African Journal of Internal Medicine

Key words: Erythromelalgia, penicillin, drug.

African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN: 2326-7283 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 127-133, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A systematic review on the effect of drug sample availability on physician prescribing behavior

James U.I, Boris D.S and Butt M.A

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to systematically review and assess the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on physician prescribing. MEDLINE, PubMed and WebSPIRS were searched using the following terms: sample closet, drug samples, sample medications, sample medication utilization, sample dispensing, drug sample availability, drug industry, legislation drug samples, drug promotion, prescribing behavior and advertising. Two researchers independently evaluated and abstracted each article and compiled descriptive data. Of the 334 potentially relevant articles screened using the key words, 96 studies were considered for evaluation by reviewers. Of these, 40 studies addressed effects of sample availability on physician prescribing behavior. Access to drug samples influenced prescribing decisions in most of the studies. Physicians were more likely to prescribe heavily advertised drugs when they had access to samples. At the same time, there was a decrease in the prescribing of over-the-counter, generic, and inexpensive drugs. Availability of samples promoted prescribing habits inconsistent with practice guidelines and in conflict with teaching and formulary policies. The reliance on samples tended to prompt the question, “What samples do we have?” rather than, “Which drug is best for the patient?”

Key words: Drug samples, pharmaceutical industry, prescribing behavior, systematic review.

African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN: 2326-7283 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 134-138, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study on the frequency of diabetes, elevated Body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome among health-care workers in some hospitals and clinics in Douala, Cameroon

Ngando P.S, Moukembe M.J and Boubakary S.S

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

There is evidence worldwide of the high prevalence of obesity, hyperglycemia and metabolic syndrome in health care providers, although very scanty data is available on this in sub Saharan Africa. The present study aims to determine the frequency of diabetes, elevated Body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome among health-care workers in some hospitals and clinics in Douala, Cameroon. An observational and cross-sectional study was done for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The 2005 definition of The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was used for 147 health workers. Data were grouped and analyzed according to gender and age. 7.5% of the hospital workers had metabolic syndrome, 71.2% were at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome because of elevated abdominal obesity, 38.4% were obese (BMI ≥ 30) and 4.8% had elevated blood sugar levels. The prevalence rate increased with age: 2.9% (18 to 36 years), 9.5% (37 to 55 years) and 50% for more than 56 years. The definition gave the highest prevalence rate of 7.5% while the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) gave 0.7% with the World health organization (WHO) (1999) giving the lowest prevalence rate of 00%. There is a high prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among health care personnel in the Littoral region of Cameroon. It is imperative to implement programs to screen these risk factors by means of routine medical exams and improving the lifestyles of Cameroonian health care workers. These study findings could be the basis for future research among hospital staff and the general population.

Key words: International Diabetes Federation (IDF), hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, body mass index.

African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN 2326-7283 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 139-145, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

HIV-Malaria coinfection in the Department of Paediatrics of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Souro SANOU ( CHUSS )

Ouedraogo SM^1,2_, Sangaré I^1,2, Sourabié Y^1,2,  Zongo R¹ , Zida A^3,4 , Ouedraogo AS^1,2, Fofana S ^1,2 ,  Guiguemdé RT²

¹Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Mail box 676 Bobo-Dioulasso 01 Burkina Faso

² Higher institute of Health sciences, Polytechnic University of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

³ University department of Health sciences, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

⁴ Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougo,Burkina Faso.

Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]. Tel. (00226) 70 20 70 76.

Abstract

Introduction: The interaction of these two pathologies raises capital issues as well as therapeutic. This study aims at a better understanding of the clinical, biological and therapeutic profile of HIV-malaria coinfected children.

Methodology: It is a  prospective and retrospective cross-sectional study. Were involved patients infected with HIV followed in the department whose clinical and laboratory diagnosis of malaria had been made and / or patients with whom the diagnosis of coinfection was made through a medical consultation.

Results: The prevalence of coinfection was 3.09%. The clinical signs of severity were dominated by impaired consciousness and seizures. As for biological signs, anemia was found with 65% of patients and thrombocytopenia with 9.3% of cases. Immunocompetent patients accounted for 70.7% of coinfected patients. Pharmaco therapeutic groups which were administered were hyperleucocytoses, they were found with 19.6% of coinfected patients mainly antimalarials (100% of cases), analgesics-antipyretics (79.6% of cases) and ARV(48.1% of cases).

Conclusion: Immunosuppression caused by HIV infection did not appear to be associated with the frequency of occurrence of malaria. Chemo malaria prophylaxis with HIV positive children is not necessary.

Key words: kindly include about 5-10 words as key words.

African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN 2326-7283 Vol. 3 (3) pp. 121-126, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pathologies taken in charge in internal medicine in a Sub-Saharan country of Africa

Ouédraogo SM¹, Djibril MA², IBA BA Josaphat ³ , Kyelem CG¹, OUILY S¹, Ouedraogo M⁴, Millogo A⁵, Drabo YJ⁶

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University hospital SOURO SANOU, Burkina Faso.

²Internal Medicine Service (IMS), University hospital Sylvanus Olympio, Togo.

³Department of Internal Medicine, University hospital -L, Gabon

⁴Pneumo Service phthisiology, University hospital -YO Yalgado Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso.

₅Department of Neurology, University hospital SS Souro SANOU, Burkina Faso.

⁶Department of Internal Medicine, University hospital -YO Yalgado Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso.

*Corresponding Author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Patients admitted to the internal medicine differ from one country to another because of the specificity of each department. To determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and evolutionary pathologies during hospitalization in internal medicine, we carried out a retrospective cross-sectional study over a period of three years from reviews of medical records of patients admitted to the internal medicine department of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire SOURO SANOU (CHU SS), Bobo-Dioulasso, BURKINA FASO. 5362 patients were involved. The average age was 43.10 ± 12.2 years, with a sex ratio of 1.16: 1. The majority of our patients had a low socio-economic standard of living. HIV/AIDS was the most common infection with an admission rate of 24%. The cure rate was 53.9% and the overall mortality rate 33.3%. This mortality was dominated by HIV/AIDS (27.8%). The Early mortality rate was 37.4% (<3 days). Despite the epidemiological transition characterized by the emergence of cardiometabolic diseases, HIV infection remains responsible for a high mortality in our context.

Key words: Sub-Saharan country, internal medicine, epidemiology, diagnosis, evolutionary.