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From
the Editor
This is the second issue this year that is rich
with papers from the Region including Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Turkey , Lebanon , Jordan,
Iraq and the United Kingdom. It cover wide area
of concern to primary care.
Algamdi K et al; assessed the awareness level
and addressed various factors that could encourage
or discourage patients to utilize PHC in Al-Madinah.
More than 80% of the respondents were aware
of the existence of a PHCC in their district.
Nonetheless, 30.7% of them never utilized PHC
services. The authors concluded that regular
assessment of patient satisfaction and patterns
of utilization is important to promote the quality
of PHC services. Also, to maximize PHC utilization,
collaborative efforts from PHC staff, the government,
and the Al-Madinah community are needed.
Assiri E.H et al; carried a A cross–sectional
study in that included a sample of 402 elderly
participants aged above 65 years who attended
primary health care (PHC) centers. To assess
the prevalence and determinants of falls among
people aged 65 years or more. Multivariate logistic
regression analysis revealed that working elderly
persons were less likely to have falls compared
to retired persons. Patients with cardiac disease
were at significant risk. The authors concluded
that falls constitute a common health problem
affecting more than half of elderly people attending
PHC centers in Abha City, despite the fact that
it can be easily prevented.
A number of papers dealt with metabolic issues.
Anwarulhaq M & Hussain M.S assessed the
postpartum follow up of GDM patients. They did
an initial audit at a local health practice
in Scotland, UK. Based on the initial findings,
several changes were proposed, for appropriate
follow-up of GDM patients postnatally. Once
the necessary changes were implemented, it led
to successful identification and management
of all GDM patients in primary care after discharge
from hospital. In a second study Hussain M.S
did a prospective study was carried out in 10
patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),
registered at a local primary health care practice
in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, to see if motivational
interviewing (MI) and improving health literacy
can help in building insight into self-management
of chronic conditions like T2DM. The author
concluded that Doctors need good communication
skills to be able to share the complex medical
information in a clear manageable way, which
should be tailored according to individual patient
needs and skills. Whereas Solaiman A.S et al;
carried a descriptive cross-sectional study
to assess prevalence and identify patterns of
CAM utilization among patients with T2DM. the
authors concluded that nearly 3 out of each
four diabetic patients use at least one type
of CAM, especially females with a recent diagnosis.
Herbs are the most frequently used CAM at initial
diagnosis of DM.
Saeed Tayeb M.M.S et al, conducted a retrospective
chart review to identify common allergic diseases
associated with CMP sensitization. Data from
83 patients in Jeddah were included in the study.
SIgE food allergy tests for 83 patients were
evaluated. Gender distribution was 51 females
(61.5%) and 32 males (38.5%). The authors concluded
that Alpha lactalbumin and casein, followed
by milk are the most common sensitizers and
also cause the most severe allergic reactions.
Atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinosinusitis,
followed by asthma are the most common clinical
allergic diseases associated with CMP sensitization.
Cashew, peanut, wheat and egg were the most
common food sensitizers associated with CMP
sensitization. It should be noted that the most
severe food sensitizer of all associated with
CMP sensitization is cashew.
In two papers the issues of health of school
teachers was eluded to. Al-Hazmi, A.A et al,
did a cross-sectional study to assess prevalence
of migraine, its patterns and associated factors
among male secondary school teachers. The authors
concluded that prevalence of migraine headache
among male secondary school teachers is high,
mainly felt by as throbbing, at the occipital
region. Whereas Alharbi T.A et al did cross-sectional
study design, 400 male secondary school teachers
to explore prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal
pain among male secondary school teachers. The
authors concluded that prevalence of musculoskeletal
pain among secondary school male teachers is
high, mainly affecting the neck, shoulder, low
back and the lower limbs.
A number of papers looked at the issue of obesity.
Al-Sadiq W.A et al, carried a cross sectional
study to assess prevalence of obesity among
PHC physicians and to explore their attitudes
and practices regarding obesity management.
The authors concluded that prevalence of overweight
and obesity among PHC physicians in is quite
high, especially among male physicians. Whereas
Almalki A.Q et al; attempt to estimate the prevalence
and correlates of obesity among psychiatric
patients in Abha city. Normal weight was recorded
among 37.2% of the sample and 27.6% of the patients
had overweight while 35.2% were obese. The authors
concluded that obesity is significantly associated
with depression and other psychiatric diseases,
while negatively associated with anxiety and
obsessive convulsive disorder (OCD).
