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Hoteit R, Bou-Hamad I, Hijazi S, Ayna D, Romani M, El Morr C. A cross-sectional study of university students' mental health and lifestyle practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302265. [PMID: 38626105 PMCID: PMC11020786 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES University students are regarded as the backbone of society, and their mental health during a pandemic may have a substantial impact on their performance and life outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess university students' mental health, specifically depression, anxiety, and stress, during Lebanon's extended COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the sociodemographic factors and lifestyle practices associated with it. METHODS An online anonymous survey assessed the rates of mental health problems during COVID-19, controlling for socio-demographics and other lifestyle practices, in 329 undergraduate and graduate university students. Instruments utilized were the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (21-BAI) for anxiety, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) for stress. The study employed descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models to analyze the association between depression, anxiety, and stress with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results were evaluated using adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals, with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS Moderate to severe rates of depression, anxiety and stress among students were reported by 75.9%, 72.2%, and 89.3%, respectively. The odds of anxiety and stress were higher among women compared to men. Students who used private counseling services had higher odds of anxiety and stress than those who did not. Overall rated health was a major predictor of depression and anxiety, with the "poor" and "fair" overall-reported health groups having higher odds than the "Excellent" group. When compared to those who did not smoke, students who increased their smoking intake had higher odds of depression, anxiety and stress. Students who reduced their alcohol consumption had lower odds of anxiety compared to those who did not consume alcohol. Students who reduced their physical activity had higher odds than those who increased it. Finally, students who slept fewer than seven hours daily had higher odds of depression than those who slept seven to nine hours. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate a national student mental health crisis, with exceptionally high rates of moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Factors such as gender, university program, overall rated health, importance of religion in daily decisions, private counseling, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sleeping, were all found to have an impact on mental health outcomes. Our study highlights the need for university administrators and mental health professionals to consider targeted mental health programming for students, particularly for women and those with poor or fair overall perceived health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Imad Bou-Hamad
- Department of Business Information and Decision Systems, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Hijazi
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Lebanese University, Saida, Lebanon
| | - Dinah Ayna
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Romani
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Christo El Morr
- School of Health Policy and Management, York University, Toronto, Canada
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El Morr C, Jammal M, Bou-Hamad I, Hijazi S, Ayna D, Romani M, Hoteit R. Predictive Machine Learning Models for Assessing Lebanese University Students' Depression, Anxiety, and Stress During COVID-19. J Prim Care Community Health 2024; 15:21501319241235588. [PMID: 38546161 PMCID: PMC10981228 DOI: 10.1177/21501319241235588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
University students are experiencing a mental health crisis. COVID-19 has exacerbated this situation. We have surveyed students in 2 universities in Lebanon to gauge their mental health challenges. We have constructed a machine learning (ML) approach to predict symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress based on demographics and self-rated health measures. Our approach involved developing 8 ML predictive models, including Logistic Regression (LR), multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network, support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and XGBoost, AdaBoost, Naïve Bayes (NB), and K-Nearest neighbors (KNN). Following their construction, we compared their respective performances. Our evaluation shows that RF (AUC = 78.27%), NB (AUC = 76.37%), and AdaBoost (AUC = 72.96%) have provided the highest-performing AUC scores for depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Self-rated health is found to be the top feature in predicting depression, while age was the top feature in predicting anxiety and stress, followed by self-rated health. Future work will focus on using data augmentation approaches and extending to multi-class anxiety predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dinah Ayna
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Romani
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Hoteit M, Hoteit R, Aljawaldeh A, Van Royen K, Pabian S, Decorte P, Cuykx I, Teunissen L, De Backer C. Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21585. [PMID: 38045218 PMCID: PMC10689874 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p < 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p < 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household's dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p < 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p < 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p < 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p < 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p < 0.001), Brazil (p < 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.0001) and Peru (p < 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125-1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951-3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117-1.367], having a high education (p < 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292-1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Food Sciences Unit, National Council for Scientific Research-Lebanon (CNRS-L), Beirut, P.O. Box 11-8281, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ayoub Aljawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Kathleen Van Royen
- Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Pabian
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Paulien Decorte
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Cuykx
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lauranna Teunissen
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Charlotte De Backer
