KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG DENTISTS

Dentists are at high risk for contracting Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which leads to severe liver disease. Proper infection control measures are supposed to be in place to avoid transmission, especially with the exposure to blood that dentists are at risk of. A cross-sectional study with quantitative method using a valid research questionnaire. A convenience sample of 101 dentists from around Lebanon participated in the study. The results showed that 83% of the participating dentists were vaccinated yet only 21% received the required dose for prevention against HBV. The dentists had moderate to high knowledge of HBV infection control measures, negative attitudes towards treating HBV exposed patients, as well as good practices of standard precautions. The results showed that there was a difference association between gender and vaccination (P=0.04). The results also showed that there was no remarkable association between years of experience and HBV infection prevention knowledge, however there was a significant association between gender, vaccination status and practices if infection control measures (P=0.00). The dentists report good KPA of infection control measures yet reinforcement is needed to ensure proper prevention of transmission of HBV in dental practice

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AMONG LEBANESE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

During the first week of March, the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached over 100 countries with more than 100,000 cases. Healthcare authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities beyond borders. A poor understanding of the disease among healthcare workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and the rapid spread of infection. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID19, where a 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using google forms and email portals. The majority of the sample were females (75.5%) and have been working as registered nurses (50.3%), where their main source of information was their hospital and the Ministry of Health, followed by the social media the results of the study showed that the healthcare providers had adequate knowledge and positive perception regarding the prevention of COVID-19, however they have expressed concerns regarding contracting the infection and infecting family members. There has been a significant difference between those who have attended lectures and trainings and who have not on the level of the knowledge and perceptions (

THE EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF NURSES REGARDING CATHETER INDICATIONS AND CATHETER ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the fourth leading cause of healthcare associated infections. The single most important predisposing factor for CAUTI is the insertion of urinary catheter. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of educational intervention on the knowledge of nurses regarding catheter indications and CAUTI preventive measures. A Pre-Post-test study design was utilized in this study which was conducted at two university hospitals one in Saida (South Lebanon) and the other one in Beirut in Lebanon. A self-reported questionnaire about catheter insertion and CAUTI prevention was used before and after the educational intervention, where the results of this study revealed that the educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in the level of knowledge among nurse. Thus, the knowledge regarding indication and preventive measures was suboptimal in our study group. There is a tremendous scope of improvement in catheterization practices in the hospital and education induced interventions would be the most appropriate effort toward reducing the incidence of CAUTI

EFFECT OF CONFUSION ASSESSMENT TOOL APPLICATION ON CRITICAL CARE NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE OF DELIRIUM RECOGNITION

In critically ill patients, delirium is a serious and frequent disorder that is associated with a prolonged intensive care and hospital stay and an increased morbidity and mortality. The lack of education, knowledge of delirium and the lack of a delirium screening instrument makes delirium often overlooked by critical care nurses and physicians. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) tool implementation on the recognition of delirium by critical care nurses. A Pre-Posttest research design was implemented; 40 critical care nurses at Clemenceau Medical Center at three critical care units participated in the study. The participants were surveyed regarding recognition of delirium before and after the application of CAM-ICU tool and after a CAM-ICU education program was implemented. Highly significant difference in the test scores of the nurses between pre and post intervention were noted. The training concerning delirium and the application of validated assessment tools CAM-ICU increases the knowledge of critical care nurses and effective in recognizing patients with delirium

BARRIERS FACED BY SYRIAN REFUGEES IN ACCESSINGHEALTHCARE IN URBAN AREAS IN LEBANON

The crisis in Syria continues to take a devastating toll on the country’s civilian population. Lebanon now has 1.2 million Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, where over 1 million of them live outside of camps in urban settings and informal settlement. The high prevalence of communicable and noncommunicable diseases among Syrian refugees in Lebanon is being faced with a variety of multifaceted barriers leading to limited access to and use of healthcare services in terms of provision of appropriate secondary and tertiary services, continuity of care, access to medications, and costs. Aim: This study aims at exploring barriers faced by Syrian refugees in accessing health care in urban settings in Lebanon. Methodology: This qualitative study will be conducted on 40 Syrian refugees living in urban settings across Lebanon. Data will be collected through interviews to explore the context, reasoning and perception of the participants of existing barriers, and then will be phenomenologically analyzed. Results: The results of this study showed that the Syrian refugees who participated recognized financial, structural and cognitive barriers to accessing health care services

THE EFFECT OF MODERATE VERSUS DEEP SEDATION ON THE SATISFACTION AND LENGTH OF STAY OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING COLONOSCOPY IN A LEBANESE SPECIALIZED ENDOSCOPY CENTER

