Browsing by Author "Paintsil, V"

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    Determinants of Late Presentation and Histologic types of Breast Cancer in Women Presenting at a Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana
    (MedCrave, 2015-11-13) Mensah, S; Dogbe, J; Kyei, I; Addofoh, N; Paintsil, V; Osei Tutu, L
    Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In Ghana and many parts of Africa more than 50% of breast cancer patients present with advanced stage even though evidence suggests that health education on breast cancer has intensified. Objectives: To determine the socio demographic characteristics of women presenting with breast cancer, pattern of presentation and the association between patients demographic characteristics and stage of presentation. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study over a period of three months was conducted at the Breast clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Women with histological diagnosis of breast cancer were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results: Fifty women with breast cancer were studied with ages between 27 and 75 years with peak between 40-49 years. Majority presented three months after noticing the first symptom, usually a breast lump. Twenty nine (58%) women presented with late stage breast cancer. The commonest histologic type 44(88%) was invasive ductal Carcinoma. There was a strong positive correlation between stage of breast cancer and place of residence (0.4496) but a weak positive correlation between stage of breast cancer and age (0.1684), as was also stage of breast cancer and marital status (0.1143). There was a negative correlation between level of education and stage of presentation (-0.3398). Conclusion: Breast Cancer is common in 40-49 age groups. The incidence of late stage breast cancer is 58% with majority presenting within 7-12 months of onset of first symptoms, mostly breast lumps with invasive ductal carcinoma as the most common histologic type in stage 3. Fear of mastectomy was the main reason for late presentation. Most patients had some knowledge on breast cancer mostly from the radio stations. The stage of Breast cancer was strongly associated with patients’ level of education, residence (distance from facility) and religion
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    Pain Description and Presentation in Children Admitted to a Teaching Hospital in Ghana
    (MedCrave, 2015-05-19) Hammond, CK; Dogbe, J; Paintsil, V; OseiTutu, L; Owusu, M
    Background/Aim: Pain is a cardinal symptom of many disease states and a common reason for hospital attendance. In children, however, it is often undertreated, partly due to the difficulty in its assessment. This study outlines the causes, anatomic locations and verbal descriptions of pain in children admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ashanti, Ghana. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 273 children aged 5-12 years. Using a structured questionnaire, we obtained information through patient interview and folder review on the causes, locations and verbal descriptions of pain in children hospitalized for non-traumatic medical conditions including cancers. Findings: Sickle cell disease, infections and cancers were the main causes of pain in children admitted to the unit. Abdominal pain was the most frequently reported. Pain description in either English or the local language, Akan was difficult for most children. Conclusion/Recommendations: Pain description is difficult for most Ghanaian children as it requires the use of complex adult language. Therefore, in the management of pain in this population, it is recommended that the clinician places less emphasis on the exact description of pain and rather focus on effective pain relief.