REFLECTING ON THE HUMANITIES, RELATED TO EXPERIENCES OF ILLNESS, WITH A CREATIVE EXPLORATION OF METAPHORIC SPACES

Every patient has a story to tell, and every experienced physician has a bank of stories to recall. A patient’s visit is not chance but a search for a cure, amelioration of state, advice, guidance, a prescription, or for seeking reassurance, comfort, and in some circumstances, permission to "be well". From the simplest tale to the most complex, narratives abound. Sometimes, the most intimate information shared with the physician confidante, go dark and deep, with a yearning to "tell all" after a period of suppression. Successful communication and rapport also depends on the carer\u27s response, the degree of concentration, listening skills, body language, eye contact engagement, the patient relationship and empathy. How do we as physicians cope with emotion on both sides when it comes to listening to a narrated story, keeping matters in perspective, recognizing the effects of depression, grieving, anger, forgiveness, or the strength of the patient to be able to face their demons when cowardly acts of abuse have been committed. The professionalism of doctors should always be at the highest level, but individuals vary in their responses. A price may be paid with arising stress, unsolved patient problems, an increase in new ones, and the general challenge of coping. Time may not be the only enemy with modern day medical practice. Does narrative medicine have a place in reducing this dissonance, and will learning to share stories, as well as being a good listener, limit adverse outcomes

Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Football

Background: Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is defined as the abrupt loss of heart function as an occurrence without physical contact (absent commotio cordis). SCA's morbidity ratio is 1:50,000 of all deaths. The published estimates on SCA suggest that 11% of all victims have a normal heart. Current screening investigations include electrocardiography (ECG), echography, 24-hour ECG monitoring, eliciting stress history, and cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Some cardiac pathologies screened have never been detected. Athletes who experienced SCA had a survival rate of 50-60% over 30-days, and this rate might reach up to 80-89% in some cohort studies. The survival factors are based on regular and thorough screening checks, and better observation that enables quicker pickups. Players vary in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance and are emotionally involved, as was reported recently with footballer Christian Eriksen in the 2021 European Championship 1 . However, anyone trained in CPR, not just medical professionals, can assist in resuscitation (Figure 1). Evidence-based studies show that Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) is more effective on the sports field than Advanced Cardiac Life Support 2 . The objective of this literature review is to make recommendations to effectively respond to SCA during football tournaments. Methods: PubMed database was used to retrieve articles published in English between 2018 and 2021 related to SCA during football games. Results: There are limited publications in this specific domain. Reports from 67 countries account for 617 players (mean age 34 ± 16 years, 96% men) suffering from SCA or traumatic sudden death during football activities between 2014 - 2018, of whom 142 players (23%) survived 1 . CPR resulted in a survival rate of 85% with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) compared to 35% without. Conclusion: Key recommendations from this literature review are listed in Table 1. These are important steps needed to improve survival chance from SCA 3 . Qatar, hosting the Football World Cup 2022, can put in place additional measures to promote effective SCA resuscitation and ensure the safety of all players

A narrative review of challenges faced by informal caregivers of people with dementia in the Middle East and North Africa

BackgroundInformal caregivers of individuals with dementia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face a unique set of challenges shaped by cultural, religious, and structural factors. Understanding these challenges is crucial for informing effective supportive interventions.MethodsA narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science in January 2024. Thirty-two studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to synthesize findings related to caregiver burden across the MENA region.ResultsKey themes identified include financial strain, gendered burden, inadequate governmental support, limited dementia knowledge, and reliance on domestic workers. Cultural and religious expectations were found to both motivate and complicate caregiving. Interventions such as caregiver education, formal policy support, and the integration of domestic workers were highlighted as potential avenues for relief.ConclusionInformal caregivers in the MENA region face a multifaceted burden with limited structural support. Culturally sensitive interventions are necessary to alleviate the psychological, financial, and emotional strain experienced by these individuals, with a focus on education, policy reform, and the development of an inclusive caregiving infrastructure

