ABSTRACT
Background: The preference and opinion of undergraduate students on teaching of pharmacology was assessed using structured-based questionnaires. The objective was to determine the best way to teach pharmacology and the areas the students prefer most.Methods: The questionnaires were administered to students during academic sessions in any of their pharmacology lectures by the help of technical assistants. It was also ensured that the identity of the students was not made known except for the gender. A total of 8 questions with options ranging from 2-4 were used. Each respondent was to select only one option as the most preferred. A total of 405 students participated during the study period and it was ensured that no student participated more than once. The students recruited were 4th and 5th year medical and pharmacy students of the University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions.Results: The results showed that the students have high preference for latest technology teaching aids such as power point presentation and use of software for lecture notes.Conclusions: Knowledge of pharmacodynamics, clinical pharmacology and laboratory experiment were preferred and significant differences exist between observed and expected results and also between males and females in preferences among some of the options. Students need to be informed at the beginning of their lectures that pharmacology is a subject that must be regarded as a whole with no areas of preference.
ABSTRACT
Poor adherence is a major challenge to antiretroviral therapy. It is now recommended that patients have 95% adherence in order to maintain sufficient suppression of viral replication and prevent the emergence of resistance. It is therefore of paramount importance device methods to improve patient adherence. The use of mobile phone calls and text messages are being explored in improving adherence. In this study, the effect of counselling plus reminder text messages were determined. A total of 132 patients was allocated into an intervention and control groups. Both groups were given additional adherence counselling at the beginning of the study and at every clinic visit. The intervention group was also sent reminder text messages for a period of 24 weeks. The CD4 count of all patients was recorded at the start of the study, then the final reading after the follow-up period. The difference in the increase in the CD4 counts between the two groups was compared to find out the difference. Additionally, patients’ self-report of adherence was compared between the two groups. Patients with 95% and above adherence were classified as adherent, while those with less than 95% non-adherent. It was found that the patients who received reminder text messages in addition to counselling had significantly higher mean percentage increase in CD4 count (36.7%) compared to the control group (19.12%), which received counselling only (p=0.007) However, using self-report form, there was no statistical significant difference in the level of adherence between intervention group and control group. It was therefore concluded that regular counselling and reminder text messages have improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
ABSTRACT
The effect of the extract of Cucumis metuliferus fruit on some male reproductive parameters was investigated in albino rats. The LD50 of the extract was above 5000 mg/kg body weight when administered orally. Histological studies showed that there was no remarkable change in the testes histology compare to the control. The effects on sperm cells showed a statistically significant (P0.05) increase in total sperm count with an insignificant (P0.05) increase in viability count in rats treated with 500 mg/kg dose point. On the other hand; 1000 mg/kg dose point produced significant (P0.05) decrease in total sperm count and viability count compare to control. This result suggests that C. metuliferus fruit extracts could be beneficial in increasing sperm/semen integrity