Browsing by Author "Alnakhi, Wafa K"

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Doctor for Every Citizen: Telehealth Visits at Dubai Health Authority during COVID-19 Pandemic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(2023) Alnakhi, Wafa K
Background: Digital health significantly affects healthcare delivery. Moreover, empirical studies on the utilization of telehealth in Dubai are limited. Accordingly, this study examines the utilization of telehealth services in Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facilities and the factors associated with telehealth appointment completion and turnaround time. Methods: This cross-sectional study examines patients who used telehealth services in DHA from 2020 through 2021 using 241,822 records. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to investigate the association between appointment turnaround time as a dependent variable and patient and visit characteristics as independent variables. Results: Of the total scheduled telehealth visits, more than three-quarter (78.55%) were completed. Older patients, non-Emiratis, patients who had their visits in 2020, patients who had video visits, and those who sought family medicine as a specialty had a shorter turnaround time to receive their appointment. Conclusions: This study identifies several characteristics associated with the turnaround time. Moreover, technological improvements focusing on specialties that can readily be addressed through telehealth and further research in this domain will improve service provision and support building an evidence-base in the government sector of the emirate of Dubai.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study
(2022-11) Alnakhi, Wafa K
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a signifcant impact on the mental well-being of students worldwide. There is a scarcity of information on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to investigate the mental health impact of the COVID-19, including depression, anxiety and resilience among a sample of university students in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted from September to November 2021. The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) were used to assess depression, anxiety, and resilience. The COVID-19 impact was assessed using a list of questions. Results: Only, 798 students completed the survey and were analyzed for this study. Overall, 74.8% of the students were females, 91.2% were never married, and 66.3% were UAE-nationals. Based on PHQ-9 and GAD-7 cutof scores (≥10), four out of ten of the students self-reported moderate to severe depression (40.9%) and anxiety (39.1%). Signifcantly higher mean PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were found among students who were impacted by COVID-19 than those non-impacted (mean PHQ-9=9.51±6.39 and 6.80±6.34; p=0.001, respectively) and (mean GAD-7=9.03±6.00 and 8.54±6.02; respectively, p <0.001). Female students who were impacted by COVID-19 had statistically signifcant higher depression and anxiety scores (mean PHQ-9 of 9.14±5.86 vs. 6.83±6.25, respectively; p= 0.017). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of this sample of university students in terms of depression and anxiety. The results highlight the need to adopt culturally appropriate interventions for university students and focus on vulnerable groups.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension and pre-hypertension among the adult population: fndings from the Dubai Household Survey, 2019
(2022) Alnakhi, Wafa K
Background: Minimal data is available on the prevalence and correlates of hypertension and prehypertension in Dubai. The study aims to measure the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and the associated sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors and comorbidities among the adult population of Dubai. Methods: This study used data from the Dubai Household Health Survey, 2019. A cross-sectional population survey based on a complex stratifed cluster random design. The total eligible sample included 2530 adults (18+). Sociodemographic and behavioral factors were considered as independent covariates. The main study outcome variables, pre-hypertension and hypertension, were ordinal, with normotension as the reference group. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension in adults was 32.5% (38.37% in males and 16.66% in females). Prehypertension was prevalent in 29.8% of adults in Dubai (28.85% in males and 32.31% in females). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age groups, gender, occupation, and high Body Mass Index were signifcantly associated with a higher risk of hypertension at the level of P <0.05. No clear trend toward a higher correlation of hypertension was noted with the increase in age, except after the age of 50 years. Males were fve- times more likely to be hypertensive than females. Participants enrolled in skilled and service works had a fve times higher risk of hypertension, compared with the reference group (professionals). Obese subjects had a 5.47-times greater correlation of hypertension compared with normal-weight subjects. Physically active individuals were less likely to develop hypertension. For the correlates with prehypertension in the present analysis, skilled and service workers and those working in elementary jobs had a higher risk of prehypertension, compared with the reference group (professionals) Individuals with a status of overweight were associated with a higher prevalence of prehypertension compared with people of normal weight. