The prevalence of anaemia among Saudi school girls: a comparison of two techniques

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-88
Author(s):  
Elham Abbas Aljaaly ◽  
Nahlaa Abduwahab Khalifa
Keyword(s):  
Venous Blood ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Capillary Blood ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Jeddah City ◽  
System Method ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
School Girls

Purpose – Continuous integration of health screens to investigate and track variations in the students’ healthiness over time is essential. However, the sustainability of this practice remains challenging. The purpose of this paper is to identify the prevalence of anaemia based on haemoglobin (Hb) estimation among Saudi school girls in Jeddah city by examining capillary and venous blood. Design/methodology/approach – The design is investigative, using primary data to define the prevalence of anaemia based on two techniques. Samples of venous (n=408) and capillary (n=797) blood from Saudi school girls in Jeddah city was collected and compared using: Reflotron Plus System method (capillary blood) and ABX MICROS 60-OT Automated Haematology Analyser for (venous blood). Findings – When the capillary blood was used, the prevalence of anaemia was 40 per cent (n=319 out of 797). Using the venous blood, the prevalence was 29.4 per cent (n=120 out of 408). Comparison of Hb data for both tests showed a significant difference in Hb levels with levels between the 10g and 12 g/dl particularly and both measurements demonstrated good agreement (ICC=0.87, 95 per cent CI (0.845, 0.892)). Research limitations/implications – The data were collected only in Jeddah city. Further studies should include a national sample that is representative of both gender from different backgrounds and geographical areas in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Practical implications – The high prevalence of anaemia within the school girls’ population require decision makers to devise a set of maintainable projects to progress students’ general health, including health education and supplementation such as iron, particularly if anaemia is diagnosed to be nutrition-related. This particularly applied to the health centres at female schools that have anaemia screening programmes that going on in Saudi schools. Originality/value – This study reveals a technique-based measures of anaemia prevalence that have public and practical health implications.

Effects of Different Methods Used to Take Blood Samples on Blood Glucose Measurements

2021 ◽  
pp. 105477382110247
Author(s):  
Eda Ergin ◽  
Ayten Zaybak
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Glucose Tolerance Test ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Tolerance Test ◽  
Capillary Blood ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Quasi Experimental

The purpose of this study is to compare whether or not there is a difference between venous and capillary blood samples in blood glucose measurements and investigate the effects of different aseptic methods used in skin cleaning before collecting blood samples on measurement results. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 109 patients. The capillary first and second blood drop values taken from the patients after fasting and at 2 hours following 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and capillary and venous blood glucose values were compared. There was no significant difference between the median venous blood glucose value and the capillary second blood drop value taken after wiping the finger with alcohol. There was no significant difference between the first and second blood drop values of capillary blood glucose 2 hours after OGTT.

People-centred management for improving construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-368
Author(s):  
Tirivavi Moyo ◽  
Gerrit Crafford ◽  
Fidelis Emuze
Keyword(s):  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The People ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Concern ◽  
The Impact

PurposeWhile operational factors reduce construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe, the impact of the people-centred management aspects has not been empirically interrogated as a remedy. This article reports on a study that sought to determine significant people-centred management aspects that lead to improved labour productivity and assesses the existence of statistically significant differences due to the demographic variables of respondents. Demographic-specific strategies that enhance construction “workers” productivity were revealed.Design/methodology/approachThe survey research design using a self-administered questionnaire was deployed to collect the primary data. The design followed a positivist paradigm to evaluate objectively how people-centred management affects construction workers' productivity. The statistical data were descriptively and inferentially analysed.FindingsPeople-centred management was determined to be significant in improving construction workers' productivity, with the most significant aspect being the building of employee confidence in related approaches. Designations and educational levels mostly indicated a statistically significant difference in several aspects that included the adoption of a functional reward culture for workers and training on people-centred principles. Training on-site management and construction workers in people-centred management and its application are crucial to improving construction workers' productivity.Research limitations/implicationsConstruction companies should drastically improve their concern for people while they sustain a high concern for production within their construction sites. Although several factors affect construction workers' productivity, this study determined that management-related factors and people-centred management were significant towards influencing low productivity in Zimbabwe.Originality/valueThe study determined people-centred management and demographic-specific interventions as being able to improve construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe.