Alshaikh A.A did a cross-sectional study design
was followed to include 101 Primary Health Care
physicians in to determine knowledge, attitude
and practice of PHC physicians regarding common
psychiatric disorders Most PHC physicians (86.1%)
have unsatisfactory knowledge about psychiatric
disorders. The authors concluded that knowledge
of PHC physicians about psychiatric disorders
is unsatisfactory, with several knowledge gaps.
Their attitude toward management of psychiatric
patients is mainly positive. Although all PHC
physicians diagnose psychiatric diseases, they
mostly refer their patients to a specialist.
Mohammed A. Alqahtani , et al, did a descriptive
cross-sectional survey to estimate prevalence,
types and correlates of physical and verbal
assault among medical staff working in emergency
departments in Abha City. The authors concluded
that the study documented the existence of workplace
violence among emergency medical staff in Abha.
Different types of physical and psychological
violence for all categories were recorded.
Hussain et al, conducted a qualitative cross-sectional
survey by undertaking semi-structured interviews
with open-ended questionnaire with 20 randomly
selected parents whose children were diagnosed
with chicken pox infection over 3 months period,
within the primary health care setting. The
Main objective was to find out if parents were
aware of the associated risks of NSAIDs use.
None of the parents were aware of the associated
risks of skin infection and necrotising fasciitis
with NSAID use. Hence, there is need to develop
parental educational programs to improve their
understanding in the management of fever during
chicken pox illness.
Noori F.M et al did a case control study include
100 patient, (47) normotensive compared with
(53) hypertensive pregnant lady. The study aimed
to find the relation between thyroid function
and gestational hypertension. Most of those
with blood group (-O) had hypertension 3(75%),
followed by those with blood group (-A) 2(66.7).
the authors concluded
Gestational hypertension was significantly associated
with increased levels of TSH, and decreased
FT3 levels, and non- significantly with increased
S.FT4.
Abedalrahman, S.K et al did a Retrospective
case control study, with a randomly selected
147 breast cancer cases compared with 161 non
breast cancer cases. The study aimed to study
the effect of reproductive factors as breast
cancer risk factor. The authors concluded that
Age at 1st full term pregnancy was important
factor affecting breast cancer risk, parity
have a dual effect in in breast cancer risk.
Abduawahid, M.K.H et al ; did a cross sectional
survey conducted in period from 1st September-30th
October 2017. They followed a modified form
of the WHO hand hygiene knowledge questionnaire
for Healthcare workers that included 35 items
was sent to 160 health care workers. This study
highlights the urgent need for introducing measures
in order to increase the knowledge, attitudes,
practices, which may play a very important role
in increasing hand hygiene compliance.
Helvaci, M.R ET AL tried to understand the significance
of high density lipoproteins (HDL) in the metabolic
syndrome. The authors concluded that Plasma
triglycerides may behave as acute phase reactants
indicating disseminated endothelial injury and
atherosclerosis in the metabolic syndrome. FPG,
LDL, WCH, HT, DM, COPD, CHD, and CRD were all
deteriorated parallel to the increased male
ratio, smoking, aging, excess weight, and plasma
triglycerides values. Whereas the mean HDL values
did’t show any significant change parallel
to the above parameters in none of the groups.
Alfayez N.D et al, report a case was a spontaneous
uterine rupture at 13 weeks of gestation in
a 28-year-old female. The initial impression
was a rupture ectopic pregnancy with hemoperitoneum.
An emergency laparotomy revealed a rupture uterus
and the presence of large amount of blood in
the abdominal cavity. Clinical signs of uterine
rupture in early pregnancy are non-specific
and should be distinguished from acute abdominal
emergencies.
Mohsen A.A.H did a retrospective descriptive
study of patients suffered from knee osteoarthritis
and treated by the use of intra-articular injection
of hyaluronic acid. The study was conducted
from January 2016 to December 2016 in a private
hospital in Aden. The study patients were 112
. The age of patients ranged between 60 to 88
years. As a result of the follow-up we found
69% of treated OA knee joints were improved
due to the use of intra-articular hyaluronic
injections.
Chief Editor:
A. Abyad
MD, MPH, AGSF, AFCHSE
Email: aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
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