Nagah Selim | Cairo University (original) (raw)

Papers by Nagah Selim

Research paper thumbnail of Epidemiological Features and Sero-Susceptibility of Mea-sles among Foreign Workers Screened for Employment in Qatar

Gavin , 2020

Background: The epidemiological features and sero-susceptibility of measles will help health auth... more Background: The epidemiological features and sero-susceptibility of measles will help health authorities establishing evidence-based vaccination and control strategies. Objectives: were to measure the sero-susceptibility of measles and determine the possible associated epidemiological features with sero-susceptibility among workers. Method: A cross-sectional study was used. Four hundred twenty-two workers attending the Medical Commission (MC) were studied. An interview administered questionnaire, socioeconomic status score, and anti-measles IgG test were the data collection tools. Results: Measles sero-susceptibility was (5.7%) among the studied participants. It was significantly associated with those being (Less than 25 years, single, and not living with children). Sero-susceptibility was more common among those who are:(Males, from Sri Lanka, Egypt or Nepal, illiterate or holding primary education, seeking office jobs, having income meet routine expenses, ranked in the low or middle socioeconomic status score, and living with (>1) person/room crowding index. Conclusion: It is not recommended to start screening against measles as a part of the routine testing in the MC. Vaccinating foreign workers before their arrival is not a priority, as measles sero-susceptibility among them is limited. Encouraging the continuation of strict active surveillance for measles, including case detection, contact protection, and control to approach elimination.

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco use profile among COVID-19 infected adults and clinical disease spectrum in Qatar during the early pandemic

Journal of substance use, Apr 1, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Computer vision syndrome among students during remote learning periods: harnessing digital solutions for clear vision

Frontiers in Public Health

AimThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among children and... more AimThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among children and adolescents in Qatar during the period of remote learning and explore the associated factors and discuss some digital health remedies that might reduce the risk.MethodsWe conducted an analytical cross-sectional study between June and August 2022 by collecting data via telephone interviews with parents of selected students utilizing the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q).ResultsWe completed 1,546 interviews. The mean age of the students was (11 ± 2), male: female ratio was almost 1:1. About one quarter (368, 23.8%) of parents reported a previous diagnosis of visual disturbances among their children with over 88% of them wearing eyeglasses or medical contact lenses. The prevalence of CVS in our sample was about 8% (95%CI: 6.8–9.6). Mother’s employment, having positive history of visual disturbances, and excess screen time were found to be significant predictors of CVS.Conclusi...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Determinants of Depression among Qatari Adolescents in Secondary Schools

Family Medicine and Medical Science Research, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and predictors of smoking cessation among smokers receiving smoking cessation intervention in primary care in Qatar: a 6-month follow-up study

Frontiers in Public Health, May 19, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Scope and Predictors of Travel Medicine Practice among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar

Preventive Medicine Reports

Research paper thumbnail of Scope and Predictors of Travel Medicine Practice among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar

Background In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public ‎he... more Background In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public ‎health concern. Pretravel consultation is an effective measure for the prevention travel-related illnesses. ‎ The purpose of this study was to assess the scope of primary care physicians’ (PCP) practice of travel medicine (TM) in Qatar and its associated predictors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect ‎data from all PCPs working in all 27 primary healthcare centers in Qatar.‎ Descriptive and analytic statistics were used as appropriate. ‎A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of TM practice. Results Three hundred sixty-four PCPs participated in the study with a response rate of 89.2%. Most PCPs (91.1%) reported they provided pretravel consultations of which 72.7% provided < 10 consultations per month and almost half of them reported they spent between 10 and 19 minutes for pretravel con...

