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- ItemFactors Associated With Physical Activity Participation Among Students of Uganda Christian University, Mukono(Uganda Christian University, 2024-05-30) Edson MondayBackground: Physical activity is integral to the overall health and well-being of university students. Understanding the factors that influence their participation in physical activity is crucial for fostering a healthy and active student community. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers to engaging in physical activity among students at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design, employing a quantitative research approach, was utilized to collect data through questionnaires. The study involved 207 respondents, students at UCU, selected through consecutive sampling. The questionnaires were designed to capture perceptions of preventive health benefits, venue accessibility, and safety, social advantages, as well as barriers like time constraints, fatigue, and inconvenient schedules for exercise facilities. Results: Key facilitators for physical activity at UCU include students' perceptions of preventive health benefits, accessibility and safety of venues, and social advantages associated with physical engagement 94.7% (Mean = 3.44; SD = 0.643. Conversely, identified barriers encompass time constraints, fatigue, and inconvenient schedules for exercise facilities. Discussion: The findings suggest that students at UCU are motivated to engage in physical activity when they perceive preventive health benefits, accessible and safe venues, and social advantages. However, challenges arise due to time constraints, fatigue, and inconvenient schedules for exercise facilities. Comparisons with existing literature and discussions on the practical implications of these findings are essential for a comprehensive understanding. Conclusion: To address these challenges, there is a pressing need to implement flexible exercise facility scheduling, expand and maintain exercise facilities, and foster peer-led activity groups. Recognizing these facilitators and barriers provides a foundation for tailored interventions to promote physical activity among students at UCU. Keywords: Physical activity, preventive health benefits, time constraints, students, Uganda Christian University.
- ItemEffect of an Education Intervention Based on Utilization of an Individualized Rapid Assessment Tool on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare workers Regarding Medical Waste Management: A Quasi-Experimental Study at Selected Health Center III’s in Mukono District.(Uganda Christian University, 2024-04-30) Irene NakamatteBackground/Purpose: At least 5 million people including nurses, doctors, and laboratory workers are diagnosed with hepatitis and human immune virus, the vast majority of these occurring in low-income countries. The spread of these infections to healthcare workers can be prevented through proper medical waste management such as segregation of medical waste and disposal in color-coded bins. This study determined the effect of an education intervention based on the utilization of an Individualized Rapid Assessment Tool (IRAT) on the knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers regarding medical waste management at selected Health Center III’s in Mukono district. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model. Methodology: A quasi experimental study design with quantitative items was used. A total of 36 healthcare workers participated in the study; these were selected by consecutive sampling approach. Results: Utilizing the IRAT significantly improved the healthcare workers’ knowledge (t= 8.40, P=.001), attitude (t (20) = 7.422, P=.001) and practice (t (5) = 7.9, P=.001) of medical waste management. Conclusions: An education intervention based on utilization of IRAT is highly effective in improving the knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers regarding medical waste management. Recommendations: Health facility leaders should organize regular trainings using the IRAT aiming at improving healthcare workers knowledge, attitude and practice. Key terms: Individualized rapid assessment tool, healthcare workers, knowledge of medical waste management, attitude on medical waste management, practice of medical waste management.
- ItemEffect of Implementing Chemotherapy Administration SOPs on Nurse’s Knowledge and Attitude at Uganda Cancer Institute(Uganda Christian University, 2024-05-08) Misk KemigishaBackground/Purpose: The worldwide increase in cancer cases has led to an escalated use of chemotherapy treatment. Administering chemotherapy is a complex and high-risk process that requires a multidisciplinary approach and a high level of competency. At the study unit, nurses lack specialized training in oncology and typically learn on the job, with no structured training or monitoring of the use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for chemotherapy administration (CA). Therefore, their competency in administering chemotherapy was currently unknown. This study aimed at assessing the impact of implementing chemotherapy administration SOPs on nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards safe chemotherapy administration. Methods: A single group pretest-posttest quasi experimental design was conducted to assess the effectiveness of implementing chemotherapy administration standard operating procedures (SOPs) on nurses' knowledge and attitude. A semi-structured questionnaire containing demographic data and questions about nurse's knowledge and attitude of chemotherapy administration SOPs was used at pre and posttest implementation. Participants were chosen by convenience. Knowledge questions were scored as one for correct answers and zero for incorrect ones, while attitude questions were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: The results indicated that most participants understood the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in handling of antineoplastic drugs (ANPDs) (98.6%) and the adverse effects of ANPDs exposure (94.4%). Although 80.6% of participants observed safety precautions, 48.6% did not. Most participants did not engage in conversations with patients before chemotherapy administration to assess their understanding. While reasonable steps were taken to minimize hazardous exposure, 43.1% of participants mentioned work overload. The participants' attitude toward paying attention to precautionary measures did not change significantly after training, with time constraints being cited as a reason for the lack of attitude change. Recommendation: The study recommended that the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Ministry of Health should develop institutionalized chemotherapy administration guidelines and support the implementation of educational training programs for nurses. It also suggested the establishment of an orientation program for newly employed nurses and in-service refresher courses for staff in chemotherapy administration safety. Additionally, the study recommended further research to assess nurses' chemotherapy administration practices.