Core Interprofessional Education (IPE) health competencies: The process of adaptation and implementation for a local environment

IPE: Interprofessional Healthcare Education (IPE) competencies provide the criteria against which to measure the capacity and capability of fully collaborative healthcare teams to learn and work together. Significant work already exists in the determination of IPE competencies across all disciplines. Although there is still a lack of agreement on a single set of shared core competencies, successive competency iterations enhance its development. IPE competencies need to take into account local and cultural contexts as recommended by WHO, (2010). Here we present a collaborative process that builds on existing competency development, assessing additional academic IPE needs. Core competencies: After the development of a set of shared core IPE competencies a two-day workshop was delivered to healthcare students from four professions. The results and feedback from students showed the value of the competencies. We discuss the evolving process through two major stages: (1) development of a model determining four ..

Core Interprofessional Education (IPE) health competencies: The process of adaptation and implementation for a local environment

IPE: Interprofessional Healthcare Education (IPE) competencies provide the criteria against which to measure the capacity and capability of fully collaborative healthcare teams to learn and work together. Significant work already exists in the determination of IPE competencies across all disciplines. Although there is still a lack of agreement on a single set of shared core competencies, successive competency iterations enhance its development. IPE competencies need to take into account local and cultural contexts as recommended by WHO, (2010). Here we present a collaborative process that builds on existing competency development, assessing additional academic IPE needs. Core competencies: After the development of a set of shared core IPE competencies a two-day workshop was delivered to healthcare students from four professions. The results and feedback from students showed the value of the competencies. We discuss the evolving process through two major stages: (1) development of a model determining four shared core IPE domains, (2) the development and delivery of a set of IPE workshops explicitly and intentionally based on the model. This process is an example for the future development of IPE and IPP in any local setting. Results: Testing the developed IPE in specific workshops revealed that most clinical scenarios were on a similar standard but also showed a deficit in collaborative patient centered care, an aspect suggestive of deficient interprofessional contact and prioritization.qscienc

Listening to your patient, a key factor for successful consultations in a clinical setting

Abstract from the Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Medical Humanities in the Middle East; 2018 Nov 17-18: Doha, Qatar.</jats:p

Schistosomiasis: Still a Cause of Significant Morbidity and Mortality

Tropical diseases remain severe threats to global health with acute or chronic debility. Public health issues are regularly monitored and reported by the WHO. Conditions with high prevalence and virulence such as Schistosomiasis or Malaria still need active treatment. Advances over the decades in the treatment and management of Schistosomiasis have reduced morbidity and mortality in patients. However, poverty, adverse environments, lack of education and awareness, with parasites and vectors that can thrive if uncontrolled, remain issues for the successful global eradication of Schistosomiasis. From the disease’s discovery in 1850, the author relates historical details to its current status. Several countries previously affected, including Japan and Tunisia, have eliminated the disease while others seek the same goal. Africa remains the most severely affected continent with vulnerable women and children, although the infection persists in South America and the Far East of Asia as well. Realistic improvements for continuing health conditions are vogue and emphasized for those at risk or afflicted by the infection, illustrating success models of concerted efforts of extirpation. Constant proximity to infected water, with a parasite host, are hurdles in reducing exposure. Effective medication for acute treatment is available, and prophylaxis by vaccination is promising. Where endemic Schistosomiasis is prevalent, significant morbidity and mortality have far-reaching complications in multiple human organ systems, including irreversible pulmonary hypertension, renal, genitourinary, central nervous system conditions, and neoplasia. Two hundred and thirty million people are estimated to have contracted Schistosomiasis globally, with up to 700 million still at risk of infection, and 200,000 deaths occur annually. The disease may be more prevalent than thought after newer tests have shown increased sensitivity to pathological antigens. The author discusses infectivity risks, investigations, prognosis, treatment, and management, as well as morbidity and mortality.Other InformationPublished in: Research and Reports in Tropical MedicineLicense: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.2147/rrtm.s204345</p