Association of tobacco experimentation with anxiety and depression: findings from a representative sample of Tunisian adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence points to tobacco experimentation being associated with a vast array of mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. We aimed to assess the prevalence of tobacco experimentation, its predictive factors and its potential links with anxiety and depressive disorders among in school adolescents in a Tunisian delegation. METHODS: We carried out a cross sectional study among adolescents schooling in middle and high schools in the delegation of Nfidha, Sousse, Tunisia, during the period from January to March of the 2019-2020 school year using an anonymous questionnaire self-administered to a representative sample of 1,353 randomly selected pupils. Data were collected using the Arabic versions of the Beck Depression Inventory short form (13 items) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED-C) and a socio-demographic questionnaire with reference to the literature. RESULTS: Tobacco was experimented by (17.5 %; CI 95 %: 14.8-18.8 %) of pupils. Almost three out of four pupils (73.2 %; CI 95 %: 70.8-75.6 %) reported experiencing depressive symptoms and (65 %; CI 95 %: 62.5-67.5 %) anxiety symptoms. Pupils who exhibited depressive disorder indicators were significantly more prone to experiment with tobacco (20.2 vs. 9.9 %, p<0.001; crude OR=2.301 CI 95 %: 1.74-3.58). Similarly, the prevalence of tobacco experimentation was found to be higher among pupils who reported having experienced anxiety disorders (21.0 vs. 14.5 %, p<0.001; crude OR=1.56 CI 95 %: 1.06-2.27). Being a male pupil (AOR=5.48 95 % CI: 3.62-8.31), being be enrolled in a high school (AOR=2.86, 95 % CI: 1.92-4.26), tobacco use by father and siblings (respectively AOR=1.76, 95 % CI: 1.19-2.60; AOR=2.47, 95 % CI: 1.52-4.02) and experiencing depressive disorders (AOR=2.69, 95 % CI: 1.60-4.53) were the determinants of tobacco experimentation in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco experimentation in adolescence has been shown to be significantly associated with anxiety and depression. National smoking prevention strategies should be reinforced with a focus on mental health disorders.

Analysis of Pathogens of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Indwelling Double-J Stents and Their Susceptibility to Globularia alypum.

Ureteral double-J stents are frequently used to prevent urinary obstruction. They can develop bacterial colonization and encrustation, which leads to persistent infections that seldom respond to antibiotic treatment. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the local spectrum of bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility to natural compounds. A total of 59 double-J ureteral stents from 59 consecutive patients were examined. The samples were inoculated on agar culture mediums. Extracts of Globularia alypum L. were evaluated for their antibacterial activity with the diffusion and broth dilution methods; for antibiofilm activity, the crystal violet assay was used. The identification and the quantification of the different constituents of extracts were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Bacterial growth was found in three patients (5.1%). Enterococcus faecalis (1.7%), Acinetobacter baumanii (1.7%), and Pseudomonas putida (1.7%) strains were more commonly detected. They were resistant to several common antibiotics. All extracts presented several components, mainly nepetin-7-glucoside and trans-ferulic-acid, and they had antibacterial activity (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL and MBC = 6.25 mg/mL), and antibiofilm (59.70% at 25 mg/mL) properties, especially against Acinetobacter baumanii. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of therapeutic activities.

Motivational interviewing to improve self-management in youth with type 1 diabetes: A randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Effective interventions are needed to help adolescents with T1D develop independent self-management skills to prevent commonly observed deterioration of disease self-management resulting in poor health outcomes. Using a prospective RCT design, we assessed the impact of a nurse-led education program based on motivational interviewing (MI) in youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). DESIGN AND METHODS: After parental consent and youth assent, we prospectively randomized 66 adolescents 13-18 years old with T1D to either usual care (every 3 months visit with pediatric endocrinologist) or usual care supplemented by 2 in-person and 4 follow-up phone calls with a nurse educator in a pediatric endocrinology clinic of the University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia. We used MI sessions to support youth general and disease specific self-management skills. Outcomes were change, between baseline and 6 months, in TRAQ (a validated measure of youth self-management) scores and HbA1c values. RESULTS: Mean TRAQ scores (based on a 5-point Likert scale) increased by 1.44 points (s.d. = 0.56) in the Intervention Group versus 0.26 points (s.d. = 0.34) in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean HbA1C value decreased in the intervention group by 0.95 units versus a decrease of 0.12 units in the control group (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: We found that a brief, nurse-led MI-based educational intervention, integrated into specialty pediatric care, resulted in a significant improvement in both self-reported self-management skills and in HbA1c values. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04798937.

Bullying Among Tunisian Middle School Students: the Prevalence, Psychosocial Associated Factors and Perceived Involvement of Parents, Teachers and Classmates.

