Frequent Source Of Information Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Breast Self-Examination Among Women Aged 35 to 65 Years in the Commune of Mbour (Senegal)

Introduction: Breast cancer is second only to cervical cancer in Senegal. It has a high mortality rate because of its late diagnosis and the inadequacy and availability of treatment. In countries with limited resources, breast self-examination is still a means of early diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of BSE in the commune of Mbour. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that took place from 01 to 30 July 2022 in the commune of Mbour. The study population consisted of women aged 35 to 65 years who had been living in the study area for more than three months. Sampling was carried out using a two-stage cluster survey. Results: A total of 599 women were surveyed. The average age of the women was 44.3 years. Educated women represented 56.3% of the sample. Married women accounted for 81.4% of the sample and those engaged in an income-generating activity 64.9%. The overall level of knowledge was average, with 57.9% correctly answering questions about breast cancer and breast self-examination. The most frequent sources of information are the media, with television (77.1%), radio (53.4%) and written media (35.2%). Health professionals are also an important source of information, with 43.9% of women informed by this source. Overall, 78.5% (471) of the women surveyed had the 'right' attitude and 20.9% the 'wrong' attitude. We noted in the series that 10.9% (65) of women performed breast self-examination adequately according to the recommended technique. However, 22.7% (136) of women performed BSE inadequately. The practice of BSE was higher in women over 50 (72.3%) than in women under 50, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). It is noted that women's level of education had a significant influence (p<0.05) on the practice of BSE, with 69.2% of women who practiced BSE being educated. In contrast, women's marital status and the exercise of income-generating-activity among women had no influence on the practice of BSE. Conclusion: In order to improve the practice of breast self-examination, it is important to strengthen communication aimed at women through the media and healthcare personnel.

Self-medication practice among pregnant and postpartum women attending the regional hospital center of Souss Massa, Morocco: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Self-medication among pregnant women represents a serious risk to the mother's and child's health. It is a global concern that requires careful attention from professionals in healthcare. In Morocco, there is a lack of available data on self-medication and predicting variables among pregnant and postpartum women. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of self-medication and the factors that contributed to it among pregnant and postpartum women in the Sous Massa Regional Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pretested questionnaire among 420 pregnant and postpartum women who were attending the regional hospital center of the Sous Massa region from April to December 2022. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi Software. The logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significance of the association between the outcome and independent variables. Results: The research enrolled 420 pregnant and postpartum women. During the current pregnancy, 24.8% of the women used self-medication. The leading common causes/symptoms that necessitate self-medication among pregnant and postpartum women were Anemia (84.8%), epigastralgia (16.8%), vomiting, pyrosis (15.2%), and urinary and vaginal infections The therapeutic families concerned with self-medication practice were Analgesics (41.4%), Antacids (20.3%), antimicrobials (13.5%), and Vitamin supplements (9%). According to the findings, the most frequent sources of information were pharmacists (45.6%), followed by physicians (44.3%). The primary reasons given by respondents for self-medication were the need for rapid release (51.7%), previous treatments with the same drugs (31.7%), and 20% reported difficulty of access to healthcare professionals. Out of 95.9% of the participants reported that they knew the dangers of self-medication and 96% of them were informed and received information about the dangers and contraindications of self-medication during pregnancy. This was significantly statistically associated with self-medication respectively with p-value = 0.031 and p-value = 0.005. Conclusion: The findings of the present study provide an initial awareness of the state of self-medication among pregnant and postpartum women attending the regional hospital centers. It is recommended that healthcare professionals increase their interventions to improve the consciousness of pregnant women; this might require implementing suitable strategies to regulate the commercialization, delivery, and use of conventional medications.

Knowledge of Complications of Diabetes Mellitus Among Patients Visiting the Diabetes Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Qassim Region.

