ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: : Osteoporosis is an important, global public health issue that is expected to become an epidemic by 2050, and particularly affect an increasing number of elderly women worldwide. The current study was designed to measure the current osteoporosis knowledge level among a sample population of women, to assess osteoporosis health beliefs, and assess osteoporosis preventive measures and factors related to those taking preventive measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using multistage sampling. A total of 265 women were randomly selected among those attending outpatient clinics in primary health care units. The study used a questionnaire to assess knowledge, health beliefs, in addition to osteoporosis preventive behaviour. Results: About 59% of the participants showed inadequate knowledge and 70.7% had inadequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour. Inadequate knowledge levels were more common among the younger participants, and those with a lower educational level, absence of osteoporosis in first degree relatives and no history of fractures. Significant differences were observed in the mean score of overall health beliefs and all its sub-scales, except for perceived exercise benefits and perceived health motivation. Sub-optimal calcium intake levels were noted, but were significantly higher among those with adequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour than among those with inadequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour (907.2 ± 187.6 and 810.7 ± 123.3, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The sample of women under investigation showed unsatisfactory levels of knowledge regarding osteoporosis, substandard health beliefs and sub-optimal levels of calcium consumption. Community-based interventions should be conducted to overcome the barriers to adopting preventive behaviours.
ABSTRACT
Although it is recommended that healthcare professionals should comply with the standard precautions to prevent acquiring blood-borne diseases [AIDS, hepatitis B and C], yet, they frequently do not comply with this recommendation. Understanding the reasons for compliance and noncompliance will help in designing educational programs for hospital staff and in determining a strategy for improving health behavior. The present study aimed to assess surgeons' compliance to standard precautions and determine surgeons' perceived beliefs affecting their compliance using the Health Belief Model. A cross-sectional study was carried out at surgical departments in Zagazig University Hospitals from December 2012 to May 2013. A questionnaire on various aspects of infection control and standard precautions practices was provided to 307 surgeons, with a response rate of 70%. Our findings indicated that 57.5% of the surgeons sampled in Zagazig University Hospitals were compliant with standard precautions. 59.8% of compliant surgeons had been exposed to at least one needle-stick injury in the previous 3 months, whereas slightly less than half of compliant surgeons [48.4%] had been exposed to splashes, with a highly significant difference compared with nonexposed surgeons. All Health Belief Model subscales were correlated directly with the surgeons' compliance, except perceived barriers. There is adequate compliance with standard precautions among surgeons in Zagazig University Hospitals, especially female surgeons, with a high level of knowledge among compliant compared with noncompliant surgeons. All Health Belief Model subscales were correlated directly with the surgeons' compliance, except perceived barriers. Adequate training of surgeons, provision of infection prevention equipment, regular reporting, follow-up, and assessment of occupational exposures need to be introduced