BACKGROUND: Bullying is a serious public health concern remarkably common among youth. Involvement in bullying can lead to deleterious effect on the emotional well-being of pupils. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of bullying, its psychosocial associated factors and the perceived involvement of parents, teachers, and classmates to counteract this behavior. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We conducted this study in 2015 among a representative multistage sample of 1584 students enrolled in middle schools in the Region of Sousse using the revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. It assesses the prevalence of bullying and covers qualitative details of bullying including psychosocial factors and perceived efforts of others to counteract bullying. RESULTS: 11.7% of respondents were classified as pure victims, 7.8% as pure bullies, 3.2% as bully-victims and 75.5% as bystanders. Compared to other groups, the bully-victims were less likely to report a feeling of empathy and liking school. They were more likely to be afraid of being bullied, aggressive and to have fewer friends in the class. Only 30.3% of the victims indicated that they told someone about being bullied. The majority of the middle school students perceived that classmates (54.1%) and teachers (39.5%) did nothing to counteract bullying. CONCLUSIONS: Information about bullying is critical and must be gathered before effective intervention is planned. Parents, teachers and students should learn effective ways to handle the bullying problem since the most effective programs are comprehensive targeting students, schools, families and the community.

[Safety evaluation of anticancer drugs circuit in a regional hospital in Tunisia]. / Evaluation de la sécurité du circuit des médicaments anticancéreux dans un hôpital régional en Tunisie.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, the circuit of drugs is a plague. This situation may cause serious harm to patients. In this context, we conducted a study with the aim to describe and evaluate the circuit of anticancer drugs in a Tunisian regional hospital. METHODS: This is an evaluative study of the risk of anticancer drugs, conducted over a period of 15 days during the year 2014 in the Department of Cancer Research of the Regional Hospital of Gafsa (Tunisia). The evaluation method is based on that conducted by the project "SECURIMED" and developed by the Coordination Committee of the Clinical Evaluation and Quality in Aquitaine (CCECQA) in France. RESULTS: In our study, the observation of anticancer drugs circuit has revealed some deficiencies. We noted that the roles of the various actors are subject sometimes to tasks shifting, which may sometimes be dangerous. The study also revealed a lack and an inadequacy with the standards in terms of the necessary equipment for the preparation of the anticancer drugs. CONCLUSION: Securing drugs circuit should be a priority included in all national processes and shared by all stakeholders to achieve a premium goal: the quality of care and patient safety.

Socio-demographic association of non communicable diseases' risk factors in a representative population of school children: a cross-sectional study in Sousse (Tunisia).

INTRODUCTION: A better understanding of socio-demographic characteristics of subgroups, which have a high risk to develop chronic diseases, is essential to develop more efficient interventional programs especially for youth. This study aimed to determine the association between clusters of non communicable diseases (NCDs') risk factors and the socio-demographic characteristics among a sample of Tunisian school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted, in 2013/2014, a cross-sectional study among a proportional and stratified school children sample, selected in 17 elementary public schools in Sousse (Tunisia). A cluster analysis was used to identify different NCDs risk factors clusters, based on tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and excess weight. Subsequent χ2-tests were used to identify differences between the NCDs risk factors clusters in regards to socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Four clusters of NCDs risk factors were found: 1) Cluster 1: physical inactivity behavior with normal weight, 2) Cluster 2: physical inactivity behavior associated to excess weight, 3) Cluster 3: unhealthy diet associated to excess weight and low practice of physical activity, and 4) Cluster 4: smoking behavior with physical activity behavior. The pattern of cluster membership differed across sex (<10-3), school level, and socioeconomic level (<10-3) but there was no significant difference between clusters for mother's education levels and household tenure. CONCLUSION: This study can have important implications for health policy and practice. Indeed, it found that many subjects have simultaneous multiple NCDs risk factors which leads to identify groups at risk and implement integrated intervention program.

Maternal Near Miss and Quality of Obstetric Care in a Tunisian Tertiary Level Maternity.

This study aimed to determine the frequency and the nature of maternal near miss (NM) events in a population of women attending a tertiary level maternity hospital in Tunisia and to evaluate the care level of this institution according to indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). We opted for a retrospective medical chart review of cases of NM and maternal mortality that occurred in the year 2010 at the Farhat Hached Maternity University Hospital. NM cases were defined based on the WHO criteria 2009. There were 9957 deliveries, 58 NM events and one case of maternal death. Haemorrhagic (74.1%) and hypertensive disorders (20.7%) were the leading causes of NM. The study showed a low Maternal NM Ratio of 5.86/1000 live births, a relatively low mortality index of 1.7 % and Severe Maternal Outcome Ratio of 5.96/1000 live births. This was the first study to document NM in a Tunisian public maternity. The WHO approach allowed a systematic monitoring of quality of maternal health care. There is a low frequency of maternal morbidity and mortality at the level of this facility. But, more efforts are still needed to document NM events in other types of care facilities in Tunisia.