Background and objectives Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic complex metabolic disease characterized mainly by hyperglycemia. It appears to be a global epidemic and an increasingly major non-communicable disease, posing a threat to both affluent and nonaffluent societies. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of developing stroke, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. These complications include chronic kidney disease, retinopathy, coronary artery disease, stroke, and diabetic foot ulcers. Compared to people without diabetes, adults with diabetes have a two to four times greater risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding complications among patients with diabetes visiting the Diabetes Clinics at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in which patients with DM who visited the Diabetic Clinics at KFSH from February 2023 to July 2023 were recruited using a nonprobability sampling technique. A validated questionnaire from previous research was used to collect data on the sociodemographic features of the participants and their knowledge regarding diabetic complications. Data were described using mean with standard deviation for continuous variables and proportion for categorical variables. Results A total of 368 patients were recruited. The majority of the respondents (144, 39.1%) had been living with diabetes for over 10 years, followed by 23.1% (85) of those with less than one year. Exactly 239 (64.9%) reported having a family history of diabetes. About 75% (276) of participants knew about diabetic complications, and 247 (67.1%) reported that their doctor had addressed them about diabetes complications. Among the sources of diabetes complication information, diabetologists were reported by 131 (35.6%) of the respondents, followed by 81 (22.0%) through social media, 65 (17.7%) from relatives, and 39 (10.6%) from family medicine doctors. On the other hand, the findings reveal that the different age groups have different levels of knowledge of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia as diabetic complications (P = 0.031). However, there were no significant differences in the level of knowledge regarding complications between male and female patients (P > 0.05). Conclusions The study found that while the studied population had a relatively good knowledge of diabetic complications, some still lacked knowledge. The study also supports the need for individuals with a family history of diabetes to be aware of their risk and take steps for prevention, as a large proportion of participants reported having a family history of diabetes. Healthcare providers and diabetologists were the most frequent sources of information on diabetic complications. However, some also turned to social media. Focused education and awareness actions are crucial to ensure that people with diabetes have access to reliable information from various sources.

YouTube™ as a source of parents' information for craniosynostosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the content, reliability and quality levels of YouTube™ videos regarding craniosynostosis for parents' information. A keyword search for 'craniosynostosis' was conducted on YouTube, and the uniform resource locators of the first 160 videos were initially recorded and evaluated. Ninety-four videos that met the inclusion criteria were analysed. Each video received a score ranging from 0 to 9 points, classifying them as low-content (0-3), moderate-content (4-6) and high-content (7-9). The reliability scores adapted from DISCERN and Global Quality Scale (GQS) scores were recorded. The median content score for the videos was 4. According to the content scores, 34% of included videos (n = 32) were classified as low-content, 60.6% (n = 57) as moderate-content, and 5.3% (n = 5) as high-content. The median reliability score for the videos was 3, and the median GQS score was 3. The reliability and quality levels of videos classified as high-content and moderate-content were significantly superior to low-content videos (P < .05). Laypersons were identified as the most frequent source of information in the videos. However, most of the videos lacked information about syndromic/non-syndromic forms and specific complications. The importance of early referral/timing of surgery and minimally invasive surgical treatment techniques was mentioned in all high-content videos. The results of the present study suggest that YouTube™ in its current format, is not a fully trustable source for parents seeking information on craniosynostosis. Craniofacial units must increase the content, quality and reliability level of videos on craniosynostosis.

Evaluation of Awareness and Attitude of Telemedicine among Primary Healthcare Workers in Deprived Area Health Centers.

