Perceptions and Experiences About Device-Emitted Radiofrequency Radiation and Its Effects on Selected Brain Health Parameters in Southwest Nigeria

The global incidence of cancer is rising, and low-income and lower-middle-income countries have the worst figures. However, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and cervical cancer screening practices remains poor in these regions. This study assessed the concept of health literacy as a potential determinant of knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and screening practices among female undergraduates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 female undergraduates at a university in southwest Nigeria. A validated questionnaire composed of subscales on nine components of health literacy, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention, and cervical cancer screening practices was used for data collection. The majority of the respondents obtained a high score on most of the components of health literacy and 66% had good knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Only 11% demonstrated good practices of Pap smear testing. Of all the components of health literacy, “feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers” (OR = 0.075; 95% CI [0.036–0.115]; p = 0.015) and “understanding health information well enough to know what to do” (OR = 0.055; 95% CI [0.006–0.104]; p = 0.029) were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Out of the major challenges related to cervical cancer screening among undergraduates, the feeling of being at risk (OR = 4.71; p < 0.05) and uncomfortable experiences from past screening (OR = 0.12; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with going for cervical cancer screening. The study concluded that levels of health literacy influenced knowledge of cervical cancer prevention among female undergraduates, but it did not affect their engagement in cervical cancer screening practices.

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Use of Collaborative Technologies for Knowledge Management in Psychiatric Hospitals in Southwest Nigeria

Mousaion ◽

10.25159/2663-659x/6453 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Oluyemi Folorunso Ayanbode ◽

Williams Ezinwa Nwagwu

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Management ◽

Psychiatric Hospitals ◽

Task Interdependence ◽

Sample Survey ◽

Team Members ◽

Collaborative Technologies ◽

Southwest Nigeria ◽

Transfer And Retention ◽

Retention Of Knowledge ◽

Therapy Team

This article concerns the study examining the use of collaborative technologies (CTs) for the acquisition, creation, sharing, transfer, and retention of knowledge by therapy team members (TTMs) in psychiatric hospitals, and the determinants of the use of CTs as well as how they relate to knowledge management (KM) practices. The skills of the TTMs in the use of CTs were also investigated. Carried out within the positivist and constructivist paradigms, a sample survey was conducted among TTMs from two purposively selected psychiatric hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected from self-administered questionnaires completed by 283 TTMs and was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22. Qualitative data was collected from interviews conducted with four heads of departments. The study showed that the TTMs in the relevant hospitals used 26 different CTs for knowledge acquisition, creation, sharing, transfer, and retention. The largest proportion (84.5%) of the respondents confirmed that skill in the use of CTs determined the use of CTs for KM practices. More than half (54.3%) of the TTMs were highly skilled in the use of CTs for KM practices. The findings suggested that the respondents were positively inclined towards the use of CTs and that they were involved in the use of various CTs to facilitate KM practices and processes. It was found that task interdependence was characteristic of the TTMs’ work in the selected psychiatric hospitals, and that, to benefit from the potential advantages of task interdependence and to effectively employ CTs in operations and processes, TTMs’ skills in the use of CTs should be developed. In addition, professional ties among experts in different fields of specialisation should be encouraged.

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