Readiness of allied health students towards interprofessional education at a university in Ghana

Background. Interprofessional education (IPE) is an important academic approach for preparing healthcare students to provide patient care in a collaborative team environment, which improves patient care outcomes and increases patient satisfaction. IPE has been shown to eliminate segmented education between healthcare professionals, and thus renounces hierarchies, misperceptions and miscommunications.Objectives. To determine the readiness of allied health students towards IPE.Methods. This was a cross-sectional study that involved 299 second- to fourth-year allied health students recruited from various departments at the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale was used to obtain data regarding readiness of allied health students towards IPE. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., USA). Differences between groups based on the levels and programmes of study, respectively, were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results. The majority of participants (n=155; 67.7%) had previous experience in the health environment. The overall response of allied health students' readiness towards IPE was high. This readiness did not differ between the different levels of study (p=0.985) and the various programmes of study (p=0.726). Conclusion. The study revealed that allied health students value teamwork and collaboration and appear ready for participation in IPE activities. Formatively planning IPE activities may be helpful in developing multidisciplinary teamwork

The Perception of Health on Causes of Inter professional Conflict in a Tertiary Health Institution in Abakaliki; Southeast Nigeria

"BACKGROUND: Interprofessional conflict in university teaching hospitals in Nigeria is on the increase. This study was aimed at assessing the health professions' perception of factors responsible for conflict. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among six health professions. RESULTS: The perceived causes of conflict include differential salary between doctors and others; physician intimidation and discrimination of other professions; ""inordinate ambition"" of the other professions to lead the health team; and envy of the doctor by the other professions. Doctors differed significantly from the other professions on the role of each of these in causing conflict. Mutual respect for each other's competence; proper remuneration and clear delineation of duties for all; and other groups appreciating the salary differential between them and doctors were perceived as means of resolving the conflict. While all accepted mutual respect and proper remuneration as effective; other health workers differed significantly from doctors on the effectiveness of appreciating salary differential between them and doctors in resolving the conflict. CONCLUSION : Differential salary between the doctor and the other health workers is the main factor perceived to cause interprofessional conflict. The government and all health professions should accept; and maintain the relativity in salary differential between doctors and other health professions."

The Relationship Experiences of Professional Nurses with Nurse Managers

This qualitative study was undertaken to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses in their relationships with nurse managers. Concerns about declining nursing care standards have been expressed in radio newsbulletins; television interviews and newspapers. This decline is thought to come from the pressures brought about by rapid changes in political; socio-economic and technological spheres. It therefore became important to the researcher to acquire knowledge about the manner in which nurses support each other during these times of change. Data were collected by means of individual interviews. Interviews were audiotaped and field notes were taken to provide the researcher with complementary information. Data analysis was done using the data analysis method described by Tesch (in Creswell; 1994:155). Results revealed that professional nurses experience a breakdown in their relationships with nurse managers and that the professional nurses' expectations relating to the work environment are not being met. The experiences manifested in feelings of anger; pain and disillusionment and led to demotivation of the professional nurses. Guidelines were proposed to address the aforementioned experiences

Résultats à trois (3) ans (2001-2003) d'une collaboration entre les services de pneumo-phtisiologie du CHU de Cocody et de chirurgie thoracique de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan

METHODOLOGIE il s'agit d'une etude retrospective; qui a eu pour cadre les services de PPH Cocody et de Chirurgie thoracique de l'ICA; et qui a porte sur 104 dossiers de malades. Ces malades proviennent uniquement du service de PPH et ont ete presentes aux chirurgiens thoraciques pour prise en charge. OBJECTIFS:Le but de ce travail etait d'analyser les resultats de 3 ans de collaboration entre les services rapproches de PPH Cocody et de Chirurgie Thoracique de l'ICA. Notre etude a donc consiste : a analyser la collaboration entre ces 2 services; a identifier tous les malades presentes aux chirurgiens thoraciques; ainsi que leurs affections ; a preciser les interventions chirurgicales envisagees; a indiquer les cas acceptes et les cas refutes et a evaluer les resultats post-chirurgicaux immediats. RESULTATS : *Des rencontres regulieres et frequentes ont lieu entre pneumologues et chirurgiens thoraciques; et les transferts de malades d'un service a l'autre se font de facon plus aisee ; *Il existe une predominance des malades entre 20 et 40 ans (53 cas: 52pour cent); de sexe masculin (61 cas 59.80pour cent); de nationalite ivoirienne (83 cas: 81.40pour cent); et de classes socioprofessionnelles pauvres (57 cas: 55.80pour cent) ; *Les malades ont presente diverses affections thoraco-pulmonaires dont essentiellement: les tumeurs du thorax (30 cas: 28.90pour cent). les infections thoraciques non tuberculeuses (21 cas: 20.20pour cent) et les sequelles de tuberculose (18 cas: 17.30pour cent) ; Les interventions chirurgicales envisagees etaient a but diagnostique (41 cas: 40.60pour cent) ou a but therapeutique (60 cas : 59.40pour cent); *101 cas presentes ont ete acceptes par les chirurgiens thoraciques; parmi ces cas 71(70.30pour cent) ont beneficier effectivement d'une prise en charge chirurgicale ; Le delai moyen d'admission en chirurgie thoracique a ete de 15 jours ; *Les resultats post-chirurgicaux ont ete marques par une morbidite a 7pour cent (5 cas) et une mortalite a 8.40pour cent (6 cas). CONCLUSION : Le rapprochement des services de PPH Cocody et de Chirurgie Thoracique de l'ICA; a permis d'optimiser la prise en charge adequate medicochirurgicale des malades presentant des affections thoraco-pulmonaires

Health research collaboration in Africa

In his paper Professor Nkrumah lays emphasis on the following: that health research is a vital and necessary component of health development in Africa but it will only achieve the enhancement of health development if the partnership concept is genuinely accepted by all actors in health development - researchers; policy makers; planners; managers and the community at large. There is a need for increased regional and subregional collaboration in health research in Africa and for external support

The challenges facing the medical and dental profession in the Seychelles. [editorial]

Medical and dental services in the Seychelles have expanded rapidly over the past decade and a half. The profession now faces the task of adapting and improvising these services to meet both the needs of the public its serves; and its own needs; in the 21st century. The formation of the present Seychelles Medical and Dental Association; and the launching of the Association's journal; have come about as part of the response to these needs