Knowledge Statements Research Articles

Assessment of levels of knowledge of breastfeeding counseling of health personnel working in primary health care institutions

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge level of breast milk and breastfeeding of health professionals working in primary health care institutions in Malatya.Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional Study’s survey prepared by using the Handbook of Breastfeeding Counseling translated by Child and Adolescent Reproductive Health Branch of the Ministry of Health of Turkey. 778 people were contacted by the interviewers by visiting the primary health care institutions in Malatya city center and districts, directly. All data was evaluated with SPSS 22 software and p0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.15±8.57 years; 77.6% of them were women; 49.1% were working in Family Health Center. It was determined 80.1% of family physicians and 84.5% of midwives / nurses have been consulting about breast milk / breastfeeding in daily practice. When the respondents’ answers to the statements of knowledge about breast milk/breastfeeding counseling were assessed, there was no significant difference between the answers given by the family physicians and midwives/ nurses (p> 0.05). The participants gave wrong answers to 40% of the questions about conditions that require practical support such as insufficient breastmilk and the conditions related to the breasts. Conclusion: In our study we observed that basic subjects were well known by healthcare personnel whereas there is a serious lack of information, especially in daily practice, which should be constantly updated. We think that the training of breastfeeding and breastfeeding counseling should be updated periodically and especially emphasis should be given to new developments and practical information.

Identifying Principles for the Construction of an Ontology-Based Knowledge Base: A Case Study Approach.

BackgroundOntologies are key enabling technologies for the Semantic Web. The Web Ontology Language (OWL) is a semantic markup language for publishing and sharing ontologies.ObjectiveThe supply of customizable, computable, and formally represented molecular genetics information and health information, via electronic health record (EHR) interfaces, can play a critical role in achieving precision medicine. In this study, we used cystic fibrosis as an example to build an Ontology-based Knowledge Base prototype on Cystic Fibrobis (OntoKBCF) to supply such information via an EHR prototype. In addition, we elaborate on the construction and representation principles, approaches, applications, and representation challenges that we faced in the construction of OntoKBCF. The principles and approaches can be referenced and applied in constructing other ontology-based domain knowledge bases.MethodsFirst, we defined the scope of OntoKBCF according to possible clinical information needs about cystic fibrosis on both a molecular level and a clinical phenotype level. We then selected the knowledge sources to be represented in OntoKBCF. We utilized top-to-bottom content analysis and bottom-up construction to build OntoKBCF. Protégé-OWL was used to construct OntoKBCF. The construction principles included (1) to use existing basic terms as much as possible; (2) to use intersection and combination in representations; (3) to represent as many different types of facts as possible; and (4) to provide 2-5 examples for each type. HermiT 1.3.8.413 within Protégé-5.1.0 was used to check the consistency of OntoKBCF.ResultsOntoKBCF was constructed successfully, with the inclusion of 408 classes, 35 properties, and 113 equivalent classes. OntoKBCF includes both atomic concepts (such as amino acid) and complex concepts (such as “adolescent female cystic fibrosis patient”) and their descriptions. We demonstrated that OntoKBCF could make customizable molecular and health information available automatically and usable via an EHR prototype. The main challenges include the provision of a more comprehensive account of different patient groups as well as the representation of uncertain knowledge, ambiguous concepts, and negative statements and more complicated and detailed molecular mechanisms or pathway information about cystic fibrosis.ConclusionsAlthough cystic fibrosis is just one example, based on the current structure of OntoKBCF, it should be relatively straightforward to extend the prototype to cover different topics. Moreover, the principles underpinning its development could be reused for building alternative human monogenetic diseases knowledge bases.

Anchored Graphical Representations: A Graphical Alternative to Traditional Just Qualified Candidate Descriptors for Licensure Tests

AbstractA well‐constructed just qualified candidate (JQC) description is needed to arrive at a reasonable passing score for licensure tests. Traditionally, such descriptions consist of a list of knowledge and skill statements without sufficient context to internalize its intended meaning, allowing the standard‐setting panelists to make idiosyncratic interpretations. In a series of studies, we evaluated an alternative JQC description called anchored graphical representation (AGR). AGRs are intended to provide both text and visual organizers by each tested domain to contextualize the meaning of the JQC. In Study 1, 22 mathematics educators participated in a mock standard‐setting study and were randomly assigned to conditions in which they used either the AGR‐based or the text‐based definitions in making standard‐setting judgments. In Study 2, 17 social studies educators were randomly assigned to either the AGR‐based or text‐based condition. While the overall passing score did not noticeably vary between the conditions, consistent with our expectations, results from both studies showed that the domain passing scores for the AGR groups reflected the relative importance of each test domain for the JQC and that the inter‐panelist variability was smaller for the AGR groups. Collectively, our results indicate that use of the AGR resulted in standard‐setting ratings that were more aligned with the panelists' differential expectations of JQCs' performance for each domain, and the results add to the procedural validity evidence supporting the reasonableness of standard‐setting recommendations.

