Mays Raheem

Background: The electronic health record (EHR) has been widely implemented internationally as a tool to improve health and healthcare delivery. However, EHR implementation has been comparatively slow amongst hospitals in the Arabian Gulf countries. This gradual uptake may be linked to prevailing opinions amongst medical practitioners. Until now, no systematic review has been conducted to identify the impact of EHRs on doctor-patient relationships and attitudes in the Arabian Gulf countries. Objective: To understand the impact of EHR use on patient-doctor relationships and communication in the Arabian Gulf countries. Design: A systematic review of English language publications was performed using PRISMA chart guidelines between 1990 and 2023. Methods: Electronic database search (Ovid MEDLINE, Global Health, HMIC, EMRIM, and PsycINFO) and reference searching restricted to the six Arabian Gulf countries only. MeSH terms and keywords related to electronic health records, doctor-patient communication, and relationship were used. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality assessment was performed. Results: 18 studies fulfilled the criteria to be included in the systematic review. They were published between 1992 and 2023. Overall, a positive impact of EHR uptake was reported within the Gulf countries studied. This included improvement in the quality and performance of physicians, as well as improved accuracy in monitoring patient health. On the other hand, a notable negative impact was a general perception of physician attention shifted away from the patients themselves and towards data entry tasks (e.g., details of the patients and their education at the time of the consultation). Conclusion: The implementation of EHR systems is beneficial for effective care delivery by doctors in Gulf countries despite some patients' perception of decreased attention. The use of EHR assists doctors with recording patient details, including medication and treatment procedures, as well as their outcomes. Based on this study, the authors conclude that widespread EHR implementation is highly recommended, yet specific training should be provided, and the subsequent effect on adoption rates by all users must be evaluated (particularly physicians). The COVID-19 Pandemic showed the great value of EHR in accessing information and consulting patients remotely.

This chapter provides great opportunity to radically change primary care services to provide a truly universal and comprehensive proactive health service for all and achieve the dream of the Alma-Ata Declaration. Proactive primary care has a crucial role in promoting healthier lifestyles through each and every contact with members of the public. Training of the health-care workforce is needed to deliver a more proactive and efficient service that is designed to meet both population and individual needs. Proactive primary care means radical change to the model of service; it includes integrating key public health functions and interventions into primary care service. “Comprehensive proactive” primary care means: a primary care-led health service, that is proactive, focusing on preventive and public health interventions, personalized and person-centred care, total care, and seamless integrated service. Transforming primary care into a proactive programme of promoting health and preventing diseases, in addition to diagnosis, treatment, and care, is a logical step towards its development.

Background: Acute meningitis is a disease with case fatality and disability rate that is dependent on the causative agent. Objective: Determine the meningitis trend in Iraq from 2007 to 2023 using a joinpoint regression at national and sub-national levels and describe the epidemiology. Methods: Joinpoint regression model was used on surveillance data from Jan 2007 until May 2023, to calculate annual and average annual percent changes to determine the trend. Meningitis total count was modelled by year of reporting and province using the log transformation and Poisson variance. Best-fit model was chosen based on the weighted BIC criteria as the final point. Results: Bacterial meningitis was higher than viral meningitis from 2007 to 2018, then viral meningitis started to exceed till 2023. Meningococcal meningitis was lower than other bacterial and viral meningitis from 2007 to 2023. Most meningitis cases across the years were lower than 15 years, at almost 80 %, while 20 %-40 % were lower than one year. Across all years, 55 % of the cases were males; apart from 2019, 70 % were females. Conclusion: In Iraq, viral meningitis has been the predominant type since 2018. Most meningitis patients were lower than 15-year-old males. The meningitis trend in Iraq was stable from 2007 till 2023.

Background: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases among teenagers and young adults, as it greatly affects the external appearance and psychological health of those affected. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to this problem due to the hormonal and psychological changes they experience during this critical stage of life. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of female adolescent students toward acne in secondary schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 female students in secondary schools in the Karbala governorate center from April to November 2024. Results: The study included females whose ages ranged from 15 to 19 years; the mean age was 16.87±1.1 years. About 61% of the participants suffered from acne. The study showed that 18.5% of participants had good knowledge, 59.2% had average knowledge, and 22.3% had poor knowledge. The majority of participants showed a neutral attitude and poor practices towards acne. The study indicated a statistically significant relationship between the mean knowledge score and age, educational level, and history of acne among the participants. It also indicated a statistically significant relationship between the mean attitude score and age and between the mean practice score and history of acne. Conclusions: The study results showed moderate levels of knowledge and positive attitudes, with weak acne management practices among high school students. These findings underscore the need for educational programs to enhance student understanding and encourage healthy practices.