full pdf of issue - Middle East Journal of Family Medicine

FROM THE EDITORFrom the EditorThis is the seventh issue this year andrich with a number of good papers thatdeal with topics of importance to familyphysicians. A cross sectional study fromSaudi Arabia attempted to assess theprevalence of smoking among medicalstudents, their perceptions of healthprofessionals’ antismoking role and therisk of passive smoking. Overall 46.0%of all students had ever smoked and25.4% were current smokers. Currentand ever smoking prevalence wassignificantly higher among males andsenior students. The prevalence ofsmoking is high among medical studentsparticularly males. Students havefavorable attitudes but their perceptionof the risk of passive smoking on certaindiseases needs corrective intervention.A paper from Iran discussed theIntegration and Impact of EducationalMedia (Technologies) in the Teaching-Learning Process. The main goal of thisresearch is to highlight how individualeducational technology and mediaare being integrated and utilized byElementary School Teachers (EST) inTehran, Iran. A sealed questionnairecontaining 125 answers (indicators) toevaluate/test six hypotheses was sentto a sample population of 400 teachersin Tehran. The results indicate thatwhile the media knowledge of teacherswas average, the level and quality ofmedia utilization on the average wasmeaningful. However, use of moremodern technology and media suchas computers, video projectors, smartboards, and visualizers were belowaverage. Based on the results, it canbe stated that the main objectives ofthe teachers using the media were tofocus students’ attention on educationalconcepts, improve willingness andcollaboration, and to motivate audio/visual cognitive senses. A secondpaper was on technology from assessedinternet use and effects amongstgeneral practitioner in non Metro cities ofHyderabad and Secunderabad. A crosssectional survey was conducted usingquestionnaires distributed randomlyto healthcare professionals. Thisexplorative study revealedthat higher numbers of patients arebecoming internet savvy which is eveninfluencing their information seekingbehavior on medical information that isavailable. While the general practitionershave access to internet but cannot sayabout the quality of information on thewebsite, the general practitioners usuallyavoid patients recommending viewing thewebsite and extracting the information.A Comparison Study from Iraq looked atuse of Commercial Plant Essential Oilswith Ethanolic Extract of Spearmint andFenugreek Activity against Some GramPositive and Gram Negative Bacteria.The ethanolic extracts of spearmint andfenugreek were better than commercialessential oils as antibacterial agents,and the ethanolic extract of spearmintwas better than the ethanolic extractof fenugreek, while the antibacterialactivity of pomegranate oil, spearmintoil, pumpkin oil and rosemary oilwas better than other oils used in thestudy. The authors concluded that bothextracts have antibacterial activity inaddition to the pomegranate oil, and it isrecommended that care be taken whenbuying the plant product, because it willreflect negatively on human health, if it istaken from humans.A case report from Kuwait looked atcerebral venous sinus thrombosis in achild with Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.CVST occurring in a child with steroidsensitive nephrotic syndrome isdescribed in this article. He presentedinitially with non specific symptoms ofheadache, lethargy and intermittentvomiting after 4 weeks of initiatingsteroid therapy. These were initiallyattributed to steroid therapy. Initial CTbrain and MRI of the brain were normal.He developed intermittent convergentsquint. At this time CVST was stronglysuspected and MR angiography and MRvenography was done which confirmedthe CVST. Anticoagulation therapy wasinitiated with heparin and after threeweeks changed to oral warfarin. Hemade slow but complete neurologicaland radiological recovery.A paper from Jordan looked at theapproach to febrile infants in theperipheral hospitals. Speciallydesigned medical records abstractforms were filled with data collectedfrom 200 infants (over a period of 12months) who presented with fever morethan 38.2ºc rectally to the pediatricemergency room at two peripheralhospitals in the southern part of Jordan(Princess Haya Hospital in Aqaba, andPrince Ali Hospital in Al-Karak). Therewas significant correlation noticedbetween positive Blood Cultures and/orpositive chest X-ray findings with thesymptoms of poor feeding, hypo-activity,convulsion and attacks of cyanosis. Themost important signs were abdominaldistension, irritability, respiratory distressand bulging anterior fontanel. Theauthors concluded that poor feeding,MIDDLEMIDDLE MIDDLEEASTEAST EASTJOURNALJOURNAL JOURNALOFOF FAMILY OFFAMILYFAMILYMEDICINEMEDICINE MEDICINEVOLUME• VOLUME10VOLUME 8ISSUEISSUE77, ISSUE 5 10hypo-activity, convulsion and cyanosisare considered indicators of seriousillnesses, necessitating admissionand treatment. Simple Laboratoryinvestigations are very helpful topediatricians and family doctors to spotthe serious cases, and spare manyyoung infants unnecessary admissionsto the hospital.Quality of type-2 diabetics’ consultationin Ismailia City, Egypt : A cross sectionalstudy from Egypt studied the quality ofconsultation using ‘consultation length’and how well patients ‘know the doctor’as process measures and ‘patientenablement’ as an outcome measure.The study included 310 type-2 diabeticsattending the family medicine clinic inIsmailia University hospital. The meanenablement score was 3.6±1.6 (rangefrom 1 to 7) while the mean duration ofconsultation was 10±4.2 minutes (rangefrom 5 to 20). The authors concludedthat at consultation level, enablementcorrelates best with the duration ofconsultations and how well the patientknows the doctor so we should improveour doctor-patient relationship and givemore attention to the consultation length.Interruptions of the consultation shouldbe avoided.Chief Editor:A. AbyadMD, MPH, AGSF, AFCHSEEmail: aabyad@cyberia.net.lbEthics Editor and PublisherLesley Pocockmedi+WORLD International11 Colston AvenueSherbrooke 3789AUSTRALIAPhone: +61 (3) 9005 9847Fax: +61 (3) 9012 5857Email:lesleypocock@mediworld.com.auEditorial enquiries:aabyad@cyberia.net.lbAdvertising enquiries:lesleypocock@mediworld.com.auWhile all efforts have been made to ensurethe accuracy of the information in thisjournal, opinions expressed are those ofthe authors and do not necessarily reflectthe views of The Publishers, Editor or theEditorial Board. The publishers, Editor andEditorial Board cannot be held responsiblefor errors or any consequences arisingfrom the use of information containedin this journal; or the views and opinionsexpressed.