Browsing by Author "Asuzu, C. C."

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Assessing cancer patients’ quality of life and coping mechanisms in radiotherapy department of the University College Hospital Ibadan
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2013-05) Asuzu, C. C.; Elumelu, T. N.
Background: Cancer is often associated with a lot of pain and suffering. These suggest that coping with the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a major life stressor that is capable of influencing patients’ quality of life (QoL). Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between cancer patients’ QoL dimensions and coping strategies in the Radiotherapy Department of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Data were collected on clinic days from all available and consenting cancer patients who were receiving treatment at the radiotherapy department. Participants were informed of their right to decline to fill the questionnaires. Result: In this study, 237 cancer patients participated. They had an age range of 15 to 95 years with a mean age of 49.91 years. There was significant inverse relationship between physical well-being with behavioural disengagement, venting, planning and self-blame (p<0.05); social/family well-being has significant linear relationship with active coping, emotional support, positive reframing, instrumental support, acceptance and religion (p<0.05); emotional well-being has significant inverse relationship with behavioural disengagement and self-blame (p<0.05); functional well-being has significant linear relationship with active coping, instrumental support and acceptance (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is important to assess cancer patients for the kind of coping strategies they are adopting to use in coping with their cancer burden, thereby guiding against lower QoL due to negative coping strategies. Intervention programmes could be developed to help cancer patients adopt more positive and effective coping strategies to improve patients’ QoL.
Comparative effectiveness of two psychological techniques in the management promiscuity among adolescents in Ibadan
(Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, 2003) Asuzu, C. C.; Nwagwu, H.; Ohaeri, J. U.; Asuzu, M. C.
The study was designed to investigate the effect of covert self-control and assertiveness training in the management of promiscuity as a vital risk factor in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (STIs/HIV/AIDS). A pre- and post-test experimental- control group design was employed. Three' local government areas (LGAs) out of the five in Ibadan metropolis, were selected by simple random sampling, and used for the study. One school was selected from each LGA similarly for the two treatment groups and for the control group respectively with forty promiscuous students in each group. The two experimental groups were exposed to a twenty week treatment while the control group received no treatment. Both the treatment programmes were effective in reducing promiscuity in the adolescents. Covert self-control was found to be more effective than assertiveness training. Commendation was received for the free but value-base of the training by the students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that family life education should be implemented in the secondary schools in such a way as to meet the specific value base needs and to adequately control promiscuity among the school children.
Comparative study of teachers' and students' attitude to the introduction of sex education into secondary schools in Ibadan
(2014) Asuzu, C. C.
This study examined the attitude of teachers and students to the introduction of sexuality education in secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis. The sample was made up of 40 teachers and 160 students randomly selected from 4 (2 private and 2 government owned) secondary schools m Ibadan. An 8-itemed self-designed questionnaire ‘Teachers and Students Attitude to Sexuality Education Questionnaire’ (TSASEQ) with 0.71 reliability was used in collecting data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency counts. Results showed that the attitude of majority of teachers and students towards introduction of sexuality education in secondary schools is negative. Responses to typical items on the questionnaire showed that 65% of teachers and 68.75% of students believe that sexuality education can lead to increased immorality among children as 67.5% of teachers and 70% of students feel sexuality education will prematurely expose students to information about sex. Also, 55% of teachers and 64.37% of students indicated that they will feel embarrassed to teach or learn about sexuality in class. It was recommended that in-service training be provided for the teachers to develop adequate skills needed to teach sex and relationship education in a family life oriented manner. Also, awareness programmes should be organized in schools for teachers and students on the importance of sexuality education in curbing irresponsible sexual behavior which is capable of truncating immediate and future academic or career plans of the students.
Correlates of depression and anxiety among the cancer patients in the radiotherapy clinic in UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria
(2015) Asuzu, C. C.; Adenipekun, A.
