COVID-19 lockdowns weigh heavily on youth: an analysis of the impact on BMI for Age Z scores in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the lifestyle and health of children and adolescents. This study aimed to assess the lifestyle changes brought about by COVID-19-related school closures and their impact on the Body Mass Index for Age Z (BAZ) scores of governmental school students in Qatar. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2022 targeting students aged 8-15 years. Data on lifestyle behaviors were gathered through telephone interviews with parents of selected students. The BAZ scores before and after school closures that were automatically calculated by the electronic health records system were extracted. RESULTS: We completed 1546 interviews. We found a significant increase in unhealthy food categories, a reduction in physical activity and an increase in the screen time over the period of schools' closure. The BAZ increased significantly by 0.30 (95% CI 0.26-0.35). The increase in BAZ scores was significantly higher among male students and the younger age group compared to females and older counterparts, respectively. The student's age group, sex, nationality and change in physical activity were significant predictors of the change in BAZ scores. CONCLUSIONS: School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the lifestyle of students in Qatar and resulted in a significant increase in the BAZ scores.

From classrooms to controllers: how school closures shaped children's video gaming habits.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19-related school closures on screen time and video gaming habits among governmental school students in Qatar and explore the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) within this context. METHODS: A cross-sectional approach was employed, spanning two months from June to August 2022. A random sample of students aged 8-15 years was drawn from the national electronic health record system of Qatar. Telephone interviews with parents were conducted to collect data. The Parental Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (PIGDS) was used for IGD assessment. RESULTS: Of 428 parents, 257 (60%) confirmed their child's engagement in video gaming during school closures. Participants averaged 11 years in age with 92 (35.8%) females and 165 (64.2%) males. Nationality included 62.6% expatriates and 37.4% Qatari locals. Average weekly screen time increased significantly from 19.7 ± 10.1 h to 31.9 ± 12.6 h during closure (p < 0.001). Video gaming time rose from 8.6 ± 8.6 h to 13.0 ± 12.4 h per week (p < 0.001). The prevalence of IGD was 8.6% (95% CI 5.4-12.7). Male students, expatriates, and those reporting increased video gaming time were more likely to develop IGD than their female and local counterparts. CONCLUSION: The observed associations between video gaming increase and IGD highlight the need for focused interventions to address potential risks and promote healthier digital habits among this population.

Reliability of online pregnancy-related information and associated feelings of worry among expectant women in Qatar.

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. This research study sought to assess feelings of worry and perceived reliability of 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 used. 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 as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 327 expectant women completed the questionnaire. Most were aged between 26-34 years (74.1%), held a college/university degree (76.4%), and were multigravidas (73.1%). About one-third of the women (31.2%) reported feeling worried due to information they read online. They coped with these feelings by consulting their antenatal care provider at their next appointment (51.0%) or by talking with relatives and friends (47.0%). Most participants (79.2%) considered online pregnancy-related information to be reliable or highly reliable. Holding a college/university degree and being primigravidae were factors significantly associated with a high perception of reliability of online pregnancy information. CONCLUSION: Although online pregnancy information caused feelings of worry for some expectant women, most perceived such information to be reliable. Thus, antenatal care providers should guide expectant women on how to access high-quality web-based information.

Knowledge and Perceived Effectiveness of Infection Prevention and Control Measures Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey.

BACKGROUND: Being the first line of defense against COVID-19 infection, health care workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of getting infected. Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were deemed to be instrumental in protecting them and their patients against infection. PURPOSE: To assess HCWs' knowledge of IPC measures and their perceived effectiveness in protecting against COVID-19. METHODS: A national web-based survey was conducted in different health care sectors in Qatar. RESULTS: A total of 1757 HCWs completed the survey. HCWs believed in applying stricter IPC precautions while dealing with confirmed COVID-19 cases than with suspected cases. Males and physicians were more likely to have high perceived effectiveness of IPC measures than females, nurses, and pharmacists. Higher proportions of HCWs believed in the effectiveness of hand hygiene than most types of personal protective equipment. CONCLUSION: Further research is recommended to assess the impact of HCWs' knowledge and perceived effectiveness of IPC measures on their compliance.

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

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 second trimester (55.5%), and had 1-2 children at home (51.5%). The internet was the most common source (81.1%) of pregnancy-related information. The access to online information was mainly through websites (67.3%), mobile applications (48.3%), and social media platforms (39.7%). The most frequently searched topics online were fetal development (74.3%), diet during pregnancy (53.6%), and management of health problems (39.6%). The multivariable regression model identified the age group 26-35 years (AOR: 4.93; 95% CI: 2.14, 11.38), Arabs (AOR: 4.12; 95% CI: 2.03, 8.36), tertiary education (AOR: 5.22; 95% CI: 1.78, 15.33), being a housewife (AOR: 6.37; 95% CI: 1.44, 28.19), or employed (AOR: 5.56 95% CI: 1.31, 23.63), and having up to 2 children as independent predictors of internet use for pregnancy-related information. CONCLUSION: The internet was a commonly used source of health information among pregnant women in Qatar. Internet use was significantly associated with the age group of 26-35 years, Arabs, higher level of education, being employed or a housewife, and having up to two children.

Compliance and barriers to the use of infection prevention and control measures among health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar: A national survey.

AIM: To assess health care workers' compliance with infection prevention and control measures in different health care sectors in Qatar during COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: Being the first line of defence against COVID-19 infection, health care workers are particularly at increased risk of getting infected. Compliance with infection prevention and control measures is essential for their safety and the safety of patients. METHODS: A web-based national survey was conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 targeting all health care workers in governmental, semi-governmental and private health care sectors. RESULTS: Of 1,757 health care workers, 49.9% were between 30 and 39 years of age; the majority (47.5%) were nurses. Participants reported a significant increase in the median self-rated compliance scores during the pandemic compared with before it (p < .001). During the pandemic, 49.7% of health care workers were fully compliant with personal protective equipment (PPE) use; 83.1% were fully compliant with hand hygiene. Overall, 44.1% were fully compliant with infection prevention and control measures (PPE and hand hygiene). Nationality, health sector, profession and frequency of interactions with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases were significantly associated with compliance with overall infection prevention and control measures. The most reported barriers were work overload and shortages of PPE and handwashing agents. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance of health care workers with infection prevention and control measures needs further improvement. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Frequent quality checks, provision of adequate supplies and behaviour change interventions are recommended strategies for hospital and nursing administrators to improve health care workers' compliance.

Prevalence and trends of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in the State of Qatar, 2013-2017.

BACKGROUND: Millions of lives around the world are being saved annually through blood transfusion. However, blood transfusion is among the essential vehicles for transmitting infections. The overall prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors differs around the world, reflecting the variation in the prevalence of these infections. This study aims to assess the prevalence and trends of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors in Qatar. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study utilizing donation records of 5 years from January 2013 to December 2017. We included in the study results for all screening and confirmatory tests for Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, Syphilis and Malaria. RESULTS: Among the 190,509 donations received at the donation centre during the study period, about 91% of donations were received from males and 9% from females. The overall positivity rate for all tests was 1.87, 2.23, 1.78, 2.31, 2.67% for the years 2013 through 2017, with an increasing yearly trend by 6% each year. The overall positivity rates for Hepatitis C Virus, Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, Hepatitis B Virus, Syphilis and Malaria (2013-2017) were 0.60, 0.18, 0.30, 0.43 and 0.20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall positivity rate of all tests combined for the Transfusion Transmissible Infections demonstrated a gradually increasing trend from 2013 to 2017. However, the trend for each infection (Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Syphilis and Malaria) was fluctuating except for Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, which was increasing. Supporting the development of effective prevention and control strategies requires further comprehensive investigations for better estimation of the burden of these infections.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome, who at risk and why: an insight from Qatar 2022.

