Papers by James Bosomfi Mensah
Journal of global oncology, 2018
Health research in low- and middle-income countries can generate novel scientific knowledge and i... more Health research in low- and middle-income countries can generate novel scientific knowledge and improve clinical care, fostering population health improvements to prevent premature death. Project management is a critical part of the success of this research, applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to accomplish required goals. Here, we describe the development and implementation of tools to support a multifaceted study of prostate cancer in Africa, focusing on building strategic and operational capacity. Applying a learning organizational framework, we developed and implemented a project management toolkit (PMT) that includes a management process flowchart, a cyclical center-specific schedule of activities, periodic reporting and communication, and center-specific monitoring and evaluation metrics. The PMT was successfully deployed during year one of the project with effective component implementation occurring through periodic cycles of dissemination and feedback to local...
Development Southern Africa, 2017
ABSTRACT Analysis and studies of local economic development (LED) tend to be under the rubric of ... more ABSTRACT Analysis and studies of local economic development (LED) tend to be under the rubric of case studies to the neglect of their historical context and the role of international development agencies. This article attempts to fill this gap by focusing on the experiences of Ghana. Adopting a systematic review of the policy documents and existing literature, it was found that, despite its significance, LED was not the priority of the governments of pre and post immediate independence era. In the fourth republic of Ghana, LED gained prominence in the various policy documents but this appears to be rhetoric and camouflage because they have not seen real implementation. However, international development agencies have played a significant role in initiating, funding and implementing specific LED activities in the various districts in Ghana. Overall, LED in Ghana has crawled from the ‘lost decades’ to a policy ‘maturing stage’.
American journal of epidemiology, Jan 12, 2017
The prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG fusions in prostate cancer varies by race. However, such somatic ab... more The prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG fusions in prostate cancer varies by race. However, such somatic aberration and its association with prognostic factors have neither been studied in a West African population nor been systematically reviewed in the context of racial differences. We used immunohistochemistry to assess ERG expression as the established surrogate of ERG fusion genes among 262 prostate cancer biopsies from the Ghana Prostate Study. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation provided prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals of ERG expression in relation to patients' characteristics. We found 47 of 262 (18%) prostate cancers were ERG-positive, and negative ERG staining was associated with higher Gleason score. We further conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of TMPRSS2-ERG fusions in relation to race, Gleason score, and tumor stage, combining results from Ghana with 40 additional studies. Meta-analysis showed the prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG fusions i...
Management Research Review, 2016
Purpose Combining insights from the social exchange and signalling theories, the purpose of this ... more Purpose Combining insights from the social exchange and signalling theories, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between talent management (TM) practices and four dimensions of talented employees’ performance; and, second, to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction and affective commitment on this relationship in the Ghanaian banking context. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modelling was used to survey data from 232 employees who are part of a talent pool in the Ghanaian banking sector. Findings The findings of this paper showed that TM practices increase positive talented employee performance of task, contextual and adaptive, whereas it reduces counterproductive behaviours. Second, talented employee work attitudes of job satisfaction and affective commitment partially mediate the relationship between TM practices and four dimensions of talented employees’ performance. Research limitations/implications This study used c...
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy, 2016
Purpose: This study presents the experience of a brachytherapy team in Ghana with a focus on tech... more Purpose: This study presents the experience of a brachytherapy team in Ghana with a focus on technology transfer and outcome. The team was initially proctored by experienced physicians from Europe and South Africa.
