Health Care Centers In Bahrain Research Articles

Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics and determinants of polypharmacy among elderly patients in Bahrain. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022 in all primary healthcare centres in Bahrain. A simple random sample was obtained. An elderly patient was defined as one aged ≥60 years and polypharmacy was defined as the concomitant use of 5 or more medications, with excessive polypharmacy defined as the concomitant use of 10 or more medications. A total of 977 patients were included, with more than half of them being females (n = 533, 54.55%) and the mean age of the participants at 67.90 ± 6.87 years. Essential hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities among the participants (61.51%, 57.63% and 53.22%, respectively). Among the cohort, 443 (45.34%) were on 5 or more medications and of those 66 (6.76%) were on at least 10 medications. A multivariate analysis revealed that patients with diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 5.836, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.061-8.385; P <0.001), hypertension (OR = 6.231, 95% CI: 4.235-9.168; P <0.001), hyperlipidaemia (OR = 3.999, 95% CI: 2.756-5.802; P <0.001), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 3.589, 95% CI: 1.787-7.205; P <0.001) and asthma (OR = 3.148, 95% CI: 1.646-6.019; P <0.001) were significantly more likely to suffer from polypharmacy. Polypharmacy is prevalent among elderly patients in Bahrain, particularly among those with non-communicable diseases. Polypharmacy should be considered while delivering healthcare services to the elderly, especially those with non-communicable diseases.

Cobalamin Status In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus At Primary Health Care Centers In Bahrain - A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Cobalamin, also known as vitamin B12, is essential for DNA synthesis and neurological functioning. Deficiency results in hematological and neurocognitive manifestations. One risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency is the use of metformin, a common oral hypoglycemic agent. This study was conducted to determine cobalamin status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at primary health care centers in Bahrain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in five randomly selected health centers in Bahrain. Vitamin B12 levels below 148 pmol/L were categorized as deficient, levels ranging from 148 to 221 pmol/L were considered borderline, and levels exceeding 221 pmol/L were classified as normal. Results: A total of 691 participants were included in the study, with a mean age of 58.7 years. The most common comorbid condition among our cohort was hypertension (63.1%), followed by dyslipidemia (53.1%). Analysis of the glycemic control showed that only 40% of the participants achieved control targets. Nearly 10% (9.4%, n=65) of the cohort had low levels of vitamin B12, and 31% had borderline values. A significant association was seen between low vitamin B12 levels and Bahraini nationality (P&lt;0.001), and patients who engaged in weekly exercise (P=0.007). Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the use of metformin (P=0.037) and alcohol (P=0.012) was significantly associated with low levels of vitamin B12. Conclusion: Although the overall prevalence of B12 deficiency among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bahrain was low, patients at high risk of B12 deficiency, including metformin users and alcohol consumers, should be periodically screened to prevent the associated neurological and hematological sequela. Keywords: Bahrain, Cobalamin, Diabetes Mellitus, Primary Health Care, Vitamin B12

Influenza vaccine uptake and its determinants among adult population in the Kingdom of Bahrain: a cross-sectional study to identify areas for intervention

PurposeSeasonal influenza epidemics accounted for significant morbidity and mortality loads worldwide despite the availability of a safe vaccine as an efficient tool against severity of the disease. However, the uptake of the latter was sub-optimal. This study aims to identify predictors and barriers related to seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in the Kingdom of Bahrain.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study enrolled 502 individuals attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain for ambulatory care between July and August 2022. The data were collected using an interviews-based questionnaire which included questions on demographic data, knowledge and attitudes and practices toward influenza vaccine. The authors identified the barriers as well as the determinants of the vaccine uptake and its recommendation to others.FindingsThe mean age of participants was 35.07 years (SD = 13.9). Most of the respondents were Bahraini (86.5%) and 53.4 % were females. The results revealed that 34.1% have previous information about the influenza vaccine and 36.9% versus 69.9% are willing to receive the vaccine or advice it to others, respectively. Determinants of vaccine uptake were identified.Originality/valueThis study confirmed a sub-optimal influenza vaccine acceptance in the general community of Bahrain despite a global access in primary care. Health professionals need to be more proactive in mobilizing the community and particularly females toward influenza vaccination.

