Connaissances et pratiques des étapes préalables à la stérilisation des dispositifs médicaux thermorésistants : Etude au Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Sahloul, Sousse-Tunisie - 2022

OBJECTIVES

The standard process of central sterilization is crucial for the optimal functioning of the operating room. The outcome of this process is closely linked to the steps preceding the steps prior to the sterilization step itself. These steps include pre-disinfection carried out in the operating rooms and other stages, namely washing, drying and packaging, which must be performed in the central sterilization unit. In this context, this study aimed to describe the knowledge of the staff in the operating rooms and the central sterilization unit at Sahloul University Hospital in Sousse (Tunisia) in 2022, regarding the steps prior to the sterilization of reusable thermoresistant medical devices and to describe their practices in terms of compliance with these steps.

METHOD

A descriptive study was conducted from January 2022 to June 2022 with the aforementioned staff, using a self-administered questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the pre-sterilization steps and a direct observation audit of their practices with regard to these steps. Both measurement instruments were pre-tested.

RESULTS

Out of 102 self-administered questionnaires (knowledge assessment) distributed to the staff concerned, only 80 were returned and correctly filled out, giving a response rate of 78.4%. Participants' responses regarding the order of steps prior to the sterilization were incorrect in 64% of cases. With regard to the evaluation of professional practices, 224 observations were made in the study area (practice audit). In 82% of these observations, the pre-disinfection step was confused with the washing step. The use of Betadine brushes and scrubbing pads for device washing was noted in 89.3%, along with the absence of swabbing of the canals and hollow parts in 9.4% of cases and the absence of drying of the canals with compressed air.

CONCLUSION

Mastery of the steps prior to sterilisation of reusable thermoresistant medical devices was insufficient in our institution, suggesting the importance of reinforcing the implementation of the procedure through a continuous training program followed by action plans.

Validation of a French questionnaire assessing knowledge of suicide

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Knowledge of Suicide Scale (KSS), elaborated to assess adherence to myths about suicide.

METHODS

The KSS is a self-questionnaire including 22 statements relating to myths about suicide for which the respondent is asked to rate his degree of adherence on a scale ranging from 0 ("strongly disagree") to 10 ("completely agree"). Using the script concordance test scoring method, the respondents' scores were compared with those of experts to obtain, for each item, a score between 0 (maximum deviation with the experts) and 1 (minimum deviation with the experts). One thousand and thirty-five individuals (222 psychiatric interns, 332 medical interns in the first semester excluding psychiatry and 481 journalism students) were included.

RESULTS

According to the exploratory factor analysis, the KSS is a two-dimensional scale: the first subscale includes 15 items and the second seven items. The tool showed excellent face validity, correct convergent and divergent validities (multi-method multi-feature analyzes), and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.66 and 0.83 for scales and subscales). The KSS is moderately and negatively correlated with the Stigma of Suicide Scale (r=-0.3). It significantly discriminates groups with different expected levels of knowledge regarding suicide (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The KSS demonstrated good psychometric properties to measure adherence to myths about suicide. This tool could be useful in assessing the effectiveness of suicide prevention literacy improvement programs.

[Level of knowledge on occupational asthma and asthmagens: Assessment among healthcare workers by a validated questionnaire]

INTRODUCTION

The health system is one of the professional sectors perhaps most at risk of occupational asthma. The aims of this study were to evaluate the level of knowledge of health care workers (HCWs) on occupational asthma and asthmogenic agents and to pave the way to effective educational action on the subject.

METHODS

A multicenter transversal study including 180 HCWs was carried out between July and December 2020. A validated questionnaire addressed four dimensions: knowledge of asthmatic disease, knowledge of occupational asthma, knowledge of prognosis of occupational asthma and knowledge on the prevention of occupational asthma.

