- Home
- Search Results
Search Results
Filter :
FILTER BY keyword:
- Qatar [8]
- primary care [3]
- COVID-19 [2]
- breast cancer screening [2]
- Arab women [1]
- Arabic women breast cancer screening [1]
- CHI [1]
- Epidemiology [1]
- Middle East [1]
- PHC [1]
- Primary Health Care [1]
- Qatar females [1]
- breast cancer [1]
- breast cancer awareness and knowledge [1]
- breast self-examination [1]
- centralized health intelligence [1]
- clinical breast examination [1]
- cold chain [1]
- communicable diseases [1]
- electronic medical records [1]
- epidemiology [1]
- errors and deviations [1]
- health data [1]
- health intelligence [1]
- health needs [1]
- immunization [1]
- mammogram [1]
- noncommunicable diseases [1]
- pharmacy [1]
- primary health care center [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY author:
- Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari [6]
- Ahmad Haj Bakri [4]
- Mujeeb Chettiyam Kandy [3]
- Al-Hareth Al Khater [2]
- Jazeel Abdulmajeed [2]
- Maha Yousef Abdulla [2]
- Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari [2]
- Nabila Al-Meer [2]
- Rajvir Singh [2]
- Salha Bujassoum Al-Bader [2]
- Tam Truong Donnelly [2]
- Amal Mohammed Al-Yafei [1]
- Amanda Patterson [1]
- Azza Mustafa Mohammed [1]
- Chiragkumar N Gohel [1]
- Enayat Salem [1]
- Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi [1]
- Jeyaram Illiayaraja Krishnan [1]
- Jeyaram Illiayraja Krishnan [1]
- John M Gibb [1]
- John Michael Gibb [1]
- Manal Al Zaidan [1]
- Mariam Abdulmalik [1]
- Mariam Ali Abdulmalik [1]
- Mariam Malik [1]
- Mervat Rady [1]
- Mohammed Mohammed Al-Hajri [1]
- Mujeeb C Kandy [1]
- Nandakumar Ganesan [1]
- Roqaia Ahmad Dorri [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY language:
FILTER BY content type:
FILTER BY publication:
FILTER BY affiliation:
- 1Department of Public Health, Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Section, Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 1Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, P.O. Box 23133 Doha, Al Rayyan Campus, Al Forousiya Road, Qatar [1]
- 1Full Professor, Faculty of Nursing; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada [1]
- 2Assistant Chairman, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 2Family and Community Medicine Department, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Doha, Qatar [1]
- 2Hamad Medical Corporation [1]
- 3Director of Health Lifestyle Programs and Preventive Medicine, Aspetar, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 3Primary Health Care [1]
- 3Program Director Hematology and Oncology, Chair person of ICC –AAH, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 4Director of Healthy Lifestyle Program, Public health consultant, Aspetar, P.O. Box 29222, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 4Head of Child Health Service, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Doha, Qatar [1]
- 4University of Calgary, Qatar [1]
- 5Qatar Supreme Council of Health, Primary Health Care Department, P.O. Box 3050, Doha - Qatar [1]
- 6Deputy Chief for Continuing Care Group, Hamad Medical Corporation & SCH Nursing Affairs, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 7Senior Consultant Biostatistician, Hamad Medical Corporation. P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar [1]
- Directorate of Operations, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. [1]
- Directorate of Preventative Health, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar [1]
- Directorate of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar [1]
- Directorate of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar Email: [email protected] [1]
- Directorate of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.E-mail: [email protected] [1]
- Pharmacy & Therapeutics Supply, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar Email: [email protected] [1]
- Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar E-mail: [email protected] [1]
- Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence Directorate, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar. *Email: [email protected] [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY article type:
FILTER BY access type:
Type of COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Errors and Deviations at the Primary Health Care Vaccination Sites in the State of Qatar 2021-2022
Objective This research aimed to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration errors at Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC) in Qatar and provide corrective measures to enhance patient safety based on the Centre for Communicable Diseases recommendations.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the electronic medical records of patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines at PHCC between 23 December 2020 and 31 December 2021. Demographic information vaccine details administration dates lot numbers and vaccination sites were extracted. A descriptive analysis was performed to calculate the percentages of common vaccine administration errors outlined by the CDC.
Results PHCC administered 2797941 and 694643 vaccine doses in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The primary error category was data quality with the highest observed error being a discrepancy between vaccine expiration dates and actual dates (3.1% in December 2022). In 2021 all error percentages within data quality were below 0.37%. Notably the most prevalent vaccine administration deviation in 2021 was interval rule 2 where the second dose was administered more than 42 days after the first dose. The highest deviation (1.59%) was reported in November.
Conclusions Vaccination remains crucial for disease prevention necessitating accurate vaccine administration processes. The study underscores the importance of effective implementation and monitoring of vaccination programmes. PHCC’s strategies including ongoing training adherence to guidelines and a monitoring dashboard contributed to better error understanding. This approach facilitated targeted training and communication efforts to enhance patient safety and minimise potential harm. The findings highlight the significance of continuous improvement in vaccine administration to ensure the success of public health interventions.
Transforming Primary Healthcare Services with Centralized Health Intelligence: A Case Study from Qatar
Centralized Health Intelligence (CHI) represents an ecosystem where data technology and expertise converge to elevate the standards of healthcare services. In this case study we explore the pivotal role of CHI in reshaping the healthcare paradigm at the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Qatar. Adopting clinical information systems led to a wealth of data necessitating the transformation of the conventional health information management team into the Business and Health Intelligence (BHI) Department. The establishment of a centralized enterprise data warehouse (EDW) and the use of business intelligence tools by the BHI Department further contributed to improved data governance. A meticulous Centralized Health Intelligence Framework was devised to ensure the effective use of PHCC's data assets. This framework encompasses policies and procedures related to data stewardship information needs assessment data classification data privacy and data literacy requirements. Through this study we demonstrate how PHCC has harnessed CHI to redefine healthcare delivery by providing relevant stakeholders with easy access to advanced data analytics and data-driven decision-making tools. Implementing CHI infrastructure presents many challenges including financial technical and organizational hurdles. Despite these challenges CHI significantly benefits relevant stakeholders by providing enhanced access to health data fostering active engagement. However addressing data comprehension security and privacy concerns remains critical.
Epidemiology of scorpion sting and snakebite cases in Qatar 2018–2022: A primary care-based study
Background: Envenomation caused by snakebites and scorpion stings is a neglected disease responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. In Qatar little information is available on the epidemiological aspects of snakebites and scorpion stings. This study describes the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of patients treated for scorpion stings or snakebites at Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
Methods: A retrospective data analysis was applied to investigate the number of scorpion stings and snakebites reported at the PHCC health centers between January 1 2018 and December 31 2022. The data were electronically extracted from the medical records of the registered population at PHCC.
Results: 581 scorpion stings and 21 cases of snakebites were reported between January 1 2018 and December 31 2022. The highest number of scorpion stings reported in 2020 was 141 cases. The distribution of scorpion stings was higher among males than females with rates of 86% and 14% respectively and the highest number of cases occurred in the age group of 19–39 years. Among the total cases Bangladeshi and Qatari were the most affected with a rate of 41% and 14% respectively. The western region had the highest incidence of scorpion stings at 7.47 per 10000 persons.
Conclusion: According to this research the western region had the highest occurrence of scorpion stings cases primarily among Bangladeshis and Qataris particularly in the age group of 19–49 years. This study also found similar patterns in snakebite cases. Consequently this study emphasizes the need for increased investment in antivenom and the training of healthcare professionals to address scorpion stings effectively.
Promoting screening to reduce breast cancer mortality among Arab women: What do healthcare professionals need to do?
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among Arab women. Early detection of breast cancer through regular screening activities improvement of the quality of screening activities and enhanced treatment have been found to decrease mortality rates. However alarmingly low participation rates in breast cancer screening activities have been reported among Arab women. Drawing on the findings of our recent study in Qatar and a comprehensive literature review of studies in this paper we recommend several categories of intervention strategies to promote early detection of breast cancer among Arab populations. These include: (1) Providing public education about breast cancer and cancer screening methods; (2) Encouraging primary care physicians to incorporated BC screening recommendations into their daily practice and routine with their female patients; (3) Deliver interventions that minimize cognitive barriers at the individual level; (4) Incorporate access-enhancing strategies; and (5) More intervention and evaluation studies are needed to develop culturally sensitive interventions and assess the cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the intervention programs.
Status of cold chain management among health care providers in Qatar: Primary health care center based intervention study
Objective: The study aimed to assess cold chain management status among health care professionals at primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional design with pre-post intervention study was conducted in 21 PHCCs. A structured cold chain checklist was used to collect data regarding the status of cold chain management system in the centers before and after educational intervention. Results: Prior to the intervention six key criteria for cold chain management were present in all 21 PHCCs (100%) eight were present in >80% another eight were present in 60–80% while 13 were present in < 60%. Post intervention these figures improved to 8 13 4 and 10 respectively. Conclusion: In Qatar cold chain management system practices among primary health care workers were generally positive. These practices significantly improved following an educational intervention within the targeted primary health care centers. Therefore it is recommended that all health care professionals working in PHCCs should receive mandatory cold chain management training prior to their initiation of clinical practice to ensure delivery of safe and effective vaccines in Qatar.
Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of the primary healthcare corporation-based COVID-19 swabbed persons in Qatar, 2020
Background: In March 2020 Qatar started reporting increased numbers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). National preventive measures were implemented and a testing plan was developed to respond to the pandemic with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) as the central element. PHCC is the main public primary healthcare provider in Qatar and it operates in 27 health centers with around 1.4 million registered individuals as of January 1 2020. The latter population was distributed across four main nationality groups; Middle Eastern and North African (51.5%) Asian (41.2%) African (2.4%) and others (5.1%). At the primary healthcare level in Qatar this study describes the epidemiological characteristics of individuals registered at PHCC who had contracted COVID-19 in 2020 during the first wave before the vaccination phase and examines the factors associated with the positivity rate.
Methods: Retrospective data analysis was conducted for persons screened for SARS-CoV-2 in primary healthcare health centers in Qatar between March 11 and December 31 2020. The study analyzed the demographic characteristics of the tested persons and noncommunicable disease burden positivity rate by month nationality and age-group and the factors associated with the positivity rate.
Results: Between March 11 and December 31 2020 PHCC tested 379247 persons for SARS-CoV-2 with a median age (IQR) of 32 (21–42) years. Of these 57.0% were from the Middle East and North Africa and 32.5% were originally from Asia. Overall 10.9% had diabetes mellitus and 11.3% had hypertension. The epidemiological curve showed a steep increase in the positivity rate from March till May 2020 at the highest rate of 37.5% in May 2020. The highest positivity rate was observed among Asian males at 15.7%. The positivity rate was the lowest among the age-group aged 60 years and above. It was almost the same among the tested persons for SARS-CoV-2 in the three main age groups (0–18 19–39 40–59) at 10.1% 12.3% and 12.2% respectively. In a multi regression model being a male was associated with a higher risk (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.13–1.17). Asians were at higher risk than those originally from the Middle East and North Africa (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.27–1.32). COVID-19 infection was higher among those presenting clinical symptoms than asymptomatic individuals (OR. 4.52; 95% CI 4.42–4.64).
Conclusion: The epidemic among the PHCC-registered population predominantly affected younger ages and males namely coming from Asia. At the primary healthcare level the COVID-19 infection rate was higher among those who presented with clinical symptoms. The lowest positivity rate among individuals >60 years may reflect the effectiveness of public health measures related to the high-risk group. Scaled-up testing at the primary healthcare level helped to detect more cases during the peak of the first wave and was reflected in a steady increase in the positivity rate flattened later due to the established public health measures.
Epidemiological health assessment in primary healthcare in the State of Qatar- 2019
Background: In the public sector in Qatar the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is the major provider of primary healthcare services to families. Therefore the PHCC conducted the first epidemiological health assessment to understand the burden of diseases and their subsequent risk factors impacting its registered population to design better services implement it and allocate resources to respond to the population health needs.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted among all PHCC registered populations between September 1 2018 and August 31 2019. The study target population was all persons residing in Qatar aged 0+ years and registered at the 27 health centers affiliated with the PHCC; excluding patients with an expired residence permit on August 31 2019 and craft male workers were provided their primary healthcare services at the Qatar Red Crescent health facilities. The data were extracted from patients’ electronic medical records (EMR).
Results: The burden of type 2 diabetes hypertension and dyslipidemia were the highest among the population of the central region at 13.9% 15.7% and 11.1% respectively. Tobacco consumption among males was higher than females and ranged from 25.4% to 27.8% with the highest rate in the northern region. Obesity rates ranged between 34.7% and 37.0% among the total population registered with the lowest rate in the central region while 39.9% of females in the northern region had a body mass index above 30 kg/m2. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was significantly lower than that at 4 months across all regions. Children in the northern region had the highest rate of overweight/obesity based on Z-scores. The western region population had the highest number of communicable diseases notifications.
Conclusion: Understanding the patterns of disease in the local population will enable the PHCC to plan a clear set of services that meet the population's health needs which include tailored health education and promotion components.
Breast cancer screening among Arabic women living in the State of Qatar: Awareness, knowledge, and participation in screening activities
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the State of Qatar and the incidence rate is rising. Previous findings indicate women in Qatar are often diagnosed with breast cancer at advanced stages and their participation rates in screening activities are low.
Purpose: To investigate within the State of Qatar Arabic women’s knowledge regarding breast cancer and breast cancer screening (BCS) methods and their participation rates in BCS. This paper reports on the results of a cross-sectional survey.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional interview survey was conducted with 1063 Arabic women (Qatari citizens and non-Qatari Arabic-speaking residents) 35 years of age or older from March 2011 to July 2011.
Results: Of the 1063 women interviewed (87.5% response rate) 90.7% were aware of breast cancer; 7.6% were assessed with having basic knowledge of BCS 28.9% were aware of breast self-examination (BSE) 41.8% were aware of clinical breast exams (CBE) and 26.9% were aware of mammograms. Of the women interviewed 13.8% performed BSE monthly 31.3% had a CBE once a year or once every two years and 26.9% of women 40 years of age or older had a mammogram once a year or once every two years. Participation rates in BCS activities were significantly related to awareness and knowledge of BCS education levels and receiving information about breast cancer self-examination or mammography from any of a variety of sources particularly physicians.
Conclusions: Study results demonstrate that despite the existent breast cancer screening recommendations less than one-third of Arabic women living in Qatar participate in BCS activities. Public health campaigns encouraging more proactive roles for health care professionals regarding awareness and knowledge of breast cancer BCS and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer will help increase screening rates and reduce mortality rates among Arabic women living in the State of Qatar.