Patient experiences of engagement with care plans and healthcare professionals' perceptions of that engagement.

BACKGROUND: Although patient engagement is internationally recognized as a core quality indicator of healthcare systems, no report has yet explored patient engagement in Saudi Arabia. Thus, we explored patients' experiences of engagement with healthcare services and assessed physicians' and nurses' perceptions of this engagement. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on patients and their family members admitted to either the rehabilitation or neurology department of King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We also studied physicians and nurses involved in direct patient care in these departments. Two self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on patients' experiences of engagement with healthcare services and physicians' and nurses' perceptions of that engagement. RESULTS: We recruited 36 patients and 46 family members, as well as 64 nurses and 36 physicians. About 73% of patients and family members felt that doctors and nurses engaged them in decision making regarding care plans; 80% felt that they were a partners in the treatment plans. Over one-third of physicians and nurses believed that patient engagement improved healthcare outcomes, and about 7% believed that patient engagement was unimportant or not extremely important. Responses of physicians and nurses differed significantly from those of patients and family members with regards to the extent of the patient-physician/nurse relationship, the perception of involvement, and the degree of partnership and shared leadership. CONCLUSION: We assessed patient experiences of engagement with health care service and physicians' and nurses' perceptions of that engagement. Most patients/family members reported good engagement. Although most physicians and nurses believed that patient engagement improved the healthcare outcomes, some believed that improving healthcare outcomes through patient engagement was not important or not extremely important.

Prevalence of physical activity among Lebanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This survey aims to assess the prevalence of physical activity among adult Lebanese, and to report the relationship between sociodemographic variables and physical activity behavior highlighting the correlates discouraging people to carry out physical activity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using an anonymous self-reported questionnaire was conducted on 346 adults from four Lebanese districts. Demographic characteristics, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and medical history were obtained. RESULTS: Prevalence of physical activity among Lebanese adults was 55.5% (192/346). Age, BMI, marital status, medical history, occupation, educational level and smoking were significantly associated with physical activity (P < .05). Inactive obese participants were about three times more likely to report hypertension and diabetes than inactive normal weight participants (P = .013). BMI was significantly higher among inactive participants (P = .014). CONCLUSION: Physical activity was under level among Lebanese adults. Married, non office workers and smokers were the main correlates of physical inactivity in Lebanese adulthood.