RESULTS

The average total score was 13.71/18 (76.17%). There was no correlation between average total score and age, educational level, seniority or status of paramedical staff. Mean total scores were significantly higher for participants with no fixed work schedule and those practicing in non-university structures. The difficulty indexes for the four aforementioned dimensions were 82.22%, 77.56%, 53.52% and 66.67% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge gaps affect all professional categories but to different degrees. A review of the level of knowledge of persons in each category would be the first step on the road to planned educational action.

Healthcare pathways and practitioners' knowledge about ADHD in children

INTRODUCTION

Access to care for children and adolescents affected by ADHD in France remains below the levels attained in most industrialised countries. To contribute to improving ADHD care in France, we assessed existing ADHD knowledge among medical doctors (MDs) and described associated care pathways in two large French regions in 2021. We produced tools to evaluate the regional impact of implementing a stepped-care pathway for ADHD.

METHODS

A SurveyMonkey® study was sent to professionals from two regions in France accounting for 14 million inhabitants, allowing them to describe their role in child/adolescent ADHD, as well as their representations and knowledge about the disorder.

RESULTS

Around 9.4% of all MDs potentially involved with children took part in the study; 34.9% considered themselves untrained, 40.5% were involved in ADHD care at a first-tier level, and 19.6% at a second-tier level. Access to a second or third-tier service for ADHD was associated with mean waiting times of 5.7 and 8.5 months, respectively. Initiation of stimulant therapy remained mainly restricted to second or third-tier MDs, and adaptation of dosage or change in the galenic formulation was rarely performed by first-tier MDs (27.2% and 18%, respectively). Training in neurodevelopmental disorders and tier-level were the strongest determinants of knowledge, attitudes and self-assessed expertise about ADHD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into training needs for MDs regarding healthcare pathways in ADHD and should support the implementation of health policies, such as a stepped healthcare access for ADHD. The study design and dissemination have been validated and will be available in France and other countries facing similar obstacles in care pathways for ADHD. Official recommendations on ADHD in children and adults are being updated in France, and our data and the survey design will be a starting point for their implementation.

[Implementation, of multidisciplinary consultations for patients with inflammatory arthritis and treated with subcutaneous biologic DMARDs: Assessment at one year and outlook]

INTRODUCTION

Biologics (bDMARDs) have revolutionized the prognosis of patients with inflammatory arthritis, but are not without serious side effects. The patient must be able to identify them, acquire self-care abilities or skills and adhere to their treatment. Multidisciplinary consultations, including a pharmaceutical consultation could improve the care of these patients. The pharmaceutical presence make it easier to switch to a biosimilar with etended patient support thanks to the community-hospital network. The return on investment is possible thanks to the more frequent use of biosimilars and the pricing of this type of consultation by the "Forfait de Prestation Intermédiaire".

METHODOLOGY

Eligible patients are patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis, treated with subcutaneous bDMARDs. The criteria assessed were patient's knowledge of their biotherapy using the Biosecure score, their medication adherence using the CQR-5, the total of switch to biosimilars perform and the financial statement of the consultations. An assessment of the actions deployed for the community-hospital network.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-five patients (47.4%) benefited multidisciplinary consultation. The mean score of the Biosecure score was 69.6/100 (moderate knowledge) and 261 patients (88.5%) were highly adherent. 57 patients (73%) accepted the switch to biosimilar. 197 pharmacy were contacted, all of witch for patients who receive the switch. Overall patient's satisfaction was 26.9/28.

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary consultations with involvement of the pharmacist should optimized patient care and the management of outpatients treated with bDMARDs. Patients have already expressed their satisfaction with this course of care and the return on investment is positive.

[Knowledge of breastfeeding among mothers before maternity discharge]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of parturients about breastfeeding and to analyze the factors influencing this level of knowledge.

METHODS

It was a prospective, descriptive and analytical, cross-sectional study carried out over a period of six months including 500 parturients who gave birth at the maternity unit of the National Center for Maternity and Neonatalogy of Tunis during the period from July to December 2020. Sociodemographic, obstetrical and breastfeeding related data were collected through individual interviews carried out before leaving the postpartum service using a questionnaire written in Tunisian dialectal Arabic.

