ABSTRACT
Aims: Oculomycosis is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness in the tropical regions of the world. Practitioners’ perception of the prevalence of oculomycosis and its associated risk factors could aid in the prevention of this ocular disorder. This study therefore investigated the eye care practitioner’s perception of oculomycosis in Ghana. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, between January and September, 2014. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 120 eye care practitioners in six regions of Ghana was conducted, using a structured questionnaire, to obtain information on their perception regarding the prevalence, seasonal variations and risk factors of oculomycosis. Results: Optometrists, Ophthalmic nurses, and Ophthalmologists sampled were 43.3%, 42.5% and 14.2% respectively. More than one-third (39.2%) of the respondents reported that oculomycosis was commonly encountered in clinical practice, with the majority 66 (55.0%) stating that the prevalence was higher in April to November i.e. the planting and harvesting periods in the year. The practitioners’ perception of the prevalence of oculomycosis showed strong association with their gender (P = .01), duration of practice (P = .01), profession (P = .05) and facility type (P = .03). Risk factors commonly associated with oculomycosis were trauma from vegetative matter (80%) and non-vegetative matter (50%) and the use of herbal preparations on the eye (41.7%). Conclusion: Oculomycosis is a prevalent ocular condition encountered by eye care practitioners in Ghana, especially during the rainy season. Intensification of health education on its risk factors could help minimize or prevent occurrence of this ocular condition.
ABSTRACT
Management of allergic conjunctivitis with conventional anti-allergic drugs usually cause the discomfort of dry eyes. This study, therefore, sought to evaluate the effect of Pistia stratiotes, a herbal remedy with anti-allergic properties, on tear secretion and tear film stability. ICR mice were grouped and treated with 5 mg/kg cetirizine, 10 mg/kg prednisolone, 100 mg/ kg leaf extract of P. stratiotes (LEPS), or 2 ml/kg normal saline per os for 7 consecutive days. With the phenol red thread test and the determination of fluorescein tear film break-up time, tear secretion and tear film stability before and after drug interventions were determined. Results recorded indicated that tear secretion and tear film stability declined significantly with cetirizine treatment (1.188 ± 0.4369 mm; P ≤ 0.05, and 2.688 ± 0.6185 s; P ≤ 0.001 respectively), while only tear secretion reduced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in mice treated with prednisolone (0.9380 ± 0.4422 mm). Treatment with LEPS showed no significant effect (P > 0.05) on tear secretion and tear film stability (0.7050 ± 0.4236 mm, and 0.9790 ± 0.6145 s respectively); comparable to normal saline treatment. Per the findings, Pistia stratiotes does not affect tear secretion and tear film stability and hence is not likely to exhibit the adverse effect of dry eyes, as conventional anti-allergic drugs do, in the management of allergic conjunctivitis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Scoparia dulcis is used in Ghanaian folkloric medicine for the management of asthma and its related complications. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the anti-tussive, muco-suppressant and expectorant properties of hydroethanolic extract of S. dulcis (SDE), and to ascertain its safety for use in asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease management. Methods: The number of coughs induced in guinea pigs using citric acid and the concentration of phenol red secreted in tracheae of mice were measured. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was conducted on the extract using standard procedures. Safety for use of the extract was assessed by conducting an acute and delayed toxicity test. Results: The extract showed a dose-independent inhibition (p ≤ 0.001) of cough elicited by 7.5% citric acid, and a dose-dependent increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the amount of phenol red output in mice tracheae similar to that of ammonium chloride. For the muco-suppressant activity, SDE dose-dependently reduced (p ≤ 0.001) the concentration of ammonium chloride-induced phenol red secretions from mice tracheae. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, and phenolic compounds. No acute and/or delayed toxic symptoms were observed after an oral administration of up to 5 g/kg of S. dulcis extract. Conclusion: The results showed that S. dulcis extract has anti-tussive, muco-suppressant and, expectorant and/or mucolytic properties; making it a possible remedy for asthma, and obstructive pulmonary disease.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To investigate the influence of patient information leaflets on Ophthalmic patients’ education and medication compliance. Study Design: Hospital-based cross- sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Optometry, School of Physical Sciences, UCC, Cape Coast, Ghana, between September 2012 and May 2013. Methodology: A semi - structured questionnaire with sections on patient demographics, patient information leaflets impact on therapeutic education, and medication compliance, was administered to 400 ophthalmic review patients in three eye care facilities in Central Region of Ghana. Patient information leaflets (PILs) of common ophthalmic medications prescribed in these eye centers were also reviewed and assessed on their readability using the Rudolph Flesch’s readability ease calculator. Obtained data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. Pearson’s Chi-square statistical analysis was used to test for significant association between variables. Results: Of the 400 ophthalmic patients, 140 (35%) were males and 260 (65%) females The mean age was 50.2 ± 19.5. Patients had varying opinion on the purpose for the PIL: 228 (57%) thought the PIL only gives instructions on the use of the medication; 108 (27%) did not know why the PIL have been provided. The remaining 64 (16%) provided no response. There was significant association between higher educational level and reading of the leaflet (P < 0.001). The kind of ophthalmic condition one suffered had a positive influence on reading the PIL ( X2=28.594, P < 0.001). A greater proportion of the patients (88.04%) said various components of information on the leaflet were beneficial in ensuring compliance to therapy. All the PILs from the five different companies (where medication were obtained for retail) had very low readability score (0-29) except some PILs of topical analgesic drug. The low readability score indicated that the text was difficult to comprehend; the reason for which most patients did not read the leaflets. Most patients 91(99%) who read the PILs indicated that they were beneficial but were difficult to understand. Conclusion: Ophthalmic patients’ opinion on patient information leaflets was reasonably good and had a positive influence on patients’ medication compliance. It however, did not have much influence on patient education due to low readability and comprehensible.