Empirical Evidence of Internal and External Factors Influencing Users' Motivation Toward Teleconsultation Use.

Introduction: The use of teleconsultation systems has increased in recent years, which has improved patients' access to health care providers and enabled seamless interaction between them. The literature points out several factors that either facilitate or impede the use of teleconsultation. However, there is a lack of studies that provide empirical evidence of factors that influence consumers' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to provide empirical evidence of the internal and external factors that influence consumers' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from consumers who used a real-time teleconsultation system called the Sehha application in Saudi Arabia between March 13 and June 14, 2021. SPSS 27.0.1 was used for descriptive analysis. Results: Four hundred eighty-five participants completed the survey, 471 of whom were included in the analysis. The findings confirmed that internal and external factors exert an influence on consumers' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems. The findings indicated that the presence of factors such as saving time, saving cost, accessibility to health care, ease-of-use, reliable internet access, availability of devices, and appropriate places during the online connection would increase consumers' motivation toward teleconsultation systems use. Also, the findings indicated that users' familiarity with systems similar to teleconsultation systems, users' perception of teleconsultation convenience, the influence of others on users' decision to use teleconsultation, and user's skills and confidence in using teleconsultation easily, and their trust in the teleconsultation system would also increase their motivation to use it. Furthermore, the findings showed that demographic factors, including age, gender, level of education, and employment status, did not influence users' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation Conclusions: This study provided empirical evidence of a variety of internal and external factors that exert an influence on consumers' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems.

An empirical study on factors influencing consumers' motivation towards teleconsultation system use. A preliminary report about the Sehha application from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The use of the teleconsultation system has increased in recent years, which enabled healthcare providers and patients to share, communicate and transfer information in real-time via different types of telemedicine services and applications. However, there is a lack of studies that underpin factors that motivate patients to use teleconsultation systems. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors that influence consumers' motivation to use teleconsultation systems by developing a theoretical framework and empirically testing the developed framework with a real-world teleconsultation system. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used for this research to empirically validate the proposed model. The online survey consisted of 51 items, which were developed by the researchers. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the measurement model and structural model. RESULTS: 485 participants completed the online survey, 471 of which were included in the model analysis. The measurement analysis indicated that convergent validity was achieved as all items' outer lording were well above the threshold of 0.70, all indicators reliability and AVEs were well above the threshold of 0.50. Also, the measurement analysis indicated that discriminate validity was achieved as the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations for all constructs were below the threshold of 0.90. In the structural model analysis, the inner constructs of the model, autonomy, competence and relatedness explained 60.1% of the variance in users' motivation toward the use of the teleconsultation system. The outer constructs of the model, subjective norm, external and internal facilitating conditions, explained 67.3% of the variance in users' autonomy, whereas attitude, performance expectancy, external and internal facilitating conditions explained 51.9% of the variance in the users' competence, and subjective norm explained 25.6% of the variance in the users' relatedness. CONCLUSIONS: The developed framework can explain why consumers are motivated to use teleconsultation systems for online medical consultations. The model indicated that a variety of internal and external factors can positively or negatively influence consumers' perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness, which can impact their motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems.