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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El Mikati IK, Hoteit R, Harb T, El Zein O, Piggott T, Melki J, Mustafa RA, Akl EA. Defining Misinformation and Related Terms in Health-Related Literature: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45731. [PMID: 37556184 PMCID: PMC10414029 DOI: 10.2196/45731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misinformation poses a serious challenge to clinical and policy decision-making in the health field. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified interest in misinformation and related terms and witnessed a proliferation of definitions. OBJECTIVE We aim to assess the definitions of misinformation and related terms used in health-related literature. METHODS We conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews by searching Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Epistemonikos databases for articles published within the last 5 years up till March 2023. Eligible studies were systematic reviews that stated misinformation or related terms as part of their objectives, conducted a systematic search of at least one database, and reported at least 1 definition for misinformation or related terms. We extracted definitions for the terms misinformation, disinformation, fake news, infodemic, and malinformation. Within each definition, we identified concepts and mapped them across misinformation-related terms. RESULTS We included 41 eligible systematic reviews, out of which 32 (78%) reviews addressed the topic of public health emergencies (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and contained 75 definitions for misinformation and related terms. The definitions consisted of 20 for misinformation, 19 for disinformation, 10 for fake news, 24 for infodemic, and 2 for malinformation. "False/inaccurate/incorrect" was mentioned in 15 of 20 definitions of misinformation, 13 of 19 definitions of disinformation, 5 of 10 definitions of fake news, 6 of 24 definitions of infodemic, and 0 of 2 definitions of malinformation. Infodemic had 19 of 24 definitions addressing "information overload" and malinformation had 2 of 2 definitions with "accurate" and 1 definition "used in the wrong context." Out of all the definitions, 56 (75%) were referenced from other sources. CONCLUSIONS While the definitions of misinformation and related terms in the health field had inconstancies and variability, they were largely consistent. Inconstancies related to the intentionality in misinformation definitions (7 definitions mention "unintentional," while 5 definitions have "intentional"). They also related to the content of infodemic (9 definitions mention "valid and invalid info," while 6 definitions have "false/inaccurate/incorrect"). The inclusion of concepts such as "intentional" may be difficult to operationalize as it is difficult to ascertain one's intentions. This scoping review has the strength of using a systematic method for retrieving articles but does not cover all definitions in the extant literature outside the field of health. This scoping review of the health literature identified several definitions for misinformation and related terms, which showed variability and included concepts that are difficult to operationalize. Health practitioners need to exert caution before labeling a piece of information as misinformation or any other related term and only do so after ascertaining accurateness and sometimes intentionality. Additional efforts are needed to allow future consensus around clear and operational definitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim K El Mikati
- Outcomes and Implementation Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tarek Harb
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ola El Zein
- University Libraries, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Thomas Piggott
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Jad Melki
- Institute of Media Research and Training, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem A Mustafa
- Outcomes and Implementation Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Elie A Akl
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Bou-Hamad I, Hoteit R, Hijazi S, Ayna D, Romani M, El Morr C. Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study to investigate how mental health, lifestyle, and socio-demographic factors shape students' quality of life. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288358. [PMID: 37471388 PMCID: PMC10358926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The high prevalence of COVID-19 has had an impact on the Quality of Life (QOL) of people across the world, particularly students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the social, lifestyle, and mental health aspects that are associated with QOL among university students in Lebanon. METHODS A cross-sectional study design was implemented using a convenience sampling approach. Data collection took place between November 2021 and February 2022, involving 329 undergraduate and graduate students from private and public universities. Quality of life was assessed using the Quality-of-Life Scale (QOLS). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, and linear regression-based methods were used to analyze the association between QOL and socio-demographic, health-related, lifestyle, and mental health factors. The significance level for statistical analysis was predetermined at α = 0.05. RESULTS The study participants' average (SD) QOL score was 76.03 (15.6) with a Cronbach alpha of 0.911. QOL was positively associated with importance of religion in daily decisions (β = 6.40, p = 0.006), household income (β = 5.25, p = 0.017), general health ratings (β Excellent/poor = 23.52, p <0.001), access to private counseling (β = 4.05, p = 0.020), physical exercise (β = 6.67, p <0.001), and a healthy diet (β = 4.62, p = 0.026); and negatively associated with cigarette smoking (β increased = -6.25, p = 0.030), internet use (β ≥4 hours = -7.01, p = 0.005), depression (β = -0.56, p = 0.002) and stress (β = -0.93, p <0.001). CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study reveals the key factors that positively and negatively influence students' quality of life (QOL). Factors such as religion, higher income, and a healthy diet improve QOL, while depression, stress, excessive internet use, and cigarette smoking negatively impact it. Universities should prioritize initiatives like physical activity promotion, affordable nutritious options, destigmatizing mental health, counseling services, and self-help interventions to support student well-being and enhance their QOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imad Bou-Hamad
- Department of Business Information and Decision Systems, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Hijazi
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Lebanese University, Saida, Lebanon
| | - Dinah Ayna
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Romani
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Christo El Morr
- School of Health Policy and Management, York University, Toronto, Canada
