ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of electrolyte disorders and influencing factors among cancer patients in Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Medical Center (JMC). Eighty-four cancer patients admitted to JMC were recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire and serum electrolyte measurements were used for data collection. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression was employed to determine the association between electrolyte disorders and associated factors among admitted cancer patients. P value ⩽ 0.05 was used as a cut point to declare statistical significance. RESULT: The overall prevalence of electrolyte disorders was 60.7%. The presence or absence of comorbid diseases, age, body mass index (BMI), nutritional status, and current prescribed medication use were associated with electrolyte disorders. Younger patients had lower odds for electrolyte disorders (odds ratio (OR) = 0.128 (P value = 0.05) and OR = 0.08 (P value = 0.033)) for the first and the second quartile, respectively. Underweight patients had a threefold likelihood to develop electrolyte disorders (OR = 3.13 (P value = 0.043)) than having normal BMI. Compared with those in need of nutritional intervention, patients not in need of nutritional intervention had lower odds for the disorders (OR = 0.109 (P value = 0.006)). Medication had increased the likelihood of electrolyte disorders by 5.5 times than with no medication (P value = 0.023). Those who had comorbid disease had 10 times likely to develop electrolyte disorders than those who did not have comorbid diseases (P value = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Electrolyte disorders were prevalent in cancer patients. Age, BMI, nutritional condition, comorbid disease, and prescribed drugs were the predictors of electrolyte disorders in cancer patients. Authors recommend routine screening of electrolyte disorders in cancer patients and special emphasis on controlling and managing risk factors.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) can cause serious and long-lasting consequences for drivers, both in terms of physical and mental health outcomes. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most frequent mental disorder occurring after traumatic exposure. Ethiopian drivers experience RTCs more frequently than other sub-Saharan countries. Despite this prevailing phenomenon, limited attention has been given to PTSD among drivers. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of PTSD and associated factors among drivers surviving RTCs in southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 402 male drivers who had survived RTCs. The study was conducted in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia from March to June, 2019. All drivers who had survived RTCs in the last year were included in the study. The Trauma Screening Questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of PTSD. Data were entered in EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS 24 for analysis. RESULTS: The response rate of the study was 398(99%). Fifty of 398 (12.6%, 95% CI 9.5%-16.1%) met PTSD criteria based on the questionnaire. A history of near-miss RTCs (AOR 3.49, 95% CI 1.89-6.43), depression (AOR 3.32, 95% CI 1.36-5.12), and severe-risk cannabis use (AOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.96-7.52) were significantly associated with PTSD. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The prevalence of PTSD among drivers surviving RTCs was high compared to the general population. A record of near-miss RTCs, depression, and severe-risk cannabis use shown significant associations with PTSD. Strategies and guidelines must be developed to screen and treat PTSD among drivers surviving RTCs. Drivers with experience of near-miss RTCs, depression, and severe-risk cannabis use should be given priority when screening for PTSD.
