Papers by Abdelhamid J D R Afana
Journal of Public Health, Dec 1, 2002
Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the detection rate by general practiti... more Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the detection rate by general practitioners (GPs) of mental disorders in a primary health care setting and relating the findings to selected GP characteristics and the patient sociodemographic characteristics. Methods The patients were assessed with respect to mental disorders by Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 (HSCL-25), and the GPs were independently asked to fill in the Goldberg checklist II to assess the patient after consultation. The sample consisted of 10 primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip, which were randomly selected from the five regions that form the Gaza Strip (Northern, Southern region, Gaza City, Middle region, Khan-Younis and Rafah). Thirty-two GPs and 661 patients participated in the study. Results The study showed that the GPs detected only 11.6 per cent of patients with mental disorders at HSCL-25 score Ͼ1.75, and that the GP's assessment was not significantly associated with the HSCL-25 scores. GPs with postgraduate psychiatric training performed better in detecting mental disorders, likewise female GPs and those who were more than 40 years old. The results also revealed that the GPs were more able to detect mental disorders among patients older than 25 years, and in female patients. Conclusions The GPs' poor detection rate of mental disorders indicates the importance of mental health training for GPs working in primary health care clinics.
Primary Health Care Research & Development, Jul 1, 2003
Ten primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip were randomly selected from the ve regions that... more Ten primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip were randomly selected from the ve regions that form the Gaza Strip (Southern region, Gaza City, Middle region, Khan-Younis and Rafah). The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems among patients attending primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip. Six hundred and sixty-one randomly selected primary health care patients from the ve regions were surveyed using the HSCL-25. Seventy-three per cent of patients visiting primary care clinics in the Gaza Strip had psychiatric symptoms consistent with psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of mental health problems among females was higher (76.8%) than males (67%). Previously married and single patients reported more distressing symptoms than married people. The results also revealed that the prevalence of mental health problems was higher among patients living in refugee camps. Civic status was not associated with mental health problems.
Journal of Refugee Studies, Sep 1, 2002
Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 2020
Purpose: Communication skills education is still relatively new in some non-Western countries. Fu... more Purpose: Communication skills education is still relatively new in some non-Western countries. Further, most evaluation research on communication skills education examines only short-term results. In our communication skills program in Qatar, we aimed to: 1) assess the impact of the communication skills course on participant skills application; 2) assess the length of time since course completion associated with participant skills application; and 3) assess participant gender or clinical position associated with participant skills application. Methods: Seven hundred and thirty-eight physicians completed a seven-module communication skills course. Participants reflected on what they learned in the course and how the course had impacted their behavior through a nine-item online survey that included a fouritem Communication Workshop Impact Scale (CWIS), three open questions, and two demographic questions. To assess the effect of time since workshop on outcomes, we stratified the respondents into five groups based on how long ago they had completed the course. Results: Three hundred and thirty-two physicians completed the survey. Participants reported agreement with the items on the CWIS: X=4.45 (range 1-5; SD=0.70). When asked which skill(s) they had been able to implement in their clinical practice, 235 gave a specific response, either a specific communication skill (eg, ask open questions), a higherorder category of skills (eg, questioning skills), or the name of one of the seven modules of the course. Only 28 participants listed the name of a skill or module name that they had not been able to implement. There was no evidence of difference in CWIS score based on time since course completion. There was no gender difference; however, residents had significantly lower CWIS scores than fellows (4.70 vs. 4.29, p<0.05). Conclusion: Participants reported agreement with response items about the impact of the course on their skills application. Participant gender did not play a significant role, but residents had lower scores than did fellows. Furthermore, most physicians (92%) were able to name something specific that they had learned from the course and were currently implementing in their practice. Positive outcomes of the course did not seem to diminish over time. Future research should identify whether observable communication behavior matches the self-reported behavior.
Transcultural Psychiatry, 2020
Drawing on a salutogenic perspective, we explored sense of coherence (SOC) in a group of Palestin... more Drawing on a salutogenic perspective, we explored sense of coherence (SOC) in a group of Palestinian mental health care providers living and working in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (West Bank). Specifically, we conducted a qualitative exploration of the cultural characteristics of SOC and its components ( comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) in two groups of Palestinian Muslim helpers. We found that context-specific features of SOC can mobilize generalized resistance resources for coping with traumatic and stressful experiences, even in an environment characterized by political instability, military violence, and social trauma. Ten main themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: acceptance, reacting to adversity, acknowledging human insecurity (comprehensibility), self-control, talking to family, education as a resource for survival, connecting to the severity of the event, responsibility as a source of control (manageability), religiosity...