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Bou-Hamad I, Hoteit R. Factors motivating lebanese youth to adopt COVID-19 good practices: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:987187. [PMID: 37457278 PMCID: PMC10340084 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.987187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It is now widely acknowledged that young people can be asymptomatic carriers of the COVID-19 virus. While vaccines are successful, COVID-19 good practices continue to be useful in controlling the virus transmission. This study aimed to investigate the associated risk factors impacting the youths' adoption of COVID-19 good practices in Lebanon. Methods Data were collected through an online survey. The analyzed sample included 602 young people. Results Our results indicate that around half the youth sample in our study adhere to COVID-19 good practices. COVID-19 good practices are more likely to be adopted by individuals who are more worried about their health and those who live with their partners. Furthermore, media trust was a significant predictor of COVID-19 good practices. Conclusion Media can play a larger role in promoting good practices through youth-targeted programs. By identifying community influencers and encouraging peer-to-peer communication, it is possible to engage youth who distrust the media and persuade them to adopt COVID-19 good practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imad Bou-Hamad
- Department of Business Information and Decision Systems, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Mahalingam M, Jammal M, Hoteit R, Ayna D, Romani M, Hijazi S, Bou-Hamad I, El Morr C. A Machine Learning Study to Predict Anxiety on Campuses in Lebanon. Stud Health Technol Inform 2023; 305:85-88. [PMID: 37386964 DOI: 10.3233/shti230430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
University students are experiencing a mental health crisis across the world. COVID-19 has exacerbated this situation. We have conducted a survey among university students in two universities in Lebanon to gauge mental health challenges experienced by students. We constructed a machine learning approach to predict anxiety symptoms among the sample of 329 respondents based on student survey items including demographics and self-rated health. Five algorithms including logistic regression, multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network, support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and XGBoost were used to predict anxiety. Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) provided the highest performing model AUC score (AUC=80.70%) and self-rated health was found to be the top ranked feature to predict anxiety. Future work will focus on using data augmentation approaches and extending to multi-class anxiety predictions. Multidisciplinary research is crucial in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manar Jammal
- School of Information Technology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dinah Ayna
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Romani
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Hijazi
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Lebanese University, Saida, Lebanon
| | - Imad Bou-Hamad
- Department of Business Information and Decision Systems, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Christo El Morr
- School of Health Policy and Management, York University, Toronto, Canada
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Rizk Y, Hoteit R, Khater B, Naous J. Psychosocial wellbeing and risky health behaviors among Syrian adolescent refugees in South Beirut: a study using the HEEADSSS interviewing framework. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1019269. [PMID: 37205080 PMCID: PMC10187139 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1019269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Adolescent refugees are at risk of mental health disorders and underdiagnosed risky behaviors. Limited research exists in the Middle East and North Africa. This study aims to assess psychosocial wellbeing and risk-taking behaviors among adolescent refugees displaced to South Beirut following a standardized framework. Methods A cross-sectional study using face-to-face confidential HEEADSSS (Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Safety and Suicide/Depression) interviews was conducted among 52 Syrian adolescent refugees, between the ages of 14 and 21, in a health center in South Beirut. Results The mean age of the interviewees was 17.04 ± 1.77 years, with a male predominance 34 (65.4%). Five (9.6%) were married, 38 (73.1%) were not attending school 27 (52.9%) lived in a place with a crowding index ≥3.5 and 21 (40.4%) were working. Risky health concerns or behaviors detected included no activities or exercise 38 (73.1%), eating one to two meals per day 39 (75%) and smoking 22 (42.3%). Eleven (21.2%) have been ever offered drugs and 22 (42.3%) believed they should carry a weapon for protection. Twenty one out of 32 (65.7%) had major depressive disorders and 33 (63.5%) screened positive for behavioral problems. Exposure to home verbal or physical violence, male gender, smoking, and employment were associated with high scoring in behavioral problems. Smoking and ever been touched in an unwanted way were found to be associated with depression. Conclusion and practical implications Implementing the HEEADSSS interviewing assessment within medical encounters with refugee adolescents is one efficient way to detect risky health behaviors and mental health problems. Interventions need to be implemented as early as possible in the refugees' journey to help them cope and gain resilience. Training health care providers to conduct the questionnaire and delivering brief counseling when required is recommended. Establishing a network of referrals to provide multidisciplinary care to adolescents can be helpful. Obtaining a fund to distribute safety helmets for adolescent motorbike drivers can be a way to reduce injuries. More research among adolescent refugees in multiple settings, including teenagers in the host country, is needed to serve this population better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Rizk
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese American University Medical Center Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Beatrice Khater
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jihane Naous
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Jihane Naous,
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Halabi Z, Osman M, Hoteit R. Primary care physicians' awareness and perceptions on adherence to primary cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study. Chronic Illn 2022; 18:719-728. [PMID: 33375844 DOI: 10.1177/1742395320983879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the awareness and have an insight on practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs) with respect to several professional primary cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) preventive guidelines. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study, questionnaire-based using a non-probability convenience sampling. Data collection occurred at the annual conferences of the Lebanese Societies of General Practice, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine in Lebanon. 104 PCPs were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Awareness and practices of CVDs preventive guidelines. RESULTS The response rate was 37%. Awareness of the various CVD preventive guidelines was high among PCPs (>81%). Around 69% of PCPs reported that they always calculate the total cardiovascular risk assessment score. Gaps in managing patients according to guidelines' recommendations were higher in statin initiation compared to antihypertensive initiation. There is over prescription of statin in low risk patients and underutilization in high risk patients. Around 20% of PCPs would initiate aspirin for a low risk patient. Around 17% of physicians do not perform abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. DISCUSSION Although PCPs demonstrated high level of awareness regarding CVD preventive guidelines, gaps remain present in managing patients according to guidelines' recommendations. Less adherence to guidelines will increase mortality and affect patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Halabi
