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Open Access February 07, 2023

Prevalence of Anemia and Variations of Hematological Parameters among Anemic Hemodialysis Patients in the Tripoli Region

Abstract Background: Prolonged decline in the ability of the kidney to regulate acid–base balance, eliminate waste products, and manage water homeostasis and entered chronic phase, toxic metabolic accumulates and erythropoietin secretion by the kidney is decreasing and causes hematological changes including decrease of HCT, MCV, RBCs and platelet counts. Hemodialysis became a practical treatment for kidney failure and is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Anemia is one of the most common complications in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients and investigate the variations of hematological parameters among anemic hemodialysis patients in the Tripoli region. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 250 renal failure patients, attending Tripoli Center for dialysis and 100 normal healthy subjects. The study Ethical Committee of the medical centers and the Libyan Academy of graduate studies reviewed and approved the study design and patient consent statements were taken from each patient. Information's about the patients were recorded in a questionnaire. A blood sample of 5 ml was drawn by venous puncture from each normal healthy individual and hemodialysis patient. 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in K-EDTA tubes for the hematological examinations and another 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in a plain tubes for biochemical tests (serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations). The hematological parameters (RBCs count, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBCs count, differential count of WBCs, and Platelets count) were determined using an automated hematology analyzer Sysmex (K- 4500) machine. The data were compared using GraphPad Prism version.9. The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated with the independent t-test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients was 89.8%. The degrees of anemia were 17% severe, 71.66% moderate, and 11.34% mild anemia. The types of anemia were 13.36% microcytic hypochromic, 82.59% normocytic hypochromic, and 4.05% macrocytic hypochromic anemia. RBCs, WBCs & platelets counts, Hct, MCHC, and Lymphocytes % showed a significant (P<0.01) decrease, and MCV was a significant (P<0.01) increase in the anemic hemodialysis patients compared with the healthy individuals. But, a significant (P<0.05) decrease in MCH was observed in the anemic hemodialysis patients when compared with the healthy individuals. A significant correlation was observed between RBCs and their indices with most of the hematological parameters. A significant (P<0.01) negative correlation was observed between serum urea with Hb, and RBCs count and Hct. While, a significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was recorded between uric acid with platelets count. A significant (P<0.05) positive correlation was observed between gender with platelets count, while, a significant negative correlation was recorded between gender with serum urea (P<0.01), creatinine, and uric acid, and Hb (P<0.05). A significant (P<0.01) negative correlation was observed between blood groups with serum uric acid. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was observed between durations of hemodialysis with RBCs count and Hb, while, a significant (P<0.05 [...] Read more.
Background: Prolonged decline in the ability of the kidney to regulate acid–base balance, eliminate waste products, and manage water homeostasis and entered chronic phase, toxic metabolic accumulates and erythropoietin secretion by the kidney is decreasing and causes hematological changes including decrease of HCT, MCV, RBCs and platelet counts. Hemodialysis became a practical treatment for kidney failure and is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Anemia is one of the most common complications in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients and investigate the variations of hematological parameters among anemic hemodialysis patients in the Tripoli region. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 250 renal failure patients, attending Tripoli Center for dialysis and 100 normal healthy subjects. The study Ethical Committee of the medical centers and the Libyan Academy of graduate studies reviewed and approved the study design and patient consent statements were taken from each patient. Information's about the patients were recorded in a questionnaire. A blood sample of 5 ml was drawn by venous puncture from each normal healthy individual and hemodialysis patient. 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in K-EDTA tubes for the hematological examinations and another 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in a plain tubes for biochemical tests (serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations). The hematological parameters (RBCs count, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBCs count, differential count of WBCs, and Platelets count) were determined using an automated hematology analyzer Sysmex (K- 4500) machine. The data were compared using GraphPad Prism version.9. The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated with the independent t-test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients was 89.8%. The degrees of anemia were 17% severe, 71.66% moderate, and 11.34% mild anemia. The types of anemia were 13.36% microcytic hypochromic, 82.59% normocytic hypochromic, and 4.05% macrocytic hypochromic anemia. RBCs, WBCs & platelets counts, Hct, MCHC, and Lymphocytes % showed a significant (P<0.01) decrease, and MCV was a significant (P<0.01) increase in the anemic hemodialysis patients compared with the healthy individuals. But, a significant (P<0.05) decrease in MCH was observed in the anemic hemodialysis patients when compared with the healthy individuals. A significant correlation was observed between RBCs and their indices with most of the hematological parameters. A significant (P<0.01) negative correlation was observed between serum urea with Hb, and RBCs count and Hct. While, a significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was recorded between uric acid with platelets count. A significant (P<0.05) positive correlation was observed between gender with platelets count, while, a significant negative correlation was recorded between gender with serum urea (P<0.01), creatinine, and uric acid, and Hb (P<0.05). A significant (P<0.01) negative correlation was observed between blood groups with serum uric acid. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was observed between durations of hemodialysis with RBCs count and Hb, while, a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation was recorded between durations of hemodialysis with body weight, and MCHC. Conclusion: It can be concluded that a higher prevalence of moderate, normocytic hypochromic anemia among hemodialysis patients. Also, results showed a significant variation in hematological parameters among the anemic hemodialysis patients. So, hemodialysis patients advice to examine the hematological parameters and treated from anemia if detected.
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Open Access June 30, 2022