International Review of Management and Business Research, Dec 1, 2013
This study aimed to analyze the consumption of street food across various income groups in the Ku... more This study aimed to analyze the consumption of street food across various income groups in the Kumasi metropolis. A combination of stratified, simple and systematic random sampling technique was employed to select operational areas and respondents house respectively. Primary and cross sectional data at household level collected from three towns in the Kumasi metropolis were used to identify the factors that determine Street Food (SF) consumption by employing multiple regression model through the use of Ordinary Least Square (OLS). Further, total household food expenditure and proportion of household expenditure on SF by individuals were estimated. It was found out that: estimated average monthly household expenditure was GH₵ 476.91, GH₵ 403.3, and GH₵ 390.23 for the high, middle and low income groups respectively. However the low income groups spent 85% of their income on food compared to middle 79.99% and higher 60.09%. Likewise, 84.79, (21.73%), 68.69 (17.03%) and 45.51 (9.56%) were the estimated individual proportion of household expenditure on Street Food across the same income groups. It was empirically noted that educational level and household size were significant at 1% with negative relationship with street food consumption whilst income was also significant at 5% with a negative relationship. Gender and time spent away from home (TSAFH) also had a significant positive relationship with street food consumption at 1% level. It can therefore be concluded that low income groups spent greater portion of their income on food and individually, greater proportion of their household food expenditure on street foods than other income groups.
International Journal of Case Reports and Images, 2016
International Journal of Case Reports and Images (IJCRI) is an international, peer reviewed, mont... more International Journal of Case Reports and Images (IJCRI) is an international, peer reviewed, monthly, open access, online journal, publishing high-quality, articles in all areas of basic medical sciences and clinical specialties. Aim of IJCRI is to encourage the publication of new information by providing a platform for reporting of unique, unusual and rare cases which enhance understanding of disease process, its diagnosis, management and clinico-pathologic correlations. IJCRI publishes Review Articles, Case Series, Case Reports, Case in Images, Clinical Images and Letters to Editor.
Journal of African Studies, Nov 1, 2013
Local economic development involves identifying and using primarily local resources, ideas and sk... more Local economic development involves identifying and using primarily local resources, ideas and skills to stimulate economic growth and development, with the aim of creating employment opportunities, reducing poverty, and redistributing resources and opportunities to the benefit of local residents. Growth and development cannot take place in an institutional and legal vacuum. Local development and growth require an institutional and legal framework that allows development to take place in an orderly manner and in which agents know that the decisions they take and the contracts they make will be protected by law, and enforced. This paper examines the policy and institutional frameworks on local economic development in Ghana. The paper relies on desk research and secondary documents by critically examining and reviewing them. The findings show that over the years several institutions and policies have been put in place to help improve development at the local level. It is therefore important to build the local capacities and strengthen these institutions to be able to exploit local resources and to stimulate economic development at the local level.
Open Journal of Urology, 2016
Background: Forgotten ureteral stent is defined as prolong indwelling ureteral stent whose functi... more Background: Forgotten ureteral stent is defined as prolong indwelling ureteral stent whose function is no longer desired. Ureteral stents are used in the management of upper urinary tract pathologies. Prolonged indwelling ureteral stents may be complicated by urosepsis or renal failure, encrustation, stone formation, spontaneous fracture which may either be retained or voided in the urine (stenturia). Hitherto, these complications were managed by open procedures alone in our center. We report our recent experience in endourology with the management of three cases of forgotten ureteral stents with durations of ten years and two years (two cases) and review endourological practice in West Africa. Conclusion: Although encrusted stents can be managed successfully by minimally invasive approaches in the majority of cases, the best treatment is prevention. Urology units should have preferably an electronic stent register such that when the time for removal is due, the patient's name and details are flagged red. If electronic register is not available, then a hard paper/book register should be made to prevent situations of forgotten stents. Also, efforts must be made to improve endourological services in the West Africa sub-region to allow patients to have the benefit of endourology in the management of upper urinary tract pathologies including that of stones originating from an encrusted or fractured forgotten ureteral stent.
European Scientific Journal, Jul 12, 2013
The study was carried out to assess the determinants of household food security among rural house... more The study was carried out to assess the determinants of household food security among rural households in Sekyere-Afram Plains District of Ghana. Data were collected from 100 randomly selected households through the use of structured questionnaires. Analytical techniques employed included descriptive statistics to analyze the characteristics of respondent households, and logistic regression model to examine the determinants of food security among the households surveyed. Among the variables considered in the model, household size, farm size, off-farm income, credit access, and marital status were found to significantly influence household food security. Consistent with a priori expectation, larger households were found to be food insecure compared with households with smaller sizes, ceteris paribus. Also, consistent with findings from previous empirical studies, farm size, off-farm income and credit access were found to have significant positive effect on household food security. The study, therefore, recommended improved access to credit for rural households and diversification of household economic activities to include off-farm income generating businesses to improve food security at the household level.
