Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health-care personnel towards waste disposal management at Ain Shams university hospitals, Cairo

This study assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices of health-care providers towards waste management at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. In this cross-sectional study 110 physicians, 151 nurses and 89 housekeepers were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire. Housekeepers were significantly more knowledgeable than physicians or nurses about hospital policies and systems for waste disposal, but less so about specific details of disposal. Housekeepers also had the highest overall scores for attitudes to waste disposal among the 3 groups. Significantly more nurses had satisfactory practice scores [84.0%] than did physicians [67.3%] [housekeepers were not assessed]. Training and duration of work experience were not significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and practice scores, except for nurses with longer work experience, who were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge about waste disposal than less experienced nurses

Effect of life style and system of medical study on anxiety among medical students at Ain Shams University

Background: High levels of anxiety have been previously reported among medical students. Medical students confront various stressors throughout their training as academic and psychosocial stressors which may be reflected on their health

Objectives: To study the effect of life style and the medical study on anxiety among medical students, and describe methods of coping with anxiety

Methods: One thousand and thirty four students from different grades in the Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University were included in this cross-sectional study. A self administered questionnaire collected information about sociodemographic factors, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and psychoactive substance use among students. Medical study system; as exams, private lessons, and ways of spending leisure time during vacation were inquired as well as midday nap and eating habits

Results: Coffee drinking, eating more than usual, taking hypnotics and CNS stimulants were significantly higher among students with anxiety. Students suffering from anxiety reported spending their vacation in studying more than others [79.3%, 69.9% respectively, P=0.001] and practicing sports during vacation less than others [43.4%, 54.7% respectively, P=0.001]. Students with severe grades of anxiety practiced sports less frequent [28.8%] than those with less severe grades [46.7%] [P=0.001], reported more alcohol consumption [5.7%, 1.3%, P=0.01]. Student's perception of unfair exams in the evaluation system was highly reported by students with less severe grades of anxiety [55.8%, 38.7% respectively, P=0.001]. Also those who didn't desire medical study initially were more among students with less severe grades of anxiety [84.7%, 73.9% respectively, P=0.005]. Inability to study was significantly more frequent among students with anxiety than those without [69.2%, 29%, P=0.000], and was more in those with severe grades of anxiety [48.3%, 26.4% respectively, P=0.000], an increase in body weight was more reported by students with anxiety. Reading Koran and praying [37%] were the major ways of coping with stress among students; followed by crying [20.1%], sleep and relaxation [12.5%] and others. In conclusion, the most important risk factors for anxiety found in this study were spending vacation in studying instead of practicing sports, consumption of caffeine and using hypnotics and CNS stimulants. Additionally, approximately one third of anxious students pray and read Koran as an adopting strategy to cope with stress

Accident prevention program in a glass factory in Shobra El - Khema district

An accident can be defined as an unplanned event that results in or suggests the possibility of personal injury, property damage, production interruption, diminished health or environmental damage. The accidents have a cost impact on the employees and the company itself. This Intervention study was carried out to decrease the accident rate in a glass factory in Shoubra EI-Khema district. A glass factory in Shoubra EI-Khema was selected to implement an intervention program. The program was done through three phases.1 A preliminary interview questionnaire. 2. Seminars of health education were done to all workers and managers with availability of health education posters, establishment of accident committee and a new reporting system, contract with a housekeeping company was done and also training of some leaders. 3. Concurrent and final evaluation of the program was done. The incidence rate, frequency and severity rate of accidents were decreased at the end of the year after the intervention program. The differences were statistically significant. The opinions of the workers and managers about the different causes of accidents were changed. The belief of the workers and managers about efficiency of health education program was changed. Some leaders were trained on skills of health education. Modification of reporting and notification system was done. This intervention study succeeded in decreasing accidents rates and increasing the awareness of the managers to decrease accident rates. The beliefs and thoughts of both workers and managers became near to each other. The production loss due to days lost by accidents was reduced. Upgrading process in the factory are recommended to eliminate the hazards at source. Sustaining and continuation of the established preventive program should be done. Trying to apply the program in similar factories is also recommended