Avicenna - Volume 2015, Issue 1

Designing and building a simulation program and center is a complex endeavor. This is considerably compounded by the simultaneous planning and construction of new hospital in which it will be house. To support the opening of a new healthcare facility in Doha, Qatar, simulation was chosen as a primary educational solution for the required onboarding of an international workforce, and to help collect data on systems to ensure processes and systems are optimal for patient safety. The following article provides a high-level overview of some of the key considerations and solutions that were made to overcome the many variables that are inherent in the planning phase of designing a center and program for a new hospital.

Background: Obesity is an international public health problem well documented in Qatar among children and adolescents and contributes to diabetes, a disease already highly prevalent in the country. We describe an intervention program developed for obese youth conducted by the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA). Methods: The QDA conducts a 3-day structured program for obese youth at-risk for developing diabetes which includes physical activities, games and workshops aimed to increase awareness and guide improved diet, activity and related lifestyle choices. Using motivational interviewing techniques, obese youth develop action plans to modify diet and exercise which were shared with parents to promote collaboration and support. Results: In 2011, one girls' camp (n = 15, mean age 12 years) and one boys' camp (n = 17, mean age 13 years) were held. All participants were considered obese: girls mean BMI = 31 kg/m² (standard deviation (SD) 4.2) and boys mean BMI 35 kg/m² (SD = 4.7). Youth reported fast food consumption at least twice a week by 6 (40 %) of girls and 10 (59 %) of boys and there was low self-declared frequency of daily physical activity (1 girl and 5 boys). Many stated their weight made their life worse due to fatigue, poor agility, or difficulty finding clothes. When individualized coaching was proposed, 87 % and 100 % of girls and boys felt ready to devise an action plan for improved health. Conclusion: The new national preventative healthcare mandate could facilitate modification and expansion of these QDA educational and behavioural intervention programs as part of the wider strategy to combat obesity in Qatar.

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.

There is a need for a contextual adaptation model of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) procedures and assessment methods into diverse contexts with great cultural diversity that is both affordable and achievable. This manuscript aims to describe the principles, organizational structure and theoretical framework of the Structured Multi-Skill Assessment (SMSA), a modified version of the OSCE and a performance-based assessment method developed at the Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU CPH) that addresses contextual and cultural considerations when used in undergraduate pharmacy curricula.

Retention of healthcare workers is an international challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that in two decades, the shortage of healthcare workers will double. This puts a pressure on the policy makers to come up with serious HR interventions to retain their employees and ensure the delivery of high quality care. In Qatar, the healthcare sector depends greatly on expatriates. This unique characteristic imposes risk on the stability of the healthcare workforce. Therefore, the Qatar National Health Strategy (2011–2016) emphasises the importance of exercising effective HR retention strategies. This review tries to explain the relationship between the retention strategies and employees’ satisfaction and performance and how they impact the quality of care as perceived by patients/clients.