Cost-benefit analysis of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention in a developing country.

Background: Studies on breastfeeding promotion and support interventions suggest some economic benefits. This study assessed the direct and indirect costs of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention during the first two years of the infant's life.

Methods: This is a cost-benefit analysis of data generated from a randomized controlled trial that investigated whether provision of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention to Lebanese mothers in the first six months postpartum would improve breastfeeding rates compared to standard obstetric and pediatric care.

Cost-benefit analysis of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention in a developing country.

Background: Studies evaluating breastfeeding promotion and support interventions suggest some economic benefits. This study assessed the direct and indirect costs of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention during the first two years of the infant's life.

Methods: This is a cost-benefit analysis of data generated from a randomized controlled trial that aimed at investigating whether provision of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention to Lebanese mothers in the first six months postpartum would improve breastfeeding rates compared to standard obstetric and pediatric care.

Validation of the Arabic Maternal postpartum quality of life questionnaire among Lebanese women: A cohort study.

Background: The postpartum period is an important phase in a woman's life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire.

The inverted syringe technique for management of inverted nipples in breastfeeding women: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Women with inverted nipples may struggle with breastfeeding and may stop exclusive breastfeeding before six months. The use of an inverted syringe to evert the nipples was successful in achieving high rates of infant latching and exclusive breastfeeding in case series but has not been tested in clinical trials. This open label, parallel group, randomized clinical trial investigated whether the use of the inverted syringe technique in women with inverted nipples would increase exclusive breastfeeding rate at one month, as compared to standard care.

Teaching critical appraisal to large classes of undergraduate medical students using team-based learning versus group discussions: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Evidence on the effectiveness of team-based learning in teaching critical appraisal to large classes of preclinical medical students is scarce. This study investigated whether team-based learning is effective in teaching critical appraisal to large classes of preclinical medical students.

Methods: Between April 2018 and May 2019, 107 first-year medical students were randomly allocated to receive instruction in critical appraisal using team-based learning or traditional group discussions as teaching methods.

Validation of the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A) among Lebanese women.

Background: Maternal satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience is an important determinant of breastfeeding success. There is currently no valid tool to measure perceived maternal satisfaction with breastfeeding in the Arab context.

Methods: This cohort study tested the Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES) on 450 healthy Lebanese mothers for internal consistency reliability and construct validity.

Sustaining compliance with hand hygiene when resources are low: A quality improvement report.

Background: Sustainability of hand hygiene is challenging in low resource settings. Adding ownership and goal setting to the WHO-5 multimodal intervention may help sustain high compliance.

Aim: To increase and sustain compliance of nursing and medical staff with hand hygiene in a tertiary referral center with limited resources.

Knowledge and attitudes of Lebanese women towards Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative practices.

Background: The World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund launched the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to encourage best infant breastfeeding practices immediately after birth. In Lebanon, few hospitals are currently accredited as Baby Friendly.

Aim: To assess the knowledge of Lebanese women of BFHI steps, and to explore their attitudes towards Baby Friendly Hospitals, Skin-to-Skin Contact and Kangaroo Care practices.

Assessing the impact of professional lactation support frequency, duration and delivery form on exclusive breastfeeding in Lebanese mothers.

Background: The optimal frequency, duration, and form of professional lactation support needed to continue exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for six months have not yet been specifically identified. This study investigates the association between six-month EBF and the frequency, duration, and form (face-to-face vs. telephone contact) of professional lactation support in a cohort of Lebanese mothers, and explores barriers to EBF during the first six months postpartum.

Preferences of Lebanese adults for the gender of their surgeons: a cross-sectional study.

Background: More females are specializing in surgery in Lebanon, but it is not known if a gender bias exists among Lebanese people in their preference of their surgeons.

Aims: This study investigated the preference of Lebanese men and women for the gender of surgeons and explored reasons for their preferences.

Methods: A convenience sample of 1000 Lebanese adults were asked about their preferences for the gender of surgeons of different specialties (paediatrics, cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ear nose and throat, plastic surgery and obstetrics/gynaecology).

Validation of the Arabic version of the breastfeeding behavior questionnaire among Lebanese women.

Background: The Breastfeeding Behavior Questionnaire (BBQ) assesses women's perceptions of their breastfeeding behavior. It was adapted to several languages and used in different settings, but has not been validated in Arabic-speaking populations. None of the previous studies that used the BBQ in other cultures examined its ability to predict the actual breastfeeding behaviors of mothers postpartum.

Breastfeeding success with the use of the inverted syringe technique for management of inverted nipples in lactating women: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Breastfeeding provides ideal infant nutrition, conferring several health benefits to children and their mothers. Women with inverted nipples, however, face difficulties that force them to prematurely terminate breastfeeding. Whereas available conservative measures for the correction of inverted nipples are of limited success, the use of an inverted syringe may be effective in achieving high rates of infant latching and exclusive breastfeeding.

Experiences with peer support for breastfeeding in Beirut, Lebanon: A qualitative study.

Background: Despite the beneficial effects of peer support on breastfeeding, research on the process of peer support is scarce. In Lebanon, exclusive breastfeeding is only 15% in infants below six months. A multidisciplinary team launched a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention, with peer support, and professional lactation support provided by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLs) to target this decline.

Illness cognition and health anxiety in parents of children with cancer.

Health anxiety is a clinical entity characterized by a pathological fear of illness. Illness cognition refers to persistent positive or negative thoughts an individual has towards illness. Evidence has shown that patients with chronic conditions who possess negative illness cognitions experience greater social, emotional, and physical difficulties than patients with positive illness cognitions.

A multi-component intervention to support breastfeeding in Lebanon: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Effective evidence-based breastfeeding support interventions can bolster breastfeeding practices. This study investigated the effect of a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention delivered in hospital and home settings on six-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relative to standard care.

Methods: This is a parallel group, randomized clinical trial, in which 362 healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancy were randomly allocated to a multi-component intervention that included antenatal breastfeeding education, professional, and peer support, delivered in hospital and home settings for six months (experimental, n = 174), or to standard care (control, n = 188).

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Infant Feeding Intentions Scale Among Lebanese Women.

Background: The Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) scale was shown to reliably measure maternal intentions to initiate breastfeeding and continue exclusive breastfeeding until 1, 3, or 6 months in English and Spanish but not in Arab contexts. Research aim: This study aimed to validate an Arabic version of the IFI scale (IFI-A) and examine its ability to predict exclusive breastfeeding at 1, 3, or 6 months in pregnant Lebanese women.

Methods: The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the IFI-A scale were tested on 50 pregnant women (Group 1), whereas its predictive ability was tested on 196 pregnant women (Group 2), who were surveyed monthly about their infants' nutrition method until 6 months.

The Relationship Between Calciotropic Hormones, IGF-1, and Bone Mass Across Pubertal Stages.

Background: Little is known about the changes in calciotropic hormones during puberty and their relationship to bone mass during this critical period for skeletal accretion.

Objectives: Investigate changes in calciotropic hormones, IGF-1, body composition, and their associations with bone metabolism in adolescents.

Methods: Post hoc analyses were performed from data on 335 healthy school children, ages 10-17 years, with hypovitaminosis D who participated in a vitamin D randomized controlled trial.

Adaptation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Infant Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire among Lebanese Women.

Background: Valid instruments that can reliably assess maternal breastfeeding knowledge in Arabic-speaking populations are nonexistent. The availability of such an instrument is essential for investigators working in this field.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire (BFK-A) from the original 20-item English version.

Persistent Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Parameters in Adolescents One Year After Trial Completion.

We showed a beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal parameters in adolescent girls in a 1-year, randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial (RCT). Our objective for this study was to investigate the residual effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), at the lumbar spine and hip, lean mass, and height, 1 year after trial completion. We performed post hoc analyses in 167 adolescents, 86 girls and 81 boys, age 13.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale among Lebanese Women.

Background: There is need in the Arab world for validated instruments that can reliably assess infant feeding attitudes among women. The 17-item Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) has consistently shown good reliability and validity in different cultures and the ability to predict breastfeeding intention and exclusivity.

Objective: This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the IIFAS (IIFAS-A).

Lactose-free milk for infants with acute gastroenteritis in a developing country: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is a major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality, accounting for 15% of all childhood deaths worldwide. In developing countries, diarrheal diseases continue to be a major public health burden. Evidence from developed countries suggests that intake of lactose-free milk during diarrheal episodes may reduce the duration of the illness in pediatric inpatients.

Students' perceptions of peer-organized extra-curricular research course during medical school: a qualitative study.

Early integration of research education into medical curricula is crucial for evidence-based practice. Yet, many medical students are graduating with no research experience due to the lack of such integration in their medical school programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a peer-organized, extra-curricular research methodology course on the attitudes of medical students towards research and future academic careers.

Axillary and rectal thermometry in the newborn: do they agree?

Background: Accurate measurement of body temperature is critical for the assessment of a newborn's general well-being. In nursery settings, the gold standard rectal thermometry has been replaced by the axillary method. However, evidence pertaining to the agreement between axillary and rectal thermometry in the newborn is controversial.