Development and validation of a new tool to identify factors that influence users' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems: A modified Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers have improved consumer access to healthcare services by the adoption of information communication technology and the use of telemedicine. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are shifting to remote teleconsultation. There are several studies regarding consumers' acceptance and satisfaction with telemedicine among healthcare providers and a few among patients at healthcare facilities. However, studies about patients' motivation toward the use of teleconsultation systems are very few. AIM: The aim of this study was to validate an instrument of a newly developed framework to identify factors that motivate patients to use a teleconsultation system. METHOD: This study used a modified eDelphi method incorporating content validity index and content validity ratio procedures to validate the instrument among fifteen experts from different disciplines. The eDelphi consisted of three rounds to review each item's relevance, clarity, importance and the overall validity of the instrument. RESULT: The result showed a significant level of agreement among experts for individual items' relevance, clarity and importance. For relevance, all items had excellent I-CVI above 0.889, except one item with I-CVI = 0.78, which is still acceptable. For clarity, all items had an excellent I-CVI > 0.889, except one with I-CVI = 0.667. For importance, most items had CVR above the threshold value of 0.778, except 5 items. Also, the result showed moderate to high content validity of the overall instrument (S-CVI/UA = 0.694; S-CVI/Ave = 0.996). DISCUSSION: These findings support the validity and reliability of the developed instrument, which can be used to identify factors that motivated patients to use a teleconsultation system. Future testing of the instrument should be conducted with a larger population that uses a teleconsultation system. CONCLUSION: An instrument was developed to identify factors that motivated consumers to use teleconsultation, using a modified eDelphi method among experts. The eDelphi method consisted of three rounds and the results showed that the instrument is a valid and reliable tool.

Effect of mineral trioxide aggregate and biodentine™ on fracture resistance of immature teeth dentine over time: in vitro study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of root filling with White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) and Biodentine™ (BD) on the fracture resistance of simulated immature teeth over different time periods. METHODS: Sixty sound-extracted human single-rooted premolars were randomly allocated into 3 groups, 2 experimental and 1 control group, with 20 teeth each. Simulation of roots into immature apices were done using Peeso reamers. After preparation, the root canals of teeth in the experimental groups were completely filled with either WMTA or BD. The control group was subdivided into positive controls (n = 10) which received no treatment and negative controls (n = 10) which were prepared the same way and filled with normal saline. The specimens were subjected to fracture testing using a universal testing machine after 2 weeks and 3 months. The peak load to fracture and the fracture location were recorded. RESULTS: Regarding fracture resistance, the MTA group had the highest fracture resistance at 2 weeks testing, while at 3 months there was no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). Regarding fracture location, at 2 weeks there was no significant difference in the fracture location between the groups, while at 3 months, the difference was significant (P < 0.05), the middle root fracture being the most frequent (63.3%). CONCLUSION: No significant difference in fracture resistant of simulated immature teeth was observed after 3 months when they were filled with Biodentine or WMTA, indicating that Biodentine could be a suitable substitute for MTA. There was no difference in the possible fracture location at 2 weeks, while after 3 months middle root fractures were more frequent.

Global, Regional, and National Levels and Trends in Burden of Oral Conditions from 1990 to 2017: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study.

Government and nongovernmental organizations need national and global estimates on the descriptive epidemiology of common oral conditions for policy planning and evaluation. The aim of this component of the Global Burden of Disease study was to produce estimates on prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability for oral conditions from 1990 to 2017 by sex, age, and countries. In addition, this study reports the global socioeconomic pattern in burden of oral conditions by the standard World Bank classification of economies as well as the Global Burden of Disease Socio-demographic Index. The findings show that oral conditions remain a substantial population health challenge. Globally, there were 3.5 billion cases (95% uncertainty interval [95% UI], 3.2 to 3.7 billion) of oral conditions, of which 2.3 billion (95% UI, 2.1 to 2.5 billion) had untreated caries in permanent teeth, 796 million (95% UI, 671 to 930 million) had severe periodontitis, 532 million (95% UI, 443 to 622 million) had untreated caries in deciduous teeth, 267 million (95% UI, 235 to 300 million) had total tooth loss, and 139 million (95% UI, 133 to 146 million) had other oral conditions in 2017. Several patterns emerged when the World Bank's classification of economies and the Socio-demographic Index were used as indicators of economic development. In general, more economically developed countries have the lowest burden of untreated dental caries and severe periodontitis and the highest burden of total tooth loss. The findings offer an opportunity for policy makers to identify successful oral health strategies and strengthen them; introduce and monitor different approaches where oral diseases are increasing; plan integration of oral health in the agenda for prevention of noncommunicable diseases; and estimate the cost of providing universal coverage for dental care.

