Health and lifestyle survey: community's attitudes to health and barriers toward lifestyle change

The study was carried out in Alexandria City. A household cluster sample survey was conducted. The total sample was 300 subjects. The objectives of this work were to assess the community's attitude of specific health issues, examine the relationship between subjects' determined level of risk and their beliefs about and desire to modify smoking, current diet and level of exercise as well as to portray the possible barriers to adopting healthier lifestyle. The survey results revealed that generally the community reflects positive attitude to health that was significantly associated with younger age, higher educational and occupational levels and absence of risk factors. The significant predictors of subjects' perception of the health risk of current diet were smoking, obesity, high dietary fat intake and physical inactivity. All the studied risk factors were found to be significant predictors of the subjects' attempt to change their current diet. In investigating the main barriers to diet change, subjects' lack of knowledge on how to make their diet healthy topped the list, while lack of will power topped the list of barriers against quitting smoking. Pressure of time was stated first as a barrier against changing subjects' exercise level. Further researches of this type are required to yield detailed information for the whole nation to guide for health and lifestyle intervention strategies.

Sociodemographic determinations of management behavior of diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in Alexandria. Part III: Relation between diabetics' sociodemographic background and health belief model variables

The present work aims to study the relation between patient's health beliefs and psychological perception and demographic variables. The same subjects and methods applied in part I and II was adopted. It was found that a minority (1.7%) had a weak overall perceived susceptibility. However the rest were categorized as having either moderate (36.3%) or strong perception (62.0%). None of the diabetic patients was graded as having a weak overall perceived severity level. The remaining diabetics were graded as having either moderate (50.7%) or strong perception (49.3%). The majority (98.3%) had a strong perception and the rest had a moderate one. None of diabetic patients had weak overall internal cues to action towards their health. They had either moderate (59.7%) or strong cues (40.3%). Age of diabetic patients was linearly associated with the overall perceived severity level (X2 (MH) = 10.49). The younger the patients the more likely that they were classified as having a strong perception. Moreover, a significant linear association was observed between age and exposure to external cues to action (X2(MH) = 8.17), where the older the patients the more likely that they were exposed to external cues to action. It was observed that a significant relation was observed between gender and exposure to external cues to action (X2 = 4.60), where females were more likely to be exposed than males to external cues to action. A statistical significant linear association was observed between the education of diabetics and exposure to external cues to action (X2(MH) = 9.26). Diabetics without any educational certificates were more likely to be exposed to external cues to action. The present study provides data on the level of perception of diabetic patients in order to plan for a diabetic education programme.

Sociodemographic determinants of management behaviour of diabetic patients. Part I. Behaviour of patients in relation to management of their disease

We studied 300 randomly chosen diabetic patients to assess their behaviours in relation to management of their disease. The majority had very good compliance with regular periodic check-ups [97.0%], urine and blood screening for sugar [94.3% and 96.0% respectively], adherence to the prescribed medicines [78.3%]and foot-care practices [75.0%]. However, 35.3% and 39.0% had poor compliance with regard to checking their blood pressure and weight monitoring. Among smokers, 30.2% stopped smoking and 42.2% decreased the amount smoked after being diagnosed with the disease. Dietary compliance was either satisfactory or very good for most patients

Sociodemographic determinants of management behaviour of diabetic patients. Part II. Diabetics’ knowledge of the disease and their management behaviour

We aimed to: describe the level of knowledge of diabetic patients about the disease, show the relationship between demographic variables [age, sex and education]and level of knowledge and reveal the relationship between knowledge and management-related behaviour of diabetics. We found that a majority of diabetic patients [90.0%]had poor knowledge about the disease, 83.7% had poor knowledge about the complications associated with diabetes and 96.3% had poor awareness of how to control the disease. The poor level of knowledge that diabetics have about their disease suggests that health care providers need to be trained in the areas of information, education and communication

Probability of contraceptive continuation and its determinants

Probability of contraceptive continuation and factors associated with discontinuation were assessed in a retrospective study of women’s records in Alexandria. Contraceptive continuation rates were 88/100, 75/100 and 56/100 women at 6, 12 and 24 months respectively. Reasons for discontinuation included side-effects and health concerns [30.4%], accidental pregnancy and personal reasons [6.4%]and desire for pregnancy [5.4%]. Women who were older and who had several children were most likely to continue contraceptive use. Three significant predictors of discontinuation were side-effects and health concerns, age of the woman and contraceptive method. Women should be fully informed of the contraceptive methods available and their side-effects, and counselling programmes should be offered, particularly during the first 2 years of use

A study of pattern of gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms in the last decade (1987-1996) in Alexandria

The present study was conducted to reveal the pattern of different gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms in Alexandria in the last decade (1987-1996). All registered cases of GIT cancers in Alexandria. Main University Hospital in the last decade were included in the study. The results revealed that the total number of cases was 2184, 58.6% were males and 41.4% were females. The mean age of registered cases was significantly older among males than females (t = 2.43). The highest percentage (47.2%) of cases were in the age group (40- < 60 years). Less than quarters (73.3%) of the total cases have had malignant neoplasms of digestive organs and 26.7% have had malignant neoplasms of lips, oral cavity and pharynx. Of the latter category cancer pharynx came first in both sexes (49.9%) with the youngest mean age (45.65 +/- 15.79 years), followed by cancer tongue (24.9%) with the oldest mean age (58.56 +/- 12.4). Among cases of malignant neoplasms of digestive organs, cancer colon came first in both sexes (26.9%) with the youngest mean age (44.11 +/- 14.08 years). Cancer gall bladder came last (1.2%) with the oldest mean age (55.80 +/- 10.20 years). Over the last decade trend of malignant neoplasms of colon, rectum, liver and pancreas were increasing while the reverse was observed for cancer oesophagus and stomach. So it is necessary to plan for GIT cancer control programme.

Study of different risk factor profiles in stroke patients in Alexandria

The study included 94 stroke cases. They were admitted at the Internal Medicine Department between October 1994 and March 1995. For each case studied, an attempt was made to obtain, from the same hospital, age and sex matched control patient. The aims of this work are to identify different stroke risk factors and to measure the strength of association of the different risk factors and stroke. Results of this work revealed that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart diseases, arrythmias possible symptoms of transient ischemic attacks and android type of fat distribution are major risk factors of stroke in Alexandria. This necessitates initiation and continuation of stroke control program in Alexandria.