K.I Egbuchulem
Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan
EDITORIAL
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do” – Goethe.
This current issue of our prestigious journal contains twelve articles covering various aspects of medical sciences of which one of them revolves around the topical perennial issue of growing influence of professional bodies on University Education: Medical and Allied Health Education as a case point. We must apply the much we know now to salvage the current situation in the Academia.
The issue of PhD versus Fellowship, which seems to have gained new traction in recent times, is an offshoot of the mismanagement of the relationship between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and professional bodies. Dr. Atilola x-rayed the need for all parties to develop simple and actionable solutions as regulatory bodies have a legal and relevant place in the regulations of the award of certain professional degrees in the Universities. Also, the duplicative and overlapping roles has created needless conflicts in the Nigerian Universities.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is ranked second in the causes of heart failure in Nigeria. Ogah et al., found a male preponderance of the disease with some significant gender differences in their sociodemographic characteristics.
The third article showed that the prevalence of workplace stress was observed in about two-thirds of Resident doctors, while about half of them had poor perceived health. The study established that workplace stress had significant effect on the perceived health of the Resident doctors at University College Hospital, Ibadan. This has become increasingly relevant with the current brain drain, cum acute shortage of staff and the associated burnout syndrome being experienced.
Dr. Akinniyi and colleagues highlighted that majority of gunshot injury involving the maxillofacial region involves the middle third of the face, and about same proportion – two third were intentionally inflicted by others with the use of Dane guns on highways.
Puerperal sepsis contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality in Ibadan. The authors advocated that the health care sector should promote the laudable importance of antenatal care because puerperal sepsis was more prevalent among unbooked women.
In the sixth article, age group, level of education attained and witnessing violence while growing up were factors associated with the perpetuation of violence and this will be more worrisome especially with the rising spate of interpersonal violence within our communities and country.
A case report highlighting the need for a high index of suspicion of Candida infections in preterm, low birth weight neonates and the need to commence fluconazole as empirical antifungal therapy when other alternative antifungal drugs are not readily available have been put forward.
Hypothyroidism is a cause of infertility with a higher prevalence in the secondary infertility subset. The inclusion of its laboratory assessment and treatment should be considered an important management plan as it was elucidated in this study
Research wrongdoing among trainees remains a major source of concern in modern biomedical research, and casts doubts on the integrity of researchers and their work. Falsification, fabrication, and plagiarismconstitutes these wrongdoings.
The other articles in this issue are no less interesting and challenging. Collaboration between basic and clinical sciences is essential for making significant contributions in Medicine.
We hope you find these and other interesting write ups such as the tribute to our late sage and doyen of Surgery in Ibadan – Professor Isaac Adetayo Grillo, an interesting read.