Awareness and behavior about Pap smear testing in family medicine practice

To describe and estimate the effect of 5 socio-demographic variables and insurance status on awareness of pap smear, and the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance and knowledge score on having a pap smear test. This is a cross-sectional study of 674 female patients, aged 17 years and above between October and December 2006, and attending family medicine clinics at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. We collected data on socio-demographic factors, future intention to take the test and barriers to screening. Of 674 patients, 68.1% were aware of the Pap smear as a medical test. Of married women, 40.3% had a screening history. Women who were aware of the test were more likely to be <35 years of age, married, and have higher than secondary education. Women who have had a Pap test were younger and had higher knowledge scores of the Pap smear. The physicians were the main source of information regarding awareness and having the test. Female physicians, particularly gynecologists, were preferred to perform the Pap smear. Fear of the procedure and the results of the test were the major obstacles to having the test. There is an imminent need for an awareness campaign; a simple 5-item knowledge test can identify a group of women, who can most benefit from targeted interventions

prediction of diabetes and hypertension by anthropometric indices based on family medicine clinic data at Jordan university hospital

Epidemiological studies find that obesity is associated with hypertension and diabetes. Therefore it is essential to identify simple and practical anthropometric indices which can predict these diseases. Study the association and the predictability of diabetes and hypertension by the four different anthropometric indices [BMI, waist circumference, waist/hip and waist/height ratios] in a group of patients attending family medicine clinic at Jordan University Hospital. A cross-sectional clinic based survey was carried out over an eight- month period. Data for 936 Jordanian patients [573 females and 363 males] aged 25-74 years were collected for the study. Status regarding diabetes and hypertension was recorded beside anthropometric measurements. Multiple logistic regression showed that there were gender differences in the association between obesity indices and cardiovascular risk factors. In male patients, body mass index had a significant association with hypertension and it was the most predictive factor of hypertension among all anthropometric indices, while waist/hip ratio was the most predictive factor of diabetes. In females, waist/height ratio exhibited the highest degree of association with diabetes and hypertension and was the most predictive factor of both diseases. Anthropometric indices are simple and easy to apply. Since they have a strong predictor value for hypertension and diabetes, they should be used in routine health screening in primary care. Our results represent a small group of patients; we need to conduct larger studies on a national scale to develop local and regional figures which could be different from international standards

status of dietetics and food services in main hospitals in Jordan

Information on dietetics and food services was collected from eleven main hospitals in Jordan regarding qualifications, experience, job description and problems facing dietitians and food service personnel. Data regarding the number of beds and types of diets served in these hospitals were also collected. The distribution of diets in these hospitals as a% of total diets was as follows :- 59.4% regular, 9.0% salt-restriced, 8.5% diabetic, 4.4% high-protein and 3.1% soft. The results showed that there were 39 dietitians with a university degree and 35 technical workers and 183 other workers serving in these hospitals. Overall average of beds per dietitian was 73 [range of 32 to 175]. About half of the dietitians had a work experience of 2-4 years while none of them have had any training course in dietetics since appointment. Problems faced by these dietitians included poor coordination with the physician and nurse, inadequate recognition of the important therapeutic role of the dietitian, and unavailability of local food exchange lists. The present survey emphasizes the need for increasing the number of dietitians and their level of training in many of the Jordanian hospitals, and for a legislation to organize the practice of this profession