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Analysis of Oral Cancer Carcinogens in Repeatedly Heated Cooking Oils
No full textBackground: The consumption of fried food has assimilated itself as a part of food culture globally. Therefore, it is important to know the toxigenicity of cooking oils used when exposed to high temperatures. The incidence of oral cancer in recent years has been on the rise; ninety percent of the cancers present in the oral cavity are squamous cell carcinoma with multiple major contributing lifestyle factors such well as the presence of the human papilloma virus. Not all mechanisms of carcinogenesis are fully understood and are complex. Furthermore, most cooking oil manufacturers do not provide recommended cooking temperatures on their product labels. Instead, they typically advise storing oils away from direct sunlight and at room temperature, leaving consumers unaware of the safe usage limits during cooking.
Objective: This study was conducted to analyze repeated cooking oils available in Suva, Fiji for harmful levels of genotoxic carcinogens.
Methodology: Six types of cooking oils (soya bean oil, olive oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, canola oil and sunflower oil) were analyzed for the presence of genotoxic carcinogens. The test group (T0-3) of oils were heated to 190 ◦C and tested for the presence of carcinogens using Gas chromatography Mass Spectroscopy after 1.5 h at recommended temperature (T0), reheated to 190 ◦C and tested after 1 h (T1), reheated to 190 ◦C and tested after 3 h (T2) and reheated to 190 ◦C and tested after 6 h (T3). The control group of oils
were not heated and stored at recommended temperature before testing.
Results: The concentrations of Benzo[a]pyrene and Glycidol detected in the cooking oils tested were not significant, as they remained below 2 μg/kg. However, two measurable peaks in 3-
monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) was detected in olive oil (115.6 ng/ml) and Soya bean oil (117.2 ng/ml).
Conclusion: Elevated 3-MCPD levels were found in Soya bean and olive reheated cooking oils exceeding tolerable daily intake levels and indicating potential health risks. Future research should evaluate the carcinogenic potential of cooking oils in real-world settings, such as fast-food establishments. This could inform public health policies on safer oil usage practices and raise consumer awareness about the risks of consuming foods cooked with overheated or reused oils
Opportunities and challenges of conducting vaccine research in low and middle-income countries in the Asia–Pacific region: perspectives from the Asia–Pacific Vaccine Research Network
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine technology and development advanced substantially in high-income
countries, but this progress was not followed by the equitable knowledge transfer and accessibility and uptake of
vaccines, particularly among low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Asia–Pacific Vaccine Research Network
is a collaborative platform that aims to address common challenges faced by Asia–Pacific LMICs in undertaking
vaccine research and barriers to evidence-based immunisation policy and practice. A network workshop was held in
2023 that aimed to identify critical challenges and opportunities to advance vaccine research to inform immunisation
policy in LMICs in the Asia–Pacific. We found common themes to be challenges and opportunities in vaccine
research capacity and infrastructure, workforce availability, financing and regulatory issues. To help to address some
of these common challenges across the region, the Asia–Pacific Vaccine Research Network aims to facilitate the
upskilling of vaccine research capability and knowledge exchange by bringing together experts and stakeholders from
diverse backgrounds and through collaboration
TONGAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESEARCH AND ETHICS POLICY (2014 Version)
No full textResearch and Ethics Policy
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to provide an ethical framework for undertaking research by Ministry staff, as well as all visiting researchers, scholars or experts working in conjunction with any person or division of the Ministry of Education and Training.
