The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, Oct 1, 2018
Background: The prevalence of the coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in the developing c... more Background: The prevalence of the coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in the developing countries, including Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of CAD risk factors and to appraise the related attitude and practice among the general population of Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a random sample of Tabuk city population. Each participant responded to a questionnaire paper requesting information about his personal details, knowledge about the CAD risk factors, his attitude, and his actual practice towards the risk factors. Study permission was obtained from the Research Committee (Faculty of Medicine/ University of Tabuk). Informed consents were obtained from the participants before entry into the study. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), version 20. Statistical significance was accepted when P value is less than 0.05. Results: A total of 126 adult subjects (69.84% males) participated in this study. Of the participants, 71.42% received university education, 2.4% had a past history of heart attack, 3.2% were known cases of diabetes mellitus, and 6.3% were known cases of hypertension. The commonest risk factors identified by the participants were smoking (81%). Those who could identify hypertension, obesity, smoking and diabetes mellitus were 65.9%, 77.8%, 81.0%, and 37.3% respectively. Less than two thirds (64.3%) of individuals could identify stress as a risk factor, and less than half (44.4%) could identify the genetic tendency as a risk factor of CAD. The majority of participants (72.2%) know that lack of exercise or the sedentary life style is a risk factor for CAD; however, only 8.16% were fully aware of the principal five modifiable risk factors of heart disease. Conclusion: The study showed critical deficiencies in CAD risk factors knowledge and perception that could result in underestimation of the disease severity. Educational health programs are highly recommended to increase awareness about the modifiable risk factors of the CAD.
Among the various systems taught in the preclinical phases, the nervous system is more challengin... more Among the various systems taught in the preclinical phases, the nervous system is more challenging to learn than other systems. In this report, a novel teaching methodology, 'real-life scenario (RLS) blended teaching' is described and its effectiveness in facilitating inquisitive learning in undergraduate medical students was evaluated. This mixed-method study was conducted among three groups (Group-1; n=83, Group-2; n=85, and Group-3; n=79) of undergraduate medical students (18-20 years) in the neurology and behavioral sciences module. RLS was presented to students in the form of demonstrations, role-plays, videos, and group activities. Group-1 students underwent traditional teaching-learning sessions. Group-2 students underwent RLS blended sessions and were provided with multiple mini-assignments in a vignette format. Group-3 students received RLS blended sessions, multiple miniassignments, peer discussions, multiple formative assessments, and facilitator feedback sessions. The student performances on different exams were compared in terms of their Group, and their perceptions of RLS were documented. Students exposed to RLS sessions blended with multiple assignments, peer discussions, multiple formative assignments, and facilitator feedback sessions performed well in the final summative assessments (67.87%) compared to those exposed to RLS sessions and assignments (50.21%) or exposed to traditional teaching alone (50.34%). RLS sessions increased students' curiosity and motivated them to learn the subject well. RLS sessions stimulated student interest and facilitated their learning. RLS along with effective use of multiple assignments, formative assessments and/or feedback sessions significantly improved student learning. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this active method in teaching various subjects with appropriate modifications.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms a... more The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung function of flour mill workers in Sohag Gavernorate and to estimate the additive effect of smoking on pulmonary function parameters. METHODS: This study was carried out at flour mills in Sohag Governorate, south of Eygpt. Two hundried male workers with current exposure to flour dust and Two hundried male nonexposed to flour dust as a control group were interviewed and self designed study questionnaire was used were administered to them. and, the parameters of their pulmonary function were measured. RESULTS: respiratory symptoms such as cough, expectoration, wheezing, and shortness of breath, were significantly (p < 0.0001) more common in exposed workers as compared to their unexposed counterparts. Furthermore significant (p < 0.001) decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function of exposed subjects were noted The additive effect of smoking on workers in flour mill was clearly noticed as there was a highly statistically significant decline of FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted in smokers compared to nonsmokers (p<0.0001). COPD, asthma and chronic bronchitis (ie, chronic cough with phlegm) were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher among flour mill-workers compared with control subjects. Statistically significant association between COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis and age (P <0.02), smoking (P <0.002), duration of employment (P <0.0001),level of exposures (P < 0.0001). was found. CONCLUSIONS: flour mill workers in Sohag Governorate, south of Eygpt, like grain workers elsewhere, were at an increased risk of developing pulmonary symptoms after adjusting for age, smoking habits and other confounders, a strong association exists between exposure to flour dust and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and functional impairments of the lungs CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The result has implications for improved dust control measures in the grain industry in Egypt.