Background: Despite the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experience post-COVID-19 syndrome, which negatively impacts their health and function. This condition has become a significant public health problem that requires immediate attention. Objective: To study the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Qatar during 2022. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among COVID-19 confirmed cases from January 2022 to July 2022 in Qatar. A simple random sample was employed to include (n = 588) participants from the list of cases and invited to participate in a telephone survey. The World Health Organization's standard case definition for PCS was adopted. Results: Out of 368, the prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome was 43.2% (n = 159). Most PCS cases were females (67.9%; n = 108), married (73.6%; n = 117), and university and higher educational level (83.6%; n = 133). However, 78.7% (n = 125) reported poor to moderate levels of social support. Only 30.2% (n = 48) of PCS patients had a history of chronic diseases, and 5.7% (n = 9) required hospital admission during acute illness. Among PCS cases, the most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (75.5%), followed by anxiety (49.1%), forgetfulness (46.5%), mood alteration (45.3%), and general weakness (39.6%). The logistic regression revealed that female gender (AOR: 2.58 95%CI: 1.58-4.225, p < 0.0001), university and high educational level (AOR: 2.2, 95%CI: 1.256-3.98, p < 0.006), poor level of social support (AOR: 2.45; 95%CI: 1.55-4.13; p < 0.002), were significant predictors for PCS. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 syndrome may go under-recognized. More efforts are needed to raise awareness and mobilize the resources to respond to this ongoing public health problem.

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

Background: Hematological cancers impose a complex burden on individuals, affecting their physical health and mental and emotional well-being. This study evaluated the health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and its determinants among adults with hematological cancers in Qatar in 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional study used a validated structured questionnaire conducted among adult patients diagnosed with hematological cancers. All adult patients who attended The National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) in Qatar during the Data collection period (January to March 2023) and agreed to participate were included in the study. Results: A total of 257 participants were enrolled in the study. The highest median (IQR) score of the HRQOL domain was observed in the functionating score of 90.6 (13.8), followed by the global health score of 83.3(25. 0). The median (IQR) of the symptoms burden score was 07.4(12.3). Gender significantly affects HRQOL, with males reporting better functioning and lower symptom burden than females. Employment status is positively associated with functioning scores. Regular exercise correlates with higher global health and functioning scores and lower symptom burden, while depressive symptoms are linked to poorer HRQOL outcomes. Patients experiencing cancer recurrence or active disease report lower global health and functioning scores and higher symptom burden. Treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant (BMT) timing also influence HRQOL, with recent treatment recipients showing lower global health and higher symptom burden scores. Depressive symptoms were the primary factor, lowering the global health score by 15.2%. Regarding the low functioning score predictors, female gender, depressive symptoms, and cancer recurrence emerged as significant predictors of the low functioning score. Furthermore, Regular exercise increased the functioning score by 03.4 units (p-value=0.018). Finally, Multiple linear regression analysis reinforced the significance of depressive symptoms, active disease status, and recurrence within the past five years as substantial predictors of higher symptom scores. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the profound impact of depressive symptoms on all aspects of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), mainly affecting global health. It highlights the positive role of regular exercise in enhancing global health, functioning, and symptom burden scores.

Scope and Predictors of Travel Medicine Practice among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar.

In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public health concern. Pretravel consultation is an effective measure to promote healthy travel. This study aimed to assess the scope of primary care physicians' (PCPs) practice of travel medicine (TM) in Qatar and its associated predictors. This was a cross-sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from all PCPs working in the 27 primary healthcare centers in Qatar. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used as appropriate, and a multivariable logistic regression model was constructed. Three hundred sixty-four PCPs participated in the study (response rate of 89.2%). Most PCPs (91.1%) provided pretravel consultations of which 72.7% provided less than 10 consultations per month. Overall, pretravel advice content and frequency including vaccine and malaria chemoprophylaxis recommendations were inadequate. Significant predictors of high frequency of pretravel consultations (≥10/month) included male PCPs (AOR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.18), PCPs who had postgraduate training or experience in TM (AOR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.59, 4.72), and multilingual (speaking ≥3 languages) physicians (AOR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.45). Frequently encountered post-travel illnesses included travelers' diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and fever. While, most PCPs provided pretravel consultations, the frequency and content of consultations were inadequate. Male PCPs, past training or experience in TM, and multilingual physicians were important predictors of providing a high frequency of pretravel consultation. The findings of this study identified several gaps in PCPs' TM practice. Specific measures should be designed and implemented to reduce the burden of travel-related illnesses and promote healthy travel.

