Les perceptions des femmes tunisiennes selon le modèle des croyances liées à la santé et leurs pratiques relativement à l’ostéoporose

Introduction: L'étude a pour objectif de décrire les croyances des femmes et leurs pratiques liées à la santé et à l'ostéoporose, afin d'élaborer des interventions efficaces et ciblées pour la prévention de cette maladie dans le contexte tunisien. Méthodes: Une étude descriptive transversale a été effectuée auprès de 100 femmes tunisiennes, âgées de 45 ans et plus, qui consultent au centre de santé de base d'une zone périurbaine de la région de Sousse (Tunisie). La collecte de l'information a été réalisée à l'aide de  l'échelle des croyances relatives à la santé sur l'ostéoporose développée par Kim et ses collègues traduit en arabe et validé en Tunisie et le questionnaire de Calcul des apports calciques quotidiens développé par Fardellone Patrice. L'interprétation des résultants s'est basée sur le Health Belief Model. Résultats: La perception des participantes pourrait être considérée comme au dessus de la moyenne pour la vulnérabilité de l'ostéoporose (58%), la gravité de la maladie, les avantages de la pratique de l'activité physique, les avantages de l'apport en calcium et la motivation à la santé; par contre, elle pourrait être considérée comme modérée concernant les obstacles à la prévention. Cependant, les pratiques exposant au risque de la maladie sont relativement fréquentes et ceci essentiellement en rapport avec des facteurs socio-économiques et culturels. Conclusion: Les programmes de promotion doivent viser la création d'un environnement physique et social favorable à l'adoption des comportements à moindre risque et viser l'éducation ciblée de la population.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 23:4

Patient’s safety culture among Tunisian healthcare workers: results of a cross sectional study in university hospital

Introduction: healthcare safety has become a public health priority in developed world. Development of safety culture care is fundamental pillar to any strategy for improving quality and safety care. The objective of this study is to measure level of patients’ safety culture among healthcare professionals at university hospital, center Farhat Hached Sousse (Tunisia). Methods: we conducted, in 2013, a descriptive study among all licensed physicians (n= 116) and a representative sample of paramedical staff (n= 203) exercising at university hospital center Farhat Hached Sousse (Tunisia). Measuring instrument used is a valid questionnaire containing ten safety care dimensions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19. Results: the response rates were 74.1% for physicians and 100% for paramedical staff. Overall score of different dimensions varies between 32.7% and 68.8%. Dimension having most developed score (68.8%) was perception of "Frequency and reporting adverse events". Dimension with lowest score (32.7%) was "Management support for safety care". Conclusion: our study has allowed us to conclude that all dimensions of patients’ safety culture need to be improved among our establishment’s professionals. Therefore, more efforts are necessary in order to develop a security culture based on confidence, learning, communication and team work and rejecting sanction, blame, criminalization and punitive reporting.The Pan African Medical Journal. 2016;2

Spirometric “Lung Age” estimation for North African population

Background: Published reference equations predicting Estimated-Lung-Age (ELA) did not reliably predict Chronological-Lung-Age (CLA) data in North African population. Aims: To develop and to validate novel reference equations for ELA from varied anthropometric data and FEV1. Methods: Applying multiple regression analysis, equations predicting ELA were invented using data from 540 never-smokers with normal spirometry (group I). Validation was made based on data from 41 never-smokers with normal spirometry (group II). Equations were further applied for 91 subjects with confirmed COPD. Results: Novel regression equations allowing prediction of reference value of ELA and normal limits of difference between ELA and CLA were elaborated in both sexes. In males, ELA (yrs) = 42.85 − 20.74 × FEV1 (L) + 47.41 × Body Surface Area (m2) − 0.62 × Body-Mass-Index (BMI, kg/m2). In females, ELA (yrs) = 64.64 − 8.00 × FEV1 (L) − 0.17 × BMI (kg/m2) + 8.82 × Height (m). Normal limits of difference between ELA and CLA were ±16.9 yrs in males and ±14.8 yrs in females. Established equations predicted ELA of group II with no significant difference between CLA and ELA in either sex (respectively, 42.9 ± 16.6 vs. 40.3 ± 13.7 yrs in males, 42.0 ± 13.5 vs. 45.6 ± 7.7 yrs in females) ELA was significantly older than CLA age only in COPD with grades III and IV ((ELA minus CLA) (yrs) averaged, respectively, +21.7, +26.4). Conclusion: North African reference equations enrich the World Bank of reference equations from which the physician should choose according to the patient’s ethnic background

