Food safety knowledge attitude and practices of oncology nurses, in Lebanese hospitals.

Background: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment, have a higher risk to foodborne infections as compared to other populations. Oncology nurses, having a direct significant contact with these patients, could be the first information source concerning food safety and play a pivotal role in reducing these risks. Objective: This study aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding food safety among oncology nurses, as well as their attitudes and practices in private hospitals in Lebanon. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was filled by Oncology nurses (n = 134) working in eighteen private hospitals in Lebanon located in Mount Lebanon (n = 11) and Beirut (n = 7). Results: Overall, oncology nurses scored 76%, 95%, 86.9% and 83.4% on the knowledge, attitude, and practices questions, and overall composite knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP) score, respectively. Knowledge scores were higher among nurses holding a graduate degree (mean = 85; p < 0.05), and those who attended a training course (mean = 79; p < 0.05). Attitude scores of nurses who read brochures were higher (p < 0.001). Attending conferences on food safety showed statistically significant effect on better practice scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Accordingly, the findings highlight the need to develop standardized food safety curriculum and training necessary to allow oncology nurses to contribute to the education of cancer patients and decrease their risk of foodborne infection.

Exposure assessment of the consumers living in Mount Lebanon directorate to antibiotics through medication and red meat intake: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The misuse and abuse of antibiotics by human and in animal production are leading to serious threats to global health. This study aimed to assess the dietary exposure of Lebanese consumers to antibiotic residues from the consumption of meat and compare it to that from medication intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Beef samples (n=61) were collected and analyzed for penicillin residues using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography. A cross-sectional study recruited 500 participants living in Mount Lebanon, using an interviewer-based questionnaire. The dietary exposure assessment was calculated following the tiered assessment approach. RESULTS: The results showed that only 44% of the participants reported using antibiotic on doctor's prescription. Participants with good antibiotic knowledge (6-7/7) are significantly less likely to change antibiotic during treatment and would better use them as compared to those with lower knowledge (p=0.000). Those with lower education and monthly household income are more likely to improperly use antibiotics as compared to those with higher education and income. Penicillin -containing antibiotics were among the most used medications. On the other hand, the prevalence of penicillin residues in the meat samples was 21.3%, though none was above the maximum residue level. The dietary exposure to penicillin through meat consumption was equivalent to 88.3%, 31.9%, and 5.7% of the acceptable daily intake, using Tier 1, 2, and 3 approaches, respectively. Males, single, obese participants, and those with household income below 999,000 Lebanese pound were significantly more exposed to penicillin as compared to other participants due to their high meat consumption. CONCLUSION: These findings will provide insight into designing future targeted awareness interventions and adapted policies as efforts toward improving rational use and intake of antibiotics for preventing the development of antibiotic resistance.

Prevalence and correlates of a positive screen for eating disorders among Syrian refugees.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of a positive screen for eating disorders (EDs) in a sample of Syrian refugees living in North Lebanon. The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 450 (84.67% women and 15.33% men) refugees, aged between 18 and 45 years. The prevalence of a positive screen for ED was 5.79%. Bivariate analyses revealed that female gender (p = 0.02), presence of medical conditions (p = 0.01), old occurrence of major stressful life event (p < 0.01), and positive primary care post-traumatic stress disorder screen (p < 0.01) were associated with the positive sick, control, one stone, fat, food tool. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that subjects screened with post-traumatic stress disorder had a three times higher risk of having a positive screen for ED (odds ratio = 3.2; 95% confidence interval [1.32, 7.78]). Early detection of ED and related factors may help identify refugees who would benefit from interventions to improve mental health.

The Young Adults' Cigarette Dependence (YACD) score: an improved tool for cigarette dependence assessment in university students.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking induces dependence in young smokers. PURPOSE: The primary objective of this work was to validate the use of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young Lebanese university students, and to improve it eventually by adding new items covering DSM-IV and ICD-10 dependence components. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional study on university students. A standardized questionnaire was administered, with items related to cigarette dependence: the FTND and the new Young Adults' Cigarette Dependence (YACD) scale. For both tools, factor and reliability analyses were performed. RESULTS: Although the FTND test showed satisfactory psychometric properties, the YACD showed better construct validity and reliability, covered dependence concept better and discriminated better between those who wanted to stop smoking and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: FTND could be used in university students' population; however, the YACD scale could be more useful.

Violence against nurses in healthcare facilities in Kuwait.

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to document the prevalence and determinants of violence against nurses in healthcare facilities in Kuwait. It involved all nurses employed in all types of health-related facilities and available in the country in May 1999. The questionnaire was completed by 5876 nurses (85% females, 88% non-Kuwaitis). Verbal violence had been experienced in the 6 previous months by 48% of the group, and physical violence by 7%. There was no physical harm reported in 63% of cases of physical violence. Physical abusers were mostly patients (51%). Compared to nurses who had never experienced physical violence, those who had experienced some were more likely to be male, non-Kuwaiti, to have had a shorter professional experience, and to be working in a hospital rather than in a primary healthcare center. The experience of nurses with violence is still relatively rare in Kuwait. Communication with patients and their entourage of family members and/or close friends is needed to clarify expectations and to avoid frustration and angry verbal outbursts.