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BACKGROUND: Radiological examinations require prior preparation that patients should be informed about. Radiologists and radiologic technologists have limited time and resources to do so. Therefore, the internet is a valuable and accessible resource for patient education, but the information may not be reliable, especially that in Arabic language. This study aimed to develop online patient education resources about imaging procedures in Arabic. It also evaluated the understandability and actionability of the source materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the University of Sharjah between October 2014 and July 2015. A website containing texts and audiovisuals for 21 medical imaging procedures was created. Bilingual (Arabic and English) radiology experts evaluated the materials with automatic score calculation using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool. Two procedures were pilot tested by one evaluator, followed by completion of 28 evaluations by 15 selected experts. RESULTS: Nineteen of 21 procedures were randomly evaluated. For printable materials, the mean understandability score was 92.37 (SD=8.355) and actionability score was 92.11 (SD=13.157). For audiovisual materials, the mean understandability score was 97.63 (SD=13.157) and the percentage for all actionability scores was 100%. The minimum acceptable percentage is 70%. CONCLUSION: The high percentages scored for the online materials indicate that the evaluators were satisfied with the materials included and that the information would be easy for patients to understand and follow. The higher scores for the audiovisual materials indicate that they were considered more effective for improving patient knowledge patient knowledge.
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Educación del Paciente como Asunto/métodos , Radiología/educación , Árabes , Recursos Audiovisuales , Femenino , Alfabetización en Salud , Hospitales , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Emiratos Árabes Unidos , UniversidadesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Countries aiming for malaria elimination require a detailed understanding of the current intensity of malaria transmission within their national borders. National household sample surveys are now being used to define infection prevalence but these are less efficient in areas of exceptionally low endemicity. Here we present the results of a national malaria indicator survey in the Republic of Djibouti, the first in sub-Saharan Africa to combine parasitological and serological markers of malaria, to evaluate the extent of transmission in the country and explore the potential for elimination. METHODS: A national cross-sectional household survey was undertaken from December 2008 to January 2009. A finger prick blood sample was taken from randomly selected participants of all ages to examine for parasitaemia using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and confirmed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Blood spots were also collected on filter paper and subsequently used to evaluate the presence of serological markers (combined AMA-1 and MSP-119) of Plasmodium falciparum exposure. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for P. falciparum infection and/or exposure. The Getis-Ord G-statistic was used to assess spatial heterogeneity of combined infections and serological markers. RESULTS: A total of 7151 individuals were tested using RDTs of which only 42 (0.5%) were positive for P. falciparum infections and confirmed by PCR. Filter paper blood spots were collected for 5605 individuals. Of these 4769 showed concordant optical density results and were retained in subsequent analysis. Overall P. falciparum sero-prevalence was 9.9% (517/4769) for all ages; 6.9% (46/649) in children under the age of five years; and 14.2% (76/510) in the oldest age group (≥50 years). The combined infection and/or antibody prevalence was 10.5% (550/4769) and varied from 8.1% to 14.1% but overall regional differences were not statistically significant (χ2=33.98, p=0.3144). Increasing age (p<0.001) and decreasing household wealth status (p<0.001) were significantly associated with increasing combined P. falciparum infection and/or antibody prevalence. Significant P. falciparum hot spots were observed in Dikhil region. CONCLUSION: Malaria transmission in the Republic of Djibouti is very low across all regions with evidence of micro-epidemiological heterogeneity and limited recent transmission. It would seem that the Republic of Djibouti has a biologically feasible set of pre-conditions for elimination, however, the operational feasibility and the potential risks to elimination posed by P. vivax and human population movement across the sub-region remain to be properly established.