Research paper thumbnail of Stress induced immunomodulation and the risk of infections during major sporting events: Implications for the FIFA World Cup 2022

Journal of Infection and Public Health

Research paper thumbnail of Spectrum of COVID-19 clinical characteristics among patients presenting to the primary healthcare in Qatar during the early stages of the pandemic: a retrospective multicentre cross-sectional study

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo describe clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations of patients with COV... more ObjectivesTo describe clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations of patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in primary care in Qatar and to assess predictors of hospitalisation.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study.Setting and participants3515 confirmed patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in any of the 27 primary healthcare centres in Qatar between 9 April 2020 and 30 June 2020.Main outcome measuresDemographic characteristics, comorbidities, contact tracing, clinical and laboratory data, in addition to patient disposition at the time of diagnosisResultsMean age of patients was 35.5 years (±14.7). 2285 patients (65.0%) were males, 961 patients (27.3%) had a history of concomitant comorbidity and 640 patients (18.2%) were asymptomatic. Adult patients (19–64 years old) were more likely to report symptoms than children or elderly. Fever and cough were the most frequently documented symptoms affecting 1874 patients (46.7%) and 1318 patients (37.5%), respectively. Most patients ha...

Research paper thumbnail of Health-related quality of life in adults with hematological cancer: a 2023 cross-sectional survey from Qatar

Frontiers in oncology, May 28, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Physical Activity among Primary Health Care Physicians and Its Impact on Counseling Practices

Biomedicine Hub

Introduction: Physical inactivity has been linked to various noncommunicable diseases and their r... more Introduction: Physical inactivity has been linked to various noncommunicable diseases and their related health problems. As primary health care physicians (PHCPs) play a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease, this study aims to determine the extent of physical inactivity among PHCPs and its impact on their counseling practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across all primary health care centers in Qatar, targeting 511 physicians. A modified self-administered WHO stepwise tool was used to measure physical activity (PA) with another questionnaire to assess the counseling practices among PHCPs. Results: Out of 511 physicians, 306 (59.9%) responded to the survey. The majority of the participants were male (58.1%) with an average age of 45.8 ± 7.9 years. The majority of PHCPs were from the UK (44.3%), while only 4.1% were Qatari. Family physician consultants made up 51% of the respondents, while 30.2% were general practitioners, and the average years o...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Qatari Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Attending Primary Health Care Centres, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge and attitude of nurse professionals towards medical waste management at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

Improper management of health care facilities wastes are lethal and can have health impacts on th... more Improper management of health care facilities wastes are lethal and can have health impacts on the community, the personnel working in health-care facilities, and on the environment. The term health-care waste includes all the waste generated within health-care facilities, research centres and laboratories related to medical procedures. In addition, it includes the same types of waste originating from minor and scattered sources, including waste produced in the course of health care undertaken in the home (e.g. home dialysis, self-administration of insulin, recuperative care). According to World Health Organization (WHO) around 85% of hospital wastes are non-hazardous, the remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, chemical or radioactive. The different types of waste are sorted and ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Online Pregnancy-Related Information: Reliability and Worries Among Expectant Women In Qatar

Background: Although the internet can be a source of reassurance and clarification for expectant ... more Background: Although the internet can be a source of reassurance and clarification for expectant women, it ‎could cause concerns or feelings of worry when reading about pregnancy-related ‎information. The current research sought to assess the feelings of worry and perceived reliability towards online pregnancy-related information and the associated factors among expectant women attending antenatal clinics at primary healthcare centers in Qatar.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. The participants were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique. ‎A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate‎.Results: A total of 327 expecting women completed the questionnaire. Most participants were aged between 26-34 years (74.1%), held a college/university degree (76.4%), and multigravidas (73.1%). About one-third of the women ‎(31.2‎%) reported feeling worried due to so...

Research paper thumbnail of Colorectal cancer awareness and its predictors among adults aged 50–74 years attending primary healthcare in the State of Qatar: a cross-sectional study

Objective The current study aimed to assess the awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms and... more Objective The current study aimed to assess the awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms and risk factors among the at-risk population visiting the primary healthcare (PHC) centres in Qatar. The secondary objective was to assess the differences in awareness among population subgroups. Design A cross-sectional study design was employed. Setting The study was conducted across six PHC centres in Qatar. Participants Patients, or their accompanying people, aged 50–74 years and Arabic or English speakers, were recruited from the main waiting areas of the selected PHC centres. Data collection and analysis Participants were interviewed using the validated Bowel/Colorectal Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was applied to recruit participants. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to identify the independent predictors of CRC awareness. Results The study ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Patients ’ Understanding , Provider ’ s Participatory Decision-Making , and Communication among Type 2 Diabetic Patients and Their Impact on Diabetes Self-Management in Qatar ’ s Primary Healthcare Centers