An unprecedented disruption in medical education worldwide was caused due to the Covid 19 pandemi... more An unprecedented disruption in medical education worldwide was caused due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Online teaching has become one of the primary forms of education. In this paper, we aimed to understand the faculty and students' perceptions about the teaching styles adopted by the faculty during online large group teaching from two universities in the United Arab Emirates. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional opinion survey-based study. A pre-validated teaching style inventory in higher education (TSIHE) questionnaire was emailed to the students and faculty involved in large group online learning and teaching activities during the lock-down period of the COVID 19 pandemic from two different medical Universities in the United Arab Emirates. A total of 423 students and 57 faculty participated in the study. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference between the faculty and students on the perception of faculty online teaching styles. The difference was significant in teacher-student interaction and teacher structuring styles. In contrast, faculty and students' perceptions were comparable for decision-making negotiation and behavioral control teaching styles. Conclusion: The study found that there was a significant perception differences between the faculty and students on the faculty teaching style during online large group teaching. Importantly, faculty perceived that they were more emotionally attached and more flexible in teacher-student interaction and teaching structuring during online teaching than the student perceived.
Aim: To determine the influence of the demographic and the psychosocial factors on the intensity ... more Aim: To determine the influence of the demographic and the psychosocial factors on the intensity of pain manifestation among the chronic ill patients. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 328 chronic patients under home-based nursing care in Southern State of Kerala, India, from July to August 2015. Each patient was interviewed during a scheduled home visit by a trained health professional. The translated version of the assessment tool questionnaire "Medical Outcome Study-Short Form Health Survey" was used for the data collection. Results: Sixty-four (19.5%) out of 328 patients reported pain as one of the primary symptoms of their disease. The percentage of the patients who were suffering from pain increases with the improvements in both the educational level and the monthly income (P = 0.002 and 0.019, respectively). The social interaction with the relatives and other community members was significantly related to pain manifestation (P = 0.013). A higher degree of social interaction was associated with lower pain intensity (P = 0.019). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that certain demographic and psychosocial factors carry a significant level of influence on the pain manifestation and its intensity among the chronic patients. Hence, improvements in education, economic status, and psychosocial support should be considered for the management of the chronic patients.
Non-obstructive patterns of spirometry among obese patients presenting with symptoms and signs of mild to moderate asthma
Background: Asthmatic patients typically show obstructive pattern on spirometry; with positive re... more Background: Asthmatic patients typically show obstructive pattern on spirometry; with positive response to bronchodilators. However, there is paucity of data regarding presentation of obese patients with non-obstructive patterns of spirometry. Methods: A sample of 295 known asthmatic patients (74% over-weight or obese and 26% non-obese) was selected from those attending respiratory clinic of Yastabshiron Hospital for follow up. A portable spirometer (All flow, Clement Clarke International, UK) was used for measurement of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio and PEF for each patient. Measurements were carried out on presentation and then 15 minutes following inhalation of 0.5 mg salbutamol using a spacer. Results: Typical obstructive pattern was found in only 17.4% of obese patients, normal pattern in 18.3%, restrictive in 45.9% and combined pattern in 18.3%. The relation between obesity and patterns of spirometry was found to be statistically insignificant (P= 0.808). Significant proportions o...
Appraisal of a novel pedagogical approach to demonstrating neuromuscular transmission to medical students
Advances in Physiology Education
Although traditional didactic lecturing is the principal instructional approach used in numerous ... more Although traditional didactic lecturing is the principal instructional approach used in numerous medical schools, this method has several limitations. Experiential learning approaches place students in the center of the learning process and creates a positive and supportive classroom learning environment. In this article, we propose an active pedagogical approach for teaching a basic physiology concept, namely, neuromuscular transmission (NMT), and we evaluate the effectiveness of this approach among undergraduate medical students. One-hundred forty-two undergraduate medical students were involved in this study ( cohort A, n = 62; cohort B, n = 80). Cohort A received a didactic lecture on NMT and subsequently tested their knowledge of the topic via test 1, after which their perceptions of didactic lectures were recorded. The students were then asked to participate in a touch-and-go (TAG) active-learning session regarding NMT, after which their learning was subsequently tested by tak...
Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. Th... more Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. The world has not yet come back to normal from the devastating effects of the highly contagious and pathogenic novel coronavirus, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Olfactory and taste dysfunction is common in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. In light of the emergence of different coronavirus variants, it is important to update the prevalence and pathophysiology of these side effects. In this review, articles published on the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their possible pathophysiologic mechanisms have been reviewed and reported. The modulatory role of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on the chemical senses is then described. The clinical relevance of chemical sense disorder and its long-term morbidity and management is also discussed.
Food Allergy Experience and Perception of Parents in Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Background: Food allergy is a significant public health problem with variable presentations. The ... more Background: Food allergy is a significant public health problem with variable presentations. The aim of this study is to describe food allergy perceptions of parents in Tabuk City and to explore their previous experience with the problem among their children. Methods: A total of 485 parents (48.9% fathers and 51.1% mothers) responded to an anonymous self-administered questionnaire that requested information about their knowledge, perceptions and experiences of food allergy. Data was analyzed using the “Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL.), version 20. The Chi-square test was used for determining the relation between the different categorical variables. Results: The estimated prevalence of food allergy among children was 17.5%. Almost all parents (96.1%) were aware of food allergy. The most familiar allergenic foods were fish (48.5%), beans (36.1%), egg (30.3%) and milk (27.0%). The most frequent symptoms were itching (77%), swelling (36%), and alterations...
Mild respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients might not be due to bronchoconstriction
Journal of Family & Community Medicine, 2017
BACKGROUND: Although respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients are likely to be caused by bronch... more BACKGROUND: Although respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients are likely to be caused by bronchoconstriction, this should be confirmed by spirometry. In this study, our aim was to determine the percentage of asthmatic patients who present with mild respiratory symptoms but fail to show any evidence of bronchoconstriction in spirometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 428 known asthmatic patients (57.5% females) participated in the study. Inclusion criteria were age ≥16 years, known asthmatics for at least 1 year, presenting with mild respiratory symptoms including cough, wheezes, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Patients presenting with moderate or severe asthma exacerbations were excluded from the study. Spirometry measurements were performed according to the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society. SPSS was used for data analysis. The percentage of patients who did not show any evidence of airway obstruction was calculated. For spirometry variables, mean and stand...
Effect of Stress due to COVID-19 Pandemic on Time Management Skills among University Professionals
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, 2021
Introduction: Time management skills are necessary for professionals to accomplish their goals an... more Introduction: Time management skills are necessary for professionals to accomplish their goals and succeed in their career. The recent changes in the educational environment that were caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be stressful and might affect the structure of faculty work. Aim: To evaluate the stress level among university personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak and its relation to their time management skills. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted on a sample of 56 university professionals. Each participant filled a google form questionnaire consisting of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Time Management Scale (TMS). The results were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: A total of 56 responses were received from full-time faculty and staff with 60% response rate. The overall PSS (mean±SD) was 15.29±7.13, indicating a low level of stress among the professionals. The mea...
Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting with non-obstructive patterns on spirometry
International Journal of Respiratory Care
Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting wit... more Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting with non-obstructive patterns on spirometry When spirometry shows an obstructive pattern, it is important to establish whether the obstruction is reversible or not. This differentiates between asthma, in which the air-way obstruction is reversible, and chronic obstructive pul-monary disease (COPD), in which the obstruction is not fully reversible. Reversibility is tested with either a short-acting bronchodilator (= bronchodilator reversibility) or a corticosteroid (= corticosteroid reversibility). 5 Reversibility testing is usually performed when a patient becomes clini-cally stable; this is because the response to these drugs in both asthma and COPD is altered during and immediate-ly after an exacerbation of the disease. 7 In bronchodilator reversibility, a short-acting beta2 agonist, such as salbuta-mol or terbutaline, is often used to test reversibility. There is no consensus about the d...
