Setting the scene for an ARI control programme: is it worthwhile in Saudi Arabia?

East Mediterr Health J. 1999 Jan;5(1):111-7.

Abstract

Baseline data on acute respiratory infections (ARI) were collected by a survey questionnaire distributed to physicians of 10% of the health centres randomly selected from each of the five provinces of Saudi Arabia. The physicians estimated that ARI was the cause of sickness in 50% of ill children < 5 years in 1995. None of the physicians had had any training in ARI and they were not aware of any national protocol or programme. Physicians' responses indicated an over-use of antibiotics and diagnostic procedures. A national protocol for diagnosis and treatment of ARI has been prepared and distributed and leaders of primary health care and 55 national trainers have been trained.

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Acute Disease
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Child
  • Clinical Competence / standards
  • Education, Medical, Continuing
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • National Health Programs
  • Needs Assessment
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Population Surveillance
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control*
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires