Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Jan 2013
ReviewPublic health investigations required for protecting the population against novel coronaviruses.
ABSTRACT There have been many laboratory-based investigations since the emergence of the novel coronaviruses in the autumn of 2012, but most of the parameters required for establishing scientifically the control measures that will protect against them have yet to be determined. Equally, the global distribution of the viruses in their animal reservoir has yet to be established. The experience of investigating and controlling another novel coronavirus, SARS, in 2003 shows how national and local investigations can come together as an international coalition and successfully avert epidemics. A menu of studies that need to be undertaken, especially in the countries experiencing transmission, is presented here.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Feb 2012
ReviewPrimary palliative care: the potential of primary care physicians as providers of palliative care in the community in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life and relieving suffering in patients with progressive chronic illnesses. Palliative care services remain very limited in the Eastern Mediterranean region although the need for them is high and increasing. ⋯ This review highlights the urgent need to provide such care in the region and proposes that primary care providers in the region are well placed to provide palliative care in their communities. As palliative medicine is not established as a specialty in the region, training and support in palliative care are required to build capacity in end-of-life care and to allow all patients who would benefit from this approach access to it equitably and early in their illness.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Feb 2012
ReviewHalothane: how should it be used in a developing country?
The anaesthetic agent halothane is still widely used in developing countries including the Islamic Republic of Iran because of its low price. Because of halothane-induced hepatitis, a rare complication, it has been replaced by other inhalation anaesthetics in Western countries; it has been suggested by some Iranian professionals that the Islamic Republic of Iran should do the same. We evaluated various dimensions of this replacement through a literature review to assess the incidence of halothane-induced hepatitis and costs of anaesthetics in the country. ⋯ The results indicate that the incidence of halothane hepatitis in the Islamic Republic of Iran is very low and could mostly be avoided by strict adherence to guidelines. Complete withdrawal of halothane in the Islamic Republic of Iran might not be appropriate at present. Comprehensive cost-effectiveness studies are needed before a decision is made on complete replacement of halothane with other anaesthetics.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Jun 2010
ReviewTriage systems: a review of the literature with reference to Saudi Arabia.
This review evaluates some of the international literature on triage in order to provide evidence-based data for the medical community in Saudi Arabia specifically and the Eastern Mediterranean Region in general. The aim is to encourage national health planners and decision-makers to apply formal triage systems in the emergency departments of general and specialist hospitals and other relevant health settings, including primary and psychiatric care. Research and training on triage is extremely limited in Saudi Arabia and the Region and this review highlights the need for more research on triage systems and for the inclusion of training on triage in medical education programmes.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Nov 2009
ReviewCriteria for a good referral system for psychiatric patients: the view from Saudi Arabia.
The development and implementation of quality referral systems reflects sound national health planning. This review appraised the data on referral systems, in particular psychiatric referrals, with special reference to Saudi Arabia. ⋯ The rate and process of referring patients through referral letters varies globally across practice settings and is initiated by an array of factors linked with health consumers, health providers and delivery systems. Referral systems, including consultation-liaison services, are an essential component of any health care organization for offering a complete range of good quality, specialized health services.