Level of empathy among medical students in Kuwait university, Kuwait

To evaluate the level of empathy among medical students in Kuwait University Medical School and its association with sociodemographic factors, stress levels and personality. A cross-sectional survey of 264 medical students was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University. Empathy levels were measured using the Jefferson Scale, personality was assessed using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure stress levels. Factors associated with empathy were evaluated using t test/ANOVA for categorical variables and correlation for continuous predictors. Mean empathy score was 104.6 +/- 16.3. Empathy scores were significantly associated with gender, year of study, mother's level of education, household income, satisfactory relationship with the mother and stress levels. Male medical students in their clinical years also had significantly lower empathy levels. However, factors such as grade point average, desired specialty, marital status of parents, father's educational level and relationship with father were not significantly [p > 0.05] associated with levels of empathy. Stress scores were significantly and positively associated with empathy [r = 0.13; p = 0.041]. Medical students in Kuwait University had low empathy level and this may be a cause for concern; as such we suggest a possible inclusion of emphasis on empathy in the curriculum

Screening for diabetes in Kuwait and evaluation of risk scores

This study aimed to develop a simple risk score to identify individuals at high risk for undiagnosed diabetes in the Kuwaiti adult population and to assess the performance of previously published diabetes risk scores. A cross-sectional survey with a sample of 562 Kuwaiti public sector employees was carried out in 2007. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and a blood glucose test. The overall prevalence of diabetes using American Diabetes Association 2003 criteria was 21.4% [4.1% newly detected]. The proposed score had 87% sensitivity and 64% specificity in predicting undetected diabetes using only 4 questions [age, waist circumference, use of blood pressure medication and diabetes in a sibling]. Most previously published risk scores were not applicable to this population

Body mass index of Kuwaiti adolescents aged 10-14 years: reference percentiles and curves

The aim of this population-based study was to develop body mass index [BMI] reference standards for Kuwaiti adolescents for use in Kuwait and other Gulf countries. All available intermediate school students aged 10-14 years [32 624 males and 30 209 females] were measured for weight and height. Polynomial regression smoothing techniques were used to obtain the best-fitting curves for BMI percentiles. The BMI of boys at lower centiles and ages was almost always higher than girls. At higher centiles, the BMI of girls was almost always higher than boys. The data were compared with the United States National Center for Health Statistics standards and data from Saudi Arabian and Iranian adolescents

Climatic variables and transmission of falciparum malaria in New Halfa, eastern Sudan

The study investigated the role of climatic variables and irrigated agricultural on the seasonality of malaria transmission in New Halfa, eastern Sudan. A time-series analysis was performed using monthly climatic variables, monthly water available for irrigation of crops and monthly slide positive rate of malaria during the period 1986-2002. Cases of malaria were reported every month of the year with a mean of 13.0/100 persons/month [95% CI: 11.9-14.2], and bimodal annual pattern in autumn and winter seasons. Rainfall was the significant climatic variable in the transmission of the disease, whereas heavy rainfall was found to initiate epidemics. Temperature, relative humidity and irrigation water were not significant factors

Differential distribution of risk factors and outcome of acute coronary syndrome in Kuwait: three years experience

To compare the distribution of risk factors and clinical outcome of acute coronary syndrome [ACS] between Kuwaiti and other Arab men living in Kuwait. Subjects and The data for this study was collected from the computerized database at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait and the 1997-2000 census data for the State of Kuwait. 1,329 Arab men [666 Kuwaitis and 663 other Arabs] older than 25 years who were admitted between September 1997 and August 2000 with a diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. The rate of admission for the entire patient population was twofold higher for Kuwaiti [1.68/1,000] than other Arab men [0.72/1,000], [p < 0.001]; the mean age of the Kuwaiti men was 56.7 +/- 11.9 years and other Arab men 53.0 +/- 10.5 years [p < 0.001]. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and hypercholesterolemia for Kuwaiti men was 35.9, 56.9, 51.7 and 36.2%, respectively; the corresponding prevalence for other Arab men was 28.8, 42.7, 68.2 and 32.0%, the difference in the prevalence except for hypercholesterolemia was significant [p < 0.001]. In Kuwaiti men younger than 55 years of age, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and hypercholesterolemia was 26.6, 49.5, 68.6 and 43.3%, respectively; the corresponding values for other Arab men was 22.3, 36.2, 77.7 and 43.3%; the difference in prevalence except for hypertension was significant [p < 0.001]. The in-hospital mortality for the whole study was 6.2% [Kuwaiti] and 2.3% [other Arab men; p < 0.001]; while that for men younger than 55 years was 2.7% [Kuwaiti] and 0.8% [other Arab men; p < 0.05]. The rate of admission for the entire patient population with a diagnosis of ACS was twofold higher for Kuwaiti than other Arab men. Among all patients and also those less than 55 years, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was consistently higher among Kuwaiti than other Arab men thereby probably leading to the higher admission rate and in-hospital mortality