The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, Oct 1, 2018
Background: The prevalence of the coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in the developing c... more Background: The prevalence of the coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in the developing countries, including Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of CAD risk factors and to appraise the related attitude and practice among the general population of Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a random sample of Tabuk city population. Each participant responded to a questionnaire paper requesting information about his personal details, knowledge about the CAD risk factors, his attitude, and his actual practice towards the risk factors. Study permission was obtained from the Research Committee (Faculty of Medicine/ University of Tabuk). Informed consents were obtained from the participants before entry into the study. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), version 20. Statistical significance was accepted when P value is less than 0.05. Results: A total of 126 adult subjects (69.84% males) participated in this study. Of the participants, 71.42% received university education, 2.4% had a past history of heart attack, 3.2% were known cases of diabetes mellitus, and 6.3% were known cases of hypertension. The commonest risk factors identified by the participants were smoking (81%). Those who could identify hypertension, obesity, smoking and diabetes mellitus were 65.9%, 77.8%, 81.0%, and 37.3% respectively. Less than two thirds (64.3%) of individuals could identify stress as a risk factor, and less than half (44.4%) could identify the genetic tendency as a risk factor of CAD. The majority of participants (72.2%) know that lack of exercise or the sedentary life style is a risk factor for CAD; however, only 8.16% were fully aware of the principal five modifiable risk factors of heart disease. Conclusion: The study showed critical deficiencies in CAD risk factors knowledge and perception that could result in underestimation of the disease severity. Educational health programs are highly recommended to increase awareness about the modifiable risk factors of the CAD.
Among the various systems taught in the preclinical phases, the nervous system is more challengin... more Among the various systems taught in the preclinical phases, the nervous system is more challenging to learn than other systems. In this report, a novel teaching methodology, 'real-life scenario (RLS) blended teaching' is described and its effectiveness in facilitating inquisitive learning in undergraduate medical students was evaluated. This mixed-method study was conducted among three groups (Group-1; n=83, Group-2; n=85, and Group-3; n=79) of undergraduate medical students (18-20 years) in the neurology and behavioral sciences module. RLS was presented to students in the form of demonstrations, role-plays, videos, and group activities. Group-1 students underwent traditional teaching-learning sessions. Group-2 students underwent RLS blended sessions and were provided with multiple mini-assignments in a vignette format. Group-3 students received RLS blended sessions, multiple miniassignments, peer discussions, multiple formative assessments, and facilitator feedback sessions. The student performances on different exams were compared in terms of their Group, and their perceptions of RLS were documented. Students exposed to RLS sessions blended with multiple assignments, peer discussions, multiple formative assignments, and facilitator feedback sessions performed well in the final summative assessments (67.87%) compared to those exposed to RLS sessions and assignments (50.21%) or exposed to traditional teaching alone (50.34%). RLS sessions increased students' curiosity and motivated them to learn the subject well. RLS sessions stimulated student interest and facilitated their learning. RLS along with effective use of multiple assignments, formative assessments and/or feedback sessions significantly improved student learning. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this active method in teaching various subjects with appropriate modifications.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms a... more The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung function of flour mill workers in Sohag Gavernorate and to estimate the additive effect of smoking on pulmonary function parameters. METHODS: This study was carried out at flour mills in Sohag Governorate, south of Eygpt. Two hundried male workers with current exposure to flour dust and Two hundried male nonexposed to flour dust as a control group were interviewed and self designed study questionnaire was used were administered to them. and, the parameters of their pulmonary function were measured. RESULTS: respiratory symptoms such as cough, expectoration, wheezing, and shortness of breath, were significantly (p < 0.0001) more common in exposed workers as compared to their unexposed counterparts. Furthermore significant (p < 0.001) decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function of exposed subjects were noted The additive effect of smoking on workers in flour mill was clearly noticed as there was a highly statistically significant decline of FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted in smokers compared to nonsmokers (p<0.0001). COPD, asthma and chronic bronchitis (ie, chronic cough with phlegm) were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher among flour mill-workers compared with control subjects. Statistically significant association between COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis and age (P <0.02), smoking (P <0.002), duration of employment (P <0.0001),level of exposures (P < 0.0001). was found. CONCLUSIONS: flour mill workers in Sohag Governorate, south of Eygpt, like grain workers elsewhere, were at an increased risk of developing pulmonary symptoms after adjusting for age, smoking habits and other confounders, a strong association exists between exposure to flour dust and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and functional impairments of the lungs CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The result has implications for improved dust control measures in the grain industry in Egypt.
