ABSTRACT
Objective: Most children experience some degree of fear during their development. Excessive fears can create serious obstacles to children. The aim of this study was to identify the most common fears in a sample of children and adolescents and examine the socio-demographic correlates of fears. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from July 2010 to February 2012 at Public and Private Schools of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, State of Qatar. Out of 2188 students approached, 1703 students agreed to participate in this study, with a response rate of 77.8%. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic information, academic performance, behaviour at home and various fears. Results: More than half of the children experienced fears (56.7%). Most of them were in the intermediate level, 12 – 15 years old (46.1%). Overall, reported fears were significantly more frequent in girls (62.6%) than boys (37.4%) (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed between girls and boys who experienced fears in their age group (p<0.001), education of mother (p=0.04), household income (p=0.008) and academic performance (p<0.001). The most frequent reported fears were fear of someone dying in the family (85.2%), parents getting divorced (84.5%), breaking religious law (82%), being kidnapped (78.2%), family members ill (78%) and dying (76.7%). Conclusions: The study findings revealed that fears were highly prevalent in Arab children and adolescents in Qatar. Girls reported more fears than boys. There was a significant difference observed between girls and boys in their age group and academic performance for the reported fears.
ABSTRACT
Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the extent of compliance and noncompliance with treatment of psychiatric patients and examine the factors affecting compliance and non-compliance with treatment. Study Design: Hospital based prospective descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out from September 2010 to May 2011 in Qatari population aged above 16 years at the Psychiatry Department of the Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. Methodology: The study included 628 patients aged 16-77 years who were hospitalized with psychiatric disorders and treated in the outpatient clinics of the Psychiatry department. The diagnostic classification of definite psychotic disorders was according tothe International Classification of Disease, Tenth revision (ICD-10). Results: Of the 628 patients studied, 62.4% of them were compliant with treatment and 37.6% were non-compliant. High compliance was significantly more in patients in the age group (16 - 20) years old (84.4%), retired (70.2%) and housewives (70%) (P<0.001). Social support (40.3%) was poor in non-compliant patients, whereas 50.3% of compliant patients had good social support (P<0.001). The major reasons for non-compliance were irregular attendance to clinic (55.5%; P<0.001), ignorance about side effects of medication (61.0%; P=0.001), and lack of education about medication (47.9%; P<0.001). Conclusion: Non-compliance is quite common in Qatari population like any other society. All efforts should be exerted to improve the compliance of psychiatric patients by eliminating the factors leading to non-compliance. High complaint patients were more satisfied with psychiatrist than non compliant patients. The main reasons found for compliance were lack of family support, irregular attendance to clinic, ignorance about side effects of medication, free medicine and lack of education about medication.