scholarly journals Sick Leaves Pattern in A Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kossay Abdelhamid Ali Elabd ◽  
Abdullah Alkhenizan ◽  
Abdullah S. Aldughaither

Abstract BACKGROUND : Frequent sick leaves in any healthcare organization is a critical problem that can undermine the patients' care. METHODS : This is a quantitative cross-sectional study looking at the frequency of sick leaves among employees of a large, tertiary healthcare facility in Riyadh. We randomly selected 474 employees, who were seen in family medicine clinics during one-year period. We collected all the data retrospectively from their electronic medical records. Then we reviewed and analyzed all the data using SPSS software. RESULTS : There was no difference in the sick leaves rate between males and females (P-value 0.8618), but we saw a higher rate among younger employees (40 years old or less) compared to those 41 years or older (p-value <0.0001). We also investigated those who took four sick leaves or more during the period of the study, and we found that most of them were mainly nursing staff (31.71%), hospital assistances (24.39%) and housekeepers (14.63%). The commonest cause for taking sick leave in our study was viral upper respiratory tract infection. Therefore, we studied the effect of influenza vaccine on the frequency of sick leaves and we found that those who took the vaccine were less likely to take a leave because of flu (P-value <0.0001, Odd ratio 0.4067 with 95% CI 0.2739-0.608). CONCLUSION : younger employees, nurses, hospital assistants and housekeepers are more likely to take sick leaves. These findings need to be studied further in the future to help us dealing with the problem of absenteeism. Flu is the leading cause for sick leaves and influenza vaccine seemed to reduce its rate. In this study, we also discussed different methods that can be used by any healthcare organization to reduce absence rate.

Author(s):  
Nada Faleh Almutairi ◽  
Amani Abdullah Almaymuni ◽  
Julie Toby Thomas ◽  
Toby Thomas ◽  
Abdullah Almalki ◽  
...  

The healthcare policy changes need to be updated for better management of the COVID-19 outbreak; hence, there is an urgent need to understand the knowledge and preparedness of healthcare workers regarding the infection control COVID-19. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the knowledge and preparedness towards COVID-19 among dentists, undergraduate, and postgraduates in dental universities one year after the COVID-19 outbreak. The multi-centric cross-sectional study was conducted by evaluating 395 structured, pre-coded, and validated questionnaires obtained from sample units comprising full-time dental students (undergraduates, interns, and postgraduates) and dentists who were currently in practice and who were able to comprehend the languages English or Arabic. The first part of the questionnaire included questions related to demographic characteristics. The second part of the survey consisted of questions that address knowledge concerning COVID-19. The third part of the survey addressed questions based on the preparedness to fight against COVID-19 including sharp injuries during this period. Comparing the knowledge scores of dentists, dental undergraduates, and postgraduates using the ANOVA test, dentists have higher knowledge and preparedness scores than postgraduates and undergraduates (p-value < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that undergraduates and postgraduates were 2.567 and 1.352 times less aware of the personal protective measures against COVID-19 than dentists, respectively. Dentists had the comparatively better perception in knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 than undergraduates and postgraduates.


Author(s):  
D. P. Lakshmi Priya ◽  
P. Kalyani ◽  
B. Sindhu Bala

Background: Immunization is one of the cost effective measures preventing approximately 2 to 3 million deaths in young children every year. Inspite of the progress in vaccination coverage challenges still remain for underserved and inaccessible children. It is therefore essential to evaluate the immunization coverage at periodic intervals and improve coverage in vulnerable areas.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 children aged 12 to 42 months in urban Chidambaram from September to October 2018. We collected details regarding immunization from vaccination card or mother’s recall. A pretested semi-structured proforma was used to collect sociodemographic variables. Data were collected, compiled and tabulated using microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version.Results: Complete immunization coverage was 80.3% and 19.7% were partially immunized. Lack of awareness is the major reason for failure of full immunization (63.3%). Immunization coverage was higher when parents studied up to higher secondary or graduates (mother 91.3%, father 87.5%, p value 0.01), father do skilled jobs (91.9%, p value 0.02), among first birth ordered children (88.3%, p value 0.01), children born in healthcare facility and among mothers who received antenatal care during pregnancy (80.8% each, p value 0.04).Conclusions: Lack of awareness, parents’ literacy and occupation, place of birth, antenatal services and number of children in the family are important determinants of immunisation coverage. Apart from strengthening of infrastructure for better delivery of mother and child health services other issues also need to be addressed for better immunization practices.