scholarly journals Anaplasma marginale Superinfection Attributable to Pathogen Strains with Distinct Genomic Backgrounds

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 5286-5292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Vallejo Esquerra ◽  
David R. Herndon ◽  
Francisco Alpirez Mendoza ◽  
Juan Mosqueda ◽  
Guy H. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Anaplasma Marginale ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Infectious Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Perfect Sequence ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Prevalence

ABSTRACTStrain superinfection occurs when a second pathogen strain infects a host already infected with a primary strain. The selective pressures that drive strain divergence, which underlies superinfection, and allow penetration of a new strain into a host population are critical knowledge gaps relevant to shifts in infectious disease epidemiology. In regions of endemicity with a high prevalence of infection, broad population immunity develops againstAnaplasma marginale, a highly antigenically variant rickettsial pathogen, and creates strong selective pressure for emergence of and superinfection with strains that differ in their Msp2 variant repertoires. The strains may emerge either bymsp2locus duplication and allelic divergence on an existing genomic background or by introduction of a strain with a differentmsp2allelic repertoire on a distinct genomic background. To answer this question, we developed a multilocus typing assay based on high-throughput sequencing of non-msp2target loci to distinguish among strains with different genomic backgrounds. The technical error level was statistically defined based on the percentage of perfect sequence matches of clones of each target locus and validated using experimental single strains and strain pairs. Testing ofA. marginale-positive samples from tropical regions whereA. marginaleinfection is endemic identified individual infections that contained unique alleles for all five targeted loci. The data revealed a highly significant difference in the number of strains per animal in the tropical regions compared to infections in temperate regions and strongly supported the hypothesis that transmission of genomically distinctA. marginalestrains predominates in high-prevalence areas of endemicity.

scholarly journals Determination of ethanol in micro-volumes of blood by headspace gas chromatography: Statistical comparison between capillary and venous sampling sites

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242092863
Author(s):  
Luke Taylor ◽  
Vytautas Remeškevičius ◽  
Lili Saskoy ◽  
Tara Brodie ◽  
Jeshan Mahmud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Capillary Blood ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Venous Sampling ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Uk

Ethanol is the most commonly encountered drug in forensic toxicology, with widespread use throughout society. For this reason, it is important that there are a variety of reliable and robust methods to detect and quantify the content of alcohol in blood samples of suspected drink drivers. A common method of detection is gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector, with a number of sample preparation techniques employed. Typically, venous blood is sampled and used in the analysis. However, there is currently no legal specification in the UK of the blood sample source. This study investigates the use of capillary blood as an alternative to venous blood alongside two different sample volumes: 100 and 10 µL. Venous and capillary blood were collected from volunteers who had consumed alcohol. All blood sampling was carried out one hour after cessation of drinking. The results show a statistically significant difference between venous and capillary samples, with an average difference of 3.38 ± 1.99 mg/100 mL at 100 μL and approximately 4.13 ± 2.42 mg/100 mL at 10 μL, respectively. Predominantly, venous blood was detected at higher concentrations than the corresponding capillary samples. The deviations in alcohol samples between venous and capillary blood are consistent with previous studies. However, our research indicates that capillary blood is a viable matrix to test for alcohol, albeit one that underestimates blood-alcohol content in relation to venous sampling. There was no statistically significant difference between the 100 and 10 µL sample preparation methods on an individual basis, which infers that micro-volumes of alcohol are suitable for forensic blood-alcohol analysis.

Are adequate fluid challenges prescribed for severe sepsis?

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 719-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Courtney ◽  
Bussa Gopinath ◽  
Matthew Toward ◽  
Rajesh Jain ◽  
Milind Rao
Keyword(s):  
Severe Sepsis ◽  
Fluid Challenge ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Case ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Median Volume ◽  
Patient Responses