RESULTS

The average age of the mothers was 31.5 years. Housewives accounted for 73.3 % of cases. Forty-four percent of the women surveyed were first-time mothers. The main source of information was relatives (74.8 %). The prevalence of breastfeeding was 93.8 %. Knowledge about breasfeeding was insufficient in 76.4 % of cases. The level of knowledge was insufficient in particular regarding signs of effective breastfeeding, signs of awakening of the newborn, lactogenesis, and diet of breastfeeding women. Unemployment of the parturient age over 30 and primiparity negatively influenced the knowledge of parturients.

CONCLUSION

The level of knowledge of parturients was heterogeneous but generally insufficient. Health education programs on MA targeting subjects most at risk of insufficient knowledge should be put in place in order to improve the knowledge base and hopefully improve the breastfeeding rates.

[Knowledges And Practices Of Iron Prescription By The Pediatric Ward In CHU Gabriel Touré Of Bamako, Mali]

GOAL

To assess knowledges and practices on iron prescription in pediatric ward in CHU Gabriel Touré of Bamako, Mali.

TOOLS AND METHODS

It was a prospective and transversal study canied out. We submitted questionnaire and analyzed the case history of to the children aged 1-60 months old who received iron during the study period from 1rstto 30 July 2012. The prescriptators' consent were solicited and obtained at first of all.

RESULTS

Fifty prestators were interviewed among them 10 pediatricians (20%), 31 pediatrics' resident (62 %), 2 generalists physicians (4%), 7 medical student (14%). One hundred 100 were analyzed medical records. More than half of the prestators known the need of iron in children. Thirty percent have received iron at 8 to 10mg/kg. The medication duration wasn't indicating in 92% of patients. In our context prestators well know about meaning and the needs of iron in children bout they're limited on iron food sources and iron storage.

CONCLUSION

The well theorical knowledge on indications and prescription roules on iron in children didn't escape from miss practices in its prescription. Moreover works should analyze the reasons of discrepancies.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Bamako media Men' on family planning]

INTRODUCTION

Contraceptive prevalence is low in Mali. The information provided by the media men can help to increase or decrease the use of contraceptive methods.

OBJECTIVE

To study the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Bamako media Men on family planning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study with prospective data collection from June 1 to August 30, 2019. It concerned journalists and presenters of 15 radio and 6 televisions in Bamako.

RESULTS

During the 3 months, 615 media Men agreed to participate in this study. These are men and women from 36 to 45 years old in 37.2% of cases, married in 81.3% of cases. The radio with 85.5% was their main source of information on family planning. They all knew at least one contraceptive method. The best-known methods were pills (94.3%), injectables (57%) and implants (49.1%). They were in favor of the practice of family planning in 77.2% of cases, 76.9% had already used a method and 56.7% had already hosted a program on family planning.

CONCLUSION

Media men are essential in the transmission of information. The quality of the information provided by these Media men can be influenced by their personal perceptions and attitudes. Their better involvement in the promotion of family planning can help to increase contraceptive prevalence.

[Pelvic floor disorders: What do adolescents and young women know? A literature review]

AIM

To assess the knowledge of adolescent girls and young women on pelvic-perineal disorders (PPD).

METHOD

We searched on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Kinédoc and Semantic Scholar databases using the MeSH keywords: "knowledge" "awareness" "surveys" "young women" "pelvic floor" "adolescent" "teenager" "athletic injury" "urinary incontinence". The articles had to have been published within the last 15 years, written in French or English, and deal with the state of knowledge of adolescents and young women concerning the perineal sphere using questionnaires.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies were included in the review, 5 cross-sectional studies and 3 intervention studies. The knowledge of adolescent girls and young women interviewed about the anatomy of the pelvic floor, its function, and risk factors for PPD was low. The majority of the participants wanted more information about the pelvic floor. Two studies that conducted an educational intervention showed a significant improvement in knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of pelvic-perineal disorders and pelvic floor function is poor in adolescent girls and young women. To better assess them, it would be necessary to validate a questionnaire containing all the items about knowledge.

