Diabetes knowledge among self reported diabetic female teachers: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to determine the general knowledge of diabetes among female diabetic school teachers in Al-Khobar, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A total of 91 female diabetic school teachers were interviewed in the School Health Clinic in Al-Khobar using a structured questionnaire. Their weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. The results showed that understanding of diabetes was inadequate. Knowledge about symptoms of hypoglycemia was low. One-fourth [25%] of the sample of this study was using certain herbs for the treatment or management of diabetes mellitus. About three- fourths were overweight and obese. The results showed a deficiency of knowledge on the general aspects of diabetes mellitus. An appropriate educational material was prepared in the form leaflets, lectures and workshops. This paper concludes that awareness and education about diabetes are needed urgently among the studied sample

Attitudes of medical interns towards the practice of primary health care

Training in different specialties should prepare young physicians to assume responsibilities in primary care. Training for the acquisition of the proper attitude for health care, should he given in the course of the training in different specialties. To assess the attitudes of medical interns who have undergone rotation in the Department of Family and Community Medicine of a large university hospital, towards the provision of primary care. A cross- sectional study incorporating a structured questionnaire was carried out on a sample of 106 interns; and 20 consultants were selected as a reference group. All medical interns almost unanimously endorsed continuous, coordinated. accessible and comprehensive care. In contrast, consultants less often supported the provision of such care for their own patients. Conclusions: Unless consultants change their attitudes towards the attributes of primary care, the quality of patient care as well as physician training would suffer

Dietary misconception among diabetic patients in Makka city, Saudi Arabia

To assess the prevalence of some dietary misconceptions among primary health care center-registered diabetic patients in Makka City Saudi Arabia. A sample of 1039 primary health care center - registered diabetic patients was interviewed using a structured questionnaire on diabetic diet - related misconceptions. A scoring system was used to document the frequency of misconceptions. The relationship of the misconceptions to socio-demographic and diabetes-related variables was assessed using chi -squared tests. Most patients [68.7%] had a high diet misconception score. More than half of the sample had the misconception that carbohydrates were to completely eliminated from the diet, and only dried bread and bitter foods were to be consumed. Data included the belief in the consumption of honey and dates; the omission of snacks; belief in the carcinogenicity of the sugar substitutes; and obesity as a sign of good health. The score was significantIy higher among males [p < 0.01], patients older than 35 years [p < 0.02], and among patients whose level of education was low [p < 0.01]. It is important to note that the rate of diet-related misconceptions among diabetics in Makka city is high. The study pointed to the target fraction of diabetic patients among whom these misconceptions prevailed. There is a need for constant motivation and appropriate education at frequent intervals to encourage better knowledge of the disease so that there is compliance to treatment

Hypertension in diabetes registered in primary health care centers in Makkah district, Saudi Arabia

Hypertension in diabetes is a common and important problem, which aggravates diabetic macro- and micro vascular complications. Since both diabetes and hypertension are common diseases, their follow up in primary health care centers should emphasize the early detection of hypertension in diabetes. This study aims at studying the magnitude of hypertension in diabetic subjects registered in primary health care centers. A sample of 1039 diabetic subjects registered at the primary health care in urban and rural Makkah region were interviewed. Information gathered included demographic and diabetes-related variables. Blood pressure and body mass index were determined for 1020 subjects. Diabetic subjects who had high blood pressure readings amounted to 560 [54.9%], of whom with stage 1, 2, and 3 hypertension formed 25.5% 7.0% and 2.5% respectively. Subjects with undetected high blood pressure amounted to 225 [22.1%]. There was significant association of high blood pressure with age, male gender body mass index and low education. Concussion: The problem of hypertension in diabetes could be sizeable. Many patients may remain undetected. A diligent search for diabetic subjects with elevated blood pressure should be made through an efficient system of follow up in the PHCC centers

Waist/hip ratio as a predictor of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in primary health care centres, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to assess the value of the waist/hip ratio [WHR] as a predictor for each of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, in comparison with the body mass index [BMI] and a positive family history of each of these 2 diseases. A sample of 1160 subjects attending primary health care in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia, was involved in the study. Collected data included demographic information, family history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, anthropometric measurements of weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and calculation of the BMI and the WHR. The results of the study revealed that 69.8% and 53.5% of the sample had abnormal BMI and WHR, respectively. The WHR was found to be positively associated with each of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. When used as a predictor for each of these 2 diseases, it showed intermediate sensitivity and positive predictive value when compared to BMI and positive family history. While, BMI was generally more sensitive than WHR, the latter showed higher specificity in prediction. Thus, the study recommended the complementary use of the WHR and BMI in the prediction of hypertension and diabetes mellitus

Satisfaction with health care among primary health care centers attendees' in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

