Self-medication among medical students in Anbar and Fallujah Universities – Iraq

Background: Self-medication (SM) is a worldwide issue, that has serious adverse effects on individuals and communities. Objective:  To estimate the prevalence of self- medication   among medical student in Anbar and Falluja Universities and to explore the important reasons for using self-medication.  To identify the common sources and types of self-medication drugs. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students in Anbar   and Fallujah Universities during the period from February to March 2018.  The subjects were asked to fill a questionnaire that consisted of questions on age, gender and educational level, in addition to questions for self-medication history. Results: The results revealed that 73% of medical students had practice of self- medication. A higher prevalence of self-medication was  found among 5th study year students. Antibiotics were the most frequent self-prescribe medicine that used by 137 (49.6%) of the participants, followed by analgesic (29%), and supplements by 40 (14.5%).  The most frequently given reasons for using self-medication were previous prescription and of pharmacists’ advice. Conclusion: A high prevalence of self- medication was found among medical students in Falluja & Anbar Universities with a statistical significant association between gender and self- medication practice

Effect of adverse childhood experiences on physical health in adulthood: Results of a study conducted in Baghdad city

Background: Studies have revealed a powerful relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and physical and mental health in adulthood. Literature documents the conversion of traumatic emotional experiences in childhood into organic disease later in life. Objective: The aim was to estimate the effect of childhood experiences on the physical health of adults in Baghdad city. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2013 to January 2014. The study sample was drawn from Baghdad city. Multistage sampling techniques were used in choosing 13 primary health care centers and eight colleges of three universities in Baghdad. In addition, teachers of seven primary schools and two secondary schools were chosen by a convenient method. Childhood experiences were measured by applying a modified standardized ACEs-International Questionnaire form and with questions for bonding to family and parental monitoring. Physical health assessment was measured by a modified questionnaire derived from Health Appraisal Questionnaire of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The questionnaire includes questions on cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, tumor, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Results: Logistic regression model showed that a higher level of bonding to family (fourth quartile) is expected to reduce the risk of chronic physical diseases by almost the half (odds ratio = 0.57) and exposure to a high level of household dysfunction and abuse (fourth quartile) is expected to increase the risk of chronic physical diseases by 81%. Conclusion: Childhood experiences play a major role in the determination of health outcomes in adulthood, and early prevention of ACEs. Encouraging strong family bonding can promote physical health in later life

THE IMPACT OF BREAST CANCER ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG A SAMPLE OF FEMALE IRAQI PATIENTS

Objectives: Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cause of cancer-related death among females which affects quality of life. This study aimed at describing the impact of Breast Cancer (BC) on quality of life among a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods: A sample of 263 Breast cancer patients attending Al-Amal National hospital for Cancer management was invited to participate in this study. The impact of BC on quality of life was measured using the newly developed Impact of breast cancer questionnaire. It is composed of 20 domains that tap different aspect of life might be affected by BC. Results: More than half of the interviewed female patients were in their 50s and attained secondary education. About 60.8 % were married and more than half had more than one child. Around 56 % were skilled workers and quarter of respondents came from rural areas. The hhighest negative impact was for Breast Cancer impact on happiness, followed by "ability to focus on daily tasks". Sleep was the third negatively affected domain of life and "carrying out house chores" was the fourth and last domain where more than half of participants showed a negative impact. There was a high percentage of observed agreement between the calculated breast cancer impact and the perceived overall negative impact of breast cancer assessed by direct questioning. This high observed agreement was significantly beyond chance. Conclusions: Breast Cancer negatively impacted Quality of life. A physician in charge of patients' management should pay attention to this when arranging a treatment plan