PA practice analysis: Multidisciplinary tasks, knowledge, and skills.

ABSTRACTIn conducting its practice analysis, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants incorporated new approaches in 2015. Twelve groups of PAs identified knowledge, tasks, and skills required for practice not only in primary care, but also in 11 practice focus areas (specialties). In addition, a list of diseases and disorders likely to be encountered was identified for each specialty. A representative sample of 15,771 certified PAs completed an online algorithm-driven survey and data were analyzed to determine how practice is the same for all PAs and how it differs depending on the practice focus. Larger differences between PAs in different specialties were seen in the frequency ratings of diseases and disorders encountered than for ratings of task, knowledge, and skill statements. Distinctions between PAs in primary care and those in other specialties were more pronounced, as the specialty was more divergent from primary care.

Abortion-related care and the role of the midwife: a global perspective.

IntroductionThe International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) represents 132 midwifery associations in 113 countries. The ICM disseminates the Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice (EC) that describes the global scope of midwifery practice. The basic (core) and expanded (additional or optional) role of midwives in providing abortion-related care services was first described in 2010. A literature review about three items that are particularly critical to access to abortion services was conducted. Findings that emerged in the recent 2016–2017 update study about these three items are presented.MethodsA modified Delphi study was administered via the Internet in a series of three rounds. Thirty-seven statements of abortion-related knowledge and skill were presented.ResultsA total of 895 individuals participated. The total of respondents across all three rounds represented 90 of the 105 member countries at the time of the study. The role of midwives in providing comprehensive abortion care, including referral for abortion and provision of postabortion family planning, achieved the necessary 85% agreement to be designated as essential (basic) knowledge or skill for the global scope of midwifery practice. The provision of medication abortion and performance of manual vacuum aspiration abortion were designated as optional for midwives who wished to provide these services. Endorsement of these latter practices was highest in both Francophone and Anglophone regions of Africa, Asian Pacific countries, and countries at a lower state of economic development.ConclusionThe role of midwives in provision of abortion-related care services was reaffirmed in the recent Delphi study to inform the update to the EC. The role of midwives as direct providers of medical and vacuum aspiration abortions was reaffirmed for those individual midwives who wish to obtain the requisite competency to provide those services, in jurisdictions where these services are legally authorized.

AMIA Board White Paper: AMIA 2017 core competencies for applied health informatics education at the master's degree level.

This White Paper presents the foundational domains with examples of key aspects of competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) that are intended for curriculum development and accreditation quality assessment for graduate (master's level) education in applied health informatics. Through a deliberative process, the AMIA Accreditation Committee refined the work of a task force of the Health Informatics Accreditation Council, establishing 10 foundational domains with accompanying example statements of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are components of competencies by which graduates from applied health informatics programs can be assessed for competence at the time of graduation. The AMIA Accreditation Committee developed the domains for application across all the subdisciplines represented by AMIA, ranging from translational bioinformatics to clinical and public health informatics, spanning the spectrum from molecular to population levels of health and biomedicine. This document will be periodically updated, as part of the responsibility of the AMIA Accreditation Committee, through continued study, education, and surveys of market trends.

AKUNTANSI KARAPAN SAPI PADA MASYARAKAT MADURA DENGAN PENDEKATAN ETNOGRAFI

This study aims to interpret and describe the meaning of art and culture in society Madura Bull Race that we often encounter in the agenda of the annual event in Madura. Bull Race is the original culture of the land Madura cow racing is a race in which a pair of cows that pulls the train of wood (a jockey up and control the cow pairs) to be driven in the race racing against other pairs of cows). As part of a community certainly has become an umbrella association for the community Bull Race requires knowledge and accounting statements for subsequent agendas. This research uses an ethnographic approach. Data obtained from informants who were the original inhabitants of the land of Madura, through in-depth interviews, documentation and direct observation.
 Based on this research note that purport accounting practices obtained from informants indicate that the Madurese community, especially the members of the community Bull Race Bull Race follow the race as a form of love and preservation of cultural values, especially Madura. Economic compensation obtained merely as a means to preserve and ensure the survival of the community of Bull Race. Results reconstruction of accounting concepts Karapan cow Madurese community shows that Bull Race as a form of community responsibility to preserve the culture and form of pride for the community, especially Madura Bull Race.

