Health education in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: assessment of future needs.

The aim of this study was to determine priority health issues, target groups and education media for future health education programmes in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. A questionnaire was addressed to 2 groups: health officials (n=60) and the general public (n=300). In their lists of health issues to focus on, 7 were the same although prioritization differed. Children and youth were considered the most important target groups and the school setting the most appropriate medium for them. Broadcast media were acknowledged as valuable for health education for the general public. We recommend systematic consultation across official and lay groups as a preliminary requisite for health education initiatives.

Health education in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: assessment of future needs

The aim of this study was to determine priority health issues, target groups and education media for future health education programmes in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. A questionnaire was addressed to 2 groups: health officials [n = 60] and the general public [n = 300]. In their lists of health issues to focus on, 7 were the same although prioritization differed. Children and youth were considered the most important target groups and the school setting the most appropriate medium for them. Broadcast media were acknowledged as valuable for health education for the general public. We recommend systematic consultation across official and lay groups as a preliminary requisite for health education initiatives

Role of health education programmes within the Libyan community.

The effectiveness of existing Libyan health education programmes was evaluated in order to assess how the service may be improved. A representative sample of the general public completed a questionnaire on health knowledge, healthy behaviours and the impact of various health education media. The 872 participants ranked health education media by effectiveness, with television ranked highest and booklets and leaflets lowest. We recommend reorganization of the use of different health education media in future planning.

Role of health education programmes within the Libyan community

The effectiveness of existing Libyan health education programmes was evaluated in order to assess how the service may be improved. A representative sample of the general public completed a questionnaire on health knowledge, healthy behaviours and the impact of various health education media. The 872 participants ranked health education media by effectiveness, with television ranked highest and booklets and leaflets lowest. We recommend reorganization of the use of different health education media in future planning

Project 2000 student nurses' creative approach to peer education.

This research paper gives an account of an unique initiative using interactive drama with Project 2000 student nurses, to facilitate health promotion with pupils at secondary school level. Through an open-ended play lasting 12 minutes (entitled Debbie) and workshops, student nurses communicated sexual health promotion and how to make choices to a group of 14-18 year olds in a large comprehensive school. The initiative, which uses participant action research (Altricher 1993), was designed to assess whether student nurses could effectively communicate health promotion to pupils with whom they were comparable in age, and the educative effects on the students as a result of engaging in the initiative. It was clear from the findings that several student nurses were unprepared for the impact that the initiative would have on them. The play had immense power and they had empathy with the pupils. Perceived personal and professional benefits gained by the students (as reported by them) included a sense of belonging, more independence, more openness, less inhibition, increased knowledge, improved communication skills, confidence, assertiveness, self-esteem, and the ability to educate people. The author argues that a creative approach to teaching the theoretical underpinning of health promotion alongside practical dramatic skills of communication to empower, as well as promote change, can enable effective facilitation amongst young people.

Ketotifen in the young asthmatic--a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out to assess the efficacy of ketotifen in the pre-school asthmatic. The trial period consisted of a 1-month run-in period followed by a 4-month treatment period. Symptom scores for asthma, rhinitis, eczema and, where possible, twice daily peak flow measurements (24 cases) were recorded on diary cards by the parents. All concomitant medication used in addition to the trial drug was noted. The only medication not allowed was disodium cromoglycate. A total of 37 children, 23 boys and 14 girls, mean age 4.1 years (range 1.3-5.9 years) completed the trial. They comprised 19 given ketotifen and 18 given placebo. All were atopic and had allergic rhinitis and 15 had eczema. Ketotifen dosage was 1 mg twice daily in the under 5-year-olds (23 cases) and 2 mg twice daily in the remainder. On analysing the results no significant benefit could be demonstrated for giving ketotifen in this group of patients.

Monitoring response to bronchodilator therapy in asthma in childhood.

Recently there has been increased interest in the role of bronchodilators in the maintenance therapy of asthma in childhood. We report the use of slow-release aminophylline (Phyllocontin Continus tablets) in childhood asthma. Ten patients, all of whom were receiving disodium cromoglycate (DSG), were given a single dose of Phyllocontin tablets (12.5 mg/kg) and observed over a period of 8 hours. Measurements of peak flow rate (PFR) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) showed an increase of at least 30% at 3 to 5 hours and the improvement continued to 8 hours. No effect was noted on heart rate. Ten patients were assessed over a 4-week period on DSG then over two 4-week periods on Phyllocontin tablets and placebo on a double-blind crossover basis. The dosage of Phyllocontin tablets used was 12.5 mg/kg twice daily. Using twice daily PFR recordings there was no significant difference between the two periods on DSG and Phyllocontin tablets. The reduction in PFR during the period on placebo was significant, however, and more markedly so between the period of placebo and the period on Phyllocontin tablets. We conclude that Phyllocontin tablets in these patients compared favourably with DSG in the maintenance therapy of asthma in childhood. The results obtained after single dose administration also suggest that a proportion of children with asthma may benefit from combined treatment with DSG and regular bronchodilators.

Intestinal enterokinase deficiency.

Deficiency of intestinal enterokinase results in failure to thrive, diarrhoea, anaemia, hypoproteinaemia and oedema. A case arising in the neonatal period is described, in which several of the characteristic features were lacking. Difficulties encountered in the diagnosis and methods of assay are discussed.

A comprehensive treatment unit for the respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn.

Various systems have been devised to improve the therapy of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome in newborn infants. This article describes a new ventilator which provides alternating positive and negative pressure ventilation(APNPV) in addition to the more conventional techniques. Safety aspects, technical performance and cleaning procedures are described. A brief summary of the clinical performance of the machine is given.