Re: Improving Road Safety through Deterrence-Based Initiatives

N

Immigrants and health system challenges to TB control in Oman

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the past three decades, Oman has made significant progress in controlling TB within it's borders. However, the national TB control program elimination target has yet to be reached. This study aims to explore the perceived roles played by the immigrant population and the private health sector in relation to TB control in Oman.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted seventeen interviews with different health care providers. The verbatim transcripts were processed using content analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three main themes emerged. Firstly the threat of repatriation faced by underprivileged expatriates, secondly the criticized and forgotten private health sector as a key player and thirdly the user and provider barriers faced by Omani patients in the Omani public health system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study has identified some of the challenges and barriers to TB control in Oman. These challenges are mainly related to unintended negative consequences arising from the current repatriation policy of immigrants and to and the lack of involvement of the private sector in TB control. TB control strategies designed to address these challenges are needed, for Oman to reach its TB elimination targets.</p

Tuberculosis suspicion and knowledge among private and public general practitioners: Questionnaire Based Study in Oman

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early detection of smear positive TB cases by smear microscopy requires high level of suspicion of TB among primary care physicians. The objective of this study is to measure TB suspicion and knowledge among private and public sector general practitioners using clinical vignette-based survey and structured questionnaire.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two questionnaires were distributed to both private and public GPs in Muscat Governorate. One questionnaire assessed demographic information of the respondent and had 10 short clinical vignettes of TB and non-TB cases. The second questionnaire had questions on knowledge of TB, its diagnosis, treatment, follow up and contact screening based on Ministry of Health policy. TB suspicion score and TB Knowledge score were computed and analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 257 GPs participated in the study of which 154 were private GPs. There was a significant difference between private and public GPs in terms of age, sex, duration of practice and nationality. Among all GPs, 37.7% considered TB as one of the three most likely diagnoses in all 5 TB clinical vignettes. Private GPs had statistically significantly lower TB suspicion and TB knowledge scores than public GPs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Oman, GPs appear to have low suspicion and poor knowledge of TB, particularly private GPs. To strengthen TB control program, there is a need to train GPs on TB identification and adopt a Private Public Mix (PPM) strategy for TB control.</p

Re: The Effect of Change in Posture on Spirometry in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome

n/

The Effect of Antepartum Depression on the Outcomes of Pregnancy and Development of Postpartum Depression: A prospective cohort study of Omani women

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between antenatal depression and pregnancy outcomes, including the risk of developing postpartum depression in Oman. Methods: This follow-up prospective longitudinal cohort study included pregnant women attending primary healthcare institutions in Muscat, Oman from January to November 2014. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for antenatal and postnatal depression. Pregnant Omani women with a gestational age ≥32 weeks attending 12 local health centres for antenatal care in Muscat were invited to participate. Recruited women were followed-up at 6–8 weeks after delivery. The following pregnancy outcomes were assessed: mode of delivery (normal or Caesarean section [CS]), gestational age at delivery (preterm or fullterm), baby’s birth weight and development of postnatal depression. Results: A total of 959 women participated in this study (response rate: 97.3%). In total, 233 women (24.4%) had antenatal depression with a score of ≥13 on the EPDS. Of the 592 participants (61.7%) who attended postnatal clinics at 6–8 weeks post-delivery, 126 (21.3%) were positive for postnatal depression. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that antenatal depression was associated with increased risk of CS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–2.66) and postnatal depression (OR = 8.63; 95% CI: 5.56–13.39). Conclusion: Screening women for antenatal depression and providing appropriate management may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and the risk of developing postnatal depression.Keywords: Depression; Postnatal depression; Women Health Services; Maternal Health Services; Pregnancy; Primary Health Care; Oman

International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) - the propagation of knowledge in ultrasound for the improvement of OB/GYN care worldwide: experience of basic ultrasound training in Oman.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of a new ISUOG (International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology) Outreach Teaching and Training Program delivered in Muscat, Oman. METHODS: Quantitative assessments to evaluate knowledge and practical skills were administered before and after an ultrasound course for sonologists attending the ISUOG Outreach Course, which took place in November, 2017, in Oman. Trainees were selected from each region of the country following a national vetting process conducted by the Oman Ministry of Health. Twenty-eight of the participants were included in the analysis. Pre- and post-training practical and theoretical scores were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Participants achieved statistically significant improvements, on average by 47% (p < 0.001), in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Specifically, the mean score in the theoretical knowledge test significantly increased from 55.6% (± 14.0%) to 81.6% (± 8.2%), while in the practical test, the mean score increased from 44.6% (± 19.5%) to 65.7% (± 23.0%) (p < 0.001). Performance was improved post-course among 27/28 participants (96.4%) in the theoretical test (range: 14 to 200%) and among 24/28 (85.7%) trainees in the practical skills test (range: 5 to 217%). CONCLUSION: Application of the ISUOG Basic Training Curriculum and Outreach Teaching and Training Course improved the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of local health personnel. Long-term re-evaluation is, however, considered imperative to ascertain and ensure knowledge retention

Picaresque and Newpicaresque Elements in the Novels of Ivo Brešan

U ovome su radu prikazani pikarski i neopikarski elementi na primjeru triju Brešanovih romana: Ptice nebeske, Ispovijedi nekarakternog čovjeka i Ništa sveto. Dok je prvi navedeni roman pisan u nešto tradicionalnijoj maniri pikarskog romana, u posljednjim dvama dominiraju neopikarske značajke

Development, Validation, and Application of a Questionnaire to Study Asthma Triggers among Saudi Arabian Children and Assessment of Parental Awareness

Asthma is the most common chronic paediatric respiratory condition and represents a huge burden on society. This research highlights the development of a modified asthma-trigger index for validly and reliably identifying asthma triggers in the Saudi Arabia; demonstrates that psychological triggers, as well as Saudi specific triggers are highly prevalent and impactful triggers of asthma among Saudi children; and illustrates a lack of parental awareness about childhood asthma triggers which could be enhanced to improve asthma control