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Availability of decontamination, elimination enhancement, and stabilization resources for the management of acute toxic exposures and poisonings in emergency departments in Malaysia

Awang R, Al-Sohaim SI, Zyoud SH, Khan HR, Hashim S

Intern Emerg Med, 2011 Oct;6(5):441-8.
PMID: 21750875 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-011-0662-z

Acute poisoning is a common medical emergency in Malaysia. Life can be saved if the patient is diagnosed properly and receives the appropriate treatment such as gastrointestinal decontamination techniques and resources to increase poison elimination according to clinical guidelines at a reasonable time. The aims of this study were to determine the availability of decontamination, elimination enhancement, and stabilization resources for the management of acute toxic exposures and poisonings in accident and emergency departments in Malaysia, and to compare the availability of such facilities among various types of hospitals. A comparative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Seventy-four (58.3%) out of the targeted 127 hospitals replied and completed the questionnaire. The availabilities of most items related to stabilization resources were far better in general hospitals compared to district hospitals with specialists and district hospitals without specialists. These items were mechanical ventilators (p = 0.011), non-invasive positive pressure ventilators (0.024), pacemakers (p = 0.019), and transcutaneous cardiac pacing (p < 0.001). The availability of decontamination resources varied substantially with hospital type. Nevertheless, these differences did not reach statistical significance in any of the cases, whereas sodium sulphate, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol were almost never available. The availabilities of most items related to elimination enhancement resources were far better in general hospitals and district hospitals with specialists compared to district hospitals without specialists. These items were haemodialysis (p = 0.046), haemoperfusion (p = 0.002), haemofiltration (p = 0.002), acid diuresis (p = 0.04), peritoneal dialysis (p < 0.001), and exchange transfusion (p < 0.001). Most Malaysian hospitals have certain important immediate interventions such as gastrointestinal decontamination techniques and resources to increase poison elimination. The availabilities of most facilities were far better in the general hospitals. Coordination between the National Poison Centre in Malaysia and hospitals should be established regarding the emergency facilities for effective management of poisoning cases in each hospital in order to direct the poisoned patients to the hospital where the appropriate management resources is available.
Fulltext Assessing mental health among students in the UAE: A cross-sectional study utilizing the DASS-21 scale

Alalalmeh SO, Hegazi OE, Shahwan M, Hassan N, Humaid Alnuaimi GR, Alaila RF, et al.

Saudi Pharm J, 2024 Apr;32(4):101987.
PMID: 38405042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.101987

BACKGROUND: The escalating worldwide concerns for mental health, significantly amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates understanding the impact on vulnerable populations, such as university students. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and implications of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21).
METHODS: This study utilized convenience sampling to investigate the mental health of undergraduates in UAE universities using a bilingual DASS-21 questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Multinomial Logistic Regression to analyze relationships between sociodemographic variables and mental health scores.
RESULTS: The study examined 332 students, with most female participants (81 %, n = 269) and individuals aged 18-20 (89.8 %, n = 298). It revealed higher mean DASS scores among females: Depression (M = 15.80, p = 0.030), Anxiety (M = 17.63, p
Evaluate the impact of hospital types on the availability of antidotes for the management of acute toxic exposures and poisonings in Malaysia

Al-Sohaim SI, Awang R, Zyoud SH, Rashid SM, Hashim S

Hum Exp Toxicol, 2012 Mar;31(3):274-81.
PMID: 21478291 DOI: 10.1177/0960327111405861

The availability of antidotes may be considered essential and lifesaving in the management of certain poisonings. Surveys carried out in a number of countries have demonstrated inadequate availability of a variety of poisoning antidotes.
Fulltext Relationship of treatment satisfaction to health-related quality of life: findings from a cross-sectional survey among hypertensive patients in Palestine

Al-Jabi SW, Zyoud SH, Sweileh WM, Wildali AH, Saleem HM, Aysa HA, et al.

