Self-efficacy of PLHIV for self-management at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is the ability to execute, and it is a critical predictor of health-related outcomes among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Self-efficacy directly determines treatment outcome. However, there is no evidence on the self-efficacy of PLHIV for self-management in Ethiopia. Currently, HIV is considered a manageable chronic disease. However, the burden remains high despite all the taken measures. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the self-efficacy of PLHIV for self-management at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH), northwest Ethiopia, 2022. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on PLHIV selected by a systematic random sampling technique using an interviewer-administered questionnaire at the UOGCSH from August 10 to September 30, 2022. The data was entered and analyzed using the Statically Package for Social Science version 25.0. Categorical variables were summarized as frequency (percentage) of the total. Both descriptive and inferential statistics, such as the Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed to detect difference. P-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistically significance. RESULTS: Overall, 405 PLHIV participated in the study, giving a 96% response rate. The overall median (Interquartile range) self-efficacy score of PLHIV for self-management was 22 (4) and 67.4% of the PLHIV self-efficacy score was above the median. A statistically significant difference was detected between the social support groups (χ2 (2) = 37.17, p < 0.0001), education background (U = 10,347, Z = 2.279, P = 0.023, r = 0.113), living conditions (U = 12,338, Z = 2.457, P = 0.014, r = 0.122) and medication adherence (U = 9516.5, Z = 3.699, P < 0.0001, r = 0.184). CONCLUSION: Most participants' self-efficacy score was above the median. Statistically significant differences in self-efficacy were observed based on individual, environmental, and clinical factors. We suggest training and workshops for healthcare workers and the hospital and adherence support groups should work to improve the self-efficacy of PLHIV.

Medication error and associated factors among adults admitted to emergency ward at the university of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, North-West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study, 2022.

BACKGROUND: Medication errors are the most common cause of preventable adverse drug events at the emergency ward. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed medication errors and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the emergency ward at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, North-West Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1, 2022, to August 30, 2022. Data were entered into EpiData Manager 4.6.0.0 for clearing and exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, medians with an interquartile range and inferential statistics like binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. The level of significance was declared at a p value less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: From 422 study participants, medication errors were found in three-fourths (74.4%) of study participants. The most frequent type of medication error was omitted dose (26.27%). From a total of 491 medication errors, 97.75% were not prevented before reaching patients. More than one-third (38.9%) of medication errors had potentially moderate harmful outcomes. More than half (55.15%) of possible causes of medication errors committed by staff are due to behavioral factors. Physicians accepted 99.16% and nurses accepted 98.71% of clinical pharmacist intervention. Hospital stay ≥ 6 days (AOR: 3.00 95% CI 1.65-5.45, p < 0.001), polypharmacy (AOR: 5.47, 95% CI 2.77-10.81 p < 0.001), and Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI (1.02-3.68), p < 0.04) significantly associated with medication error. CONCLUSIONS: About three-fourths of adult patients admitted to the emergency ward experienced medication errors. A considerable amount of medication errors were potentially moderately harmful. Most medication errors were due to behavioral factors. Most clinical pharmacists' interventions were accepted by physicians and nurses. Patients who stayed longer at the emergency ward, had a Charlson comorbidity index value of ≥ 3, and were on polypharmacy were at high risk of medication error. The hospital should strive to reduce medication errors at the emergency ward.

Hypoglycemia prevention practice and its associated factors among diabetes patients at university teaching hospital in Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoglycemia is a true medical emergency, which needs prompt recognition and treatment to prevent organ damage and mortality. Knowledge about the prevention of hypoglycemia is an important step to self-care practice because informed people are more likely to have a better hypoglycemia prevention practice. The aim of this study was to explore hypoglycemia prevention practice and its associated factors among diabetes patients at a university teaching hospital in Ethiopia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 422 systematically selected diabetic patients at the University of Gondar Referral and Teaching Hospital. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 20 and associated variables were measured using binary logistic regression and within 95% confidence interval. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULT: From the total of 422 diabetic patients, 61.6% were males, 70.1% of them were urban dwellers, 37.9% of them were unable to write and read, and 70.6% of the participants were taking insulin. The majority of respondents had good knowledge of (77.5%) and practice of (93.1%) hypoglycemia prevention. Only good participant knowledge about hypoglycemia prevention was strongly associated with the practice of its prevention (AOR: 2.87 (1.2-6.8), p = 0.01). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Even though diabetic patients with good knowledge of hypoglycemia and its prevention was strongly associated with good prevention practice, there exists a gap in knowledge of hypoglycemia prevention. Hence, we recommend counseling be offered to patients regarding hypoglycemia during their visit to the diabetic clinic. Counseling points such as common clinical symptoms, its negative consequence, as well as remedial options are essential elements for the improvement of their practice on its prevention.