Individualized Family Service Plan Quality and Alignment of Child-Focused Outcomes to Federal Outcomes and State Early Learning Guidelines

We used two judgment-based scales to evaluate quality features of 623 individualized family service plans (IFSP) contributed by 73 service coordinators in one state. We also explored the alignment between the skills specified in child-focused IFSP outcomes, the three Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) early childhood outcome categories, and the knowledge and skill statements included in state early learning guidelines. Findings showed IFSP content generally was family-centered and of good quality. Outcomes were more frequently aligned with the IDEA outcome categories addressing the use of appropriate behaviors to meet needs and the acquisition and use of knowledge and skills. Outcomes were aligned more frequently with early learning guidelines in the areas of physical development, speech/language development, and approaches to learning. We discuss how instruments and procedures could be used to evaluate IFSP quality and determine connections to expected knowledge and skills for all children identified by state and federal programs.

Perspectives of athletes and pharmacists on pharmacist-provided sports supplement counseling: An exploratory study

ObjectivesTo identify athletes’ interests in receiving advice about sports supplements from a pharmacist in a supermarket setting and to identify pharmacists’ knowledge, confidence, and enthusiasm for providing counseling on various sports supplements. MethodsTwo cross-sectional surveys were developed and administered. One survey was administered to athletes at local northwestern Ohio fitness facilities, and 1 survey was administered to pharmacists in chain pharmacies during mid-February to mid-March 2017. The athlete survey gathered demographic information, information sources, products purchased, including their location and selection factors, and perceptions of pharmacists providing sports supplement counseling. The pharmacist survey gathered demographic information; knowledge, confidence, and enthusiasm for providing sports supplement counseling; perceptions of counseling benefit; and barriers to implementation of providing a sports supplement counseling service. ResultsThe athlete survey had 129 participants. Athletes primarily reported obtaining sports supplement information from supplement stores, and only 2% indicated using a pharmacist. Although 52% said they would talk to a pharmacist about sports supplements, 66% said their perception of a pharmacist’s fitness level would influence whether or not they would approach him or her.The pharmacist survey had 143 participants. On a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree), the mean (SD) of their knowledge, confidence, and enthusiasm statements were 2.49 (0.89); 2.61 (0.94); and 3.54 (0.87), respectively. Ninety-two percent (n = 130) of pharmacists thought it would be beneficial to provide counseling on sports supplements. Perceived barriers included lack of knowledge, evidence, and time. ConclusionPharmacists were not identified as a primary resource for sports supplements, but athletes would be willing to discuss this topic with knowledgeable and physically fit pharmacists. Pharmacists felt that they lacked knowledge and confidence regarding sports supplement products but noted enthusiasm to provide counseling. Sports pharmacy counseling could be a viable expansion of pharmacy services in community pharmacies with proper education and tools.

Knowledge of risk factors and prevention of osteoporosis: the Israeli women's health at midlife study.

The main goals of this study were to assess knowledge of risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis in middle-aged women and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and personal perceptions about osteoporosis. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTJRs), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included five knowledge statements related to the risk after menopause, the risk of smoking, family history of fractures, decreased risk by physical activity, and by use of medications. The findings indicated wide disparities in knowledge about risk factors and preventive behavior of osteoporosis between the two minority groups (immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Arab women) and the majority group of midlife Israeli women. Knowledge of osteoporosis was related to perceived severity of the disease and partly to perceived susceptibility to osteoporosis. Past diagnosis of osteoporosis, current or past smoking status, and BMI were unrelated to knowledge in multivariate analyses. There is a need to improve knowledge of osteoporosis especially among less educated and minority women. Subjective perception of risk was more strongly related to knowledge than actual risk factors and should be targeted in public campaigns. The efforts should be aimed at strengthening women's perception of their own susceptibility to osteoporosis and of the severity of this disease.

Picture (im)perfect: Illusions of recognition memory produced by photographs at test.