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mona Osman
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Tayyem R, Al-Bayyari N, Al-Awwad N, Abuhijleh H, Hoteit R, Qasrawi R, Badran E, Basha A, Allehdan S, Boukari K, Arrish J, Seir RA, Hoteit M. Dietary intake and lifestyle practices of eastern mediterranean postpartum women before and during COVID-19 pandemic: An internet-based cross-sectional survey. Front Nutr 2022; 9:932418. [PMID: 36034906 PMCID: PMC9400898 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.932418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the lockdown period, a substantial group of these women reported lifestyle changes. Aim The aim of the study is to characterize the dietary patterns, intake and the adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pregnancy guidelines before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Mediterranean postartum women. Methods An internet-based cross-sectional survey was used to collect the data. The survey was carried out among 1,939 postpartum women from five countries from the Eastern Mediterranean region. Change in dietary intake from the five food groups and the adherence to USDA's daily recommendations were assessed. Findings There was a significant increase in the mean (SD) consumption of all the food groups, including bread, rice, and other cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products, white and red meat, and nuts during the pandemic. Around 84% of participants reported no/low adherence (0–2) to USDA guidelines, whereas only 15% reported moderate or high adherence (3–5) to the guidelines before the pandemic. However, there was an increase in the proportion of subjects reporting moderate/high adherence (22%) during the pandemic. Discussion and conclusions A substantial proportion of our study participants reported a lower dietary intake than the recommended amounts, and low adherence to the five food groups. Reasonable and applicable actions should be taken to protect postpartum women and their children from the effects of low dietary intake, particularly during pandemics and lockdowns. More researches are needed to identify the modifiable factors which could improve the nutritional status of the postpartum women during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Tayyem
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Nahla Al-Bayyari
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Narmeen Al-Awwad
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Haya Abuhijleh
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Radwan Qasrawi
- Department of Computer Science, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.,Department of Computer Engineering, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Eman Badran
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Asma Basha
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sabika Allehdan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Bahrain
| | - Khlood Boukari
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.,National Nutrition Committee (NNC), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi FDA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamila Arrish
- National Nutrition Committee (NNC), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi FDA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rania Abu Seir
- Department of Biomedical Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,PHENOL Research Group (Public Health Nutrition program-Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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11
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Romani M, Assaf G, Mahfoud M, Hoteit R, Saab BR. Impact of a Multifaceted Intervention Among Primary Care Physicians on Sickness Certification. J Contin Educ Health Prof 2022; 42:e121-e124. [PMID: 35439792 DOI: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sickness absence remains a major challenge globally. Primary care physicians often find it challenging to deny patients' requests for sick leaves, making the gatekeeping role uneasy among doctors. METHODS Twenty-one PCPs participated in this non-randomized intervention study. The educational intervention consisted of an interactive presentation, a 20-minute video screening, and 3 text message reminders. The average number for sickness certificates (SCs), sickness absence rate per patient, and causes for sickness absence spells were measured one year before and one year after the intervention. RESULTS The average number of SC one year before and after the intervention was 0.44 and 0.47, respectively. The sickness absence rate was 0.63% one year before and 0.75% one year after the intervention with no statistical significance. The mean number of sickness absence days did not significantly change. Causes for sickness absence spells significantly increased for diarrhea and back pain but decreased for upper respiratory infections with no statistical significance. DISCUSSION Implementation of a multifaceted intervention to train PCPs on the process of sickness certification did not affect the sickness absence rate. Further research is needed to assess the knowledge and understanding of physicians' sickness certification process and the underlying factors that govern it to better develop tailored and effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Romani
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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12
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Bou-Hamad I, Hoteit R, Harajli D, Reykowska D. Personal Economic Worries in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:871209. [PMID: 35846687 PMCID: PMC9280425 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.871209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesThe emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic worsened Lebanon’s economic situation and generated worries about living conditions. This study aimed to explain personal economic worries patterns among Lebanese young adults while accounting for demographics and mental health characteristics.MethodsA total sample of 988 Lebanese responses were collected, using an online survey. The analysis was conducted using regression-based methods.ResultsMen exhibited higher economic worries than women. Lower levels of economic worries among people with higher wages were more pronounced. Lebanese retirees experience the highest economic worries compared to other employment status groups. Individuals with higher life satisfaction are less concerned about the economy. Mental wellbeing factors were positively associated with personal economic worries.ConclusionThe current study presents a seminal insight into the differences in economic worries caused by COVID-19 pandemic among individuals in a developing country context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imad Bou-Hamad
- Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Imad Bou-Hamad,
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dunia Harajli
- Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
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13
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Hoteit R, Yassine HM. Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:919. [PMID: 35746526 PMCID: PMC9230982 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a virus that belongs to the coronavirus family and is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of May 2022, it had caused more than 500 million infections and more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Several vaccines have been produced and tested over the last two years. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, on the other hand, has mutated over time, resulting in genetic variation in the population of circulating variants during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also shown immune-evading characteristics, suggesting that vaccinations against these variants could be potentially ineffective. The purpose of this review article is to investigate the key variants of concern (VOCs) and mutations of the virus driving the current pandemic, as well as to explore the transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in relation to epidemiological factors and to compare the virus's transmission rate to that of prior coronaviruses. We examined and provided key information on SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in this study, including their transmissibility, infectivity rate, disease severity, affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, viral load, reproduction number, vaccination effectiveness, and vaccine breakthrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 110236, Lebanon;
| | - Hadi M. Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center and College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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14
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Qasrawi R, Amro M, VicunaPolo S, Abu Al-Halawa D, Agha H, Abu Seir R, Hoteit M, Hoteit R, Allehdan S, Behzad N, Bookari K, AlKhalaf M, Al-Sabbah H, Badran E, Tayyem R. Machine learning techniques for predicting depression and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional regional study. F1000Res 2022; 11:390. [PMID: 36111217 PMCID: PMC9445566 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110090.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Maternal depression and anxiety are significant public health concerns that play an important role in the health and well-being of mothers and children. The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequential lockdowns and related safety restrictions worldwide negatively affected the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: This regional study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model for the prediction of maternal depression and anxiety. The study used a dataset collected from five Arab countries during the COVID-19 pandemic between July to December 2020. The population sample included 3569 women (1939 pregnant and 1630 postpartum) from five countries (Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain). The performance of seven machine learning algorithms was assessed for the prediction of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results: The Gradient Boosting (GB) and Random Forest (RF) models outperformed other studied ML algorithms with accuracy values of 83.3% and 83.2% for depression, respectively, and values of 82.9% and 81.3% for anxiety, respectively. The Mathew’s Correlation Coefficient was evaluated for the ML models; the Naïve Bayes (NB) and GB models presented the highest performance measures (0.63 and 0.59) for depression and (0.74 and 0.73) for anxiety, respectively. The features’ importance ranking was evaluated, the results showed that stress during pregnancy, family support, financial issues, income, and social support were the most significant values in predicting anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Overall, the study evidenced the power of ML models in predicting maternal depression and anxiety and proved to be an efficient tool for identifying and predicting the associated risk factors that influence maternal mental health. The deployment of machine learning models for screening and early detection of depression and anxiety among pregnant and postpartum women might facilitate the development of health prevention and intervention programs that will enhance maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwan Qasrawi
- Department of Computer Science, Al- Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
- Dpertment of Computer Engineering, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Malak Amro
- Department of Computer Science, Al- Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
| | - Stephanny VicunaPolo
- Department of Computer Science, Al- Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
| | - Diala Abu Al-Halawa
- Department of Faculty of Medicine, Al- Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
| | - Hazem Agha
- Department of Faculty of Medicine, Al- Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
| | - Rania Abu Seir
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
| | - Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public Health Nutrition Program Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Bliss Street, Riad El Solh 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sabika Allehdan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain
| | - Nouf Behzad
- Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Khlood Bookari
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medna, Saudi Arabia
- National Nutrition Committee (NNC), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi FDA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid AlKhalaf
- National Nutrition Committee (NNC), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi FDA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haleama Al-Sabbah
- Department of Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eman Badran
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Reema Tayyem
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
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15