People with diabetes are responsible for most day-to-day decisions related to the management of t... more People with diabetes are responsible for most day-to-day decisions related to the management of their disease, making self-directed health care a large part of diabetes management. Historically, the management of diabetes was primarily the responsibility of providers. More recently, however, patient-centered care and comprehensive team approaches have gained attention, with endocrine clinics providing care through a multidisciplinary team that includes a diabetes educator [2]. In fact, many studies, such as the Regimen adherence questionnaire and the Johnson, et al. 24-h recall interview, have revealed that Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is a critical element of care in order to improve patient outcomes [3].

Research paper thumbnail of Profile of Physical Activity, Perceived Barriers and Related Counselling Practices of Primary Health Care Physicians in Qatar: Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health

Background: Primary health care physicians play a pivotal role in counselling patients on physica... more Background: Primary health care physicians play a pivotal role in counselling patients on physical activity and their health behaviours may as well affect how patients perceive their doctors` counselling and advice, However, the physical activity habits and counselling of primary care physicians in Qatar are unknown. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the physical activity profile and perceived barriers among primary health care physicians in Qatar. Another objective was to identify the relationship between practicing physical activity and patient counselling. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a proportionate stratified random sample of primary health care physicians across all primary health care centers. A structured self-administered questionnaire was employed. Frequencies and percentages were calculated when appropriate. Also, Pearson's chi-squared test and the Student t-test were employed at a level of significance p≤0.05. Results: A total of 156 primary care physicians participated in the study. It was found that most physicians (79.5%) counselled their patients about physical activity. On the other hand, less than half of the participants (44.2%) practiced physical activity. The major barriers to physical activity among physicians were; the lack of time (85%), lack of motivation (28%) and physical activity partners (28%). Also, physically active physicians were more likely to offer their patients counselling about physical activities. Conclusion: Primary care physicians were not providing optimal counselling on physical activity to their patients and more than half were sedentary, lack of time and motivation were the most common barriers. Thus, there is a need for workplace health promotion and wellness services for primary health care physicians in addition to training them on counselling.

Research paper thumbnail of Health Risk Behaviors among Adolescents in Qatar

World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of internet use for pregnancy-related information and its predictors among women visiting primary healthcare in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Background Internet usage has been steadily increasing and the available online information for p... more Background Internet usage has been steadily increasing and the available online information for pregnant women today is immense. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of women who search for information relating to pregnancy on the internet and to identify predictors of this behavior among expecting women visiting primary health care (PHC) centers in Qatar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinics of six PHC centers in Qatar from June 1 to December 31, 2019. Pregnant women were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was constructed to identify the predictors of internet use for pregnancy-related information. Results The study included 403 pregnant women (response rate: 87.9%). Most of them were in the 26–35 years age category (71.5%), in the seco...

Research paper thumbnail of Primary health care physicians’ perspective on COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar: a web-based survey

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo assess primary care physicians’ satisfaction towards COVID-19 pandemic management in... more ObjectivesTo assess primary care physicians’ satisfaction towards COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar and to identify the associated factors with their satisfaction.DesignA cross-sectional web-based survey conducted from 1 June to 30 July 2020.SettingAll the 27 public primary healthcare centres in Qatar.Participants294 primary care physicians working in the publicly run primary healthcare corporation in Qatar.Primary outcome measuresOverall satisfaction towards COVID-19 management in Qatar and satisfaction towards each aspect of this management including COVID-19 clinical practice guidelines, psychological support, team dynamics, work safety as well as institutional and governmental regulations.Results294 primary care physicians participated in the survey with a response rate of 65%. Overall satisfaction of physicians towards COVID-19 19 management at Primary Health Care Corporation was 77%. The highest satisfaction was towards institutional and governmental support while it was t...

