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- ItemRISK FACTORS RELATED TO NECK PAIN AND DISABILITY AMONG PALESTINIAN DENTISTS IN THE WEST BANK(2022-08-13) Manwa Ahmad Juma AyedIntroduction: Neck pain and disability, one of the most widespread signs of musculoskeletal problems, it is the second largely frequent conditions associated with spine disorders. It affects people of all ages after back pain. Occupations involving frequently repetitive aspects of movement, such as high physical workloads combined with psychosocial stress, are widely associated with musculoskeletal disorders that occur as a result of specific work-tasks and uncomfortable postures that professionals’ practice. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain and disability among dentists in the West Bank, Palestine. Also, the study sought to assess the link between demographic factors and work condition and neck disability among dentists in the West Bank. Method: The researcher conducted a cross-sectional study c between October 1, 2021 and May 1, 2022. A structured neck disability index 10-item questionnaire was administered to 350 dentists, selected randomly, from Ramallah, Hebron, and Nablus districts. The questionnaire was completed face-to-face, and a total of 340 (97.1%) dentists completed it. Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.6±6.1 years. The prevalence of neck disability index was high (75.3%) among dentists. Seventy (20.6%) of dentists reported having severe neck disability. Factors that were significantly associated with neck disability included age, gender, years of work, number of working hours per day, BMI, exercise at work, number of patients treated daily, and working position (P< 0.05). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of neck disability among dentists in Palestine. The functional disability was mild, with a considerable percentage of dentists suffering from a severe disability. The study recommends implementation/ organization of specific occupational health education programs that cover refining of work organization, psychosocial coping skills, and ergonomic workplace adaptation, in order to prevent severe risks for health in this occupation. Keywords: Prevalence; neck disability; dentists; risk factors; Palestine.
- ItemATTITUDE OF OPERATING SURGICAL ROOMS TEAMS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHO SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST AND EVALUATION OF THE COMPLIANCE OF FILLING OUT THE CHECKLIST IN HOSPITALS OF PALESTINE(2023-06-11) Sana Jaber Ali YaseenBackground: The World Health Organization introduced the surgical safety checklist (SSC) to promote patient safety in surgery. This study was carried out to assess the attitudes of the operating room team members toward implementing the SSC in governmental and non-governmental hospitals in Palestine. Another objective was to determine the adherence to the currently used SSC in government and nongovernmental hospitals in Palestine. Methods: This study was carried out in two parts. The attitudes part was conducted in a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire adopted and modified from previous studies. The adhesion part was conducted in a retrospective design. The surgical files of the patients were audited against items in the SSC. Results: Participants had positive attitudes toward the SSC. The members of the operating room team who the non-governmental hospital employed were 76.23-fold (95% CI: 8.08 to 718.84) more likely to score ≥ 80% in the norm domain, 4.15-fold (95% CI: 1.23 to 13.94) to score ≥ 80% in the initiating domain, and 3.96-fold (95% CI: 1.13 to 13.93) to score ≥ 80% in the support domain. Participants who worked in a government hospital had 46.69-fold (95% CI: 6.25 to 348.65) to score ≥ 80% in the barrier domain. The SSC was completed (completely filled out) for 95 (27.9%) patients. SSC was left blank (complete) for 0 (0.0%) patients in the non-governmental hospital. On the other hand, the SSC was completed fully for 0 (0.0%) patients included in the governmental hospital. Conclusions: The operating room team members who the nongovernmental hospital employed had a more positive attitude toward the SSC. However, the adhesion to filling out the SSC in all hospitals was suboptimal. Keywords: Surgical checklist, Surgery, Patient safety
- ItemSECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AMONG END STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS IN WEST BANK(2023-08-28) Osaid Fayez MarieBackground: SECOUNDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISIM (SPHT) is one of the serious complications in renal failure patients, it occurs when there is imbalance in calcium and phosphorous homeostasis. It's a very important issue because it may lead to many complications such as cardiovascular disease soft tissue and vascular calcification. Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of secondary hyperparathyroidism among end stage renal disease patients in the Palestinian West Bank dialysis centers,and to find if there is a factor that affects PTH levels, furthermore, to highlight hyperparathyroidism widespread for nephrologists to minimize complications that may happen due to hyperparathyroidism. Methodolgy: This descriptive study was conducted and a cross-sectional design retrospective was used by reviewing patients' medical records for Patients who are receiving dialysis (peritoneal & hemodialysis) in 10- kidney units distributed in different areas in the West Bank of Palestine. Independent T- test used to compare mean and Pearson test were used in the analysis by SPSS to find the correlation. Results: The study results revealed that 65.1% of the patients have PTH level more than 300 pg/ml, with mean of 602.8 pg/ml ± 551. It also found the mean of calcium was 8.8 mg/dl±1and the mean of phosphorous was 6.5 mg/dl. Regarding the patients with diabetic the results found that 29.7% of them their PTH test was higher than 300 pg/ml level and non diabetic 35.4% and found that non diabetic patients have PTH level more than diabetic according to independent T- test. 39.9 % of males have a PTH level of more than 300 pg/ml meanwhile 25.2 % of females have the same level.20.3% of participants have serum calcium less than 8 mg/dl, and 19.9 % have a serum calcium level of more than 9.5 mg/d, 39.6 % of participants hyperphosphatemia, independent T - test indicated that there was no difference between gender in PTH level. Patients on dialysis for more than 5 years have a PTH level more than patients with less than 5 years of adherence to dialysis also by using independent T –test also, age didn’t have any influence on PTH level. found a negative relationship with a significant difference between PTH level and weight. There is a negative relationship between ferritin and PTH levels with no significant difference for the sample and a significant difference for the patient who has a PTH level of more than 600 pg/ml. Finally, the negative relationship between HGB and PTH levels showed with a significant difference. Conclusion: SHPT is a very serious problem in ESRD patients which might lead to many complication as of life-threatening complications. Among the hemodialysis population, SHPT is common, which may increase the impact on the patients, patient's relatives, and healthcare professionals. All measures must be taken such as early detection measures to reduce this complication, dialysis adherence and consultation to nephrology care guidelines, inspire patients to follow them often and adhere to their prescribed medications routine laboratory testing, as well as early controlling of anticipated complications. Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; End- Stage Renal Disease; Parathyroid Hormone; Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.
