2024-03-29T16:21:30Z
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/?_action=export&rf=summon&issue=2129
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Effectiveness of antismoking drug treatment in patients with psychiatric comorbidity compared with patients without this comorbidity
Raul
Mayoral
F.
González
Javier
Ruiz
Marta
Crespo
Ana
Molina
Pedro
López
Jose
Montes
Background: There is a relationship between smoking and some psychiatric disorders, and there is doubt whether antismoking treatment will be more complex because of psychiatric disorder.Aim: To analyze the differences in treatment success rates among patients without psychiatric disorder and patients with psychiatric disorder who have received complete pharmacological treatment.Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the records of patients completely treated at Albacete University Hospital Complex during 2011. The sample comprised 293 patients seen in 2011. We treated only 73 patients and divided them into patients with or without psychiatric disorders. We analyzed the following variables: sex, age, age at smoking onset, previous quitting attempts, cigarettes per day, CO-oximetry, Fagerström test, Richmond test, alcoholism, treatment distribution, treatment failure, success, and relapse.Results: Of a total sample of 293 patients seen in 2011, 73 patients were treated: 43 were men and 30 were women. Overall, 37% had psychiatric disorder (five men and 22 women). Treatment was successful in 51 (70%) patients. There were no differences between the demographic characteristics of the two groups, except for sex (P<0.05); or regarding success, failure, or relapse; or regarding success analyzed separately according to sex distribution.Conclusion: Smoking cessation treatment is equally effective in patients with and without psychiatric disorders. The characteristics of the patients with psychiatric disorders who completed the pharmacological treatment did not differ in intensity, motivation, or dependence from those with no psychiatric comorbidity. Smoking women have more psychiatric morbidity; however, the treatment is effective.
Bupropion
Failure
nicotine replacement therapy
psychiatric comorbidity
relapse
Smoking
Smoking cessation
treatment success
varenicline
2017
06
01
61
67
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11250_6c00d857e4808f195136c8de8db25b36.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
The application of Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool to assess health inequity among dwellers of an urban slum area in Giza Governorate, Egypt
Mohsen
Gadallah
Soad
Megid
Samir
Refaey
Moustafa
El-Hussinie
Amira
Mohsen
Mohammad
Ardakani
Samar
El-Feky
Background: The WHO in 2008 developed the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool. It is a user-friendly guide for stakeholders and decision makers at national and local levels to identify health inequities. Moreover, using such tool will facilitate decisions on viable and effective strategies, interventions, and actions that should be used to reduce health inequities.Aim: To assess the health equity in a disadvantaged district (Gezerit El Warak) located in Giza province, Egypt.Materials and Methods: A population-based survey was conducted in the study district. A total of 643 heads of households were interviewed using Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response developed by WHO. Indicators of key health outcomes and major social determinants were calculated and then compared with the corresponding national indicators.Results: The results of social determinants of health showed lower performance than national figures in the core indicators illiteracy (42.5%) and male tobacco smoking (56.0%), whereas good performance was reported for unemployment among adults (2.0%), fully immunized infants (95.1%), and females’ overweight (34.5%)/obesity (38.0%). The main problem encountered was the inadequate physical infrastructure, mainly safe drinking water and sewage disposal system. The health outcome indicators revealed higher prevalence of hypertension among both males (20.7%) and females (19.2%). History of diabetes mellitus was markedly higher than the national figures among both males (11.5%) or females (9.6%).Conclusion: Compared with the national indicators, the main health determinants with low performance encountered in the study area included the physical infrastructure and high prevalence of male tobacco smoking. Health outcome indicators with low performance were diabetes and hypertension. The response of stakeholders was positive and immediate actions were taken to tackle some of the low-performance indicators.
disadvantaged areas
Egypt
health determinants
health inequity
social determinants
underprivileged areas
urban slum
2017
06
01
68
76
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11245_75b8de745ac16468c7a11f8a8aa6a90a.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Immunogenicity of compulsory and booster doses of hepatitis B vaccine among children in Cairo, Egypt
Iman
Salama
Samia
Sami
Rehan
Saleh
Amira
Mohsen
Safaa
Elserougy
Hanaa
Emam
Zeinab
Said
Background: Although Egypt had adopted implementation of routine infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in 1992, its effectiveness is not evaluated on a national scale. Assessment of early and long-term seroprotection after compulsory vaccination is an important measure for monitoring the success of the vaccination program.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess HBV seroprotection and immune memory in children and adolescents who were vaccinated during infancy in Cairo Governorate.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in two phases. The first phase was a cross-sectional study carried out in five districts in Cairo Governorate, recruiting 819 children in the age range of 9 months to 16 years. All children had received full doses of the compulsory HBV vaccination. Serum samples were taken from each child and assessed for antibody against hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs) titer; total antibodies against HBV core antigen, and HBV surface antigen. HBV DNA was investigated by real-time PCR for those who were HBV core antigen or HBV surface antigen positive. In the second phase, nonseroprotected children (anti-HBs Results: Four out of 819 children had HBV breakthrough infection. The seroprotection rate was 60.7%, and was significantly higher among children aged less than 5 years compared to the older age groups and among boys compared to girls. Multivariate logistic analysis showed age as the only independent predictor of low anti-HBs titer. About 95% of nonseroprotected children developed anamnestic response postbooster. Anti-HBs geometric mean titer (GMT) increased significantly from pre-booster (13.8±16.9IU/L) compared to post-booster (307±6.0IU/L, P<0.001). Anti-HBs GMT was significantly higher among children with prebooster anti-HBs level ≥1 IU/l (424.9±4.4 IU/l) compared to children with undetectable level (178.3±8.3).Conclusion: Despite waning of anti-HBs over time, long-term protection still exists. The high anamnestic response rate signifies the existence of immune memory and giving a booster dose is not recommended. However, we suggest that prolonged follow up and surveillance of vaccinees immunized at an early age should be continued.
