ABSTRACT
Background: The white coat is synonymous with medical profession and helps for easy identification by patients and colleagues. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine doctors’ perception on mode of dressing of their colleagues, especially wearing of white coats and its influence on the well being of their patients. Methods: A structured self administered questionnaire was used to collect information from the doctors of all carder in the hospital during the study period. Three photographs, a man with corporate attire and tie without ward coat and the same man with corporate attire and tie with a white coat and same man with casual dressing, were shown to the doctors, and were asked which of the three pictures they would like a doctor to dress. Results: Majority 200 (72.5%) of the respondents had a white coat on as at the time they were filling the questionnaire while only 76 (27.5%) were not putting on lab coat. Also 202 (75.9%) of the respondents are of the opinion that a doctor should always put on shirt, tie and trouser with a white covering lab coat. Most 76 (35.68%) of those who supported the opinion suggested that the white coat protects the doctors/or their families as their reason. Conclusion: White coats were seen as the most appropriate dress code for doctors, regardless of gender. Low ranked doctors however wear the white coat more than high ranked ones. Furthermore the type of clothing and accessories used by physicians (physician dressed on shirt, tie and trousers with a white covering lab coat) has a positive influence on physician-patient relationship.
ABSTRACT
Background: Self esteem among adolescents is a neglected issue in pediatrics, especially in this part of the world. Females ages fourteen to seventeen seemed to have positive self-esteem and so do the males but self esteem is low at middle ages. Females tend to have a low self esteem than males Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of self esteem among adolescents and associated factors. Methods: The study was carried out among adolescents attending secondary schools from two cities; (Enugu and Abakiliki located in south eastern part of Nigeria) within age range of 10-19 yr. A structured self administered questionnaire developed from self esteem scores was used for data collection. Pearson’s chi-square was used to test for relationship between categorical variables while student t- test was used to test significant relationship between continuous variables. Test of significance was set at p<0.5. Results: The self esteem questionnaire used was classified into two major questions with several sub questions. The first group is about self confidence, self fulfillment and self worth and confidence, the second group include depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts. We enrolled 507 adolescents in this study. The mean age of all participants was 16.3 (1.2) yr. Total mean self esteem score for all respondents is 15.77±2.769. Low self esteem was observed in 3.6% of the respondents with 4.3% of females and 2.5% of Males. Low self esteem is mostly seen in older adolescents aged 18-19 (44%) and rare among (adolescents less than 11 yr (0%). Low self esteem was more common among the female respondents in all the age ranges. Conclusion: Self esteem is high among adolescents, though this is may be overemphasized as more research is needed in this area.
ABSTRACT
Background. Blood pressure measurement is not commonly done in children. Most of the studies done in Nigeria so far on blood pressure and hypertension are in older children. Objectives. To determine the blood pressure profile in children aged 3 - 5 years; establish the relationship between their blood pressure and age; body mass index (BMI); height; weight and gender; and compare the results with available values.Methods. A total of 603 apparently healthy nursery school children aged 3 - 5 years were randomly recruited from three nursery schools: two in Abakaliki; Ebonyi State; and one in Asaba; Delta State. Their blood pressure; height and weight were measured and their BMI calculated. Results. Of the 603 pupils; 311 (51.6) were males and 292 (48.4) were females. Blood pressure ranged from 70/40 to 120/90; with mean (standard deviation) systolic values for pupils aged 3 years 87.5 (8.3) mmHg; aged 4 years 93.5 (8.5) mmHg and aged 5 years 93.5 (8.4) mmHg; and mean diastolic values for pupils aged 3 years 55.1 (9.1) mmHg; aged 4 years 61.2 (8.3) mmHg and aged 5 years 61.5 (7.8) mmHg. No gender difference was found; but age; height and weight all correlated positively with blood pressure. The values found in this study were similar to those in the literature. Conclusion. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the age group studied were 91.3 (8.9) mmHg and 59.0 (9.0) mmHg. The blood pressure values obtained in this study were similar to published values in the literature