scholarly journals Proposal for an intelligent digital teacher’s textbook solution adapted to the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Hermann Semevo Boko ◽  
Bessan Melckior Degboe ◽  
Samuel Ouya ◽  
Gervais Mendy
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Digital Textbook ◽  
Quality Of Higher Education ◽  
Teaching Content ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Set Up ◽  
E Mail

This paper proposes an intelligent solution for course monitoring based on the use of a digital textbook coupled with an algorithm for verifying the conformity of the teaching content. The proposed solution allows to follow in real time the evolution of the courses and to alert the pedagogical managers in case of non-compliance with the syllabus. In most sub-Saharan African countries engaged in the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (BMD) reform, incessant strikes prevent teachers from completing the program. Also, there is no way for the teacher to know whether students have the necessary prerequisites. In addition, constraints related to agendas sometimes prevent the holding of pedagogical animation meetings. To solve these problems, we propose the implementation of an intelligent digital teacher's textbook. The tool helps in the follow-up and the respect of the pedagogical objectives. It implements an algorithm to evaluate in real time the concordance between the courses given and the requirements of the syllabus. An SMS and e-mail alert system has also been set up to inform training actors in case of non-compliance with the syllabus. The proposed solution contributes to the overall improvement of the quality of higher education in Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals 829 Is There an Ongoing Role For 'Telephone Triage Clinics' Post COVID-19?

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Holmes ◽  
U Mirza ◽  
C Manning ◽  
R Cooke ◽  
R Jugdey
Keyword(s):  
Common Theme ◽  
Telephone Triage ◽  
Telephone Consultation ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Clinician Satisfaction ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Local Protocol ◽  
Telephone Questionnaire

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 has placed unprecedented demand on services at ELHT and it has become necessary to have telephone clinics to reduce the number of face-to-face clinics. A ‘telephone triage clinic’ was set up for referrals from A&E. Our project evaluated patient and clinician satisfaction on this. Method We carried out a retrospective telephone questionnaire with patients over a one-week period during the pandemic. We focussed on overall satisfaction of the consultation and quality of communication. Consultants were also surveyed for their opinion on the clinics. Results From 30 patients, 77% said they were ‘very satisfied’ with the overall experience. 80% of patients were ‘very satisfied’ with the overall length of the telephone consultation. 50% of patients felt the clinician was only ‘adequately’ able to assess them over the telephone. The consultants were less satisfied with the overall experience of telephone consultation. A common theme was that they felt ED documentation could be improved to help inform ongoing management. Conclusions Overall, patients were satisfied with the consultations. It has been successful in minimising face to face consultations however some presentations necessitate further evaluation. We need to identify those injuries appropriate for virtual follow up and design a local protocol for these.

scholarly journals Burden, Antibiotic Resistance, and Clonality of Shigella spp. Implicated in Community-Acquired Acute Diarrhoea in Lilongwe, Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Abel F.N.D. Phiri ◽  
Akebe Luther King Abia ◽  
Daniel Gyamfi Amoako ◽  
Rajab Mkakosya ◽  
Arnfinn Sundsfjord ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Shigella Flexneri ◽  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Shigella Species ◽  
Shigella Spp ◽  
Sub Saharan