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Hoteit M, Hoteit R, Al-Jawaldeh A, Abou Nasr M, Obeid S, Fakih C, El Hajj M, Qasrawi R, Abu Seir R, Allehdan S, Ismail MS, Bookari K, Arrish J, Al-Bayyari N, Tayyem R. Adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Recommendations Pre- and During the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant Women in Arab Countries. Front Nutr 2022; 9:824305. [PMID: 35369076 PMCID: PMC8970272 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.824305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, woman’s diet is one of the most preeminent factors affecting mother and child’s health. Prior to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, inadequate maternal diet and low adherence to dietary guidelines was reported among pregnant women in the Arab countries. Nowadays, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is widely discussed among literature. However, there is limited data on the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-infected pregnant women. This substantially larger group also suffered significant lifestyle changes during the lockdown period. The aim of the study is to characterize dietary patterns, intake and adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pregnancy guidelines before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arab pregnant women. Using a specially designed questionnaire and using the snowball sampling method, the survey was carried out among a convenient sample of 1,939 pregnant women from five Arab countries. Our study found an increment in the consumption of cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and nuts that occurred during the pandemic compared to the preceding period. Despite this noticeable increase during the pandemic, the Arab pregnant women in this study had significantly lower adherence to the USDA pregnancy guidelines. The daily consumption of almost all food groups was lower than the USDA’s daily recommendations, except for fruits intake, which was higher than the daily standard. Demonstrated poor adherence to prenatal USDA dietary guidelines by Arab pregnant women can lead to numerous deficiencies and health risks among their offspring. In conclusion, our study showed that before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, poor adherence to dietary recommendations occurred in a considerable number of Arab pregnant women. The findings emphasize the need for nutritional education and intervention during prenatal visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group Public Health Nutrition Program-Lebanon, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Maha Hoteit,
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Sara Obeid
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Chadi Fakih
- Al Hadi Laboratory and IVF Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad El Hajj
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Radwan Qasrawi
- Department of Computer Science, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
- Department of Computer Engineering, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rania Abu Seir
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Sabika Allehdan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain
| | - Mahmoud Samy Ismail
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Hamad University Hospital, Busaiteen, Bahrain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Khlood Bookari
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamila Arrish
- National Nutrition Committee (NNC), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi FDA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Al-Bayyari
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, As-Salt, Jordan
| | - Reema Tayyem
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Reema Tayyem,
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16
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Sharif-Esfahani P, Hoteit R, Morr CE, Tamim H. Fear of COVID-19 and Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and PTSD among Syrian Refugee Parents in Canada. J Migr Health 2022; 5:100081. [PMID: 35098193 PMCID: PMC8783986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2022.100081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The high frequency of COVID-19 has had an impact on the psychological health of all countries and socioeconomic groups around the world, with refugees suffering the brunt of the burden. The aim was to assess the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD among Syrian refugee parents residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Methods A convenience sample of 274 Syrian refugee parents residing in Ontario was recruited. Fear of COVID-19 was measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Levels of depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Primary Care PTSD screen (PC-PTSD). Multiple Linear Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between FCV-19S and the DASS-21 subscales and PC-PTSD. Results Severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were reported by 12.2%, 26.8%, and 9.7% of participants respectively, and 24.1% screened positive for PTSD. FCV-19S was associated with higher levels of stress (β = 0.27, p = 0.006), anxiety (β = 0.40, p <0.001), depression (β = 0.32, p = 0.001) and PTSD (β = 0.04, p = 0.015). Discussion Government initiatives should consider tackling fear concerning pandemics among Syrian refugee parents to help enhance their mental well-being.
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17
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Bou-Hamad I, Hoteit R, Harajli D. Health worries, life satisfaction, and social well-being concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from Lebanon. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254989. [PMID: 34324533 PMCID: PMC8321151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has struck Lebanon in its worst period of instability, not only impacting physical health, but also increasing psychological distress. Using an online survey enhanced by response time measurement, this study describes the overall patterns in mental well-being outcomes and examines their association with sociodemographic characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it identifies significant predictors for COVID-19 good practices. A total of 988 Lebanese were surveyed, with participants providing written online consent prior to filling the survey. Regression-based models were estimated. Findings show that individuals with higher education levels exhibit lower health concerns. People with children face higher health worries than those without. Men are more worried than women about their health and they are less satisfied with their lives during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics show that most Lebanese are very satisfied with their families (93.1%), but they are highly dissatisfied with their country (63%). Young adults and individuals who live alone exhibit significantly higher social well-being concerns. Age and having children were strong predictors for good COVID-19 practices. The odds of having good practices for older adults are 3.13 times higher than that of youth, while the odds for those with children are 3.18 times higher than those without. The findings of this study could pave the way for a well-coordinated national strategy and increased collaboration with public health professionals to mitigate the pandemic's adverse effects on mental health in the long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imad Bou-Hamad
- Department of Business Information and Decision Systems, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dunia Harajli
- Department of Information Technology and Operations Management, Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
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18
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Sakr CJ, Alameddine R, Hoteit R, Daou C, Doudakian R, Kreidieh K, Musharrafieh U, Rahme DV. Occupational Exposure to Blood-Borne Pathogens among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 65:475-484. [PMID: 33586765 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite numerous initiatives, occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens (BBP) caused by percutaneous injuries or mucosal contamination remain common among healthcare workers (HCWs). These exposures were decreasing at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) in the previous decades. Recently, the medical center activity has been increasing with higher number of interventions performed and shorter hospital stay. Our aim was to determine the trend of incidents resulting from BBP exposures at AUBMC from 2014 till 2018 and identify whether the increase in hospital activity affected the rate of these exposures. We also aimed to assess the risk factors associated with needle stick injuries (NSIs). METHODS A retrospective observational descriptive study of all exposures to BBPs among HCWs reported to the Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management department at the AUBMC between 2014 and 2018 was performed. RESULTS There were 967 exposures reported among which 84% were due to needlesticks. Residents (40%), followed by nurses (30%), and then by attending physicians (16%) were the top three most exposed occupational groups. Half of the participants injured themselves using either a syringe or a suture needle; and mostly during or after use. Occupation and incident location were associated with NSIs. The mean BBP exposure incidence rate was 5.4 per 100 full-time employees, 65.6 per 100 bed-years, and 0.48 admission-years. The BBP exposure rate per 100 occupied beds per year decreased between 2014 and 2017 then increased in 2018 (P < 0.001). The number of BBP exposures showed a strong, though non-significant negative correlation with the average length of hospital stay (Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.9, P = 0.083). CONCLUSIONS BBP exposure remains a serious occupational hazard. Our study shows that the BBP exposure rate per 100 occupied beds per year started decreasing during the study period before increasing again in 2018. Only the nursing department showed a consistent decrease of exposures. The occupation and incident location were found to be risk factors associated with NSIs. In addition to providing education and training, additional steps such as providing safety equipment and future interventions directed towards adjusting to higher workload should be all considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine J Sakr
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reina Alameddine
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reem Hoteit
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Carla Daou
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rita Doudakian
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Khalil Kreidieh
- Office of Faculty Affairs, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Umayya Musharrafieh
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Diana V Rahme
- Employee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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19
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Jamaluddine Z, Choufani J, Masterson AR, Hoteit R, Sahyoun NR, Ghattas H. A Community-Based School Nutrition Intervention Improves Diet Diversity and School Attendance in Palestinian Refugee Schoolchildren in Lebanon. Curr Dev Nutr 2020; 4:nzaa164. [PMID: 33274308 PMCID: PMC7695806 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School feeding programs have the potential to supply children with healthy school food, alleviate short-term hunger, and improve children's educational outcomes. OBJECTIVES We linked community kitchens to a subsidized school snack intervention and assessed the impact of this intervention on nutritional (diet diversity, hemoglobin, and anthropometry) and educational (attendance and academic performance) outcomes of Palestinian refugee schoolchildren. METHODS We collected data from 1362 students (aged 5-15 y) and their parents at baseline, and at an 8-mo follow-up in 2 control and 2 intervention schools. We conducted linear, logistic, and negative binomial regression analyses to assess changes in outcomes of children participating in the intervention schools compared with children in control schools (intention-to-treat). We also assessed the impact of the snack intervention in children who participated ≥50% of the time (HP, high-participation) compared with those who participated <50% (LP, low-participation), or who only received nutrition education (control) (per protocol). All the analyses were adjusted for child age and gender, maternal education, household expenditure, and school-level clustering effect. RESULTS At endline, there were 648 children in the control group, and within the intervention group, 260 children were LP and 454 were HP. There was a significantly greater increase in overall diet diversity score and dairy consumption in the HP group compared with controls. Both LP and HP groups were more likely to consume proteins, and less likely to consume desserts than controls. Furthermore, the HP group had a significant increase in hemoglobin, and both LP and HP groups had a significant decrease in school absenteeism compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS This community-based school nutrition intervention had a positive impact on diet diversity, hemoglobin, and school attendance of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Jamaluddine
- Center for Research on Population and Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | | | - Reem Hoteit
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nadine R Sahyoun
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Hala Ghattas
- Center for Research on Population and Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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20
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Hoteit R, Bazarbachi A, Antar A, Salem Z, Shammaa D, Mahfouz R. KIR genotype distribution among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Is there a role for KIR 2DS4 and KIR 2DS5 genes? Gene Reports 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Kalea AZ, Hoteit R, Suvan J, Lovering RC, Palmen J, Cooper JA, Khodiyar VK, Harrington Z, Humphries SE, D'Aiuto F. Upregulation of gingival tissue miR-200b in obese periodontitis subjects. J Dent Res 2015; 94:59S-69S. [PMID: 25630869 DOI: 10.1177/0022034514568197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased local immune and inflammatory responses in obese individuals with periodontitis may explain the aggressive clinical presentation and altered treatment response when compared to that of normal weight subjects. Our goal was to identify any differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of gingival tissue in periodontitis when obesity is present, which may suggest novel molecular pathways that this miRNA network may affect. Total RNA was extracted from gingival tissue biopsies collected from normal weight and obese individuals with periodontitis; miRNA expression profiling was performed with Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 arrays; and results were validated with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In silico identification of previously confirmed miRNA gene targets was conducted through miRTarBase and miRWalk databases, and pathway enrichment analysis identified enriched