Evidence-based practice and its associated factors among medical laboratory professionals in West Amhara hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare and clinical laboratory practices are constantly evolving, leading a need for evidence-based practice (EBP) among all laboratory professionals. However, EBP among laboratory professionals has not yet been studied in Ethiopia. AIMS: This study aimed to determine EBP and associated factors among medical laboratory professionals in West Amhara hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An analytic and descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in West Amhara hospitals from February to March 2014. Data were collected using a pretested, structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with evidence-based laboratory practice. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed and the level of significance determined. RESULTS: A total of 169 respondents completed the questionnaire (response rate 95.4%), 40.8% (n = 69) of whom had a good level of EBP. Knowledge about EBP [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.10-4.49], internet access (AOR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.12-5.29), adoption EBP (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.41-5.52) and being single in marital status (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.08-4.51) were factors associated with EBP in multivariable logistic regression after controlling the effects of the confounding variables. CONCLUSION: EBP among laboratory professionals was found to be low. Having good knowledge towards EBP, organizational adoption of EBP, having internet access in their organization and being single in marital status were factors associated with EBP.

Data Collection of Medication - Impact of Autocompletion in eCRFs on Efficiency and Data Quality.

OBJECTIVE: Openclinica Input Completion (OIC) was developed to increase the efficiency to enter drugs in eCRF in OpenClinica®. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact on efficiency and data quality as well as usability. METHODS: 20 participants were asked to input 15 drugs with the new tool and by hand. RESULTS: The mean input time got decreased from 16:12m to 3:59m. 31 of 300 (10%) of manual entered medication data sets had one or more errors versus 10 of 300 (3,3%) data sets entered with OIC. CONCLUSION: OIC was able to increase efficiency and data quality. We conclude that new additions to the graphical user interface in electronical Case-Report-Form (eCRF) systems should be validated before usage in research projects.

Contactless Patient Monitoring for General Wards: A Systematic Technology Review.

INTRODUCTION: Sudden, serious life-threatening situations happen even on general wards. Current technologies are working with sensors which are attached to every patient, which is a source of failures and false alarms. The goal of this review was to assess the state of the art of potential techniques for contactless patient monitoring in general wards. METHODS: The MEDLINE database was used for literature retrieval. RESULTS: 453 unique references screened, 34 research articles met inclusion criteria. Ballistocardiography, Radar and Thermography technologies are the most widely tested techniques. The Majority of the studies are done in a laboratory setting. No study shows the feasibility of one contactless monitoring technology over the distance required for monitoring rooms. CONCLUSION: Today no technology is feasible. A combination of technologies may become feasible in 10 or more years, until then we have to think about ethical and privacy issues of these pervasive technologies.

Knowledge of Abortion Legislation Towards Induced Abortion Among Female Preparatory School Students in Dabat District, Ethiopia.

More than 32% of maternal mortality reported in Ethiopia is due to unsafe abortions. Women's knowledge of abortion legislation is a key determinant of the utilization of safe abortion services. The objective of this study was to determine knowledge of abortion legislation and associated factors among female students of Dabat Preparatory School. A quantitative school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 25-June 7/2014. Data were collected from 234 randomly selected female students using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Majority of the participants, 147 (62.8%) know that the law in Ethiopia allows safe and legal abortion under certain circumstances. Ninety-seven (41.5%) of them have poor knowledge towards the legality of induced abortion in Ethiopia. Higher family income (OR=2.63, 95% CI=1.22-5.63), knowing the place where safely induced abortion can be performed (2.51, 95%CI=1.31-4.81) and current use of contraceptive (OR=2.3, 95% CI, 1.1-4.81) are significantly associated with knowledge of the abortion legislation. Student's knowledge of the legal status of abortion is still low. School-based health education about abortion legislation and where it can be safely performed is essential.