Characteristics, glycemic control and outcomes of adults with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending specialized clinics in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain-A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes mellitus is a global health challenge that requires continuous and multidisciplinary management. Suboptimal diabetes management results in serious complications that impose a huge burden on patients and the healthcare system. This study aimed to assess the characteristics, glycemic control and outcomes of patients with type-2 diabetes attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain according to the new American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending diabetic clinics in Bahrain. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. The data collection tool consisted of three parts: baseline and sociodemographic data, the physical measures of the patients and the most recent laboratory results. An A1C of less than 7% was indicative of good glycemic control. A total of 721 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus were included with an average age of 58.4 years. Most patients were hypertensive (n = 457, 63.4%), and half of them were hyperlipidemic (n = 373, 51.7%). Around 57% (n = 402) of the patients adopted lifestyle modifications, 14.8% adopted diet control measures and around half performed weekly regular exercises. More than 92% of the cohort were on metformin, 52.0% (n = 375) were on Sulphonylurea medications and 41% (n = 298) were on insulin formulations. While only 40% of the patients had controlled diabetes (n = 283, 39.3%) and hypertension (n = 298, 41.3%), most patients achieved adequate cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels (83.2% and 76.6%, respectively). Non-Bahraini (P ≤ 0.001), young (P = 0.027) and obese patients (P = 0.003) had lower glycemic control measures. Adequate cholesterol levels were seen more in patients with a controlled glycemic index (P = 0.015). Considering the new glycemic targets, glycemic and hypertension control was poor among diabetic patients, especially non-Bahraini, obese and young patients. Urgent interventions by policymakers, physicians and caregivers are needed to improve the outcomes of diabetes.

Validity and reliability of the WHOQOL-BREF in the measurement of the quality of life of Sickle disease patients in Bahrain.

Limited attention is devoted to the improvement of the quality of life of patients suffering from the negative consequences of Sickle cell disease (SCD). Our study focuses on the evaluation of the performance of the WHOQOL-BREF as a tool to measure the quality of life of SCD Patients in Bahrain. We conducted a cross-sectional study that enrolled 273 SCD patients selected using a simple random sampling technique from primary health-care centers in Bahrain in 2019. A designed questionnaire including the WHOQOL-BREF was filled by the patients in the health centers. The reliability of the WHOQOL-BREF was assessed by standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the validity was measured by convergent validity, principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The WHOQOL-BREF had good internal consistency as Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall scale was 0.91. The convergent validity results indicated that the correlation coefficients values for all scale domains are significantly correlated at α < 0.01. Confirmatory factor analysis found that the four-domain structure produced a robust fit to the data. The WHOQOL-BREF tool has high internal consistency and validity in assessing the quality of life of Sickle Disease patients in Bahrain.

Knowledge, attitude, practice, and perceived barriers of colorectal cancer screening among primary care physicians in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the lethal cancers all over the world. Early detection of colorectal cancer has been shown to reduce incidence and mortality. Primary care physicians have a crucial role in early detection of cancer. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of primary care physicians in Bahrain towards CRC screening and to determine the barriers related to CRC screening. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among primary care physicians working at primary health care centers in Bahrain. It included 174 physicians. A self-filled questionnaire that includes demographic information, knowledge scale, attitude scale, practice scale items and barriers of not performing CRC screening was used as the study tool. Results: The overall knowledge score revealed that 51.7% had poor knowledge score and 48.3% had adequate knowledge score. Majority of the participants (93.7%) agreed to have a structured screening program for colorectal cancer rather than an opportunistic one. Most of the physicians (60%) reported that less than 25% of those eligible patients truly receive a screening. Physician’s lack of time was the top barrier of not performing CRC screening. Conclusions: This study showed that most primary care physicians have poor knowledge regarding CRC screening and the majority do not screen their eligible patients for CRC.