Barriers and Facilitators That Influence Telemedicine-Based, Real-Time, Online Consultation at Patients' Homes: Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers are adopting information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance their services. Telemedicine is one of the services that rely heavily on ICTs to enable remote patients to communicate with health care professionals; in this case, the patient communicates with the health care professional for a follow-up or for a consultation about his or her health condition. This communication process is referred to as an e-consultation. In this paper, telemedicine services refer to health care services that use ICTs, which enable patients to share, transfer, and communicate data or information in real time (ie, synchronous) from their home with a care provider-normally a physician-at a clinical site. However, the use of e-consultation services can be positively or negatively influenced by external or internal factors. External factors refer to the environment surrounding the system as well as the system itself, while internal factors refer to user behavior and motivation. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to investigate the barriers and the facilitators that influence the use of home consultation systems in the health care context. This review also aims to identify the effectiveness of Home Online Health Consultation (HOHC) systems in improving patients' health as well as their satisfaction with the systems. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review to search for articles-empirical studies-about online health consultation in four digital libraries: Scopus, Association for Computing Machinery, PubMed, and Web of Science. The database search yielded 2518 articles; after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of included articles for the final review was 45. A qualitative content analysis was performed to identify barriers and facilitators to HOHC systems, their effectiveness, and patients' satisfaction with them. RESULTS: The systematic literature review identified several external and internal facilitators and barriers to HOHC systems that were used in the creation of a HOHC framework. The framework consists of four requirements; the framework also consists of 17 facilitators and eight barriers, which were further categorized as internal and external influencers on HOHC. CONCLUSIONS: Patients from different age groups and with different health conditions benefited from remote health services. HOHC via video conferencing was effective in delivering online treatment and was well-accepted by patients, as it simulated in-person, face-to-face consultation. Acceptance by patients increased as a result of online consultation facilitators that promoted effective and convenient remote treatment. However, some patients preferred face-to-face consultation and showed resistance to online consultation. Resistance to online consultation was influenced by some of the identified barriers. Overall, the framework identified the facilitators and barriers that positively and negatively influenced the uptake of HOHC systems, respectively.

The modulation of mature dendritic cells from patients with type 1 diabetes using human periodontal ligament stem cells. An in-vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study aimed to investigate whether human periodontal ligament stem cells isolated from impacted third molars can modify the maturation and phenotype of monocyte-derived dendritic cells pulsed with GAD-65 obtained from patients with type 1 diabetes. BACKGROUND: Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have been found to display cell surface marker characteristics similar to bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs). The immunosuppressive effects on dendritic cells (DCs), T and B cells as well as their low immunogenicity allow the use of PDLSCs in stem cell therapies for autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Studies on the immunomodulatory potential of PDLSCs in the context type 1 diabetes are lacking but are therefore worth pursuing. METHODS: CD14 + monocytes isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) of type 1 diabetic patients were differentiated into immature Dendritic Cells (iDCs) and then maturation was induced to generate Mature Dendritic Cells (mDCs). The mDCs were pulsed with human recombinant GAD-65 and then co-cultured with PDLSCs that were isolated from impacted third molars and characterized. The changes in the levels of differentiation and maturation surface markers on the dendritic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry at the immature state, mature state and after the co-culture experiment. The levels of the secreted cytokines; IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-ß were measured by ELISA in cell-free culture supernatant. RESULTS: PDLSCs exerted an immunosuppressive effect on fully mature dendritic cells from patients with type 1 diabetes. This immunoregulatory property of was apparent by the reduction of all maturation markers including CD80, CD83, CD86, CD40, CD1a, CD209 and HLA-DR. Moreover, there was a detection of high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the co-culture supernatant media including a significant increase in the concentration of IL-6 and TGF-ß. CONCLUSIONS: The current in vitro study provides strong evidence that PDLSCs seem to be a very promising source for overcoming the autoimmune destruction seen in T1D as they exerted an immunosuppressive effect on monocyte derived mDCs from patients with T1D. Additional studies should be conducted to further reveal the immunomodulatory and suppressive properties of PDLSCs and their potential use in immunotherapy for this disease.

