Respiratory morbidity in family practice in the region of Sousse, Tunisia

We determined the profile of respiratory morbidity in family practice in the region of Sousse. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 86 primary health care centres in Souse over 1 year [2002-03]. Medical records for 3 weeks per season were randomly selected. The International Classification of Primary Care [ICPC] was used to code recorded data. Respiratory diseases ranked first both for reason for consultation [8397/24 882, 33.7%] and for diagnosis made [7788/18 097, 43.0%]. Of the 7715 respiratory complaints, cough was the most common complaint [54.8%]. Of respiratory diagnoses, 37.1% were acute tonsillitis, 26.5% acute bronchitis and 21.6% were acute respiratory tract infection. Children under 5 years were most affected by acute upper respiratory tract infections [44.5%]. Acute bronchitis was the primary diagnosis for patients aged over 45 years

[Attitudes of Tunisian medical students to medical practice: gender differences]

To better understand the impact of gender change in medical practice on health care in Tunisia, we conducted a cross-sectional study on the attitudes of 512 medical students [40% female] to medicine and medical practice in the Faculty of Medicine, Sousse. Female students attached more value than males to the intrinsic aspects of a physician's job, such as the desire to help others and to work with people. Regarding the dimensions of comprehensive care [psychosociological aspects of care, health education, patient-centred approach and medical prevention], there were wide differences between men and women. At the end of their training cycles, both male and female students ascribed less importance to these aspects than in the beginning