Richard J. Hift

Background: The World Health Organization advocates the early, appropriate provision of palliative care (PC) to patients throughout the life course. Patient consultations to the emergency department (ED) have been recognised as opportunities to initiate or optimise their PC needs. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards PC among doctors at emergency physician staffed EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2021 and February 2022 for doctors employed out at emergency physician staffed EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using the validated Palliative Care Attitude and Knowledge questionnaire. The variables assessed were the self-rated and basic knowledge and attitudes towards core domains of PC. Ordinal data were compared using the t-test or ANOVA as appropriate, using MedCalc® Statistical Software version 22.009. Results: Of the 39 participants, the scores for the knowledge questions showed that 15.3% participants had good knowledge, 53.8% had fair knowledge and 30.7% had poor knowledge. Participants had either favourable (58.8%) or an uncertain (41.0%) attitude towards PC. No correlation was seen between the knowledge and attitudes scores (Spearman’s rho = 0.13, 95% CI –0.19 to 0.43, p = 0.43). Conclusion: There appears to be a deficit in knowledge of PC among doctors in the ED and a need for in-service training in PC for emergency care physicians. Contribution: This study provides new knowledge around PC practices at EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Dermatological diseases are amongst the commonest reasons for consultation at primary care level. Yet, dermatology teaching in medical and nursing curricula is inconsistent and often insufficient to enable medical and nursing professionals to manage these conditions effectively. Methods: We tested the knowledge of 100 doctors and 195 nurses who attended dermatology training sessions held in three health districts in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, by using a quasi-experimental uncontrolled before-and-after study design. At the start of the session, participants were exposed to 15 slides representing common dermatological conditions; this was followed by a test. The participants then attended a series of short lectures followed by the same test. Pre- and post-intervention test scores were compared, and the results were analysed by professional status, health district and type of facility. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) pre-intervention test score was 40.6% (20.5%). Doctors scored significantly higher than nurses ( p < 0.0001). There were significant differences in performance by district ( p < 0.001) and type of facility ( p < 0.001). The mean (SD) post-intervention score improved to 68.7% (22.5%). Conclusion: Doctors and nurses working in the primary care sector appear to be insufficiently trained in the management of common dermatological conditions. A short period of in-service training resulted in an immediate, significant improvement in knowledge, although we did not study long-term retention beyond this. We recommend improved prequalification training in dermatology in medical and nursing schools and an expansion of continuing professional development as well as in-service training opportunities for primary care practitioners.

Background: Preconception antiretroviral therapy (PCART) followed by sustained viral suppression is effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The rates of persistent and transient viraemia in such patients have not been prospectively assessed in South Africa.Objectives: We determined the prevalence of transient and persistent viraemia in HIV-positive women entering antenatal care on PCART and studied variables associated with viraemia.Methods: We performed a prospective cross-sectional observational study of HIV-positive pregnant women presenting to a primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal. All had received at least 6 months of first-line PCART. Viral load (VL) was measured, patients were interviewed, adherence estimated using a visual analogue scale and adherence counselling provided. Viral load was repeated after 4 weeks where baseline VL exceeded 50 copies/mL.Results: We enrolled 82 participants. Of them, 59 (72%) pregnancies were unplanned. Fifteen participants (18.3%) were viraemic at presentation with VL > 50 copies/mL. Of these, seven (8.5%) had viral suppression (VL < 50 copies/mL), and eight remained viraemic at the second visit. Adherence correlated significantly with viraemia at baseline. Level of knowledge correlated with adherence but not with lack of viral suppression at baseline. Socio-economic indicators did not correlate with viraemia. No instances of vertical transmission were observed at birth.Conclusions: Approximately 20% of women receiving PCART may demonstrate viraemia. Half of these may be transient. Poor adherence is associated with viraemia, and efforts to encourage and monitor adherence are essential. The rate of unplanned pregnancies is high, and antiretroviral therapy programmes should focus on family planning needs of women in the reproductive age group to prevent viral non-suppression prior to pregnancy.Keywords: Preconception Antiretroviral Therapy; HIV; Viraemia; Antenatal Care; Adherence.

Background: The use of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of breast tuberculosis (BTB). Objectives: To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), T2-weighted (T2W) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in differentiating breast cancer (BCA) from BTB. Method: We retrospectively studied images of 17 patients with BCA who had undergone preoperative MRI and 6 patients with pathologically proven BTB who underwent DCE-MRI during January 2014 to January 2015. Results: All patients were female, with the age range of BTB patients being 23–43 years and the BCA patients being 31–74 years. Breast cancer patients had a statistically significant lower mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value (1072.10 +/- 365.14), compared to the BTB group (1690.77 +/- 624.05, p = 0.006). The mean T2-weighted signal intensity (T2SI) was lower for the BCA group (521.56 +/- 233.73) than the BTB group (787.74 +/- 196.04, p = 0.020). An ADC mean cut-off value of 1558.79 yielded 66% sensitivity and 94% specificity, whilst the T2SI cut-off value of 790.20 yielded 83% sensitivity and 83% specificity for differentiating between BTB and BCA. The homogeneous internal enhancement for focal mass was seen in BCA patients only. Conclusion: Multi-parametric MRI incorporating the DWI, T2W and DCE-MRI may be a useful tool to differentiate BCA from BTB.

Objectives: To identify the toxicity profile of snakebites and to assess clinical severity. Methods: An analysis of all patients admitted to Ngwelezane Hospital’s Emergency Department with a diagnosis of snakebite over five years was done. All patients were admitted, assessed and standard haematological and biochemical tests were done. Patients were observed for a minimum of 12 hours’ observation. Results: In total, 879 cases were analysed. Envenomation was identified in over two-thirds of admissions. Cytotoxic snakebites accounted for 98% of envenomations. Only four cases of haemotoxic bleeding and five cases of neurotoxicity were admitted. Abnormal laboratory indices correlated with severity: INR > 1.5 (odds ratio 2.25, CI 1.12–4.53; p = 0.023), platelets < 100x109/L (OR 2.35, CI 1.01– 5.49; p = 0.048), haemoglobin concentration < 8.0 g/dL (OR 5.68, CI 2.15–15.00; p < 0.001) and leucocyte count > 10x109 (OR 3.15, CI 1.89– 5.26, p < 0.001). Children and delays to admission correlated to and were predictors of severity. Conclusion: Two-thirds of patients who present to hospital with snakebite will have symptoms of envenomation, with the overwhelming majority having been bitten by cytotoxic species. Some factors correlate to severity and may be useful for anticipating the patient’s clinical course.