12 Jan
Misconceptions of Hypertension: RESULTS
Out of 2,000 distributed questionnaires, data from 1,365 (68.3%) that were returned fully completed were analyzed.
11 Jan
Misconceptions of Hypertension: MATERIALS AND METHOD
Over a six-month period from August 2001 to February 2002, patients attending the medical outpatient’s clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and four private hospitals (Healing Field Clinic, Ajao Estate and Victoria Island; Farri Memorial Hospital, Surulere; and St. Anthony’s Church Clinic, Gbaja—all located within the Lagos metropolis) were made to fill out self-administered structured questionnaires about the attitudes and knowledge of the risk factors, causes, complications, and management of hypertension. Those who could not fill out the questionnaires on their own had it completed for them by residents and senior doctors in the hospitals where the studies were conducted.
10 Jan
Misconceptions of Hypertension
INTRODUCTION
Hypertension is the most common noncommuni-cable disease in Nigeria. The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is put at 10-12% in the rural and urban parts, respectively. It is also the most common cause of hospital admission in Nigeria. The prevalence of this disease is reported to be 10-20% in Africa and is expected to increase in the continent particularly with the current lowering of the value needed to make a diagnosis by the WHO/ISH classification. Continue Reading »
09 Jan
Managing Pain: RACE, ETHNICITY AND PAIN MANAGEMENT
RACE, ETHNICITY AND PAIN MANAGEMENT
The undertreatment of racial and ethnic minorities is of particular concern. Several studies undertaken since 1993 have shown that these groups are at higher risk for oligoanalgesia, or the ineffective treatment of pain. While the studies identified the type of healthcare facility and the physician’s impressions of the patient’s pain as the key determinants in whether pain was treated (or not treated) properly, they also highlighted physician bias and poor physician-patient communication.
08 Jan
Managing Pain: CHALLENGES IN PAIN TREATMENT
Substance Abuse Problems
Much of the fear surrounding pain treatment relates to the use of opioids. While pain specialists view the potentially abusable drugs as essential in caring for patients, many drug-addiction specialists and law enforcement officials view them as a major cause of abuse with dire consequences for individuals and society as a whole.
07 Jan
Managing Pain: NONOPIOID TREATMENT
Adjuvant analgesics and nonpharmacological interventions have also been used in treating pain. Adjuvants help and enhance the pharmacological effect of drugs. Although they are not used primarily for pain management, adjuvants have proven to be beneficial in selected circumstances and are now commonly used in treating many malignant and nonmalignant syndromes.
06 Jan
Managing Pain: OVERVIEW OF ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
Assessment
Accurate patient assessment is essential for the effective management of pain and also plays a critical role in identifying potential abuse problems. The American Pain Society (APS) guidelines set three main goals for pain assessment: