Background: COVID-19 caused a high level of morbidity and mortality.All age groups are at risk to acquire infection, especially chronically-ill patients; however, there is a hesitancy toward vaccines among them. Aim of the work:The study aims to assess the prevalence of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy and to identify the underlying factors among chronically-ill patients.Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of the Internal Medicine Department at Kasr Al-Ainy Medical school.A self-administered Arabic questionnaire was distributed by the researchers to the patients surveying the acceptance rate of vaccination.Results: A total of 587 participants ruled in the study, and their response rate was 78.2 %.The prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy was 29.8%, and the main underlying causes of vaccine hesitancy were fear of the complications of vaccination and fear of the deterioration of chronic diseases (36.4% & 25.5 %) respectively.A statistical significance was detected between vaccine hesitancy and many factors such as (gender, educational level, smoking status, type of chronic disease, and attitude toward the safety of vaccine) P ≤ 0.001.Multiple logistic regression models yielded that significant predictors for vaccine hesitancy were females (OR 2.119), Illiterate (OR 1.73), not working in medical field (OR 2.311), using sources of knowledge other than Ministry of Health Website (OR 3.716), non Hypertensive (OR 1.45), having autoimmune diseases (OR1.68).Conclusions: Relatively significant Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among chronically-ill patients is influenced by gender, educational level, smoking status, attitude toward safety of vaccine, and source of knowledge regarding the vaccine.

Background: The relation between depression and diabetes is bidirectional and both can lead to morbidity and mortality. Despite the success of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in managing psychiatric comorbidities, research on its use in the treatment of comorbid diabetes and depression is limited and with varying results. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of CBT on depressed patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at an urban primary healthcare center in Egypt from February 2019 to March 2020 and included 80 participants. Key inclusion criteria were uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) (HbA1c >7.5%) and depression symptoms diagnosed by Beck’s Depression Index. Participants were assessed for all battery of instruments. Subsequently, participants were randomized to control and treatment groups. The treatment group received four CBT sessions. Both groups received a thirty-minute structured diabetes education and their usual diabetes treatment. Three months later, all participants were reassessed for depression and diabetes compliance and all labs were performed post intervention. Both the primary (the difference in HbA1c pre-post intervention) and secondary outcomes (the change in depressive symptoms assessed) were analyzed using ANCOVA. Results: Both groups were matching at baseline. Post intervention, the CBT group revealed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms while adjusting for Beck Depression Index (BDI) pre-intervention [F (1, 74) = 7.074, p = 0.010]. Moreover, HBA1c was improved significantly when controlling for pre-intervention BDI scores and BMI [F (1,73) = 4.27, p = 0.042] compared to the control group. Conclusions: The CBT program was both inexpensive and easily accessible. It could fit very well in primary care settings. The results indicated CBT intervention was effective in improving diabetes control and depression. However, a larger-scale study to test its effect on a larger scale population and its long-term impact is recommended.

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration of the World Health Organization of the coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) as a pandemic, several countries have locked down and quarantined their residents with restrictive procedures to control spread of the disease. Due to pandemic related stressors, concerns and worries have developed regarding negative psychological impact on the mental well-being of the general population, particularly those known to have higher levels of psychological impairment with high vulnerability to mental health diseases such as medical students. AIM: The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of self-reported depression and to explore its predictors during the period of Coronavirus Disease 2019 first lock down among medical students. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted at Kasr Alainy Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt, in June 2020. A simple random sample was picked of one subgroup of 4th year medical students (No. = 300) at faculty of medicine during the academic year 2019–2020. Self-administered questionnaires including Beck’s Depression Inventory scoring were distributed using Google form through communication social media such as WhatsApp. RESULTS: Out of the 300 participants, 238 responses were received with response rate 79.3%. Results indicated that 38.2% of the respondents were experiencing depression with different degrees with Beck’s Depression Inventory mean scores was 19.4 ± 11.6. Multiple logistic regression analysis point out that gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4 and p = 0.022) and “Good” grade level of academic performance (OR = 7.2 and p = 0.045) are significant predictors for developing depression among the participating medical students. CONCLUSION: A significantly high prevalence of depression is detected among medical students during the first wave of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. The prevalence of depression is more among females than males and more with medical students achieving “Good” grade level.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 emerges worldwide consideration since their first proving. The knowledge and attitude of all medical personnel play an important role in the effectiveness of infection control policies among medical institutions. AIM: The study evaluates the knowledge of health care workers (HCWs) about infection control policies at the Egyptian institutions trying to identify the degree of their awareness to deal with such outbreak. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was implemented in public and private hospitals sectors at Cairo, Egypt, through a structured self-administered questionnaire that was delivered to HCWs in the selected hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 486 physicians working between university, governmental, teaching, private hospitals, and polyclinics submitted their replies. Of whom, 46.9% practiced internal medicine specialty, 35.4% were pediatricians, and only 17.7% specialized in the family medicine. Regarding the overall level of knowledge about infection control and prevention among HCWs, we found that 87.2% of participants reported presence of infection control program at their institutions and about 79% practiced these policies while only 60.5% received some training. Furthermore, we found that 64.2% of the participant did not know which infections are officially reported. There was some variation in response to causes related to the outbreak as 43.8% referred that to shortage of appropriate personnel protective equipment and only 7.4% assigned the carelessness of HCWs. Moreover, the insufficient resources to fulfill the infection control requirements were assigned as a primary factor to spread of infection (71.4%). The electronic surveillance system was believed the most efficient reporting system of infectious agents by staff (83.1%). The study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference of knowledge of infection control among medical staff according to their specialties (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant trend of orientation about infection control toward the highly certificated individuals (having PhD). Furthermore, there was a potential variance between the groups of higher and lower years of experience regarding in their answers about surveillance system institutions (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, there was variation in responses to questions related to various institutions as a higher percent of awareness of the presence of active infection control policy was found at the governmental and university hospitals (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HCWs had reasonable knowledge about infection control and surveillance during COVID-19 outbreak and we have discovered zones of concern about infection control experience in Egypt which differ between institutions and professions and years of experience.

Background: Non Communicable Diseases is intensely linked with overweight and obesity.The shifting disease pattern has been attributed to nutrition transition and poor exercise.This study was conducted to identify the dietary consumption patterns, assessing obesity among medical students and its predictors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 350 fourth year medical students in a university setting.Dietary patterns were assessed using self administered questionnaire based on United States Department of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines for Americans 2015-2020.Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by the researchers.Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 32% and 9% respectively, among the participants.Unfortunately, 29.1% of the studied group were found to have low level of exercise.Intakes of fruits, and vegetables were low, while intakes of sweets and carbonated drinks were high.There was a significant higher percent of obesity among students who practice low level of physical activity (P < 0.05).Also the study revealed by logistic regression analysis that male students were more than 2 times more likely to be obese than female students (Odd's Ratio = 2.16).ConclusionThe prevalence of obesity was 9% among the studied group.Students were found to practice unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits which had significant effects on their Body Mass Index levels.