Evaluation of the level of knowledge of Egyptian women of breast cancer and its risk factors. A cross sectional study

Breast cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer death among females in economically developing countries. Preva- lence of breast carcinoma is high in Egypt and the cases of breast cancer constitute 29% of cancer cases treated at the national cancer institute. This study aimed at exploring the level of knowledge of Egyptian females of breast cancer and its risk factors. An interview questionnaire with 22 questions about breast cancer was developed. This questionnaire was previ- ously published as a part of the German multicentre DACH study. A total of 600 female subjects that attended primary health care centres were enrolled in our study. The majority were located in Cairo with the mean age of 40.5 ± 11.0. Most of our studied sample (94%) has heard about breast cancer as a disease. TV and radio were the main sources of knowledge about the disease (60%). The level of knowledge about breast cancer was limited in 80% of the subjects. Younger age subjects had a higher level of knowledge about breast can- cer compared to older subjects with no significant difference statistically. The grade of knowledge about breast cancer was higher among highly educated subjects compared to less edu- cated subjects with significant difference statistically. The highest known risk factors of breast cancer were exposure to X ray (79.5%), hormonal therapy (75.7%) and previous breast cancer disease (70.8%). This study clearly illustrates the need for a health education program directed to Egyptian females to improve the knowledge of breast cancer

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of hand washing among health care workers in Ain Shams University hospitals in Cairo

Most nosocomial infections are thought to be transmitted by the hands of health care workers. The aim of this work was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of hand washing among health care workers (HCW) in Ain-Shams University hospitals and to investigate the presence of the necessary facilities and supplies required for hand washing (HW) in ten wards. A cross- sectional descriptive and observational study was conducted for six months from June till November 2006. Observation of the HCW for hand washing practice was done at any opportunity of contact with the patients in the different wards by members of the infection control team. Knowledge & attitude of HCW towards hand hygiene was done through self-administered questionnaire to HCW in 10 different departments. The total opportunities observed were 2189 opportunities. Doctors showed a signifi- cantly higher compliance (37.5%) than other groups of HCW (P = 0.000), however only 11.6% of the opportunities observed for doctors were done appropriately. The most common type of HW practiced among HCW was the routine HW (64.2%) and the least was the antiseptic HW (3.9%). Having a short contact time and improper drying (23.2%) were the most common errors that lead to inappropriate HW. Most of the wards had available sinks (80%) but none of them had available paper towels. The mean knowledge score was higher in nurses compared to doc- tors (42.6 ± 11.7 versus 39.1 ± 10.5). Most of the nurses (97.3%) believe that administrative orders and continuous observation can improve hand washing practices. Implementation of mul- tifaceted interventional behavioral hand hygiene program with continuous monitoring and performance feedback, increasing the supplies necessary for HW and institutional support are impor- tant for improving the compliance of hand hygiene guidelines

Role of Members of University Students? Unions in tobacco prevention

Introduction. In Egypt, each faculty has it own students? union, which represents the students and collaborates in organizing all educational, sporting and social activities. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the knowledge of members of students? unions about cigarette and Shisha smoking together with assessing their attitudes towards smoking in public places in general and in the university. Methodology. A random sample of members of Ain Shams University Students? Unions was subjected to an interview questionnaire. All participants were individually interviewed face-to-face by a trained interviewer from March 1, 2005 to April 30, 2005. Results. Our study showed that 34 (31.5%) students were smokers. The mean knowledge score percentage was 79.4 ± 20.7. Regarding knowledge about Shisha smoking hazards, the majority of the students (84.3%) knew that Shisha smoking is hazardous. The mean attitude score percentage was 56.8± 22.2. Smokers had less mean knowledge as regard smoking hazards compared to non-smokers (p inf. 0.01). Also, smokers had a lower mean attitude compared to non-smokers (p inf. 0.001). More than one-third (38.9%) of the interviewed students didn?t know if the students? union has a policy for prevention of smoking or not. Conclusion. Our findings point that although our students had a moderately high mean knowledge score yet this didn?t increase their attitude about the smoking problem in the university and in the community. This supports the notion that, in addition to knowledge about smoking hazards, efforts are needed to change beliefs that allow this offensive habit to continue

Influenza a(h1n1) pandemic: 2 years after

No Abstrac

Concerns, perceived impacts and preparedness of health care workers in a referral hospital in Egypt in facing influenza (H1N1) epidemic

Objective. In Egypt, influenza A(H1N1) cases have been detected and deaths have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate Concerns, Perceived Impacts and Preparedness of Physicians and Nurses of Chest Specialty Hospital in Cairo (Egypt) concerning Influenza A(H1N1). Methods. A questionnaire was applied to a total of 72 Physicians and 41 Nurses from Chest Specialty Hospital in Cairo (Egypt). Results. More than half of physicians (55.6%) were men, while most of nurses (92.7%) were women. The mean age in years of physicians was 36.6 ± 11.3 compared to 26.5 ± 8 in nurses. Physicians feel that they are at greater risk by their job to the pandemic100% compared to 87.6% among nurses and the difference is highly significant. More than one third of the studied physicians reported that they are not ready to face H1N1 pandemic. Residents feel less ready to face the danger of Influenza A(H1N1) compared with Consultants and Specialists/Assistant Specialists, with no statistical significant difference. In concordance, Residents reported less Personal Protective Equipment training compared with Consultants and Specialists/Assistant Specialists, with no statistical significant difference. All Consultants received Seasonal Influenza Vaccine compared with Specialists/Assistant Specialists (68.2%) and Residents (44.7%). Conclusion. Higher work related and non work related stress was found among physicians compared to nurses, which reflects the demand of more information and training courses for physicians about the pandemic nature and its consequences, complications, and methods infection prevention

Epidemiologic pattern of falls among inpatients in Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt

Background. Patient falls and injuries during hospitalization is a good quality indicator of safety of inpatients. Data on inpatients falls are deficient in Egyptian hospitals. Ain Shams university hospitals do not have any recording system for falls. Aim. This study aimed at estimating the incidence density of falls and describing pattern and risk factors contributing to falls in Ain shams university hospitals. Subjects and methods. A prospective follow up study was conducted on inpatients admitted to Ain Shams university hospitals. Patients were followed up for a maximum of two weeks for the occurrence of fall. An interview questionnaire addressed to in-patients was designed to investigate the incident of fall. Type of fall, provisional cause, consequences, night or day timing of fall, walking condition in hospital and past history of fall were among the factors investigated in the incident of fall. Questionnaire assessing the basic and instrumental daily activities for the elderly (? 60 years) was completed. Results. 1779 patients were included in the study in eight different wards with a mean age of 41.8 years. The incidence density of falls was 9 per 1000 patient days. Logistic regression analysis identified male gender, walking difficulties in-hospital and history of falls before hospitalization as independent risk factors for falls among below 60 years patients. Conclusion. Incidence of falls is relatively high among the studied university hospitals. Identified risk factors differed among adults compared to elderly. Recommendations. Measuring, monitoring and assessing fall rates are strongly recommended using a valid and reliable tool to improve quality of health services