scholarly journals A Cross-Case Analyses of Laboratory Professionals-Patients Interaction for Patients Accessing Laboratory Services at University of Cape Coast Hospital and Ewim Polyclinic in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Adu
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Staff Interactions ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background: There is scarcity of data on experiences of patients who access laboratory services during hospital visits in sub-Saharan Africa. This study sought to evaluate the depth of laboratory professionals-patient interactions during pre- and post-sampling period at two hospitals in Ghana. Methods: This study used real time observations of patient-laboratory staff interactions to collect first-hand data. Additionally, two separate sets of semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data on the experiences of patients and laboratory professionals. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: Inadequate laboratory space is a major factor limiting adequacy of patients-laboratory professionals’ interactions. Overall, even though the laboratory professionals (93.3%) overwhelmingly agreed to the need to inform patients about the turnaround time of the respective laboratory testing, this was not routinely done. Irrespective of patients’ educational attainment, patients were poorly informed about their respective laboratory tests. Although both patients and laboratory professionals (60.0% vs 63.6% respectively) indicated that the prescriber has responsibility to inform patients about their laboratory testing, only 29.1% of patients indicated having received such explanations from their respective prescribers. Furthermore, although 28.1% of patients indicated knowing the specifics of their respective test requisition, only 15% could correctly identify their requested laboratory testing. Conclusion: There is the need for standard operating protocols to standardize practitioner-patient interaction at the two facilities. Moreover, there is the need for laboratory staff-prescribers engagement to clearly delineate who has what responsibilities regarding informing patients about laboratory testing.

scholarly journals A cross-case analyses of laboratory professionals-patients interaction for patients accessing laboratory services at University of Cape Coast hospital and Ewim Polyclinic in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Adu
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Staff Interactions ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background There is scarcity of data on experiences of patients who access laboratory services during hospital visits in sub-Saharan Africa. This study sought to evaluate the depth of laboratory professionals-patient interactions during pre- and post-sampling period at two hospitals in Ghana. Methods This study used real time observations of patient-laboratory staff interactions to collect first-hand data. Additionally, two separate sets of semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data on the experiences of patients and laboratory professionals. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS version 25. Results Inadequate laboratory space is a major factor limiting adequacy of patients-laboratory professionals’ interactions. Overall, even though the laboratory professionals (93.3%) overwhelmingly agreed to the need to inform patients about the turnaround time of the respective laboratory testing, this was not routinely done. Irrespective of patients’ educational attainment, patients were poorly informed about their respective laboratory tests. Although both patients and laboratory professionals (60.0% vs 63.6% respectively) indicated that the test requester has responsibility to inform patients about their laboratory testing, only 29.1% of patients indicated having received such explanations. Furthermore, although 28.1% of patients indicated knowing the specifics of their respective test requisition, only 15% could correctly identify their requested laboratory testing. Conclusion There is the need for standard operating protocols to standardize practitioner-patient interaction at the two facilities. Moreover, there is the need for laboratory staff-test requester engagement to clearly delineate who has what responsibilities regarding informing patients about laboratory testing.

scholarly journals Inter-rater Variability in Malaria Microscopy at the LEKMA Hospital, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Andrew Nii Adzei Bekoe ◽  
Emmanuel Alote Allotey ◽  
Elliot Elikplim Akorsu ◽  
Albert Abaka-Yawson ◽  
Samuel Adusei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Rater Agreement ◽  
Laboratory Personnel ◽  
Parasite Count ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Expected Outcome ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Group B

