Effects of covid-19 lockdown on physical activity and dietary behaviors in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about drastic measures that have significantly altered the norms of daily living. These measures have affected human behaviors in disparate ways. This study seeks to understand the impact of the pandemic on physical activity and dietary behavior among adults living in Kuwait. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 18 June and 15 July 2020, using a questionnaire disseminated through social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook. The target population was individuals aged 21 years or older living in the State of Kuwait. The study included 679 respondents; 57.9% were females, and 67.7% were Kuwaiti nationals. Both genders reported an increased consumption of vegetables, fruits, and carbohydrates, and a decreased consumption of fish and sugary drinks. Compared to males, females reported eating more during the outbreak than their pre-pandemic eating behaviors (32.3% vs. 35.9%, p < 0.05). Approximately one-third of respondents (33.1%) reported performing less than 30 min of physical activity or exercise in a week, and 36.4% of respondents rated their quality of sleep as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. The rate of smoking cigarettes among males was significantly higher than in females (40.6% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001). Physical activity was positively correlated with vegetable consumption and quality of sleep. Quality of sleep was negatively correlated with the consumption of sweets and snacks, just as the consumption of vegetables was negatively correlated with the consumption of sugary drinks. The overall negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait necessitates the development of health promotion interventions to support positive physical activity and dietary behaviors using alternative coping strategies among the residents of Kuwait

Exploring the Health Information Management System of Kuwait: Lessons and Opportunities

After studying the professional practices related to the management of medical records in Kuwaiti hospitals, it became utterly evident that there is inadequate understanding about maintaining the health information of patients. This dire situation is further compounded by the absence of official regulations established by the Ministry of Health for hospitals to effectively assess and manage medical records. Through this study, the researchers aimed to assess the medical records system in multiple healthcare settings in Kuwait, comprising government, private, and oil sectors. The study was carried out from May 2019 to July 2020 and used a self-developed, pilot-tested questionnaire measuring various aspects of the medical records management system. A total of 98 participants responded to the survey. The study results revealed that 43% of hospitals were using paper-based medical records, as compared to 53% that used both paper-based and electronic media. Moreover, 40% of hospitals in Kuwait did not adhere to the Ministry of Health policies regarding medical records disposition; instead, they developed their own hospital-based disposition policy. Moreover, the study findings showed that there were clear discrepancies in record retention policies among the participating hospitals, and the duration of record retention varied from 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, and more than 20 years across hospitals in Kuwait. In conclusion, national policies and guidelines need to be established to monitor the medical record systems in Kuwaiti hospitals to further enable better patient care and improve healthcare facilities. Furthermore, it has become indispensable to develop and maintain electronic health records as they constitute an integral part of modern healthcare

Exploring the Health Information Management System of Kuwait: Lessons and Opportunities

After studying the professional practices related to the management of medical records in Kuwaiti hospitals, it became utterly evident that there is inadequate understanding about maintaining the health information of patients. This dire situation is further compounded by the absence of official regulations established by the Ministry of Health for hospitals to effectively assess and manage medical records. Through this study, the researchers aimed to assess the medical records system in multiple healthcare settings in Kuwait, comprising government, private, and oil sectors. The study was carried out from May 2019 to July 2020 and used a self-developed, pilot-tested questionnaire measuring various aspects of the medical records management system. A total of 98 participants responded to the survey. The study results revealed that 43% of hospitals were using paper-based medical records, as compared to 53% that used both paper-based and electronic media. Moreover, 40% of hospitals in Kuwait did not adhere to the Ministry of Health policies regarding medical records disposition; instead, they developed their own hospital-based disposition policy. Moreover, the study findings showed that there were clear discrepancies in record retention policies among the participating hospitals, and the duration of record retention varied from 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, and more than 20 years across hospitals in Kuwait. In conclusion, national policies and guidelines need to be established to monitor the medical record systems in Kuwaiti hospitals to further enable better patient care and improve healthcare facilities. Furthermore, it has become indispensable to develop and maintain electronic health records as they constitute an integral part of modern healthcare