Focus groups findings reveal barriers to teaching communication skills to medical students.

BACKGROUND: In December 2002, 74 medical students in the second preclinical years at the American University of Beirut (AUB) attended a workshop on basic communication skills (CS). The students watched video clips which demonstrated different communication skills and stages of the consultation, and role-played to try out ways they could improve the consultation. Their familiarity with the skills taught was assessed at the beginning of the workshop, immediately afterwards, and again six months later. There was a significant improvement noted immediately after the intervention but this apparent gain was lost at six months. METHOD: Sixteen students, who attended the workshop, also attended two focus group discussions which were aimed to assess student recall of the communications skills workshop, and explore ways in which the students thought the knowledge gained could be maintained. RESULTS: In general students thought that lack of exposure to patients at the time when the CS course was held, and a lack of consistency in CS coupled with poor faculty CS role modeling hindered their ability to maintain and practice good CS. CONCLUSIONS: Teaching CS may be more effective if medical students are taught these skills when they are exposed to patients on a regular basis, and the training is maintained throughout the clinical years. However, more emphasis should be on reminding faculty members of their role as teachers and good communicating role models to students through workshops and seminars.

Prevalence of hepatitis B in a presumably healthy Lebanese population.

OBJECTIVE: Policy makers need data on the prevalence of infection with HBV in order to determine the cost effectiveness of universal immunization against hepatitis B. This study aims at determining the prevalence rate of infection with HBV in a basically healthy group of Lebanese adults. METHODS: Sera from 2634 presumably healthy Lebanese individuals, mean age 32.1 years, obtained between 1995-1997, were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The sample was composed of subjects residing in different areas in Lebanon. Detection of HBsAg was performed utilizing the ELISA technique. The analysis took place in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Chi-square test was used to examine statistical associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg among the samples was 1.6%. Blue-collar employees, smokers and those living in the South of Lebanon were significantly more likely to be infected with hepatitis B virus. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented indicates that Lebanon has a low prevalence of HBV infection. Costeffective studies are needed to justify universal iminunization against hepatitis B especially in countries where budgets are tight.

Medical problems encountered among travelers in Bahrain International Airport clinic.

BACKGROUND: The Middle East is one of the most rapidly growing destination for travelers. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the medical conditions affecting travelers needing medical assistance in Bahrain International Airport (BIA). METHOD: Logbook documenting medical conditions of travelers presenting to the BIA clinic from January 1 till the end of December 2004 was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 3,350 travelers attended the clinic, constituting 0.12% of the disembarking and transit travelers. Most common conditions faced were respiratory problems (24.4%), followed by headaches (19.2%), trauma, musculoskeletal pains (12.9%), and gastrointestinal problems (11.0%). Only 2.1% of all complaints were referred to secondary care. The majority of cases were handled by the nurse. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the patients examined had acute minor medical problems. Ninety-eight percent of conditions affecting travelers were handled in the airport clinic by the nurse and the family physician. Airport clinic could serve as an efficient emergency triage system for filtering serious illnesses needing urgent management.

Intestinal parasites among presumably healthy individuals in Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence period of intestinal parasites among presumably healthy subjects in Lebanon. METHODS: One stool specimen from 2634 presumably healthy Lebanese subjects, mean age 32.1 years with a range of 14-71 years, resident of different areas in Lebanon was examined for the presence of parasites. The analysis took place in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, over 25-months between 1995-1997. RESULTS: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 12.4%. The most common parasites identified were Entamoeba coli (38%), Giardia lamblia (3.1%) and Entamoeba histolytica (2.3%) [corrected]. CONCLUSION: The data presented shows the need to improve hygienic conditions to contain the problem of intestinal infections with parasites in Lebanon.