Although numerous studies have investigated diarrhoea aetiology in many sub-Saharan African countries, recent data on Shigella species’ involvement in community-acquired acute diarrhoea (CA-AD) in Malawi are scarce. This study investigated the incidence, antibiotic susceptibility profile, genotypic characteristics, and clonal relationships of Shigella flexneri among 243 patients presenting with acute diarrhoea at a District Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Shigella spp. were isolated and identified using standard microbiological and serological methods and confirmed by identifying the ipaH gene using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The isolates’ antibiotic susceptibility to 20 antibiotics was determined using the VITEK 2 system according to EUCAST guidelines. Genes conferring resistance to sulfamethoxazole (sul1, sul2 and sul3), trimethoprim (dfrA1, dfrA12 and dfrA17) and ampicillin (oxa-1 and oxa-2), and virulence genes (ipaBCD, sat, ial, virA, sen, set1A and set1B) were detected by real-time PCR. Clonal relatedness was assessed using ERIC-PCR. Thirty-four Shigella flexneri isolates were isolated (an overall incidence of 14.0%). All the isolates were fully resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (100%) and ampicillin (100%) but susceptible to the other antibiotics tested. The sul1 (79%), sul2 (79%), sul3 (47%), dfrA12 (71%) and dfrA17 (56%) sulfonamide and trimethoprim resistance genes were identified; Oxa-1, oxa-2 and dfrA1 were not detected. The virulence genes ipaBCD (85%), sat (85%), ial (82%), virA (76%), sen (71%), stx (71%), set1A (26%) and set1B (18%) were detected. ERIC-PCR profiling revealed that the Shigella isolates were genetically distinct and clonally unrelated, indicating the potential involvement of genetically distinct S. flexneri in CA-AD in Malawi. The high percentage resistance to ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and the presence of several virulence determinants in these isolates emphasises a need for continuous molecular surveillance studies to inform preventive measures and management of Shigella-associated diarrhoeal infections in Malawi.

scholarly journals Utilization of laser interstitial thermotherapy guided by real-time thermal MRI as an alternative to separation surgery in the management of spinal metastasis

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio E. Tatsui ◽  
R. Jason Stafford ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Jonathan N. Sellin ◽  
Behrang Amini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Spinal Metastasis ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Interstitial Thermotherapy

OBJECT High-grade malignant spinal cord compression is commonly managed with a combination of surgery aimed at removing the epidural tumor, followed by spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) aimed at local tumor control. The authors here introduce the use of spinal laser interstitial thermotherapy (SLITT) as an alternative to surgery prior to SSRS. METHODS Patients with a high degree of epidural malignant compression due to radioresistant tumors were selected for study. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and quality of life were obtained before and within 30 and 60 days after treatment. A laser probe was percutaneously placed in the epidural space. Real-time thermal MRI was used to monitor tissue damage in the region of interest. All patients received postoperative SSRS. The maximum thickness of the epidural tumor was measured, and the degree of epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) was scored in pre- and postprocedure MRI. RESULTS In the 11 patients eligible for study, the mean VAS score for pain decreased from 6.18 in the preoperative period to 4.27 within 30 days and 2.8 within 60 days after the procedure. A similar VAS interrogating the percentage of quality of life demonstrated improvement from 60% preoperatively to 70% within both 30 and 60 days after treatment. Imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure demonstrated a significant reduction in the mean thickness of the epidural tumor from 8.82 mm (95% CI 7.38–10.25) before treatment to 6.36 mm (95% CI 4.65–8.07) after SLITT and SSRS (p = 0.0001). The median preoperative ESCC Grade 2 was scored as 4, which was significantly higher than the score of 2 for Grade 1b (p = 0.04) on imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure. CONCLUTIONS The authors present the first report on an innovative minimally invasive alternative to surgery in the management of spinal metastasis. In their early experience, SLITT has provided local control with low morbidity and improvement in both pain and the quality of life of patients.

scholarly journals Education in Neurology Resident Documentation Using Payroll Simulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Liang ◽  
Vicki L. Shanker
Keyword(s):  
Medical Decision ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
Income Loss ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Specific Feedback ◽  
Didactic Lecture ◽  
E Mail

ABSTRACT Background Approaches for teaching neurology documentation include didactic lectures, workshops, and face-to-face meetings. Few studies have assessed their effectiveness. Objective To improve the quality of neurology resident documentation through payroll simulation. Methods A documentation checklist was created based on Medicaid and Medicare evaluation and management (E/M) guidelines. In the preintervention phase, neurology follow-up clinic charts were reviewed over a 16-week period by evaluators blinded to the notes' authors. Current E/M level, ideal E/M level, and financial loss were calculated by the evaluators. Ideal E/M level was defined as the highest billable level based on the documented problems, alongside a supporting history and examination. We implemented an educational intervention that consisted of a 1-hour didactic lecture, followed by e-mail feedback “paystubs” every 2 weeks detailing the number of patients seen, income generated, income loss, and areas for improvement. Follow-up charts were assessed in a similar fashion over a 16-week postintervention period. Results Ten of 11 residents (91%) participated. Of 214 charts that were reviewed preintervention, 114 (53%) had insufficient documentation to support the ideal E/M level, leading to a financial loss of 24% ($5,800). Inadequate documentation was seen in all 3 components: history (47%), examination (27%), and medical decision making (37%). Underdocumentation did not differ across residency years. Postintervention, underdocumentation was reduced to 14% of 273 visits (P < .001), with a reduction in the financial loss to 6% ($1,880). Conclusions Improved documentation and increased potential reimbursement was attained following a didactic lecture and a 16-week period in which individual, specific feedback to neurology residents was provided.

