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The quality of operation theatre notes in the orthopaedic department of Kenyatta National Hospital
No full textBackground: Well written theatre operation notes are important not only as a medico legal requirement but also useful for clinical research. This study assessed the quality of orthopaedic theatre notes at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral facility in Kenya, over a 6-month period between January 2017 and June 2017.
Objective: To determine the completeness and clarity of operation theatre notes in The Orthopaedic Department of Kenyatta National Hospital.
Patients and methods: Operation theatre notes in the orthopaedic unit were retrospectively analysed. The guidelines of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) were used to assess the quality of operation notes.
Results: A total of 211 orthopaedic operation notes were reviewed. One hundred and eighty seven (87%) of the theatre notes were written by an orthopaedic resident, only 24 (13%) cases were written by the consultant. One case had no theatre notes written. Documentation was especially good for name of operating surgeon (97%), name of assistant (90%) and anaesthetist (97%) type of procedure (96%), patient biodata (95%), date
of surgery (91%) and preoperative diagnosis (97%). The documentation was poor in swab/instrument count (0.5%), use of tourniquets (40/167, 23%) identifying the time of surgery (23%), estimating blood loss (25%), complications encountered if any (30%) and closure technique (47%).
Conclusion: The quality of operation theatre notes in The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is good but improvements should be made especially on recording swab/instrument count, implant serial numbers, details of closure technique and use of tourniquets. Use of a standardized checklist may improve quality of operation theatre notes in our hospital
Phytochemicals in Leaves and Roots of Selected Kenyan Orange Fleshed Sweet potato (OFSP) Varieties
No full textThis study reports the inherent phytochemical contents in leaves and roots of nine sweet potato varieties from Kenya. Results indicated that vitamin C content varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the sweet potato varieties regardless of the plant part, leaves having significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels than in the roots. Total flavonoids and phenolic compounds differed significantly (P < 0.05) among varieties, higher values were found in leaves than in roots. Flavonoid contents in roots ranged from below detectable limits (Whitesp) to 25.8 mg CE/100 g (SPK031), while in leaves it ranged from 4097 to 7316 mg CE/100 g in SPK4 and Kenspot 5, respectively. Phenolic content was below detectable limits in the roots of whitesp but it was in substantial amounts in orange fleshed varieties. The β-carotene content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in leaves (16.43–34.47 mg/100 g dry weight) than in roots (not detected—11.1 mg/100 g dry weight). Total and phytic phosphorus were directly correlated with phytate contents in leaves and the roots. Tannins and soluble oxalates varied significantly (P < 0.05) with variety and plant part being higher in leaves. The current information is important for ration formulations and dietary recommendations utilizing sweet potato leaves and roots. Future studies on effects of processing methods on these phytochemicals are recommended
Sunscreen products: Rationale for use, formulation development and regulatory considerations.
No full textThe association of sunrays with skin damage have been known since medieval times. The description of the electromagnetic spectrum facilitated the identification of the ultraviolet light spectrum as being responsible for skin damage resulting from prolonged skin exposure. Sunscreens have been used since ancient civilizations with various measures to limit exposure to sun exposure being employed. Awareness of the risks associated with sunrays has been increasing in the last century, and as a result, the science, technologies, and formulation have advanced significantly. The use of sunscreen products continues rising as government health agencies seek to contain increasing cases of UV induced melanomas. Recreational sunbathing and artificial tanning have increased the risk for these diseases significantly. This review article sought to expound the scientific basis of sunscreen use, the classification, formulation, quality control and regulation across the different countries around the world. The literature review was conducted on Google scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, BMJ, SCIELO among others
Dividend Policy and Share Price Volatility Among Insurance Companies Listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textThe major objective of any firm is to maximize the shareholders wealth. This is evidence through dividend yield and payout ratio and this encapsulate into the dividend policy of a company. The research purpose aimed at examining the influence that dividend policy has on the volatility of share prices among the listed insurance corporations in Kenya. Research design, approach and method: Data was collected from listed insurance corporations over a 10-year period with a total of 49 data points. The Pearson correlation and ordinary regression analysis were employed. The results reveal the existence of a positive link among the study variables. The correlations were found to be substantial at ninety-five percent confidence level. It is worth noting that the model summary shows forty-three-point one percent of changes in the volatility of stock price are explicated by dividend yield and payout ratio. ANOVA statistics which examines whether the analytical model as set out in the study explains variations in the dependent variable concluded that the model is analytically substantial. The outcome revealed a statistically significant positive link between stock price variations and the ratio of dividend payout. Research also established a statistically substantial negative interrelation between volatility of stock prices and dividend return. Results therefore recommend that companies should have dividend policies which are mapped to shareholders wealth maximization objective. The study suggests further studies be undertaken to determine whether there exists an analytically substantial difference between the dividend policies of various sectors in the economy
Decoding the 2017 Presidential Election Campaign Posters in Kenya
No full textThe aim of this study was to analyse the 2017 presidential election posters in Kenya from a critical media studies approach. The study employed semiotic analysis approach to identify and analyse the various signifiers and their signifieds. The study’s main objective was to establish the meanings encoded in the 2017 Jubilee and National Super Alliance presidential election posters. The specific objectives were to investigate how the posters were crafted to appeal to the voters, to investigate the hidden meanings embedded in the posters and to establish the presidential candidates’ ideological differences and similarities in the posters. The study employed exploratory research design which used qualitative method that is semiotic analysis. The main theory used in the study was Stuart Hall’s Encoding Decoding model, which theorises how audience read messages as preferred reading, oppositional reading and negotiated reading. The data was thematically analysed and presented in a narrative form. The study found that the parties crafted their posters professionally to appeal to their voters for ease of identification by their followers; the strategy was effective in attracting the targeted voters however the emphasis on visual attraction overshadowed the attention to the content of the posters. The embedded hidden meaning was illusion of many in the case of Jubilee to show that they had a huge following while the National Super Alliance presented a picture of the people representatives while portraying the leading opponent as a failure that needed to be replaced. The ideological difference was that the National Super Alliance projected a social transformation and liberation of the masses while the Jubilee presented an ideology of continuity portraying itself as being a safe pair of hands and can be trusted once more. The study recommends use of neutral colors so as to shift the attention back to the content of the posters. Voter literacy is key towards enabling the electorate to decode the hidden meaning in the posters. Finally, the study recommends that the parties should craft posters which communicate specific ideology so as to prevent ambiguities in the understanding of the messages conveyed in the posters