African Journal of Urology, 2014
Background: The objective of this study was to determine the factors responsible for peri-operati... more Background: The objective of this study was to determine the factors responsible for peri-operative blood transfusion in a contemporary series of open prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia and thus offer a guide for blood product management for the procedure. Methods: This was a prospective study of 200 consecutive patients who underwent open prostatectomy for BPH from January 2010 to September 2013 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. The data analyzed included the pre-operative blood haemoglobin level (Hb), presence of co-morbidities, the case type, indication for the surgery, ASA score, anaesthetic method used, systolic blood pressure, status of the operating surgeon, duration of surgery and the operative prostate weight. The transfusion of blood peri-operatively was also documented. Results: The mean age of the patients was 69.1 years. Elective cases formed 83.5 % with refractory retention of urine being the commonest indication for surgery (68.0 %). The mean pre-operative Hb was 12.1 g/dl. Consultants performed 56.0 % of the prostatectomies. Transvesical approach was used in 90.0 % of the cases. The mean operative time was 101.3mins (range 35.0-240.0) with a mean operative prostate weight of 110.8 g (range 15-550 g). Most of the patients (82.0 %) had spinal anaesthesia. The blood transfusion rate was 23.5 %. The transfusion rate was significantly higher in patients with anaemia (p = .000), emergency cases (p = .000), the use of general anaesthesia (p = .002), a resident as the operating surgeons (p = .034), prostate weight >100 g (p = .000) and duration of surgery (p = .011). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis however only the pre-operative Hb (p = .000. OR 0.95, 95 % CI [0.035-0.257]) and the duration of surgery (p = .025, OR 1.021, 95 % CI [1.003-1.039]) could predict blood transfusion in open prostatectomy for BPH in this series. Conclusions: A 'group and save' policy should be the preferred blood ordering procedure for patients with Hb ≥ 13.0 g/dl scheduled for an elective open prostatectomy for BPH under spinal anaesthesia. A long operative time however may increase the need for blood transfusion.
Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, 2015
The objective of this study was to analyze nephrectomies performed in adults over a 12-year perio... more The objective of this study was to analyze nephrectomies performed in adults over a 12-year period at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra and to compare our findings with reports from other institutions. In this retrospective study, medical records of 97 consecutive adult patients who underwent nephrectomy from January 2000 to December 2011 were reviewed. The parameters extracted included the patients' age, gender, indication for nephrectomy and the side of nephrectomy. Also considered were the histology of the nephrectomy specimen and the peri-operative mortality. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows (Version 19.0). Of the 97 nephrectomies performed, 62 were performed for suspected malignant renal tumors and 35 were performed for clinically benign renal conditions. Malignancy was confirmed in 85.5% (53/62) of the suspected cases. The mean age of this group was 52.2 ± 15.5 years and the male to female ratio was 1:0.9. Thirty-two tumors (60.4%) were in the right kidney and 21 (39.6%) tumors were in the left kidney; the mean tumor size was 16.8 ± 4.0 cm. The predominant presenting complaints included flank pain (67.9%), flank mass (50.9%) and hematuria (24.5%). In one case (1.9%), the renal mass was found incidentally. Among patients who had benign disease, non-functioning kidney due to renal cystic disease was the most common lesion (11/44; 25.0%). A peri-operative mortality rate of 3.1% was recorded. Our study suggests that malignant renal tumors constitute the main indication for nephrectomy in our institution. Non-functioning kidney due to renal cystic disease was the most common benign renal indication for nephrectomy.
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2015
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework that demonstrates the mec... more Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework that demonstrates the mechanisms through which talent management (TM) leads to the various dimensions of employee performance.Design/methodology/approach– A literature-based analysis was employed by combining concepts from TM and employee performance. The syntheses of these two concepts lead to the development of the conceptual framework.Findings– The findings show that, implementation of a TM system leads to employee performance, but a TM output mediates the relationship between TM and employee performance.Originality/value– This paper has contributed to the conceptualisation of TM and employee performance which will help to improve theory, research and practice in all fields concerned with individual work performance.