[Improvement of knowledge of patients treated with an oral anticoagulant after a pharmaceutical interview at the hospital]

OBJECTIVES

Patients treated with oral anticoagulants need an adapted education in order to optimize the management of these treatments. The objective was to assess the knowledge of patients before and after a pharmaceutical interview carried out by pharmacy students on digital tablets at the hospital.

METHODS

A prospective study took place in the cardiology department, with a first phase from December 2016 to June 2018. Patient's knowledge were assessed during a pharmaceutical interview; additional informations were done for unacquired concepts. The second phase took place in October 2018, and patient's knowledge were assessed during a phone call for patients who had at least given one wrong answer on the four selected questions.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight and twenty-two patients were included respectively for phases 1 and 2 (mean age=70±3.4; treatments number=8.2±0.9). 36 patients were treated by Vitamin K antagonists and 32 by direct oral anticoagulants. 57% of patients with oral anticoagulants gave a good answer for principles of the treatment and the surveillance during phase 1, and 33% for signs of overdose. A significant improvement for the 22 patients with poor knowledge was observed in phase 2 (1.73 vs. 2.5; P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The playful interview improves the patient's knowledge over time. Developing the relationship between the hospital and community pharmacists would allow us to optimize the patient follow-up.

[Knowledge of pelvic floor disorders in peripartum women: A systematic review]

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy and postpartum are periods of life during which pelvic floor disorders (PFD) can occur.

PURPOSE

The aim of this review is to make an inventory of what women in the perinatal period know about PFD, their risk factors and preventive measures.

DOCUMENTARY SOURCES

We performed a systematic review of the literature in PubMed, Cochrane Library, LISSA and Kinédoc databases by using the keywords "knowledge", "awareness", "beliefs", "pelvic floor", "postpartum" and "pregnancy". We included studies written in English or French, assessing women's knowledge using a questionnaire and published up to May 2020 with no restriction on start date.

SELECTION OF STUDIES

A total of 14 cross-sectional studies were selected from 240 studies, with a sample size of 3950 participants.

RESULTS

The topics covered in the questionnaires were anatomy, pelvic floor function, all PFD, risk factors and preventive measures. Overall, women's knowledge of the perinatal period is limited. It has also been shown that education of women on risk factors and preventive measures regarding the occurrence of PFD was incomplete.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, the knowledge of women in the perinatal period about PFD is limited.

[A questionnaire assessing knowledge level concerning occupational asthma]

INTRODUCTION

Screening for occupational asthma is should still be promoted. In order to improve the efficiency of any educational intervention we need to evaluate the patient's knowledge of the disease.

OBJECTIVES

The aims were to evaluate objectively the knowledge level of Tunisian asthmatic patients concerning occupational asthma using a self-questionnaire in Arabic Tunisian dialect, then to conduct a validation process of the questionnaire.

METHODS

We followed De Vellis's rules during all stages of redaction of the self-questionnaire. It contained 18 items allocated in 4 dimensions: knowledge about asthma; knowledge about occupational asthma; prognosis of occupational asthma; prevention of occupational asthma. A pre-test was conducted on 18 asthmatic patients to assess the clarity and comprehensibility of all the questions. The questionnaire was then applied to 107 asthmatic patients.

RESULTS

The statistical analysis proved the discrimination value in 14 of the 18 items. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was demonstrated by a KR20 index of 0.731. Factorial analysis of the principal components showed the reliability of the questionnaire and of its uni-dimensional structure. The statistical findings proved the positive correlation between the mean scores of all its dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Using this questionnaire in daily practice should inform health care providers about the level of knowledge of occupational asthma in the targeted population and improve the effectiveness of any further educational intervention.