Effectiveness of a tooth-brushing programme using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) on gingival health of children with autism spectrum disorders.

PURPOSE: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a communication system for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a PECS-based tooth-brushing programme on gingival health in children with ASD and assess parents' perception of PECS. METHODS: This was a prospective interventional study. Using PECS as a pictures/cards series showing a structured tooth-brushing method, 37 children with ASD (31 males, 6 females) (average age 9.49 ± 4.10, 4-16 years) and their parents/caregivers were trained on tooth-brushing twice, 2 weeks apart. Data collected after examinations (baseline, 3, 6-months) included gingival and plaque indices (GI, PI) and two questionnaires (baseline, 6-months) for demographic data and parents' perception of PECS including difficulty rating (easy, hard, very hard) and PECS usefulness. RESULTS: Most children with ASD had language abilities (64.9%) and prior PECS use (67.6%). Both GI and PI significantly dropped between baseline and both re-evaluations, (P < 0.001). Age, among studied factors, significantly affected PI only at all stages (P < 0.001). Most parents/caregivers (75.7%) rated PECS as hard, but useful (100%). Age and PECS prior use significantly affected PECS difficulty rating (P = 0.000 and 0.031, respectively), while sex did not (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PECS though rated as hard was useful in improving gingival health in children with ASD.

Effect of CPP-ACP on Streptococcus mutans in saliva of high caries-risk preschool children: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of CPP-ACP in reducing salivary S. mutans levels and compare its effect as a dentifrice to use of a fluoride dentifrice alone, or with the sequential use of a combination of both agents (fluoride, then CPP-ACP) in three groups of preschool children over a 6-month period. METHODS: This was a double-blinded clinical trial, the sample (n = 127, age 4.6 ± 0.47 years), with high caries risk, was randomized into three groups which applied different agents twice daily; fluoride toothpaste (500 ppm, n = 50), CPP-ACP (10% w/v, n = 38), and combination group (n = 39) applied fluoride, then CPP-ACP. S. mutans salivary levels were measured by GC Saliva-Check Mutans™. RESULTS: Within groups, a significant decrease in S. mutans-positive children (SMPC) occurred in fluoride and combination groups at 3-months, (P < 0.05), and in all groups at 6-months, (P < 0.05). The highest reduction in SMPC occurred in the CPP-ACP group, however, there were no significant differences in SMPC between groups at all study intervals, (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although all agents were effective, CPP-ACP showed the highest reduction in SMPC over 6-months.

Time trends in diabetes mellitus in Jordan between 1994 and 2017.

AIM: The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing over the past few decades. The objective of this study is to assess the time trends in diabetes between 1994 and 2017 in Jordan. METHODS: Surveys were conducted in 1994, 2004, 2009 and 2017 by the same investigators using generally similar methods. Fasting blood glucose was measured in all surveys. Variables were obtained using structured questionnaires designed specifically for the surveys. Crude and age-specific diabetes prevalence rates were derived for each sex, together with overall, crude and age-standardized prevalence rates. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes in men aged ≥ 25 years increased from 14.2% in 1994 to 18.3% in 2004, 26.8% in 2009 and 32.4% in 2017. The corresponding prevalence rates in women were 12.3%, 16.9%, 18.8%, and 18.1%, respectively. The overall age-standardized prevalence rate increased from 13.0% in 1994 to 17.1% in 2004, 22.2% in 2009 and 23.7% in 2017. Known diabetes in the 2017 survey accounted for 82.6% of people with diabetes. A HbA1c of < 59 mmol/mol (7.5%) was observed in 41.4% of participants with known diabetes. CONCLUSION: The results showed a high prevalence of diabetes in Jordan among people aged ≥ 25 years. Prevalence increased from 1994 to 2009, but slowed thereafter. The increase was greater in men than in women. Previously diagnosed diabetes accounted for a high percentage of people with diabetes in all surveys and was highest in 2017 survey, suggesting that the national strategy against diabetes has brought some benefits. Efforts should be made to improve glycaemic control in people with diabetes.

