Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to provide initial treatment for life-threatening conditions, some patients make inappropriate use of the service. This study is aimed to determine the level of inappropriate use and the morbidity pattern of such patients presenting to the department in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which inappropriate users of the AED of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were recruited. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and diagnoses based on ICPC-2 were collected from them and analysed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 430 patients were recruited with age range of 18-62 years and mean of 38.45 ± 7.2 years. Considering the socio-demographic characteristics, only the association between gender and utilisation of the AED was statistically significant (p = 0.014). The prevalence of inappropriate use of the AED was 37.7%. The most frequent diagnosis among inappropriate users using the ICPC rubrics was polyuria and glycosuria (9.88%). When the cases were listed by the organ systems according to ICPC chapters, it was found that the commonest diagnoses were gastrointestinal (20.9%) and general and unspecified conditions (17.7%). Psychological conditions were not identified in this study. The most common reason for inappropriately presentation at the AED was patients referring themselves for quick attention (46 . 3%). Conclusions:The level of inappropriate utilisation of the accident and emergency department was very high in this institution. Creation of public awareness will curtail this sickness behaviour.
Although fishing is of great economic importance, it has been described as a very dangerous and strenuous occupation worldwide. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and explore the coping strategies of fishermen in the Oyorokoto fishing settlement in Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty-four fishermen with an age range of 18 to 64 years and a mean age of 34.12 years (SD = 6.52) were recruited. LBP was identified in 262 (68.23%) of the participants. LBP was significantly associated with age, educational status, and body mass index (BMI; χ = 102.23, p < .001) but not with marital status (p = .211). Severe LBP was identified among participants who were in the age group 35 to 44 years (33.93%), married (79.46%), primary education (45.54%), and abnormal BMI (73.32%). Participants ≥55 years (6.25%), widowers (1.79%), tertiary education (3.57%), and normal BMI (27.68%) had the least LBP. LBP was least prevalent in those who had practiced fishing for a duration of ≥21 years (25.57%) as compared with other groups (χ = 10.49, p = .03). The number of fishing trips per week was not significantly associated with the severity of LBP. Significant difference was identified between those who used nonmotorized boats as compared with motorized types (χ = 12.75, p = .002). The coping strategy with the highest score was religion 7.23 (SD = 1.12). The coping strategy with the lowest score was substance abuse 3.01 (SD = 0.57). In conclusion, LBP is an important health problem among fishermen. Religion is the most common coping strategy used by the fishermen.
Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to provide initial treatment for life-threatening conditions, some patients make inappropriate use of the service. This study is aimed to determine the level of inappropriate use and the morbidity pattern of such patients presenting to the department in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which inappropriate users of the AED of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were recruited. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and diagnoses based on ICPC-2 were collected from them and analysed using SPSS version 17.Results: A total of 430 patients were recruited with age range of 18–62 years and mean of 38.45 ± 7.2 years. Considering the socio-demographic characteristics, only the association between gender and utilisation of the AED was statistically significant (p = 0.014). The prevalence of inappropriate use of the AED was 37.7%. The most frequent diagnosis among inappropriate users using the ICPC rubrics was polyuria and glycosuria (9.88%). When the cases were listed by the organ systems according to ICPC chapters, it was found that the commonest diagnoses were gastrointestinal (20.9%) and general and unspecified conditions (17.7%). Psychological conditions were not identified in this study. The most common reason for inappropriately presentation at the AED was patients referring themselves for quick attention (46.3%).Conclusions: The level of inappropriate utilisation of the accident and emergency department was very high in this institution. Creation of public awareness will curtail this sickness behaviour.
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