Bassem R. Saab

Common Prescriptions in Ambulatory Care in Lebanon

OBJECTIVE: To describe prescribing practices of family physicians in a staff model health maintenance organization at a university health center in Lebanon and estimate costs of such practices for common diseases. METHODS: All prescriptions issued between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 1998, were prospectively collected. The diagnoses made by physicians at each encounter were recorded, and the total price of medications prescribed was calculated. The core prescribing indicators as defined by the World Health Organization and the mean annual prescription price per person for the 25 most common diagnoses were calculated. RESULTS: Prescribing occurred in 27.1% of encounters, with a mean of 1.6 medications per encounter; 17.5% of all prescriptions included an antibiotic. Generic drugs and essential drugs each accounted for 2.9% of all medications. Approximately 50% of the consultations for either respiratory or ear infections resulted in a prescription. Cervical spine syndromes and lipid metabolism disorders cost most among recorded diagnoses, with mean annual prescription prices per person of US

Psychological Distress Among Marginalized Women in the Outskirts of Beirut: Determinants and Association with Health Perception

2016 and

Detainment and health: The case of the Lebanese hostages of war

1128, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of generic and essential drug prescribing, as well as the frequency of prescribing in respiratory infections, highlight the need for initiatives to help rationalize prescribing in primary care in Lebanon. Together with the diagnostic categories incurring high cost per person, these issues can be part of physician education or treatment guideline development. These measures may aid the government in its subsidy of primary health care centers.

Postgraduate Educational Program for Primary Care Physicians in Remote Areas in Lebanon.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) and its determinants in under-privileged women in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. A cross-sectional survey of 1,869 ever-married women aged 15–59 was carried out. PD levels were determined using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (Appendix). Health status, living conditonns, social support, and physical symptoms as reported by women were recorded. Logistic regression was used to test the independent effect of each variable on PD. 46.6% of women had PD. Psychologically distressed women had more children, less education, lower income, less social support, an uncomfortable relationship with their husband, participated in the labor force and were more likely to reside in a predominantly Moslem community. Reporting a health or living problem were significant predictors of PD. The presence of limb, back and stomach pain, and headache were associated with PD. Compared to similar populations in other countries, our sample had a high prevalence of mental distress.

Health for all? Dream on!

The purpose of the current research was to compare former detainees of Khiam prison to a comparison group regarding depression, anxiety, presence of chronic diseases, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The sample consisted of 118 ex-detainees and 90 community controls. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Clinician-Administered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire were used. The ex-detainees suffered from an increased level of depression, high anxiety scores, increased chronic diseases, smoked more, and consumed more alcohol than their comparison group. Regression analyses showed that detainment independently predicted depression and anxiety.

Medical Conditions Affecting Well‐Accommodated Travelers in Lebanon

Introduction: Continuing medical education (CME) is a requirement in many developed countries. Lebanon lacks such a rule; hence, the dictum “once a doctor always a doctor” holds. This article describes a pioneering postgraduate educational program for primary care physicians in remote areas of Lebanon. Method: The Lebanese Society of Family Medicine introduced a 2‐year structured CME program to four remote Lebanese areas. Thirteen family physicians provided 33 activities to 1,073 primary care physicians tackling 22 subjects chosen from a list of 53 common clinical problems approved by community medical leaders. Each attendee was requested to complete an evaluation form at the end of each session. Results: The activities were attended by 1,073 physicians, 914 of whom filled out the evaluation forms (85.2% response rate). The analysis of the response of the attendees revealed that 65% of the attendees completely agreed that they benefited from the activities, 68% completely agreed that the presentations were clear, 86% thought that the methods used were adequate, 57% agreed completely that the presenters were prepared, and 69% replied that enough time was available for interction. Discussion: The CME programs were conducted with minimal costs. They were well received by attendees. It is recommended that the Lebanese health authorities make CME a requirement to promote the knowledge and behavior of primary care physicians and improve health.

Intestinal parasites among presumably healthy individuals in Lebanon.

In 1978 the international community in Alma-Ata committed itself to the slogan ‘Health for all by the year 2000’.1 Thirty years later many are still deprived of the basic right of health. Several factors block the road that leads to ‘health for all’. This article examines the factors that makes ‘health for all’ a far-fetched possibility if possible at all. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease’.1 Keeping this in mind it may be misleading to assume that increased life-expectancy or better income implies improvement in quality of life. It is estimated that 30% of the population of the world is affected by mental illness every year. The majority of those with mental illness do not …

Determinants of Depression among poor Elderly Women: Findings from refugee and non-refugee Communities in the Outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon

There are no data on the prevalence of common diseases affecting travelers to Lebanon. Between 2001 and 2002, one among nine physicians was consulted on guests who needed medical attention in a five-star Beirut hotel. Physicians were consulted 114 times. The mean age of the patients was 36.6 years. Gastroenteritis (50.9%) followed by respiratory problems (25.4%) were the leading causes for consultation.