Risk factors of stillbirth in Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Yemen has the highest stillbirth rate among the Arab countries. However, the risk factors of this high rate are lacking. This study aimed to determine the maternal, newborn, and service related risk factors for stillbirths at the main maternity hospital in Sana'a city. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in the main maternity hospital in Sana'a city, Yemen. Case and controls were selected prospectively during the study period. Cases were women who delivered stillbirths after 24 weeks of gestation. Risk factors data for mothers and their neonates were collected using face-to-face interview and data abstraction from medical records. RESULTS: The study included 101 women with stillbirths and 202 women with singleton live births. Mothers older than 35 years (Odds ratio (OR) = 4.9) and those with low level of education were significantly more likely to give stillbirths. Prolonged labor (OR = 5.8), mothers' anemia (OR = 2.1), less than 4 antenatal visits (OR = 5.1) and meconium stained amniotic fluid (OR = 11.5) were significantly associated with increased odds of stillbirth. Prematurity (OR = 27), umbilical complications (OR = 6.4), low birth weight (OR = 17.7), and congenital complications (OR = 40.6) were significantly associated with higher odds of stillbirths. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified many risk factors of stillbirth that are amenable to intervention. Encouraging women to deliver at health facilities, providing better management of obstetrical complications, proper antenatal care, and prompt referral services are essential for reduction of stillbirths in Yemen.

Perceived sources of stress amongst dental students: A multicountry study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the perceived sources of stress reported by dental students from fourteen different countries. METHODS: A total of 3568 dental students were recruited from 14 different dental schools. The dental environmental stress (DES) questionnaire was used including 7 domains. Responses to the DES were scored in 4-point Likert scale. Comparison between students was performed according to the study variables. The top 5 stress-provoking questions were identified amongst dental schools. Data were analysed using SPSS software program. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate. Logistic regression analysis was also conducted to determine the effect of the studied variables on the stress domains. The level of statistical significance was set at <.05. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the scale was excellent (0.927). Female students formed the majority of the total student population. The percentage of married students was 4.8%. Numbers of students in pre-clinical and clinical stages were close together. The most stress-provoking domain was "workload" with a score of 2.05 ± 0.56. Female students scored higher stress than male students did in most of the domains. Significant differences were found between participating countries in all stress-provoking domains. Dental students from Egypt scored the highest level of stress whilst dental students from Jordan scored the lowest level of stress. CONCLUSION: The self-reported stress in the dental environment is still high and the stressors seem to be comparable amongst the participating countries. Effective management programmes are needed to minimise dental environment stress.

Correlates of treatment satisfaction and well-being among patients with type II diabetes.

AIM: To examine the impact of patient characteristics, anthropometric measurement and patient clinical variables on their appraisal of treatment satisfaction and well-being. BACKGROUND: Treatment satisfaction and well-being are instrumental in achieving diabetes care goals. Nursing practices and healthcare policies may inform interventions in these areas. INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of diabetes is high in the Middle East. An understanding of relationships between clinical and socio-demographic variables and well-being and treatment satisfaction is needed to improve care and patient outcomes. METHODS: A total of 1002 patients completed tools measuring well-being, treatment satisfaction and socio-demographic characteristics. A series of bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with well-being and treatment satisfaction. RESULTS: Males reported better treatment satisfaction and well-being than females. Older participants, those who were compliant to diet, with controlled diabetes, and no neuropathy reported higher treatment satisfaction scores and well-being scores. Insulin therapy was associated with better treatment satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Females, participants who were not prescribed diabetic diets and those with complications were more likely to be negatively impacted by diabetes. Individuals with diabetes who were treated with insulin had higher treatment satisfaction than those who used oral hypoglycaemic agents. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: These findings are important in assisting nurses and other healthcare professionals in identifying patients with diabetes with low treatment satisfaction who may present a greater risk for poor well-being. Additionally, they lend support to developing policies for frequent screenings and special therapeutic interventions that are needed to maximize patients' treatment satisfaction and well-being in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Waterpipe a gateway to cigarette smoking initiation among adolescents in Irbid, Jordan: a longitudinal study.

