Effect of Educational Program on Compliance of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Patients in Gaza Strip

Myocardial infarction is a major cause of death and disability worldwide and in Palestine as well. Acute myocardial infarction is considered the main cause of death among males 15-59 year old.  Mortality rate from MI is 18.7% in males and 7.7% in females worldwide. However, recently it has become evidenced that there are certain modifiable factors that may contribute to the occurrence of MI. Such factors if recognized and acted upon may prevent MI or its recurrence. The aim of this study; was to determine the effect of an educational program on compliance of myocardial infarction patients in Gaza Strip. Research design; Quasi-experimental design (pre-test/post-test) was used in this study. The study sample; consisted of 65 clients suffering from myocardial infarction who were selected randomly from cardiac outpatient clinics in Shifa and Nasser hospital in Gaza Strip. Tools for data collection included structured interviewing questionnaire that was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, pretest and post-test questionnaire about patient's knowledge and reported practices, then biochemical lipid profile levels results were taken from patients' health records. Study results revealed a statistically significant difference between pre and post educational program in most variables related to patient's knowledge about the nature of myocardial infarction, causes, signs and symptoms, complications and medication. Also, a highly statistically significant difference was found between pre and post educational program in relation to subject's reported practices. The study concluded that, educational program implicated changes in myocardial infarction subjects' knowledge, and reported practices. The study recommended generalizing such educational program in other cardiac clinics in Gaza Strip in order to improve myocardial infarction patients' compliance to medication, diet, exercise, smoking cessation and stress management. This would ultimately increase the quality of life for myocardial infarction patients and decrease the incidence of complications. Keyword: compliance, myocardial infarction, educational program, knowledge, reported practic

Morpho-anatomical, and chemical characterization of some calcareous Mediterranean red algae species

Abstract Climatic changes are anticipated to have a detrimental effect on calcifying marine species. Calcareous red algae may be especially vulnerable to seasonal variations since they are common and essential biologically, but there is little research on the morpho-anatomical, and chemical characterization of such species. This study conducted the seasonal investigation of the three dominant Mediterranean calcified red algae. Morphological and 18S rRNA analysis confirmed the identification of collected species as Corallina officinalis, Jania rubens, and Amphiroa rigida. In general, C. officinalis was represented in the four seasons and flourishing maximum in autumn (70% of total species individuals). While J. rubens species was represented in winter, autumn, and spring and completely absent in summer. A. rigida was abundant only in the summer season by 40%. A full morphological and anatomical description of these species were examined, and their chemical compositions (carbohydrate, protein, lipid, pigments, and elements content) were assessed in different seasons, where carbohydrates were the dominant accumulates followed by proteins and lipids. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a positive correlation between salinity level and nitrogenous nutrients of the seawater with the pigment contents (phycobiliproteins, carotenoids, and chlorophyll a) of the studied seaweeds. The results proved that calcified red algae were able to deposit a mixture of calcium carbonates such as calcite, vaterite, calcium oxalate, calcite-III I calcium carbonate, and aragonite in variable forms depending on the species