Clinical profiling of stroke

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Defined by the WHO as 'Rapidly developing clinical signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral function with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than vascular origin'. It is a major complication of hypertension

Objectives: To evaluate the personal and clinical characteristics of stroke patients

Setting: Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain

Design: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. I

Method: All patients diagnosed and admitted between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010 were included. One hundred eighty-three patients were included in the study

Personal and clinical data were documented. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS program version 17

Result: Ischemic stroke was the most common, 115 [62.8%]

The majority of patients were males, 129 [70.5%]

The most notable outcome is the rehabilitated patients, 74 [40.4%]

One hundred sixty-six [90.7%] patients did not suffer confusion, whereas 84 [45.9%] had impaired speech and 77 [42.1%] had right-sided numbness and weakness

Conclusion: The most common type of stroke was the ischemic stroke, 115 [62.8%]

The most common symptom was weakness, 147 [80.3%]

The most common risk factor was hypertension, 136 [74.3%] and the most common outcome was rehabilitation, 74 [40.4%]

Knowledge and practice among the population of Saudi Arabia eastern province during the H1N1 pandemic 2009

It is well-known that public compliance with health directives is a prerequisite for an effective pandemic management and that individual beliefs, perceptions and knowledge are important factors in determining this compliance. To evaluate the level of people's knowledge and practice towards Influenza A [H1N1pandemic]. A descriptive cross-sectional study. Five commercial malls, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaires which were distributed among 550 adults attending specific commercial malls in Eastern Province from 27th of June to 11th of July 2009. A total of 550 adults participated in this study. Five-hundred twenty-seven [95.8%] participants were Saudi and 286 [52%] were males. Five-hundred forty-seven [99.5%] participants heard about "swine flu". Five-hundred thirty-eight [97.8%] knew that this disease is transmissible to humans. Four-hundred eighty-six [88.4%] thought that the disease can be prevented. Three-hundred nine [56.2%] participants stated that there is a vaccine against the disease. Two-hundred thirty-six [42.9%] stated that they were washing their hands and the same figure stated that they were avoiding people with seasonal influenza symptoms. Moreover, only ninety [16.4%] stopped kissing and hugging friends and relatives and 68 [12.4%] stopped shaking hands. Although the knowledge of the people in Eastern Province in KSA about Influenza A [H1N1] was good, poor compliance with the government recommended preventive measures was noted. This study proved that there is a need for more efforts to encourage the public to undertake specific behaviours related to preventive measures of infectious diseases outbreaks

Pesticide handlers' knowledge, attitude and practice

Pesticide handlers' knowledge, attitude and practice towards health hazard of pesticides might reduce exposure to these hazardous materials. To assess pesticide handlers' knowledge, attitude and practice during pesticides handling. Cross sectional study. Occupational Health clinic, Bahrain. Periodic medical examination questionnaire was administered to all pesticide handlers working in the environmental section of the Public Health Directorate from October to December 2009. One hundred sixty-five pesticide handlers completed the questionnaire. One hundred fifty-six [94.5%] reported using personal protective equipments [PPE]. Ninety-five [60.9%] were not satisfied with PPE and ninety-eight [62.8%] were advised/instructed to the use of PPE. A considerable number of handlers were engaged in eating and drinking during work with pesticides. One hundred fifty-nine [96.4%] did not take shower after pesticide use and 158 [95.8%] did not change their clothes before and after pesticide exposures. The study revealed that pesticide handlers are unaware of the pesticide exposure level. Instructions on pesticide packets are not read. The use of personal protective equipments is low. Negative attitude towards personal hygiene and sanitation was observed. The study revealed the need for pesticide safety education and training, which seems to be a universal problem in pesticide handling

Body mass index among healthcare workers

To evaluate body mass index [BMI] among healthcare workers in Bahrain. Cross sectional study. Occupational Health Clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Public Health Directorate, Naim Health Center and the Psychiatric Hospital. Between 2009 and 2012 a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst 644 healthcare workers. Height and weight recorded during periodical medical examination of employees were used to calculate the body mass index using weight in kilogram divided by height in meter squared. Self-administered questionnaire was used for personal characteristics. Six hundred forty-four healthcare workers were included in the study, 391 males and 253 females. The median age of the males was 43 years and the females was 38 years. Two hundred seventy-eight [43.2%] were between 34-44 years. One hundred ninety-six [30.4%] healthcare workers were under/normal weight; 266 [41.3%] were overweight, 182 [28.3%] were obese. The mean BMI of males was 27.5 and females was 28.5. One hundred seventeen [29.9%] males and 79 [31.2%] females were under/normal weight. One hundred seventy-two [44%] males and 94 [37.2%] females were overweight. One hundred two [26.1%] males and 80 [31.6%] females were obese. This study revealed high prevalence of obesity among healthcare workers

Hepatitis B vaccination among physicians, dentists and nurses in Bahrain

Hepatitis B is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. It is a well-documented occupational hazard for health care workers. To assess hepatitis B vaccination among physicians, dentists and nurses in Bahrain. Cross-sectional study. Occupational health group and immunization group of the disease control section in the Public Directorate of the Ministry of Health, Bahrain. All physicians, dentists and nurses working in the Ministry of Health, Bahrain recorded in the immunization health care workers software system were included in the study. In 2012, there was a total of 3,051 physicians, dentists and nurses. Data on vaccination against hepatitis B virus were reviewed and analyzed from October to January 2012. Three thousand fifty-one health care workers [HCWs] were enrolled in the study; seven hundred sixteen [23.5%] were physicians, eighty-three [2.7%] dentists and two thousand two hundred fifty-two [73.8%] nurses. Seven hundred sixty-five [25.1%] HCWs had completed the vaccination against hepatitis B, 416 [13.6%] did not complete their vaccination and 1,870 [61.3%] had not received any dose. Nurses had better vaccination completeness. Four hundred forty-eight [19.9%] nurses, one hundred ten [15.4%] physicians and seven [8.4%] dentists had completed their vaccination. The study revealed that hepatitis B vaccination coverage among physicians, dentists and nurses is very low. There is a need to improve the health care workers software system and to implement the ministry of health policies on immunization of healthcare workers.

Knowledge of primary healthcare physicians of adolescent health

Many adolescents and health professionals feel that communication between young people and medical professionals is often highly problematic. The aim of the study is to evaluate the current knowledge of primary healthcare physicians towards adolescents' health. Cross-sectional study. Primary health care. A self-filled questionnaire was sent October 2008 to 201 participants and collected after one week by the researchers. Hundred twenty-one [60.2%] of the primary health care physicians completed and returned the questionnaire. Thirty-four [28.3%] knew the correct age range of adolescent [10-19 years] and 49 [40.5%] knew the meaning of HEADSSS. One hundred fifteen [95%] identified correctly suicidal thoughts and101 [83.5%] substance abuse as reasons for breaking confidentiality. One hundred eighteen [97.5%] primary care physicians recognized RTA as a leading cause of death among adolescent. The study reveals lack of enough knowledge of basic adolescent health facts. Most of the physician do not know the meaning of important tools used in adolescent heath [e.g. HEADSSS], which affect their ability to deal efficiently with adolescents matters