Background. Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where it is endemic. As such, it is important that a proper diagnosis is made before treatment is initiated. Malaria parasite count plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of malaria. Variations in ratings by laboratory personnel can impact negatively on the treatment regimen for malaria-infected patients. The study is thus aimed at evaluating and comparing the proficiency and parasitaemia counts by two different categories of laboratory staff at the LEKMA Hospital, Ghana. Materials and Methods. A total of 200 confirmed malaria-positive samples were used in the study. Six thick and thin films were prepared from each sample and uniquely labelled. Two of the six slides were given to two WHO-accredited malaria microscopists to examine and report their respective parasite count/μl ( parasite   count / WBC × 8000 ). These were used as the reference for the two categories of laboratory staffs: rater A being diploma holders (Technical Officers referred to as untrained rater) and rater B being degree holders (Medical Laboratory Scientist referred to as trained rater) at the LEKMA Hospital. Results. In comparison to the expected outcome, the parasite count by the rater group A (190 (151-239)]) and the rater group B (177 (140-224)) demonstrated significant positive correlation ( r = 0.995 , p < 0.0001 vs. r = 0.995 , p < 0.0001 , respectively) with the expected outcome in the cases of heavy parasitaemia. A statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05 ) between counts by the different raters in low parasitemia was observed in this study. A persistent nosedive inter-rater agreement from k = 0.82 to k = 0.40 with increasing density cutoff was observed in this study. Conclusion. The study observed that the degree of inter-rater agreement of parasite density count by various categories of laboratory personnel is almost perfect. However, the parasite count between raters varied significantly with very low levels of parasitemia but better correlated with heavy parasitemia.

scholarly journals Laboratory Diagnostics Performance in Uganda: A Survey of Test Availability and Constraints Across 100 Laboratories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Namuhani ◽  
Suzanne N Kiwanuka ◽  
Martha Akulume ◽  
Simeon Kalyesubula ◽  
William Bazeyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Full Blood Count ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Clinical laboratory services are a critical component of the health system for effective disease diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention. However, many laboratories in Sub Saharan Africa remain dysfunctional. The high costs of tests in the private sector also remain a hindrance to accessing testing services. This study aimed at assessing the functionality of laboratories based on test menus and the associated constraints in Uganda. Methods This cross sectional quantitative study involved an assessment of 100 laboratories randomly selected in 20 districts from four regions of the country. Sixteen percent of the studied laboratories were regional hub laboratories. Laboratory in charges and managers in each of the selected laboratories were interviewed. A checklist for laboratory supplies adapted from the Essential Medicines and Health supplies list for Uganda, (2012) was used to assess availability of testing supplies. Data was analyzed using excel and STATA 14. Results At the point of assessment, generally, all laboratories were able to perform malaria tests and HIV tests. All the hub laboratories conducted malaria tests and TB screening. Less than half had electrolytes tests due to lack of equipment, nonfunctioning equipment and lack of reagents. Full blood count tests were missing in 25% of the hub laboratories mainly due to lack of equipment. The lack of reagents (66.7%) and the lack of equipment (58.3%) caused the majority 10/16 of the hubs to routinely referred specimens for tests that are supposed to be carried out in these laboratories due to lack of reagents (66.7%) and non-functional equipment (58.3%). Although officially recognized as an operational structure, Hub laboratories lacked a list of essential and vital supplies. Conclusions Most laboratories performed well for the common tests. However, many laboratories did not meet testing requirements especially for the advanced tests according to standard testing menus for Uganda due to non-functioning equipment, lack of equipment and reagents. Hubs lack list of essential supplies. Therefore, there is need to provide equipment to laboratories, repair the non-functional ones and develop an essential list of supplies for the hub laboratories.

scholarly journals COVID-19 related challenges faced by Medical Laboratory Staff: A Review of Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-237
Author(s):  
Jignesh Sharma ◽  
Richard D. Nair
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Medical Laboratory Science ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Laboratory Science

Laboratory testing on the confirmation of COVID-19 results is an essential component and without the expertise of trained laboratory technicians this is not possible. The aim of this study was to review the impacts of COVID-19 on medical laboratory staff. The literature search was done using Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Proquest databases, and relevant keywords were applied to find studies which have been conducted in the field of Medical Laboratory Science specifically looking at the impacts on staff caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. All the studies pertaining to the topic published in 2020 and 2021 in English language were reviewed and the main themes were identified. The results showed that impacts of COVID-19 were felt by the staff, as they were pushed to their limits causing stress and burnout. Apart from this laboratory staff were faced with issues such as; shortage in terms of human resources, consumables, testing kits and reagents. This was an added factor to delays in testing and disruption to the testing Turnaround time (TATs) and also contributed to the stress and burnout of staff. Laboratory professionals and other health care staffs were pushed to the limits to ensure patient care was not affected and each patient was attended too without delay. Laboratory personnel’s were pushed to their limits to ensure that test results were given on time.

