Assessment of diagnostic radiographers' knowledge of work-related health problems and associated effects: A multicentre study in Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: Work-related health problems (WRHPs) are health conditions peculiar to a group of people or occupations including radiography in a specific work setting. These WRHPs occur as a result of prevailing work conditions which predispose workers to risks of physical or psychological distress. AIM: This study assessed the knowledge of WRHPs among practicing radiographers in Ghana and evaluated the sources, causes, effects and preventive measures of WRHPs. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional design incorporating a quantitative data collection approach was used. A questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and evaluate the effects of WRHPs among two cohorts of 31 practicing radiographers at a regional hospital (RH) and a teaching hospital (TH). RESULTS: An average score of 4.2 (SD = 0.4) out of 5 (84.8%) obtained on the knowledge scale indicated very good knowledge of WRHPs among the radiographers. Physical work demands, ergonomic issues, increased workload and stress levels on on-duty radiographers due to sick absence by colleagues, large numbers of daily cases, and extra work without incentives were reported as WRHPs effects mostly experienced by the radiographers. The study also showed no significant difference between gender groups (p = 0.313), years of professional practice experience level (p = 0.319), and academic qualifications (p = 0.287) on knowledge of WRHPs. CONCLUSION: Radiographers working in some referral and teaching hospitals in Ghana demonstrated very good knowledge of WRHPs and identified several effects of WRHPs on professional practice. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: The study concludes that WRHPs predispose radiographers to adverse health conditions, and administrative protocols are required to prevent or mitigate the burden.

Prone positioning decreases episodes of hypoxemia in extremely low birth weight infants (1000 grams or less) with chronic lung disease.

Extremely low birth weight infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) have frequent episodes of desaturation (hypoxemia). We quantified oxygenation and episodes of hypoxemia in 55 infants (birth weight < or = 1000 gm) with CLD in the supine versus prone position, for 1-hour time intervals. Oxygen saturation was measured with the Nellcor N-200 pulse oximeter and a computer program. Prone positioning increased oxygen saturation from 92.0% to 94.1% (p < 0.001) and significantly decreased episodes of hypoxemia to oxygen saturation levels of less than 90%, 85%, and 80% (p < 0.001). Our findings support prone positioning for the extremely low birth weight infant with CLD in an intensive care setting.

Episodes of spontaneous desaturations in infants with chronic lung disease at two different levels of oxygenation.

The optimal range of pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SaO2) for infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) has not been well established. We quantified episodes of spontaneous desaturation, at two different ranges of SaO2. For 1 hr each, we alternatively administered inspired O2 concentrations (FiO2) necessary to maintain an SaO2 of 94-96% or 87-91% to 21 patients (mean birth weight, 865 g; gestational age, 27.3 weeks; postnatal age 40.6 days) with CLD (defined by FiO2 > 0.21 at > or = 28 days and radiographic evidence). SaO2 was monitored with the Nellcor N-200 oximeter and analyzed by a computer program (SatMaster). The percentage of time the infants desaturated to levels of SaO2 < 85 and < 80% revealed significantly fewer spontaneous episodes during the hour of higher baseline SaO2 (P < 0.0002). Comparison of episodes of spontaneous desaturation to SaO2 < 80 and < 85%, lasting 0-15, 16-30, 31-45 sec also showed significant differences between the two levels of SaO2. We conclude that when infants with CLD are maintained at a higher SaO2 they probably experience fewer episodes of spontaneous desaturations, because of less alveolar hypoxia. We believe that attempts at weaning the FiO2 should be tempered with the need of maintaining an adequate SaO2. Therefore, prolonged monitoring of oxygenation in infants with CLD at different levels of SaO2 could be helpful during the weaning process.