Background/Objective: The importance of critical thinking in improving treatment practices in, for instance, the nursing profession, cannot be overemphasized. Despite this importance, empirical studies have shown that helping strategies to train learners on critical thinking disposition are needed. Given this knowledge gap, this study investigated the impacts of cognitive-behavioral reflective training for improving the critical thinking disposition of nursing students. Method: Of all the students screened, a total of 167 participants were assigned to the treatment group and waitlisted control group. A researchers-developed training program aimed at improving critical thinking disposition was delivered in English language by therapists. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference between the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in the treatment and control groups as measured by CTDI-M at the posttest. At the posttreatment and follow-up measures, there were consistently improved impacts of CBRT on the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in Nigeria as measured by CTDI-M. Conclusion: Following the results, we concluded that cognitive-behavioral reflective training was beneficial and had sustained improvement in enhancing the critical thinking disposition of nursing students.

Sports is known to increase inflammation which may in turn affect the levels of interleukin 6 and iron in the players such as in volleyball. The study was done to determine the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and iron levels of volleyball players based on heights and weights of a Nigerian University students. A total number of 80 subjects were recruited for the study, comprising of 40 subjects before playing volleyball (20 males and 20 females) and 40 subjects after playing volleyball (20 males, 20 females) from Madonna University Nigeria, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The results showed that there was significant increase (p=0.032) in interleukin 6 (IL-6) of volleyball players of 5.1-6.5M compared to volleyball players of 4.0-5.5M and no significant change (p=0.663) in iron of volleyball players 4.0-5.5M compared to volleyball players 5.1-6.5M respectively. The study showed that there was no significant increase (p=0.978) in interleukin 6 (IL-6) of volleyball players of 50-65Kg compared to volleyball players of 66-85Kg and no significant change (p=0.294) in iron of volleyball players 50-65Kg compared to volleyball players 66-85Kg respectively. During exercise, interleukin 6 (IL-6) but not the iron level increase significantly based upon the height of volleyball players. Both of these parameters do not change significantly based upon their weight.

Background: Visually impaired students have been reported to struggle with value system and rash decision making process. This study examined the impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) in reducing negative personal value system of visually impaired people. Method: A group-randomized trial design was adopted using 56 students with visual impairment. The participants received a value-based rational emotive behavior progamme and were assessed at 3 points using PVS and ABS-2-AV. Results: The result of analysis of covariance showed that there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups in initial personal value in Nigerian as measured by PVS. At the post-treatment the effect of V-REBP was significant in personal value and follow-up assessment respectively in favour of treatment group. Conclusion: We concluded that there is significant impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy on reduction of negative personal value system of students with visual impairment.

Malaria is a disease of the tropics and sub-tropics which is transmitted by infected female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is one of the major infections challenging this part of the world. This leads to loss of lives every year especially children and mothers. The use of laboratory methods has become necessary because health workers cannot identify malaria cases reliably using clinical signs and symptoms alone. Conventionally, light microscopy of a blood smear is the reference gold standard for the detection of malaria parasites and the established method for the laboratory confirmation of malaria. It can detect malaria parasites even at low densities of 5-10 parasites/μl of blood when used by skilled and careful scientist. However, malaria diagnosis based on microscopy is labour intensive and time-consuming. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended by WHO to enhance diagnosis and management of case prevention of complications of declared treatment, prolonging survival and monitoring of treatment especially in children. More research should be done in RDTs for higher sensitivity and specificity. Health workers especially medical laboratory scientist and clinicians should not neglect microscopy which is the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria. Life is precious and should be carefully handled.

No abstract