Predictors and outcomes of genomic knowledge among nurses in a middle eastern country: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Genomics has received significant attention in recent years. Nurses can uniquely contribute to the field of genomics and improve genomic healthcare. However, they lack the necessary knowledge to accomplish this, impacting their confidence, willingness, and ability to implement genomics healthcare negatively.

Effectiveness of a nurse-led management intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetes patients in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Hypertension (HT) is an orchestrator of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HT as a whole is suboptimal in diabetes, partly due to the scarcity of doctors. While nurse-led interventions are pragmatic and cost-effective in the control of HT in primary health care, their effectiveness on SBP control among patients with T2D in Uganda is scantly known.

Atherogenic index of plasma and its cardiovascular risk factor correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes in Uganda.

Background: Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) is a reliable predictor of coronary artery disease. There is paucity of data on AIP and its correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Uganda.

Objective: To assess the profile of AIP and its cardiovascular risk factor correlates among patients with T2D in Uganda.

Type 1 diabetes patient experiences and management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Uganda.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various aspects of the lives of persons with chronic diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the diabetes care experiences and practices adopted by persons living with T1D after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda have not been well documented.

Objectives: We investigated diabetes management practices and experiences of persons with T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in a rural district of southwestern Uganda.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients with Moderate versus Severe COVID-19 Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Single Centre Study.

COVID-19 has a devastating impact worldwide. Recognizing factors that cause its progression is important for the utilization of appropriate resources and improving clinical outcomes. In this study, we aimed to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who were hospitalized with moderate versus severe COVID-19 illness.

Nursing Students' Perceived Disaster Preparedness and Response: Pilot study in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the perceived level of disaster preparedness and response among nursing students in Oman, as the country is disaster prone and experiences disasters every three to five years.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was conducted from May to June 2019 using a stratified cluster sampling method among nursing students recruited from two government nursing colleges in Muscat, Oman. The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool and Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale were used to assess the knowledge, skill, disaster management and self-efficacy in handling disasters.

Associations between environmental covariates and temporal changes in malaria incidence in high transmission settings of Uganda: a distributed lag nonlinear analysis.

Background: Environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, and vegetation cover play a critical role in malaria transmission. However, quantifying the relationships between environmental factors and measures of disease burden relevant for public health can be complex as effects are often non-linear and subject to temporal lags between when changes in environmental factors lead to changes in malaria incidence. The study investigated the effect of environmental covariates on malaria incidence in high transmission settings of Uganda.

Epidemiological Risk Factors for Acquiring Severe COVID-19: Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: We aimed to determine epidemiological risk factors associated with acquiring severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients requiring hospitalization.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a questionnaire comprised of six closed-ended questions to identify potential risk factors for severe COVID-19. Using COVID-19 associated illnesses and complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, need for mechanical ventilation, acute kidney failure, cardiac failure, and thromboembolic events), we derived an index variable to measure the severity of COVID-19 in patients.

Effect of a nurse-led lifestyle choice and coaching intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetic patients with a high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk: study protocol for a cluster-randomized trial.

Background: More than 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes have hypertension in Uganda. Diabetic patients with elevated systolic blood pressure experience higher all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events compared with normotensive diabetic individuals, hence escalating resource utilization and cost of care. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a nurse-led lifestyle choice and coaching intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetic patients with a high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk.

Alcohol consumption, hypertension and obesity: Relationship patterns along different age groups in Uganda.

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases including hypertension and obesity is rising and alcohol consumption is a predisposing factor. This study explored the effect of alcohol consumption patterns on the hypertension-age group and obesity-age group relationships. The data were extracted from the 2014 National NCD Survey of adults aged 18-69 years.

Healthcare delivery for paediatric and adolescent diabetes in low resource settings: Type 1 diabetes clinics in Uganda.

The management of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) includes setting up organised follow-up clinics. A programme for establishing such clinics in Uganda commenced in 2009. The clinics were established along the chronic care model and were integrated into the health structure of other chronic diseases.

Low consumption of fruits and vegetables among adults in Uganda: findings from a countrywide cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables has protective benefits against development of coronary heart disease, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, approximately 2.7 million deaths annually can be attributed to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption.

Prevalence and correlates of abdominal obesity among adults in Uganda: findings from a national cross-sectional, population based survey 2014.

Background: Overweight and obesity are associated with health complications the gravity of which, vary with the regional deposition of the excess fat. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used to measure obesity although is an inferior predictor of cardiovascular disease risk mortality and morbidity compared with measures of abdominal obesity. We analyzed data from Uganda's 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to surveillance of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) survey to estimate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and associated factors to provide information on the prevention and control of overweight and obesity.