scholarly journals Growth Limits: A Conceptual Analysis for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402091827
Author(s):  
Oluwabunmi O. Adejumo
Keyword(s):  
Time Series Data ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Sub Saharan

In the school of development thought, growth has been identified as a viable alternative to the challenge of poverty and economic backwardness. However, the ecologists have continuously challenged the growth position in relation to environmental degradation and depletion. It is against this background; this study examined the limits to growth in Nigeria beyond which there will be inimical consequences for the environment. The study employed time series data that spanned between 1970 and 2014. These data sets were sourced from the World Development Indicators. Based on the assimilation model, threshold estimates were used to identify optimal growth regions, whereas regression estimates were used to measure growth effects. It was discovered that below the identified growth limit, there are currently significant negative impacts on the quality of the environment in Nigeria via economic growth. This study is a single-country case, that is, Nigeria; hence, the study can be expanded to include other sub-Saharan African countries. The study adds to knowledge by establishing the prospects for sustainability in the quality of the environment in the long run; therefore, policies designed in this areas have higher likelihood of attaining sustainability.

Digital health application for real-time patient-reported outcomes during prostate radiotherapy.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 157-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Xiao Yang ◽  
Jackson Thea ◽  
Yi An ◽  
James B. Yu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Prostate Radiotherapy ◽  
Patient Reported

157 Background: The use of digital health technology, including mobile applications, in the clinical setting is becoming increasingly more prevalent. Such technology is currently being explored as clinical research tools. While the side effects of prostate radiotherapy are well documented after treatment, there remains a paucity of data on patient-reported outcomes and changes in quality of life (QOL) during the treatment period. Therefore, mobile applications represent a practical platform to enable patient reporting in real-time during prostate radiotherapy. Methods: Using an existing open source code framework (Apple ResearchKit), we developed a novel mobile application that enables prostate cancer patients to report, either during or immediately following daily radiation treatment, changes in urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal QOL domains. The mobile application utilizes validated questions from the Expanded Prostate Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) Survey, and allows for survey responses to be tracked over time throughout the treatment period and at routine follow up. Results: For the initial phase of our study, we are currently piloting the mobile application at a single institution with a goal of accruing 50 patients. Study results will be compared to data from traditional surveys, which are available at follow-up but impracticable for real-time symptom reporting. By ASCO 2016 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, we plan to begin the second phase of our study where any patient can enroll online through a mobile software distribution platform (Apple App Store). Conclusions: We demonstrate the feasibility of using a mobile application to enable patients to report quality of life changes in real-time during prostate radiotherapy. Moreover, our application facilitates clinical trials where patient data collection can be automated and completed at scale. Future prospective studies are planned to evaluate validity of clinical trial data gathered through such methodology.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional observational assessment of quality of newborn care immediately after birth in health facilities across six sub-Saharan African countries

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. e014680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph de Graft-Johnson ◽  
Linda Vesel ◽  
Heather E Rosen ◽  
Barbara Rawlins ◽  
Stella Abwao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Newborn Care ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Observational Assessment ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR SURVEYS OF THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION (ROUNDUP)

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-314
Author(s):  
Kristina Kilova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Quality Of Higher Education ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Bologna Process