Clinical Recommendations to Improve Utilization of Fissure Sealants in Primary Healthcare Centers in Bahrain

A situation analysis among which a cross-sectional survey of dental practitioners working in primary healthcare centers found that while 127 (94.8%) out of 134 respondents consider fissure sealants effective yet, most of them have misconceptions regarding which teeth to consider carious and which to seal as only 15 (11.2%) recognized that initial carious and non-cavitated carious lesions are the same and only around half sealed either. Fissure sealants are provided for free in primary healthcare centers, but they seem underutilized as only 35 (37.6%) dentists use them very often. To address these issues and others raised by dentists and dental hygienists on the indications and the use of fissure sealants; evidence-based clinical recommendations are provided keeping in mind the high level of caries among children and adolescents in Bahrain and the services provided in primary healthcare centers. Further studies will be needed to evaluate different reasons affecting dental practitioners' knowledge and use of fissure sealants as a method of preventing and controlling caries.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Burnout among Pharmacists in Primary Care Centers in the Kingdom of Bahrain- A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Burnout syndrome is defined as the state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that results from exposure to stressors. It is prevalent among healthcare workers including pharmacists and is associated with significant detrimental effects on the patients, healthcare workers, and healthcare systems. Nonetheless, few studies have assessed the prevalence and characteristics of burnout among pharmacists. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of burnout among pharmacists in governmental primary health care centers in Bahrain.&#x0D; &#x0D; METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period between January 2022 and February 2022 and involved all the pharmacists in the primary health care centers in the kingdom of Bahrain. Burnout syndrome was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a validated tool designed to assess the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment aspects of burnout.&#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: A total of 148 pharmacists completed the online questionnaire and were included in the analysis (response rate = 80.4%). The majority of participants were females (n = 130, 87.8%), married (n = 117, 79.1%), and aged between 25 and 35 years (n = 99, 66.9%). Almost 60% (n = 86, 58%) of the pharmacists had high levels of emotional exhaustion, 62 (41.9%) participants reported high levels of depersonalization, and 60.1% (n = 89) of them reported low accomplishment levels. No statistical differences were found between the baseline characteristics of the pharmacists and the aspects of burnout.&#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of burnout syndrome among pharmacists in primary care centers in Bahrain. Evidence-based preventive strategies and interventions to reduce burnout levels among pharmacists are urgently needed.

Prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Attending Primary Health Care Centers in Bahrain.

ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Bahrain and to assess the risk factors for the same.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study investigated a random sample of patients who were treated for T2DM during 2018 at non-communicable disease clinics in primary health centers in Bahrain. Cases of 382 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography were selected for the study. The collected patients' data were statistically analyzed. Prevalence of NAFLD among T2DM patients and the possible risk factors were assessed.ResultsThe mean age of the study population (N = 382) was 59.0±12.0 years. The majority (61.5%) were women. Hypertension (57.9%) was the most prevalent associated condition. Most patients were either overweight (30.5%) or obese (58.3%). Fatty liver was found in 68.1% patients based on ultrasound imaging. Elevated alanine aminotransferase was found in 75 (21.0%) out of 357 (93.5%) patients who were tested for the same. The significant risk factors identified for fatty liver were female (p = 0.013), high body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), high waist circumference (p = 0.011), and high triglyceride levels (p = 0.043). Binary logistic regression identified BMI as an independent risk factor for fatty liver (p = 0.005).ConclusionsThe prevalence of NAFLD among patients with T2DM in Bahrain is high, and comparable to the levels reported in other studies. Female and high BMI, waist circumference, and triglyceride level are risk factors for NAFLD, while BMI is an independent risk factor.