Physical Activity among Primary Health Care Physicians and Its Impact on Counseling Practices.

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 of experience were 14 ± 8.3 years. Only 39.5% of the respondents met the WHO PA recommendations. 50.5% of the physicians were overweight, and 23.1% were obese. The median percentage of patients counseled about PA was only 60 [IQR: 40-80]%, and there was no link found between a physician's PA level and the percentage of patients they counseled on the subject. Conclusion: Physicians reported a high prevalence of physical inactivity. Furthermore, the practice of counseling the public on PA was low. Interventions are needed inside and outside the workplace to improve the PA among PHCPs and their counseling practices.

Utilization of the internet for physical activity and diet information and its influence on pregnant women's lifestyle habits in Qatar.

Background: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is essential. With the increasing availability of the internet, pregnant women have access to a wealth of information related to physical activity (PA) and healthy diets. Objectives: The study aims to investigate the extent of internet usage by pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Qatar to obtain information about PA and healthy diets, identify associated factors, and evaluate the impact of this information on their lifestyle habits. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected public antenatal clinics in Qatar. Pregnant women aged ≥18 years in any trimester were recruited using a probability sampling technique. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive and analytic statistics were employed for data analysis. Results: A total of 327 pregnant women (mean age of 29.5 years ± 4.0) completed and returned the questionnaire (response rate: 87.5%). Among the participants, 54.5% used the internet to obtain information about PA, while 72% sought online diet-related information. Factors such as age (26-35 years), tertiary education, employment status, and being primigravidae were associated with a higher likelihood of using the internet for healthy lifestyles information. Participants who reported using the internet for PA information a great deal were more likely to increase their PA during pregnancy compared to those who used it somewhat or very little (57.6, 26.8, and 5.0%, p < 0.001; respectively). Similarly, those who used the internet for diet information a great deal were more likely to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption compared to those who used it somewhat, or very little (84.2, 68.5, and 63.6%, p = 0.038; respectively). Also, participants who used the internet for diet information a great deal were more likely to decrease the amount of sugary and fatty foods they ate compared to women who used the internet somewhat or very little (61.4, 45.2, and 18.2%, p < 0.001; respectively) and (50.9, 30.4, and 18.2%, p = 0.001; respectively). Conclusion: Many pregnant women use the internet to access information about PA and diet, and greater use is associated with more positive lifestyle changes. This study provides useful information to consider when designing intervention programs for pregnant women about adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

Computer vision syndrome among students during remote learning periods: harnessing digital solutions for clear vision.

Aim: This 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. Methods: We 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). Results: We 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. Conclusion: Health care providers in collaboration with teachers should provide parents with evidence-based strategies to prevent or minimize the digital eye strain among students. In the landscape of remote learning, the implementation of digital remedies emerges as a proactive approach to mitigate the risk of digital eye strain.

Perception of consanguineous marriage among the qatari population.

Background: Hereditary blood diseases are widespread among the Arab population due to the high rates of consanguineous marriages; research regarding the perception of consanguineous marriage in some countries, such as Qatar, is extremely scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of consanguineous marriage and assess the perception of consanguineous marriage among the Qatari population. Methods: A cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire among 395 Qatari adults aged 18-35 who attended primary healthcare institutions in Qatar. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the study participants. An independent t-test was used to compare the significance of the mean between the two groups with positive and negative perceptions of consanguineous marriage. Categorical data were analyzed for association using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Finally, a multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the significant predictors of the positive perception of consanguineous marriage. A significant level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Approximately 45% of the participants had a positive perception toward consanguineous marriage, and the most common reason stated by those participants was "habit and traditions." The prevalence of consanguineous marriage among married couples was 62.6%, and among those with consanguineous marriage, most were married to first cousins (81.7%). Moreover, compared to the participants with negative perceptions of consanguineous marriage, those with positive ones were significantly older, married, with lower educational levels and higher monthly income levels, did not hear about glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, did not know what kinds of diseases are being screened in the premarital test, and were married to a relative. Conclusion: The prevalence of consanguineous marriage is high among the Qatari population, and this requires an immediate need for community-based campaigns to raise public awareness about the problem and its potential impact.

