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From the Editor |
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We
are starting the year 2004 with the third issue of the journal and we
look forward to a successful year.
Due to the positive response of the readers and the large numbers
of papers submitted to the journal , the frequency of the journal will
be bimonthly. Medical
care systems in most countries of the world have traditionally used
generalist physicians as part of their health services delivery system.
The Middle-East is following the same track, although there is lack in
the number of training programs and the number of family physicians in
the region. We hope that
through our journal that we will contribute toward raising the level of
education of existing general practitioners in addition to stimulating
further, the movement of family medicine in the area.
This
issue of the journal has a number of papers on prescribing and
medication use. The study by Dr
AL Doghether and AL Megbil
studied the Determinants of prescribing for the elderly in primary
health care. The study
showed 51% of patients are being followed up in the primary care
center, 56% of patients had two or more diseases, and 31% of patients
are on three or more medications. 61% of patients get their medications
from the primary care center and 95% of medications for the elderly may
be available in the primary care center. The
authors concluded that most oelderly
patients depend on the primary care center for their health care. The
paper by OZER C et al discussed the issue of overprescription of
antibiotics for acute respiratory infections in children.
They stressed that this usually leads to increased antimicrobial
resistance, and adds a significant cost to health care. The authors
studied the effect of a semi-structured evaluation tool with one-on-one
patient education in reducing patient expectations of antibiotics for
the treatment of acute respiratory infections. The authors concluded
that use of an evaluation tool combined with one-on-one patient
education was found to be successful for changing antibiotic related
behaviour and reducing antibiotic expectations of parents for acute
respiratory infections. In
the
accompanying review paper on prescribing: What’s all the fuss?
the authors discussed the issue of prescribing and the fact that this
skill is poorly taught at school. This was followed by discussion on the
WHO guide for good prescribing
A
survey on parasitic infection in Kuwait was reported from primary care
centers by Al Nakkas et al. The objective of the survey was to determine the prevalence
of different types of parasitic infections among patients attending
primary health care centers.
A total of 912 participants in the study, comprised of 607
(66.6%) males and 305
(33.4%) females. 354 (38.8%) were Kuwaitis. Based on stool examination,
255 (28%) subjects were found to be positive for different types of
parasitic infections. The study revealed that the parasitic infections were more
prevalent among populations with low
socio-economic conditions. Hence, efforts are needed to increase
prevention programmes and also to improve such conditions in the regions
with high prevalence. The
paper by Dr Sarru discussed the effect of stress on physicians.
It stressed that the stress among physicians
is a global problem. The author stresses that several causes of physicians’
stress and frustration can be avoided by taking care of ourselves. He
added that overstressed physicians “need to minimize efforts and avoid
tasks that drain their energy, and invest in work that is more
rewarding. They need to realize that they are vulnerable and might need
help at times". Family physicians may be limited about what can be
done about the health care environment, but they can change their
attitude toward matters such as life and self.
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A common problem that face all general practitioners is the management of hernia. A nice review by Maurice Brygel discusses the use of mesh in hernia repair and the advantages of day surgery. The author discusses the symptoms and management of hernia and the advantage of day surgery. The author stressed the fact that the primary care physician is usually responsible for the initial assessment of the degree of urgency, referral for surgical assessment and the decision regarding where and by whom the surgery should be performed. The authors discussed the different type of hernia and the possible management. In
addition this issue features a major interactive multimedia education
section on Diabetes Type 2. You are invited to test yourself and enter
the competition for an educational CD ROM on the topic. The
MEJFM is also delighted to welcome the new members of the editorial
board. From Bahrain , Dr Faisal A. Latif Alnasir Associate Professor
Department of Family and Community Medicine
and Vice Dean, Student Affairs and Premedical Program College of
Medicine and Medical Sciences Arabian
Gulf University. From the
Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, Prof
Tariq Al-Habeeb, who
is Head, Division of Psychiatry, College of Medicine & King Khalid
University Hospital King Saud University, and Professor
Hassan Bella who is the Editor-in Chief , of the Journal
of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal
University, and Dr Mazen Saleh Ferwana, Consultant Family Medicine ,
Family Medicine Dep. King Fahad National Guard Hospital In
addition to Prof Changiz Geula, Associate Professor, Department of
Medicine (Neuroscience);Division on Aging, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, United States and From Bangladesh Prof Kanu Bala , Professor
& Medical Director Bangladesh Institute of Family Medicine &
Research We
would like as well to announce
the launching of the Middle-East Journal of Age and Ageing.
The Mission of the Journal is to promote geriatric medicine,
gerontology and ageing related issues in the Middle-East . The
ME-JAA is a new peer-reviewed journal to meet the needs of scientists,
practitioners, policymakers, and the patients and communities they serve
in the Middle-East. The Journal will begin publication, online, in mid
January 2004. The frequency will be initially once every six months for
one year then once every four months followed by once every two months.
We will apply for medical index after the second issue. The
Journal will publish original clinical and educational research of
interest to geriatricians, primary care physicians , practicing
clinicians, residents, and others involved in, services for health
related problems in older people. The Journal also publishes special
articles and commentaries about the fundamental concepts of medical
education, as well as book reviews and international reports.
It
will fosters the basic and applied sciences of geriatric medicine,
primary care for older people, and
gerontology care practice. The
web site of the ME-JAA will be http://www.me-jaa.com Finally on behalf of the editorial board and the production team I would like to wish all the general practitioners in the region a happy New Year and successful 2004.
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