Telemedicine has the potential to make healthcare more efficient, organized, and available and is a more beneficial technology that can ease preventive treatment and improve long-term health management. This is especially essential for those who face financial or regional reasons to get quality treatment. Telemedicine in Iran is a new medical field and a noble way to access medical facilities for populations living in deprived areas, and the primary healthcare workers in these deprived medical centers are the implementers of telemedicine in those areas; we aimed to investigate the awareness and attitude towards telemedicine among all the healthcare workers in these centers. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Health Centers of Raz County in North Khorasan Province, Iran, and 149 healthcare workers were included. For collecting information, we used a questionnaire that consisted of two parts. The first part contains the demographic data of health care workers, and the second part includes the 5-point Likert scale questionnaire (questions on telemedicine awareness, attitude, and self-report readiness). Most participants (51%) were male, and 69.8% were married. The most frequent sources of information about telemedicine are colleagues (40.3%), continuing education (24.7%), and social media and the internet (10.1%). Awareness did not significantly relate to gender, age, marital status, or work experience, but awareness of physicians and midwives is higher than other groups (p < 0.05). The awareness of healthcare workers using continuing education, articles, workshops, or conferences was significantly higher (p < 0.05). The attitude scores for most questions are above 3.4 and reflect a positive attitude about telemedicine. Attitudes did not show a significant relation to gender, age, marital status, or work experience. Using telemedicine in developing countries, rural or urban areas have a high potential to improve epidemiological investigations, disease control, and clinical case management. Providing healthcare professionals with more information about new technologies in healthcare, such as telemedicine, can help get a more realistic picture of their perceptions.

Smoking and COPD Knowledge in the General Spanish Population: A CONOCEPOC Study

Background: The objective of this analysis is to evaluate tobacco use and the level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) knowledge among the general adult population in Spain and to compare these results to those obtained in the 2011 survey. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted by telephone interviews and stratified by sex, age, and setting. The study design was identical to that of the study conducted in 2011. Results: Of a total of 89,601 phone contacts, there were 6534 respondents. The average age was 61.5 years. With respect to smoking, 30.9% reported being former smokers and 14.7% were current smokers, 63.6% of whom reported having attempted to quit. Among the current smokers, 19.7% claimed to use electronic cigarettes, although 88% believe these pose a health risk. No significant differences were found in smoking prevalence or frequency of attempts to quit according to residential setting (rural/urban). The highest prevalence of current smoking in men was recorded in the 55–64 years age range (31.6%), while in women it was from 45 to 54 years (34.6%). Smoking has decreased with respect to 2011, from 21.1% to 16.1% in men and from 17.9% to 13.2% in women, with a clear variability according to region. Of the population surveyed, 32.5% had spontaneous knowledge about COPD, with significant geographic variability. The most frequent sources of information about the disease were social media and the Internet (39.6%), followed by the media (35.2%). Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use in adults has considerably decreased and there is greater knowledge about COPD in Spain, although there is significant variability according to region, which could explain the geographic variability in the prevalence of COPD. Strategies are needed to increase COPD education and awareness and to reinforce smoking prevention measures among women.

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices Related to Menstruation Among Female Students in Afghanistan.

Menstruation is a universal, natural, unique, and physiological phenomenon. Despite the fact that menstruation is a natural fact of life, it is still considered taboo in Afghanistan and other developing countries. To assess knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to menstruation among female students of Kabul University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). A cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted at KUMS in 2022, and a quota sampling technique was used. In this study, 339 students participated out of the 346-sample size. The majority of participants (70.02%), were over 20 years of age. About (59.60%) of participants were aware of menstruation before menarche. The main source of their information was their mothers (37.50%). The average age of menarche was 13.5 years old. Above 70% of respondents had normal patterns of menstruation. More than half of them (51.90%) had dysmenorrhea. Frequent menstrual disorders were abdominal pain (58.1%), and backache (56.1%). The majority of respondents had good and acceptable knowledge of menstruation (33.6%), and (63.1%) respectively. A statistically significant relationship between knowledge and academic year was observed (P value = 0.005). The majority of respondents (92.6%) had poor menstrual beliefs. A statistically significant relationship between respondents' age and beliefs was observed (P value = 0.004). Mother education did not affect respondents' level of beliefs (P value = 0.4). In addition, respondents had good practice of menstruation (75%). In general participants had a good and acceptable level of knowledge with good practice related to menstruation. Despite the good knowledge and practice, the respondents' beliefs related to menstruation were poorer than what was expected from medical disciplines students. Their frequent source of information was their mothers, which highlights the provision of information and education for mothers and all females.

