Psychiatric Comorbidity in Neurological Disorders: Towards a Multidisciplinary Approach to Illness Management in the United Arab Emirates

Aim: To determine the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in undiagnosed patients attending neurological services, and detect rates of referral to and attendance of psychiatric services.Methods: Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed in 395 adult patients with primary diagnoses of neurological disorders. The Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item depression scale (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale (GAD-7) were administered. Demographic details of the patients were recorded. Referral to and attendance of psychiatric services were recorded for patients scoring within the clinical range of depression and anxiety disorders (scores > 10).Results: There was a 39% prevalence rate of depressive symptoms, 34% rate of anxiety, and 35.4% concurrent rate of both disorders in this cohort. The referral rate to psychiatric services was 33.6%, and attendance rate was 47.8%. There was significant association between severity of psychiatric symptoms and referral to psychiatric services, as well as significant association between comorbid psychiatric symptoms and attendance to psychiatric services.Conclusion: Our results indicate similar prevalence rates of comorbid psychiatric symptoms to studies carried out in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and relatively high attendance and referral rates to psychiatric services.Implications: The results shed light on the clinical profile of patients in this region and support the need for integrated collaborative medical services. Moreover, findings have important implications for health care policies pertaining to resource distribution and funding

Patterns of antibiotic prescriptions and appropriateness in the emergency room in a major secondary care hospital in Bahrain

Objective: To describe the pattern and appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed in the emergency room in a major secondary care hospital in Bahrain.Methods: Patients aged more than or equal to 14 years old that attended emergency room and was prescribed antibiotics from 1 to 31 July 2014 were included. Data were obtained from patients’ emergency records. Antibiotic treatment was classified to appropriate, inappropriate or unjustified use according to the local or international guidelines. Chi Square was performed to evaluate the variables associated to appropriateness antibiotic treatment.Results: A total of 1313 patients were included (52.6% males), mostly in the age group 14-30 years old (45.3%). The most frequent diseases attended were upper respiratory and urinary tract infections (27.3% and 22.1%,respectively). Cefuroxime was the most prescribed antibiotic (37.5%) followed by ciprofloxacin (20.8%). Percentage of inappropriate antibiotics prescription was 81.9% mostly due to unjustified use. Inappropriate antibiotic treatment was significantly more common in males (87.1%; P-value <0.001), in patients without mentioned diagnosis, then upper respiratory tract infection (100%, 96.9%. P-value <0.001) and prescriptions written by emergency physicians (85.5%; P- value <0.001).Conclusion: The study concludes that high rate of inappropriate antibiotics use mostly among patients treated by emergency doctors

Analisis Produktivitas Dan Beban Kerja Karyawan Pada Hasil Reaching Dan Drawing Departemen Weaving 2 Pt. Kusumahadi Santosa

ABSTRAK “ANALISIS PRODUKTIVITAS DAN BEBAN KERJA KARYAWAN PADA HASIL REACHING DAN DRAWING DEPARTEMEN WEAVING 2 PT. KUSUMAHADI SANTOSA” ASHARI FARDAN AL FARISI F3511015 Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui produktivitas dan beban kerja operator Reaching dan Drawing. Penelitian ini membahas tentang masalah yang terjadi pada Departemen Weaving 2 PT. Kusumahadi Santosa khususnya pada bagian Reaching dan Drawing tentang analisis produktivitas dan beban kerja selama empat minggu pada bulan januari. Teknik analisis data menggunakan metode produktivitas, Work Load Analysis, dan Work Force Analysis. Metode Produktivitas dari periode empat minggu pada bulan Januari 2014 diketahui minggu keempat mempunyai tingkat produktivitas tertinggi sebesar 11.267 helai/jam jika dibandingkan dengan tingkat produktivitas minggu lainnya. Berdasar menggunakan metode Work Load Analysis pada minggu keempat memiliki hasil tertinggi sebesar 0,99 dengan beban kerja sebesar 41,8 jam/minggu jika dibandingkan dengan minggu yang lain. Tingkat absensi tertinggi pada minggu ketiga sebesar 2,27% disebabkan banyak operator yang tidak masuk kerja. Tingkat turn over tiap minggu pada bulan Januari 2014 sebesar 0% dan dengan menggunakan metode Work Force Analysis pada minggu pertama hingga minggu keempat bulan Januari 2014 sebesar 0%. Hal ini disebabkan tidak adanya operator yang keluar atau pensiun. Penelitian ini dapat memberikan saran kepada PT. Kusumahadi Santosa untuk dapat menyelesaikan masalah yang terjadi kedepannya. Saran tersebut berupa perusahaan tidak perlu melakukan penambahan operator dan hanya perlu mengoptimalkan kinerja operator. Perusahaan perlu mengadakan evaluasi terhadap kinerja karyawan dan perusahaan perlu menerapkan suatu strategi yang tepat berdasar pada hasil evaluasi. Strategi peningkatan produktivitas tersebut dapat berupa penghargaan apabila operator dapat menyelesaikan pekerjaannya sesuai target yang ditetapkan perusahaan. Perusahaan diharapkan lebih aktif mengawasi operator dan memberikan peraturan yang tegas

Substance Abuse in the United Arab Emirates: Why a Needs Assessment is Necessary

Substance Abuse is an illness that affects every community in every country. The United Arab Emirates had been used as a transportation hub for drug trafficking for a number of years. The exposure to illegal and legal substances has left individuals in the community susceptible to the effects of substance use and addiction. The changes in the country, due to globalization, have increased the level of stress and prevalence of depression. Substance use is a method that individuals use to cope with these changes. Studies need to be conducted to create or tailor treatments for substance abuse in the United Arab Emirates. However, the country practices Shariaa law, which perceives substance use as a sin. As a result, prison is seen as an appropriate punishment for such a sin against religion. This doctoral project aims at identifying and increasing awareness of the factors involved in Substance Abuse in the United Arab Emirates and at determining the best method to research this topic given the social, legal and religious barriers

30 renungan ramadhan

216 hlm. ; 17 cm