Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenge... more Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenges with postoperative pain (POP) management globally. However, these challenges with POP management are more profound in developing countries. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses concerning POP management in four selected district hospitals in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was employed to evaluate nurse's knowledge, attitude, and practices pertaining to POP management. Multistaged sampling was used to draw the respondents. An adapted version of the Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain instrument was used to test the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses and midwives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in order to present quantitative descriptions of variables in this study. Results: This study showed that nurses in the four district hospitals had knowledge deficits regarding POP management. Eighty-one representing 48% of nurses had low knowledge on POP management. An overwhelming majority of nurses (97.6%) relied on routinely rendered basic nursing skills to relieve POP and a few used pharmacological interventions. However, nurses had good attitudes toward POP management. Conclusions: POP is ineffectively managed by nurses in district hospitals in Ghana. Nurses and midwives in Ghana need to adhere to best practices in POP management by increasing their theoretical and practical knowledge, so that there will be tangible positive change in POP management in Ghana. Recommendations: Nurses must be empowered through continuous development programs to keep abreast with changing trends that pertain to POP management.
An effective method of birth control in men yet least accepted and patronized is vasectomy. Vasec... more An effective method of birth control in men yet least accepted and patronized is vasectomy. Vasectomy provides health benefits to the user, his direct family, and the entire population as it helps to control population growth. This article explored the beliefs and attitudes of commercial drivers on vasectomy in an urban community in Ghana. The study employed qualitative exploratory design using focus group discussion. Data were collected from 12 married men between the ages of 45 to 60 years who were selected through purposive sampling method. The focus group discussions were audiotaped, handwritten, and recorded. Recorded data were then transcribed verbatim, and the current version of the NVivo software for analyzing qualitative data was used to manage the data. Three major themes emerged from the study: knowledge of respondents on vasectomy, beliefs, and attitudes of married men toward vasectomy. Each of the themes had three subthemes. The study revealed that vasectomy was perceived by some of the respondents to be synonymous to castration which comes with negative effects. Inadequate knowledge, negative perceptions, future uncertainty, and the irreversible nature of vasectomy emerged as contributing to the low patronage and some of the reasons why most of the respondents had no intentions of opting for vasectomy. In view of these findings, it is imperative for all stakeholders to give urgent attention to behavior change strategies that can be put in action to ameliorate the effects of these negative attitudes and misbeliefs. Ultimately, the tide can be turned around and vasectomy will be a preferred alternative when it comes to family planning in Ghana.
Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenge... more Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenges with postoperative pain (POP) management globally. However, these challenges with POP management are more profound in developing countries. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses concerning POP management in four selected district hospitals in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was employed to evaluate nurse's knowledge, attitude, and practices pertaining to POP management. Multistaged sampling was used to draw the respondents. An adapted version of the Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain instrument was used to test the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses and midwives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in order to present quantitative descriptions of variables in this study. Results: This study showed that nurses in the four district hospitals had knowledge deficits regarding POP management. Eighty-one representing 48% of nurses had low knowledge on POP management. An overwhelming majority of nurses (97.6%) relied on routinely rendered basic nursing skills to relieve POP and a few used pharmacological interventions. However, nurses had good attitudes toward POP management. Conclusions: POP is ineffectively managed by nurses in district hospitals in Ghana. Nurses and midwives in Ghana need to adhere to best practices in POP management by increasing their theoretical and practical knowledge, so that there will be tangible positive change in POP management in Ghana. Recommendations: Nurses must be empowered through continuous development programs to keep abreast with changing trends that pertain to POP management.
Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenge... more Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenges with postoperative pain (POP) management globally. However, these challenges with POP management are more profound in developing countries. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses concerning POP management in four selected district hospitals in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was employed to evaluate nurse's knowledge, attitude, and practices pertaining to POP management. Multistaged sampling was used to draw the respondents. An adapted version of the Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain instrument was used to test the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses and midwives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in order to present quantitative descriptions of variables in this study. Results: This study showed that nurses in the four district hospitals had knowledge deficits regarding POP management. Eighty-one representing 48% of nurses had low knowledge on POP management. An overwhelming majority of nurses (97.6%) relied on routinely rendered basic nursing skills to relieve POP and a few used pharmacological interventions. However, nurses had good attitudes toward POP management. Conclusions: POP is ineffectively managed by nurses in district hospitals in Ghana. Nurses and midwives in Ghana need to adhere to best practices in POP management by increasing their theoretical and practical knowledge, so that there will be tangible positive change in POP management in Ghana. Recommendations: Nurses must be empowered through continuous development programs to keep abreast with changing trends that pertain to POP management.
An effective method of birth control in men yet least accepted and patronized is vasectomy. Vasec... more An effective method of birth control in men yet least accepted and patronized is vasectomy. Vasectomy provides health benefits to the user, his direct family, and the entire population as it helps to control population growth. This article explored the beliefs and attitudes of commercial drivers on vasectomy in an urban community in Ghana. The study employed qualitative exploratory design using focus group discussion. Data were collected from 12 married men between the ages of 45 to 60 years who were selected through purposive sampling method. The focus group discussions were audiotaped, handwritten, and recorded. Recorded data were then transcribed verbatim, and the current version of the NVivo software for analyzing qualitative data was used to manage the data. Three major themes emerged from the study: knowledge of respondents on vasectomy, beliefs, and attitudes of married men toward vasectomy. Each of the themes had three subthemes. The study revealed that vasectomy was perceived by some of the respondents to be synonymous to castration which comes with negative effects. Inadequate knowledge, negative perceptions, future uncertainty, and the irreversible nature of vasectomy emerged as contributing to the low patronage and some of the reasons why most of the respondents had no intentions of opting for vasectomy. In view of these findings, it is imperative for all stakeholders to give urgent attention to behavior change strategies that can be put in action to ameliorate the effects of these negative attitudes and misbeliefs. Ultimately, the tide can be turned around and vasectomy will be a preferred alternative when it comes to family planning in Ghana.
Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenge... more Introduction: There is documented evidence pointing to the fact that there are numerous challenges with postoperative pain (POP) management globally. However, these challenges with POP management are more profound in developing countries. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses concerning POP management in four selected district hospitals in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was employed to evaluate nurse's knowledge, attitude, and practices pertaining to POP management. Multistaged sampling was used to draw the respondents. An adapted version of the Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain instrument was used to test the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses and midwives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in order to present quantitative descriptions of variables in this study. Results: This study showed that nurses in the four district hospitals had knowledge deficits regarding POP management. Eighty-one representing 48% of nurses had low knowledge on POP management. An overwhelming majority of nurses (97.6%) relied on routinely rendered basic nursing skills to relieve POP and a few used pharmacological interventions. However, nurses had good attitudes toward POP management. Conclusions: POP is ineffectively managed by nurses in district hospitals in Ghana. Nurses and midwives in Ghana need to adhere to best practices in POP management by increasing their theoretical and practical knowledge, so that there will be tangible positive change in POP management in Ghana. Recommendations: Nurses must be empowered through continuous development programs to keep abreast with changing trends that pertain to POP management.
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