Erysipèle du membre inférieur: étude de 400 cas [Erysipelas of the lower limb: study of 400 cases]

Introduction: Erysipelas is an acute, non-necrotizing dermo-hypodermitis of predominantly streptococcal origin. Objective: To clarify the epidemiological and evolutionary features of the lower limb erysipelas through a hospital series. Materiels and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all cases of lower limb erysipelas hospitalized in the Department of Dermatology of the Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse between January 2000 and December 2015 (10 years). Results: Four hundred cases of erysipelas of the lower limb were recorded. The mean age of the patients was 55.82 years. The sex ratio was 1.51. The main predisposing factors were sedentarity, diabetes and obesity. In 96.75% of cases, entry lesion, like mycoses or traumatic injuries was noted. Clinically, a classic presentation of erysipelas was described in all cases. Erysipela was unilateral in 96% of cases. Treatment was based on intravenous penicillin G in 86.5% of cases, on an average of 9.75 days. The evolution was favorable in 83.25% of cases. Antibioprophylaxis was prescribed in 38% of cases. Loco-regional and general complications were noted in 10.25% of cases. Three patients died. Late complications were dominated by relapses and persistence of sequelled lymphedema. RÉSUMÉ Introduction: L’érysipèle est une dermo-hypodermite aigue, non nécrosante, d’origine principalement streptococcique. Objectif: préciser les particularités épidémio-cliniques et évolutives de l’Erysipèle du membre inferieur à travers une série hospitalière. Matériel et Méthodes: Nous avons rétrospectivement analysé tous les cas d’érysipèle du membre inférieur hospitalisés dans le service de dermatologie de l’hôpital Farhat Hached de Sousse entre janvier 2000 et décembre 2015 (10 ans). Résultats: Quatre cents cas d’érysipèle du membre inférieur ont été recensés. L’âge moyen des patients était de 55.82 ans. Le sexe ratio était de 1.51. Les principaux facteurs favorisants étaient : la sédentarité, le diabète et la surcharge pondérale. Une porte d’entrée à type d’intertrigo interorteil ou de plaie traumatique était notée dans 96.75% des cas. Cliniquement, un tableau typique d’érysipèle était décrit dans tous les cas. L’atteinte était unilatérale dans 96% des cas. Le traitement était à base de pénicilline G par voie intraveineuse dans 86,5% des cas pendant en moyenne 9.75 jours. L’évolution était favorable dans 83.25% des cas. Une antibioprophylaxie était prescrite chez 38% des cas. Les complications loco-régionales et générales précoces étaient notées dans 10.25% des cas. Trois patients étaient décedés. Les complications tardives étaient dominées par les récidives et la persistance d’un lymphoedème séquellaire

Burden and predictions of hospitalized injuries in a low-middle income country: results from a Tunisian university hospital

ABSTRACTInjuries are responsible for a high premature mortality and disability. They are poorly explored in low and middle income-countries. We aimed to estimate the burden of hospitalized injuries in the Monastir governorate (Tunisia) according to the nature of the injury, trends and projections of hospitalizations for injuries up until 2024, and to identify the distribution of this disease burden based on age and sex. We performed a descriptive study from 2002 to 2012 including all hospitalizations for injuries. Data were collected from morbidity and mortality register of the University Hospital of Monastir (Tunisia). We estimated the burden of injuries using the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). We described injuries (crude prevalence rate (CPR) and age standardized prevalence rate (ASR)), related mortality (lethality and standardized mortality ratio (SMR)), trends and prediction for 2024. A total of 18,632 hospitalizations for injuries representing 10% of all hospitalizations during study period were recorded. Per 1000 inhabitants per year, CPR was 3.36 and the ASR was 3.44. The lethality was of 17.5 deaths per 1000 injured inpatients per year and the SMR was of 2.95 (Confidence Interval of 95%: 2.64–3.29). Burden related to injuries was 2.36 DALYs per 1000 population per year, caused mainly by Years of Life Lost (83.4%), most frequent among men aged under 40 years. The predicted ASR for 2024 was 4.46 (3.81–5.23) per 1000 person-years. Injuries to the head was the most prevalent (20.7%) causing 67.7% of DALYs; and increasing by 226% through 2024. Injuries had a high prevalence and an important burden in a Tunisian university hospital. Prediction showed increased prevalence for 2024. Preventive measures and a trauma surveillance register should be implemented soon