A Comparative Study of Children's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding COVID-19 at Secondary Schools

Background: Novel coronavirus-2019 is a highly infectious disease that caused a global pandemic around the world. The aim of this study was to compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice of secondary school children toward COVID-19 in Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Design: A comparative cross-sectional research was utilized in the present study among secondary school children and conducted from January to April 2021. Settings: The research was conducted on secondary school children at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sample: All available students of secondary school children (200) were included in the study. A structured online self-reported questionnaire sheet was used to assess children’s knowledge, attitude, and practice about COVID-19. Results: It was shown that the mean ± SD of age for Egyptian children were 15±.96 and the majority of them (63%) were female, while the mean ± SD for Saudi Arabian children were 16±1.5 and the entire sample was female (100%). Conclusion: The majority of Egyptian and Saudi children had correct knowledge and a positive attitude however; there was incompetent practice toward the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, there were statistically significant differences among both groups concerning COVID-19. Recommendation: Awareness educational programs should be implemented on a regular basis to foster a positive attitude and good practice toward preventive measures of COVID-19. Keywords:Children, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and COVID-19. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/95-01 Publication date: November 30th 202

Transparent authentication: Utilising heart rate for user authentication

There has been exponential growth in the use of wearable technologies in the last decade with smart watches having a large share of the market. Smart watches were primarily used for health and fitness purposes but recent years have seen a rise in their deployment in other areas. Recent smart watches are fitted with sensors with enhanced functionality and capabilities. For example, some function as standalone device with the ability to create activity logs and transmit data to a secondary device. The capability has contributed to their increased usage in recent years with researchers focusing on their potential. This paper explores the ability to extract physiological data from smart watch technology to achieve user authentication. The approach is suitable not only because of the capacity for data capture but also easy connectivity with other devices - principally the Smartphone. For the purpose of this study, heart rate data is captured and extracted from 30 subjects continually over an hour. While security is the ultimate goal, usability should also be key consideration. Most bioelectrical signals like heart rate are non-stationary time-dependent signals therefore Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is employed. DWT decomposes the bioelectrical signal into n level sub-bands of detail coefficients and approximation coefficients. Biorthogonal Wavelet (bior 4.4) is applied to extract features from the four levels of detail coefficents. Ten statistical features are extracted from each level of the coffecient sub-band. Classification of each sub-band levels are done using a Feedforward neural Network (FF-NN). The 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th levels had an Equal Error Rate (EER) of 17.20%, 18.17%, 20.93% and 21.83% respectively. To improve the EER, fusion of the four level sub-band is applied at the feature level. The proposed fusion showed an improved result over the initial result with an EER of 11.25% As a one-off authentication decision, an 11% EER is not ideal, its use on a continuous basis makes this more than feasible in practice

Analgesic Effect of Intra-Articular Dexamethasone versus Fentanyl added as an adjuvant to Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Relief in Knee Arthroscopic Surgery

Background: Knee arthroscopy is usually associated with a variable degree of pain ranging from moderate-to-severe pain in about 70% of patients. Objective: This trial was designed to assess the efficacy of intra-articular administration of dexamethasone versus fentanyl as adjuncts to bupivacaine in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Patients and methods: Eighty-nine patients of either sex were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group F that received intra-articular (IA) injection of 1 μg/kg fentanyl (In 2 ml saline) added to 18 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine, group D, which received IA injection of 8 mg (2 ml) dexamethasone added to 18mL of 0.25% bupivacaine and group S that received IA injection of 2 ml normal saline added to 18 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. Results: The time required for the first request of analgesia in group F, group D, and group S was 5.7 ± 0.7 vs 4.5 ± 0.5 vs 3.3 ± 0.5 hours respectively. There were significant differences between both treatment groups and the control group (p < 0.001) and in between both treatment groups (p < 0.001) in favor of group F. There was a significantly lower median visual analogue score in group F when compared to group D and S at 6 hours (p = 0.006 & 0.01, respectively), 12 hours (p < 0.001 & < 0.001, respectively), and 18 hours (p = 0.003 & 0.007, respectively) postoperatively. Conclusion: The addition of fentanyl or dexamethasone to IA bupivacaine in knee arthroscopic surgery provided a better quality of analgesia with less consumption of systemic analgesics without significant adverse effects

The way forward to public health in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: a need for public health systems and law

Introduction: Public health systems in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries are not well established. The existing systems do not match with the current health challenges and with the use of innovative technology in healthcare (diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation). This paper is intended to give an overview of the public health situation in these countries. It discusses the need for effective and integrated system of public health laws that plays important role in addressing high priorities in public health. Conclusion: The GCC countries have the infrastructure for estab¬lishing a national public health system. However it needs an effective integrated and organized mechanism to shape this system; based on acceptable guidelines and criteria in such a way that they are institutional and capable of meeting the population needs. This system should be cost- effective and investment in health sector should be looked upon as a sustained investment in human and societal development. Despite the great efforts exerted and achievements made, there are great challenges ahead that can be overcome by exhibiting a strong political will and having a united approach of all stakeholders

1,2,4-Triazine Chemistry Part I: Orientation of cyclization reactions of functionalized 1,2,4-triazine derivatives

