Developing a trauma registry in a middle-income country - Botswana.

Background: Botswana has a large burden of disease from injury, but no trauma registry. This study sought to design and pilot test a trauma registry at two hospitals.

Methods: A cross sectional study was piloted at a tertiary hospital and a secondary level hospital in Botswana.

Strengthening palliative care delivery in developing countries: a training workshop model in Botswana.

Background: The persistent global unmet need for palliative care continues to be felt acutely in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the volume is growing and access to palliative services remains underdeveloped. Recognizing the increasing urgency of bolstering palliative care infrastructure, several countries, such as Botswana, have established national policies and strategies to enhance care delivery. Given that education and training are essential components in pursuing this goal, we present a model for a training workshop that was successful in increasing the palliative care knowledge base and skill set in a group of nurses.

Symptom Burden and Functional Dependencies Among Cancer Patients in Botswana Suggest a Need for Palliative Care Nursing.

Background: Palliative care and cancer nursing in sub-Saharan Africa is hampered by inadequate clinical resources and evidence base but is central to symptom management amid the growing cancer burden.

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe symptom burden and functional dependencies of cancer patients in Botswana using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF) and Enforced Social Dependency Scale (ESDS).

Methods: A cross-sectional multisite study was conducted in Gaborone, Botswana, from June to August 2013 using MSAS-SF, ESDS, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status at 1 time point.

The impact of alcohol and road traffic policies on crash rates in Botswana, 2004-2011: a time-series analysis.

In Botswana, increased development and motorization have brought increased road traffic-related death rates. Between 1981 and 2001, the road traffic-related death rate in Botswana more than tripled. The country has taken several steps over the last several years to address the growing burden of road traffic crashes and particularly to address the burden of alcohol-related crashes.

Development and evaluation of an international, interdisciplinary palliative care workshop in Botswana.

Aim: This paper reports the development and evaluation of an interdisciplinary, international palliative care workshop presented in Gaborone, Botswana.

Method: A 5-day workshop was held in June 2009 at the University of Botswana. Clinicians, faculty, and students from throughout Botswana were invited to attend at no cost.

Exploring the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of university students in Botswana.

Purpose: Because of the serious threat of HIV/AIDS to students at a university in Botswana, faculty instituted two interventions to change students' HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior: (a) an HIV/AIDS course and (b) the Health and Wellness Centre. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the success of these interventions.

Method: A four-group comparison design was created for this study as a method for the qualitative formative evaluation.

Cultural considerations in theories of adolescent development: a case study from Botswana.

Western studies of adolescent development are beginning to corporate not only the traditional ideas of nature and nurture, but also contextual factors such as culture, ecology and historical time. This article explores how adolescent development is influenced by both a specific culture (Botswana) and a specific ecological situation (the rampant HIV pandemic in that country). A case study of late adolescents living in this pandemic in Botswana helps broaden our traditional views of adolescent development.

HIV/AIDS education, prevention and control course (BNS101): the way forward.

Botswana currently has one of the highest HIV-positive prevalence rates in the world. University students are an important group seriously affected by this pandemic. They represent one of the country's richest resources for the future, and faculty at University of Botswana believe there is a responsibility to educate them in a way that helps them preserve their health and vitality.

Using qualitative methods for course evaluation: a case study from Botswana.

This article is a report of a qualitative evaluation of a course on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome carried out jointly by faculty from Botswana and the United States at a university in Botswana. It demonstrates the importance of both international nurse educator expertise in impacting a major pandemic and the use of qualitative methods for course evaluation.