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among adults in Dubai. Some socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors were correlated with prehypertension and hypertension among the studied population. Interventions aiming at increasing public awareness about such risk factors are essential.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Refractive Errors and Effective Spectacle Coverage in Emiratis and Non-Emiratis Aged 40 Years or Older: the Dubai Eye Health Survey
(2023) Alnakhi, Wafa K
Purpose: The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of refractive errors (REs) and the effective spectacle coverage in Emiratis and non-Emiratis in Dubai. Design: The Dubai Eye Health Survey was a population-based crosssectional study of participants aged 40 years or older. Methods: Distance and near visual acuity (VA), and noncycloplegic automated refraction were tested according to a standardized protocol. Distance VA was tested using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) logMAR chart at 3 m and near VA was measured using the near vision logMAR chart at 40 cm under ambient lighting. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent of refraction of less than –0.50 diopters (D), and hypermetropia as spherical equivalent of more than +0.50 D. Astigmatism was defined as cylinder power of 0.5 D or greater. Effective spectacle coverage for distance vision was computed as met need/(met need+unmet need+under-met need)×100%. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and RE. Results: The authors included 892 participants (446 Emiratis and 446 non-Emiratis) in the analysis. The prevalence of hypermetropia was 20.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.8%–24.4%] in Emiratis and 20.6% (95% CI: 20.0%–24.7%) in non-Emiratis. The prevalence of myopia and high myopia was 27.4% (95% CI: 23.3%–31.7%) and 1.8% (95% CI: 0.8%–3.5%) in Emiratis, and 19.5% (95% CI: 15.9%– 23.5%) and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.2%–2.3%) in non-Emiratis, respectively. High education (P=0.02) and not currently working (P=0.002) were risk factors of myopia in non-Emiratis only. The prevalence of astigmatism was 7.4% (95% CI: 5.1%–10.2%) in Emiratis and 1.6% (95% CI: 0.6%–3.2%) in non-Emiratis. This prevalence was higher in individuals aged over 60 years (P< 0.001) and men (P=0.014) among Emiratis. The prevalence of anisometropia and uncorrected presbyopia was 11.4% (95% CI: 8.6%–14.8%) and 0.7% (95% CI: 0.1%–2.0%) in Emiratis, and 9.2% (95% CI: 6.7%–12.3%) and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.05%–1.6%) in non-Emiratis, respectively. The effective spectacle coverage was 62.3% (95% CI: 54.0%–70.6%) and 69% (95% CI: 60.5%–77.5%) in Emiratis and non-Emiratis, respectively. Conclusions: A high proportion of Emiratis and non-Emiratis was affected by RE without optimal effective spectacle coverage, highlighting the imperativeness of intervention to alleviate the burden. The findings may help facilitate evidence-based policymaking concerning the delivery of eye care services and allocation of medical resources in Dubai.
The Socio-Demographic Characteristics Associated with Non-Communicable Diseases among the Adult Population of Dubai: Results from Dubai Household Survey 2019
(2021) Alnakhi, Wafa K
Abstract: Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. In the UAE, NCDs account for nearly 77% of all deaths. There is limited empirical research on this topic in the UAE.We aimed to examine the association of non-communicable diseases and the sociodemographic characteristics among the adult population of Dubai. Methods: The study used secondary data from the Dubai Household Health Survey (DHHS), 2019. DHHS is a cross-sectional complex design, stratified by geographic area, and uses multistage probability sampling. In this survey, 2247 families were interviewed and only adults aged 18+ were included for the analysis. The quasi-binomial distribution was used to identify the socio-demographic characteristics association with NCDs. Results: The prevalence of NCDs among the adult population of Dubai was 15.01%. Individuals aged 60+, local Arabs (Emirati), divorced and widowed individuals, and individuals who were not currently working reported NCDs more than the other groups. In the regression analysis, the association with NCDs were reported among elderly people, males, unmarried individuals, older individuals who are unmarried, and Emiratis. Conclusion: The study identified several socio-demographic characteristics associated with reporting NCDs. This is one of the few studies related to NCDs in Dubai. Allocating appropriate resources to the population groups identified is crucial to reduce the incidence of NCDs in the Emirate.