Abstract: Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (2=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.Abstract: Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, a...Show More
Abstract: Purpose: To explore the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine retention enema combined with penis massage in the treatment of chronic prostatitis complicated with sexual dysfunction. Materials and methods: 200 patients with chronic prostatitis complicated with sexual dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups, 100 cases in each group. The combined treatment group was treated with traditional Chinese medicine retention enema combined with penis massage, and the control group was treated with traditional Chinese medicine retention enema alone. National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), Chronic Prostatitis Related Sexual Function Index (CPSFI), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation (CIPE), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Routine examination of prostatic secretions (EPS) were used to evaluate the clinical effect before and after treatment. Results: The effective rate of the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of the simple traditional Chinese medicine enema group. The total effective rate was 90% in the combined treatment group and 67% in the control group. The combined treatment group was significantly higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of NIH-CPSI, IIEF-5, CIPE-5, HAMA and HAMD in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine retention enema combined with penile massage for chronic prostatitis combined with ED can significantly improve the symptoms associated with chronic prostatitis, and can also significantly improve the patient's sexual function.Abstract: Purpose: To explore the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine retention enema combined with penis massage in the treatment of chronic prostatitis complicated with sexual dysfunction. Materials and methods: 200 patients with chronic prostatitis complicated with sexual dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups, 100 cases in each gro...Show More
Abstract: Loco-regional anaesthesia has been revived in recent years, particularly with the advent of ultrasound guidance. We conducted a prospective study over a period of one year on the activity of peripheral loco-regional anaesthesia; 25 patients operated on the thoracic limb who had benefited from peripheral loco-regional anaesthesia were collated. Echo-guidance predominated in 76% of cases, axillary block predominated in our study, i.e. 72% of cases; 48% of our patients had had prior premedication with the combination of hypnovel and low dose fentanyl, which made the nerve block to be carried out more comfortably. The most used products were the combination of Bupivacaine 0.5% and Lidocaine 2% in 88%; the average volume injected per plexus block was 21.38 ml with a standard deviation of 6.1 ml. The postoperative analgesia was satisfactory with 28% of the patients having no pain, 64% having only moderate pain and only 4% having pain judged to be intense, i.e. 1 patient; the average duration of this postoperative analgesia was 252 minutes, going up to 420 minutes and it is in the same range as that found in the literature, which is 172.8 min on average, going up to 546.4 min for certain authors. No side effects or complications were observed in our series. In conclusion, we have noted the advantage of the practice of peripheral loco-regional anaesthesia for both the patient and the hospital; this should encourage practitioners to standardise it.Abstract: Loco-regional anaesthesia has been revived in recent years, particularly with the advent of ultrasound guidance. We conducted a prospective study over a period of one year on the activity of peripheral loco-regional anaesthesia; 25 patients operated on the thoracic limb who had benefited from peripheral loco-regional anaesthesia were collated. Echo...Show More