Barriers to nurse-patient communication in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain: Patient perspective

ObjectivesEffective and efficient communication is a core element in healthcare systems, especially between healthcare providers and patients. This study aimed to identify communication barriers between nurses and patients in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted across primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. Four hundred and two patients were recruited using convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire comprising 29 items on communication barriers was used. ResultsA total of 402 patients consented to participate. The majority of participants reported the following statements had large effects on communication: “shortage in the number of nurses compared to the large number of patients” (254/401, 63.3%), “lack of desire of nurse to communicate with patients” (246/402, 61.2%), and “negative attitude of the nurse toward the patient” (238/401, 59.4%). Further, “difference in language between nurses and patients,” “lack of self-confidence by nurses,” and “nurses overwhelmed by work” were ranked as top three statements with a significant influence on communication between nurses and patients. ConclusionsCommunication between healthcare providers and patients is pivotal for an optimal healthcare service. Based on the findings of this study and the literature, we recommend formal training of health care workers in improving communication skills and including this not only in medical curriculum but also in the form of continuing medical education (CMEs)1.1The abstract for this research article was submitted to the annual research conference 2021 at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain and was not submitted for publication elsewhere prior to publication.

Patients’ Reported Experience Measures with Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain

Background: Patients’ experience is divided into relational and functional, in which the former is related to the relationship in terms of the treatment, while the functional experience is related to healthcare facilities. Patients’ experience differs from patients’ satisfaction in which the former tests the interaction that patients have with the healthcare system in the ideal way, rather than patients’ expectation from the encounter. There are limited studies in the Middle East region regarding patients’ experience. Objective: The aim of the study was to establish a cornerstone for patients’ experience in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional one where a validated questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was used. A sample of 50 patients was taken from each of the ten randomly selected healthcare centers. The patients were approached after ending their consultation at the general clinics. A total of 502 patients participated and their response was analyzed and included in the final results. Results: Patients’ experience in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain scored a mean of 42.4 out of 50, 84.8%. More than 70% of the responders answered the questions as very good and excellent. In terms of statistical significance, the timing of the consultation, nationality, and consultation fees yielded a p-value of 0.017, 0.011, and 0.005, respectively. On the other hand, results of patients’ experience scores regarding patients’ gender, doctors’ gender, age, education level, and marital status were statistically not significant. Conclusion: Bahrain’s mean score for patients’ experience in primary health centers was 84.8%. Keywords: Bahrain, Consultation, Middle East, Patients’ Satisfaction, Primary Health Care

Treatment Burden Of Non-Communicable Diseases On Patients Attending Primary Health Care In Bahrain 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Adaptation to chronic disease can be challenging. Compliance with medication, adjusting to lifestyle changes, attending health care facilities, and financial costs are among many obstacles encountered. Treatment burden is defined as the effort required by the patient or caregiver to manage the medical conditions of the patient and the impact that this has on their lives. The aim of this study was to help the health care system in establishing new strategies to address the treatment burden on patients with non-communicable diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending non-communicable disease clinics and central diabetic clinics in eight different primary health care centers in Bahrain, using the Treatment Burden Questionnaire through structured interviews. A value of 59 and above was considered as an unacceptable burden according to patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). Results: Of the 411 participants, around 18% had an unacceptable burden. Female subjects reported a five times higher treatment burden. The younger population of less than 65 years scored higher treatment burden by three folds. Injectable medications were associated with a two-fold increase in treatment burden compared to other medication modalities. Conclusion: Although treatment burden is an emerging and insufficiently addressed concept in the literature, this study revealed an overall low treatment burden. Further studies should be conducted to assess treatment burden and suggest strategies accordingly. Health care providers are encouraged to integrate all patient aspects in the management. New recommendations to formulate updated guidelines with the aim of minimizing the treatment burden are warranted. Keywords: Bahrain, Chronic disease, Non-communicable disease, Primary health care, Surveys and Questionnaires

Medication Adherence among Patients with Chronic Diseases in Primary Health Care Centers in Bahrain

Medication Adherence among Patients with Chronic Diseases in Primary Health Care Centers in Bahrain

Opinions of primary health care centres' doctors in Bahrain on the electronic software for checking drug interactions in their prescriptions.

