No voy a odiar. Viaje de un médico de Gaza en el camino a la paz y la dignidad humana

Esta historia es una lección necesaria en contra del odio y de la venganza, dice Elie Wiesel, Premio Nobel de la Paz, a propósito de un palestino que vivió cerca de medio siglo de horror y destrucción en la Franja de Gaza. Luego de haber perdido a sus tres hijas en enero de 2009 durante una incursión israelí en Gaza, el doctor Abuelaish dijo: «Si supiera que el sacrificio de mis hijas iba a ser el último en el camino a la paz entre palestinos e israelíes, podría aceptarlo»

Training and utilization of refugees as community health workers in protracted displacement situations : policy brief

The goal is to inform an education model for building health care capacity in disadvantaged communities in Kenya. The Daadab refugee camps represent a protracted displacement situation in an extreme resource-limited setting with an acute shortage of community health workers (CHWs). Here, refugees trained as CHWs play an important role in extending primary health care services. Yet their training is limited and may not adequately prepare them to deal with challenges arising in this context. The research investigates CHWs’ current training, their scope of responsibilities, their challenges, and whether they would be interested in a university degree program in community health

Education model for building health care capacity in protracted refugee contexts : policy brief

Reliance on humanitarian NGOs for health care in protracted displacement situations like Dadaab is not sustainable. Refugees need to be equipped to play a greater role in providing primary health care for their communities. Findings of project research clearly indicated overwhelming support for the development of a health-related degree, with most prospective students and community health workers expressing interest in taking the degree. As a result, a BSc degree in Community Health Education has been developed and ready for implementation. This policy brief highlights the importance of developing education models aimed at addressing health and higher education equity issues in protracted refugee situations

Knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward death: a cross-sectional comparative study between an Arab and a Western University

Abstract Background Cultural factors influence attitudes toward death, and gender disparities are evident. Prior studies show that medical students have limited knowledge about death and are uncomfortable with it. Moreover, there is limited research that has examined factors that influence medical students’ knowledge and attitudes toward death. Objectives The objectives of the study were to compare cultural and gender differences in relation to knowledge and attitudes toward loss and grief and to screen for complicated grief among medical students at the Arabian Gulf University and the University of Toronto. Methods A cross-sectional study was disseminated to medical students at both universities in 2022. The variables in the survey included four parts: demographic characteristics of the participants, religious observance, history of encountering loss of a loved one, grief following loss, attitude toward death, and learning about how to deal with grief and death during medical school. The brief grief questionnaire and the death attitude profile-revised scales were used. Results The study sample consisted of 168 medical students, with 74.1% being female. Complicated grief scores were higher among Arabian Gulf University students (3.87 ± 2.39) than among University of Toronto students (2.00 ± 1.93) and were higher for participants with a higher degree of religious observance in both schools (p < 0.05). Death avoidance (p = 0.003), approach acceptance (p < 0.001), and escape acceptance (p = 0.038) domains were significantly higher among Arabian Gulf University students than among University of Toronto students. Almost three-quarters of University of Toronto students reported not being taught about grief, compared to 54% of Arabian Gulf University students. Conclusions Arabian Gulf University medical students scored higher on complicated grief, most likely due to cultural and religious factors. Females at both institutions as well as those who indicated a higher level of religious observance reported higher scores of complicated grief. The study highlights how cultural and religious beliefs influence medical students’ attitudes toward death and bereavement. It provides valuable insight into the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward loss

A pilot with computer-assisted psychosocial risk –assessment for refugees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Refugees experience multiple health and social needs. This requires an integrated approach to care in the countries of resettlement, including Canada. Perhaps, interactive eHealth tools could build bridges between medical and social care in a timely manner. The authors developed and piloted a multi-risk Computer-assisted Psychosocial Risk Assessment (CaPRA) tool for Afghan refugees visiting a community health center. The iPad based CaPRA survey was completed by the patients in their own language before seeing the medical practitioner. The computer then generated individualized feedback for the patient and provider with suggestions about available services.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A pilot randomized trial was conducted with adult Afghan refugees who could read Dari/Farsi or English language. Consenting patients were randomly assigned to the CaPRA (intervention) or usual care (control) group. All patients completed a paper-pencil exit survey. The primary outcome was patient intention to see a psychosocial counselor. The secondary outcomes were patient acceptance of the tool and visit satisfaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 199 approached patients, 64 were eligible and 50 consented and one withdrew (CaPRA = 25; usual care = 24). On average, participants were 37.6 years of age and had lived 3.4 years in Canada. Seventy-two percent of participants in CaPRA group had intention to visit a psychosocial counselor, compared to 46 % in usual care group [<it>X</it>^<it>2</it> (1)=3.47, <it>p</it> = 0.06]. On a 5-point scale, CaPRA group participants agreed with the benefits of the tool (mean = 4) and were ‘unsure’ about possible barriers to interact with the clinicians (mean = 2.8) or to privacy of information (mean = 2.8) in CaPRA mediated visits. On a 5-point scale, the two groups were alike in patient satisfaction (mean = 4.3).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The studied eHealth tool offers a promising model to integrate medical and social care to address the health and settlement needs of refugees. The tool’s potential is discussed in relation to implications for healthcare practice. The study should be replicated with a larger sample to generalize the results while controlling for potential confounders.</p

Additional file 1 of Knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward death: a cross-sectional comparative study between an Arab and a Western University

Supplementary Material