Asthma knowledge and behaviours among mothers of asthmatic children in Aseer, south-west Saudi Arabia.

Mothers of children with bronchial asthma consecutively admitted to Aseer central hospital, Saudi Arabia (n = 171), were interviewed using a questionnaire based on the Chicago Community Asthma Survey to study their knowledge and behaviours concerning bronchial asthma. The least known information among mothers was the complications of bronchial asthma. Breathing exercises during asthma attacks were the least practised behaviour. In a multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for poor knowledge and behaviours among mothers were female sex of the child, illiterate mother and young age of mother (< 30 years). More education is needed to help the mothers of asthmatic children to acquire the necessary knowledge and practices to care for their children.

Asthma knowledge and behaviours among mothers of asthmatic children in Aseer, south-west Saudi Arabia

Mothers of children with bronchial asthma consecutively admitted to Aseer central hospital, Saudi Arabia [n = 171], were interviewed using a questionnaire based on the Chicago Community Asthma Survey to study their knowledge and behaviours concerning bronchial asthma. The least known information among mothers was the complications of bronchial asthma. Breathing exercises during asthma attacks were the least practised behaviour. In a multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for poor knowledge and behaviours among mothers were female sex of the child, illiterate mother and young age of mother [< 30 years]. More education is needed to help the mothers of asthmatic children to acquire the necessary knowledge and practices to care for their chiIdren

Impact of national protocol on management of acute respiratory infections in children.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of implementation of the national protocol on the prescribing patterns for acute respiratory infections among children attending a large primary health care center in Abha City. METHODS: This study was carried out during December of 1997 and February of 1998 in Abha City, Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One quarter of the prescriptions which were issued in those 2 months were selected randomly and assessed for age, sex, diagnosis and the prescribed drugs before and after intensive training of the primary health care physicians on the implementation of the national protocol for acute respiratory infections. RESULTS: One hundred and forty five and 123 prescriptions were selected and assessed pre and post the implementation of this protocol. Our findings showed a decrease in the prescription of antibiotics from 53% to 33%, anti-cough drugs from 43.5% to 6%, and anti-histaminics from 20% to 10%. CONCLUSION: Training on the national protocol and its implementation will decrease the rate of prescribing and misuse of unnecessary drugs such as antibiotics, anti-cough and anti-histamines.

The quality of clinical notes at a Psychiatric Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to display the quality of the clinical notes at Abha Psychiatric Hospital out-patient clinics. METHODS: In this chart review study, a total of 380 charts were randomly collected, and reviewed for the clinical items that should be included in the psychiatric clinical notes. Each chart note quality was indicated as good, fair or poor based on means and standard deviations. RESULTS: The quality of clinical notes was good in 16.3%, fair in 71.1% and poor in 12.6% of the total records. The most frequent clearly present items were medications (92.1%), and personal data (91.1%); while the most frequent clearly absent items were psychotherapy (90.8%), and functioning (80.8%). CONCLUSION: The quality of psychiatric clinical notes needs to be improved. Practical recommendations regarding this were stressed.

Barriers to compliance among diabetics in Asir Region.

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