Background. The clinical learning environment and clinical rotation experience of students are integral to nursing curriculum and are a crucial component of nursing education which helps transform theoretical knowledge to clinical practical skills. Objective. This study was aimed at assessing the role of the clinical learning environment on undergraduate nursing and midwifery students’ satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience. Method. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data was collected from a sample of 240 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, using a structured questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Cape Coast Ethics Review Board. Descriptive analysis was displayed as frequencies and percentages. Inferentially, Fisher’s exact test, linear regression, and Spearman’s correlation tests were used to test for and quantify associations between independent and dependent variables at . Results. The level of students’ satisfaction with both clinical rotation experience and the clinical learning environment was high (65.6% and 63.5%, respectively). A statistically significant association of the students’ satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience was found. There was a statistically significant relationship between the clinical learning environment (χ² (9, N = 224) = 80.665, ), pedagogical atmosphere in the clinical area (r_s = 0.379, ), the leadership style of the ward manager (r_s = 0.340, ), the premises of nursing in the ward environment (r_s = 0.501, ), and the students’ satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience. Conclusion. These findings provide nurse educators and clinicians with meaningful understanding about areas to prioritise when planning clinical learning opportunities in such a way that skills learning and practice of nursing skills are successful and satisfactory for undergraduate student nurses and midwives.

Errors in transfusion of blood and blood products can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality. Nurses constitute a significant aspect of the transfusion process as they are the last in the chain of getting blood directly to the patient. They must, therefore, be conversant with the current standard of national and international guidelines on blood transfusion and appropriate management of adverse transfusion events. This study assesses the knowledge and practices of blood transfusion safety among nurses at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, and structured questionnaire (Routine Blood Transfusion Knowledge Questionnaire) was used to collect data from 279 nurses from seven clinical directorates of the hospital. The data were processed with Stata version 14.0. Variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and relationships were drawn using inferential statistics. Over 90% of the respondents had a minimum of a diploma in nursing or midwifery, 63% had performed blood transfusion at least 5 times, and 46% had never received any training on blood transfusion. The mean score obtained in all four categories of blood transfusion knowledge assessed was 29, with 54% of the respondents scoring below the mean. The highest overall score on knowledge was 53%. This indicates that nurses had poor knowledge regarding safe blood transfusion practices as stipulated in the clinical guidelines for blood transfusion by Ghana’s National Blood Service. There was no statistically significant relationship between training/experience and knowledge of safe blood transfusion practices. Regular and continuous update training and audit are needed to safeguard patient safety during blood transfusion.

Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) presents significant health challenges globally. Despite its prevalence in diverse geographical regions, there is a paucity of literature synthesizing evidence on healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward SCD assessment and management. This meta-aggregative review systematically examined and synthesized existing qualitative research to elucidate healthcare professionals’ KAP regarding SCD assessment and management. Methods: This meta-aggregative review followed Aromataris and Pearson’s guidelines and the PRISMA framework for systematic review reporting. The search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Web of Science, Google Scholar, Dimensions AI, and HINARI. Quality appraisal was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Results: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) demonstrate varying levels of KAP toward SCD assessment and management. Studies reveal low-to-moderate levels of general knowledge among HCPs, with nurses often exhibiting poorer understanding than physicians. Deficiencies in awareness of specific interventions, such as chemoprophylaxis and prenatal diagnosis, are noted, along with gaps in SCD assessment and diagnosis, particularly in pain management and premarital screening. Attitudes toward SCD patients vary, and practices reveal inconsistencies and deficiencies, including inadequate nutritional counseling and barriers in emergency departments. However, interventions aimed at improving HCPs’ KAP show promise in enhancing understanding and attitudes toward SCD, suggesting potential avenues for improvement. Conclusions: Educational initiatives targeted at both student nurses and practicing healthcare providers, coupled with the implementation of standardized protocols and guidelines, can enhance knowledge acquisition and promote consistent, high-quality care delivery. Future studies should improve the quality of their methods in this area of study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore self-management practices among patients and parents of children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: The qualitative descriptive design was employed. The study involved 19 participants comprising adult SCD patients ≥16 years, and nine parents of SCD children ≤ 15 years. Purposive sampling was conducted to select participants from a teaching hospital and SCD association. Data was collected using one-on-one interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Self-management was reported through four categories including preventive health, self-monitoring, self-diagnosis, and self-treatment. Hydration, nutrition, activity limitation, avoidance of cold temperatures, and supportive medications were the most common preventive health actions. Regarding self-monitoring and self-diagnosis, the parents emphasized objective indicators such as changes in urine and eye colour compared to the adults who utilize subjective indicators such as feeling unwell and easy fatigue. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures were reported by both groups for treating painful episodes, fever, leg ulcers, priapism, and unspecified symptoms. Discussion: The participants in this study practice several self-management actions with some differences in application between adults and children. Tailored self-management services may be helpful for adults and children when developing services for SCD patients.

Objective The study sought to explore the perspectives of vaccinators on the health system factors that impacted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Design The study employed an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design. Key-informants’ interviews were conducted using semi-structured guide to gather the data. Thematic analysis following the steps of Braun and Clark was conducted using ATLAS.ti software. Setting The study setting was the Cape Coast Metropolis where the Central Regional Health Directorate is located. The Directorate initiates and implements policy decisions across the region. It is also the only metropolis in the region that recorded about 5970 of the total COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana. Participants Eleven vaccinators who had been trained for the COVID-19 vaccination and had participated in the campaign for at least 6 months were purposively sampled through the Regional Public Health Unit. Results Four themes were derived from the data after analysis; ‘vaccine-related issues’; ‘staffing issues’; ‘organising and planning the campaign’ and ‘surveillance and response systems’. Subthemes were generated under each major theme. Our results revealed the health service promoted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign through public education and ensured access to COVID-19 vaccines through the use of community outreaches. Also, the health service ensured adequate logistics supply for carrying out the campaign as well as ensured vaccinators were adequately equipped for adverse incidence reporting and management. Dissatisfaction among COVID-19 vaccinators attributed to low remuneration and delays in receiving allowances as well as shortfalls in efforts at securing transportation and a conducive venue for the vaccination exercise also emerged. Other challenges in the vaccination campaign were attributed to poor data entry platforms and limited access to internet facilities. Conclusion This study highlights the health system’s strategies and challenges during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, emphasising the need for critical interventions to prevent low vaccination rates.

Objective: To describe self‐management recommendations for sickle cell disease (SCD) care among health professionals who manage SCD in Ghana.Method: Nine health care professionals (nurses, doctors, and physician assistants) who work in SCD were interviewed. The semistructured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the qualitative content analysis method. Self‐management recommendations were conceptualised as preventive health, self‐monitoring, self‐diagnosis, self‐treatment, and self‐evaluation.Results: Preventive health recommendations were the commonest, where the professionals described similar topics including avoidance of cold temperature, frequent oral hydration, and healthy nutrition. Self‐monitoring recommendations included regular checks for pallor, urine colour, and splenic enlargement. Self‐diagnosis recommendations were captured as warning signs and included pain, fever, unusual feelings, and enlarged spleen. Pain and fever management were the focus of most self‐treatment advice, and there were some self‐treatment recommendations for dactylitis, anaemia, and priapism. There was considerable variation in the strategies recommended for the management of individual SCD‐related problems.Conclusion: Ghanaian health professionals involved in SCD care provide limited and inconsistent self‐management recommendations. There is a need for the development of SCD standards and guidelines that support effective self‐management. Health professionals working in SCD require continuing education in self‐management.