Ghana medical journal, 2008
Iatrogenic bilateral ureteric injury is a rare complication of pelvic surgery, which if not recog... more Iatrogenic bilateral ureteric injury is a rare complication of pelvic surgery, which if not recognised immediately results in significant morbidity and even mortality To describe the presentation, aetiology and treatment of iatrogenic bilateral ureteric injuries recognised late following gynaecological surgery. The case notes of 14 consecutive cases of bilateral ureteric injury managed between October 2000 and January 2007 were studied. Thirteen cases resulted from abdominal hysterectomy and one from vaginal repair of vesicovaginal fistula. Excessive bleeding with difficult haemostasis was the predominant predisposing factor. The indication for referral included oliguria, anuria, and urinary ascites or azotaemia. The time interval between the original surgery and the recognition of the injury ranged between 1 and 92 days. Patients in whom deterioration in renal function was ascribed to obstructive uropathy from bilateral ligation (postrenal renal failure) were referred much earlier ...
The aim of this study was to assess the willingness of farmers to adopt crop insurance and the cr... more The aim of this study was to assess the willingness of farmers to adopt crop insurance and the critical factors that influence the premium they are willing to contribute towards such a scheme. Two out of the eleven (11) agricultural operational areas in the Sunyani Municipality were selected purposively due to their dominance in maize and cassava production. Four (4)
Ghana Medical Journal, 2011
African Journal of Urology, 2013
Objectives: Bladder exstrophy is a rare and devastating congenital anomaly. These patients are us... more Objectives: Bladder exstrophy is a rare and devastating congenital anomaly. These patients are usually seen immediately after birth where correction can be attempted. Presentation in adulthood where bony fusion has occurred and bladder capacity is very low presents a major surgical challenge. Such patients require urinary diversion. This is a review of our initial experience with continent cutaneous urinary diversion in patient with classic bladder exstrophy who presented in adulthood. Patients and methods: We reviewed the social and clinical characteristics, operative reports, and postoperative course of two female and five male patients who have been living with bladder exstrophy since birth. They underwent augmentation cystoplasty or simple cystectomy, bladder neck transection, repair of epispadias followed by a continent cutaneous diversion. The continent catheterizable outlet was constructed using the serous lined extramural tunnel technique as a continence mechanism. Postoperative continence, renal function, and changes in social life were documented. Results: Follow-up has ranged from 17 months to 5 years in these initial patients. Thus far, all these patients have achieved complete daytime and night time continence, Complications consisted of pouch cutaneous fistula which was successfully repaired with interposition of a rectus abdominis flap and one case of urosepsis. All upper urinary tract imaging studies have shown stable function. All the patients are doing well with improved social interaction.
Pathology Discovery, 2015
African Journal of Urology, 2014
In a logistic regression analysis, the only significant associations with blood transfusion in op... more In a logistic regression analysis, the only significant associations with blood transfusion in open prostatectomy were the duration of surgery (.042), comorbidity (.006) and the pre-operative haemoglobin level (.000). Conclusion: The intra-operative blood transfusion rate in open prostatectomy for BPH in this series was 21.5%. Blood transfusion rate was associated with and significantly higher in emergency surgeries, in the absence of co-morbidities and with procedures done under general anaesthesia. Using logistic regression analysis, the main determinants of transfusion were the duration of surgery, comorbidity and the pre-operative haemoglobin level.
Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 2013
This case study presents and analyses Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives and challenges... more This case study presents and analyses Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives and challenges from two districts in Ghana. The study is a qualitative case study that uses individual interviews through purposive selection from officials who are directly involved in the formulation and implementation of district development initiatives. The study found that the district does not have a LED policy in place but have initiated and implemented a number of programmes that are pro-LED. These programmes are in the area of agriculture, human resource development, financing and infrastructure development. However, the implementation of these initiatives has encountered many challenges such as inadequate human resource, finance, absence of LED policy and improper collaboration among local level actors. The paper provides the way forward for the initiation and implementation of LED at the local level.
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Papers by James Bosomfi Mensah