Weekly Quizzes Reinforce Student Learning Outcomes and Performance in Biomedical Sciences in-course Assessments

Abstract Studies have highlighted the benefits of frequent quizzing in class. Frequent quizzing can promote more student attendance, engagement, practice and review, and achievement. Conversely, the opponents of frequent quizzing suggest that too frequent testing might hinder learning by frustrating anxious students and inhibiting larger units of instructional material. Notably, most studies have used [...] Read more.
Studies have highlighted the benefits of frequent quizzing in class. Frequent quizzing can promote more student attendance, engagement, practice and review, and achievement. Conversely, the opponents of frequent quizzing suggest that too frequent testing might hinder learning by frustrating anxious students and inhibiting larger units of instructional material. Notably, most studies have used degree examinations to evaluate the impact of quizzes on student learning and performance, yet little is known about whether quizzes can reinforce student performance in the in-course assessments (ICAs) despite ICA importance in student learning. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that administration of weekly MCQ quizzes can enhance the leaning outcomes and performance of biomedical science students in assessment methods such as essay and oral presentation that can directly measure and provide information about student learning. It was therefore limited to in-course assessments. We found that the performance of the weekly quiz student group is remarkably better than that of the control student group in both the essay and oral presentation ICAs, which are two measures and indicators of student learning, suggesting improved student learning outcomes and performance after administrating weekly MCQ quizzes that also promoted student attendance in classrooms. The findings of this research study have implications for students, teachers, and curriculum designers in higher education.
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Open Access September 18, 2024

Effect of Multicultural Teaching Competency on the Culturally Responsive Teaching of Religious and Moral Education Teachers

Abstract The study aimed to establish the effect of Multicultural Teaching Competency (MTC) on the Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) of RME teachers in Cape Coast. The cross-sectional survey design was used. All 150 RME teachers in the 54 schools in Cape Coast were involved in the study through the census method and a 33-item close-ended structured questionnaire was used for the data collection exercise. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Factorial ANOVA and PLS-SEM) statistics. Results revealed that RME teachers have a high level of MTC and CRT even though the students seem not to show interest in the subject leading to them failing in their final examinations. There was a statistically significant effect of RME teachers’ sex, academic qualification, teaching experience, and professional qualification on their MTC F (30, 4) = 7.142, p = .000, partial ƞ2 =.643 and CRT, F (30, 4) = 3.874, p = .000*, partial ƞ2 = .494 [...] Read more.
The study aimed to establish the effect of Multicultural Teaching Competency (MTC) on the Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) of RME teachers in Cape Coast. The cross-sectional survey design was used. All 150 RME teachers in the 54 schools in Cape Coast were involved in the study through the census method and a 33-item close-ended structured questionnaire was used for the data collection exercise. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Factorial ANOVA and PLS-SEM) statistics. Results revealed that RME teachers have a high level of MTC and CRT even though the students seem not to show interest in the subject leading to them failing in their final examinations. There was a statistically significant effect of RME teachers’ sex, academic qualification, teaching experience, and professional qualification on their MTC F (30, 4) = 7.142, p = .000, partial ƞ2 =.643 and CRT, F (30, 4) = 3.874, p = .000*, partial ƞ2 = .494. The result showed that RME teachers' MTC substantially explained 61.2% of the variation in their CRT. It was recommended that GES and the Metropolitan Education office should provide ongoing professional development opportunities specifically focused on translating MTC principles into actionable strategies.
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Open Access June 27, 2023

Teachers’ Knowledge Base in Community Resources Used in Assessing Social Studies Concepts

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ knowledge base in community resources used in assessing Social Studies concepts in the University of Education Practice Junior High School (JHS), Winneba. The case study design was employed as the study's qualitative methodology. The population comprised two Social Studies teachers in the University Practice JHS, Winneba. Purposive and convenient [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ knowledge base in community resources used in assessing Social Studies concepts in the University of Education Practice Junior High School (JHS), Winneba. The case study design was employed as the study's qualitative methodology. The population comprised two Social Studies teachers in the University Practice JHS, Winneba. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the teachers and school for the study. The main instrument for data collection was the interview guide. The two teachers were interviewed because they were in a position to give all the relevant information required for the research. They were also readily available at the time of the research. The study revealed that even though the Social Studies teachers were aware of community resources, they did not involve them often in their lesson delivery. However, in the only case where a teacher took the learners round the school compound to look at the various types of rocks, the learners were excited and willing to learn. The assessment results also showed that almost all learners, both low and high achievers had high scores. Evidence from the inquiry also shows that teachers used only traditional forms of assessment in Social Studies. Teachers give multiple choice and essay type of assessment items to learners. Teachers did not involve community resources in the assessment of Social Studies concepts because of challenges like inadequate time allocated for the teaching of the subject, financial constraints, bureaucratic processes involved in obtaining permission and the need to meet the requirements of external examinations. It is recommended that the Ghana Education Service (GES) should design appropriate policies to ensure that provision is made in the school academic calendar for field trips and community resource engagement for Social Studies education. Social Studies teachers should also be trained on the full range of assessment techniques suggested in the 2012 syllabus. Emphasis should be laid on authentic/alternate assessment practices. At the school level, heads of Social Studies department should organise periodic in-service training for the teachers to ensure that the curriculum, instruction and assessment practices are aligned to ensure that the subject attains its intended goals and outcomes.
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