PURPOSE: This study examined the impacts of clinical psychiatric posting on career choice in psychiatry among nursing students in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
METHODS: A prospective cohort research design was used and data were collected using attitude towards psychiatry (ATP), mental illness clinician attitude scale (MICA-4) and researcher developed questionnaires on career choice in pre and post clinical posting approach. This study was conducted between November, 2023 to May 2024. A sample size of 400 students (with data collected before posting and after posting) were involved in the study. Data were coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 26. McNemar Test was used to determine effects of clinical posting on career choices in psychiatry. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze data on determinants of career choices in psychiatry. The hypotheses (Null and alternative hypotheses) were tested at p-value
CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man presented with a four-day history of bluish discolouration involving bilateral toes associated with pain and started to become gangrenous. Investigations for critical limb ischemia did not show evidence of critical arterial stenosis. Further history revealed history of recent administration of intramuscular injections with diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent for renal colic pain a few days prior to the onset of the. Thorough skin search showed multiple purpuric rash of his thighs, buttocks and abdomen. Skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous (lymphocytic) vasculitis, which was likely to be drug-induced. The acrocyanosis initially responded to methylprednisolone, however unfortunately it progressed further to digital gangrene which required bilateral transmetatarsal amputations.
CONCLUSION: Knowledge on clinical features, aetiology and investigations of secondary acrocyanosis is crucial for early recognition and treatment of the underlying cause to prevent irreversible complications.
METHODS: We conducted searches in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from database inception to June 2023.
RESULTS: The review included 27 studies spanning 15 countries' medicine take-back programmes. While some programmes, mostly observed in the USA, were conducted at the local level with non-health-associated facilities, others were done at the national level within healthcare facilities. The cost of collected medicines ranged from US$7,416 to US$1,118,020, primarily involving medicines related to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, alimentary tract, and metabolism. Legislations pertaining to these programmes were available in the USA, most European countries, and Mexico, but unavailable in Spain, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand. However, despite this, the government or the industry in these countries managed the programmes.
CONCLUSION: Well-structured take-back programmes featuring easily accessible collection points, regular collection schedules, clear programme ownership, with legislation defining financial responsibilities, showed positive outcomes.
METHOD: This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided review included 12 RCTs on DMHIs for healthcare professionals, published before 31 May 2024. The primary focus was on burnout, with secondary outcomes related to mental health and occupation. Quality appraisal used Cochrane risk of bias tools. A narrative synthesis explored DMHIs' effectiveness, acceptability, utilization, and implementation lessons.
RESULTS: Significant improvements in mental health outcomes were observed in 10 out of 16 RCTs. Burnout and its constructs showed significant improvement in five RCTs. Studies that measured the acceptability of the interventions reported good acceptability. Factors such as attrition, intervention design and duration, cultural sensitivities, flexibility and ease of use, and support availability were identified as key implementation considerations.
CONCLUSIONS: Web-based DMHIs positively impact burnout, mental health, and occupational outcomes among healthcare professionals, as shown in most RCTs. Future research should enhance DMHIs' effectiveness and acceptability by addressing identified factors. Increasing awareness of DMHIs' benefits will foster acceptance and positive attitudes. Lessons indicate that improving user engagement and effectiveness requires a multifaceted approach.
METHODS: Twenty-one MegaGen titanium implant abutments were randomly distributed into three groups. Seven abutments were respectively selected for the control/untreated (C) group, while the other two groups were treated with rubber cups with pumice (P) and Er, Cr: YSGG laser (L). All samples were cultured with S. sanguinis for bacterial colonization and adhesion. One sample for each group was selected for SEM observation, while the other samples were prepared for CFU calculation.
RESULTS: For SEM results, at 2,000× magnification, machining marks were intact in the C group, roughened in the L group, and smoothened in the P group. At 5,000× and 10,000× magnifications, moderate colonies of S. sanguinis were revealed in C and L groups, while sparse bacterial colonies were detected in the P group. However, for CFU results, statistical analysis showed no significant value (p>0.05) comparing all three groups.
CONCLUSION: P instrumentation revealed a lesser amount of S. sanguinis adhesion in SEM photographs, but no statistical significance of CFU results was noted for all three groups.