The impact of war on the physical and mental health of the family: The Lebanese experience

This paper addresses the impact of war-related stressful life events on the health of families living through the war conditions prevailing in Lebanon for the past 12 years. Health outcome is represented by indicators of somatization, depression, psychological symptoms, interpersonal relations and marital relations. Associations are described between elements of war stress and the health outcome variables for mothers, fathers and adolescents in a sample of Beirut families. The role of the mediating factors of social support and social class is also discussed.     

Intracranial complications of submucous resection of the nasal septum

Submucous resection of the nasal septum (SMR) is a relatively simple and frequently performed operation. Yet, its intracranial complications, although rare, can be very serious and include anosmia, visual disturbances, cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural empyema, and brain abscess. This article reviews intracranial complications of SMR, and the pathogenesis and prevention of such complications are discussed.     

Clinical teachers as role models: perceptions of interns and residents in a Lebanese medical school

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics and learning impact of role models as perceived by interns and residents in an Arabic Middle Eastern country, Lebanon. METHODS: A structured and self-administered questionnaire was sent to the cohort of interns (n = 34) and residents (n = 66) training in a Lebanese university hospital. The questionnaire contained pre-specified items related to professional and personal characteristics of positive and negative role models, as well as to the impact of these models on professional learning and career choices. Responders were asked to recognise and to rank-order the items associated to their identified models. RESULTS: A total of 88 responders (97%) had positive role models and 87 responders (96%) had negative role models in their current training programme. Characteristics identified most frequently and ranked most highly by the trainees were related to clinical skills in positive role models and to inadequate humanistic and collaborative attitudes in negative models. Role modelling had a positive impact on the achievement of clinical skills for 55% of the responders, and on the acquisition of humanistic and collaborative attitudes for 30% of them. Thirty-eight per cent of the trainees were influenced by their role models in the choice of their specialities. Responses were generally comparable between levels of training and between medical and surgical specialities. CONCLUSION: Clinical teachers, practising in a non-occidental cultural and medical learning environment, are considered very frequently as role models by their interns and residents and have a positive impact on their professional learning and career choices. Strategies to reinforce role modelling are needed in Lebanon, in order to pass a broad spectrum of professional values to our students.     

Women's perceptions of reproductive health in three communities around Beirut, Lebanon

The aim of this study was to elicit definitions of the concept of reproductive health among women in three communities around Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the reproductive health component of a larger Urban Health Study. The communities were characterised by poverty, rural-urban mobility and heterogeneous refugee and migrant populations. A random sample of 1,869 women of reproductive age completed a questionnaire, of whom a sub-sample of 201 women were randomly selected. The women's understanding of good reproductive health included three major themes, which were expressed differently in the three communities. Their understanding included good physical and mental health, and underscored the need for activities promoting health. Their ability to reproduce and raise children, practise family planning and birth spacing, and go through pregnancy and motherhood safely were central to their reproductive duties and their social status. Finally, they saw reproductive health within the context of economic status, good marital relations and strength to cope with their lives. These findings point to the need to situate interventions in the life course of women, their health and that of their husbands and families; the importance of reproduction not only from a health services point of view, but also as regards women's roles and responsibilities within marriage and their families; and taking account of the harsh socio-economic conditions in their communities.     

Genetic thrombophilia in patients with VTE in eastern mediterranean located tertiary care center; is it time to change the algorithm for thrombophilia work up decision making?

Background: Genetic thrombophilia work up performance is subject to debate because of the utility of the information it provides regarding prognosis of recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and guidance of duration of therapy with anticoagulation. Certain algorithms have been locally developed to guide decision making process to increase the yield of thrombophilia work up. These algorithms are not based on locally derived data. Data from the Eastern Mediterranean area (Lebanon) have shown high prevalence of thrombophilia mutations. Therefore the aim of this study was to describe the experience of a tertiary care center in thrombophilia work up among patients diagnosed with VTE. Methods: A retrospective chart analysis of the cases diagnosed with pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis with radiological confirmation. Results: A total of 133 patients' charts were reviewed, 27 patients had thrombophilia work up performed, 56% had heterozygous MTHFR mutation, 44% were heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden mutation and 3.2% were found to have Factor II heterozygous mutations, and a total of 33.3% of patients had more than one genetic mutation. The common causes of provoked VTE were 59.53% malignancy, 22.64% post surgery, 12.98% bed ridden patients, and 4.85% oral contraceptive pills. Only 14% of patients with a malignancy who presented with VTE where receiving prophylactic heparin. Discussion: Doubly heterozygous prothrombotic genetic mutations are commonly present among Eastern Mediterranean patients with VTE. A prospective study to determine the predictive (negative and positive) power of the currently followed algorithm for genetic thrombophilia work up remains of significant importance. Stressing the favorable role of VTE prophylaxis among patients suffering from malignancies remains a target for raising awareness among oncologists.     

Evaluation of anti‐emetic use in chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting in a third‐world country (Lebanon)

Rationale In Lebanon, the appropriateness of anti‐emetic use is questionable in large measure because of the absence of published multicentre trials. Aim and objectives To evaluate the extent of appropriateness of anti‐emetic use in patients on chemotherapy among several Lebanese hospitals. Appropriateness of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis was determined as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Methods A multicentre, cross‐sectional study was conducted over a 3‐month period. Data were collected from medical charts of cancer patients. The main outcome measure was to evaluate the appropriateness of prophylactic use of anti‐emetics in CINV in terms of selected drug regimen, dosage and route of administration, and to investigate the role of several pre‐specified variables (including hospital type and size, type of insurance coverage and patient‐related factors) in influencing the appropriateness of anti‐emetic practice. Results A total of 493 patients' forms were analysed. The median age was 58.8 ± 13.9 years, 290 (58.8%) patients were female. Around 211 (42.8%) patients received inappropriate anti‐emetic regimen, and only 17 (6%) patients of those receiving appropriate regimen received the appropriate dose, and just 55 (19.5%) patients were treated for the appropriate duration. Factors that may affect the relative effectiveness of treatment were identified. Conclusion This study reflected substantial flaws in CINV prophylaxis practice in Lebanon which should alert health care professionals of the adverse consequences resulting from non‐adherence to guidelines. Our study also highlighted areas for improvement and suggested recommendations in order to minimize patient risk and optimize safe and effective CINV management.     

Adherence to oral glucose lowering drugs,quality of life,treatment satisfaction and illness perception: A cross-sectional study in patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective

To evaluate treatment adherence to oral glucose lowering drugs (OGLD) and health related quality of life in Lebanese diabetics. Secondary objectives were to examine associations between treatment adherence, quality of life (QOL), treatment satisfaction and illness perception.