Setting the scene for an ARI control programme: is it worthwhile in Saudi Arabia?
Baseline data on acute respiratory infections (ARI) were collected by a survey questionnaire distributed to physicians of 10% of the health centres randomly selected from each of the five provinces of Saudi Arabia. The physicians estimated that ARI was the cause of sickness in 50% of ill children < 5 years in 1995. None of the physicians had had any training in ARI and they were not aware of any national protocol or programme. Physicians' responses indicated an over-use of antibiotics and diagnostic procedures. A national protocol for diagnosis and treatment of ARI has been prepared and distributed and leaders of primary health care and 55 national trainers have been trained.
Khoja
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TA
Health Centres, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
al-Mohammad
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Aziz
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KM
D000041:Absenteeism; D000208:Acute Disease; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires