BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

This study investigates the factors influencing career pathway choice among final year students of radiography in the University of Benin. A cross-sectional study design will be employed, using a mixed-methods approach to collect data from students. The study aimed to identify the most important factors influencing career pathway choice and explore the relationship between demographic characteristics and career pathway preferences. The findings of this study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge and provide insights into the factors that influence career pathway choice among radiography students, informing educators, professionals, and policy makers. The study's results will have implications for career guidance programs, education, and policy decisions related to radiography and healthcare.

Healthcare policies are central to the regulation of radiographic practice and play a vital role in shaping the quality of patient care. This study investigated the impact of healthcare policies on radiographers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), focusing on policy awareness, influence on daily practice, patient care outcomes, and the challenges of policy adherence. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected from viii 31 radiographers through a structured questionnaire. The results showed that 61.3% of respondents were aware of institutional healthcare policies, while 74.2% could identify policy documents relevant to their duties. Full compliance with radiation safety requirements (100%) was observed, demonstrating strong adherence in safety-sensitive areas. Policies were found to substantially influence professional conduct, as 93.5% agreed that policies guide daily radiographic practice, while 87.1% indicated that policies ensure standardization and 90.3% affirmed improved accountability. In terms of patient care, 93.5% agreed that policies enhance service quality and 87.1% believed they promote consistency, although only 42.0% felt that policies reduce imaging time. A Chi-square test further confirmed a statistically significant relationship between healthcare policies and daily radiographic practice (χ² = 61.29, df = 1, p = 0.000), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Despite these positive outcomes, radiographers reported major challenges such as inadequate resources (87.1%), insufficient training (61.3%), outdated guidelines (58.1%), and inconsistent implementation across departments (58.0%). The study concludes that healthcare policies positively shape radiographic practice and patient care at UBTH, but their effectiveness is limited by systemic and administrative constraints. Strengthening policy communication, updating guidelines, improving resource availability, and expanding training opportunities will enhance policy adherence and further improve patient outcomes in radiography.

The application of plants as herbal medicine has been used by various populations throughout human evolution, whereas people started to learn in selecting plants for food, to cure and prevent ailments and diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Cinnamon bark on the liver of wistar rat. Twenty (20) Adult Wistar rats of weighing between 150 g-180g were used for this experiment. The rats were procured from the animal holdings of Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City. The animals were housed in the Department of Anatomy, University of Benin. Care and management of animals was carried out in accordance with the guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. The animals were allowed to acclimatize for a period of two weeks before commencement of experiment. The bark of Cinnamon was purchased from the vegetable market of “Stop to Shop” located opposite the University of Benin. The bark was chopped into little bits and allowed to dry at room temperature. The dried bark was pounded using wooden mortar and pestle and milled into fine powder in an electric blender. Five hundred grams (500g) of the powder were soaked in 2 liters of distilled water for 24 hours. The mixture was filtered with white filter paper and the residue would be separated from the filtrate. The filtrate was concentrated using Freeze dried technique in the National Centre for Energy and Environment at the University of Benin, Benin City. The rats were randomly assigned into a Control group (A) and three (3) treatment groups (B, C, and D) containing five (5) animals each. Rats in Group B were administered with 200 mg/kg aqueous extract of Cinnamon bark; group C was administered with 500 mg/kg aqueous extract of Cinnamon bark; Group D 1000 mg/kg aqueous extract of Cinnamon bark. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed using Chloroform anesthesia and the Liver tissues were harvested and fixed in 10% buffer saline for routine histological procedure for hematoxylin and Eosin staining technique. Blood samples were collected from the descending abdominal aorta and preserved, in heparin coated tubes, for biochemical determination of Liver function tests. The data generated carried out using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 16) manufactured by international Business Machine Corporation (IBM) in Armonk, New York. The significance of the difference in the means of all parameters would be determined using one-way analysis of variance (95% confidence interval). Result obtained showed that the extract had no deleterious effect on the Liver of the rats. However there was activation of inflammatory cells aggravating toward the portal area. Further studies should be carried out to corroborate this finding

Background: Stroke continues to be one of the world's leading causes of long-term disability and a major factor in the exclusion of working-age adults from the workforce. Although there is little data from Southern Nigeria, returning to work (RTW) following a stroke is a key sign of effective rehabilitation and reintegration.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial determinants of return to work among stroke survivors in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Methods: 67 stroke survivors who were 18 years of age or older and undergoing physical therapy at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Edo Specialist Hospital participated in a cross-sectional study. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for stroke severity, the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for disability, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for functional ability, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) were among the standardised tools used. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data, and Chi-square tests were employed for inferential statistics to ascertain the relationship between RTW and variables with p < 0.05.

Results: The majority of participants 50 (75%) returned to work following stroke. Significant associations were observed between RTW and age (χ² = 9.216, p = 0.027), cognitive function (χ² = 8.544, p = 0.014), disability level (χ² = 12.463, p = 0.002), self-efficacy (χ² = 10.138, p = 0.019), and social support (χ² = 9.804, p = 0.012). While gender, marital status, stroke type, stroke laterality, stroke severity, and self-esteem were not significantly related. Younger survivors with better cognitive and functional abilities and higher self-efficacy and social support were more likely to return to work.

Conclusion: Functional independence, cognitive capacity, and psychosocial factors such as self- efficacy and social support are critical to post-stroke work reintegration. Rehabilitation programs should integrate vocational training, psychological empowerment, and family support to improve RTW outcomes.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial diagnostic technique that provides detailed information about soft tissues without exposing patients to ionizing radiation. MRI has a lot of benefits, but it also has a lot of safety dangers because of its strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency exposure.This study assessed the understanding and knowledge of MRI safety issues among clinical radiography students at the University of Benin. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and tables and percentages were utilized to present the findings. The results of the study showed that while the majority of participants understood MRI safety to a respectable degree, there were noticeable gaps in their knowledge of screening protocols, emergency response,and identification of magnetic field zones.Students who had attended formal MRI lectures or participated in clinical MRI rotations demonstrated better safety knowledge compared to those who had not. In conclusion, while radiography students at the University of Benin exhibit a fair level of awareness of MRI safety, there is still a need for more comprehensive inclusion of MRI safety education and simulation-based learning within the curriculum. Improving MRI safety training during undergraduate studies will enhance safe clinical practice and minimise the likelihood of safety incidents.

Background: Chest X-ray (CXR) is the most widely requested imaging investigation for the immediate evaluation of patients involved in road traffic accidents (RTAs). A single posteroanterior (PA) chest radiograph can rapidly identify fractures of the rib cage as well as pulmonary and pleural pathologies such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, and pulmonary contusion, which are critical for early clinical decision-making. Objective: To identify common fractures and other pathologies on chest radiographs of road traffic accident patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Methods: A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected by reviewing chest radiographs and radiological reports of 184 patients involved in road traffic accidents between January 2022 and December 2024. The distribution of chest wall fractures, fracture patterns, and associated thoracic pathologies was analyzed. Results: Middle rib fractures (4th–8th ribs) were the most common, accounting for 73.5% of cases, followed by upper rib fractures (29.7%) and lower rib fractures (29.2%). Sternal fractures were identified in 10.8% of patients, clavicular fractures in 13.5%, and scapular fractures in
6.5%. Non-displaced fractures were the predominant fracture type, while displaced, comminuted, and segmental fractures were also observed. Associated thoracic pathologies included pneumothorax (22.7%), hemothorax (18.9%), and pulmonary contusion (15.1%), with their incidence increasing significantly in patients with multiple or complex fracture patterns. Conclusion: Rib fractures were the most frequently identified pathology on chest radiographs of RTA patients, followed in descending order by pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusion, clavicular fractures, sternal fractures, and scapular fractures. The distribution and complexity of xi fractures on chest X-ray were strong indicators of associated thoracic complications, reinforcing the value of conventional chest radiography in trauma evaluation at UBTH.