Residents' knowledge in transfusion medicine and educational programs: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Residents' knowledge in transfusion medicine significantly impacts the optimal use of blood and patient safety. Little is known regarding this topic in France in particular. The objectives were to evaluate their basic knowledge, to determine whether the objectives of the curricula were attained and subsequently to suggest ways for improvement.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 first year medical and surgical specialty residents rotating in a French university hospital.

RESULTS

Major gaps in the knowledge were noted among residents of various specialties, equally between those with low and sustained transfusion practice. The majority of these young doctors expressed difficulties in prescribing and handling transfusions, identifying and managing its complications and understanding their responsibilities. The roles of hemovigilance practitioners were further somehow unclear for participants.

CONCLUSION

Given these results, action plans appear needed to limit consequences. A special transfusion medicine educational program should be added to the currently available medical education curriculum in order to ensure physicians have adequate knowledge of transfusion basics; at least a practical assisted situation during residency would be of valuable interest.

Addressing clients' sexual health in occupational therapy practice

BACKGROUND.

Sexuality is an important dimension of one's health and well-being. Studies show that occupational therapists regard clients' sexual health as a legitimate domain of practice but do not adequately address it in their clinical work.

PURPOSE.

This study aims to describe occupational therapists' perspectives regarding clients' sexual health.

METHOD.

This exploratory study surveyed Canadian occupational therapists using an online questionnaire that collected information on beliefs, knowledge, comfort, barriers, and facilitators with regard to addressing sexuality. Descriptive analysis was conducted on questionnaire data, and content analysis was used to organize respondents' comments.

FINDINGS.

While most respondents believed that addressing sexuality was within their scope, few actually did so in practice. Participants reported comfort with sexuality but identified lack of knowledge as a barrier to addressing clients' sexual health.

IMPLICATIONS.

This study provided a greater understanding of factors that require consideration for occupational therapists to effectively meet clients' sexual health needs.

[Evaluation of the quality of long-term anticoagulation therapy with antivitamin-K in atrial fibrillation]

AIM

To assess the quality of long-term anticoagulation therapy with antivitamin-K in patients with atrial fibrillation by measuring the TTR and to determine the factors associated with a good TTR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is an observational study conducted over a period of three years (from January 2013 until December 2015) in the outpatient clinic of cardiology of Farhat Hached hospital of Sousse, Tunisia. Pre-established individual plugs were used for data collection. The data analysis was performed using the SPSS Software, version 20.

RESULTS

Overall, 200 patients were eligible. Half of the patients did not know the risks of AVK and 29.1% were unaware of their interest. The average TTR was 57.3±18.2%. Good control of anticoagulation was obtained in 24.5% of patients. Those with a≥70% were more autonomous, observant, of urban origin, living in Sousse and Kairouan, with good knowledge about AVK and having a small left atrium. The factors associated negatively with TTR were hypertension, diabetes, old AF, hematological diseases, high number of medications taken daily and the presence of mitral insufficiency, mitral valve replacement, a tricuspid insufficiency or a tricuspid plasty.

CONCLUSION

The quality of AVK anticoagulation in AF patients is insufficient. Improving this indicator would reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with AVK treatment.

[Prospective evaluation of the knowledge of couples concerning the prenatal screening ultrasound]

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of the knowledge of couples concerning the prenatal screening ultrasound in order to improve information.

METHODS

This prospective, observational and comparative study was carried out in three maternal centers: a level III maternity, a level II private maternity, and a private gynecologist's office where prenatal screening ultrasounds were performed between the first of March 2018 and the 31th of April 2018. A questionnaire was given to all pregnant women coming to consult for a prenatal screening ultrasound. It included items on maternal characteristics, pregnancy characteristics, and screening ultrasound.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-nine women answered the questionnaire. On the 138 participants who had consulted in the level III maternity, 42 % expected them to study fetal well-being, 38 % growth, and 13 % malformation. Forty-six percent attested to have received a request for consent, as well as information about these ultrasounds. The same is true for the 120 spouses in thelevel III maternity where only 7 % expected a malformation search to be carried out. The number of participants in the type II private maternity and the private gynecologist's office was insufficient.