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

Objective: To estimate the rate and predictors of smoking cessation in smokers attending smoking cessation clinics in primary care settings in Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 759 smokers who had attended any of the 10 smoking cessation clinics in primary health care centers from January 2019 to June 2020. The sociodemographic, clinical, and smoking-related variables were assessed. Tailored behavioral and pharmacotherapy were delivered, and patients were interviewed at 6 months to estimate the 30-day point prevalence abstinence. To identify independent factors associated with smoking cessation, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The mean age of participants was 40.6 (±11.3), majority being married, Arab and employed, and having a tertiary education. Almost half of the smokers (48.7%) received varenicline alone, 42.6% received NRT, and 31.8% received a combination of both. The selection of drug therapy was based on preferences, experiences, and history of previously encountered adverse effects. The overall 30-day quit rate at 6 months follow-up was 32.4%. About three-quarters (72.5%) of participants had at least one quit attempt and 12.5% had 3 or more attempts. Later age at smoking initiation, lower cigarette consumption at baseline, lower CO concentration at baseline, use of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, having made fewer quit attempts and non-exposure to secondhand smoke among friends were identified as significant predictors of successful quitting at 6 months. Conclusion: The 30-day quit rate at 6 months follow-up (32.4%) is comparable to the worldwide figure. However, further efforts should be made to plan cost-effective tobacco dependence treatment taking into account predictors and at-risk groups.

A Sociodemographic Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19-Related Schools' Closure on the Diet and Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents in Qatar.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the COVID-19-related closure of government schools in Qatar on children and adolescents' dietary habits and physical activities and associated sociodemographic factors. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2022 utilizing the national electronic health records system in Qatar to extract a sampling frame of students enrolled in governmental schools, specifically targeting students in 3rd to 9th grades, stratified by sex and developmental stage. A stratified sampling technique was employed to randomly select a proportionate number of students from each stratum, and data were collected through telephone interviews with the parents of selected students. RESULTS: A total of 1546 interviews were completed by the end of the study. Of the included sample, 845 (54.7%) were between 8 and 11 years of age (middle childhood), while the rest were 12-15 years old (young teens and teenagers). Male to female ratio was almost 1:1. We found a significant decrease in the intake of vegetables, increases in the intake of soft drinks, fried food, fast food, and sweets, and a reduction in physical activity during schools' closure compared to before. Higher parental educational levels, maternal employment, and having a positive family history of obesity and/or overweight in first-degree relatives were significantly associated with adverse lifestyle changes during schools' closure. CONCLUSION: The trends of lifestyle changes reported in this study during the periods of COVID-19-related schools' closure were found to be going in a health-compromising direction. These results underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to promote healthy lifestyles during such disruptions and emphasize the need to address lifestyle changes beyond emergencies and outbreaks to mitigate potential long-term health consequences, including the increased risk of non-communicable diseases.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of primary healthcare physicians in Qatar towards hypertension management: An online cross-sectional study.

Primary health care is integral to diagnosing and managing hypertension. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, priority, and confidence of primary care physicians in Qatar toward hypertension diagnosis and management, and to measure the determinants of good knowledge, desirable attitudes, and desirable practices. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey using a modified version of the World Hypertension League Questionnaire during the period from August 30th to October 23rd, 2020. All primary care physicians working in any of Qatar's 27 publicly run primary healthcare centers were invited to participate in the survey. Out of the 450 primary care physicians working at that time, 197 completed the study questionnaire with a response rate of 43.8%. Most respondents stated that they followed local or international treatment guidelines for hypertension management (96.4%). Primary care physicians were highly confident and prioritized hypertension management. The overall desirable practice score was 73.8%, with the highest score (95.4%) for assessing adherence to antihypertensive medications, whereas the lowest desirable practice score was 33.5% for counseling on home blood pressure monitoring. Fifty-one-point eight percentage and 62.4% correctly identified 140 mm Hg and 90 mm Hg as the systolic and diastolic blood pressure threshold for diagnosing hypertension in most patients. The lowest knowledge scores were for hypertension epidemiology in Qatar and recommended dietary modification for hypertensive patients. Respondents had positive attitudes toward task sharing with nonphysician healthcare workers for most items (58.9%-78.2%), except for drug prescriptions (30.5%). Primary care physicians in Qatar had positive attitudes, with high overall confidence and conviction (priority) scores toward hypertension. However, their knowledge scores and certain practices were suboptimal. Healthcare policymakers in Qatar should raise primary care physicians awareness of the current burden of untreated hypertension in the country by organizing targeted educational programs and emphasizing the importance of following national clinical practice guidelines in the diagnosis and management of hypertension.

