Mohammad Alkot, Hala Shaheen and Hanan Hathout ; Prescribing Patterns and Errors in Family Practice; a Retrospective Study of Prescribing Records

Abstract: Background: Irrational prescribing of drugs is a major health problem in medical practice resulting in; ineffective treatment, development of antibiotic-resistant organisms, adverse effects and economic burden on patients and society. Objectives: The main objective of this study was rationalization of prescribing drugs and the specific objectives were to; assess the family physicians' prescribing patterns and errors, evaluate the compatibility of prescribed drugs with the diagnosis according to the clinical practice guidelines for family physicians and also to evaluate the adherence of prescribed drugs to WHO drug use indicators. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all prescribing records in the family health unit of Kafr-Tanbedy from July 2010 to July 2011 was conducted .All prescriptions were evaluated for the presence and/or fulfillment of; personal data, clear diagnosis and prescribing details as well as frequency and types of prescribing errors .Also compatibility of prescribed drugs with the diagnosis according to the national practice guidelines for family physicians and adherence to WHO drug use indicators were evaluated. Results: The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.4±0.7 (Mean ± SD). Out of all prescribed drugs, 94.7% were available by the national Essential Drug List (EDL) and 86.4% were prescribed by its generic names. The doses of medications were missed only in 1.01% of studied prescriptions while duration of treatment was missed in 14.9%. Regarding to the national practice guidelines for family physicians, 66.9% of prescribed drugs were compatible with the diagnosis. Prescribing errors were detected in 21.3% of prescriptions and its types A,B,C and D were detected in 0.5%,4.4%,7.1% and 9.3% of studied prescriptions respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: Although adherence of family physicians to the national EDL was generally accepted, there is a need to improve their prescribing pattern and prevent their prescribing errors. The study emphasizes the need for incorporation of the rational drug prescribing as an integral part in the national practice guidelines for family physicians and in the curricula of medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels

Mohammad Alkot and Mohsen Deeb ; Nocturnal Enuresis among School Children in Menofia Governorate, Egypt ; a Hidden Problem

ABSTRACT: Background: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) among school children is a hidden problem that is crucial to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, as it can result in many psychological consequences and poor scholastic achievements. Objectives: The main objective was health promotion of school children with better scholastic achievements. However the specific objectives were to; determine the prevalence and risk factors of nocturnal enuresis among school children in Menofia governorate of Egypt, and to examine its associations with behavioral and emotional problems. Subjects and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional comparative study that conducted during the academic year 2009/2010 on 723 students aged 6-18 years in Menofia governorate. A brief questionnaire was distributed to screen the primary enuretic children (No.83) who and their mothers were invited, together with a matched control group (No.144) after their consent to fill a well-designed questionnaire and Child Behavior Check List (CBCL). Teacher Report Form (TRF) will be also filled by their teachers. Results: Prevalence of primary NE was 11.5 %, however secondary type was 3.2%. Logistic regression analysis showed that, primary NE was significantly associated with positive family history (Odds ratio 2.76), history of urinary tract infection (Odds ratio 3.10) and an increased risk of internalizing, externalizing, total behavioral problems and poor academic achievements (Odds ratio were 3.05, 3.63, 4.47and 2.37 respectively).Out of enuretics, 57.8% of them and 61.4% of their parents were greatly concerned with the impact of enuresis. Only 15.7% of the parents preferred medical treatment modalities, others preferred awaking the child for voiding, water restriction, diapering, alarm and bladder exercises in decreasing order. Conclusions: The family physician is in a prime position to screen, early detect and treat nocturnal enuresis among school children as soon as possible to prevent its consequences as low self-esteem, psychological and behavioral problems and low school success

Prevalence of long-lasting loss of smell and taste after coronavirus disease 2019 infection in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: People with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who experience symptoms for more than 35 weeks are said to have long COVID. Anosmia can occur on its own or in combination with other COVID-19 symptoms. Anosmia may be a significant differential presentation for the suspicion and diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients with asymptomatic-to-mild COVID-19 disease and may disappear in 3 weeks. This study sought to determine the prevalence of persistent loss of taste and smell following COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi citizens who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than 2 weeks and had experienced a loss of taste and smell. Data was collected using a questionnaire having questions about demographics, long-lasting loss of taste and smell, whether this related to COVID-19 infection, and whether respondents had received the COVID-19 vaccine. SPSS was used for data analysis; statistical significance was determined using Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 383 Saudis who had a history of COVID-19 participated in the study. About 43.3% study participants had experienced persistent loss of taste and smell after COVID-19 infection. A significant association was found between loss of smell and the region, Northern region having highest proportion of study participants who had loss of smell and Western region having the lowest prevalence (34%). CONCLUSION: There were permanent changes in the sense of taste or smell in 34.3% of participants. This might add to the growing weight of long COVID