CONCLUSION

The information given and received, and the knowledge of couples in this level III maternity about the prenatal screening ultrasound seem to be insufficient. It is therefore important to inform the pregnant women and their spouse by giving consent before the first ultrasound and by a verbal message, simple and clear about what the professional is looking for in order to reduce this discrepancy, and thus prepare the couple in case of announcement of an anomaly.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare providers on suspected Ebola cases in Guinea]

BACKGROUND

Developing a more resilient health system to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a necessity in Guinea. This implies having information on the knowledge and practices that health staffs had during the preceding the EVD outbreak. The objective of this study was to compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices of routine healthcare providers on suspected EVD cases in the affected and non-affected districts in Guinea.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted from December 6th to 30th, 2014 with health staffs and community health workers from 120 health facilities, in four health districts more affected by the EVD and four others less affected.

RESULTS

Health staffs who declared being able to identify a suspected EVD case were represented more in the more affected districts (95.2%) than in the less affected districts (78.7%, P<0.01). The main practice towards a suspected case in the more affected districts was referral to the Ebola treatment centre (79.2%, versus 20% in the less affected districts, P<0.05), while in the less affected districts, cases were first tested for malaria prior to treatment or referral (3 cases out of 5). Community health workers who declared being able to identify a suspected EVD case were significantly more represented in the more affected districts (73%) than in the less affected districts (38.1%, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that health system managers should prioritize capacity building of health providers in EVD affected as well as in non-affected districts to ensure better preparation for and response to EVD outbreaks.

[Parental project of general medicine residents from Aix-Marseille university: Theoretical knowledge in reproduction and behavior towards parenting]

OBJECTIVES

Analyze residents' intentions about parenting and knowledge about fertility, as well as their alleged behavior towards a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective study with distribution of self-administered questionnaire to residents of Aix-Marseille university from June to September 2015. The questionnaire was composed of a first descriptive part including generic and personal informations about the residents and their intentions towards parenting. The second part was a 9 questions survey aimed at testing their knowledge about fertility and ovarian reserve and a final question placing them in a situation of a diminished ovarian reserve diagnosis in order to analyze their reactions.

RESULTS

The overall participation rate was 53.2%, including 220 women with an average age of 27 years (SD: 1.8 years) and 116 men with an average age of 27.3 years (SD: 2.2 years). The 11.8% of female residents (n=26) already had one or more children vs.6.9% of male residents (n=8). Among the residents without children, 99% of females (n=192) and 91.7% of males (n=99) said they wanted to have children in the future, planning an average age to have their first child of 29.6 years (SD: 1.9 years) for females and 30.4 years (SD: 2.2 years) for men. Moreover, 58.3% of female residents (n=112) and 53.5% of male residents (n=53) reported that they were postponing their plan to have children after the completion of their medical studies. In a simulation of couples facing a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve, 73.6% of females and 61.2% of males would be ready to change their life choices and conceive a baby sooner than originally planned.

CONCLUSION

Almost all the general medicine residents have plannedto have children in the future and more than half of them postpone their parental plan after the end of their residency, although the decline of female fertility in relation to aging is widely known among them.

[Human papillomaviruses vaccination: Parental awareness and acceptance of the vaccine for children in Lower Normandy schools and informative campaign during the 2015-2016 school year]

BACKGROUND

The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) can be administered starting at the age of 9 years. Parents thus play a major role in the choice of vaccination. The objective of this study was to investigate parental awareness about anti-HPV vaccination in Lower Normandy and to measure their vaccinal intentions before an informative campaign.