Photographs have been found to affect a variety of psychological judgments. For example, nonprobative but semantically related photographs may increase beliefs in the truth of general knowledge statements (Newman, Garry, Bernstein, Kantner, & Lindsay, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19(5), 969-974, 2012; Newman et al., Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 41(5), 1337-1348, 2015). Photographs can also create illusions of memory (Cardwell, Henkel, Garry, Newman, & Foster, Memory & Cognition, 44(6), 883-896, 2016; Henkel, Applied Cognitive Psychology, 25(1), 78-86, 2011; Henkel & Carbuto, 2008). A candidate mechanism for these effects is that a photograph increases the fluency with which a statement or an event is processed. The present study was conducted to determine whether photos at test can induce illusions of recognition memory and to test the viability of a conceptual fluency explanation of these effects. The results of the present study suggest that photographs enhance the fluency of related words (Experiment 1), that false memories can be produced by the mere presence of a related photo on a recognition memory test for words (Experiments 2 & 3), and that these effects appear to be limited to conceptually based recognition tests (Experiments 4 & 5). The results support the notion that photograph-based illusions of memory stem from the ability of related photographs to increase the speed and ease of conceptual processing.

Perceptions, opinions and knowledge of pharmacists towards the use of complementary medicines by people living with cancer.

Background Biologically-based complementary medicine (BB-CM) use is prevalent amongst people living with cancer. Pharmacists play an important role in the provision of standard treatments for cancer. Less is known about pharmacist's provision of BB-CM information. Objective This study investigated the opinions, perceptions and knowledge of pharmacists regarding the use of BB-CMs by people living with cancer and the facilitators and barriers to providing information and advice. Setting Australia. Method A cross-sectional 53-item survey was developed and the survey link distributed in two professional associations newsletters. The associations represent ~29,000 pharmacists. Questions were categories into pharmacist's perceptions, opinions, and knowledge towards the use of BB-CM in cancer. Main Outcome Measure Scores obtained from responses to perception, opinion and knowledge statements and responses to demographic questions Results Respondents (n=70) were predominantly female (73%), Caucasian (66%) and under 40 years of age (78%). Respondents estimated that 19% of daily inquiries related to BB-CMs. Seventy-two per cent of respondents believed they had a responsibility to advise about the concomitant use of BB-CM with standard cancer treatments despite 60% reporting a lack of confidence in their knowledge. There was a moderate positive association (Spearman's rho 0.41 p= 0.001) between a pharmacists confidence in their level of knowledge and their total knowledge scores. The main barriers to providing information about BB-CMs reported were inadequate training in BB-CMs (94%) and reservations about the evidence base for efficacy and safety (50%). Conclusion Pharmacists have a role to play in counselling people living with cancer about their use of BB-CMs and this role could be maximized with further training and education in this area.

Practice Leadership ‘On Purpose’ — Extending the Reach of Practice Frameworks

Much of the practice leadership literature is focused on people and their roles — the who and what of leading, thus neglecting the organisational environment and wider socio-economic and political influences. Taking an ethnographic and sociological approach, we argue for a reimagining of practice leadership as a series of verbs to explore the why and the how of great leadership. Moreover, humane social work practice driven by leaders is best supported by leadership frameworks that support, guide and reinforce the ethical and professional value base of social work. Housed within the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership, and drawing on the sociological imagination, we offer a rationale for a shared organisational and professional leadership vision, congruent with social work values, presented as a leadership framework. This paper offers a leadership framework that brings together, in a logical design, the roles, ethos and responsibilities for every level of the organisation, to strengthen social work practice that is operating within a harsh neo-liberalist backdrop. It offers a methodology to enact the Chief Social Workers’ knowledge and skills statements while connecting these to the professional principles of social justice and human rights. Challenges and opportunities in developing and trialling our approach to practice leadership are discussed.

Development and validation of the educational technologist competencies survey (ETCS): knowledge, skills, and abilities

The purpose of this research was to identify the competencies of educational technologists by surveying the professionals within the field. The Educational Technology Competency Survey (ETCS) developed in this research was based on a conceptual framework that emphases the definition of educational technology and associated knowledge, skill, and ability statements (KSAs). Using the conceptual framework, the study was executed in four phases: (1) an extant review of relevant literature related to competencies of educational technology professionals, (2) job announcement analysis of 400 postings from five relevant databases, (3) extraction and merging of the KSA statements from the job announcements and relevant literature, (4) administration of the survey on a wide-variety of educational technology professionals (N = 219). One hundred seventy-six KSA competencies were derived from the process and organized into KSA statements. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency reliability, and multivariate analysis of variance. The findings demonstrate key competencies such as instructional design, project management, learning theories, working in teams with diverse stakeholders, and twenty-first-century proficiencies. Discussion and recommendations for future research and practice are provided. The ETCS was found to be a valid and reliable measurement system for these data.