An unprecedented disruption in medical education worldwide was caused due to the Covid 19 pandemi... more An unprecedented disruption in medical education worldwide was caused due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Online teaching has become one of the primary forms of education. In this paper, we aimed to understand the faculty and students' perceptions about the teaching styles adopted by the faculty during online large group teaching from two universities in the United Arab Emirates. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional opinion survey-based study. A pre-validated teaching style inventory in higher education (TSIHE) questionnaire was emailed to the students and faculty involved in large group online learning and teaching activities during the lock-down period of the COVID 19 pandemic from two different medical Universities in the United Arab Emirates. A total of 423 students and 57 faculty participated in the study. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference between the faculty and students on the perception of faculty online teaching styles. The difference was significant in teacher-student interaction and teacher structuring styles. In contrast, faculty and students' perceptions were comparable for decision-making negotiation and behavioral control teaching styles. Conclusion: The study found that there was a significant perception differences between the faculty and students on the faculty teaching style during online large group teaching. Importantly, faculty perceived that they were more emotionally attached and more flexible in teacher-student interaction and teaching structuring during online teaching than the student perceived.
Aim: To determine the influence of the demographic and the psychosocial factors on the intensity ... more Aim: To determine the influence of the demographic and the psychosocial factors on the intensity of pain manifestation among the chronic ill patients. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 328 chronic patients under home-based nursing care in Southern State of Kerala, India, from July to August 2015. Each patient was interviewed during a scheduled home visit by a trained health professional. The translated version of the assessment tool questionnaire "Medical Outcome Study-Short Form Health Survey" was used for the data collection. Results: Sixty-four (19.5%) out of 328 patients reported pain as one of the primary symptoms of their disease. The percentage of the patients who were suffering from pain increases with the improvements in both the educational level and the monthly income (P = 0.002 and 0.019, respectively). The social interaction with the relatives and other community members was significantly related to pain manifestation (P = 0.013). A higher degree of social interaction was associated with lower pain intensity (P = 0.019). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that certain demographic and psychosocial factors carry a significant level of influence on the pain manifestation and its intensity among the chronic patients. Hence, improvements in education, economic status, and psychosocial support should be considered for the management of the chronic patients.
Non-obstructive patterns of spirometry among obese patients presenting with symptoms and signs of mild to moderate asthma
Background: Asthmatic patients typically show obstructive pattern on spirometry; with positive re... more Background: Asthmatic patients typically show obstructive pattern on spirometry; with positive response to bronchodilators. However, there is paucity of data regarding presentation of obese patients with non-obstructive patterns of spirometry. Methods: A sample of 295 known asthmatic patients (74% over-weight or obese and 26% non-obese) was selected from those attending respiratory clinic of Yastabshiron Hospital for follow up. A portable spirometer (All flow, Clement Clarke International, UK) was used for measurement of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio and PEF for each patient. Measurements were carried out on presentation and then 15 minutes following inhalation of 0.5 mg salbutamol using a spacer. Results: Typical obstructive pattern was found in only 17.4% of obese patients, normal pattern in 18.3%, restrictive in 45.9% and combined pattern in 18.3%. The relation between obesity and patterns of spirometry was found to be statistically insignificant (P= 0.808). Significant proportions o...
Appraisal of a novel pedagogical approach to demonstrating neuromuscular transmission to medical students
Advances in Physiology Education
Although traditional didactic lecturing is the principal instructional approach used in numerous ... more Although traditional didactic lecturing is the principal instructional approach used in numerous medical schools, this method has several limitations. Experiential learning approaches place students in the center of the learning process and creates a positive and supportive classroom learning environment. In this article, we propose an active pedagogical approach for teaching a basic physiology concept, namely, neuromuscular transmission (NMT), and we evaluate the effectiveness of this approach among undergraduate medical students. One-hundred forty-two undergraduate medical students were involved in this study ( cohort A, n = 62; cohort B, n = 80). Cohort A received a didactic lecture on NMT and subsequently tested their knowledge of the topic via test 1, after which their perceptions of didactic lectures were recorded. The students were then asked to participate in a touch-and-go (TAG) active-learning session regarding NMT, after which their learning was subsequently tested by tak...
Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. Th... more Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. The world has not yet come back to normal from the devastating effects of the highly contagious and pathogenic novel coronavirus, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Olfactory and taste dysfunction is common in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. In light of the emergence of different coronavirus variants, it is important to update the prevalence and pathophysiology of these side effects. In this review, articles published on the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their possible pathophysiologic mechanisms have been reviewed and reported. The modulatory role of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on the chemical senses is then described. The clinical relevance of chemical sense disorder and its long-term morbidity and management is also discussed.
Food Allergy Experience and Perception of Parents in Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Background: Food allergy is a significant public health problem with variable presentations. The ... more Background: Food allergy is a significant public health problem with variable presentations. The aim of this study is to describe food allergy perceptions of parents in Tabuk City and to explore their previous experience with the problem among their children. Methods: A total of 485 parents (48.9% fathers and 51.1% mothers) responded to an anonymous self-administered questionnaire that requested information about their knowledge, perceptions and experiences of food allergy. Data was analyzed using the “Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL.), version 20. The Chi-square test was used for determining the relation between the different categorical variables. Results: The estimated prevalence of food allergy among children was 17.5%. Almost all parents (96.1%) were aware of food allergy. The most familiar allergenic foods were fish (48.5%), beans (36.1%), egg (30.3%) and milk (27.0%). The most frequent symptoms were itching (77%), swelling (36%), and alterations...
Mild respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients might not be due to bronchoconstriction
Journal of Family & Community Medicine, 2017
BACKGROUND: Although respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients are likely to be caused by bronch... more BACKGROUND: Although respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients are likely to be caused by bronchoconstriction, this should be confirmed by spirometry. In this study, our aim was to determine the percentage of asthmatic patients who present with mild respiratory symptoms but fail to show any evidence of bronchoconstriction in spirometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 428 known asthmatic patients (57.5% females) participated in the study. Inclusion criteria were age ≥16 years, known asthmatics for at least 1 year, presenting with mild respiratory symptoms including cough, wheezes, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Patients presenting with moderate or severe asthma exacerbations were excluded from the study. Spirometry measurements were performed according to the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society. SPSS was used for data analysis. The percentage of patients who did not show any evidence of airway obstruction was calculated. For spirometry variables, mean and stand...
Effect of Stress due to COVID-19 Pandemic on Time Management Skills among University Professionals
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, 2021
Introduction: Time management skills are necessary for professionals to accomplish their goals an... more Introduction: Time management skills are necessary for professionals to accomplish their goals and succeed in their career. The recent changes in the educational environment that were caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be stressful and might affect the structure of faculty work. Aim: To evaluate the stress level among university personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak and its relation to their time management skills. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted on a sample of 56 university professionals. Each participant filled a google form questionnaire consisting of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Time Management Scale (TMS). The results were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: A total of 56 responses were received from full-time faculty and staff with 60% response rate. The overall PSS (mean±SD) was 15.29±7.13, indicating a low level of stress among the professionals. The mea...
Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting with non-obstructive patterns on spirometry
International Journal of Respiratory Care
Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting wit... more Bronchodilator reversibility testing among overweight and obese asthmatic patients presenting with non-obstructive patterns on spirometry When spirometry shows an obstructive pattern, it is important to establish whether the obstruction is reversible or not. This differentiates between asthma, in which the air-way obstruction is reversible, and chronic obstructive pul-monary disease (COPD), in which the obstruction is not fully reversible. Reversibility is tested with either a short-acting bronchodilator (= bronchodilator reversibility) or a corticosteroid (= corticosteroid reversibility). 5 Reversibility testing is usually performed when a patient becomes clini-cally stable; this is because the response to these drugs in both asthma and COPD is altered during and immediate-ly after an exacerbation of the disease. 7 In bronchodilator reversibility, a short-acting beta2 agonist, such as salbuta-mol or terbutaline, is often used to test reversibility. There is no consensus about the d...
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