Strategic aim of the European Union is to build a competitive and dynamic economy based on knowledge and ensuring sustainable economic growth. In the context of the Lisbon agenda and the Bologna process, the main resource for achieving this goal is undoubtedly the quality of education. This makes the issue of the quality of higher education extremely relevant. In universities have been set up systems to manage the quality of higher education. As main criterion for assessing their work serve surveys giving feedback on the entire process performed. More intensive use of the Internet enables the creation and use of web-based information systems for surveys of the quality of higher education.

scholarly journals Implementation and performance of haemovigilance systems in 10 sub-saharan African countries is sub-optimal

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Washington T. Samukange ◽  
Verena Kluempers ◽  
Manvi Porwal ◽  
Linda Mudyiwenyama ◽  
Khamusi Mutoti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Legal Provisions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Regulations And Guidelines

Abstract Background Haemovigilance is an important element of blood regulation. It includes collecting and evaluating the information on adverse events resulting from the use of blood and blood components with the aim to improve donor and patient safety. We describe the results of the pilot of the integrated GBT+ Blood for the haemovigilance function in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We piloted the integrated WHO Global Benchmarking Tool plus Blood (GBT+ Blood) to assess the haemovigilance function of national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Data obtained from documents and face to face interviews were used to determine the status of implementation and performance of the following six indicators; legal provisions regulations and guidelines, organisation and governance, human resources, regulatory processes, transparency and accountability and finally, monitoring progress and assessing impact, by estimating median scores across 20 sub-indicators. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed. Results The countries showed inter-organisation variability in implementation and performance of the haemovigilance function. The overall median score (all sub-indicators) was 44 % (range: 7.5 % - 70 %). The lowest average performance scores were for the arrangement for effective organisation and coordination (35 %) and human resources (35 %) indicators. The highest average scores were observed for the mechanism to promote transparency and mechanism to monitor regulatory performance indicators (50 % and 60 %, respectively). We identified clusters of best-implemented sub-indicators from the procedures for haemovigilance and poorly implemented sub-indicators from the legal provisions, regulations and guidelines for haemovigilance and human resources. Conclusions Implementation of sub-indicators and performance of haemovigilance systems varied greatly for all countries with a few countries performing reasonably well in the implementation of some sub-indicators under procedures for haemovigilance. Most countries were poorly implementing sub-indicators in the legal provisions, arrangement for effective organisation and human resources indicators. The legislative provisions in most countries were at a nascent stage. There is a need to set up targeted and customised technical support coupled with prioritised interventions to strengthen the capacities of NRAs.

scholarly journals Improving quality of surgical and anaesthesia care at hospital level in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review protocol of health system strengthening interventions

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e036615
Author(s):  
Nataliya Brima ◽  
Justine Davies ◽  
Andrew JM Leather
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health System ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Implementation Outcomes ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Anaesthesia Care

IntroductionOver 5 billion people in the world do not have access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care when needed. In order to improve health outcomes in patients with surgical conditions, both access to care and the quality of care need to be improved. A recent commission on high-quality health systems highlighted that poor-quality care is now a bigger barrier than non-utilisation of the health system for reducing mortality.AimTo carry out a systematic review to provide an evidence-based summary of hospital-based interventions associated with improved quality of surgical and anaesthesia care in sub-Saharan African countries (SSACs).Methods and analysisThree search strings (1) surgery and anaesthesia, (2) quality improvement hospital-based interventions and (3) SSACs will be combined. The following databases EMBASE, Global Health, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus will be searched. Further relevant studies will be identified from national and international health organisations and publications and reference lists of all selected full-text articles. The review will include all type of original articles in English published between 2008 and 2019. Article screening, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality will be done by two reviewers independently and any disputes will be resolved by a third reviewer or team consensus. Three types of outcomes will be collected including clinical, process and implementation outcomes. The primary outcome will be mortality. Secondary outcomes will include other clinical outcomes (major and minor complications), as well as process and implementation outcomes. Descriptive statistics and outcomes will be summarised and discussed. For the primary outcome, the methodological rigour will be assessed.Ethics and disseminationThe results will be published in a peer reviewed open access journal and presented at national and international conferences. As this is a review of secondary data no formal ethical approval is required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019125570.

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