RESEARCH & INNOVATION
the 2016 Barbados Survey of Living Conditions that showed the areas with the highest poverty index. In the first phase of her interview, which involved 30 patients and 22 healthcare workers, she found that social problems and psychological factors affected adherence. There were complaints about access to healthy foods; poor support systems, especially for the elderly; financial challenges; a lack of communication between the healthcare workers and the patient; and frequent shortages of medications in polyclinics. Additional factors were stress, depression, anxiety, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences. “There needs to be a greater focus on the management of the disease, and an individualised model of care is needed. The global theme was then inferred and showed that a patient-centred Type 2 diabetes mellitus management strategy is needed to improve adherence among low socio-economic patients living with Type 2 diabetes.” In the second phase of her study, questionnaires will be administered to over
easier to broach certain topics that the males initially found difficult to discuss. Worrell was one of three presenters during the segment on Advancing Health Research in the Caribbean. The others were Dr. Elizabeth Mandeville and Tricishanna Henry .
400 patients in public and primary healthcare facilities. Like Dr. Mandeville,Tricishanna Henry is conducting a two-phase study. Her research on “The Use of Cannabidiol to Reduce Blood Pressure in an Increased Systematic Vascular Resistance Model in Wistar Kyoto Rats” could prove timely since many Caribbean countries have budding medical cannabis industries. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring chemical or one of the main phytocannabinoids in the most common type of cannabis plant, cannabis sativa . The chemical has therapeutic benefits, including in the management of epilepsy. Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, and Henry zeroed in on its vascular effect. The Preclinical and Health Sciences student explained, “When this occurs it is referred to as endothelial-dysfunction in which there is an interference with the release of chemical mediators such as nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a major mediator that produces vasorelaxation and decreased blood pressure. So in endothelial-dysfunction, there is a decrease in nitric oxide, [and] hence, a decrease in vasodilation resulting in increased systemic vascular resistance which leads to hypertension.” Although she noted conflicting results between CBD and hypertension, she said studies have shown CBD had a vasodilator effect (dilation of the blood vessels) that can be of benefit in hypertension. Therefore, in phase one of her study, human aortic endothelial cells will be grown. CBD will be administered in increasing concentration to the cells and assessed. Phase two involves five groups of male rats. The treatment will vary for the different groups for comparison purposes and closely assessed and analysed. Henry said these phases will be done only after the necessary ethical approval had been obtained. u
Dr. Elizabeth Mandeville MPhil student in Public Health
Dr. Mandeville, a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) student in Public Health, looked at “Factors Influencing Pharmacological Adherence to T2DM Treatment: The Role of Social Inequalities in an Advancing Technological Age”. Her research is critical given that Type 2 diabetes is regarded as a global public health crisis, having been responsible for the death of millions of people worldwide. She noted that Barbados has a prevalence of 18.7 per cent compared to the global average of 10.5 per cent in 2021. Dr. Mandeville said it has been proven that pharmacological adherence to Type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment can reduce disabilities caused by the diseases, mortality rates and healthcare expenditure. At the same time, it was found that social inequalities can impact pharmacological adherence. Therefore, she studied patients living with the disease who were between the ages of 25 and 65 years in public primary healthcare clinics. Her study was done at a number of polyclinics that were selected based on
Tricishanna Henry Preclinical and Health Sciences student
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