scholarly journals Migrants’ Vulnerabilities and Their Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Mobile Shoe Shine Boys in the Cape Coast Metropolis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
King David Dzirasah
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Vulnerability Model ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Covid-19 pandemic has impacted socio-economic activities in sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana for that matter. Occupations in the informal sector such as shoe-shine business have been affected by the disease outbreak. This paper focuses on migrant vulnerabilities and their responses to Covid-19 with a specific focus on shoe-shine boys in Cape Coast Metropolis. The study is guided by the IOM determinants of migrant vulnerability model, empirical review on the shoe-shine business and conceptual framework on shoe-shine business within the informal sector. Using an interview guide, ten shoe-shine boys were interviewed in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Their responses were transcribed and a content analysis was employed to analyze the data. The main challenges caused by Covid-19 were the reduction in income, decrease in customer base and changes in the nature of work. The study concluded that the irregular nature of the shoe-shine business exacerbated the impact of the covid-19 on the occupation but individual coping strategies were key in ensuring the sustainability of the occupation.

scholarly journals Age-depended Selection of Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium Falciparum in Some part of Central Region of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwame Kumi Asare ◽  
Justice Afrifa ◽  
Kwaku Opoku Yeboah
Keyword(s):  
Central Region ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Total Prevalence ◽  
Complete Failure ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Control ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Introduction The return of chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa countries offers the opportunity for reintroduction of chloroquine either in combination with other drugs or as a single therapy for the management of malaria. The reintroduction of chloroquine can serve as a stopgap to salvage the impending danger of complete failure of malaria treatment due to artemisinin drug resistance. Further, chloroquine reintroduction requires the understanding of the underlying factors that influence the reemergence of chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum in the endemic areas. This study assesses the effects of age on the pattern for selection of CQ sensitive P. falciparum markers in the Central Region of Ghana Methodology Genomic DNA was extracted from an archived filter paper blood blot from Cape Coast, Elmina, Assin Foso and Twifo Praso using Chelex DNA extraction method. The age information to each extracted sample was collected. The prevalence of chloroquine-sensitive genotyping of Pfcrt K76 and Pfmdr1 N86 was assessed using nested PCR and RFLP. Results The overall prevalence of CQ sensitive P. falciparum marker (Pfcrt K76) at Central Region of Ghana was 66.36%, whereas the prevalence of Pfcrt K76 at Cape Coast, Assin Foso, Twifo Praso and Elmina were 71.74%, 65.22%, 66.67% and 61.54% respectively. The prevalence of Pfcrt K76 among the age categories showed that 0-5 years category predominantly selects CQ sensitive Pfcrt K76 marker at Cape Coast (34.76%), Assin Foso (37.68%) and Twifo Praso (39.98%). In the case of Pfmdr1 N86, the total prevalence was 84.11% with Cape Coast having 64%, Elmina with 92.26%, Assin Foso with 88.39% and Twifo Praso with 89.91% There was strong correlation of reemergence of chloroquine-sensitive malaria parasites between Cape Coast and Assin Foso, (r=0.8568, p=0.0318) Cape Coast and Twifo Praso (r=0.8671, p=0.0285) and Assin Foso and Twifo Praso, (r=0.9913, p=0.0005). Conclusion The study showed that the selection and expansion of chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum are influenced by age and geographical area. This finding has a significant implication for the future treatment, management and control of P. falciparum malaria.

