Fall-related injuries at home: Descriptive analysis from a Middle Eastern level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Injuries caused by falls from heights (FFH) and fall of heavy objects (FHO) in residential settings are underestimat-ed in the Middle East. We aimed to describe the fall-related injuries at home requiring admission at a level 1 trauma center. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who were admitted following fall-related injuries at home between 2010 and 2018. Comparative analyses were performed based on age groups (<18, 19-54, 55-64, and ≥65 years), gender, severity of injuries, and height of fall. Time series analysis of fall-related injuries was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1402 patients were hospitalized due to fall-related injuries occurred at home (11% of total trauma admissions). Three quarters of victims were male. The most injured subjects were young and middle-aged (41.6%), followed by pediatric (37.2%) and elderly subjects (13.6%). FFH was the most frequent mechanism of injury (94%) followed by FHO (6%). Head injury was most common (42%) followed by lower extremity injury (19%). Older adults (≥65 years) had more complications, longer hospital stay, and higher in-hospital mortality. Patients who fell from greater heights had more chest and spinal injuries with greater severity and longer stay in the hospital. Time-series analysis did not show a seasonal variation of fall-related hospitalization. CONCLUSION: This study showed that 11% of trauma hospitalizations were related to fall at home. FFH was common in all age groups; however, FHO was more evident in the pediatric group. Preventive efforts should address the circumstances of trauma in the residential settings to better inform evidence-based prevention strategies.

Beliefs and Intention to Organ Donation: A Household Survey.

BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation is considered as the last therapeutic option for the treatment for end-stage organ failure. However, the gap between the demand and supply of transplantable organs is still wide. Extensive researches have been conducted to understand this gap, and many countries have introduced Opt-out laws and have started targeted awareness programs. We aimed to assess, among the household residents, the normative behavior and beliefs and its correlation to intentions toward becoming organ donors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A household survey with the resident population of Qatar was conducted from October 2016 to November 2016. A sample of 1044 individuals aged 18 and above, residing in eight municipalities within the country, was selected using a two-stage systematic random sampling method to understand the relationship between organ donation intentions and behavioral, normative, and control beliefs. Independent female enumerators collected data on electronic tablets and exported to SPSS for data analysis. RESULTS: Data from 930/1044 (89%) individuals responded to the intention-related questions were taken for final analysis. Multivariate analysis brought out that behavioral beliefs (standardized beta coefficient = 0.25, t = 6.5, P = 0.001) and normative beliefs (standardized beta coefficient = 0.32, t = 8.4, P = 0.001) were significant contributors to intention to donate organs whereas control beliefs (standardized beta coefficient = -0.07, t = -2.3, P = 0.02) were negatively associated to organ donation intention. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that behavioral and normative beliefs play a very important role in contributing to the intention of the individual toward organ donation.

Prevalence of socio-demographic and behavioral factors about organ donation in Qatar: A household survey.

Background: A single organ and tissue donor can serve and save eight-fold lives, but availability of organ donors is scarce, posing a grim situation for end-stage organ failure worldwide. Knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs toward organ donation can help policymakers develop strategies to address the challenges facing organ donation and transplantation in Qatar. Aim: To assess sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and intentions regarding organ donation in the household population of Qatar. Methods: A prospective observational household survey was conducted between October and November 2016 in Qatar using a validated questionnaire. One thousand forty-four individuals aged 18 and older residing in eight municipalities in the country were enrolled in the survey. Results: Average age was 38 ± 11 years. There were 27.4% Qatari citizens and 72.6% nonQatari residents in the survey. 48.9% of the total (1044) were males. Knowledge [46% (95% C.I.: 45% - 47%)], attitude [70% (95% C.I.: 66%-74%)], behavioral beliefs [42% (95% C.I.: 39%-50%)], normative beliefs [29% (95% C.I.: 28%-30%)], control beliefs [-27% (95% C.I.: - 24% to - 30%)] and intentions towards organ donation [29% (95% C.I.: 27%-31%)] were observed in the study. Factor analyses were able to explain 70%, 72%, 70%, and 74% variations in knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and intentions domains respectively showing adequacy of construct of the domains for organ donation. Conclusion: Most of the survey participants showed good attitude but less intention towards organ donation.