The diagnosis of cancer and its management result in several problems for cancer patients. This may result from factors some of which may be modifiable. This study was aimed at identifying the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients attending the Radiotherapy Clinic in the UCH, Ibadan and to identify the variables affecting them. The Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Fear of Progression (FOP12) scales were used to assess depression and anxiety among cancer patients. The 206 diagnosed cancer patients studied were made up of 146 (79.6%) women and 42 (20.4%) men. Some 76 (36.9%) had moderate to very high anxiety while 29 (14.1%) had borderline to severe depression. The ages ranged between 10 to 85 years with a mean of 47.84 (+/_ 16.45). In prevalence of anxiety and depression, 36.9% of the cancer patients experience varying levels of anxiety and 31.6% experience varying levels of depression. On logistic regression, age, religion, educational level and treatment type significant factors for anxiety. Specifically, being older than 40years, being a Christian, not reporting educational qualification and not yet commencing treatment compared to having surgery as the current treatment type was significant risk factors for anxiety. Only treatment type was a significant risk factor for depression that is not yet commencing treatment compared to having surgery as the current treatment type was a factor for depression. Appropriate Psychological evaluation and therapy as may be needed should be administered to all oncology patients preparing for surgery and chemotherapy to enhance their emotional and psychological wellbeing. The findings of this study have implication for establishment of psycho-oncology care in all the cancer centres in Nigeria.
Curriculum development for health professional service training in NFP and its related services
(Mike and Rita Marker, 1989) Asuzu, M. C.; Odor, O. E.; Asuzu, C. C.
The delivery of psychosocial services in an oncology setting: the Ibadan experience
(2015) Asuzu, C. C.; Akin-Odanye, E. O.
The diagnosis of cancer and its treatment have serious multiple impacts on the different domains of the patients’ lives as well as that of their caregivers. It is often challenging for patients to cope effectively with the social, emotional, spiritual and physical impact of the disease without psychosocial support. Psychosocial health services refer to those psychological and social services as well as interventions provided to patients to enable them, their families, and health care providers get the best possible care from the health care system and to manage the psychological, social/cultural and behavioral aspects of illness and its consequences so as to enhance quality of life. These psychosocial services include, but are not limited to distress screening and management through psychological interventions, group and individual counselling, nutritional counselling, psycho-education services, provisions of breast prostheses free of charge or at minimal cost etc. While giving psychosocial services to cancer patients in most of North America and Europe is almost the norm today, much is still left to be done to accomplish this in Nigeria. This paper gives an insight into what has been done so far in Nigeria to ensure that the provision of psychosocial services in oncology setting becomes part of standard care.
Effect of client centred therapy and reality therapy in fostering HIV voluntary counselling and testing among secondary school students in Oyo-State, Nigeria
(2009) Asuzu, C. C.; Akintola, A. O.
Voluntary HIV testing is being currently adjudged as one of the major ways by which one's HIV status can be ascertained so as to either maintain a negative status or seek health care services in case one is positive. However, submitting oneself to HIV test voluntarily has become difficult even among the elites due to various reasons, ranging from fear of being tested positive to HIV, misinformation, stigmatisation and discrimination. Counselling with an appropriate method remained the only way to achieve this. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of client centred and .reality therapies in the improvement of VCT among secondary school students. the pre-test, post-test, control group, quasi-experimental design with 3x2x2 factorial matrix was used. Stratified simple random sampling was adopted in selecting 120 participants from three public secondary schools in Iseyin. Participants were subjected to six weeks of training in client centred therapy and reality therapy while participants in the control group received no training. Voluntary and counselling testing scale was used to collect data from the respondents. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings revealed that the students in the two experimental groups were significantly higher in their acceptance of HIV testing than those in the control group. This indicated that CCT and reality therapy were effective in fostering VCT.( F=22.46, df2,P<0.0 1). Reality therapy was however most effective in fostering VCT and therefore, clinical psychologist, social workers, counselling and health care providers could make use of it in solving HIV/VCT related problems.
The effect of pilot cognitive restructuring therapy intervention on depression in female cancer patients
(Wiley Online Library, 2015) Asuzu, C. C.; Akin-Odanye, E. O.; Philip, E. J.
Effectiveness of mindfulness training in fostering tobacco cessation among undergraduates in a Nigerian university
(African Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, 2012-04) Asuzu, C. C.; Agokei, C. R.
