Getting Research Published : An A-Z of publication strategy

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Climate Projections Indicate Catastrophic Consequences in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Why healthcare workers are conspicuously absent in climate change discourse

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Biomedical Publications Profile and Trends in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

Objectives: There is a dearth of studies examining the relationship between research output and other socio-demographic indicators in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The three interrelated aims of this study were, first, to ascertain the number of biomedical publications in the GCC from 1970 to 2010; second, to establish the rate of publication according population size during the same period and, third, to gauge the relationship between the number of publications and specific socio-economic parameters. Methods: The Medline database was searched in October 2010 by affiliation, year and publication type from 1970 to 2010. Data obtained were normalised to the number of publications per million of the population, gross domestic product, and the number of physicians in each country. Results: The number of articles from the GCC region published over this 40 year period was 25,561. Saudi Arabia had the highest number followed by Kuwait, UAE, and then Oman. Kuwait had the highest profile of publication when normalised to population size, followed by Qatar. Oman is the lowest in this ranking. Overall, the six countries showed a rising trend in publication numbers with Oman having a significant increase from 1990 to 2005. There was a significant relationship between the number of physicians and the number of publications. Conclusion: The research productivity from GGC has experienced complex and fluctuating growth in the past 40 years. Future prospects for increasing research productivity are discussed with particular reference to the situation in Oman

Informed Consent in Societies with Different Ethos of ‘Selfhood’

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Reasons for Consultation among Patients attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman

Objectives: Pathways to care or care-seeking, which translate into healthcare utilisation, have been investigated in many parts of the world, but there is a dearth of studies in the Arabian Gulf. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of attendees at primary healthcare centres in northern Oman and their reasons for visiting. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 676 participants attending 12 primary healthcare centres between June and July 2006. The catchment area was selected to represent the population structure in Oman. The 12-item questionnaire was read to every fifth eligible patient entering each healthcare centre for a routine appointment. Analyses were conducted using univariate statistics. Results: About a third (n = 200; 29.6%) of the participants had a history of chronic illness; 231 (34%) were on regular medications; 211 (31%) were taking part in health education programmes; 130 (19%) were open to complementary medicine. The majority of the participants mentioned physician's advice (n = 570; 84%) as the strongest reason for seeking consultation. Conversely, physician's advice was strongly related to particular demographic factors.Conclusion: This observational study identified some characteristics and reasons for visiting healthcare facilities in northern Oman. These are discussed within the context of prevailing sociocultural factors. The implications for the prevention and detection of ill health in Oman are also discussed.

Propofol and Kearns-Sayre Syndrome: An idiographic approach

With the focus on an idiographic approach whereby the observations incorporated the various dimensions of individual functioning ‘top-down’ to ‘bottom-up’, this case report describes the successful management of a 14-year-old girl with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen disease requiring a transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation for complete heart block. The patient presented to a tertiary care centre in Muscat, Oman, in 2023 seeking consultation. The current idiographic approach appears to have a heuristic value for 2 interrelated reasons. Firstly, it is unlikely that even tertiary care units can accrue such rare presentations and scrutinise them under nomothetic approach. Secondly, by employing the idiographic approach that is capable of examining each case in-depth, the aspiration for good health and well-being may come to the forefront. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the first published idiographic report in anaesthesia care. Keywords: Intravenous Anaesthetics; Artificial Pacemaker; Kearns-Sayre Syndrome; Propofol; Idiographic Approach; Case Report; Oman

Profile of Mental and Behavioral Disorders Among Preschoolers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman: A Retrospective Study

