Attitudes to evidence-based medicine of primary care physicians in Asir region, Saudi Arabia

A questionnaire survey was made of primary health care physicians in Asir region, Saudi Arabia in 1999 to explore their awareness of and attitude towards evidence - based medicine. The 272 respondents welcomed the principles of evidence- based medicine. Awareness and use of extracting journals, review publications and databases was low. Pharmaceutical company sponsored journals were the most commonly read. Bibliographic databases could only be accessed by 13% of respondents and the Internet by only 6%. There was only partial understanding of technical terms used in medicine. Absence of a local library and increased patient workload were seen by most respondents evidence-based as the main obstacles to practising evidence - based medicine

Integrating maternal and child health with primary health care in Saudi Arabia

Integration is an important tool for successful implementation of components of a comprehensive health programme. We describe strategies adopted to integrate the Saudi maternal and child health [MCH] activities with other primary health care [PHC] components in order to achieve optimal quality care. Achieving such integration was one of the specific objectives of the MCH programme. Besides training MCH workers, other important tools of MCH/PHC integration included: organization, supervision, continuing education, data management and health systems research. The strengths and weaknesses of integration are discussed while the opportunities, limitations and implications are reviewed

Setting the scene for an ARI control programme: is it worthwhile in Saudi Arabia?

Baseline data on acute respiratory infections [ARI] were collected by a survey questionnaire distributed to physicians of 10% of the health centres randomly selected from each of the five provinces of Saudi Arabia. The physicians estimated that ARI was the cause of sickness in 50% of ill children < 5 years in 1995. None of the physicians had had any training in ARI and they were not aware of any national protocol or programme. Physicians' responses indicated an over-use of antibiotics and diagnostic procedures. A national protocol for diagnosis and treatment of ARI has been prepared and distributed and leaders of primary health care and 55 national trainers have been trained

Perception of supervisors of their role in primary health care programmes in Saudi Arabia

This study was conducted to explore the perception supervisors had of their role in primary health care programmes. A self-administered postal questionnaire was used and a response was received from 135 out of 159 supervisors. The survey showed that supervisors had a reasonable understanding of the functions of supervision and they generally face the same difficulties. Supervisors spent most of their time solving technical problems and conducting field visits. The majority believed that they had reasonable status and enough support from the higher authorities. However, there is still a great need for formal training of supervisors. This should be incorporated into the quality assurance programme that has recently been introduced

Reports of bacterial food poisoning in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia: a one - year retrospective study

In this retrospective study, the incidents of bacterial food poisoning in the Riyadh region were analysed in the period from August 1989 to July 1990. There were 41 incidents with 296 cases; 25 [61%] of the incidents occurred during the summer months. 'Kabsa' [rice and meat or chicken] was the food item most incriminated [40.6%] in bacterial food poisoning incidents followed by milk [27.6%]. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species were the most common bacterial food poisoning agents identified in the incidents. No chemical food poisoning has been reported during the year of study. A survey of food institutions showed a lack of health measures. The study has shown that the problem of food poisoning in the region is significant. A nationwide health education programme of food hygiene is needed. Moreover, continuous inspections of food institutions should be undertaken