The study investigated the impact of mindfulness training in fostering tobacco cessation among undergraduates in a Nigerian university, it also observed the moderating effect of self-efficacy on the causal link between mindfulness training and tobacco cessation. Participants were 57 students randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. A pre-test, post-test, design was utilized. The experimental group was exposed to a 12 week mindfulness training programme. Participants in both experimental and control groups were tested before and after training programme on tobacco cessation. Data collected were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results showed that the experimental group improved significantly in tobacco cessation than the control group. Further, self-efficacy mediated effectively the causal link between mindfulness training and tobacco cessation among the participants. It was recommended that Mindfulness training should be introduced in smoking cessation programmes and advancing studies in smoking cessation.
Effectiveness of two psychological interventions in fostering tobacco smoking cessation among Nigerian commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan
(2015) Asuzu, C. C.; Tewase, J.
This study was designed to examine the effects of covert sensitization and group therapy interventions in fostering tobacco smoking cessation among commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan metropolis. The study then adopted pre-test, post-test, control group experimental design with a 3X2 factorial matrix. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 61 participants from ten randomly selected motorcycle parks in three local government areas in Ibadan; Ibadan North, Ibadan North/West and Akinyele LGAs. The participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups using the ballot method. Participants in the two treatment groups were exposed to eight weeks covert sensitization and group therapy intervention programmes respectively. The results revealed that the two treatment programmes were both effective in fostering tobacco smoking cessation among the commercial motorcyclists, although the group therapy intervention was shown to be more effective than covert sensitization. It was then concluded that, clinical psychologists and other mental health care professionals would find these two approaches useful in helping smokers to quit smoking.
Health educational needs assessment and curriculum development for formal adolescent education in human sexuality and family life
(Association of Community Physicians of Nigeria, 1989-10) Asuzu, M. C.; Odor, O. E.; Asuzu, C. C.; Oyejide, C. O.
The experiences from various social and health service centres in Nigeria indicate a rising incidence of sex-related disorders among our youths. Evidence suggest that at the basis of these problems are both ignorance on the part of the youths as well as other deficiencies in adolescent youth development caused by the current industrial ‘development in the country, with is attendant effect on the stability of family life and the erstwhile established (traditional) child upbringing patterns. This study assesses the programme developed over the proceeding 4 years by the authors in response to the above problems in adolescent development in Nigeria. It shows that the present programme meets 88.7% of the sex educational needs of these youths studied, this being 92.5% of all those who answered this particular question in the study. The historical development of the curriculum, programme format, course content and other findings of the study are presented and discussed. Based on the findings, recommendations are made towards the development of locally relevant sex education programmes for the Nigerian and other sociologically similar groups of youths.
Husband’s knowledge, attitude and behavioural disposition to wives screening for cervical cancer in Ibadan
(African Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, 2014) Asuzu, C. C.; Akin-Odanye, E.; Adejumo, A.
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women from both developed and developing countries of the world. About half a million new cases are seen worldwide each year, most occurring in developing countries where cervical cancer screening and treatment are less available and accessible. Several studies have identified various barriers to cervical screening in sub-Saharan African countries which may account for why only a few women are screening. This study aimed at assessing husbands’ cervical cancer related knowledge, attitude and practices encouraging their wives to screen for cervical cancer in Ibadan. Through a descriptive survey design, A self-developed validated instrument on Husbands’ Disposition to Cervical Cancer Screening (HDCCS) was used for data collection based on random sampling. Four research questions were raised in the study. Data collected was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Descriptive statistics indicated that 70% of the husbands had good cervical cancer related knowledge. On attitude to screening, 55.1% of the husbands will encourage their wives to screen for cervical cancer if they knew a test that can detect cervical cancer early. Husbands’ behaviour encouraging wives to screen indicates that wives of 55.2% of the husbands have not gone for pap smear test, 89.1% of husbands did not know when their wives should go for pap smear test and 80% did not remind their wives to go for pap smear test Correlation analysis showed that husbands’ cervical cancer related knowledge had a significant linear relationship with husbands’ practices encouraging wives to go for cervical cancer screening while their attitude towards screening did not. It was concluded that there is need to educate husbands about cervical cancer and the need for their wives to screen before symptoms are noticed.
Impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on quality of life of patients with breast cancer in the department of radiotherapy, UCH, Ibadan
(2014) Elumelu, T. N.; Asuzu, C. C.; Akin-Odanye, E. O.
Background- A breast cancer diagnosis as well as the treatment that follows has considerable consequences on women’s physical functioning, psychological health and overall well-being, resulting in significant interference with patients’ quality of life (QoL). Purpose The study seeks to assess the impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on the QoL of patients with breast cancer. Participants- This study, which is descriptive in nature, assessed the QoL and coping mechanism of 110 patients with breast cancer receiving treatment at the radiotherapy clinic in the University College Hospital (UCH). The patients had an age range of 25–75, an average age of 46.82 and an SD of 10.55. Male patients were 4 (3.60%), while 106 (96.40%) were female. Currently married participants were 84 (76.40%), while 26 (23.60%) were not. Methods- Data was collected using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) V.4 QoL questionnaire and Carver’s Brief Cope questionnaire. Results- Analysis of data showed that significant differences were found between participants who used active coping, religious coping and acceptance more than those who did not in the overall QoL (p<0.05) as well as in some of the QoL dimensions. Conclusions- Significant differences exist in the QoL of patients with breast cancer based on the coping style they adopt. Patients with breast cancer should be helped to adopt coping styles that would enhance their QoL.
Impact of job relocation on marital satisfaction of couples in Ibadan
(2015) Asuzu, C. C.; Oduyebo, O.
This study investigated the impact of job relocation on marital satisfaction. A total of 225 respondents participated in the study made up of 50 police officers, 66 civil servants, 58 soldiers and 51 bankers, 149 males and 66 females. The participants comprise 160 junior staff, 58 senior staff and 7 executives/managers. 60.7% of the respondents agreed that the distance in location affected their sexual satisfaction. 82.7% agreed that it affected their love and affection for their spouse, 67.6% agreed that it affected their communication level, 63.8% agreed that it affected their happiness in marriage, 56.9% agreed that they have conflict on many issues due to distance and 82.7% agreed that it affected their family finances. A significant linear relationship was found between job relocation and all the indices of marital satisfaction (sexual affection, family finance, love and affection, communication level, couples’ happiness, commitment in marriage and conflict between couples). Based on the findings, it was recommended that decision makers should consider the marital implication of organizational decisions of job relocation on the family of employees before making transfer for health and well-being of the members of the family.
The impact of tobacco smoking on health and cessation among a cohort of smokers in Ibadan
(Scientific & Academic Publishing Co, 2014-10) Terwase, J. M.; Asuzu, C. C.
This study was designed to assess the impact of tobacco smoking on health and cessation among a cohort of smokers in Ibadan, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey design and the purposive sampling method was used to select seventy respondents from three Local Government Areas in Ibadan. Self validated questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The results got revealed the most prominent health problems among the tobacco smoking motorcyclists. Therefore, there is need for mental health professionals to develop appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate cessation among tobacco smokers.
Influence of educational level on HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and sexual behaviour of road transport workers in Ibadan
(Higher Education Research and Policy Network, 2008-01) Asuzu, C. C.; Odanye, T.
This is a non-experimental, exploratory analytical study that investigated some factors that affect the HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and sexual behaviour of road transport workers in Ibadan. A total of 223 commercial road transporters were randomly selected from six motor parks in Ibadan metropolis were used as samples for the study. A self designed and validated scale (Road Transporters HIV/AIDS Related Knowledge, Attitude and Sexual Behaviour Scale) was used to collect data for the study. The data collected were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The three hypotheses raised and tested at 0.05 alpha level were rejected (p<0.05) because educational qualifications had significant influence on the HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and sexual behaviours of the commercial road transport workers in Ibadan. The study concluded that formal education plays an important role in the HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and sexual behaviour of the commercial road transport workers and recommended that since education is a vital tool for behaviour modification, a means should be devised in collaboration with NURTW executives to make it mandatory for road transport workers to have at least a secondary school certificate before being allowed to join the union.