Myths and Misconceptions of Breast Cancer in the Pakistani Population.

Background Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in the female population. The cultural diversity, religious beliefs, myths, and misinformation regarding the disease contribute to diagnostic delays and enhanced burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to ascertain the extent of knowledge and prevalence of erroneous beliefs and misconceptions regarding breast cancer among Pakistani women belonging to diverse socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Methodology This cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 350 women were enrolled in the study as a representative female population, and 300 participants were included who met the inclusion criteria. Participants were conveniently interviewed using a pre-piloted questionnaire designed to assess the prevalent myths and misconceptions about breast cancer. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) using descriptive statistics. Results The study findings point to a significant prevalence of erroneous beliefs and a lack of accurate information on breast cancer. The mean age of the participants was 20.8 ± 10.4 years. The majority of the participants belonged to a middle socioeconomic status (70%) and were undergraduates (61.4%). The participants' friends and family members were the most frequent sources of information regarding breast cancer. The most common myth was "breast-feeding offers immunity to breast cancer completely" (76.6%), followed by "breast cancer spreads after biopsy" (63.8%). Participants also believed that breast tissue biopsy can lead to the spread of cancer (63.4%) and that faith healers and alternative medicine can cure breast cancer (47.5%). One-third (33.3%) of the participants considered all lumps to be breast cancer; however, approximately half (41.6%) of the participants thought that only painful lumps were associated with breast cancer. A significant number of participants believed breast cancer to be a result of God's curse (31.4%) or evil eye (38.7%). Conclusions The findings suggest a critical need for community-based breast health education initiatives that take into account Pakistani women's distinctive cultural and societal attitudes and work to dispel common misconceptions about the condition.

Problems in diagnosing and treating children – victims of sexual abuse, including legal aspects

Abstract Introduction. The most frequent source of information on sexual violence are the victims. It should be borne in mind that children rarely disclose sexual abuse directly, and the symptoms depend on how long they have been sexually abused, the relationship with the perpetrator, the kind of sexual activities, and factors related to the child’s development. The obvious consequences of child sexual abuse are body injuries: genitourinary tract infections and injuries to the external genitalia. Notwithstanding, the psychological consequences are more serious than the physical injuries. Aim. The study aimed to present the problem of sexually abused children including diagnostics and therapy of victims of violence. Conclusions. The effects of sexual abuse of a child include, in addition to physical trauma, also the disruption of proper psychosexual development. The task of doctors, nursing staff , educators, and psychologists is to efficiently and confidently identify the crime, enabling the initiation of therapeutic activities and legal proceedings.

Vaccination against influenza in pregnant women in a maternity hospital in the Czech Republic in the season 2020–2021

ObjectivesPregnant women are among the priority groups to receive influenza vaccines in the Czech Republic since 2011, data on vaccination coverage are not yet available. The aim of the study was to determine the influenza vaccination coverage (IVC) and provide source data for further activities.MethodsA prospective observational study was performed in a large maternity hospital in Prague. The self-completed questionnaire was distributed to 5,475 pregnant women between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Questions included maternal sociodemographic characteristics, influenza vaccination status and sources of maternal vaccination recommendations during pregnancy.ResultsA total of 4,617 completed questionnaires have been analysed. The median age of study participants (N = 4,592) was 33 years (range: 18–51 years). The majority (69.7%) of women had completed their university education, most women were childless (58.5%) or had one child (32.5%) before the start of the study. Less than 2% of women reported being vaccinated against influenza during their pregnancy (1.5%; 95% CI, 1.1–1.9%). Only 21% of women knew that it’s possible to get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy. Participants considered influenza vaccination in pregnancy as important (3.3%), useful (41.1%) and useless (44.4%). Out of 959 pregnant women who had information about influenza vaccination during pregnancy, only 6.9% were vaccinated, while among those who did not have this information, 0.1% were vaccinated during pregnancy (p < 0.001). The most frequent source of information was Internet, then media and a general practitioner.ConclusionsThe IVC during pregnancy in our study was extremely low. In order to improve IVC among pregnant women, it is necessary to increase awareness of recommendations and vaccination options among the public and professionals and incorporating vaccination recommendation in routine antenatal practice.

