Medical Admission Prediction Score (MAPS); a simple tool to predict medical admissions in the emergency department.

Introduction: Overcrowding in the emergency departments (ED) is linked to adverse clinical outcomes, a negative impact on patient safety, patient satisfaction, and physician efficiency. We aimed to design a medical admission prediction scoring system based on readily available clinical data during ED presentation.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, data on ED presentations and medical admissions were extracted from the Emergency and Internal Medicine departments of a tertiary care facility in Qatar.

Prevalence and global trends of polypharmacy in patients with chronic liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite its central role in drug metabolism, the exact prevalence estimates and factors affecting global trends of polypharmacy in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) have remained unexamined. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy in patients with CLD and to comprehensively synthesize the socio-demographic factors that drive this.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of relevant databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Science citation index, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and database of abstracts of reviews of effectiveness) for studies published from inception to May 30, 2022 that reported on prevalence estimates of polypharmacy in patients with CLD.

The Pros and Cons of Use of Handheld Electronic Devices During Ward Rounds and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The exponential use of handheld electronic devices (HEDs) among healthcare providers has shown the potential to enhance clinical workflows and improve patient care. However, the challenges and risks of carrying these devices during ward rounds and their impact on postgraduate trainees' (PGTs') training in general and more specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic need to be explored.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods online survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of trainees and faculty at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International accredited residency and fellowships programs in Qatar on the use of HEDs on clinical workflow, trainees' education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing in the pulmonary function laboratory at a tertiary government hospital in Qatar: A clinical audit.

Background: Prior to pulmonary function testing (PFT), local and international recommendations advise pre-procedural screening. Pulmonary function tests generate aerosol droplets containing millions of viruses, significantly increasing the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission not only to the individuals in and around the PFT office, but also to subsequent patients who undergo the test later in the same room.

Methods: This clinical audit was carried out to establish the rate of positive pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing before a PFT.

Predictors of mortality and morbidity in critically ill COVID-19 patients: An experience from a low mortality country.

Background And Aims: Clinical characteristics and factors associated with mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in countries with low case fatality rates (CFR) are unknown. We sought to determine these in a large cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Qatar and explore the early mortality predictors.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients admitted to the ICU at the national referral hospital for COVID-19 patients in Qatar.

Characteristics and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary disorders: A single-center, retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Mortality rates and clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) vary significantly.

Objectives: To describe the data of patients with pulmonary comorbidities who were admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 in Qatar in terms of demographic characteristics, coexisting conditions, imaging findings, and outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the outcomes with regard to mortality and requirement of invasive ventilation, demographic characteristics, coexisting conditions, secondary infections, and imaging findings for critical care patients with COVID-19 in Qatar who had pulmonary comorbidities between March and June 2020.

Time for change in practice of in-patient oxygen therapy: a period-limited, multidimensional approach to improve oxygen prescription compliance: quality improvement project at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar.

Prescription of oxygen therapy has traditionally poor compliance across the globe and mostly given to patients on verbal orders leading to under or overuse. The British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines (2017) recommend that oxygen therapy must be prescribed. Our study aimed to assess the prescription practice of oxygen therapy for patients admitted to acute medical assessment unit and general medical wards at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar and to achieve 80% compliance of valid oxygen therapy prescription implementing the quality improvement model against the BTS guidelines.

Perceived Barriers of Incident Reporting Among Internists: Results from Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar.

Adverse events (AE) are responsible for annual deaths that exceed deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS. Many AE are considered preventable. Thus, AE needs to be detected and analyzed.

Do the selection criteria of internal medicine residency program predict resident performance?

Background: Well-performing physician reflects the success of the residency program in selecting the best candidates for training. This study aimed to evaluate the selection criteria, mainly the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) results and applicants' status as international or locally trained applicants, used by the medical education department and the internal medicine residency program in Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar to predict the residents' performance during their training.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for three batches of graduates who started residency training in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Herd Immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in 10 Communities, Qatar.