Daytime Sleepiness Among Young Adult Omani Car Drivers.

Objectives: Sleepiness and fatigue play significant roles in exacerbating the occurrence of car crashes. However, there is a dearth of studies examining the prevalence of sleepiness while driving among Omanis. This study aimed to determine the proportion of young Omani adults who confess to daytime sleepiness while driving and to investigate associations between gender, daytime sleepiness and risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).

Polytechnic engineering mathematics: assessing its relevance to the productivity of industries in Uganda.

Background: The main objective of the study was to examine the relevance of engineering mathematics to the emerging industries. The level of abstraction, the standard of rigor, and the depth of theoretical treatment are necessary skills expected of a graduate engineering technician to be derived from mathematical knowledge. The question of whether these skills are imparted to benefit emerging economies still remains a big area of investigation.

Burden of cumulative risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among adults in Uganda: evidence from a national baseline survey.

Background: Modification of known risk factors has been the most tested strategy for dealing with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The cumulative number of NCD risk factors exhibited by an individual depicts a disease burden. However, understanding the risk factors associated with increased NCD burden has been constrained by scarcity of nationally representative data, especially in the developing countries and not well explored in the developed countries as well.

Tobacco use and associated factors among Adults in Uganda: Findings from a nationwide survey.

Background: Tobacco use and the exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the most preventable causes of death and disability globally. The risk is even higher among daily tobacco users. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that surveillance of major risk factors for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as tobacco use is imperative to predict the future burden of NCDs, identify interventions to reduce future burden and monitor emerging patterns and trends.

Alcohol use among adults in Uganda: findings from the countrywide non-communicable diseases risk factor cross-sectional survey.

Background: There are limited data on levels of alcohol use in most sub-Saharan African countries.

Objective: We analyzed data from Uganda's non-communicable diseases risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to identify alcohol use prevalence and associated factors.

Design: The survey used the World Health Organization STEPS tool to collect data, including the history of alcohol use.

Framework for determining airport daily departure and arrival delay thresholds: statistical modelling approach.

The study derives a framework for assessing airport efficiency through evaluating optimal arrival and departure delay thresholds. Assumptions of airport efficiency measurements, though based upon minimum numeric values such as 15 min of turnaround time, cannot be extrapolated to determine proportions of delay-days of an airport. This study explored the concept of delay threshold to determine the proportion of delay-days as an expansion of the theory of delay and our previous work.

Clinical malaria diagnosis: rule-based classification statistical prototype.

In this study, we identified predictors of malaria, developed data mining, statistically enhanced rule-based classification to diagnose malaria and developed an automated system to incorporate the rules and statistical models. The aim of the study was to develop a statistical prototype to perform clinical diagnosis of malaria given its adverse effects on the overall healthcare, yet its treatment remains very expensive for the majority of the patients to afford. Model validation was performed using records from two hospitals (training and predictive datasets) to evaluate system sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.

Physical Activity Levels Among Adults in Uganda: Findings From a Countrywide Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Being physically active is associated with lower risk of many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). We analyzed physical activity (PA) data collected as part of Uganda's countrywide NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to describe PA levels in Uganda.

Methods: PA data were collected on the domains of work, travel and leisure.

Prevalence and correlates of diabetes mellitus in Uganda: a population-based national survey.

Objective: We analysed fasting blood glucose (FBG) and other data collected as part of a population-based nationwide non-communicable disease risk factor survey, to estimate the prevalence of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) and diabetes mellitus and to identify associated factors in Uganda.

Methods: The nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2014. Participants were adults aged 18-69 years.

The Epidemiology of Hypertension in Uganda: Findings from the National Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factor Survey.

Background: Hypertension is an important contributor to global burden of disease and mortality, and is a growing public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most sub-Saharan African countries lack detailed countrywide data on hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors that would provide benchmark information for design of appropriate interventions. We analyzed blood pressure data from Uganda's nationwide NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to describe the prevalence and distribution of hypertension in the Ugandan population, and to identify the associated factors.

Health and human rights: a statistical measurement framework using household survey data in Uganda.

Background: Health is intertwined with human rights as is clearly reflected in the right to life. Promotion of health practices in the context of human rights can be accomplished if there is a better understanding of the level of human rights observance. In this paper, we evaluate and present an appraisal for a possibility of applying household survey to study the determinants of health and human rights and also derive the probability that human rights are observed; an important ingredient into the national planning framework.