RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a high-priority, neglected, tropical disease that affects millions of people in developing countries annually. The only available standard drug used for the treatment of SBE is antisnake venom (ASV) which consists of immunoglobulins that have been purified from the plasma of animals hyper-immunized against snake venoms. The use of plants as alternatives for treatment of poisonous bites particularly snakebites is important in remote areas where there might be limited, or no access to hospitals and storage facilities for antivenom. The pharmacological activity of some of the medicinal plants used traditionally in the treatment of SBE have also been scientifically validated. METHOD: A systematic review will be conducted according to the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies checklist for study quality in animal/in vivo studies. The tool will be modified and validated to assess in vitro models and studies that combine in vivo and in vitro studies. The systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. English published articles on African medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming will be searched in Medline, Embase, and Scopus from 2000 to 2021. DISSEMINATION: The findings of the study will be communicated through publication in peer-reviewed journal and presentation at scientific conferences. Medicinal plants have been important sources for the development of many effective drugs currently available in orthodox medicine. Botanically derived medicines have played a major role in human societies throughout history. Plants components used in traditional medicine gained much attention by many toxinologists as a tool for designing potent antidotes against snake envenoming. Our systematic review will provide a synthesis of the literature on the efficacy of these medicinal plants. We will also appraise the prospects of African medicinal plants with pharmacologically demonstrated activity against snakebite and envenoming.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is an important occupational and public health hazard especially in sub-Saharan Africa. For optimum management of SBE, adequate knowledge of Snake antivenom (SAV) is very critical among the healthcare practioners in this region. Information related to the knowledge of SAV use in the management of SBE, as well as SAV logistics is scarce among the Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region. We therefore aimed to develop, validate and utilize a tool to assess the SAV knowlegde among HCPs in northern Nigeria. We also sought to implement and evaluate an intervention that could improve the SAV knowledge among the HCPs. METHODS: The proposed study will be conducted in three phases: Phase I will involve the development of the item-pool to be included in the tool, followed by a face, content validity and construct validity. The tool reliability, readability and difficulty index will be determined. Phase II will involve the utilization of the tool to assess baseline SAV knowledge among the HCPs followed by an educational intervention. Multiple Linear Regression analysis will be used to determine the factors associated with SAV knowledge among the HCPs. Lastly, Phase III which will be a repeat of Phase II to assess and evaluate the knowledge after the intervention. DISCUSSION: The study design and findings may guide future implementation and streamline the intervention of improving SAV knowledge in HCPs training and practice. LAY SUMMARY: Knowledge assessment and educational intervention of snake antivenom among healthcare practitioners in northern Nigeria: a study protocol Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is an important occupational and public health hazard especially in sub-Saharan Africa. For optimum management of SBE, adequate knowledge of snake antivenom (SAV) is very critical among the healthcare practitioners. The baseline knowledge SAV dosage, mode of administration, availability, and logistics is very relevant among healthcare professionals, particularly those that are directly involved in its logistics. It is paramount that SAV is handled and used appropriately. The efforts and advocacy for the availability for more SAV will be in vain if not handled appropriately before they are used. This study protocol aims to develop a tool, to assess SAV knowledge and effects of educational interventions among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in northern Nigeria. This protocol suggests conducting studies in three phases: (a) Development and validation of SAV knowledge assessment tool, (b) Baseline assessment of SAV knowledge assessment tool among HCPs, and (c) Development, implementation and evaluation of an educational intervention to improve SAV knowledge among HCPs in northern Nigeria.