Colonoscopy is one of the most common screening procedure to detect colorectal cancer. Sedation during colonoscopy decreases anxiety, discomfort, minimizes risks, and promotes the overall satisfaction of the patient. It’s a challenge for nurses to adopt a sedation regimen taking into consideration traditional and modern techniques and methods. Purpose: To compare moderate and deep sedation effects on satisfaction, length of stay, and overall experience of patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was conducted among 149 patients who responded to the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale after been consented pre-procedure. Results: Statistically significant differences were demonstrated for almost most items of Iowa satisfaction with the anesthesia scale, in addition to the clear difference between the post-procedure stay duration and time to have had their vitals baselined again. Conclusion: Deep sedation using Propofol was much more effective in enhancing patient satisfaction and reducing the length of stay and procedure duration substantially, thus contributing to a higher quality of care and improved performance of the endoscopy units

CONCEPT MAPPING VERSUS TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHOD ON HEALTH SCIENCES’ STUDENTS’ SCORE

In the recent years, health care systems have been dynamically changing which demanded modifications in health care education. Current educational models are becoming more and more obsolete in enhancing the professional level of both teachers and students. Concepts maps are effective tools in processing large amounts of information, comprehending new concepts, as well as in generating information and amplifying creativity levels. The aim of this study is to compare the concept mapping versus traditional teaching method on Health Sciences’ students’ score. A Quasi-experimental design was implemented in the study. The study revealed that there was a significant difference between learning by traditional method and by concept mapping that can be a predictor of better academic achievement. Concept maps prove to be an efficient teaching-learning method in health sciences education

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CLINICAL STUDENTS ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES AWARENESS AT HOSPITALS

Healthcare-associated infections are a major global public health concern. Health care workers are on the front line of protecting themselves and clients from infection, through preventing the transmission of nosocomial infections and that is through the implementation of infection control measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention among healthcare workers at Lebanese hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was implemented in the study, where the sample included 240 participants (80 nurses, 80 medical lab, and 80 clinical students). Participants were surveyed using pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that knowledge between the three groups was good regarding standard precautions, but moderate regarding post exposure prophylaxis and vaccination. The results showed 41.7% of participants know the correct vaccines recommended, and medical labs were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). Despite the good knowledge about standard precautions, the main reason for noncompliance was that they don’t have time to wear PPE’s while working and nurses were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). The adherence to the use of PPE’s was significantly related to if they have regular access to them in the facility, (p=0.00).Among those who had occupational exposure nurses were significantly higher in reporting the exposure, (p=0.001). In addition, 62.9% reported that PEP medications were available at their work place, while 52.5% experienced sometime unavailability of these medications. This study revealed a good knowledge and attitude of infection prevention among the majority of participants with relatively minimal practice rate

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF WEIGHT MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS: ACHIEVED GOALS AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Obesity is becoming a major health problem growing in strength and prevalence. It is often associated with large array of debilitating diseases and conditions including psychosocial impairments. Morbid obesity rarely responds to conservative treatment regimens but has been successfully managed with bariatric interventions that have been achieving sustained weight loss of about 50% of excess body weight with improvement or resolution of most obesity-associated conditions. This cross sectional study evaluates the impact of weight changes by bariatric interventions on psychosocial functioning among Lebanese patients. 38 participants who signed consent were examined at pre-interventional and 6-month follow-up period. The spectrum of examination consists of demographic variables including height and weight measurements and psychosocial functioning evaluated through four standardized questionnaires well recognized and pretested in several previous studies. Data was analyzed using SPSS program. Positive impact of bariatric intervention was prevalent in approximately all studied parameters. This should be taken into consideration as a therapeutic tool in positive psychology-oriented intervention and necessitated pre-interventional psychological clearance and follow up as well

SURVEILLANCE OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN THE SOUTH OF LEBANON

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the common infectious diseases in both hospitals as well as community settings; they are recognized to be among the most serious worldwide bacterial infections impacting 150 million people globally every year. The purpose of this study was to assess the changing antibiotics resistance profile for uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from community and hospital setting over a period of time (2018–2019) with a special emphasis on ESBL/MDR producing Escherichia coli. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted among patients with uropathogenic Escherichia coli from both community and hospital settings in south Lebanon. Out of 863 patients with positive uropathogenic Escherichia coli, 451 (52.25 %) comes from the community while 412 (47.74 %) came from the hospital settings. Almost 60.83 % are not Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL), 31.4 % ESBL, and 7.76 % Multiple drug resistance (MDR). The majority of urinary tract infections are related to the female population (78.21 %). The most vulnerable age for both gender to develop UTI belong to elderly population (\u3e64 years) which account 37.19 % of all isolates. Statistically, we observed a high resistance rate toward all antibiotics using in the treatment of urinary tract infections such as Cefixime (45.30 %), Sulfamethoxazole (44.95 %), Ciprofloxacin (38.23 %) and Augmentin (38.93 %). A statistically significant association was observed between risk factors for hospitalized patients and all age categories with (P \u3c 0.05). Susceptibility profiles are critical to be evaluated in countries such as Lebanon where excessive use of antibiotics is observed at all levels. Therefore, this finding is useful for the determination of appropriate antimicrobial treatment in UTI patients that are caused by Escherichia coli and to follow the antimicrobial stewardship program to reduce the rate of resistance toward antibiotics