Purpose – Managing severe sepsis early has several benefits. Correct early management includes delivering an appropriate fluid challenge. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether junior doctors prescribe adequate fluid challenges to severely septic patients. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire outlining three scenarios, each involving a patient with severe sepsis, but with varying weights (50/75/100 kg), was distributed to junior doctors, working in two UK hospitals, managing surgical patients. Participants were asked the fluid volume challenge that they would prescribe for each patient. Responses were compared with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign's recommended volume during the study (20 ml/kg). Findings – Totally, 77 questionnaires were completed. There were 15/231 (6.5 per cent) correct responses. The median volume chosen in each scenario was 500 ml, equating to 5-10 ml/kg. There was no significant difference between doctor grades (FY1 and SHO) in any scenario. With most junior doctors (FY1), there was no difference in responses according to weight; for SHOs the only significant difference was between the 75 and 100 kg scenarios. Practical implications – Junior doctors are not following guidelines when prescribing fluid challenges to severely septic patients, giving too little and not adjusting volume according to body weight. This implies that high-prevalence, high-mortality conditions are not being treated appropriately by those most likely to treat these patients. More teaching, training and reassessment is required to improve care. Originality/value – This, the first case-based survey the authors could find, highlights an issue requiring significant improvement. The implications are likely to be relevant to clinicians in all UK hospitals.

Does intellectual capital allow improving innovation performance? A quantitative analysis in the SME context

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 400-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Agostini ◽  
Anna Nosella ◽  
Roberto Filippini
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Incremental Innovation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Innovation Capital

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between the strength of intellectual capital (IC) and small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach Primary data of 150 SMEs belonging to manufacturing medium-high tech industries were collected through a survey. The methodology consists of a confirmatory factor analysis and a cluster analysis, complemented by a t-test, to assess whether there is a significant difference in terms of innovation performance of SMEs characterized by a different strength of IC. Findings Overall, the findings show that SMEs of the sample can be divided into two groups characterized by a different strength of IC, and those SMEs disclosing a higher strength of IC, in terms of human capital, innovation capital and relational capital, exhibit a significantly higher radical and incremental innovation performance. Practical implications The present study provides SME entrepreneurs and managers with an empirical evidence that possessing strong IC in its three dimensions seems to help SMEs reinforce their ability to generate both radical and incremental innovation. This calls that SME entrepreneurs and managers need to identify and effectively manage IC in order to strengthen and effectively leverage their investments on IC. Originality/value This study is particularly relevant because, instead of focusing on single categories of IC as previous studies mainly do, it adopts an overarching perspective of the dimensions of IC and their impact on both radical and incremental innovation performance. Moreover, it focuses on the SME context which has been less investigated than large firms within the domain of IC.

scholarly journals Analytical performance of lateral flow immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 exposure screening on venous and capillary blood samples

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A Black ◽  
Guomiao Shen ◽  
Xiaojun Feng ◽  
Wilfredo Garcia Beltran ◽  
Yang Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Colloidal Gold ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Capillary Blood ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Lateral Flow Immunoassay ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Finger Stick

Objectives: Numerous serologic immunoassays have been launched to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, including rapid tests. Here, we validate use of a lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) intended for rapid screening and qualitative detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG in serum, plasma, and whole blood, and compare results with ELISA. We also seek to establish the value of LFI testing on blood obtained from a capillary blood sample. Methods: Samples collected by venous blood draw and capillary finger stick were obtained from patients with SARS-CoV-2 detected by RT-qPCR and control patients negative for SARS-CoV-2. Samples were tested with the 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Detection Kit (Colloidal Gold) lateral flow immunoassay, and antibody calls were compared with results obtained by ELISA. Results: The Biolidics LFI kit shows clinical sensitivity of 92% at 7 days after PCR diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 on venous blood. Test specificity was 92% for IgM and 100% for IgG. There was no significant difference in detecting IgM and IgG with Biolidics LFI and ELISA at D0 and D7 (p=1.00), except for detection of IgM at D7 (p=0.04). Finger stick whole blood of SARS-CoV-2 patients showed 93% sensitivity for antibody detection. Conclusions: Clinical performance of Biolidics 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Detection Kit (Colloidal Gold) is comparable to ELISA and showed consistent results across different sample types. Furthermore, we show that capillary blood obtained by finger stick shows similar sensitivity for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies as venous blood samples. This provides an opportunity for decentralized rapid testing in the community and may allow point-of-care and longitudinal self-testing for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Triple bottom line model and food safety in organic food and conventional food in affecting perceived value and purchase intentions