International Journal of Stress Management, 2019
Journal of Family and Community Medicine
OBJECTIVE: Health-care communication skills training may be particularly needed in the Arabian Gu... more OBJECTIVE: Health-care communication skills training may be particularly needed in the Arabian Gulf countries because of the variety of cultures within the physician and patient populations. This study describes the implementation and results of a communication skills training program for physicians in Qatar that assessed previous training, and effect of previous training on participants' course evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a 2-day communication skills training course covering seven culturally adapted modules. Educational strategies included large and small group work with the standardized patient, demonstration videos, and lectures. At the end, participants completed a course evaluation survey. Data analysis performed with SPSS; frequencies and percentages were calculated, and Chi-square test applied to evaluate statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 410 physicians in Qatar have participated in the course over a period of 2 years. Evaluation ratings of the course were high. Participants rated the module on Breaking Bad News as the most useful, and the small group role-play as the most helpful course component. One-third of participants had previously participated in experiential communication skills training. There was no association between previous experience and evaluation of the course. CONCLUSION: Physicians in Qatar positively evaluated a 2-day communication skills course, though the majority of participants did not have any previous exposure to experiential communication skills training.
he aim of this paper is to examine the conceptual and cultural validity of the diagnostic concept... more he aim of this paper is to examine the conceptual and cultural validity of the diagnostic concept of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as applied to traumatized people in the Arab region, and to consider the implications of this examination for the development of the ICD-11 by the World Health Organization. The transcultural applicability of the diagnostic category of PTSD as currently described in both ICD-10 and DSM-IV has been a matter of extensive debate, both in terms of the category’s validity and in terms of its clinical utility for people in the Middle East. Although the diagnostic construct of PTSD describes some features of a universal trauma response, it ignores other, more culturallyspecific forms of expressing trauma-related symptoms. These local idioms of distress should be considered in the development of a new classification system intended to be globally applicable. Mental health professionals need this information to more accurately assess illness presentation,...
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1995
The ability to detect mental disorders varies greatly among general practitioners in primary heal... more The ability to detect mental disorders varies greatly among general practitioners in primary health care. The aim of this study was to determine the factors underlying the differences between general practitioners in the ability to recognize mental disorders in Finnish patient populations. The group studied consisted of 1000 randomly selected adult patients of primary care facilities in the city of Turku. The Symptom Checklist (SCL-25) was used as the reference method in the identification of psychiatric cases. According to the SCL-25, one fourth of the sample had mental disorders. A good recognition ability was associated with postgraduate psychiatric training and qualification as a specialist in general practice. Surprisingly, Balint group training, which is a method intended to improve the ability of general practitioners to manage their patients&#39; mental health problems, was associated rather with poor than good detection ability.
RAHAT Medical Journal, 2004
Objective: this was a quasi-experimental survey that looked at sex difference of mental disorders... more Objective: this was a quasi-experimental survey that looked at sex difference of mental disorders and the prevalence of mental health problems for people visiting primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip. Method: a survey of 661 randomly selected primary health care patients was completed using the HSCL-25. Results: about 73% of patients visiting primary care clinics in the Gaza Strip had mental disorders. The prevalence among females was higher (76.8%) than males (67%); Living in refugee camps was predictive of both anxiety and depression but, for depression, the difference comes from those living in the camps who also define themselves as refugees vs. those who are citizens. Low educational level is a predictor of anxiety and not being married is linked to depression. About 6% of the variance of anxiety can be accounted for in regression by sex, place of residence and education with gender being the most robust predictor. Only about 2.9% of depression can be accounted for sex marital status and education. Again gender is the most important predictor. The results are discussed in the context of Palestinian culture and the ongoing geopolitical conflict.
Journal of Refugee Studies, 2002
Principles of Social Psychiatry
Journal of Health Psychology
In this article, we propose that coping is not only an individual property but also a structural ... more In this article, we propose that coping is not only an individual property but also a structural feature. Coping shapes what is referred to in social network theory as multiplex networks, which are based on relations with multiple functions, values and meanings. Focus groups with adult Palestinians were held and content analysed. Five main coping strategies were identified: (a) creating cultural and religious meaning; (b) individualism to collectivism; (c) normalization and habituation; (d) belonging, acceptance, expectation and readiness; and (e) social support. Participants also reported culture-specific expressions for indicating psychological distress. Implications for cultural informed clinical work are then discussed.
Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit, Jan 21, 2017
This study aimed to describe the experiences of stress and burnout and sociodemographic factors a... more This study aimed to describe the experiences of stress and burnout and sociodemographic factors associated with dimensions of stress among medical residents at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. Medical residents participating in a stress management course were asked to complete an anonymous survey. The survey included demographic questions, the Abbreviated Maslach Inventory, and 4 open-ended questions on experiences with stress. Of the 150 residents participating in the stress management course, 142 responded to the survey, listing an average of 2.2 types of stressors, with workload and workplace relationships as the most frequent. They listed an average of 3.1 coping strategies, most frequently seeking out social support and entertainment. Responses indicated low depersonalization, high personal accomplishment, high satisfaction with medicine and high emotional exhaustion. Training to improve coping and reduce burnout is recommended.
International Review of the Red Cross, Sep 30, 2007
Dr Abdel Hamid Afana, MA, PhD, is the President of the International Rehabilitation Council for T... more Dr Abdel Hamid Afana, MA, PhD, is the President of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, Director of the Training and Research Department at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, a non-governmental organization established in 1990 which adopts a community-based approach to tackle mental health problems, and President of the Board of Directors of the Jesoor Organization that deals with community rehabilitation for trauma and human rights abuse victims. He is a psychotherapist, a graduate of the University of Oslo in Norway, and has extensive experience in torture rehabilitation. Dr Afana is one of the scholars who believe that mental health and human rights are inseparable and that mental health professionals have a role in community development and building bridges for peace through health. He is the founder and former head of the international board of a postgraduate diploma in Community Mental Health and Human Rights and a member of national, regional and international organizations and professional bodies in fields related to health and human rights. Through transcultural psychiatry at McGill University, Dr Afana is analyzing the social representation, meaning of and means of coping with traumatic experiences in protracted conflicts.
International Social Work, 2014
The aim of this study was to add to current understanding of the constituents of well-being among... more The aim of this study was to add to current understanding of the constituents of well-being amongst Palestinian helpers working in war-like conditions. Using a purposive sampling design, 23 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with health professionals in two Palestinian cities. Quantitative Textual Analysis was carried out, adopting content-pattern analysis via cluster methods. Two ‘macro’ dimensions emerged: specifically, a first dimension termed personal well-being and a second termed political well-being. Our investigation into the complex construct of quality of life illustrates that contextually based evidence does indeed help to identify bunched structures containing local cultural values defining well-being.
Primary Health Care Research and Development, 2003
Ten primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip were randomly selected from the ve regions that... more Ten primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip were randomly selected from the ve regions that form the Gaza Strip (Southern region, Gaza City, Middle region, Khan-Younis and Rafah). The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems among patients attending primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip. Six hundred and sixty-one randomly selected primary health care patients from the ve regions were surveyed using the HSCL-25. Seventy-three per cent of patients visiting primary care clinics in the Gaza Strip had psychiatric symptoms consistent with psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of mental health problems among females was higher (76.8%) than males (67%). Previously married and single patients reported more distressing symptoms than married people. The results also revealed that the prevalence of mental health problems was higher among patients living in refugee camps. Civic status was not associated with mental health problems.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2006
There is growing evidence of the impact on children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;a... more There is growing evidence of the impact on children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s well-being of exposure to political conflict in such settings as the Palestinian territories. This study examined the impact of child-focused interventions involving structured activities, supported by provision of equipment and training of facilitators. The focus of interventions was participation in recreational, cultural and other non-formal activities supporting the development of resilience. Impacts were hypothesised on children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s social and emotional well-being, relationships with parents and degree of future orientation. Two hundred and fifty children from the West Bank and 150 children from Gaza took part in the study. Of these 400 children, 300 comprised the intervention group. Fifty children from Gaza and 50 children from the West Bank comprised the comparison group. There were equal numbers of girls and boys in all groups, with similar proportions of children aged between 6 and 11 years, and between 12 and 17 years. Measures used were the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Parental Support Scale and the Hopefulness Scale: Youth Version. Assessment was made as children enrolled on the structured activity programmes (T1) and again twelve months later (T2). There was no difference in the CBCL Total, Internalising or Externalising problem scores at baseline (Time 1) between the children who subsequently took the intervention and those who did not. Compared to children in the comparison group, children in the intervention group had lower CBCL total problem scores, externalising problem scores, and internalising problem scores at Time 2 compared to Time 1. Exposure to the intervention was not associated with changes in children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s hopefulness, but those receiving the intervention in the West Bank did report improved parental support at Time 2. The intervention appeared successful in improving children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s emotional and behavioural well-being but not hopefulness. It was also linked with increased parental support in some areas (those located in the West Bank).
Canadian journal of psychiatry, 2010
RefDoc Refdoc est un service / is powered by. ...
Uploads
Papers by Abdelhamid J D R Afana