We investigated what proportion of the population acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and whether the herd immunity threshold has been reached in 10 communities in Qatar. The study included 4,970 participants during June 21-September 9, 2020. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Correction to: Examining aptitude and barriers to evidence-based medicine among trainees at an ACGME-I accredited program.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Physicians Regarding Screening of Colorectal Cancer in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of internal medicine residents' and faculties' (specialists and consultants) compliance to colorectal cancer screening in Hamad Medical Corporation (Doha, Qatar) and to identify barriers as well as facilitators that will assist in drawing up changes that would enhance physician-related cancer screening.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed among internal medicine physicians at three component hospitals of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); focusing on knowledge and practice of colorectal cancer screening, its barriers and facilitators. Chi-square and -test statistics were used to draw conclusions where appropriate.

Examining aptitude and barriers to evidence-based medicine among trainees at an ACGME-I accredited program.

Background: The aims of Evidence-Based medicine (EBM) are to promote critical thinking and produces better patients' outcome (Profetto-McGrath J, J Prof Nurs Off J Am Assoc Coll Nurs 21:364-371, 2005). Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies require trainees to locate, appraise and apply clinical evidence to patients' care. Despite the emphasis that ACGME place on EBM, few organizations provide adequate training in EBM.

Evaluation of Progress of an ACGME-International Accredited Residency Program in Qatar.

The American College of Physicians' (ACP) Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) is designed to evaluate the cognitive knowledge of residents to aid them and program directors in evaluating the training experience. To determine the impact of the curriculum reform accompanied by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-I alignment and accreditation on the internal medicine residency program (IMRP) using residents' performance in the ACP's ITE from 2008 to 2016, and where the IMRP stands in comparison to all ACGME and ACGME-I accredited programs. This is a descriptive study conducted at a hospital-based IMRP in Doha, Qatar from 2008 to 2016.

It is all about patients' stories: Case-based learning in residents' education.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an inquiry-based learning strategy which is learner centered and facilitates group discussion and critical thinking. Case-based learning (CBL), which is a more guided approach of PBL, enables students to learn within the context of patients and formulate their knowledge around patients' scenarios. Midweek (MW) activity is an important educational activity in the internal medicine residency program (IMRP).

The current practice of mentoring across Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International accredited programs in Qatar from faculty and trainees perspectives.

Purpose: Mentoring plays a vital role in academic productivity, personal development, and career guidance for students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. A culture of mentoring is spreading across residency and fellowship training programs in Hamad Medical Corporation, the main teaching tertiary care facility in Qatar. However, there is insufficient knowledge about the current practice of mentoring in these programs.

Gender and international clinician educators.

Objectives: To describe gender differences of international clinician educators (CEs) and leaders, and CEs' perceptions by gender of preparation, roles, rewards and factors affecting job satisfaction and retention in emerging international competency-based residency programmes.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys of CEs and leadership were conductedJune 2013-June 2014 at institutions that had adopted competency-based graduate medical education and were accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International.

Results: 274 (76.

Tailoring Morning Reports to an Internal Medicine Residency in Qatar.

Background: Morning report, a case-based conference that allows learners and teachers to interact and discuss patient care, is a standard educational feature of internal residency programs, as well as some other specialties.

Objective: Our intervention was aimed at enhancing the format for morning report in our internal medicine residency program in Doha, Qatar.

Intervention: In July 2011, we performed a needs assessment of the 115 residents in our internal medicine residency program, using a questionnaire.

The pattern of indoor and outdoor respiratory allergens in asthmatic adult patients in a humid and desert newly developed country.

Background: Studies have shown that allergens are very important sensitizing agents in patients with asthma. Respiratory disorders such as asthma and allergic rhinitis are common in the State of Qatar.

Objective: To characterize the most frequent indoor and outdoor respiratory allergens involved in bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in the State of Qatar.