CHALLENGES FACED BY PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS AND PATIENTS REGARDING CONTINUITY OF CARE AT THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.

2021 ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
Elisia Mwashekeleh ◽  
Simon Himalowa ◽  
Marjorie Mwansa ◽  
Priscilla Funduluka ◽  
Mukumbuta Nawa ◽  
...  

Continuity of care is a fundamental dimension of quality of care and patient satisfaction, because it leads to quality and coordinated health care delivery, increased patient trust and condence. To explore the challenges that patients and Physiotherapy practitioners face regarding continuity of care at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative design, using in-depth interviews with eight physiotherapy practitioners and six patients with varying medical conditions, aged 18 years and above. This study used a purposive sampling technique based on the researcher’s judgment of the subjects. This is a form of non-probability sampling in which decisions concerning the individuals to be included in the sample were taken by the researcher, based upon a variety of criteria, including specialist knowledge of the research issue, or capacity and willingness to participate in the research. All patients reported having multiple Physiotherapy service providers, which sometimes led to uncoordinated treatment sessions. In addition, ve out of six patients cited the high cost of transport fares from their homes to the hospital and work schedules clashing with hospital appointments as most critical factors that led to discontinuity in physiotherapy care. On the other hand, physiotherapy practitioners reported difculties following up on the progress of patients due to the functional design of the Physiotherapy department which requires them to operate from both the passive and active areas of the department. High physiotherapy practitioners’ turnover per patient, long distance from patients’ homes to the hospital as well as the physical demarcation of the department of Physiotherapy into active and passive treatment areas hinder continuity of care at the University Teaching Hospitals.

Author(s):  
Martin Kampamba ◽  
Steven Mulolo ◽  
Margaret Phiri ◽  
Martha Chibale Chulu ◽  
Webrod Mufwambi ◽  
...  

Background: The first few days of in-patient care are possibly the most significant in a patient’s recovery and any omitted medications during this period may harm the patient or increase their hospital length of stay. Therefore, our study aimed at assessing the frequency of medication administration omission errors and their reasons for the omission in the paediatric wards after admission at University Teaching Children’s Hospital.Methods: This was a descriptive study in which 259 patient files and drug charts were reviewed. Admission prescription charts were studied in detail over a period of four weeks and all drugs prescribed but then not given in the first 48 hours were recorded as omitted medications, along with the reason given for their omission.Results: From the 259 drug charts, a total of 1598 doses of drugs were ordered within 48 hours of admission. However, from this, only a total of 1132 doses were administered with the remaining 466 doses omitted, which accounted for a frequency of 29.2%. When the frequency of medication omission errors was compared, parenteral drugs (70.8% vs. 25.3%, [p=0.0001]), afternoon shift (48.5% vs. 15.8%, [p=0.0001]), and anti-infective medications (69.1% vs. 39.4%, [p=0.0001]) were found to be the most frequently omitted medications. There were also considerably more medication omissions in patients prescribed with more medications (median number: 4, I QR [2, 6] vs. median number: 2, IQR [2, 4], [p=0. 0.001]). The most common reason for the omission was medication unavailability (89.3%), followed by work overload (71.4%), and the patient is off the ward (71.4%).Conclusions: This study revealed that medication omissions are a continuing problem and this may result in increased morbidity and mortality rates. There is a need to put in place specific strategies to reduce this problem. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Nambela Shampile ◽  
Godfrey Lingenda ◽  
Mowa Zambwe ◽  
Peter J. Chipimo

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and Practices among healthcare workers towards covid 19 preventive measures at Women and New-born Hospital of the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at WNH-UTH, Lusaka. Convenient sample of 264 frontline healthcare workers responded to self-administered questionnaire to determine their knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID 19 preventive measures. Results: Majority (31.9%) of the respondents were aged 25 : 29 years. The study revealed that 63.4% had a good knowledge, 60.3% had positive attitudes and 59.9% had a good practice. Attitude was positively related with practice (r = 0.524, p < 0.001) and knowledge (r = 0.469; p < 0.001). Further, knowledge was positively correlated with practice (r = 0.51; p < 0.001). Bivariate analysis results showed that only high knowledge score (75.6%; p < 0.001) and high attitude score (77.6%; p < 0.001) was associated with an increase in good practice among healthcare workers towards Covid 19 preventive measures. Conclusion: The study showed the need for continued assessment of Knowledge Attitude and Practice among healthcare workers towards Covid 19 preventive measures. It further showed the need of designing interventions aimed at encouraging sustained compliance to preventive measures among healthcare workers to prevent COVID 19 transmission.


Author(s):  
Matenge Mutalange ◽  
◽  
Kaunda Yamba ◽  
Chiristine Kapesa ◽  
Frank Mtonga ◽  
...  

Background: Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species cause invasive infections such as bacteremia and infective endocarditis. Despite vancomycin being the drug of choice for drug-resistant infections caused by these species, few studies have been conducted to ascertain vancomycin resistance in the African setting. This is crucial given the rising resistance in these organisms. This study aimed to isolate S. aureus and Enterococcus species and determine their susceptibility to vancomycin and other antibiotics at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which S. aureus and Enterococcus spp isolates from the skin, soft tissue and bloodstream infections were included. Standard microbiological and Kirby-Baur (disc diffusion and E-strips) methods were used to identify and determine the susceptibility of the organisms, respectively. Results: From 59 S. aureus isolates, 37 were from the skin and soft tissue and 22 from blood culture. Twenty-six (44.1%) of these were Methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Thirty-nine Enterococcus were isolated from blood cultures only. Of the S. aureus (16) and Enterococcus (14) isolates tested with vancomycin E-strips, none were vancomycin-resistant. However, 12.5% S. aureus and 14.3% Enterococcus showed intermediate vancomycin susceptibility. S. aureus were resistant to penicillin (93.2%), erythromycin (52.5%) and tetracycline (50.8%). Enterococcus showed resistance to penicillin (83%) and tetracycline (84.6%). Conclusions: There was no vancomycin resistance among S. aureus and Enterococcus, implying vancomycin is still a viable treatment option for invasive infections. Given the intermediate vancomycin susceptibility, treatment guided by minimum inhibitory concentration results, continued surveillance and prudent use are key.


Author(s):  
Wilson Chukwunedum Ochonogor ◽  
Faith Ashinedu Okite-Amughoro

The wide use of the Internet has resulted in digital libraries that are increasingly used by diverse communities of patrons for varying purposes in which sharing and collaboration have become important social elements. By improving Internet connectivity and growing number of international initiatives, knowledge workers in developing countries are now getting access to scholarly and scientific publications and electronic resources at a level that is unmatched historically. The university teaching hospital library requires up-to-date information that can be quickly accessed in order to increase and optimize healthcare service delivery. As such, the objective of this chapter is to ensure that all involved in the implementation of digitization in the university teaching hospitals live up to their expectations.


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