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Malaria Falciparum/epidemiología , Malaria Falciparum/transmisión , Adolescente , Adulto , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/inmunología , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Djibouti/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Malaria Falciparum/inmunología , Malaria Falciparum/parasitología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Plasmodium falciparum/genética , Plasmodium falciparum/inmunología , Plasmodium falciparum/aislamiento & purificación , Prevalencia , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
We report an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection in a special-care baby unit (SCBU) of a university-affiliated community hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The outbreak involved 36 infants and lasted for 20 weeks. Seven of the colonized infants developed invasive illnesses in the form of bacteraemia (four cases), bacteraemic meningitis (two) and clinical sepsis (one). Three other term infants had purulent conjunctivitis. There were five deaths with an overall mortality of 14%. S. marcescens was cultured from airflow samples from the air conditioning (AC) which was the reservoir of infection in this outbreak. Elimination of the nosocomial source and outbreak containment were eventually achieved by specialized robotic cleaning of the entire AC duct system of the SCBU. Strict adherence to the infection control policies was reinforced to prevent transmission of cross-infection.
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Aire Acondicionado/efectos adversos , Infección Hospitalaria/etiología , Brotes de Enfermedades/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminación de Equipos , Enfermedades del Prematuro/etiología , Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal , Infecciones por Serratia/etiología , Serratia marcescens , Aire Acondicionado/instrumentación , Microbiología del Aire , Peso al Nacer , Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Infección Hospitalaria/microbiología , Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , Reservorios de Enfermedades , Desinfección , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Contaminación de Equipos/prevención & control , Contaminación de Equipos/estadística & datos numéricos , Edad Gestacional , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Hospitales Comunitarios , Hospitales Universitarios , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Enfermedades del Prematuro/epidemiología , Enfermedades del Prematuro/prevención & control , Control de Infecciones/métodos , Factores de Riesgo , Infecciones por Serratia/epidemiología , Infecciones por Serratia/prevención & control , Emiratos Árabes Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine if short stature and overweight/obesity are predictors of low socioeconomic status (SES), measured by educational attainment. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study on a random sample carried out through telephone interviews over a period of five months (March through August 1998). SUBJECTS: A total of 1587 Jewish and Arab Israeli women--773 women age 20-44 years, and 814 women age 45-74 years. METHODS: Two cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted; both times, telephone numbers were drawn from the population registry. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant predictors of body mass index (BMI), while controlling for population group, parity, smoking, and physical activity. RESULTS: The level of one's education and one's stature were significantly, independently associated with BMI. Low stature and obesity were indicators of low educational attainment. LIMITATIONS: The subjects of the study reported their own weight and height. The tendency to overestimate one's height and underestimate one's weight places the accuracy of data under question. However, as there is no reason to believe that the biases in the reports would vary with educational status, the results of the study remain valid. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity/overweight is directly related to the level of education and inversely to stature. Together, one's level of education and stature may be determinants of low SES. Therefore, in subpopulations with high rates of obesity and short stature, comprehensive programs should include welfare in addition to dietary measures.
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Obesidad/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Estatura , Índice de Masa Corporal , Escolaridad , Etnicidad , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Israel , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/etiología , Clase Social , Salud de la MujerRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Occupational hazards are important causes of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the community. This article presents a review of workers' health in Israel. METHODS: Data were collated from the Occupational Health Institute of the University of Tel Aviv, the National Insurance Institute, the Occupational Health Departments of the General Sick Fund, and the Institute of Safety and Hygiene of the Ministry of Labor and Welfare. International comparisons are based on data derived from the WHO Health for All database for the European region. RESULTS: Levels of most biological and chemical exposures in 1996 were found to be in accordance with the standards, except for dust, gases, pesticides, and noise exposure. In 1996, 4.3% of the working population received injury compensation from the National Insurance Institute. 78% of workers' claims approved in 1992-1994 were for injuries to the back and spine. 93% of new cases of occupational diseases and injuries reported in 1996 by the occupational health service of the largest Health Fund were due to noise-induced hearing impairments. In 1996, there were 87 reported deaths following work accidents; about 50% of them were falls that occurred in the construction industry, and 26% of fatalities were among foreign workers. Rates of work accidents, average days of incapacity per accident, and fatalities have been increasing since 1991. Rates of occupational accidents and of occupational fatalities are higher than the European Community average. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of occupational diseases and of injury compensation among workers are increasing, despite the efforts and resources invested in the prevention of work accidents and the promotion of workers' health. These findings indicate the necessity for further research and efforts toward the prevention of injuries and the promotion of occupational health in Israel.