BackgroundThe target delivery channel of RTS,S candidate malaria vaccines in malaria-endemic countries in Africa is the World Health Organisation Expanded Program on Immunization. As an Adjuvant System, age de-escalation and schedule selection step, this study assessed 3 schedules of RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS02D in infants and young children 5–17 months of age in Ghana.MethodologyA Phase II, partially-blind randomized controlled study (blind to vaccine, not to schedule), of 19 months duration was conducted in two (2) centres in Ghana between August 2006 and May 2008. Subjects were allocated randomly (1∶1∶1∶1∶1∶1) to one of six study groups at each study site, each defining which vaccine should be given and by which schedule (0,1-, 0,1,2- or 0,1,7-months). For the 0,1,2-month schedule participants received RTS,S/AS01E or rabies vaccine at one center and RTS,S/AS01E or RTS,S/AS02D at the other. For the other schedules at both study sites, they received RTS,S/AS01E or RTS,S/AS02D. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of serious adverse events until 10 months post dose 1.ResultsThe number of serious adverse events reported across groups was balanced. One child had a simple febrile convulsion, which evolved favourably without sequelae, considered to be related to RTS,S/AS01E vaccination. Low grade reactions occurred slightly more frequently in recipients of RTS,S/AS than rabies vaccines; grade 3 reactions were infrequent. Less local reactogenicity occurred with RTS,S/AS01E than RTS,S/AS02D. Both candidate vaccines were highly immunogenic for anti-circumsporozoite and anti-Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen antibodies. Recipients of RTS,S/AS01E compared to RTS,S/AS02D had higher peak anti-circumsporozoite antibody responses for all 3 schedules. Three dose schedules were more immunogenic than 2 dose schedules. Area under the curve analyses for anti-circumsporozoite antibodies were comparable between the 0,1,2- and 0,1,7-month RTS,S/AS01E schedules.ConclusionsBoth candidate malaria vaccines were well tolerated. Anti-circumsporozoite responses were greater with RTS,S/AS01E than RTS,S/AS02D and when 3 rather than 2 doses were given. This study supports the selection of RTS,S/AS01E and a 3 dose schedule for further development in children and infants.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00360230
The health care system in Ghana is undergoing organizational and structural changes, creating the need for timely and reliable information for policy development and health planning. Over the years attempts at strengthening health management information systems have been ad hoc and focused on review of reporting systems. The concern for the health sector in this era of reform is the need for the development of an information system in which there is focus on aggregation of information for review and monitoring of service performance at all levels in the health care delivery system. This article documents the organizational and structural changes taking place in the health sector in Ghana and reviews attempts being made by the Ministry of Health to strengthen information to meet the demands of the changing health system.
The demographic variables of employees have been noted as important determinants of their commitment to work. This paper reports empirical research findings on the relationship between the demographic factors of medical records management personnel at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, and their commitment to work, and proposes recommendations based on the findings. The study was quantitative. One hundred and six (106) copies of a questionnaire were administered to the 106 medical records personnel in the 28 clinical departments of the KBTH, and 92 (87 percent) were obtained in complete form and used for the analysis. Regression analysis was used to investigate the extent to which the demographic variables of the respondents determined their organizational commitment. The key finding of the study was that positive relationships exist between demographic variables (age, gender, job tenure, educational level) and organizational commitment of medical records personnel at KBTH. The findings indicate the need for the management of KBTH to consider the demographic factors of the medical records staff in an attempt to improve their commitment to work.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which total quality management (TQM) initiatives can improve the quality of services delivery at the medical records unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to help meet the expectations and aspirations of patients and customers of the hospital. Design/methodology/approach This research adopted the survey strategy as its research design. The total study population consisted of 114 medical records staff of the KBTH. Questionnaires and personal observations were employed as the data collection instruments. The study recorded a response rate of 98 per cent. Data gathered from respondents were analysed in qualitative terms. Findings The overall finding of this study was that, although the medical records department of the KBTH had a fair degree of understanding on the benefits of TQM to records management service delivery, the exiting values for TQM did not meet the framework of good TQM practice, principles and standards. Research limitations/implications Even though the subjects for the study were from the biggest hospital in Ghana, the findings of this study may not be generalised to the whole country. Practical implications The study has demonstrated the need for the medical records department of the KBTH to have and develop good TQM standards to improve the quality of services to patients and varied customers of the hospital. Originality/value The literature reviewed indicated that this study is a maiden attempt to examine how TQM initiatives including sensitivity, customer satisfaction, commitment of top management, team work, effective leadership and participatory management, people development and effective and open communication can improve the quality of medical records service delivery at the KBTH in Ghana.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.