (Kauffmann) fistula in 51(29.3%), and synthetic graft in 1 (0.6%) patients respectively. Ten patients (5.7%) had brachio-brachial transposition arteriovenous fistula and 2 patients (1.1%) had transposition graft using harvested long saphenous vein. One-year patency rate was 63.2%. Complications encountered include AVF failure in 47(27.3%), steal syndrome in 2(1.1%), distal venous insufficiency in 2(1.1%), and false aneurysm in 6(3.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: The outcome of permanent vascular access is favorable in our patient population with a one-year patency rate of 63.2%. The first choice of vascular access in our maintenance dialysis population should be AVF.

Transurethral prostatectomy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, morbidity and surgical risks in a developing economy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is increasing world-wide and highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAAT) is allowing afflicted individuals to live near normal life span and acquire surgical diseases of the aged as in the unaffected population. This pose occupational hazards to operating surgeons especially in tropical Africa where the seroprevalence is so high that seroconversion in the medical staff contaminated with the virus is estimated to be as much as 15 times (per annum) more than what obtains in developed. A 63-year old man was admitted to our Hospital with urethral catheter in situ and having failed medical therapy, he opted for transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) which was done without any post-operative complication. He was known to be afflicted with human immunodeficiency virus and on treatment for 3 years. He also had a large but reducible inguinoscrotal hernia for 4 years attributed to lower urinary tract obstruction. He had a Lichtenstein repair of right inguinoscrotal hernia which was complicated by small hematoma that was evacuated. The risk of transmission and surgical morbidity during transurethral prostatectomy could be minimized by adequate universal precaution, pre-testing of all consented patients and wise selection of patients that would benefit from such surgical therapy.

Traumatic Intracranial Aerocele With Progressive Blindness - A case report.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic intracranial aerocele, also known as pneumocephalus, is an uncommon condition that may be asymptomatic or may present with progressive neurological deficits and life threatening conditions that demand urgent decompressive craniotomy to reduce the acute rise in intracranial pressure and the sequelae. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: A high degree of suspicion and continuous neurological monitoring are essential for the early detection and the prompt neurosurgical intervention demanded for the achievement of a good outcome in patients following traumatic acute severe head injury with life threatening neurological complications. METHOD: Presentation of a young motorcyclist who was not wearing a crash helmet and was involved in a road traffic accident in which he sustained a compound cranio-facial injury with loss of consciousness and symptomatic intracranial aerocele. RESULTS: The case of a 28-year old motorcyclist without a helmet, following a road traffic accident, sustained compound skull fracture with CSF rhinorrhea, ventricular aerocele and progressive blindness who recovered his vision fully following bitemporal decompressive craniotomy. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion enabled early detection and prompt decompressive craniotomy that stemmed the progressive loss of vision in this patient with an uncommon but symptomatic intracranial aerocele and cranio-facial compound head injury.

Transurethral resection of the prostate in Northern Nigeria, problems and prospects.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the commonest disease of the urinary tract afflicting the ageing male and is the commonest neoplastic disease in men aged 50 years and above. Transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) is the ultimate treatment of choice for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) due mainly to the preference of minimally invasive surgery, long term relief of symptoms and cost effectiveness. It is however not available to the majority of Nigerians in need of prostatic surgery in Public Health Institutions. METHODS: The records of patients who underwent prostatectomy in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, over the period June 2001 to July 2007 were examined. The bio data of patients and laboratory investigations performed were retrieved. RESULTS: Five Hundred and forty two patients were operated upon, out of which 40 were excluded due to open prostatectomy (22 patients), bladder neck stenosis (16 patients) or bladder tumour around the trigon (2 patients). The age range of the patients was 47-110 years with a mean of 67.2 years. 289 patients (80.1%) had urethral catheter in situ at presentation and 11 (3%) patients had suprapubic cystostomy of which only 3 (0.85%) had combined urethral stricture and BPH. Only 131 (26%) had their PSA measured which ranged from 2-100 ng/ml out of which 39(29.8% n = 131) patients had more than 4 ng/ml and cancer of the prostate and 1(0.8%, n = 131) patient had a PSA level of 4 ng/ml and malignant prostate. Hospital stay was 1-32 days (mean 7.9) and the mean follow up period was 5.6 months (range 0-60) and there were 17.5% complications comprising of urinary tract infection (UTI) 7.2%, Orchitis 2.2%, urinary incontinence 0.6%, atonic bladder 1%, erectile dysfunction 0.6%, cerebrovascular accident 0.4%, myocardial infarction 0.4%, deep vein thrombosis 0.4% and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) 0.6% and 1.2% mortality. The cost of treatment inclusive of pre-admission investigations was US$ 615.00 (range US$ 300-1,300) CONCLUSION: Despite advances in minimally invasive therapy for LUTH/BPH, TURP is the optimum treatment of choice for the ageing male of sub-Saharan Africa. It is however not available to the majority of patients in this region due to poor health allocation and inadequate facilities and training.

Radical Cystectomy for Locally Advanced Carcinoma of the Bladder in Kano; Nigeria

Objective: Bladder cancer is the second most common genito-urinary malignancy worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the benefit of radical cystectomy on locally advanced bladder carcinoma in terms of improved quality of life and survival in our environment. Patients and Methods : The records of 58 patients with bladder carcinoma managed at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital over a 5-year period (May 2000 to April 2005) were reviewed and analysed. Excluded were 28 patients with distant metastatic disease discovered during clinical investigation. Results: Thirty patients (25 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 50.5 years and variable symptoms underwent radical cystectomy for locally advanced carcinoma of the bladder. Urinary drainage was achieved by orthotopic ileal neobladder in 15 patients (50); continent cutaneous reservoir in 11 patients (36.7) and non-continent drainage in 4 patients (13.3). A 40survival was achieved at 6-60 months. Conclusion : Radical cystectomy is a worthwhile procedure in locally advanced carcinoma of the bladder and cure may be achieved in selected patients