Prevalence and determinants of burnout syndrome among primary healthcare physicians in Qatar

Background: General practitioners (GPs) in particular are prone to developing burnout syndrome, as they are frequently overloaded with the demands of caring for sick patients. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among primary healthcare physicians in Qatar, and to identify its determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional survey targeting all GPs working in 21 primary healthcare centres in Qatar was conducted by using a self-administered Astudillo and Mendinueta questionnaire that covered socio-demographic data and job characteristics of the physician. It included a list of symptoms of burnout syndrome. Burnout syndrome assessment scores were calculated as a summation of answers to all 16 items, with a total minimum score of 0 and a total maximum score of 48. Physicians who scored more than 19 were classified as burned out. Results: Out of the 230 GPs recruited, 183 responded, which represents a response rate of 79.5%. Of all the GPs, 12.6% were burned out. The burnout syndrome was higher among female GPs (28.1%) than male GPs (6.9%). This difference was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). In terms of nationality, 37.8% of the Qatari GPs were burned out, compared to 11.6% of the foreign GPs (p-value < 0.004). Burnout syndrome was reversibly associated with years of experience and age. Fatigue, the use of analgesics and irritability were the most common symptoms. Conclusion: Burnout syndrome is common among female and young GPs working in primary healthcare centres in Qatar. The improvement of GPs’ coping skills and their work conditions are recommended to prevent burnout.Keywords: burnout syndrome; primary healthcare; physician; Qatar; prevalence; determinant

Genetic diversity and transmissibility of imported Plasmodium vivax in Qatar and three countries of origin

Malaria control program in the Arabian Peninsula, backed by adequate logistical support, has interrupted transmission with exception of limited sites in Saudi Arabia and sporadic outbreaks in Oman. However, sustained influx of imported malaria represents a direct threat to the above success. Here we examined the extent of genetic diversity among imported P. vivax in Qatar, and its ability to produce gametocytes, compared to parasites in main sites of imported cases, the Indian subcontinent (india) and East Africa (Sudan and Ethiopia). High diversity was seen among imported P. vivax in Qatar, comparable to parasites in the Indian subcontinent and East Africa. Limited genetic differentiation was seen among imported P. vivax, which overlapped with parasites in India, but differentiated from that in Sudan and Ethiopia. Parasite density among imported cases, ranged widely between 26.25–7985934.1 Pv18S rRNA copies/µl blood, with a high prevalence of infections carried gametocytes detectable by qRT-PCR. Parasitaemia was a stronger predictor for P. vivax gametocytes density (r = 0.211, P = 0.04). The extensive diversity of imported P. vivax and its ability to produce gametocytes represent a major threat for re-introduction of malaria in Qatar. The genetic relatedness between P. vivax reported in Qatar and those in India suggest that elimination strategy should target flow and dispersal of imported malaria into the region

One-year assessment of physical activity level in adult Qatari females: a pedometer-based longitudinal study

Suzan Sayegh, Mercia Van Der Walt, Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari Exercise is Medicine Department, Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar Background: Physical inactivity is a growing health concern and has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. The Arab region includes countries with some of the world&rsquo;s highest physical inactivity levels, such as Qatar, more specifically the Qatari female population.Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the physical activity levels of Qatari national female adults during a 1-year pedometer-based program.Materials and methods: A total of 549 Qatari national females aged between 18&nbsp;years and 64&nbsp;years were included. Data extracted from &ldquo;Step into Health&rdquo; program web database in Qatar were used for analyses. Daily habitual physical activity (daily total step count and aerobic steps) was assessed through the Omron HJ-324U pedometer. Step counts were classified as follows:&nbsp;&lt;5,000 steps/d, sedentary; 5,000&ndash;7,499 steps/d, low active; and &ge;7,500 steps/d, physically active. Statistical significance was set at P-value &le;0.05. Descriptive statistics were used, and habitual physical activity was calculated through repeated measures analysis of variance to determine the difference across the monitored days.Results: Mean age was 37.4&plusmn;11.7&nbsp;years, and median body mass index of 28.8 kg/m2 (interquartile range 24.8&ndash;33.5). Daily steps for the overall population ranged from 3,505 steps/d to 10,010 steps/d, with a median of 6,008 steps/d. A total of 242 (44.1%) females were sedentary, 178 (32.4%) were low active, and 129 (23.5%) were physically active. The physically active group showed a median of 927&nbsp;aerobic steps/d (interquartile range 0&ndash;4,248).Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Qatari females are not meeting the global recommendations of physical activity. Future research might need to consider barriers to physical activity as well as social, cultural, and environmental factors. Keywords: aerobic steps, daily steps, step count, community-based progra

Physical activity interventions promoted in the Arabic-speaking region: A review of the current literature

The Arabic-speaking region suffers from insufficient levels of physical activity (PA). Assessing the effectiveness of PA interventions presents a scientifically evaluated method to reduce and prevent the current high burden of noncommunicable diseases affecting this region. This review examined implemented PA interventions and corresponding measured health outcomes in this region. The review was limited to studies prior to January 2020 using nine electronic academic databases. Only intervention-focused articles incorporating PA as the primary intervention or as a component of a multibehavioural intervention were included. Thirty-nine PA intervention studies were identified. Published PA interventions were implemented among 50% of the countries in the region. Seventy percent of the studies were conducted in the Gulf region and 25% in North Africa. A third of the studies was designed for children and adolescents. Accordingly, 40% of interventions were for patients living with comorbidities. Seventy percent of the studies included PA as part of a multidisciplinary intervention. Most studies included body mass index as an outcome parameter. Significant improvement (P \u3c .05) in measured health outcomes was seen in 97% of studies. Thorough analysis includes social and culturally congruent aspects of the PA interventions and discussion of resultant health outcomes. This information furthers the understanding of effective PA interventions that can be adapted to target sedentary lifestyle behaviours in this region

Effects of a malaria elimination program: a retrospective study of 623 cases from 2008 to 2013 in a Chinese county hospital near the China – Myanmar border

The southwestern region of China, along the Myanmar border, has accounted for the highest number of cases of imported malaria since China shifted from a malaria control program to an elimination strategy in 2010. We conducted a retrospective study, in which 623 medical charts were analyzed to provide an epidemiological characterization of malaria cases that were diagnosed and treated at the People's Hospital of Tengchong County (PHTC), located in southwestern China, from 2008 to 2013. Our aim was to understand the characteristics of malaria in this region, which is a high-endemic region with imported cases. The majority of patients were male (91.7%), and the average age was 32.4 years. Most of the patients (86.4%) had visited Myanmar; labor was the purpose of travel for 63.9% of the patients. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum were responsible for 53.8% and 34.9% of the infections, respectively. The number of hospitalized patients rose gradually from 2008 to 2010 and reached its peak in 2010 (191). After 2010, the number of hospitalized cases fell rapidly from 191 (2010) to 45 (2013), and the proportion of patients who lived in the forest and the number infected with P. falciparum also fell. In conclusion, the number of hospitalized patients in the southwestern region of China, Tengchong county, decreased after China implemented a malaria elimination strategy in 2010. However, migrant workers returning from Myanmar remained important contributors to cases of imported malaria. The management of imported malaria should be targeted by the malaria elimination program in China