METHODS

The study population included parents of children aged 10-11 years enrolled in school (2015-2016) in Lower Normandy, France. The initial study was observational and descriptive. With the agreement of the academic directors, 16 middle schools were selected. A questionnaire was delivered to the school children and collected in September 2015 by the school nurses.

RESULTS

Within the selected middle schools, 1427 questionnaires were delivered. School nurses collected 1168 questionnaires (81.9%) among which 1155 could be analyzed because they contained answers (80.9%). Out of 575 girls aged 10-11 years, 523 (91.0%) were not vaccinated against HPV. Among parents of non-vaccinated schoolgirls who answered, 48.4% did not know if they intended to have their children vaccinated (251 of 519 questionnaires). There was a significant association between the socio-professional status of the parents who answered and their intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV (P=0.03). Parents were significantly more likely to immunize their children when they previously knew about the vaccine (P<0.001) and when they had good knowledge about the vaccine (P<0.05). Parents who previously had their daughters vaccinated were also significantly more likely to have their sons vaccinated against HPV (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The significant association between knowledge about the vaccine and intentions to have their children vaccinated allows us to predict the effectiveness of information campaigns on vaccination rates.

[Men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV infection in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Knowledge, attitudes, practices and seroprevalence survey]

BACKGROUND

Like many African countries, the issue of sex between men in Burkina Faso remains taboo and sometimes result in social exclusion. This population which is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS is unknown, due to lack of scientific researches.

AIM

Our study aimed to characterize knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices and to estimate HIV seroprevalence among men having sex with men (MSM) living in Ouagadougou.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to describe and analyze MSM living in Ouagadougou. They were recruited by snowball sampling, aged at least 18 years, and accepted to participate at the study. Data were collected by qualified interviewers through administered questionnaire face to face. HIV test was systematically proposed.

RESULTS

A total of 142 MSM were recruited during the study period. The sample was mostly composed of students or pupils (60.8%), single men (91%), with age range 18-30 years (96.5%). The HIV knowledge median score was 8/10. HIV seroprevalence was 8.9% (4.5-15.4).

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the vulnerability of MSM living in Ouagadougou about HIV/AIDS given the high rate of HIV seroprevalence. Targeted interventions for prevention, care and scientific research are challenges for the authorities to sustain the achievements of the national fight against HIV and AIDS.

[Development and validation of patient's knowledge measurement tools: The model of the Questionnaire de Connaissances sur l'Asthme destiné aux Patients Adultes (QCA-PA)]

INTRODUCTION

Poor asthma knowledge among asthmatic patients contributes to poor control of the disease. Education is a priority, but it needs a good assessment of the patient's knowledge.

AIM

To give a patient's knowledge questionnaire development method following the example of the Questionnaire de Connaissances sur l'Asthme destiné aux Patients Adultes (QCA-PA).

METHODS

The QCA-PA was developed according to Dussault, Valois and Frenette's seven steps and includes 54 "true/false/don't know" items. A total of 101 asthmatic adults completed the questionnaire four times during three visits over a period of about one month. On the second visit, it was answered twice, before and after an individualized education session on asthma.

RESULTS

The QCA-PA demonstrates different proofs of validity: content, response process, internal structure, relationship to other variables, and consequences of testing. Confirmatory factorial analysis showed a unidimensional structure.

CONCLUSIONS

QCA-PA is a new rigorously validated knowledge measurement tool based on the most recent international recommendations. It could help health professionals to better target their educational interventions towards asthma patients.

[Should we better inform young women about fertility? A state-of-knowledge study in a student population]

OBJECTIVES

To assess midwifery students' knowledge in the field of female fertility and to study their decision if they had diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study by self-administered questionnaire was conducted among female midwifery students of seven French schools from June to December 2013. The questionnaire had three parts: (1) questions designed to gather information on the study population; (2) a questionnaire consisting of 10 items to test knowledge about female fertility and ovarian reserve; (3) a self-administered questionnaire simulating a DOR diagnosis and quantifying the decision that students would make using a Likert scale of 5 points.