Orientation of heterocyclization reactions of functionalized 1,2,4-triazines were studied by effect of substituents in 1,2,4-triazine moieties, type of the solvent used in the reaction and the temperature effect. Also, it was found that cyclization process depended mainly on the chemoselective and regioselectivity states of the parent substrate as well as preferring cite of ring closure

Revision of total hip replacement with proximal femur bone defect

Background: The revision surgery has been evolving constantly. From polyethylene wear, osteolysis and loosening, to complexities such as pelvic discontinuity, there is a wide range of surgical options for successful reconstruction.Objective: The aim of the present study was to provide optimal treatment to the increasing number of patients requiring revision surgery with femur bone defect.Patients and methods: This study included 10 patients with failed primary total hip replacement and have femoral bone defects selected as purposive simple random sample requiring revision of total hip replacement at Zagazig University Hospitals.Results: All of the patients had femoral defects which were difficult to evaluate accurately preoperatively by radiograph but were properly evaluated during surgery after removal of the loose implant by simple manual traction. Femoral bone defects were classified according to Paprosky classification, they were six patients type 1, three patients type 2 and one patient type 3A. No weight bearing was allowed on the affected limb for 4 weeks. All the patients reached full weight bearing between 7 – 9 weeks after surgery regarding preoperative mean Harris hip score, it was 89. There were no cases of dislocation or deep infection in this series up to the final follow up visit.Conclusion: The revision surgery has been evolving constantly. However, we do not have complex solution. The optimal surgical approach for revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) varies considerably among different settings

Crack sliding model for non-shear FRP-reinforced slender concrete elements under shear

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-reinforced concrete (RC) elements fail under one-way shear in a devastating and complicated manner with no adequate warning. In recent decades, there has been pioneering research in this area; however, there is no agreement among researchers regarding mechanically-based models. Thus, in this current study, a plasticity-based model is developed for FRP-RC elements under shear. A selected model was firstly assessed for its accuracy, consistency, and safety against an extensive experimental database. Secondly, a plasticity-based model (i.e., crack shear sliding model) was adapted, refined, and proposed for FRP-RC elements under one-way shear. The two proposed models were found to be reliable and more accurate with respect to selected existing methods. Modeling of FRP’s axial rigidity is more consistent only under Young’s modulus with respect to the experimental database. Several concluding remarks on the selected existing models are outlined and discussed to assist the future development of these models and design codes

Equity in healthcare: status, barriers, and challenges

Global health provides a challenge for primary care and general practice which will become increasingly important in the future as the prevalence of multimorbidity increases. There is increasing likelihood of survival from acute illnesses and increase an in the elderly population. This literature review focuses on the health inequities, the role of family medicine and the factors that are essential in overcoming these inequalities. Health disparities refer to gaps in the quality of health and delivery of health care across racial, ethnic, gender and socioeconomic groups. The health disparities vary among different countries and the factors that lead to these disparities differ across the world. Family medicine plays a crucial role in bridging this gap and is an essential backbone of the society in developing nations as well as the wealthier nations in providing equity in health care to all people. There are many factors leading to inequity in health care. Family medicine should be recognized as a specialty across the world, as family medicine with its person centered care can bring about a global change in health care. This issue has to be taken up more seriously by the institutions like the WHO, UN and also individual governments along with the political parties to create uniformity in health care. In the current setting of the global economic and financial crisis, a truly global solution is needed. The WHO has come up with various strategies to solve the issue of financial crises and ensuring equity in health globally. This will ensure equal health care to all people especially the underprivileged in developing countries who do not have access to better healthcare due to lack of resources. This factor is a major contributor to the premature death of individuals at all stages of life from new born to the elderly and includes infant mortality and mortality due to chronic diseases. This is important in creating uniformity in health care across the world but has to be considered at a global level to have an impact

Quality of Primary Health Care Services Within The Framework of The National Accreditation Program

Abstract: Accreditation program (AP) has the objective of supporting the quality of primary health care (PHC) services, within the Health Sector Reform/family medicine (FM) domain. Accreditation program is implemented in Family Health Units that represent a shift from fragmented vertical PHC services, into comprehensive, integrated and continuous services. In 2000, AP has been initiated in Egypt in selected primary health care facilities. The study aims at identification of strengths and challenges regarding the quality standards of resources and process as well as efficiency (output) of the accredited versus non-accredited rural facilities. The study is an operations research quasiexperimental/ time series analysis-test and control group design. A convenient sample of three accredited family health units (AFHUs) and a control group of three non-accredited rural health units (NRHUs) located in a purposively selected health district in 6 th October governorate. Observation quality checklist (2007 & 2008) and spread sheet to report service statistics data 2005-2008 had been used. Quality standards as well as PHC services output indicators had been calculated. Findings showed that AFHUs achieved 81% of the standard quality score versus 79% for the NRHUs. Output indicators delineated non-observed differences in service efficiency regarding immunization, maternal care services and family planning. There are remaining challenges in both types of facilities related to antenatal and postnatal care. It is concluded that both the AFHUs and NRHUs are working according to vertical program momentum, with limited response to the quality dimension related to the continuity of care