Role of Natural Products in the Management of COVID-19: A Saudi Arabian Perspective.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented circumstance that has never previously occurred. This has caused the Saudi Arabian people to recognize the necessity of preventive measures and explore alternative systems, such as using natural products (NPs), for treating their infection. Therefore, the specific objectives of this study were to explore the factors that influence the selection of NPs for COVID-19 management and to know the outcome of using NPs in COVID-19 infection management. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between February and April 2022. The validated pretested questionnaire was distributed among different regions of the country via a purposive snowball sampling procedure. Both descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the parameters related to the use of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 and the treatment of respiratory symptoms during the pandemic. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Of the 677 participants, 65% reported using NPs for themselves or family members during COVID-19. Utilizing NPs is always given priority by a significant (p < 0.001) percentage of survey respondents. Further, a highly significant (p < 0.001) percentage of participants felt that using NPs reduced their COVID-19 symptoms without having any remarkable (p < 0.001) adverse effects. Family and friends (59%) were the most frequent sources of information about utilizing NPs, followed by personal experience (41%). Honey (62.7%) and ginger (53.8%) were the most utilized NP among participants. Moreover, black seeds, garlic and turmeric were used by 40.5%, 37.7% and 26.3% of the surveyors, respectively. Those who used NPs before COVID-19 were 72.9% more likely to use them during COVID-19. NPs are more likely to be used by 75% of people who live in the central part of the country and whose families prefer it. This is true even if other factors are considered, such as the practice of using NPs along with traditional therapies and the fact that some participants' families prefer it. Our findings show that NPs were commonly used to treat COVID-19 infection among Saudi Arabian residents. Close friends and family members mainly encouraged the use of NPs. Overall, the use of NPs was high among those who participated in our study; such practices are strongly impacted by society. It is essential to promote extensive studies to improve the recognition and accessibility of these products. Authorities should also educate the people about the benefits and risks of using commonly used NPs, especially those reported in this study.

Terminally ill patients’ and their relatives’ experiences and behaviors regarding complementary and alternative medicine utilization in hospice palliative inpatient care units: a cross-sectional, multicenter survey

BackgroundTerminally ill patients often experience exacerbations of diseases that render mainstream medicine ineffective in relieving symptoms, prompting attempts at complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This study collected data from terminally ill patients and their relatives to determine differences between CAM use, behavioral patterns, and perceptions of health information about CAM.MethodsA cross-sectional design using a self-administered questionnaire was adopted. Eight medical institutions in Taiwan with inpatient hospice palliative care units were chosen. Ninety-two terminally ill patients and 267 relatives met the inclusion criteria. The questions concerned the experience of CAM use, the kinds of products/services CAM provided, the purpose of CAM use, the source of CAM information, and the perceptions and attitudes toward CAM.ResultsBoth terminally ill patients and their relatives have a high proportion of lifetime and one-year prevalence of CAM use (88.0% vs. 88.4%; p = 0.929). CAM use for musculoskeletal and neurological discomfort is higher among terminally ill patients than among their relatives. Relatives/friends are the most frequent sources of information on CAM (53.3% vs. 62.2%; p = 0.133). The percentage of terminally ill patients who discontinued mainstream medical treatment because of CAM use was higher than that of their relatives (18.5% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.026). More than half the terminally ill patients and their relatives had never been asked about CAM by medical staff (64.1% vs. 66.7%), nor had they informed medical professionals about the use of CAM products and services (63% vs. 66.9%). Random inquiries by medical professionals may be associated with increased disclosure of CAM use (terminally ill patients: odds ratio, 9.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.97–48.35 vs. relatives: odds ratio, 5.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.66–11.83).ConclusionsThe high prevalence and concealment of CAM use in terminally ill patients should be considered. Medical professionals should establish a friendly and barrier-free communication model, encourage patients to share CAM experiences, and provide evidence-based information on the use of CAM products and services, to reduce the potential damage caused by harmful use.