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Yen Hsu ◽  
Chiao-Chen Chang ◽  
Tyrone T. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Triple Bottom Line ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a significant difference in consumer’s attitude and purchase intentions toward organic food and conventional food (non-organic food and non-genetically modified) under the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for environmental protection in the context of global warming and frequent food safety issues. Design/methodology/approach To understand the triple bottom line(TBL) affect the consumers’ attitude and purchase intentions of organic food and conventional food from the consumer’s point of view, primary data collected via 363 valid questionnaires tested the conceptual model by structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings The results show that CSR has a significant influence on consumers’ perceived value. Moreover, perceived value is an important factor in affecting consumers’ attitude and purchase intentions. And consumers’ attitude toward environmental concern, food safety concern and CSR also have an indirect effect on purchase intentions. Originality/value The findings of the study would help corporations not only pursue economic profit but also keep a balance within the environment and the ecosystem, and serve as a reference to corporations to fulfill CSR for the goal of sustainable management.

Quadrant and gap analysis of required and exhibited quantity surveyors’ competencies

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1161-1173
Author(s):  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke ◽  
Deji Rufus Ogunsemi ◽  
Morenike Adeyelu
Keyword(s):  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Importance ◽  
Construction Works

Purpose In their delivery of service, quantity surveyors are not in any way protected against threats and changes in their operating environment as a result of globalisation and continuous change in demand of clients. This research therefore examined the current and important areas of competencies of Nigerian quantity surveyors in their quest to continue to provide value for money for their clients. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected through administration of questionnaires on quantity surveyors that are members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). Mean item score (MIS) was used to rank required and exhibited competencies while gap and quadrant analyses were employed to evaluate their importance and proficiency level. Findings Core competencies required of quantity surveyors are costing of construction works; valuation; estimating and tendering; and procurement management while valuation; estimating and tendering; and costing of construction works are top three competencies currently exhibited. There is significant difference in the level of importance of the competencies areas compared to their exhibition by quantity surveyors. Originality/value It was noted that some important areas of competencies are not currently exhibited by quantity surveyors in the study area, there is therefore the need for personal and collective continuous development through workshops, conferences and seminars that will enhance the identified competencies areas. Training of undergraduates and retraining of practicing quantity surveyors is also essential to inculcate competencies that are not currently exhibited. This will benefit quantity surveyors and bodies concerned with the regulation of the profession in their quest for better service delivery.

Gender differences in workplace stress response strategies of quantity surveyors in Southwestern Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 718-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Kehinde Ojo ◽  
Grace Mayowa Adeyeye ◽  
Akintayo Opawole ◽  
Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Significant Difference

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess how gender influences stress response strategies among quantity surveyors in workplaces with a view to enhancing job performance.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were obtained through a survey, which utilised structured questionnaires administered to quantity surveyors in Lagos, Oyo and Ondo States in Nigeria. In total, 334 quantity surveyors in government establishments, consulting and construction firms were randomly sampled to survey male quantity surveyors, and a purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from female quantity surveyors. Data collected were analysed using percentile, using mean item score (MIS) and Mann–WhitneyUtest.FindingsIn total, 27 stress response strategies were identified in dealing with stressors in quantity surveyors’ workplaces. The results of the analysis revealed the level of usage of the stress response strategies with the highest being “seeking clarification with colleagues or superiors” achieving an MIS of 3.95, followed by “belonging to professional association” (MIS=3.67), and “opportunity to discuss with manager/supervisor” (MIS=3.66). The scoring of the level of usage of the stress response strategies (2.20<MIS<3.95) suggested that although quantity surveying organisations were familiar with a good number of workplace stress response strategies, a significant number of the strategies were neither suitable nor adopted. Moreover, stress response strategies with high a rating of familiarity were also the most utilised and most effective.Practical implicationsThe study provided implications for management roles in identifying stressors and appropriate strategies towards creating a healthy working environment and improving job productivity of female quantity surveyors in their workplaces.Originality/valueThe results show no significant difference in gender perception of the effectiveness of the 27 stress response strategies assessed except three. The first is “opportunity to discuss with manager/supervisor” with the Mann–WhitneyUtest (MWW) value of 3.337 atp=0.001. The other two are “prioritizing future workloads” (MWW=−3.226;p=0.002) and “clubbing or socializing” (MWW=−3.483;p=0.001). These findings imply that both male and female quantity surveyors perceived the use of these three stress response strategies in different ways. In this regard, although all the strategies may be applied as influenced by employers’ decision and preference, managers may have to exercise caution when applying them while dealing with male and female employees.

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