An electronic software for checking drug interactions is available at primary health centers in Bahrain. However, it is unclear whether it is optimally utilized by the prescribers. We aimed to explore physicians' attitudes towards the use of the drug interactions checker. This was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 18 primary healthcare centres in Bahrain (75%). Primary healthcare physicians responded to a self-administered survey, which was comprised of Likert-type questions. The majority of participants (n=126) were specialist family physicians (91.3%), while the rest were general practitioners (8.7%). Most physicians wrote more than 30 prescriptions in a typical working shift (92.7%); more than half of them contained a combination of drugs (81.5%). Most physicians checked for interactions when prescribing a drug combination (86.9%). Most doctors believed that they had adequate knowledge of drug interactions (73%). However, around one quarter of them were not sure if they would be able to manage them (24%). Although most physicians used the available electronic software (83.9%), many of them relied on their memory to check for interactions (43%). Duration of practice experience, rather than specialization, was correlated with self-reported knowledge (P< 0.001) and ability to manage interactions (P < 0.001). Although most physicians used the software, a significant proportion of them depended on their prior knowledge to identify drug interactions. The importance of optimal use of the software to ensure reliable drug interaction management should be emphasized to the physicians.

Prevalence of drugs with constipation-inducing potential and laxatives in community-dwelling older adults in Bahrain: therapeutic implications.

This study evaluated the prevalence of prescribing drugs with constipation-inducing potential and the prophylactic use of laxatives in community-dwelling older adults. An audit of outpatient prescriptions ordered for older adults aged ≥65years with one or more chronic morbidities in 24 governmental primary healthcare centres in Bahrain. The prescriptions were collected by pharmacist-in-charge of each health centre between December 2015 and June 2016. The proportion of prescriptions with constipation-inducing drugs and co-prescribed laxatives was determined. The overall prevalence of prescribing drugs with the potential to cause constipation was 30.5% (642/2106). Prescriptions with at least one anticholinergic/drug with anticholinergic potential (DAP) were 22.5% (473/2106): single medication in 16.6% (350/2106) and two or more combinations in 5.9% (124/2106). A combination of two or more anticholinergics/DAP accounted for 2.9% (61/2106) prescriptions. Constipation-inducing drugs other than anticholinergics such as multivalent cation preparations and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers were prescribed in 8.0% (168/2106) of cases. Orphenadrine and first-generation antihistamines, both with high anticholinergic drug burden, were the frequently prescribed medications, either alone or combined. The rate of prescribed laxatives was 2.96% (19/642), mostly for those on constipation-inducing drug monotherapy. Approximately a third of prescriptions for older adults had constipation-inducing medications, typically a single DAP. Prescribing laxatives were uncommon and did not correlate with the prevalence of prescribing drugs with constipation potential. Physicians' awareness about anticholinergic drugs and their potential risks, and the prophylactic use of laxatives to mitigate iatrogenic constipation are to be included in continuing professional programmes.

Knowledge, Attitude and use of Antibiotics in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among General Population Attending the Primary Health Care Centers in Bahrain

Knowledge, Attitude and use of Antibiotics in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among General Population Attending the Primary Health Care Centers in Bahrain

Attitudes and barriers towards conducting research amongst primary care physicians in Bahrain: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundResearch in primary care is essential for disease diagnosis, management and prevention in relation to the individuals, families and the community. This research aims to study the attitude of primary care physicians towards conducting research in Bahrain and to identify the main barriers encountered during research.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 200 randomly selected primary care physicians registered in Ministry of Health affiliated primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. A self-administered validated questionnaire was adopted and used for data collection. Research data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.ResultsPrimary care physicians had a positive attitude towards conducting research with a total mean score (SD) of 4.47(0.65) (on a scale from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes). The total mean score (SD) for barriers encountered by physicians during research was 3.34 (0.80). Insufficient research allotted time (76.5%), insufficient financial support (63%), lack of financial incentives (51%) and lack of statistical support (50%) were major barriers. Physicians designation and board certificate were significantly associated with attitudes and barriers towards research (P-value < 0.05).ConclusionThe majority or primary care physicians had positive attitudes towards conducting research. The major difficulties faced by physicians in conducting research are: Insufficient research allotted time, lack of financial incentives and inadequate statistical support. The study addressed a gap in building research capacity which should be embraced by many institutions through partnership and collaboration.

Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms Among Bahraini Adults Attending Primary Healthcare Centers

Background and objectives: Worldwide, mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a concern of great magnitude. The mortality rate in Bahrain, due to CVD, was 19.5%, 32%, and 21.5% in the years 2005, 2011, and 2013, respectively. The objective was to assess the awareness of Bahraini adults of the early warning symptoms of heart attack (HA) and the need to activate rapid emergency care by calling 999 once recognized. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study included 400 Bahraini adult patients attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. Respondents were asked to identify the five warning symptoms of a HA and the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA. HA knowledge score was calculated for each respondent. The study was approved by Bahrain Public Health Research Committee. Results: Based on the evaluation of the knowledge scores of HA symptoms, 71.9% and 28.1% of the participants scored poor and good level of knowledge. In the study, the most recognized symptom of HA was chest pain (70.9%) followed by shortness of breath (60%). In response to the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA, only 59.5% reported that they would contact the emergency services. Conclusion: The level of public awareness about HA symptoms in Bahrain is poor. Community campaigns are required to increase public health knowledge.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer and screening among women visiting primary health care Centres in Bahrain

BackgroundCervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, with 80% of the cases occurring in developing countries. Cervical cancer is largely preventable by effective screening programs. This has not been possible with opportunistic screening and its low use in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women attending primary care health centres for cervical cancer screening.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 300 women attending primary health care centres in Bahrain. We used a validated tool comprised of 45 items to collect data through face-to-face interviews between December 2015 and February 2016. Descriptive data are presented for demographic data, and frequency distributions with percentages are presented for each item of the knowledge and attitude questionnaire.ResultsThe mean age ± SD of the participants was 37.24 ± 11.89 years, they were mostly married (221; 73.7%), and had a high school or higher education (261; 87%). Over 64% (194 participants) had never heard of a Pap smear procedure and only 3.7% (11 participants) had heard about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Nearly 64% (192 participants) believed that a Pap smear was helpful in detecting pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix, and 44.3% (133 participants) believed that they should have a Pap smear at least every 3 years. Regarding the practice, only 40.7% (122 participants) had a Pap smear in their lifetime. The majority of participants felt embarrassed when examined by a male doctor (250, 83.3%) and few underwent a Pap smear screening if they were never married (69, 23.0%).ConclusionsThe participants demonstrated a wide range of knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening. However, the majority demonstrated positive attitudes towards the HPV vaccine.

Women’s Knowledge of Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: There is a recognised need for a mass populationbased breast cancer screening programme in Bahrain. Better understanding of the level of knowledge and the different perceptions regarding breast cancer among women in Bahrain can potentially aid in the development of a culturally appropriate and efficient educational campaign. This study set out to explore the knowledge of women in Bahrain with regards to breast cancer risk factors, screening and treatment options. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study including 300 participants from breast clinics in the primary health care centres in Bahrain. Questionnaires were completed via face to face interviews. Results: In terms of risk factor knowledge, 51.3% of respondents answered “yes” on whether family history is a risk to developing breast cancer. This was closely followed by 51% of participants answering “yes” with regards to BRCA genetic mutation being a risk factor. Mammogram was exceedingly the method rated as most effective for detecting BC; 13.7% gave it a rank of 1 (best). Physical examination came second in terms the percentage of respondents ranking it as the best. Furthermore, 91.0% of respondents believed that BC screening is safe. In addition, there was a statistically significant negative relationship between age of respondents and how safe screening was perceived. Education was a statistically significant positive predictor with regards to whether screening was thought to improve survival. Surgery was chosen by the majority as the most important treatment for cancer (43.7%). Conclusions: The findings of this study point to improved screening knowledge level but limited knowledge regarding risk factors and treatment. These areas can be targeted in future educational campaigns.