Driving behavior, driver style and road traffic accidents among young medical groups

Road traffic accidents [RTAs] are increasingly being recognized as a growing public health problem. In Egypt, RTAs constitute 45% of all injury mortalities. The main risk factors for road traffic accidents are factors influencing the exposure to risk, factors influencing crash involvement, severity of crash and of post-crash injuries. To identify the driving style and driving behavior of medical students and its association with car accident involvement. Driving style and behavior of 450 medical students were reported using a self administered questionnaire. Driving style included: driving with excessive speed, deviance, calmness, planning and concentration, driving opposite direction, disregarding traffic lights and road signs. Driving behavior included: driving before having license, mobile use during driving, violations, use of safety belt, participation in car races and driving under risky conditions. Involvements in car accidents [both severity and frequency] were inquired in the questionnaire. The sample included 61.6% male and 38.4% female drivers, with a mean age of 20.8 years [SD +/- 1.6]. Sixty nine percent of students reported having previous car accidents of which 63.5% were simple accidents with minimal car affection and no human injuries. The maximum speed of driving was ranging from 40 to 240 km/hr with a mean of 126.4 [SD +/- 35.5, median=120 km/hr]. The following driving styles and behaviors were significantly higher among male students: exceeding limited speed, driving before having license, disregarding road signs, driving opposite direction, non use of car safety belt, answering a mobile call during driving, violations, drive under risky conditions. Significant factors associated with students involvement in car accidents were: answering mobile phone during driving [chi[2] = 22.4 p<0.001], fast driving at any occasion [chi[2] = 6.63 p<0.05], disregarding road signs [chi[2] 6.21 p<0.05], involvement in car races [chi[2] = 4.87 p<0.05], loud stereo music [chi[2] 10.7 p<0.01], drive under stress [chi[2] = 8.33 p<0.01], severe fatigue[chi[2] 18.7 p<0. 001], drive in bad visibility[chi[2] = 18.8 p<0.001], use of alcohols [chi[2] 7.59 p<0.001] and sedative drugs [chi[2]=5.06 p<0.05], sudden crossing of pedestrians[chi[2] = 6.1 p<0.05], drive with a bad vehicle condition [chi[2] =8.6 p<0.01], previous violations[chi[2] = 25 p<0.001] previous withdrawal of license[chi[2] 10.25 p<0.01]. Driving before having a license, disregarding traffic lights, non use of seat belts, car checking, availability of car maintenance tools and fire extinguisher, not keeping the right lane when driving slowly were not significantly associated with involvement in road traffic accidents. The results indicate that self-reports of certain aspects of driver behaviors and styles are significantly associated with involvement in car accidents. These risky behaviors need to be modified to minimize future occurrence of car accidents

Knowledge and practice of students of Ain Shams university in measles and rubella [MR] catch up campaign

The ministry of health in Egypt implemented Measles Rubella [MR] campaign in 2008 based on the recommendation of the WHO for supplementary immunization activities to eliminate measles by 2010. The targeted age was 10 to 20 years. Egypt had an epidemic of rubella in spring of 2007. This campaign is unique in Egypt as it is the first national vaccination campaign targeting university students. This study aimed at reporting the practice of vaccination among medical and non medical students in the MR vaccination campaign, to assess the knowledge about the vaccination, side effects and contraindications. Also to explore the compliance to vaccination and causes of refusal of vaccine uptake. The study was done in two stages, first stage during the vaccination sessions. Medical and non medical students were given a questionnaire to assess their knowledge about the campaign and the vaccine. The second stage was done after the end of the campaign to assess the compliance of medical students to vaccination. Vaccination posters inside the university were the main source of knowledge about the campaign as reported by 73.3% of students followed by friends 56% and TV ads 40.7%. Lack of knowledge about adverse effects, and contraindication was high [80.5% and 68.8% respectively]. The mean knowledge score percent of students was 26.5% and was higher among medical than non medical. Overall compliance with vaccination among medical students was [64.8%] which was significantly higher among females compared to males [81.5% versus 52.1% respectively]. Non compliant students had a significant higher mean age. Almost half of non compliant students reported refusal of vaccination due to insufficient information about the vaccine [43.3%]. A successful vaccination campaign was conducted at Am Shams University yet there were insufficient health education messages to support it

Epidemiological pattern and management of pediatric asthma review of Ain Shams pediatric hospital chest clinic data Cairo, Egypt 1995-2004

Pediatric asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in childhood and has an impact on child's quality of life. To describe the epidemiological and clinical data of asthmatic children followed up in the Pediatric Chest Clinic Am Shams University during a 10 year period. Files of asthmatic children attending the Clinic in the period from1995 to 2004 were selected. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed. Out of 1006 recorded cases, a total of 691 [68.7%] were asthmatic. The proportion of asthmatics among all chest patients attending the clinic was lowest in 2002 being 51.6% and highest in 1995, being 78.3%. Male to female ratio was] .6:1, mean age was 5.27yrs [SD +/- 3.65], mean age of onset of disease was 1.84 yrs [SD +/- 2.78]. Persistent asthma was significantly more prevalent in males p<0.01. Severe asthma; using the American Thoracic Society Classification, was found in 151 [41.1%] of cases. From 2002, using GINA Guidelines Classification, severe persistent asthma accounted for 13.5%. Episodic attacks were reported by 270 [39%] of patients, nocturnal attacks by 302 of patients [43.7%] and exercise induced asthma in 97 [14%] of patients. Exacerbations occurred in 300 [43.4%] patients after respiratory infections, in 275 [39.8%] on exposure to smoke, in 139 [20%] with special food, in 91 [13.2%] following allergen exposure and 51 [7.4%] on exposure to inhaler sprays. Half of the patients were treated by combination of drugs [49.2%], corticosteroid inhalers in 32.1%, and beta agonists [short acting] in 31.4%. Asthma constitutes a main problem in the Pediatric Chest Clinic. Respiratory infection and environmental factors are major exacerbating factors. Better documentation of patient's data and complete record in the files is needed