To assess the satisfaction of attendees of primary health care centersregarding health services. Design: A cross-sectional study carried on a sample of 1990 subjects. The primary health care centers in Al-Khobar town, Saudi Arabia, during September, 1995. Subjects: A random sample of 1990 subjects drawn from the population of attendees of primary health care centers aged 15 years and above. Subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire incorporating 40 items using a 5-point-based Likert Scale describing, 7 aspects of health services received. Mean satisfaction scores were calculated and factors associated with them studied. The study revealed a high score of overall satisfaction, but lesser and variable satisfaction scores for specific aspects of services. Being of a Saudi nationality was negatively associated with the mean overall satisfaction score. In general, there was reasonable satisfaction with aspects of health services offered. Some factors were negatively associated with the mean satisfaction scores

Knowledge of primary health care doctors about commonly used radiodiagnostic investigations in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

To assess the knowledge of primary health care physicians regarding the use of x-ray films in common clinical situations. Design: A cross-sectional study carried out on a sample of Primary Health Care [PHC] physicians using a structured questionnaire form. Setting: The PHC centers in Dammam city, Saudi Arabia, 1993. The PHC physicians working in Dammam city. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All 63 [74.1%] of PHC physicians present at the time of the study were involved. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire form. The main parameters were the physicians' knowledge and answers regarding radiodiagnostic investigations for 8 common clinical situations and the association of physicians' personal and radiology training characteristics pertaining to that knowledge. PHC physicians exhibited a low level of knowledge about radiodiagnostic investigations for 7 out of the 8 clinical situations under study. Only 15.9% of them could manage to correctly answer 4 or more of the 8 questions. There was a significant association between physicians' previous radiology training and physicians' experience and the high frequency of correct answers. The study has revealed that the knowledge of primary health care physicians regarding commonly used radiodiagnostic investigations is deficient. It highlights the need to train these physicians in the various aspects of radiodiagnostic investigations

Utilization of health services by the primary health care centres-registered elderly people in Burraidah city, Saudi Arabia

To assess the pattern of and factors associated with geriatrics' utilisation of health services. Design: A cross-sectional, study involving a random sample of 266 elderly subjects registered in the primary health care centres in Burraidah city, Saudi Arabia. Setting: The primary health care centres in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected from PHC centres-registered elderly subjects at their homes. Information including utilisation of primary health centres, hospital admissions and duration of hospital stay were recorded. The response rate was 96.7%. Twenty% of the sample had not used any health services facility during the previous year. Two-thirds of subjects made visits to the primary health care centres, majority of them having made 6 visits or less. Significant factors positively associated with those visits were female, advancing age, and having a family. Three-quarters of the sample did not have hospital admissions. Significant factors positively associated with admissions were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, paralysis, advanced age, and living with a family. Conclusions: Geriatric health services utilisation by the study sample is affected by family ties and the high prevalence of chronic diseases. Subjects living alone or crippled by immobility may not be able to utilise available health services properly. Community based geriatrics services can help this vulnerable group

X-ray film interpretation by hospital outpatient departments and primary health care center physicians in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of x-ray film interpretation by nonradiologist physicians. This was a cross-sectional study based on data collected using a structured check-list from a sample of 863 x-ray films requested and interpreted by physicians working in the outpatient departments of Dammam Central Hospital, and in five primary health care centers in Dammam city, Saudi Arabia. The check-list was used to compare the physicians' interpretations of x-ray films requested with those made by an experienced consultant radiologist. Physicians' interpretations were classified as concordant or discordant with those of the radiologist. Factors affecting those interpretations were assessed. Physicians from both the hospital and primary health care centers were discordant with the radiologist in 20.0% and 22.2% of x-ray films interpreted. There were significant positive correlations of physicians' interpretations with physicians' handwriting and completeness of patient information on the request forms, quality of x-ray films and adequacy of x-ray film views. Also, there were significant negative correlations of interpretations with chest and head and neck x-ray films. The study reveals a significant need for training of hospital and primary health care physicians in diagnostic radiology

pattern of complications in Saudi Arabian diabetics

The pattern of complications in 533 Saudi Arabian diabetics followed over a 2-year period at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, is reported. The subjects consisted of 137 type 1 [25.7%] and 396 type 2 diabetics [74.3%]. For type 1, the mean age was 32.1 +/- 1.1 years, and the mean duration of the disease was 7.4 +/- 0.5 years. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in 37.2% of subjects. Peripheral neuropathy affected 28.5%, retinopathy 13.1%, nephropathy 18.2%, and macrovascular complications 10.2% of the type 1 group. For type 2, the mean age for the group was 46.5 +/- 0.6 years, and the mean duration of the disease was 4.5 +/- 0.3 years. Peripheral neuropathy affected 23.7%, retinopathy 8.3%, nephropathy 11.4%, and macrovascular complications 11.1% of type 2 subjects