Objectives Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of mental and behavioral disorders in preschoolers is critical for a better prognosis, ultimately leading to improved quality of life for both the child and the family. Our study investigated the clinical profile of mental and behavioral disorders in children < 7 years of age, seeking consultation at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between 1 June 2006 and 31 December 2010. The objective was to explore demographic variables, intervention types, and annual trends. Methods This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted by reviewing the electronic records of preschoolers seeking consultation on mental and behavioral disorders at the Department of Behavioral Medicine. The diagnosis was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Results The total number of cases was 466, the majority (77.9%) being boys. The cumulative frequencies and annual hospital-based prevalence rates were estimated for each category of mental and behavioral disorders. Our findings showed increased service utilization among preschoolers, as reflected in the annual trend and case-specific prevalence rates. While comorbidity was common, the most frequent disorders encountered were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (70.8%), developmental language disorder (23.6%), autism spectrum disorders (20.2%), and disruptive behavior disorders (11.6%). The most commonly prescribed drugs/supplementation were risperidone (18.7%), atomoxetine (9.7%), omega-3 (8.8%), and methylphenidate (6.2%). Conclusions Consultations for mental and behavioral disorders are being sought for Omani preschoolers. Beside pharmacotherapy, other interventions, which are an integral part of a much desired multidisciplinary approach should be introduced. Readdressing the missing needs is essential for a comprehensive approach to managing mental and behavioral disorders.H.M. Sultan Qaboos Gran

The Frequency of Neuropsychiatric Sequelae After Traumatic Brain In-jury in the Global South: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Countries in the 'global south' are characterized by factors that contribute to the increased incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of neuropsychiatric sequelae following a TBI, specifically among the Western Asian, South Asian, and African regions of the global south. A literature review was conducted until August 20, 2021, for publications that measured psychiatric or cognitive impairment after TBI from the 83 countries that constitute the aforementioned regions. The main databases, such as PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest (English), Al-Manhal (Arabic) and Google Scholar, were selected for grey literature. Following the evaluation of the articles using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, the random effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), sleep disturbance related to TBI (TBI-SD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and cognitive impairment. Of 56 non-duplicated studies identified by the initial search, 27 studies were eligible for systematic review and 23 for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression in a total sample of 1882 was 35·35% (95% CI=24·64–46·87%), of anxiety in a total sample of 1211 was 28·64% (95% CI=17·99–40·65%), of PTSD in a total sample of 426 was 19·94% (95% CI=2·35–46·37%), of OCD in a total sample of 313 was 19·48% (95% CI=0·23–58·06%), of TBI–SD in a total sample of 562 was 26·67% (95% CI=15·63–39·44%), and cognitive impairment in a total sample of 941 was 49·10% (95% CI=31·26–67·07%). To date, this is the first critical review that has examined the spectrum of post–TBI neuropsychiatric sequelae in the specified regions. While existing studies lack homogeneous data due to variability in the diagnostic tools and outcome measures utilised, the reported prevalence rates are significant and comparable to statistics from the global north. Keywords: traumatic brain injury; neuropsychiatric sequelae; global south; systematic review; meta-analysis; cognitive impairment; anxiety; depressio

Methylphenidate improves executive functions in patients with traumatic brain injuries : a feasibility trial via the idiographic approach

Background: Road traffic accidents are known to be the main cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is also a leading cause of death and disability. This study, by means of the idiographic approach (single-case experimental designs using multiple-baseline designs), has examined whether methylphenidate (MPH - trade name Ritalin) had a differential effect on cognitive measures among patients with TBI with the sequel of acute and chronic post-concussion syndromes. The effect on gender was also explored. Methods: In comparison with healthy controls, patients with TBI (acute and chronic) and accompanying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were screened for their integrity of executive functioning. Twenty-four patients exhibiting executive dysfunction (ED) were then instituted with the pharmacological intervention methylphenidate (MPH). The methylphenidate was administered using an uncontrolled, open label design. Results: The administration of methylphenidate impacted ED in the TBI group but had no effect on mood. Attenuation of ED was more apparent in the chronic phases of TBI. The effect on gender was not statistically significant with regard to the observed changes. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility trial from the Arabian Gulf to report the performance of a TBI population with mild cognitive impairment according to the IQCODE Arabic version. This investigation confirms anecdotal observations of methylphenidate having the potential to attenuate cognitive impairment; particularly those functions that are critically involved in the integrity of executive functioning. The present feasibility trial should be followed by nomothetic studies such as those that adhere to the protocol of the randomized controlled trial. This evidence-based research is the foundation for intervention and future resource allocation by policy- or public health decision-makers