African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Zambian Health Worker Retention Scheme (ZHWRS) for rural areas.
Zambian Health Workers Retention Scheme (ZHWRS) commenced in 2003. The schemes' original aim was to retain and recruit Zambian doctors in rural and remote districts. The aim of the ZHWRS subsequently expanded to also include other health workers, in either rural or urban areas. The scheme was formulated to address, in part, the drastic shortage of health workers. ⋯ The ZHWRS has not fully met either its original or revised aims. The drastic shortage of health workers in Zambia continues.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of wound infiltration with bupivacaine on pulmonary function after elective lower abdominal operations.
Subcutaneous or intrafascial wound infiltration of local anaesthetic with systemic opioids has been shown to enhance patient comfort with improved analgesia and reduced opioid requirements. ⋯ Bupivacaine wound infiltration produced statistically significant elevations in pulmonary function tests results at all assessment periods.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
The importance of the mean platelet volume in the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.
This retrospective study aimed to investigate the diagnostic relation between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) in patient with documented atrial tachyarrhythmia in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ The present study described that MPV is helpful parameter for the diagnosis of SVT in emergency department, for the first time in the literature.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Underlying congenital heart disease in Nigerian children with pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a common cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. Some congenital heart disease (CHD) may predispose their sufferer to bronchopneumonia. ⋯ The children with CHD were more likely to have heart failure and murmur compared to those without CHD. Prevalence of CHD in children with pneumonia in this study is high, evaluation of children with pneumonia for CHD is therefore recommended.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Patients' knowledge and perceived reactions to medical errors in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.
Human errors in healthcare delivery pose serious threats to patients undergoing treatment. While clinical concern is growing in response, there is need to report social and behavioural context of the problem in Nigeria. ⋯ Voluntary disclosure and teamwork is very important in dealing with medical error. The role of medical social workers could be important in the discourse and disclosure of medical error.