User-Based Perspective on Cost as a Limiting Factor to Conference Call Technology Use in Higher Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-72
Author(s):  
Francis Xavier Kofi Akotoye
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Conference Call ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Organisational Factors

The use of ICTs in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, has been described as transformational. However, there is paucity of research on user perspectives on ICTs in institutions of higher learning. This cross-sectional study assessed the perception of students at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana regarding cost as a limiting factor to the use of conference call technology. The complementary log-log regression model was based on a sample of 62 students surveyed in April and May 2015; which sixty-nine percent indicated that cost was a limiting factor. Though Chi-square statistic failed to reject the hypothesis, at the bivariate level, some relationships were statistically significant. Most of these relationships were not robust and disappeared completely when other factors were controlled in the multivariate model. Also, some relationships were absent at the bivariate level and only appeared at the multivariate level indicating that the connection between students' perception of cost and compositional and organisational factors is complex.

scholarly journals Implementing a mobile diagnostic unit to increase access to imaging and laboratory services in western Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. e000947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshni Dhoot ◽  
John M Humphrey ◽  
Patrick O'Meara ◽  
Adrian Gardner ◽  
Clement J McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Diagnostic Unit ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Sub Saharan

Access to basic imaging and laboratory services remains a major challenge in rural, resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare programme in western Kenya implemented a mobile diagnostic unit (MDU) outfitted with a generator-powered X-ray machine and basic laboratory tests to address the lack of these services at rural, low-resource, public health facilities. The objective of this paper is to describe the design, implementation, preliminary impact and operational challenges of the MDU in western Kenya. Since implementing the MDU at seven rural health facilities serving a catchment of over half a million people, over 4500 chest radiographs have been performed, with one or more abnormalities detected in approximately 30% of radiographs. We observed favorable feedback and uptake of MDU services by healthcare workers and patients. However, various operational challenges in the design and construction of the MDU and the transmission and reporting of radiographs in remote areas were encountered. Our experience supports the feasibility of deploying an MDU to increase access to basic radiology and laboratory services in rural, resource-limited settings.

scholarly journals Leveraging gains from African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training to combat HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritu Shrivastava ◽  
Richard Poxon ◽  
Erin Rottinghaus ◽  
Leyya Essop ◽  
Victoria Sanon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Laboratory Training

Abstract Background In sub-Saharan Africa, there is dearth of trained laboratorians and strengthened laboratory systems to provide adequate and quality laboratory services for enhanced HIV control. In response to this challenge, in 2007, the African Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT) was established in South Africa with a mission to train staffs from countries with high burdens of diseases in skills needed to strengthen sustainable laboratory systems. This study was undertaken to assess the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to other laboratory staff, and to identify enabling and obstructive factors to their implementation. Methods We used Kirkpatrick model to determine training effectiveness by assessing the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to participant’s work environment, along with measuring enabling and obstructive factors. In addition to regular course evaluations at ACILT (pre and post training), in 2015 we sent e-questionnaires to 867 participants in 43 countries for course participation between 2008 and 2014. Diagnostics courses included Viral Load, and systems strengthening included strategic planning and Biosafety and Biosecurity. SAS v9.44 and Excel were used to analyze retrospective de-identified data collected at six months pre and post-training. Results Of the 867 participants, 203 (23.4%) responded and reported average improvements in accuracy and timeliness in Viral Load programs and to systems strengthening. For Viral Load testing, frequency of corrective action for unsatisfactory proficiency scores improved from 57 to 91%, testing error rates reduced from 12.9% to 4.9%; 88% responders contributed to the first national strategic plan development and 91% developed strategies to mitigate biosafety risks in their institutions. Key enabling factors were team and management support, and key obstructive factors included insufficient resources and staff’s resistance to change. Conclusions Training at ACILT had a documented positive impact on strengthening the laboratory capacity and laboratory workforce and substantial cost savings. ACILT’s investment produced a multiplier effect whereby national laboratory systems, personnel and leadership reaped training benefits. This laboratory training centre with a global clientele contributed to improve existing laboratory services, systems and networks for the HIV epidemic and is now being leveraged for COVID-19 testing that has infected 41,332,899 people globally.

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