- ItemDescribe the Knowledge and Attitude on the Use of International Guidelines for Management of Patients with Heart Failure Among Nurses at the Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago Hospital.(2024-03-25) Atifa MunandaBackground and aim: Heart failure is a raising public health issue globally. In Uganda HF affects more than 15 % Ugandans annually, and results to increased hospital length of stay, frequent re-hospitalizations, increase hospital costs and premature deaths among those affected. The aim of study is to describe the knowledge and attitude on the use of international guidelines for managing HF among nurses at the Uganda Heart Institute. Methods: The study employed descriptive cross-Sectional study design of quantitative approach of data collection. The research was conducted on 72 nurses who have worked for more than six months in Uganda heart institute. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions that assessed knowledge and attitude of nurses on the use of international guidelines. The study questionnaire was conducted on the month of June 2023 to July 2023. Results: A total of 72 nurses participated in this study. Average age was 36.7 years with minimum age 27 and maximum age 58 years. 67% of the respondents were below 40 years. Overall, 46.9% of the respondents had good knowledge about management of heart failure using international guidelines. Among the 72 respondents 48(66.7%) had positive attitude towards heart failure management (M = 3.8, SD= 3.3), male had nearly equal attitude compared to female (70.0% vs. 68.7%), participants who had an experience of more than 20 years had a better attitude compared to all categories of experience. Discussions and conclusion: participants had a good knowledge compared to the results from other studies. The knowledge was associated with knowledge years of experience and some forms of specialization. The results showed good attitude which was similar to other studies. Increasing awareness on the use of international guidelines might further improve knowledge.
- ItemEffect of Clinical Coaching on the Health Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Towards the Use of the Patient Health Questionnare-9 Tool in HIV Care at Atiak HCIV in Amuru District, Northern Uganda(2024-04-10) Douglas Tonny OtimAbstract Background: Worldwide depression is a concern, especially in people living with HIV. In low- and middle-income countries, its identification continues to be difficult in lower-level healthcare facilities. Specific assessment tools for depression such as Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) are accessible tools that can be implemented to support and improve detection in clinical settings. Health workers in lower-level facilities are not trained to use the PHQ-9 tool, and yet they are in a better position to screen and improve depression detection. Addressing healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices using a clinical coaching strategy can increase the efficacy of the PHQ-9 tool. This study aimed to analyze the effect of clinical coaching on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of health workers towards the use of the PHQ-9 assessment tool in an HCIV in Northern Uganda. Method: A one-group pretest-posttest cross-sectional study that employed consecutive sampling was used among 34 health workers. A 5-hour clinical coaching interventions were implemented, and a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data pre- and post-interventions. Descriptive statistics and the significance of the observed difference were assessed with SPSS version 22. Result: There was a significant difference before (M=70.8, SD=3.3) and after (M=90.6, SD=2.6) the coaching intervention on knowledge, t(33) =11.4, p= <0.001, a significant improvement in the scores for before (M= 3.32, SD=0.42) and after (M=3.58, SD=0.31) clinical coaching intervention in attitude; t(9) = -4.77, p = 0.001, and a significant improvement in the optimal practice scores from the baseline (58.8%) and after clinical coaching intervention (85.3%), p = 0.023. Conclusion: Generally there was a noticeable improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and practices of health workers regarding the use of the PHQ-9 tool after clinical coaching intervention. Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, practices, clinical coaching, PHQ-9, and depression screening.