Research paper thumbnail of Epidemiological Features and Sero-Susceptibility of Mea-sles among Foreign Workers Screened for Employment in Qatar

Gavin , 2020

Background: The epidemiological features and sero-susceptibility of measles will help health auth... more Background: The epidemiological features and sero-susceptibility of measles will help health authorities establishing evidence-based vaccination and control strategies. Objectives: were to measure the sero-susceptibility of measles and determine the possible associated epidemiological features with sero-susceptibility among workers. Method: A cross-sectional study was used. Four hundred twenty-two workers attending the Medical Commission (MC) were studied. An interview administered questionnaire, socioeconomic status score, and anti-measles IgG test were the data collection tools. Results: Measles sero-susceptibility was (5.7%) among the studied participants. It was significantly associated with those being (Less than 25 years, single, and not living with children). Sero-susceptibility was more common among those who are:(Males, from Sri Lanka, Egypt or Nepal, illiterate or holding primary education, seeking office jobs, having income meet routine expenses, ranked in the low or middle socioeconomic status score, and living with (>1) person/room crowding index. Conclusion: It is not recommended to start screening against measles as a part of the routine testing in the MC. Vaccinating foreign workers before their arrival is not a priority, as measles sero-susceptibility among them is limited. Encouraging the continuation of strict active surveillance for measles, including case detection, contact protection, and control to approach elimination.

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco use profile among COVID-19 infected adults and clinical disease spectrum in Qatar during the early pandemic

Journal of substance use, Apr 1, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Computer vision syndrome among students during remote learning periods: harnessing digital solutions for clear vision

Frontiers in Public Health

AimThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among children and... more AimThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among children and adolescents in Qatar during the period of remote learning and explore the associated factors and discuss some digital health remedies that might reduce the risk.MethodsWe conducted an analytical cross-sectional study between June and August 2022 by collecting data via telephone interviews with parents of selected students utilizing the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q).ResultsWe completed 1,546 interviews. The mean age of the students was (11 ± 2), male: female ratio was almost 1:1. About one quarter (368, 23.8%) of parents reported a previous diagnosis of visual disturbances among their children with over 88% of them wearing eyeglasses or medical contact lenses. The prevalence of CVS in our sample was about 8% (95%CI: 6.8–9.6). Mother’s employment, having positive history of visual disturbances, and excess screen time were found to be significant predictors of CVS.Conclusi...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Determinants of Depression among Qatari Adolescents in Secondary Schools

Family Medicine and Medical Science Research, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and predictors of smoking cessation among smokers receiving smoking cessation intervention in primary care in Qatar: a 6-month follow-up study

Frontiers in Public Health, May 19, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Scope and Predictors of Travel Medicine Practice among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar

Preventive Medicine Reports

Research paper thumbnail of Scope and Predictors of Travel Medicine Practice among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar

Background In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public ‎he... more Background In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public ‎health concern. Pretravel consultation is an effective measure for the prevention travel-related illnesses. ‎ The purpose of this study was to assess the scope of primary care physicians’ (PCP) practice of travel medicine (TM) in Qatar and its associated predictors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect ‎data from all PCPs working in all 27 primary healthcare centers in Qatar.‎ Descriptive and analytic statistics were used as appropriate. ‎A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of TM practice. Results Three hundred sixty-four PCPs participated in the study with a response rate of 89.2%. Most PCPs (91.1%) reported they provided pretravel consultations of which 72.7% provided < 10 consultations per month and almost half of them reported they spent between 10 and 19 minutes for pretravel con...

Research paper thumbnail of Stress induced immunomodulation and the risk of infections during major sporting events: Implications for the FIFA World Cup 2022

Journal of Infection and Public Health

Research paper thumbnail of Spectrum of COVID-19 clinical characteristics among patients presenting to the primary healthcare in Qatar during the early stages of the pandemic: a retrospective multicentre cross-sectional study

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo describe clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations of patients with COV... more ObjectivesTo describe clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations of patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in primary care in Qatar and to assess predictors of hospitalisation.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study.Setting and participants3515 confirmed patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in any of the 27 primary healthcare centres in Qatar between 9 April 2020 and 30 June 2020.Main outcome measuresDemographic characteristics, comorbidities, contact tracing, clinical and laboratory data, in addition to patient disposition at the time of diagnosisResultsMean age of patients was 35.5 years (±14.7). 2285 patients (65.0%) were males, 961 patients (27.3%) had a history of concomitant comorbidity and 640 patients (18.2%) were asymptomatic. Adult patients (19–64 years old) were more likely to report symptoms than children or elderly. Fever and cough were the most frequently documented symptoms affecting 1874 patients (46.7%) and 1318 patients (37.5%), respectively. Most patients ha...

Research paper thumbnail of Health-related quality of life in adults with hematological cancer: a 2023 cross-sectional survey from Qatar

Frontiers in oncology, May 28, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Physical Activity among Primary Health Care Physicians and Its Impact on Counseling Practices

Biomedicine Hub

Introduction: Physical inactivity has been linked to various noncommunicable diseases and their r... more Introduction: Physical inactivity has been linked to various noncommunicable diseases and their related health problems. As primary health care physicians (PHCPs) play a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease, this study aims to determine the extent of physical inactivity among PHCPs and its impact on their counseling practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across all primary health care centers in Qatar, targeting 511 physicians. A modified self-administered WHO stepwise tool was used to measure physical activity (PA) with another questionnaire to assess the counseling practices among PHCPs. Results: Out of 511 physicians, 306 (59.9%) responded to the survey. The majority of the participants were male (58.1%) with an average age of 45.8 ± 7.9 years. The majority of PHCPs were from the UK (44.3%), while only 4.1% were Qatari. Family physician consultants made up 51% of the respondents, while 30.2% were general practitioners, and the average years o...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Qatari Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Attending Primary Health Care Centres, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge and attitude of nurse professionals towards medical waste management at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

Improper management of health care facilities wastes are lethal and can have health impacts on th... more Improper management of health care facilities wastes are lethal and can have health impacts on the community, the personnel working in health-care facilities, and on the environment. The term health-care waste includes all the waste generated within health-care facilities, research centres and laboratories related to medical procedures. In addition, it includes the same types of waste originating from minor and scattered sources, including waste produced in the course of health care undertaken in the home (e.g. home dialysis, self-administration of insulin, recuperative care). According to World Health Organization (WHO) around 85% of hospital wastes are non-hazardous, the remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, chemical or radioactive. The different types of waste are sorted and ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Online Pregnancy-Related Information: Reliability and Worries Among Expectant Women In Qatar

Background: Although the internet can be a source of reassurance and clarification for expectant ... more Background: Although the internet can be a source of reassurance and clarification for expectant women, it ‎could cause concerns or feelings of worry when reading about pregnancy-related ‎information. The current research sought to assess the feelings of worry and perceived reliability towards online pregnancy-related information and the associated factors among expectant women attending antenatal clinics at primary healthcare centers in Qatar.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. The participants were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique. ‎A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate‎.Results: A total of 327 expecting women completed the questionnaire. Most participants were aged between 26-34 years (74.1%), held a college/university degree (76.4%), and multigravidas (73.1%). About one-third of the women ‎(31.2‎%) reported feeling worried due to so...

Research paper thumbnail of Colorectal cancer awareness and its predictors among adults aged 50–74 years attending primary healthcare in the State of Qatar: a cross-sectional study

Objective The current study aimed to assess the awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms and... more Objective The current study aimed to assess the awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms and risk factors among the at-risk population visiting the primary healthcare (PHC) centres in Qatar. The secondary objective was to assess the differences in awareness among population subgroups. Design A cross-sectional study design was employed. Setting The study was conducted across six PHC centres in Qatar. Participants Patients, or their accompanying people, aged 50–74 years and Arabic or English speakers, were recruited from the main waiting areas of the selected PHC centres. Data collection and analysis Participants were interviewed using the validated Bowel/Colorectal Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was applied to recruit participants. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to identify the independent predictors of CRC awareness. Results The study ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Patients ’ Understanding , Provider ’ s Participatory Decision-Making , and Communication among Type 2 Diabetic Patients and Their Impact on Diabetes Self-Management in Qatar ’ s Primary Healthcare Centers

