Research Axes
Public Health & Epidemiology
Description
This axis aims to generate data related to public health, using epidemiological studies of various types. It will focus on setting a map for diseases prevalence/incidence and risk factors in Lebanon. According to researchers’ specialties, it will address the following topics: prevalence and risk factors of chronic diseases, incidence and risk factors of infectious diseases, smoking and other risky behaviors, exposure to toxics and related health effects. Moreover, researchers will assess health research conducted in Lebanon through bibliometric studies and suggest health strategies to reach specific goals.
Recommendations for Asthma
01
Endorse the utility of the translated Mini-Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and Asthma Control Test in Arabic-speaking patients suffering from asthma among health care professionals. Based on our studies, health care professionals and researchers can readily use both scales among Lebanese asthmatic children as a routine screening test to identify the quality of life and asthma control in asthmatic children.
02
Spread awareness about some factors related to a poorer quality of life in asthma children. The identification of risk factors, some of which are amenable to intervention especially uncontrolled asthma, could lead to an improvement in the situation of asthmatic patients.
03
Spread awareness about factors related to asthma, a worse asthma control and a worse quality of life in asthmatic children. The most significant were waterpipe smoking during pregnancy and cigarette smoking during breastfeeding.
04
Spread awareness about some types of diet, as well as the intake of over-the-counter drugs during pregnancy were also associated with higher odds of asthma in children. Adopting a healthy diet rich in fruits, fish and natural antioxidants is inversely related to current asthma.
05
Organize educational programs for parents, physicians and pharmacists about asthma in children; spreading awareness among health care professionals, as well as reinforcing health education among parents in general and pregnant women in particular, seem to be an important step toward a better asthma control.
Recommendations for Smoking
01
Endorse the incorporation of shocking images and health textual warnings on tumbac and cigarette boxes. Significantly higher intentions to quit smoking were associated with a higher motivation and influenced by shocking images and health related warnings on tobacco boxes.
02
Initiate public health educational programs and interventions to surge the intention to quit cigarette and waterpipe smoking as the first step of quitting.
03
Encourage health care professionals to play an important role in explaining the side effects of waterpipe smoking in order to decrease dependence.
04
Set up awareness campaigns to increase alertness on dangers of waterpipe smoking and dependence and encourage young adults to embrace health-promoting behaviors.
Recommendations for Stroke
01
Apply primary care prevention measures in the community, particularly for high risk groups.
02
Increase awareness of the general population about stroke prevention, early recognition, early intervention and management before hospitalization.
03
Monitor stroke incidence and risk factors through continuous surveillance; point prevalence repeated assessments can also be useful.
04
Disseminate the validated scores on stroke symptoms and stroke diagnosis, to apply in research
and clinical practice settings.
05
Improve in-hospital stroke management through special training of dedicated healthcare
professionals.
06
Ensure quality care through appropriate medical charts filling out, and appropriate application of
international clinical guidelines.
07
Ensure adequate implementation of post-stroke recommendations.
08
Develop a research policy related to stroke.
09
Develop guidelines for the prevention and management of stroke, adapted to the Lebanese context.