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INTRODUCTION: Professionalism describes the positive attitudes, conduct, aims, values, skills, and behaviours that characterize a profession or a group of professionals. The steady professional growth of radiographers, which begins during undergraduate training, continues to be significantly influenced by education. As professional traits are ingrained in radiography students through official clinical instruction and observations, research on professionalism is necessary to monitor the perception of the subject matter. However, no study on Ghanaian radiography students on professionalism has been conducted. The goal of this study was to determine how clinical radiography students at a higher education facility in Ghana viewed the professionalism of radiography practice. METHODS: Sixty-four consenting Level 300 (3rd year) and Level 400 (4th year) students in the University of Ghana School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences' BSc Diagnostic Radiography and BSc Therapy programmes completed the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine Professionalism Questionnaire (PSCOM-PQ) which was used to determine the impacts and challenges to professionalism. Version 23.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Science program (SPSS 23.0) was used to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: A good sense of professionalism in clinical practice was held by the majority of clinical radiography students. More than 56% of them observed professional practice among the majority of radiographers, contrary to 40.6% of them who witnessed it among only a few radiographers. The students observed both positive and negative effects on the professionalism of radiography practice. As a result, 77.9% of the students said that it was difficult to exhibit professionalism in radiography during their clinical training. CONCLUSION: The students agreed that professionalism impacted positively and negatively on radiography practice, and consequently identified to need to address the mitigating challenges to improve the level of professionalism. By this, most of the clinical year students had a better understanding of perceptions of the professionalism of radiography practice. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: According to the study's findings, clinical students' radiography practice is affected either positively or negatively by their conceptions of professionalism and their adherence to them during the entire training period.
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Profesionalismo , Estudiantes , Humanos , Ghana , Percepción , RadiografíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In recent years, many localities within the Greater Accra Region (GAR) have witnessed several episodes of cholera outbreaks, with some deaths. Compared to previous epidemics, which usually followed heavy rains, recent outbreaks show no seasonality. OBJECTIVES: To investigate infective bacterial diseases in selected sub metros within the GAR. METHODS: We used existing disease surveillance systems in Ghana, and investigated all reported cases of diarrhoea that met our case-definition. A three-day training workshop was done prior to the start of study, to sensitize prescribers at the Korle-Bu Polyclinic and Maamobi General hospital. A case-based investigation form was completed per patient, and two rectal swabs were taken for culture at the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory. Serotyping and antibiogram profiles of identified bacteria were determined. Potential risk factors were also assessed using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Between January and June 2012, a total of 361 diarrhoeal cases with 5 deaths were recorded. Out of a total of 218 rectal swabs cultured, 71 (32.6%) Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa serotypes, and 1 (0.5%) Salmonella (O group B) were laboratory confirmed. No Shigella was isolated. The Vibrio cholerae isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Greater than 80% of patients reported having drank sachet water 24 h prior to diarrhoea onset, and many (144/361) young adults (20-29 years) reported with diarrhoea. CONCLUSION: Enhanced surveillance of diarrhoeal diseases (enteric pathogens) within cholera endemic regions, will serve as an early warning signal, and reduce fatalities associated with infective diarrhoea.
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Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Cólera/epidemiología , Diarrea/epidemiología , Salmonella/aislamiento & purificación , Vibrio cholerae O1/aislamiento & purificación , Adolescente , Adulto , Brotes de Enfermedades , Femenino , Ghana/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Persona de Mediana Edad , Vigilancia de la Población , Salud Pública , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease endemic in West Africa but with no previous case reported in Ghana. We describe the first two laboratory confirmed cases of Lassa fever from the Ashanti Region of Ghana detected in October and December, 2011.