Booster
Hepatitis B virus
hepatitis B virus surface antigen
seroprotection
Vaccination
2017
06
01
77
85
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11247_d0a70a502ca15d0aa6655ce672032717.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Internet addiction among medical students of Sohag University, Egypt
Rasha
Ali
Nesreen
Mohammed
Hanan
Aly
Background: Internet use may have many drawbacks. Among the main threats caused by internet use is wasting time and lack of self-control over internet use, which amounts to the level of addiction with several deleterious consequences.Aim: The aim of the study is to identify the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) and associated factors among medical students in Sohag University, Egypt.Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted in October 2016 and November 2016 on a random sample of 587 students selected from three medical faculties in Sohag University. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of two sections; the first section was concerned with collecting the sociodemographic data, data about student’s relations and internet use characteristics; the second one aimed at assessment of the level of IA using Young’s 20-item scale for IA.Results: The findings show that the prevalence of IA was 47.7%. Male sex, internet access on mobile phones, easy internet access at home, using internet for browsing social media and e-mail, and bad relation with the family were the most important predictors of IA.Conclusion: The high prevalence of IA among medical students in Sohag University (47.7%) is a matter of concern. Identification of factors significantly associated with IA can help in the planning of comprehensive programs to raise public awareness about the hazards and determinants of IA targeting the high-risk groups.
Internet Addiction
Medical students
prevalence
risk factors
2017
06
01
86
95
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11248_3a2ebda00f509a5fa54a92a01911b2e3.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Effect of physicians’ smoking status on their knowledge, attitude, opinions and practices of smoking cessation in a University Hospital, in Egypt
Nayera
Mostafa
Mohamed
Momen
Background: The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats. Smoking prevalence and smoking cessation intentions among physicians vary from a country/community to another. Recently, a global reduction in the rates of smoking among healthcare providers is observed.Aim: This study aims to describe the effect of physicians’ smoking status on their knowledge, attitude, opinions, and practices of smoking cessation in patients in a Tertiary Healthcare University Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at four specialized hospitals in a Tertiary Healthcare University Hospital in Cairo. Anonymous questionnaires included sociodemographic, occupational data, history of smoking, smoking-related knowledge, attitude, and practices of smoking cessation counselling.Results: The study included 521 physicians, 26.5% of physicians have never received training on smoking-cessation approaches. The prevalence of current smoking among the studied physicians was 21.5%. Only 45.5% of smoking physicians have never smoked in front of a patient and 27.7% have no compliance to the smoke-free policy in nonsmoking areas. Smoking physicians were significantly less likely than nonsmokers to identify the effect of passive smoking on the heart, lungs, and on neonates (67.9, 58.9, and 53.6% compared with 83.6, 77, 60, and 56.7%, respectively). A lower percentage of smoking physicians (34.8%) agreed that smoking physicians are less likely to convince patients to quit smoking compared with about 60% of nonsmoking physicians. The practices related to smoking cessation as reported by both smokers and nonsmokers were inadequate.Conclusion: Smoking status significantly affects the knowledge, attitude, and some practices of physicians related to smoking cessation counselling. Training on smoking cessation should be enforced during undergraduate and postgraduate studies of physicians.
