Cellular phones: are they detrimental?

The issue of possible health effects of cellular phones is very much alive in the public's mind where the rapid increase in the number of the users of cell phones in the last decade has increased the exposure of people to the electromagnetic fields [EMFs].Health consequences of long term use of mobile phones are not known in detail but available data indicates the development of non specific annoying symptoms on acute exposure to mobile phone radiations. In an attempt to determine the prevalence of such cell phones associated health manifestations and the factors affecting their occurrence, a cross sectional study was conducted in five randomly selected faculties of Alexandria University. Where, 300 individuals including teaching staff, students and literate employee were equally allocated and randomly selected among the five faculties. Data about mobile phone's users and their medical history, their pattern of mobile usage and the possible deleterious health manifestations associated with cellular phone use was collected. The results revealed 68% prevalence of mobile phone usage, nearly three quarters of them [72.5%] were complainers of the health manifestations. They suffered from headache [43%], earache [38.3%], sense of fatigue [31.6%], sleep disturbance [29.5%], concentration difficulty [28.5%] and face burning sensation [19.2%]. Both univariate and multivariate analysis were consistent in their findings. Symptomatic users were found to have significantly higher frequency of calls/day, longer call duration and longer total duration of mobile phone usage/day than non symptomatic users. For headache both call duration and frequency of calls/day were the significant predicting factors for its occurrence [X[2]=18.208, p=0.0001]. For earache, in addition to call duration, the longer period of owning the mobile phone were significant predictors [X[2]=16.996, p=0.0002]. Sense of fatigue was significantly affected by both call duration and age of the user [X[2]=24.214, p=0.0000], while burning sensation was only affected by frequency of calls/day [X[2]=5.360, p=0.020]. According to the 95% confidence interval of frequency and duration of calls, the study recommended not to increase the call duration more than four minutes and limit their frequency to less than seven calls/day with total duration of exposure less than 22 min/day

Quality assessment of medical care in chest dispensaries in Alexandria

Eight million new cases of tuberculosis are merging annually, worldwide, of which an estimated three million are dying. The quality of medical care rendered by chest clinics [dispensaries] to tuberculous patients is crucial. The present study was conducted in order to assess quality of medical care rendered to tuberculous patients in all chest clinics in Alexandria [n=7]. To achieve this aim, three checklists were developed in relation to the three dimensions of medical care, namely, structure, process of care and outcome. They were validated and rated by ten medical experts working in the field of tuberculosis and chest diseases. Accordingly for the process of care, each item was scored using weighted scores for physicians performance. Unit weighted scoring was also used for physicians, nurses, as well as social workers. Direct observation was conducted for assessment of structure and process of care rendered by physicians, nurses and social workers. On the other hand outcome was measured by cure or treatment completion rate, treatment failure rate, defaulter rate, as well as death rate. The results revealed that percentage of recommended structure items ranged between 77.8% and 94.4%. Regarding process of care, it was found that the overall weighted physicians performance index [PPI] expressed in percentage was 36.97 +/- 13.65% while the mean unit weighted PPI was 35.26 +/- 13.5%. For the different areas of care, the mean weighted and unit weighted PPI, respectively, were 27.86 +/- 20.83% and 28.61 +/- 21.7% in history taking, 54.65 +/- 11.92% and 42.83 +/- 13.83% for examination, 31.64 +/- 19.61% and 37.10 +/- 19.40% for educating patients, while it was 36.36 +/- 16.0% and 37.90 +/- 16.20% for measures applied to contacts. Moreover, assessment of nurses and social workers performance revealed that they had carried out 91.86% and 86.60% of their recommended activities, respectively. Outcome indices among the different clinics showed that cure or treatment completion rate ranged from 47.48% to 81.51%, while treatment failure rate ranged between 1.71% and 11.54%. On the other hand, the defaulter rate showed a minimum of 13.70% and a maximum of 44.86%. From the present study it could be recommended that quality of medical care in chest clinics should be emphasized specially as regards process of care given by physicians

Obesity in Alexandria: a cross sectional survey

This study was conducted to assess prevalence of obesity in Alexandria and identify some factors that affect it. The results revealed that overall prevalence of obesity was 31.33% with a significant higher proportion of females than males. Educational level had a significant effect in males. For both sexes, eating habits [between meals and during stress conditions] as well as positive family history of obesity were significant factors. Working status showed no significant difference in BMI for both sexes

study of nosocomial infection in a general hospital

The present study was conducted in Hail General Hospital, in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over six months period starting from December 1994. All notified cases of nosocomial infections were taken into consideration. Cases who satisfied the definition and criteria of nosocomial. infection were included in the study [n = 105]. Data were abstracted from the special routine monthly reports to the General Directorate of Health Affairs. The results of the present study revealed that invasive procedures were conducted for the majority of cases [81.9%]. The most common site of infection was urinary tract [36.6%], followed by respiratory and wound infection [23.8% and 22.8% respectively] while other sites accounted for the remaining part of the sample [16.8%]. Out of the culture positive cases [n = 101] gram negative bacteria represented 85.15% of cases where the most common ones were Klebsiella pneumonia and pseudomonas. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant linear association between invasive procedures and age [Mantel Hanszel test = 17.37]. Moreover, invasive procedures were found to be significantly related to the occurrence of gram negative infection [X[2] = 4.77]. Multiple regression analysis, for factors affecting length of hospital stay, showed that age and presence of host factors lowering host resistance had significant effect in prolonging the duration of stay among cases