Ethical conduct is central to radiographic practice, ensuring professionalism, patient
safety, and trust in healthcare. Radiographers, however, frequently encounter ethical
dilemmas that influence their clinical decisions and adherence to professional
standards. This study investigated the nature and frequency of ethical challenges faced
by radiographers in selected hospitals and diagnostic centers within Benin Metropolis, as well as their effects on professional judgment and patient care. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were obtained through
structured, self-administered questionnaires distributed to 72 respondents, including
licensed radiographers and final-year radiography trainees in both public and private
health facilities. Participants were selected using stratified and simple random
sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages
were used to summarize findings, while Chi-square analysis tested the hypothesis at a
0.05 level of significance. Results indicated that radiographers often encountered ethical challenges relating to
patient confidentiality, informed consent, and professional pressure. The chi-square
test revealed a significant association between ethical dilemmas and professional
decision-making (p < 0.05), suggesting that ethical issues significantly affect
radiographic practice and patient outcomes. The study concluded that ethical dilemmas are prevalent among radiographers in
Benin Metropolis and can influence their professional integrity and service delivery. Strengthening ethical awareness through continuous education, professional
workshops, and institutional policy enforcement is essential for improving ethical
standards and promoting patient-centered care.

Background: Work-related stress is a major occupational health challenge in healthcare settings, particularly among healthcare professionals who are interns transitioning from academic training to clinical practice. Moreover, prolonged exposure to stress can negatively affect job performance, mental well-being, and quality of patient care. This study investigated the prevalence, sources, consequences of work-related stress among interns of the University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH) Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 188 interns selected through stratified random sampling from seven clinical departments in UBTH. Data were collected using Demographic and Work profile Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS— 10) tools. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence and stressors, while inferential statistics examined relationships between stress and demographic variables using SPSS version 27.0 Results: The results of the study indicated that most respondents (81.9%) experienced moderate stress, 6.9% high stress, and 11.2% Low stress. Major stressors included excessive workload, poor communication with Supervisors, and Lack of appreciation. Stress negatively affected concentration (40.4%), quality of patient care (40.4%), and motivation (36.7%). Physical and psychological symptoms reported included fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depressive feelings. No significant association was found between stress Levels and age, gender, department, duration of internship, number of patients attended daily, or weekly working hours (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Work-related stress is highly prevalent among interns at UBTH and impacts their performance and well-being. Institutional interventions, including stress management programs, supportive supervision, and moderated workload, core recommended to improve intern welfare and patient safety

Background: Physical disabilities resulting from stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) pose significant challenges to affected individuals, yet comparative assessments of these conditions remain limited in Nigeria. Understanding the determinants of disability in these populations is crucial for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies. Aims: This study aimed to compare the level of physical disability and its determinants among stroke survivors, SCI patients, and TBI patients, providing insights into their unique rehabilitation needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 60 participants (20 per group). Data on demographic and health variables were collected using structured questionnaires and validated tools, including the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). One-way ANOVA was used to identify significant differences among groups. Results: The mean age of participants was 56.27 ± 10.70 years, with a mean condition duration of 5.60 ± 6.85 years the average score for the general health status (GS) was 32.05 ± 9.0. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) had a mean score of 21.65 ± 13.6. WHODAS scores suggested moderate disability across groups, with SCI patients showing higher scores, although not statistically significant (p = 0.053). Cognitive function remained preserved across all groups, as evidenced by high MMSE scores (mean: 29.97). the mean PHQ score was 5.70. ±4.3, the mean for PSS was 18.95 ±6.3, the mean BBS was 28.62 ±24.27. Conclusion: SCI patients exhibit greater impairments in balance and mobility compared to stroke and TBI patients.

This study examined the knowledge, self-care practices, and glycemic control among diabetic patients in a tertiary institution in Benin City. Using semi-structured questionnaires, data was gathered from 230 respondents. Findings revealed that the majority (81.7%) of the respondents had type 2 diabetes, with 73% living with diabetes for 0-5 years. Knowledge of diabetes varied, with 53% exhibiting fair knowledge and only 18.3% demonstrating good knowledge levels. Self-care practices were generally poor, with only 16.5% adhering to a healthy meal plan and regular physical activity. Factors such as family and environmental support significantly impacted self-care. Furthermore, 87% of participants exhibited poor glycemic control, with significant associations found between self-care practices and glycemic control (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that married individuals and those aged 41-50 had higher odds of good knowledge and glycemic control. In conclusion, this study highlights the critical need for improved diabetes education and support structures within the population, as inadequate knowledge and self-care practices were prevalent among respondents. Interventions targeting family and community support, along with increased accessibility to healthcare resources, are essential to enhance self-care practices and glycemic outcomes in diabetes management.