ABSTRACT
We aimed to evaluate the attitudes of teachers to tobacco smoking in Kalaa Kebira (a semi-urban region in the Tunisian Sahel). Data from 358 of 402 teachers surveyed were obtained using a self-completed questionnaire. The mean age of the teachers was 35.7 (SD 7.9) years. The prevalence of smoking was 29.3% (51.6% of men and 3.6% of women), and 79% of smokers were addicted to nicotine according to the Fagerström test. About 50% of the teachers were badly-informed about the dangers of smoking and 75.2% of smoking teachers did not refrain from smoking in front of their pupils. The lack of knowledge of teachers limits their role as a model and information source in the anti-tobacco struggle. It is essential to draw up an education programme for the teaching staff.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Faculty/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Smoking/epidemiology , Smoking/psychology , Adult , Age Distribution , Cross-Sectional Studies , Educational Status , Female , Health Education , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Sex Distribution , Smoking Prevention , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tobacco Use Disorder/epidemiology , Tobacco Use Disorder/prevention & control , Tobacco Use Disorder/psychology , Tunisia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We assessed the knowledge of 404 type 2 diabetic patients about their condition in order to evaluate the quality of diabetes education in primary health care units in Sousse in 2003. We found that knowledge was satisfactory in only 59% of the patients. Their knowledge about the definition of diabetes and its pathophysiology were the 2 main areas where knowledge was lacking: the proportion of correct answers were 62.6% and 50.3% respectively. More attention should be paid to educating diabetic patients within the chronic disease care national programme.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Attitude to Health , Causality , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/etiology , Disease Progression , Educational Measurement , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Hypertension/etiology , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , National Health Programs , Obesity/complications , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tunisia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We aimed to evaluate the attitudes of teachers to tobacco smoking in Kalaa Kebira [a semi-urban region in the Tunisian Sahel]. Data from 358 of 402 teachers surveyed were obtained using a self-completed questionnaire. The mean age of the teachers was 35.7 [SD 7.9] years. The prevalence of smoking was 29.3% [51.6% of men and 3.6% of women], and 79% of smokers were addicted to nicotine according to the Fagerstrom test. About 50% of the teachers were badly-informed about the dangers of smoking and 75.2% of smoking teachers did not refrain from smoking in front of their pupils. The lack of knowledge of teachers limits their role as a model and information source in the anti-tobacco struggle. It is essential to draw up an education programme for the teaching staff
Subject(s)
Smoking , Teaching , Surveys and Questionnaires , Prevalence , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
We assessed the knowledge of 404 type 2 diabetic patients about their condition in order to evaluate the quality of diabetes education in primary health care units in Sousse in 2003. We found that knowledge was satisfactory in only 59% of the patients. Their knowledge about the definition of diabetes and its pathophysiology were the 2 main areas where knowledge was lacking: the proportion of correct answers were 62.6% and 50.3% respectively. More attention should be paid to educating diabetic patients within the chronic disease care national programme
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Patient Education as Topic , Patient Participation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the factors associated with poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients followed in primary care units in Sousse, Tunisia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of type 2 diabetic patients followed at least two years in primary health care units in Sousse, Tunisia. Data were gathered from three sources: a self-administrated questionnaire, analysis of patient files and HbA1c level. HbA1c level was measured with turbidimetric immunoinhibition assay. Patients were considered well-controlled if glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was less than 7%, according to the American Diabetics Association (ADA) recommendations. RESULTS: The study enrolled 404 type 2 diabetic patients. The mean age was 60.5+/-10.89 years, sex-ratio was 0.5, and mean disease duration 8.7+/-6.1 years. ADA recommendations were met by 16.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis using variables in relation with the patient, his/her family, the disease, the treatment and the health care unit, showed that only poor geographic access to the care center (adjusted OR: 1.89, p=0.009) and Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2 (adjusted OR: 2.21, p=0.034) were significantly and independently associated with poor glycemic control. CONCLUSION: Glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients is poor. It depends strongly on geographic access to health care. Type 2 diabetic patients should be referred, as much as possible, to the nearest health care unit.