People with diabetes are responsible for most day-to-day decisions related to the management of t... more People with diabetes are responsible for most day-to-day decisions related to the management of their disease, making self-directed health care a large part of diabetes management. Historically, the management of diabetes was primarily the responsibility of providers. More recently, however, patient-centered care and comprehensive team approaches have gained attention, with endocrine clinics providing care through a multidisciplinary team that includes a diabetes educator [2]. In fact, many studies, such as the Regimen adherence questionnaire and the Johnson, et al. 24-h recall interview, have revealed that Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is a critical element of care in order to improve patient outcomes [3].

Research paper thumbnail of Profile of Physical Activity, Perceived Barriers and Related Counselling Practices of Primary Health Care Physicians in Qatar: Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health

Background: Primary health care physicians play a pivotal role in counselling patients on physica... more Background: Primary health care physicians play a pivotal role in counselling patients on physical activity and their health behaviours may as well affect how patients perceive their doctors` counselling and advice, However, the physical activity habits and counselling of primary care physicians in Qatar are unknown. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the physical activity profile and perceived barriers among primary health care physicians in Qatar. Another objective was to identify the relationship between practicing physical activity and patient counselling. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a proportionate stratified random sample of primary health care physicians across all primary health care centers. A structured self-administered questionnaire was employed. Frequencies and percentages were calculated when appropriate. Also, Pearson's chi-squared test and the Student t-test were employed at a level of significance p≤0.05. Results: A total of 156 primary care physicians participated in the study. It was found that most physicians (79.5%) counselled their patients about physical activity. On the other hand, less than half of the participants (44.2%) practiced physical activity. The major barriers to physical activity among physicians were; the lack of time (85%), lack of motivation (28%) and physical activity partners (28%). Also, physically active physicians were more likely to offer their patients counselling about physical activities. Conclusion: Primary care physicians were not providing optimal counselling on physical activity to their patients and more than half were sedentary, lack of time and motivation were the most common barriers. Thus, there is a need for workplace health promotion and wellness services for primary health care physicians in addition to training them on counselling.

Research paper thumbnail of Health Risk Behaviors among Adolescents in Qatar

World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of internet use for pregnancy-related information and its predictors among women visiting primary healthcare in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Background Internet usage has been steadily increasing and the available online information for p... more Background Internet usage has been steadily increasing and the available online information for pregnant women today is immense. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of women who search for information relating to pregnancy on the internet and to identify predictors of this behavior among expecting women visiting primary health care (PHC) centers in Qatar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinics of six PHC centers in Qatar from June 1 to December 31, 2019. Pregnant women were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was constructed to identify the predictors of internet use for pregnancy-related information. Results The study included 403 pregnant women (response rate: 87.9%). Most of them were in the 26–35 years age category (71.5%), in the seco...

Research paper thumbnail of Primary health care physicians’ perspective on COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar: a web-based survey

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo assess primary care physicians’ satisfaction towards COVID-19 pandemic management in... more ObjectivesTo assess primary care physicians’ satisfaction towards COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar and to identify the associated factors with their satisfaction.DesignA cross-sectional web-based survey conducted from 1 June to 30 July 2020.SettingAll the 27 public primary healthcare centres in Qatar.Participants294 primary care physicians working in the publicly run primary healthcare corporation in Qatar.Primary outcome measuresOverall satisfaction towards COVID-19 management in Qatar and satisfaction towards each aspect of this management including COVID-19 clinical practice guidelines, psychological support, team dynamics, work safety as well as institutional and governmental regulations.Results294 primary care physicians participated in the survey with a response rate of 65%. Overall satisfaction of physicians towards COVID-19 19 management at Primary Health Care Corporation was 77%. The highest satisfaction was towards institutional and governmental support while it was t...