ABSTRACT
Background: Asthma, being a chronic inflammatory disease requires not only medical treatment but also complimentary healthcare, self-management strategies and interventions for the appropriate management and possible prevention of attack as well as reduction of school absences and days of restricted activity and decrease emergency room utilization
Methods: Randomized clinical trial [RCT] data reviewed for outcomes and processes associated with asthma educational and behavioral interventions provided by different types of health professionals. The study group has synthesized studies that identified barriers and interventions to improve asthma symptoms and management in children through searching in MEDLINE, Cochrane EMBASE, TOXLine and CINAHL considering papers starting from 1999
Results: Physician-led interventions were most successful for outcomes related to the use of health care. Multidisciplinary teams were best in achieving symptom reduction and quality of life. Lay persons were best in achieving self-management/self-efficacy outcomes. Components most frequently employed in successful programs are skills to improve patient-clinician communication and education to enhance patient self-management. Fifty percent of interventions achieved reduction in the use of health care and one-third in symptom control. A combination approach including self-management and patient-clinician communication involving multidisciplinary team members may have the greatest effect on most outcomes
Conclusion: Strong evidences suggest that the development of self-management and clinician-patient communication skills are essentially required and considered as critical factors for Asthma patients particularly children symptoms alleviation and outcomes improvement in the long term. This can be achieved by appropriate self-care, awareness programs through effective educational and behavioral intervention which are crucial components associated with success across outcomes and providers
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Behavior , Health Education , Patient Outcome Assessment , Child , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
Background: Over the last two decades, only few dermatology research papers have been published in Saudi Arabia provided the small number of experts -in this field -enlisted in higher education institutions. Hence a compelling need to review the recent publications and define the current prevalence, status and interventions needed
Objective: To present an overview of the common dermatological diseases, particularly eczema and dermatitis, in Saudi community as well as their effects and ways to mitigate them
Methods: Review of Randomized Controlled Trials [RCTs] researches conducted and published in Saudi Arabia
Results: Empirical findings revealed that Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis are the most common dermatological disorders among the Saudi community while Atopic Dermatitis was the most common mostly affecting children. In the meantime, Vitiligo emerged to be the most rampant pigmentary ailment, also viral warts appeared predominant covering up to 12% of the patients in the subject. On the other hand, dermatophytoses occurred commonly among the fungal conditions, while psoriasis arose as the most recurrent papulosquamous condition
Conclusion: The prevalence of dermatological disorders in Saudi Arabia is rather high with the issue being overlooked and deprioritized in favor of graver pathological conditions despite the significant social, psychological and quality of life impact on the patients. Thus, we recommended that proper education and awareness campaigns on skin diseases should be provided at all academic and social levels as one way of prevention and alleviation of skin diseased in Saudi Arabia