IMPACTS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC ON MEDICAL EDUCATION AT THE NORTHERN BORDER UNIVERSITY

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives, including education, social relations, and psychological and financial status. Objectives: The study aims to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance, hygiene, stress, lifestyle, and financial status among medical students at Northern Border University (NBU), Saudi Arabia. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students at NBU, Arar City. The study collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, academic, hygiene, psychological, lifestyle, and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among medical students. Results:The study surveyed 332 medical students at the NBU (response rate=86.46%). One-third of students reported deteriorating academic performance during the pandemic. Negative effects of COVID-19 on academic performance were more likely among males, older students, in clinical years, with poor IT skills, and those who had not previously participated in online learning. Over 56% of students reported negative effects on their academic grades and GPA due to the pandemic and over 50% agreed that teachers were not technology-friendly, recorded lectures were better than live lectures, and technical issues interfered with online teaching. Most students reported increased awareness of hygiene and sanitization with the MOH and WHO being the most frequent sources of information (34.94% and 28.92%, respectively). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had impacts on medical education at the NBU as regards the academic and clinical skills and physical and psychological health of medical students. This study drew attention to the needs and resources to address challenges faced by medical students during the pandemic.

Characteristics of drug safety alerts issued by the Spanish Medicines Agency.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of safety alerts issued by the Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) and the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System over a 7-year period and the regulatory actions they generated. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out of drug safety alerts published on the AEMPS website from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019. Alerts that were not drug-related or were addressed to patients rather than healthcare professionals were excluded. Results: During the study period, 126 safety alerts were issued, 12 of which were excluded because they were not related to drugs or were addressed to patients and 22 others were excluded as they were duplications of previous alerts. The remaining 92 alerts reported 147 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) involving 84 drugs. The most frequent source of information triggering a safety alert was spontaneous reporting (32.6%). Four alerts (4.3%) specifically addressed health issues related to children. ADRs were considered serious in 85.9% of the alerts. The most frequent ADRs were hepatitis (seven alerts) and congenital malformations (five alerts), and the most frequent drug classes were antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (23%). Regarding the drugs involved, 22 (26.2%) were "under additional monitoring." Regulatory actions induced changes in the Summary of Product Characteristics in 44.6% of alerts, and in eight cases (8.7%), the alert led to withdrawal from the market of medicines with an unfavorable benefit/risk ratio. Conclusion: This study provides an overview of drug safety alerts issued by the Spanish Medicines Agency over a 7-year period and highlights the contribution of spontaneous reporting of ADRs and the need to assess safety throughout the lifecycle of medicines.

Men’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions on Family Planning in Tourourou Village, Gogui Rural Commune, Nioro Circle, Kayes Region of Mali

Introduction: The involvement of men in reproductive health programmes and more specifically in family planning has always been of concern to the various development actors at both national and international levels. Objective: To study the births, ideas and opinions of men on Family Planning in the village of Tourourou. Material and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study from February 1 to July 31, 2020 in the village of TOUROUROU on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Men on Family Planning. We included in our study, all men residing in TOUROUROU whose age is between 14 and 99 years, who agreed to participate in the study. Results: Our study involved 200 men. The 25 - 29 age group was the most represented with 25.5%. The Soninke had represented 41%. In our study, 97.5% of men had heard of family planning, 62% had spontaneously cited at least one modern contraceptive method, and the pill ranked first with 64.5%. Radio and friends were the most frequent sources of information with 57.5% and 54.5% respectively. Birth spacing was the most cited family planning goal by men in 43.5% of cases. Men supported the practice of family planning in 50.5% of cases. Conclusion: In the village of Tourourou men play a crucial role in decision-making concerning the health of the couple and the family, their effective involvement in Reproductive Health especially in Family Planning will contribute enormously to the improvement of the health of the family.