Practices
Physicians
Smoking cessation
University Hospital
2017
06
01
96
106
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11249_bcfc70ad3b483f7cdc7cc1998676005d.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Pattern and correlates of cyberbullying victimization among Egyptian university students in Beni-Suef, Egypt
Ahmed
Arafa
Shaimaa
Senosy
Background: The expansion of the online environment has unveiled many cyber risks and potentials for abuse such as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying carries many negative psychological impacts that affect mainly young people.Aim: The objective of our study is to explore the of cyberbullying victimization among Egyptian university students in Beni-Suef and investigate factors correlating with it.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a multi-stage random sampling was used to include a total of 6740 students from all grade levels in all faculties (n=28) of Beni-Suef University. After 4 focus group discussions, a self-administered questionnaire was designed for data collection. The questionnaire comprised three sections including questions about selected socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to cyberbullying in the past 6 months, and factors associated with victimization.Results: Almost half of our students (48.2%) reported experiencing cyberbullying victimization in the past 6 months. Female students, students living in urban areas and those who spent more hours using the internet reported more exposure (p<0.001). Harassment was the main type stated by females (79.8%) while flaming was excessively reported by males (51.8%). Students responded mostly by anger (63.1%), hatred (23.2%) and sorrow (22.6%) towards the worst victimization incidents.Conclusion: Cyberbullying victimization is highly prevalent amongst university students in Beni-Suef and female students are more vulnerable to exposure, Implementing anti-cyberbullying programs tailored for university students will be a major step. Such programs should include anti-cyberbullying policies and materials, and provision of guidance for students, their parents and their teaching staff.
Cyberbullying
victimization
Harassment
university students
social networking
2017
06
01
107
115
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11244_9d69be889a1327662bbdf92cf79b7238.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Consumer-oriented evaluation of the service provided by the department of health education and information in Alexandria, Egypt
Mona
Wahba
Mohamed
El-Bourgy
Ensaf
Abdel-Gawwad
Hoda
Abdel-Kader
Azza
Abou-Zeid
Background: Assessing consumers’ satisfaction with health education services can help in monitoring the quality of provided service and understanding consumers’ perceptions and utilization patterns of the service.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study targeting consumers attending the health education sessions provided by Alexandria Department of Health Education and Information (DHEI) at different governmental health facilities and nongovernmental organizations was performed. A simple random sample of 400 participants was interviewed using an interview questionnaire assessing respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, health literacy, attitude toward health education services, and satisfaction with the health education service provided by the DHEI..Results: Approximately 70% of the consumers’ sample showed fair health literacy level. Most of the sample mentioned physicians a credible source of health knowledge followed by 58.8% who selected health education sessions as another trusted health information source. Overall, 90% of the sample was highly satisfied by the service overall. Behavior and skills of the service providers were the most satisfying aspects, whereas health education materials obtained the least satisfaction. Consumers’ educational level and healthcare affordability proved to have a significant positive influence on their satisfaction (β=0.307 and 0.191, respectively) whereas occupation and family income showed a significant negative influence (P<0.001).Conclusion: The service provided by Alexandria DHEI is highly satisfying to its target audience mainly in terms of providers and accessibility. Enhancing the technical skills of the department staff through training is highly recommended. The department is also recommended to advocate for the credibility of social workers and health visitors as health educators among the community.
Consumers
consumer orientation
health education service
health information
Health Literacy
Satisfaction
2017
06
01
116
127
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11251_11bcc60f98265b2b2dcc8281efead6a4.pdf
Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association
EPX
0013-2446
0013-2446
2017
92
2
Assessment of respirable particulates in two residential areas of Kuwait State during dusty and nondusty storms: A time-series comparative study
Gehan
Zaki
Ahmed
Issa
Adel
Refaat
Wafaa
Eid
Abdel-Aziz
Abdel-Aziz
Background: Kuwait State is branded by the recurrent dust storms and high pollution level. It has the highest dust concentration and surface temperature in Peninsula. The aim of the present study was to assess the respirable particulates during days with and without dust storms in two residential areas in Kuwait State.Materials and Methods: This time-series comparative study was accomplished during the period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013. It was conducted by recording the local meteorological data in the two sampling stations at Mansoria (A) and Ali Sabah Al-Salem (B) residential areas, in addition to the sampling and analysis of respirable particulates (PM10) using the SOP-10 High-Volume PM10 Samplers’ Standard Method.Results: There were 256 and 278 measurement days (70.1 and 75.1% of the yearly days) in monitoring stations A and B, respectively, with a total of 119 (46.5%) and 134 (48.2%) days with dust storms, respectively. The daily concentrations of PM10 were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of Kuwait State (150 μg/m3) at the two stations. The annual PM10 concentration of B station [192.5 (264.5) μg/m3] was nonsignificantly higher than that of A [191.2 (182.7) μg/m3]. At the two stations, the levels of PM10 during days with dust storms were significantly higher than that during days without.Conclusion: Respirable particulate is slightly higher in Ali Sabah Al-Salem than in Mansoria. Days with dust storms have significantly greater PM10 levels than those without. The study recommends application of land-use planning, and windbreaks, combating desertification, and enhancing stoppage of outdoor activities during dust storms among public.
Ali Sabah Al-Salem
dust storms
Kuwait State
Mansoria
residential areas
respirable particulates
2017
06
01
128
136
https://epx.journals.ekb.eg/article_11252_2ec336c2b93b6aebd5ca66c44a146185.pdf