SETTING: According to anecdotal evidence, waterpipe smoking may lead to the initiation of cigarette smoking among young people. This hypothesis is yet to be examined using an appropriate study design and a theoretical model for behavioral change. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of cigarette smoking initiation among waterpipe-only smokers and never smokers in a school-based sample of adolescents from Irbid, Jordan. METHODS: A total of 1454 cigarette-naïve participants were drawn from a longitudinal study on smoking behavior conducted in Irbid among 1781 seventh graders who were enrolled at baseline (2008) and completed the study questionnaire on smoking behavior annually until 2011. Grouped time-survival analysis was used to compare the risk of subsequent initiation of cigarette smoking between waterpipe smokers (n = 298) and never smokers (n = 1156) using adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Risk of initiation of cigarette smoking among waterpipe smokers was significantly higher than among never smokers after adjusting for potential confounders (aHR 1.67, 95%CI 1.46-1.92). The association between waterpipe and cigarette smoking initiation was dose-dependent. The risk of initiating cigarette smoking increased with increase in the frequency of waterpipe smoking (P for linear trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Waterpipe smoking led to the initiation of cigarette smoking among this cohort of Jordanian adolescents; the effect was dose-dependent.

Ozone as an adjunct to conventional nonsurgical therapy in chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Currently, only limited data are available from controlled clinical trials regarding the effect of irrigation by ozonated water in the treatment of periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical and biological effects of the adjunctive use of ozone in nonsurgical periodontal treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with chronic periodontitis were randomized to treatment with either subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP) followed by irrigation with ozonated water (test) or subgingival SRP followed by irrigation with distilled water irrigation (control). The following parameters were evaluated at baseline (T0), 3 mo (T1): plaque index; gingival index; bleeding on probing; probing pocket depth; gingival recession; and clinical attachment loss. In addition, the serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured at T0 and T1. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with chronic periodontitis were included in the analysis (20 in the test group and 21 in the control group). There was statistically significant improvement in the study parameters in both groups between T0 and T1, except for gingival index. However, there were no significant differences in any study parameter between test and control groups. CONCLUSION: Irrigation with ozonated water as an adjunctive therapy to SRP produces no statistically significant benefit compared with SRP plus distilled water irrigation.

A survey of Jordanian obstetricians and gynecologists' knowledge and attitudes toward human papillomavirus infection and vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian obstetricians and gynecologists toward human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 400 participants attending scientific meetings. The survey focused on three areas: knowledge of HPV infection, vaccine, and attitude toward vaccination of female adolescents. RESULTS: Survey response rate was of 72.3%. The vast majority knew most of the statements related to knowledge of HPV infection, 66% thought that conventional screening Pap test have a sensitivity of > 75%, and only 44% of them knew that there are 13 to 17 HPV types that cause cervical cancer. The majority of the respondents (79%) knew that the vaccine would lead to long lasting immunity and 45% of the respondents thought that the vaccination would eliminate the need for regular Pap test. The majority (78%) indicated that the vaccine should be given to girls before the beginning of sexually active life. Overall, 67.5% of respondents intend to prescribe HPV vaccines and 79.6% of the respondents intend to recommend the vaccine if it is publicly funded. CONCLUSION: Most of the gynecologists in Jordan have the intention to recommend HPV vaccine, the deficit in their knowledge of HPV infection and vaccine must be corrected to assure acceptability of the vaccine.