miRNA gene sets. Expression of selected genes in the same biopsy samples was tested with qRT-PCR. The gingival tissue miRNA profile of obese patients, compared to that of normal weight patients, showed 13 upregulated and 22 downregulated miRNAs, among which miR-200b was validated by qRT-PCR to be significantly increased in obesity. Functional analysis of 51 experimentally validated miR-200b gene targets identified enrichment of genes involved in cell motility, differentiation, DNA binding, response to stimulus, and vasculature development pathways not previously identified in the obesity-specific disease profile. Furthermore, the expression of the miR-200b gene targets ZEB1/2, GATA2, and KDR was confirmed by qRT-PCR as being lower in obese patients with periodontitis versus normal weight patients, suggesting a role of miR-200b in regulation of a set of gene targets and biological pathways relevant to wound healing and angiogenesis. Functional studies to explore the role of miR-200b in the above processes may offer new insights on putative therapeutic targets for this group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Z Kalea
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - R Hoteit
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - J Suvan
- Unit of Periodontology, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - R C Lovering
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - J Palmen
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - J A Cooper
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - V K Khodiyar
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Z Harrington
- Peninsula School of Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
| | - S E Humphries
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - F D'Aiuto
- Unit of Periodontology, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
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22
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Mahfouz R, Hoteit R, El Hajj N, Shammaa D, Sharara AI. KIR genotype distribution among symptomatic patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection: is there any role for the B haplotype? J Clin Pathol 2014; 68:40-3. [PMID: 25352645 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2014-202638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Contact of peripheral blood lymphocytes with Helicobacter pylori was proved to induce non- major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity and natural killer cells are thought to play an important role in the immunity against H. pylori. AIMS In this research, we investigated any possible association between killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genotypes and H. pylori infection. METHODS KIR genotype was analysed in 101 Lebanese symptomatic patients (51 H. pylori positive and 50 H. pylori-negative) using the KIR Genotyping SSP kit. RESULTS Among the H. pylori-positive patients, the AA, AB and BB genotypical frequencies were, respectively, 43.14%, 41.18% and 15.68% with an A:B ratio of 1.76:1. The AA, AB and BB genotypes frequencies for H. pylori-negative individuals were 18%, 62% and 20%, respectively, with an A:B ratio of 0.96:1. No significant difference between patients and controls was detected. CONCLUSIONS We noticed a reduced distribution of A haplotype among the 'H. pylori-negative' patients as compared with the "H. pylori-positive" group. This is the first study in the international literature that targets the correlation between KIR genotypes and H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mahfouz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - R Hoteit
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - N El Hajj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - D Shammaa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - A I Sharara
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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23
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Hoteit R, Bazarbachi A, Antar A, Salem Z, Shammaa D, Mahfouz R. KIR genotype distribution among patients with multiple myeloma: Higher prevalence of KIR 2DS4 and KIR 2DS5 genes. Meta Gene 2014; 2:730-6. [PMID: 25606456 PMCID: PMC4287873 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural killer (NK) cells possess an antitumor activity against multiple myeloma cells proven by the susceptibility of plasmocytes to NK lysis. In the early stage of MM, the killing of MM cells is mediated by natural cytotoxicity receptors (NRC) and NKG2D-dependent pathway, while in the late stage, NK cells lose their killing potential against MM cells due to the high expression of HLA class I molecules on MM cells. Aim The aim of this paper is to study KIR expression of NK cells in MM patients and in healthy controls, to check for any association between KIR genotypes and MM. Methods KIR genotype was analyzed in 120 healthy Lebanese individuals and 34 MM patients using the KIR Genotyping SSP kit. Results KIR 2DS4*001/002 and KIR 2DS5 were found to be significantly more prevalent among MM patients as compared to controls. For MM patients, the AA, AB, and BB genotype frequencies were, respectively, 38.23%, 47.06% and 14.71% with an A:B ratio of 1.62:1. As for the healthy controls, the AA, AB, and BB genotype frequencies were, respectively, 39.17%, 50%, and 10.83% with an A:B ratio of 1.80:1. Conclusion The interesting observation of the significant presence of KIR2DS4 and KIR2DS5 genes more among multiple myeloma patients than controls is worth further clinical, translational as well as survival research studies in these cases. KIR genotyping has been implicated in a variety of clinical and immunological disorders. This study is the first international research paper that describes the prevalence of KIR genes among Multiple Myeloma patients Results were compared to a large healthy control population sample
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hoteit
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - A Bazarbachi
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - A Antar
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - Z Salem
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - D Shammaa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - R Mahfouz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
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Mahfouz R, Halas H, Hoteit R, Saadeh M, Shamseddeen W, Charafeddine K, Itani L, Araj G. Study of KIR genes in Lebanese patients with tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2011; 15:1688-91. [DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.11.0138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R. Mahfouz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - H. Halas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - R. Hoteit
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - M. Saadeh
- National Tuberculosis Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - W. Shamseddeen
- Rosalind Franklin University, Department of Internal Medicine, North Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - K. Charafeddine
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - L. Itani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - G.F. Araj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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