Determinants of Breastfeeding Practices among Working Mothers in Solwezi District of Zambia

Background: As one of the strategies to reduce infant morbidity and mortality, the World Health Organization recommends early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding and timely introduction of complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it is influenced by different socio-cultural factors, habits, standards, and behaviours. Rapid industrialization and changes in lifestyle have seen increasing numbers of women in the labour force, and associated poor Exclusive Breastfeeding practices among working mothers. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of breastfeeding practices among working mothers in Solwezi District of Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative survey comparing determinants of breastfeeding practices among working mothers aged 15 - 49 years in urban and rural areas of Solwezi District. The study was carried out in the Under-five Clinics at Solwezi, Kimasala and Mushitala Urban Clinics, as well as St. Francis, Kapijimpanga and Kisalala Rural Health Centers. Eighty-seven participants were successfully recruited using convenience sampling. A researcher-assisted questionnaire was used to collect data. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using numerical measures such as measures of central tendency and dispersion. The Pearson Chi Square test, correlation and linear regression analysis were performed to test association between the variables at the 0.05 level of significance. Are you assessing exclusive breastfeeding alone or what? Results: The mean age of respondents was 27.44 years (SD = 6.042 years) and the majority of the respondents were married (71.3%, n = 62). Forty-three percent of the respondents were self-employed while the rest were in formal government or private sector employment. Overall, 97.7% of the respondents had heard of exclusive breastfeeding, with health facilities being the most frequent source of information (64.4%). Attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding was generally positive. Fifty-eight percent of respondents exclusively breastfed while the rest were on mixed feeding. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported that their workplaces did not have breastfeeding facilities at work. Only 11.5% of the respondents reported having cultural beliefs restricting breastfeeding. Statistically significant associations were obtained from cross-tabulation analysis between respondent’s occupation and baby feeding type (p 0.001); workload and feeding type (0.024); as well as knowledge of EBF and feeding type (p 0.001). Conclusion: Majority of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding. This study recommends sensitization campaigns in communities to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, and foster behaviour change that promotes breastfeeding.

Incorporating Evidence into Collaborative Ecosystem Restoration: A Content Analysis of Bibliographic References and their Use in Salmon Recovery Plans.

Collaborative environmental management draws on a wide range of information, from a variety of stakeholders, to inform policy. Scientific information is particularly relevant for ecosystem restoration plans, such as those created for recovering species on the brink of extinction. This study examines use of evidence in salmon recovery plans in Puget Sound, USA. Across 12 plans, coders characterized 1104 references to identify their source, recency, domain, and context. Subsequently, 11 plans were analyzed in-depth to identify how each reference was used to support particular kinds of claims. Results indicate the most frequent source of information cited in salmon recovery plans is government agencies, especially from national and state governments, followed by peer reviewed journal articles and scientific books. Journal articles come predominantly from high impact (top quartile) journals, although these articles are on average 15 years old. Sources are almost exclusively from the domain of natural sciences (97%), with just 1% social sciences and 2% non-scientific. More references come from beyond than within the local watershed. Different reference sources are used to support different kinds of claims, with government agency sources positively associated with claims about species status/trends, and peer reviewed journal articles positively associated with claims about causes of species decline. Overall, the lack of social science references, and lack of references to support claims about levels of community support, reduce managers' abilities to incorporate features of social systems into species recovery planning.