Attitudes of teaching staff of Alexandria faculty of medicine towards teaching

Systematic random sample technique was used to select one third of the target population. They were surveyed using a predesigned sheet containing 28 items based on Likert scale. The response rate was 66%. The total score was calculated in addition to grouping attitudinal statements to represent different domains of the teaching process. The results showed that, the mean total percentage score was 78.08 +/- 5.34%. Univariate analysis revealed that academic position, length of teaching experience, used method of teaching and level of self assessment significantly affected the total score. The domain attitudinal scores were also significantly different with variables. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that being a professor or an assistant professor significantly increased the score by 2.49%, while having self assessment as above average decreased the score by 3.67%. Distribution of responses to selected statements indicated some important issues, e.g., excellence in teaching does not help to advance one's career

Study of small intestinal structural and functional changes in patients with diabetes mellitus

Small intestinal structural and functional changes were studied in 20 IDDM patients, 20 NIDDM patients and 10 normal controls. Diarrhea was the most common gastrointestinal symptom, affecting 55% of patients of IDDM group and 40% of patients of NIDDM group. Manifestations of autonomic neuropathy were present in 55% of IDDM group and 40% of NIDDM group, and a statistically significant association was found between the presence of autonomic manifestations and the presence of diarrhea and constipation. D-xylose absorption excretion was normal in 75% of patients of each diabetic group and was reduced in the remaining 25% of patients. Histopathological examination of the jejunal mucosa showed villi of normal shape in all patients who had normal D-xylose excretion, and were abnormally clubbed and stunted with decreased cryptovillous ratio and increased goblet cells in all patients with reduced D-xylose excretion. Histochemical examination showed that alkaline phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase activity were reduced in all patients with abnormal villi and reduced D-xylose excretion, and were dependent on the control status of diabetes mellitus in patients with normal villi, with significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity and decrease in succinic dehydrogenase activity in uncontrolled cases

Knowledge of secondary school teachers in Alexandria about Aids

AIDS is now considered as a major public problem in many countries. For prevention of AIDS, a sound knowledge about the disease is essential for professionals as well as among lay people. The present study was carried out to study the extent of knowledge about AIDS among secondary school teachers in Alexandria. 344 teachers representing 5% of secondary school teachers in Alexandria were personally interviewed. Data were related to awareness about the problem, agent mode of transmission and preventive measures. The results revealed that 10.5% of teachers know that AIDS is caused by a virus while more of the 75% of teachers were aware that the infection could be transmitted from cases or carriers. The approved modes of transmission were known to more than 90% of teachers except for vertical transmission where it was known to 79.10% of them. Yet, misconceptions about mode of transmission were observed, where more than half of the sample reported that AIDS could be transmitted by casual contract or vector transmission. Regarding preventive measures, only 38.40% of teachers reported correct preventive measures

Diagnostic categories and mortality of coronary care unit [CCU] admitted patients

This work was aimed to study the diagnostic categories and mortality of Main University hospital CCU admitted patients. The study revealed that almost half of patients were suffering from myocardial infarction and about a tenth suffered from arrhythmia. The mean ages and lengths of stay differed significantly according to the diagnosis. It was found that the oldest mean one was observed among myocardial infarction patients, while the youngest one. was found among cases admitted for subacuts bacterial endocirditis. On the other hand, the longest mean length of stay was encountered among pulmonary embolism patients. Mortality rates varied according to diagnosis, where the highest rate was found among patients admitted for pulmonary embolism and the lowest was observed among arrhythmic patients

Application of a diabetic teaching programme on a group of nurses in Alexandria and its outcome

The aim of the present work was to assess the knowledge and skills of some nurses working in the field of diabetes care before and after undertaking an educational program based on the Arabic version of the Diabetes Education Letters edited by the Diabetes Education Study Group of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. For this purpose, 21 nurses have been included in the study. An educational program has been conducted for one year covering areas of knowledge as well skills related to management of the disease as well as educational methods. Standard formats assessing knowledge before and after the program revealed lacunae in various areas of knowledge and skills concerned with the disease and its management. There was a significant improvement in knowledge and skills after completion of the program. There was a significant improvement in knowledge and skills after completion of the program. This study has been coupled by assessment of the outcome of this program on patients served by the nurses included in the study. Indices used were the mean fasting blood sugar one year before the program, the mean number of days of sick leave as well as the mean number of cases hospitalization during this period compared with 1 year following the program. A significant beneficial impact has been elicited pointing to the efficacy of this approach in the management of diabetes on one side and to the efforts still needed to be deployed in this area in this concern