Analysis of pre-service Teachers’ role-plays on Religious issues in Classroom Contexts

The aim of this article is to analyse and discuss spoken language texts in the form of two role-plays on religious themes, performed by pre-service teachers. The work was undertaken as a case study in a South African university, in a particular third-year teacher-training module entitled Issues and Challenges in Education. A critical approach to discourse analysis was used to analyse the spoken language texts of the dilemmas identified by the trainee teachers. An analysis of the two role-plays indicates that religious difficulties might be rife in South African schools. This discourse is mainly constructed through the differences between Christianity and Islam where the ‘logic of difference’ is strongly played out by the teacher. In the ‘orders of discourse’ in the classroom, texts from outside the classroom are brought in to highlight the differences between Christianity and Islam. These are knowledge statements used for the purposes of moral evaluation, which helps structure Christianity as different from Islam. Thus, the social macro–structures; that is, South Africa as a predominantly Christian country, are being mediated in micro-social practices situations, like in a classroom.

An Apparent Lack in Level of Basic Knowledge of Caesarean Section Delivery among Egyptian Females: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives: To investigate the level of basic knowledge pertaining to cesarean section (CS) delivery and identified factors associated with having an “inadequate basic knowledge” of CS delivery among Egyptian females.Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.Population: Egyptian females aged 15-49 years who responded “yes” to the question “have you ever heard of the practice “caesarean delivery”?”Methods: Five statements of the basic knowledge pertaining to CS delivery that surveyed in the Egyptian Health Issues Survey 2015 (EHIS-2015) were utilized. The basic knowledge pertaining to CS delivery was dichotomized into “inadequate” or “adequate” level.Main outcome measure: Inadequate basic knowledge of CS that defined as scoring a total correct score of ≤ 2 out of a maximum potential score of 5.Results: Of the 9,209 females, 6,063 ever-married females were included with a mean age of 32.95 ± standard deviation (SD) 8.35 years. The mean lifetime parity was 2.85 ± SD 1.69 children. Over a half (53.4%) of females had an inadequate basic knowledge of CS. The inadequate knowledge of CS was concentrated among females who aged ≤ 20 years (56.2%) or >35 years (55.5%), with primary education or below (60.6%), living in rural areas (55.7%), “not at all” were reading newspapers or magazines (54.2%) on a weekly basis, nulliparous females (67.7%), and females with ≥ 3 children (54.4%). After adjusting for potential confounders, females who were “not at all” reading newspapers or magazines on weekly basis, experienced vaginal delivery only (aOR: 2.80, 95% CI, 2.13-3.67), or nulliparous females (aOR: 2.03, 95% CI, 1.79-2.30), were more likely to have the inadequate knowledge of CS.Conclusions: Basic knowledge pertaining to CS delivery among Egyptian females is low. Robust national level programs to promote knowledge on different modes of birth delivery are warranted, particularly in socially deprived populations.

Knowledge Gaps of the Health Benefits of Beans among Low-Income Women.

We determined knowledge of the health benefits of consuming beans, and assessed if awareness varied by acculturation status among Hispanic and non-Hispanic low-income women. We used a self-administered survey with Iowa women aged 18-65 years who were eligible to receive income-based services through 2 healthcare clinics, a WIC clinic, and Extension Outreach. Chi-square and ANOVA were used to compare bean health benefit knowledge, demographics, health-risk factors, nutrition information seeking, and self-efficacy by acculturation categories. Of the 158 women who completed the survey, 58% were Hispanic, with a mean age of 36 years. In terms of acculturation, 24% were Hispanic-dominant, 30% bicultural, and 46% English dominant. Over 50% of all respondents did not know bean consumption lowered cholesterol, aided blood glucose control, or reduced some cancer risks. Responses for 5 of 7 knowledge statements differed significantly by acculturation. Hispanic-dominant and bicultural women reported significantly better health, higher bean consumption, and less cigarette smoking than English-dominant women. Bicultural and English-dominant women were more likely to use the Internet for nutrition information. There are knowledge gaps about the health benefits of bean consumption among low-income women. Nutrition education to improve their knowledge may lead to increased bean consumption, reducing health disparities and improving nutrition.