Healthy Minds for Healthy Hearts: Tackling Stress-Induced Cardiac Events During the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Millions of people are looking forward to the biggest event this year "FIFA World Cup 2022" taking place in the state of Qatar. This event is an opportunity for people around the world to socialize, connect, celebrate, and enjoy watching football matches. However, the emotional stress experienced by football players and fans during a such major sport event can sometimes result in unfavorable physiological responses that can adversely affect the heart leading to adverse cardiac consequences. In this mini-review, we summarized the evidence and pathophysiology of stress-induced cardiac events during football games, and the potential strategies to prevent stress-induced cardiac events during the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Primary healthcare physicians' satisfaction towards work safety and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are experiencing unprecedented pressure from stressors including enormous workload, virus exposure, and inadequate PPE. This study aimed to assess primary healthcare physicians' satisfaction towards work safety and personal protective equipment and their predictors during early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 27 primary healthcare centers in Qatar from 1st June to 30 July 2020. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariable linear regression analysis was done to identify predictors of satisfaction among participants. RESULTS: A total of 262 participants completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 58.2%. 51.9% were males and 68.3% were family physicians. Only 14.9% and 17.2% of respondents were satisfied or highly satisfied about the overall safety of work and the clinical guidelines on the use of PPE in the context of COVID-19 respectively. Participants who were general practitioners were significantly more likely to be satisfied with maintaining work safety and local PPE guidelines compared to family physicians by 2.93 scores (95% CI 1.43, 4,43 p -value <0.001), and 2.82 scores (95% CI 1.19, 4,44 p -value 0.001) respectively. Also, physicians who had more than ten years of experience in practice were significantly more likely to be satisfied with the PPE use guidelines compared to those who had fewer years of experience by 1.93 scores (95% CI 0.45, 3.41 p -value 0.011). CONCLUSION: Overall satisfaction of participants with the safety of work and PPE clinical practice guidelines was low.

Primary care physicians' knowledge of travel vaccine and malaria chemoprophylaxis and associated predictors in Qatar.

BACKGROUND: In an era of globalization, travel-related illnesses have become a focus of public health concern, especially in the Arab region where travel health services are insufficient and not well-established. This study was conducted to assess travel vaccine and malaria chemoprophylaxis knowledge and associated predictors among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Qatar. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from all physicians working at all 27 primary healthcare centers from March 1st to May 31st 2020. Knowledge scores were computed and a multivariable linear regression model was built to identify predictors of higher knowledge. RESULTS: A total of 364 PCPs participated (response rate of 89.2%). Participants' mean age was 44.5 (±7.8) with 59.1% being males. Their overall mean knowledge score was 9.54/16 (±3.24). Significant predictors of higher knowledge included: aged 40-49 years (1.072; 95% CI: 0.230, 1.915) , had medical degree from non-Arab countries (0.748; 95% CI: 0.065, 1.432) , had training in TM (1.405; 95% CI: 0.407, 2.403), and provided ≥10 consultations/ month (2.585; 95% CI:1.294, 3.876) . Online information was the main reported resource of travel medicine consultation. CONCLUSIONS: The overall PCPs' mean percentage knowledge score of travel medicine was 59.6% (±20.3). A high volume of pretravel consultation, prior training, middle age group, and medical degree from non-Arab countries were significant predictors of higher knowledge. Continuing education and training provided by recognised international institutions for all PCPs is highly recommended to narrow the gap in travel medicine knowledge.