The Influence of peer pressure and parent-child communication on the initiation of teenage sexual activity among secondary school students in Benue State
(Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, 2009-06) Asuzu, C. C.; Tondo, M. J.
This is a correlation research to find out the effects of peer pressure and parent-child communication on teenage sexual initiation among in-school adolescents in Benue State. Stratified random sampling was used to select 151 males and 166 females, totalling 317 adolescents from secondary schools in Benue state. A self-administered questionnaire tagged Teenage Sexual Activity Initiation Scale (TSAI) was used to collect data from the study sample. The scale had a reliability coefficient of 0.62. The mean age of the students was 16 years. The findings showed that there were positive significant relationships between peer pressure and initiation of sexual activity. The study has implication for family life education. Programmes should be planned to delay early initiation of sexual activity. Abstinence education should be encouraged in the schools.
Interpersonal factors as correlates of cigarette smoking behaviour among undergraduates in a Nigerian university
(Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, 2012-11) Asuzu, C. C.; Agokei, R. O.
This investigation arose out of the concern that despite recognition given to cigarette smoking as a major global contributor to hazardous deaths, more young persons including undergraduate students are becoming involved with this practice that is detrimental to health. Without an extensive understanding of factors that causes and mediates the preponderance of smoking behavior, developing appropriate and effective interventions to prevent and manage its occurrences would be futile. Hence, this study employed the descriptive survey design to investigate the influence of some interpersonal factors (gender, peer influence, neighborhood influence and media) on the cigarette smoking behaviour of undergraduates in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, four hundred currently registered undergraduates were selected from five faculties. Four valid and standardized instruments were used to collect data in this study. Multiple regression analysis is the major statistical tool in this study. Peer influence, mass media, gender and neighbourhood influence reported collective and relative contributions to the prediction of smoking behaviour of the participants. The four variables accounted for 42% of the total variance of smoking behaviour of the participants with peer influence being the most potent. It is recommended that school- based programmes such as orientation and seminars should emphasize anti-smoking information behaviour. Method of receiving anti-smoking information such as the television, radio, magazines and school-based learning should be enhanced.
Knowledge and attitude of primary school children regarding HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria
(2009-11) Asuzu, C. C.; Igbokwe, M. N.
Women, who find themselves single after marriage, whether through death of a husband or through divorce, learn that being the head of a household brings with it a set of special problems, the greatest being emotional. Even in a bad marriage, the survivor feels the loss. The concept of widowhood and widow's rites are examined as it is practised in South Western Nigeria. Apart from works already documented in the literature on psychosocial implications of widowhood practices, examples abound in our society which confirm the fact that there are indeed some discriminatory practices which have a lot of psychological and sociological implications on widows in South Western Nigeria. There is no doubt that these unhealthy attitudes do have some psychological and sociological implications on the individual in general. This paper, therefore, explains the various psychological and sociological implications, and offer recommendations on how the discriminatory practices against widows could be minimized and how their psychological and sociological effects would be reduced.
Knowledge of consequences of promiscuity among adolescents in Ibadan
(2005) Asuzu, C. C.; Nwagwu, H.
This study investigated the consequences of promiscuity among the adolescents in Ibadan. The study used a pre and post experimental group design. Three local governments in Ibadan metropolis and three co-educational secondary schools were assigned to three groups, I, II and III by simple random sampling procedure. This comprised of 60 males and 60 females with the mean age of 17.3 years. Sexual behaviour inventory was used to collect data. Analysis of covariance was used to analyse the null hypothesis. The result indicated that there were significant differences in knowledge of consequences of promiscuity between adolescents in the treatment and the ones in the control groups. This was considered necessary knowledge in the prevention of STI,s including the current HIV/AIDS pandemic Based on these findings, creation of awareness on the consequences of promiscuity was recommended. Family Life Education, structured academic and behavioural programmes should be included in the secondary schools’ curriculum which will enhance emotional strength of the adolescents.