This policy is to a large extent based on the Research Manual for Teachers compiled by Dr. Se’ula Johannson-Fua and published by the Tonga Institute of Education (TIOE). Ministry staff and or any other person that intends to carry out research in Tonga either independent of, or in conjunction with MET are encouraged to read and become familiar with this Policy and the guidelines provided in the Research Manual for Teachers. Research conducted by Ministry staff should be guided by the principles contained in this
policy. This policy should also provide guidance to consultants and researchers outside the Ministry that intend to conduct research in Tonga, with the assistance of Ministry officials. It will be the duty of any researcher to acknowledge the source of information obtained during the course of research. The Ministry will also require a copy of the researcher’s report to be made available for the Ministry’s archives
Perception of Senior Nurses regarding the Transition of Newly Graduated Nurses at Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Fiji
No full textIntroduction and Background: Registered nurses transit to the clinical placement areas after completing a three-year Bachelor of Nursing training. They should be supported by nurse leaders and nurse educators; to gain confidence in the ability to perform critical care nursing, deal with high patient numbers, the ability to work independently, and manage relationships with providers, families, and the interprofessional team. Methods: A qualitative research
design was employed to explore two important aspects of nursing professionalism. Firstly, the sentiments of senior registered nurses about professional mentorship of newly graduated nurses NGNs. Secondly, the strategies employed by senior nurses to assist the transition of NGNs to professional nursing. Two nurse unit managers (NUM) participated as key informants. Results: Two themes will be discussed from the pilot study: Responsibilities and challenges faced by senior nurses while they supervise (NGNs) in their wards. Senior nurses’ workload and responsibilities fully occupy them during the day work, leaving very little time to spend supervising the NGNs. The challenges faced by senior nurses are those of restricted time, no proper resources, and mentoring manuals to guide the senior nurses. Discussion: The results of the pilot study present the challenges of senior nurses in supervising and training
NGNs during transition, as they must complete the administrative tasks, finalize rosters, and have direct patient contact. They usually face challenges while supervising the NGNs, sometimes leaving them to work on their own where the NGN is prone to make mistakes during patient care. Conclusion: Support and supervision are key to a successful transition, but senior nurses face difficulties, and challenges in many forms, there are no mentors available
for the NGNs in any ward at the CWM Hospital while they train and supervise them during transitions. SNs take up a lot of responsibilities and provide support and supervision to NGNs. Some NGNs have undesirable attitudes that hinder the learning and teaching process. They also acknowledge that NGNs
also need to play their role in learning to adapt to the new clinical environment with the various challenges they face themselves
Prospective Observational Study of De-Escalation of Empirical Antibiotics in Fiji’s National Hospital
No full textAbstract: Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat and Fiji is not
exempt. The appropriate prescribing and timely de-escalation of antibiotics as an integral
component of antimicrobial stewardship has been recently introduced in Fiji to help curb
antimicrobial resistance through de-escalation, leading to a reduced opportunity for the
induction of resistance. Objectives: To assess whether empirical antibiotics are being
adjusted in a timely fashion in patients admitted with a diagnosis of suspected infection in
the Colonial War Memorial Hospital( CMWH) over three months. Method: The study was
undertaken on patients admitted to the acute medical ward and intensive care unit of the
CWMH in Suva (Fiji’s largest hospital). A total of 474 patients were prospectively enrolled
at admission when prescribed empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected infections between
February and April 2019. Results: A total of 356 patients admitted to the Acute Medical
Ward and 118 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit were prescribed empiricalantibiotics.
These 474 patients were prospectively observed to determine the factors influencing the extent and the timing of antibiotic de-escalation. Only 137 (29%) patients had their antibiotic regimen de-escalated in the first 72 h post-admission based on their microbiological results, whereas, 207 (42%) were de-escalated more than 72 h after admission (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.89; p < 0.016). Conclusions: At CWMH, antibiotic de-escalation is slow and may be improved by quicker laboratory reporting, greater access to laboratory results for prescribers, and the availability of a wider range of narrow-spectrum antibiotics to assist de-escalation
Tonga Christian and Philosophical Education Framework.
No full textKo e ‘Otua mo Tonga ko Hoku Tofiʻa” Christian Education Framewor
“KO E ‘OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFIʻA” CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FRAMEWORK
No full textVision
For God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Mission
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, to the close of the age.