Author(s):  
Bedriye Muge Sonmez ◽  
Fevzi Yilmaz ◽  
Murat Dogan Iscanli ◽  
Cihat Yel ◽  
Ali Demir ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate inmate referrals to emergency department of a tertiary healthcare facility in terms of demographical and clinical characteristics as well as their impact on the department. Method: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, and comprised data of incarcerated patients who were brought to the emergency department from January 01, 2010, to December 31, 2012. . Demographical characteristics, consultations, duration of hospitalisation, recurrent admissions, disposal and mortality rates were noted. The referrals were grouped as surgical conditions, medical disorders, Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat problems, injury and psychiatric disorders. The groups were then subdivided according to diagnosis. SPSS 22 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 856 patients, 804(93.4%) were men and 52(6.1%) were women. The overall mean age was 37.54±14.81 years (range: 15-83 years). The number of patients was the highest in the medical group 363(42.4%) and the lowest in the Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat group 56(6.5%). Mean age of the surgical group was significantly lower than the medical group (p<0.001) but significantly higher than that of the trauma group (p=0.001). Conclusion: Functional emergency response units, strict emergency triage of inmates, and their rapid care and management in jails can help avoid referring these patients to already overcrowded emergency departments. Key Words: Prisoners, Healthcare, Emergency department.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-45
Author(s):  
Laibah Safdar ◽  
Nayyab Khan ◽  
Mehjabeen Qureshi

Background: Nomophobia is defined as “The discomfort or anxiety felt when out of the mobile phone (MP) or computer contact. It is the fear of becoming technologically incommunicable, distant from the mobile phone or not connected to the web”. The frequency of nomophobia has increased over the past years and this condition has many negative consequences. The objective of our study is to find the frequency of nomophobia among medical students of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU).Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) over the course of one year. The inclusion criteria were medical students of all five years of MBBS studying at RMU. Students who do not own or use a smart-phone were excluded from the study. Our sample size was 350 students, who were recruited by convenience sampling. For this study, The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q)has been used which has 20 items. Each item is scored on a 7 point Likert scale. The total score ranges from 20 to 140. Results: The mean NMP-Q score of the male students was 82.96 (±21.06) and that of the female students was 78.52 (±23.69), with a p-value of 0.065, which is insignificant. Out of the total 350 students, the number of students with a mild level of nomophobia was 61(17.4%), with a moderate level of nomophobia was 216(61.7%), and with severe nomophobia was 73(20.9%).Conclusion: Measures are needed to be taken on both public and personal level to counter this issue of nomophobia, which is becoming highly prevalent in our society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (01) ◽  
pp. 115-119
Author(s):  
Ehsan Rahim Memon ◽  
Prem Kumar Maheshwari ◽  
Shabana Lakho ◽  
Huma Mehmood

Objectives: To determine the frequency of spontaneous bacterial empyema in cirrhotic patients with hepatic hydrothorax. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Setting: Conducted in gastroenterology unit at Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad. Periods: One year from April 2016 to March 2017. Material & Methods: Sample of 174 patients of Hepatic Hydrothorax was taken. Patients were of both gender and age ≥ 18 years, having diagnosed cirrhosis since last 5 years and currently having child class B & C severity were included. Hepatic hydrothorax was confirmed on ultrasound chest. After aseptic measures 50ml of pleural fluid was aspirated and sent to Isra University Hospital laboratory following the ultrasound guidelines. Spontaneous bacterial empyema was assessed as “polymorph nuclear cell count” more than 500 cells/mm3 or +ve culture with PMN cell count more than 250 cells/mm3 without parapneumonic effusion. All the data was recorded in the proforma. Results: The mean ± SD age of patients was 53.52 ± 5.52 years. Males were 60.92% while 39.08% were females. The frequency of spontaneous bacterial empyema was about 14.9%. Frequency of spontaneous bacterial empyema was little more in male gender than females (p value = 0.391), while it was significantly increased with increasing age as most common in age group of 61-65 years (p-value = 0.017). Conclusion: It was concluded that spontaneous bacterial empyema in cirrhosis patients was 14.9%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph O. Fadare ◽  
Abimbola Margaret Obimakinde ◽  
Felix O. Aina ◽  
Ebisola J. Araromi ◽  
Theophilus Adekunle Adegbuyi ◽  
...  

Background: The use of drugs with anticholinergic effects among elderly patients is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. There is paucity of information about anticholinergic drug burden among Nigerian elderly population.Objectives: To determine the anticholinergic drug burden among elderly Nigerian patients.Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among elderly patients (aged 65 and above) who visited the Family Medicine outpatients’ clinics of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria between July 1 and October 31, 2018. Information extracted from the case files included patient’s age, sex, diagnoses, and list of prescribed medications. Medicines with anticholinergic effects were identified and scored using the anticholinergic drug burden calculator (http://www.acbcalc.com).Results: The medical records of 400 patients were analyzed with females accounting for 60.5% of the study population. The mean age of participants was 73 ± 7.4 years with only 28 (7%) of patients having more than two co-morbid conditions. Polypharmacy was identified in 152 (38%) of the patients while 147 (36.7%) had drugs with anticholinergic effects prescribed. The anticholinergic burden was high in 60 (15%) patients. Polypharmacy was significantly associated with having more than two diagnosed conditions and high anticholinergic burden (p value of &lt; 0 .001 and 0.013 respectively). There was significant correlation between total number of prescribed drugs and count of diagnoses (r = 0.598; p &lt; 0 .000) and between total number of prescribed drugs and number of drugs with anticholinergic effects (r = 0 .196; p &lt; 0 .000).Conclusion: The anticholinergic burden in this group of elderly Nigerian patients was low; majority (67%) had no exposure to drugs with anticholinergic effects with only 15% having high anticholinergic burden. Polypharmacy and multiple diagnosed conditions were positively associated with high anticholinergic burden. Based on the positive and significant correlations found in this study, a reduction in the number of prescribed medicines especially those with significant anticholinergic effects used for secondary indications may lessen the anticholinergic burden among the elderly.


Author(s):  
Emmanuel N. Omoijiade ◽  
Lucky Evbuomwan

Background: Generally, personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used by healthcare workers, as they provide a physical barrier between hazards and the wearer. Exposure to occupational hazards in the laundry can be limited by the use of PPE such as barrier gowns, gloves, eyewear, foot coverings and face masks. This study provides information on the PPE compliance of the workers at the laundry, as this would prove useful in order to establish appropriate interventions to minimize occupational risks of workers in the healthcare laundries.Methods: This study was a comparative cross-sectional study. It was conducted in six hospitals with a laundry department in Benin-city, composed of one available tertiary healthcare facility and five secondary healthcare facilities. Questionnaire was administered to the workers concerning the availability and use of PPE.Results: The common PPE used were nose masks (7.9%), hand gloves (39.5%), safety boots (3.6%) and coveralls (84.5%). Respondents revealed that eye goggles or face shields and ear plugs or muffs were never provided for them.Conclusions: Compliance of respondents to PPE was not at an optimally recommended level. It is recommended that efforts be made to ensure that workers comply with PPE use, while providing all necessary protective equipment, which should first be assessed before selection and use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (Suppl-3) ◽  
pp. S542-45
Author(s):  
Habih Ur Rahman Afridi ◽  
Bakht Zada ◽  
Fazal -I- Wahid ◽  
Hamid Mashreqi

Objective: To find out the intensity and frequency of cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge in young children and their management in post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy (MRM). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT Head & Neck Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital MTI Peshawar Pakistan, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2019. Methodology: Fifty-four patients with cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge needing treatment were included in the study (out of the total patients 234 operated upon). Patients were followed up for one year for any discharge of the mastoid cavity. Patients of both gender of age 15 years or younger were included in the study. Results: In this study the cavity problems were found in 23.1% (54 out of 234) of the post modified radical mastoidectomy in pediatric population. There were no surgery related problems in 61.1% patients. In 38.9% (21 out of 54) percent patients repeat mastoidectomy was performed. Where as in 37% (20 out of 54) excision of granulation and conservative management was sufficient in curing the disease. High facial ridge was found to be the most common cause of persistent/recurrent discharge 9 out of 54 (16.7%). The independent variables (Indications for repeat mastoidectomy, Factors causing discharge, Surgery related problems) support the dependent variable treatment outcome. The sig/p-value was zero therefore the result was significant. Conclusion: In post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy, the cavity can be dry provided meticulous care is given to complete exenteration of disease from all areas........


Author(s):  
Nazia Nazir ◽  
Hafiz Amjad Hussain ◽  
Umair Ahmed ◽  
Ahmad Ayaz Sabri ◽  
Nazir Ahmad ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To analyze the prevalence of stress among doctors serving at various Government and private hospitals in Faisalabad. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Allied hospital, DHQ hospital, Government General Hospital and independent hospital Faisalabad, from July to December 2019. The study comprised doctors in service for at least one year, who volunteered to fill out the Perceived Stress Scale Questionnaire (PSS-14), excluding house officers and the doctors on administrative posts. Demographic features and job factors were taken as independent variables and perceived stress score was taken as the dependent variable. SPSS-20 was used for the determination of mean perceived stress score, standard deviation values, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation analysis (R-values) . Results: Out of total 162 respondents, female doctors (n=75, 46.3%) were found to have significantly higher (p < 0.05) perceived stress scores (mean PSS = 27.56, SD = 8.305) as compared to male doctors (n=87, 53.7%, mean PSS = 24.82, SD = 7.823). There was a negative correlation of doctors’ age (R-value = -0.246, p-value = 0.002), number of years in job (R-value =-0.187, p-value 0.017) and number of children (R-value =-0.178, p-value = 0.023), with the perceived stress scores. Stress score was found significantly lower for doctors who managed to usually get time-out for relaxation (p < 0.01) and do private practice (p < 0.05). The effect of doctor’s marital status, type of specialty and residence was not found statistically significant. Continuous...


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archan Sil ◽  
Tamoghna Biswas ◽  
Moumita Samanta ◽  
Mithun Chandra Konar ◽  
Arun Kumar De ◽  
...  

Ours was a descriptive observational cross-sectional study carried out in a tertiary care hospital in eastern India over a period of one year to study the profile of neurological involvement in paediatric dengue patients. Of 71 laboratory-confirmed cases, 20 (28.17%) had neurological involvement. Common forms observed were acute encephalopathy (40%), encephalitis (30%), pure motor weakness (15%), transverse myelitis (5%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (5%) and Guillain–Barré syndrome (5%). The dengue IgM antibody could be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of only two patients with encephalitis. Neurological involvement was present in all four patients who died during the study period (two-tailed P value = 0.005).


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