Nocturnal attacks, emergency room visits and ICU admission of pediatric asthma: frequency and associated factors

Asthma is the most frequent cause of chronic illness in childhood and emergency department visits. This study aims to determine the frequency of emergency room [ER] visits, intensive care unit [ICU] admission, and nocturnal attacks among asthmatic children and to identify associated factors. Records of asthmatic children in the pediatric chest clinic, Ain Shams University during 1995-2004 were reviewed. Asthmatic children with documents of ER visits, ICU admission, or nocturnal attacks were compared with asthmatic children without previously mentioned events. Out of 691 asthmatic patients, 302 [43.7%] had nocturnal attacks, 258 [37.3%] had emergency room visits, 39 [5.6%] were admitted to ICU, and 249 [36%] had no reports of previous events. ER visits and nocturnal attacks were more in children above 4 years. ER visits and ICU admission were higher among those with positive family history of asthma [p< 0.01], those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke [ETS] [p< 0.01], and those who had previous respiratory infections [p< 0.05]. Attacks of nocturnal asthma were associated with the previous factors in addition to animal contact [p<0. 01] and living in bad housing conditions [p<0.05]. Logistic regression showed that family history [OR= 2.87, CI= 1.9-4.1] and bad housing conditions [OR= 2.65, CI= 1.3-5.3] were the significant factors for ER visits, while respiratory infections [OR= 5.24, CI= 2.1-12.0] and family history [OR= 3.48 CI, 1.3-9.2] were the significant factors for ICU admission. For nocturnal attacks, all factors were significant. Control of respiratory infections, limitation of ETS exposure and good housing conditions are needed to limit severe asthmatic attacks

Epidemiological correlates of hysterectomy, a hospital based study 1995-1996 at Ain Shams Maternity Hospital

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed major surgical procedures for women. Study the epidemiological correlates of hysterectomy and identify the different indications that lead to the operation as well as determine its frequency. A retrospective study was performed which included 231 women who had undergone hysterectomy during 1995-1996. Data about the various characteristics of women, indication, and type of surgery were retrieved from the medical files of women in Ain Shams Maternity Hospital. The hospital incidence rate of hysterectomy during 1995-1996 was 9.8/1000 admission, while it rose to 13.8/1000 in the year 2000 [recent data from hospital statistics unit] Epidemiological data showed that the mean age of women was 45.4 +/- 8.9, the highest frequency of hysterectomy was in the age group 45-54 years [41.2%]. Hysterectomy in those aged less than 35 years was 7.3%. Previous abortion accounted for 48.5%, early age at menarche [/= 5] was 54.4%. Among women aged less than 35 years, uterine leiomyoma was the commonest indication [29.4%], while dysfunctional uterine bleeding was the commonest indication among those aged 35-<45, and 45-<55 and accounted for 40.6% and 60% respectively. Those aged >/= 55 years, uterine prolapse was the commonest indication [53.6%]. Malignant neoplasm covered less than 5% of all hysterectomies. Among nullipara, uterine leiomyoma was the most frequent indication [66.7%], while among parous women, dysfunctional uterine bleeding was the most frequent [56%]. The most common obstetric indication leading to hysterectomy was uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage and ruptured uterus [57.2%] of all obstetric causes. The abdominal route was the commonest approach for hysterectomy [54.1%], followed by the vaginal [35.9%]. Hysterectomy rate in Ain Shams Maternity hospital showed a significant increase by the year 2000 than during the period of the study. Further studies are needed to identify the reasons for such increase and to reduce unnecessary operations.The present study draws the attention of the importance of prenatal care for early detection of high risk women and prevent complications of bleeding specially in women under 35 years who may not have completed their families and who may prefer other alternatives to surgery

Behavioral risk factors among physicians working at faculty of medicine-Ain Shams university

Behavioral factors and lifestyle are increasingly recognized as underlying causes of preventable morbidity and premature death. Physicians frequently advise their patients about quitting smoking, losing weight, and increasing physical activity; so what about their own personal behavioral choices? to determine the prevalence of behavioral risk factors that physicians are currently practicing and its relation to some demographic variables. 616 staff physicians, of both sexes, were randomly selected to fill a questionnaire inquiring about major behavioral risks. Among the behavioral risks investigated were smoking, physical inactivity, overweight, non-use of seatbelts. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done in which all behavioral risks were dichotomized into at risk or no risk and related to different demographic factors. Res 382 physicians participated [response rate 62%]. Current smoking among male physicians was 26.6%, past smokers 12.1%, 51% of current smokers reported smoking in front of patients or in clinic. Among all participants, 84% were sedentary [no, or irregular physical activity], 59.9% were overweight [Body Mass Index >/= 25]. Regular use of seatbelts was only followed by 11.2%. Routine checkup within the past year was reported by 18.6%, blood cholesterol checkup by 15.4%. Regarding aspects of women's health, a clinical breast examination was done in 32.5% of women physicians >/= 40 years, a cervical smear in 10%, and a mammogram in 7.5%. Different behavioral risks were found to be associated with different sets of demographic variables. efforts are necessary to promote physicians to quit smoking, increase physical activity, lose weight, use seatbelts, screen for chronic diseases, to minimize preventable disorders