(Matthew 28: 18-20
"Fear of the unknown": Health, disability, and stakeholder perspectives on the behavioral and social drivers of vaccination in children with disability in Fiji
No full textVaccinating children with disability in low- and middle-income countries, such as Fiji, is a key
priority for equity. This study aimed to understand the social and behavioral drivers of vac�cine uptake among children with disability in Fiji, from the perspectives of health, disability,
and community stakeholders. Five qualitative focus groups were conducted with 22 stake�holders, including healthcare workers, disability service providers and advocates, and com�munity and faith leaders (female n = 17, 77%). Data were collected and analyzed using
reflexive thematic analysis and applied the World Health Organization’s Behavioral and
Social Drivers of Vaccination framework. Numerous drivers were reported to impact vacci�nation for children with disability. These included (1) Thinking and feeling: lack of reliable
information about vaccine benefits and safety for children with disability; (2) Social pro�cesses: disability stigma and discrimination impacted families of children with disability
engaging with healthcare services; lack of tailored vaccination communication and engage�ment strategies; and, need for improved disability and health service collaboration; (3) Moti�vation: lack of awareness and support for parents of children with disability to have their children vaccinated, and religious beliefs negatively impacted motivation; (4) Practical issues: long waiting times and lack of suitable waiting areas for children with disability; finan�cial and time barriers; and, lack of healthcare worker knowledge and confidence in providing vaccines to children with disability, impacted patient-provider trust. The findings from this study can inform strategic actions to overcome barriers to vaccination for children with disability, including strengthening existing vaccination programs, promoting greater equity in vaccination for children with disability in Fiji. This will reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in this priority group
Fear of the unknown": Health, disability, and stakeholder perspectives on the behavioral and social drivers of vaccination in children with disability in Fiji
No full textVaccinating children with disability in low- and middle-income countries, such as Fiji, is a key priority for equity. This study aimed to understand the social and behavioral drivers of vaccine uptake among children with disability in Fiji, from the perspectives of health, disability, and community stakeholders. Five qualitative focus groups were conducted with 22 stakeholders, including healthcare workers, disability service providers and advocates, and community and faith leaders (female n = 17, 77%). Data were collected and analyzed using
reflexive thematic analysis and applied the World Health Organization’s Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination framework. Numerous drivers were reported to impact vaccination for children with disability. These included (1) Thinking and feeling: lack of reliable information about vaccine benefits and safety for children with disability; (2) Social processes: disability stigma and discrimination impacted families of children with disability engaging with healthcare services; lack of tailored vaccination communication and engagement strategies; and, need for improved disability and health service collaboration; (3) Motivation: lack of awareness and support for parents of children with disability to have their
children vaccinated, and religious beliefs negatively impacted motivation; (4) Practical issues: long waiting times and lack of suitable waiting areas for children with disability; financial and time barriers; and, lack of healthcare worker knowledge and confidence in providing vaccines to children with disability, impacted patient-provider trust. The findings from this study can inform strategic actions to overcome barriers to vaccination for children with disability, including strengthening existing vaccination programs and promoting greater equity in
vaccination for children with disability in Fiji. This will reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in this priority group
Efficacy of ‘Triple Therapy’ in Eradicating Ulcer Related Helicobacter pylori Infection at a Tertiary Hospital in Fiji—A Pilot Study
No full textABSTRACT
Background: Fiji currently uses a seven-day Clarithromycin based triple therapy regimen for Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori)
eradication, and the local eradication rate is unknown. H. pylori testing is performed using a rapid urease test (RUT) during
gastroscopy in Fiji.
Methods: A year-long prospective observational study was undertaken at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji. Eligible
participants included patients who had peptic ulcer disease (PUD) on gastroscopy and a positive RUT. Consenting participants
were prescribed Clarithromycin based triple therapy for 7days, and underwent a second gastroscopy with RUT after 6 to 8weeks.
Participants who tested positive on a repeat RUT received Clarithromycin based triple therapy for 14days, and underwent a third
gastroscopy and RUT. Participants who remained positive for H. pylori were prescribed quadruple therapy for 14days.
Results: Forty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. Thirty-six (73.5%) had a negative RUT after a seven-day Clarithromycin�based regimen. Eleven of the 13 participants who remained positive eradicated H. pylori after being given another course of
the same regimen for 14days, resulting in a final eradication rate of 95.9%. The remaining two participants received quadruple
therapy for 14days.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates an eradication rate of 73.5% using a seven-day Clarithromycin-based regimen in Fiji
among H. pylori positive patients with PUD on gastroscopy. This was significantly improved using a 14-day regimen. H. pylori
has reduced susceptibility to the current seven-day Clarithromycin based regimen. Future local guidelines should extend to
14days to achieve a greater eradication rate.
JEL Classification: Upper Gu