Health Expect, 2015 Dec;18(6):3336-48.
PMID: 25484002 DOI: 10.1111/hex.12324

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the association between treatment satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may enable health-care providers to understand the issues that influence quality of life and to recognize the aspects of hypertension treatment that need improvement to enhance the long-term treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HRQoL and treatment satisfaction in a sample of Palestinian hypertensive patients.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, adopting the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM 1.4) for the assessment of treatment satisfaction and using the European Quality of Life scale (EQ-5D-5L) for the assessment of HRQoL. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to describe socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 15.0.
RESULTS: Four hundred and ten hypertensive patients were enrolled in the study. This study findings indicate a positive correlation between all satisfaction domains and HRQoL. Significant differences were observed between this study variables (P < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates using multiple linear regression, an increase of one point in the global satisfaction scale was associated with a 0.16 increase in EQ-5D index scores (r = 0.16; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with reportedly higher satisfaction scores have reported relatively higher EQ-5D-5L index values. These study findings could be helpful in clinical practice, mainly in the early treatment of hypertensive patients, at a point where improving treatment satisfaction and HRQoL is still possible.
Fulltext Ionization Radiation Shielding Effectiveness of Lead Acetate, Lead Nitrate, and Bismuth Nitrate-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanorods Thin Films: A Comparative Evaluation

Al-Balushi MA, Ahmed NM, Zyoud SH, Mohammed Ali MK, Akhdar H, Aldaghri OA, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2021 Dec 21;15(1).
PMID: 35009152 DOI: 10.3390/ma15010003

The fabrication of Nano-based shielding materials is an advancing research area in material sciences and nanotechnology. Although bulky lead-based products remain the primary choice for radiation protection, environmental disadvantages and high toxicity limit their potentials, necessitating less costly, compatible, eco-friendly, and light-weight alternatives. The theme of the presented investigation is to compare the ionization radiation shielding potentialities of the lead acetate (LA), lead nitrate (LN), and bismuth nitrate (BN)-doped zinc oxide nanorods-based thin films (ZONRs-TFs) produced via the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. The impact of the selected materials' doping content on morphological and structural properties of ZONRs-TF was investigated. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analyses of both undoped and doped TFs revealed the existence of hexagonal quartzite crystal structures. The composition analysis by energy dispersive (EDX) detected the corrected elemental compositions of the deposited films. Field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM) images of the TFs showed highly porous and irregular surface morphologies of the randomly aligned NRs with cracks and voids. The undoped and 2 wt.% BN-doped TFs showed the smallest and largest grain size of 10.44 nm and 38.98 nm, respectively. The linear attenuation coefficient (µ) values of all the optimally doped ZONRs-TFs measured against the X-ray photon irradiation disclosed their excrement shielding potency. The measured µ values of the ZONRs-TFs displayed the trend of 1 wt.% LA-doped TF > 1 wt.% LN-doped TF > 3 wt.% BN-doped TF > undoped TFs). The values of μ of the ZONRs-TFs can be customized by adjusting the doping contents, which in turn controls the thickness and morphology of the TFs. In short, the proposed new types of the LA-, LN- and BN-doped ZONRs-TFs may contribute towards the development of the prospective ionization radiation shielding materials.
Public Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Use of Antibiotics and Resistance: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study Among Palestinian Adults

Abu Taha A, Abu-Zaydeh AH, Ardah RA, Al-Jabi SW, Sweileh WM, Awang R, et al.

Zoonoses Public Health, 2016 09;63(6):449-57.
PMID: 26752329 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12249

Antibiotics are considered to be among the most commonly sold drug classes in Palestine. Resistance to antibiotics has increased for reasons relating to the use and misuse of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, and attitudes regarding antibiotic use and awareness about resistance among adults visiting the emergency departments at hospitals in North Palestine. A self-administered cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving participants aged 18 or over was conducted from June 2012 to February 2013. Adults who visited the emergency departments at hospitals in North Palestine were included. Demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use were included in the questionnaire. Poor and good knowledge were defined as a total knowledge score of 0-7 and 8-15 of 15 questions, respectively. Attitude scores of 0-3 and 4-7 of 7 questions were considered poor and good, respectively. A total of 375 questionnaires were included in the study. A response rate of 83.3% was attained. About 55.0% of the participants had a good knowledge and 56.5% had a good attitude towards rational antibiotic use. A significant positive correlation was shown between participants' knowledge scores and participants' attitude scores towards antibiotic use (R = 0.344, P = 0.001. Participants with a high family income were more likely to be aware of appropriate antibiotic use than participants with a low family income (P-value <0.001). Participants with a higher educational level (university) had a good attitude towards rational antibiotic use than those with a lower education level (P-value <0.001). This study has documented important knowledge and attitude gaps in antibiotic use. These findings will help health policymakers in Palestine to implement intervention programmes to rationalize antibiotic use. Continuing medical education, professional development and training workshops for healthcare professionals regarding rational use of antibiotics and health risks associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance are needed. In addition, minimizing non-prescription use of antibiotics and increasing the public awareness about the health and economic hazards of antibiotic resistance are also required.