Knowledge gaps in patients with COPD and their proxies

BackgroundAlthough proxies of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need health-related knowledge to support patients in managing their disease, their current level of knowledge remains unknown. We aimed to compare health-related knowledge (generic and COPD-related knowledge) between patients with COPD and their resident proxies.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we included stable patients with moderate to very severe COPD and their resident proxies (n = 194 couples). Thirty-four statements about generic health and COPD-related topics were assessed in patients and proxies separately. Statements could be answered by ‘true’, ‘false’, or ‘do not know’. This study is approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committees United (MEC-U), the Netherlands (NL42721.060.12/M12–1280).ResultsPatients answered on average 17% of the statements incorrect, and 19% with ‘do not know’. The same figure (19%) for the incorrect and unknown statements was shown by proxies. Patients who attended pulmonary rehabilitation previously answered more statements correct (about three) compared to patients who did not attend pulmonary rehabilitation. More correct answers were reported by: younger patients, patients with a higher level of education, patients who previously participated in pulmonary rehabilitation, patients with better cognitive functioning, and patients with a COPD diagnosis longer ago.ConclusionsProxies of patients with COPD as well as patients themselves answer about two third of 34 knowledge statements about COPD correct. So, both patients and proxies seem to have an incomplete knowledge about COPD and general health. Therefore, education about general health and COPD should be offered to all subgroups of patients with COPD and their proxies.Trial registrationThis study is registered in the Dutch Trial Register (NTR3941). Registered 19 April 2013.

Preferences of pregnant women regarding mode of delivery: a questionnaire based study

<p><strong>Background: </strong>The rising rate of caesarean section is the subject of concern worldwide. The aim of our study was to know the knowledge, attitude and preferences of pregnant women towards the mode of delivery in a tertiary care centre and hence to see weather this is a contributing factor towards rinsing trend of caesarean delivery or not. </p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective questionnaire study conducted on 100 antenatal women in third trimester who attended the antenatal clinic in SLBS GMC Mandi at Nerchowk from 1<sup>st</sup> June, 2017 to 1<sup>st</sup> September 2017.The information regarding socio-demographic profile, obstetric history, knowledge and attitude statements towards vaginal delivery and caesarean section was collected and analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Total of 100 women was interviewed in our study. Out of these, majority (85%) had received education up to High school and above. Majority of the women (90%) had the positive attitude towards vaginal delivery. The most frequently mentioned source of information about the mode of delivery was relatives and friends. Almost half of women agreed to the statement that vaginal delivery creates a more affectionate mother and baby relationship. Majority of women co-relate that caesarean section was associated with more complications and not good in long term outcome. Economic factors did not play an important role in deciding caesarean birth.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Majority of pregnant women interviewed were interested to deliver vaginally, while some women were indecisive due to lack of knowledge and some due to apprehension of labor pains during vaginal delivery wanted to undergo a caesarean section. Appropriate counselling of pregnant women and their partners will help in changing their outlook and make them a better judge while choosing their preferences.</p>

Awareness and Knowledge of Ionizing Radiation Risks Between Prescribed and Self-Presenting Patients for Common Diagnostic Radiological Procedures in Bahrain.

Between 20 to 50% of medical imaging examinations are considered inappropriate, and unnecessary ionizing radiation exposures may lead to cancer. We hypothesized that Bahraini patients who self-present for ionizing radiation procedures are not aware of, and lack the requisite knowledge of, the inherent risks associated with their use than patients prescribed for diagnostic purposes. We attempted to examine and compare the awareness and knowledge of the associated risks of ionizing radiation in common diagnostic radiological procedures between prescribed and self-presenting patients in Bahrain. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 416 Bahraini patients attending the radiology department of the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), a secondary health care center, who had been referred by primary care physicians or self-presented to the center. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews. Prescribed patients (n = 358) had a better awareness than self-presenting (n = 58) patients on all ionizing radiation awareness statements (i.e., risks, permissible levels, willingness to undergo the procedure, and preference for a clinical examination over a radiological procedure) (p < 0.050). Of the 10 knowledge statements, the prescribed patients agreed on four statements than the self-presenting patients: preventing or minimizing exposure improves health, people can prevent or minimize exposure, a lifelong health concern, and radiological procedures offer best diagnoses compared to medical tests or procedures (p < 0.050). Bahraini patients who reported to SMC lack awareness and knowledge on ionizing radiation. The proportion of appropriate responses to awareness and knowledge questions were paltry for self-presenting patients and deficient for the prescribed patients in the knowledge segment alone.