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BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization advocates for the achievement of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD) globally by the year 2020. However, until today, little was known in Lebanon regarding its actual rate or influencing factors, particularly donor motivations and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donors in Lebanon. The ultimate goals were to retain first-time donors, encourage them to become regular ones, and facilitate the transition from replacement donation to VNRD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centric cross-sectional study was carried across the five governorates in Lebanon. A self-administered and structured questionnaire was used in this survey. Results were presented in terms of odds ratios, with statistical significance defined at a P value of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Additionally, a benchmarking analysis of the situation of blood donation in Lebanon was also conducted, identifying several areas for improvement. RESULTS: A total of 620 blood donors participated in this study, with 21.3% being first-time donors and 78.7% repeat donors. While the latter were primarily motivated by self-esteem, solidarity or returning a favor (89%, 77.9% and 78.1%), the main obstacle for becoming regular donors was a lack of initiative (34.6%). Female donors (9.9% of the total) exhibited better knowledge (OR = 2.20, p = 0.011) and were more inclined to donate voluntarily (OR = 1.52, p = 0.048). Conversely, male donors were more likely to be repeat donors, often through replacement donation (OR = 2.95, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a significant disparity between the low rate of voluntary donation in Lebanon (22.2%) and the relatively high proportion of donors with adequate knowledge of the donation process (60.5%). Therefore, urgent action by public authorities, based on the evidence based strategies outlined in this article, is crucial to enhancing the voluntary donation rate in Lebanon.
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Introduction Despite the heightened interest in the management and prevention of burn scars, only a few articles have been published that assess the risk factors for the development of burn scars. The relationship between admission to the burn unit and the need for reconstructive surgery, the effect of the burn area on the number of further surgeries needed, and the adverse event of the technique used in the reconstructive surgery is not widely explored in the literature. These unmet challenges are crucial for a standardized consensus about burn scar management. Methods A retrospective study of patients admitted for burn reconstructive surgeries was conducted. A total of 100 patients (mean age: 29 years old) were included in this study. Data were retrospectively collected by reviewing the patients' charts. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 25.00 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results The most common surgery performed was a release contracture with skin grafting (n = 93.93%). No significant difference was reported between the patient's age and the total number of surgeries. A significant difference was noted between the different techniques used and the total number of surgeries. Patients with release contracture surgery had higher scores of satisfaction and better functional outcome. Conclusion The most common surgery performed for scar treatment was contracture release coupled with skin grafting. The most common cause of burn in Lebanon was flame, and the most commonly affected anatomical area was the upper limb. Further studies recruiting patients from all over Lebanon and assessing their characteristics are now warranted.
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Burn injuries carry significant implications on short- and long-term quality of health. The present study undertook the first attempt to characterize generic and burn-specific quality of life and their predictors among adult burn patients admitted to a Lebanese burn care center. 130 adult patients admitted to the Lebanese Geitaoui Hospital burn center between 2013 and 2019 willingly answered Arabic versions of RAND's 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the Burn-Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). Results showed that burn patients continue to exhibit impairments on various generic and burn-specific quality of life subdomains. Education, pain and total body surface area (TBSA) burned were consistently and significantly correlated with both BSHS-B and SF-36 component scores, while inhalation injury exhibited an association with total BSHS-B score. Education and pain emerged as independent predictors of SF-36 components as well as total BSHS-B score. The latter was additionally associated with BMI and burn degree, while TBSA burned negatively correlated with SF-36 physical component scores. Correlates of impaired quality of life among Lebanese adult burn patients should therefore be taken into account and existing burn management practices and rehabilitation programs should be revised accordingly in order to ensure optimal long-term patient outcomes.