- ItemEVALUATION OF A PILOT PROJECT FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE SEPARATION AT SOURCE IN BURQEEN –JENIN, 2021 ACASE STUDY(2022-10-11) Diala Burhan Ali NairatThe West Bank in Palestine generates almost (900,000 ton/year); Zahrat al-Finjan landfill, the West Bank largest sanitary landfill, receives massive amounts of municipal solid waste every day that exceeds its capacity, leading to a potential disastrous situation. As a result, a transition from a landfill-based to a more integrated waste management system is required. This study assessed the environmental, economic and social effectiveness of a pilot project for municipal solid waste (MSW) separation at source in Burqeen -Jenin in 2020 by comparing population awareness of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) principle and willingness to separate waste, weights of waste that reach landfills and costs of MSW management before and after the project application. Standardized questionnaires to 305 samples from the town were distributed at the pre/post phase of the project. Then, it was analyzed statistically using the SPSS 22 program. Joint service council (JSC)-Jenin collected and measured the waste generated before and after the project application. Waste collection service costs were calculated and compared before and after project implementation using Burqeen Municipality Archive. The findings revealed a significant increase in the local community's knowledge and awareness of SWM and the 3Rs principle, with the percentage of people who do not understand the concept of 3Rs falling from 15.4% to 5.2%. the percentage of citizens participation in waste sorting increased from 0% to 21%. The results confirmed that the separation of MSW at source reduces the percentage of waste that reaches the landfill by 22.2% after one year, and it also positively affects the municipality economic benefits were cost shifted from negative to positive. This study concluded that implementing MSW separation at source will increase population awareness of MSWM, increase municipal financial interest, and reduce waste access to landfill, and it is recommended that solid waste separation at the source be expanded. Keywords: municipal solid waste (MSW); Palestine; separation at source; waste reduction; 3Rs.
- ItemCATARACT SURGERY RATE EYE CARE CENTERS IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINE: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY(جامعة النجاح الوطنية, 2022-07-27) Fayez Rabbaa, Ru’aIntroduction: Nearly half of vision impairment and blindness among elderly people are due to cataract, but fortunately, this decreased vision is reversible as advancing technology allows for cataract surgery to be conducted with high accuracy and precision. Despite the fact that cataract is easily treated, cataract was reported to be the major cause of blindness in Occupied Palestine among people over the age of 55. Cataract surgery rate is one of the indicators used to measure cataract service delivery in countries. It is a quantifiable measure of the cataract surgical services accessibility to those who need it. The World Health Organization has set a cataract surgery rate of 3,000 per million people per year as the minimum rate required to eliminate blindness due to cataract. As there is limited information on the cataract surgery rate in Occupied Palestine, them this study has sought to measure the cataract surgery rate in Occupied Palestine. Methods: A retrospective records review study was conducted in 2019 and 2020 to determine the cataract surgery rate at all cataract surgery hospitals and medical centers in Occupied Palestine. Results: Cataract surgery rate decreased from 2, 297 operations per million in 2019 to 1, 885 due to corona virus pandemic in 2020. Out of 211 cataract-operated eyes with corrected visual acuity, 93.84% of them achieved good visual acuity (≥6/18), 5.21% of them had borderline acuity (<6/18–6/60). Only 0.95% had poor visual acuity (<6/60). Conclusion and Recommendations : Cataract surgery rates in 2019 and 2020 were lower than the minimum rate set by the World Health organization. Therefore, there is a need to increase cataract surgery rate across the country. Visual outcomes of cataract surgery have improved in Occupied Palestine and have been found to be very close to World Health Organization satisfactory outcomes. Keywords: Cataract; cataract surgery; cataract surgery rate; cataract surgery outcome; visual impairment; cataract blindness