RESULTS

The participation rate was 72.5% (n=285/393). The average age was 22, 6 years±1.9. Among the 285 participants, the ovarian reserve concept was known by 93% of them (n=265) thanks to the midwifery studies (77%, n=204), the media (9%, n=24) and other sources of information. In total, 83.5% of midwifery students (n=238) were interested in assessing their ovarian reserve, and 48.3% of them were interested in evaluating it immediately (n=115). Among midwifery students, 22.5% of them (n=64) reported that female fertility began to decline from the age of 35 years old; 85.6% (n=244) thought that in vitro fertilization allowed women to conceive if fertility is related to a diminished ovarian reserve; 43.9% (n=125) answered that physical activity and a healthy diet had a beneficial effect on the ovarian reserve. If a DOR was diagnosed to them, 76.8% of students (n=219) would be likely to conceive their first child earlier than expected. Among them, 57.9% (n=165) would agree to have oocyte freezing in this context.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first in France that assessed students' knowledge on fertility. We observed: (1) gaps and misconceptions about female fertility despite a medical training in midwifery students; (2) a belief that in vitro fertilization is effective to overcome infertility related to age; (3) that some of these young students would be favorable to oocyte social freezing (technique not allowed in France); (4) that an adequate information on the decrease of fertility with age could lead some students to anticipate their first pregnancy. Specific information regarding the decrease of fertility with age should be offered to all reproductive-aged young women.

[Knowledge and practices regarding iron prescription by medical staff of the pediatric ward in the Gabriel Touré university hospital of Bamako, Mali]

GOAL

To assess knowledge and practices on iron prescription in the pediatric ward of the Gabriel Touré university hospital of Bamako, Mali.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out from the 1st to 31st July 2012 in the service. We presented the participants with a questionnaire and analyzed the medical files of children aged 1-60 months old who received an iron prescription. Each prescriber's consent was solicited and obtained prior to the study.

RESULTS

Fifty prescribers were interviewed, among them 10 pediatricians (20%), 31 pediatrics' residents (62%), 2 generalist physicians (4%), 7 medical student (14%); and 100 medical records were analyzed. More than half of the prescribers were aware of the need of iron in children, with 42% knowing about iron reserves. 8% of prescribers knew that iron absorbed through food was heme iron or non-heme iron. Thirty percent of patients received iron at a dose of 8 to 10mg/kg. Length of treatment was not indicated in 92% of patients.

CONCLUSION

In our context, sufficient theoretical knowledge and of children's iron need did not exclude bad prescription practices. Future studies should analyze the reasons of behind this discrepancy.

[Mothers knowledges, attitudes and practices on female genital excision in Bamako]

AIM

In Mali society, female excision is a cultural practice. Despite the awareness campaigns, it affects nearly 85% of the female population (EDSM IV). This study was initiated to assess the knowledges, attitudes and practices of mothers about female circumcision.

METHOD

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study from June 1 to July 31, 2011, in the Department of Pediatrics of the teaching hospital of Gabriel Touré, Bamako, regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers related to the female excision.

RÉSULTS

We interviewed 224 mothers. The prevalence of female circumcision was 73%. In 72.7% of cases, the area affected by the mutilation was unknown to the mother. Nearly seventy percent (69.6%) of mothers thought that female circumcision had advantages only and should even be mandatory (74.6%). Female circumcision was associated with tradition, and it would be a religious obligation for 65%, and 21.4% of mothers, respectively. More than half of the girls were circumcised before their first year (76.3%) and 26.3% in the neonatal period. The majority of mothers were against a law banning the practice of female circumcision (54%). Ninety five percent of mothers reported that they would renew the experience of female circumcision.

CONCLUSION

Female circumcision remains a well-established practice. Policies to fight against female circumcision are faced to very deep beliefs.