Association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of pregnant women in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse pregnancy outcomes remain unclear. The authors' objective was to assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Jordanian women with periodontal disease compared to those without. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2009 and June 2010, 277 pregnant women with no systemic diseases at gestational age < 20 weeks were enrolled in the study. Dental and oral health examination was performed at enrollment after demographic, medical, and obstetrical information were recorded. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained by phone contact and review of medical records. RESULTS: The incidence of periodontal disease in the pregnant women enrolled was 31%. Women with PD were at higher risk for developing preeclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PB), and low birth weight (LBW). The rate of PE in women with PD was 18.6% compared to 7.3% in the control group (p = 0.005) (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.0). The OR for PB was (4.4, 95% CI: 1.7, 11.7) and for LBW was (3.5, 95% CI: 1.6, 7.5). CONCLUSIONS: PD is associated with increased risk of PE, PB, and LBW in healthy Jordanian women.

Vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) in women with spontaneous labour: predictors of success.

We evaluated the predictors of VBAC success in Jordanian women with a single previous low transverse caesarean section of a gestational age of at least 28 weeks, followed by a trial of spontaneous labour at two tertiary hospitals between January 2008 and February 2010. Among 207 women, 117 (57%) women achieved a successful VBAC. Multivariate analysis showed that a cervical dilatation of ≥ 7 cm at the time of previous caesarean section was an independent predictor of successful VBAC (with a success rate of 80%). Parity of ≥ 2 was significantly associated with increased odds of success (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.2). Compared with women who had no previous VBAC, those with previous VBAC had higher odds of success (OR = 3.8 (95% CI: 1.5, 9.5). We concluded that women with a previous caesarean section who achieved a cervical dilatation of ≥ 7 cm before caesarean, had a previous history of successful VBAC and had parity of ≥ 2, have the greatest likelihood of successful VBAC.

An audit on the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about the uses and side-effects of antibiotics among outpatients attending 2 teaching hospitals in Jordan.

This study aimedto assess general knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of people towards the use of antibiotics. Individuals referring to the outpatient pharmacies of 2 major teaching hospitals in the north of Jordan completed a self-administered, validated questionnaire. A total of 1091 individuals (56.8% males) participated in the study. Of these, 20.1% of the participants stated that antibiotics were used for bacterial infections, while 18.3% thought they were used for viral infections and 43.6% for mixed bacterial/viral infections. The average knowledge score of the participants about antibiotic uses and side-effects was low. Middle-aged participants and those with an education beyond high school had significantly higher knowledge scores about antibiotics use. Almost 75% of the participants disagreed that antibiotics could be given without a prescription.

Characteristics of women visiting an infertility clinic and their interest in preimplantation sex selection in the north of Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of women attending a fertility clinic for infertility treatment and to determine their interest in the use of preconception sex selection and its associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women who presented to the fertility clinic in the IVF center for infertility treatment. A total of 335 women were included in the study and interviewed using the study questionnaire, which included information on patients' demographics, obstetric and infertility history, child gender preference, and interest in preconception sex selection. RESULTS: A total of 155 (46.3%) women had primary infertility and 180 (53.7%) had secondary infertility. While preference for a boy was reported by 50 (14.9%) participants and preference for a girl was reported by seven (2.1%), the majority of women (83.0%) had no preference for gender. A total of 59 (17.6%) women showed an interest in using preconception sex selection. In the multivariate analysis, women who preferred a boy were more likely to be interested in preconception sex selection (OR=3.52) compared to women who had no preference for gender. Trying to conceive for ≥2 years was associated with an 80% increase in the odds of being interested in preconception sex selection. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of women (83.0%) had no gender preference. Less than one fifth of women (17.6%) showed an interest in using assisted method for sex selection. Preference for a boy and trying to conceive for ≥2 years were significantly associated with increased odds of being interested in using preconception sex selection.