Strategic orientation to educational innovation: A systematic review and conceptual model

Purpose : To carry out a systematic review of the literature on strategic orientation to educational innovation (SOEI), considering methodological and conceptual aspects. Methodology : Four macro-processes were implemented: identification (study location), description (information extraction), in-depth analysis (grouping and characterization patterns) and dissemination. The studies were identified through Scopus and Web of Science. The search expressions yielded 63 documents; afterwards, quality control was carried out using seven inclusion/exclusion criteria; the final sample consisted of 19 documents subject to review. Findings: With regard to methodological aspects, qualitative studies stand out, with the educational institution as the unit of analysis, and pedagogical documents as the most frequent source of information. Likewise, the description form proves to be the most commonly used data collection instrument. In terms of the conceptual aspects of the SOEI, findings include strategic purposes, mediating mechanisms and the results of said construct. Originality/value : this article portrays the state of the art of the SOEI, proposes a comprehensive definition of said construct and proposes a new conceptual model of the SOI that takes into account its main strategic purposes, mediating mechanisms and results. Therefore, it is a reference for future empirical works that seek to study innovation in educational institutions and explain their results.

Assessment of Patients' Views on Drug Benefits and Risks: An Interview Study with Cardiovascular Patients.

Better and balanced information strategies supporting cardiovascular patients' adherence are required. Cardiovascular drugs have outstanding morbidity and mortality benefits. This can be counteracted by patients' perceptions of risks. Drug information should help the patient but not fuel unwarranted fears. We performed a cross-sectional survey of patients admitted to a cardiology ward. We evaluated (i) the patients' general benefit-risk estimation of their pharmacotherapy; (ii) views on benefits; (iii) views on risks; and (iv) information sources. Additionally, we assessed aspects of anxiety and depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). (i) 67 patients (66%) rated expected drug benefits higher than potential risks. (ii) 72% of benefits motivated the patients to take their medication as prescribed. Patients more frequently mentioned surrogate markers as benefits than clinical benefits (p < 0.001). (iii) 56% of risks mentioned were perceived as bothersome and 35% as concerning. Risks were more often perceived as bothersome and concerning by patients with higher PHQ-4 scores (p=0.016). (iv) Physicians were the most frequent information source of benefits (92% of patients) and risks (45%), and pharmacy staff for 27% and 14%, respectively. Laymen or media served as sources of information on benefits in 39%, for risks in 40%, and package leaflets in 26% and 36%. 42% of the patients would like to receive more information on benefits versus 27% on risks. Our results suggest that knowledge of benefits motivates patients to take their drugs as prescribed. There is already good information on surrogate markers for process control with active patient involvement. However, a lack of knowledge still exists in relation to clinical benefits. Regarding risks, it has been shown that patients with higher PHQ-4 scores are more likely to be bothered or concerned. Both emphases on clinical benefits and individualization depending on PHQ-4 scores may be valuable resources for patient counseling to support adherence.

Drug-related problems identified at a Japanese community pharmacy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to identify drug-related problems (DRPs) using data regarding the communication of pharmacists with prescribers over the phone at a community pharmacy. Furthermore, we elucidated the frequency of the sources of information for detecting each DRP and evaluated the decisions made by the prescribers for each DRP. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at a community pharmacy in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. We anonymously collected data obtained by pharmacists through contacting prescribers over the phone relating to any problems or doubts found in prescriptions between April 2016 and March 2019. We classified the data and identified DRPs. We elucidated the frequency of sources of information for detecting each DRP using descriptive analyses and evaluated prescribers’ decisions regarding each DRP via multivariate Poisson regression analyses. Key findings Of the 95 023 prescriptions, 5073 DRPs were identified (5073/95 023 = 5.34%). The most frequent DRP was inappropriate dosage and administration (1349/5073 = 26.59%), followed by non-adherence (1272/5073 = 25.07%) and incorrect prescription periods (889/5073 = 17.52%). Patient interviews were the most frequent sources of information for detecting following DRPs: non-adherence (1057/1272 = 83.10%), untreated indication (590/631 = 93.50%) and adverse drug reactions (80/107 = 74.77%). Most of the DRPs were resolved by making changes to the prescriptions (4571/5073 = 90.10%). Conclusions Inappropriate dosage and administration and non-adherence issues were the most frequent DRPs in a Japanese community pharmacy. Patient interviews were an important source of information for detecting DRPs. Further research is warranted to address the impact of DRPs on patient safety.