The Faculty of College of Health Sciences discussed 17 graduation projects for the Medical Sciences and Public Health Program, for bachelor’s and master’s degrees for the spring of 2020, in which 35 graduate students participated online in light of the unexpected circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic.
These presentations were the fruitful conclusion of years of undergraduate studies. Two students, Noora Alhajri and Aisha Alromahi, conducted a study titled “Assessment of knowledge and attitude toward premarital screening programme among Qatar university students”.
This national study was under the supervision of Dr. Mashael Alshafi, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science at Qatar University. Two projects were under the supervision of Dr. Hadi Yassine, Assistant Professor and Research Projects Manager at the Biomedical Research Center of Qatar University and both projects were about viral infections. The student, Dana Alasmar, presented the first project to study the genotyping of Sapoviruses in children with acute gastroenteritis while the students, Asalet Feras and Alaa Elkhider, presented the second one to explore the seroprevalence of HHS-6 and HHV-8 among healthy population in Qatar. Four projects were conducted by using animals as experimental models.
Two projects were supervised by Dr. Huseyin Yalcin, Assistant professor at the Biomedical Research Center of Qatar University and used zebrafish embryo model. In the first project, two students, Heba Moosa and Gawaher Mahgoub, investigated the effect of sildenafil loaded nanoparticle on heart failure.
In the second project, two students, Fatima Nasser and Halahnoor Nasir, assessed the toxicity effect of treated sewage effluent. The last project was supervised by Dr. Maha Al Asmakh, the assistant professor of biomedical science at Qatar University and made use of rats. In this project, two students, Salma Bouabidi and Shahd Nasr, studied the effect of Arabic gum treatment for rats with chronic kidney disease.
The biomedical graduation project day was concluded with two students, Aya Galal and Arwa Noureldin, who studied the expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 in diet induced obese mice and response to anti-obesity treatment. The latest project was supervised by Dr. Nasser Rizk, the associate professor of biomedical science at Qatar University and used mice as an animal model. A total of 16 students from the Public Health Department presented their research graduation projects. Khadija Mohamed, Fidaa Quffa , and Amal al Sadi presented their research project entitled “Impact of Historical Miscarriage on the Level of Depression in Qatari Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Qatar BioBank Database ” which was supervised by Dr Mohammed Fasih Alam.
Dr. Alam also supervised the project of Montaha Chakif, and Maryam Al Yafei, which was about assessing “The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Thyroid Disorders among Qatari Females”. Another project was supervised by Dr Lily O’Hara which was presented by Bayan Al Ajaimi, and Bayan Al Showaikh who were interested in exploring the experiences of weight-based oppression in Qatar. Dr Manar Elhassan supervised a project entitled “Accurate and rapid screening model for potential hypertension”.
The project was presented by Lina Ahmed, Maryam al Attiyah, and Latifa Al Kaabi. The students: Manar Yaseen, Aatifeh Ali, and Neama Mosleh investigated the prevalence and assessed the knowledge, attitude, practice of e-cigarettes use among Qatar University students.
This project was supervised by Rana Kurdi. The last project was supervised by Dr Ghadir Al Jayyousi which was about assessing the implementation and barriers of “No Smoking” policy on Qatar University campus. The students involved in this project were Shahd Al Saei, Haya Al Kaabi and Aljazya Alrushdi. Biomedical Science Master Program’s eight graduate students of both Advance Clinical Practice-Thesis track and Laboratory Management- project track successfully defended their thesis and capstone project . Amal Ibrahim delivered her Capstone project “Knowledge Level, Motivators and Barriers of Blood Donation among Adults at Qatar University; A Cross-Sectional Survey” supervised by Dr. Atiyeh Abdalla.
Stating it to be the first study in Qatar that aims in assessing knowledge level and identify motives and barriers that affect the willingness to donate blood among young adults. A panel consisting of Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, Dr. Ahmed Malki and Dr. Nasser Risk, College of Health Sciences, Dr. Muammer Koc, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar assessed her capstone project. Presenting her capstone supervised by Dr. Layla Y. Kamareddine “The use of data-driven quality strategy to improve the processes of patient identification and pre-transfusion specimen collection documentation at Sidra Medicine” Dana Al Eshaq highlighted the recurrent issue in healthcare sector regardless of technology advancements, and particularly focuses on medical laboratories. A highly appreciable project accepted for poster presentation in ‘The 36th Internal Congress of ISBT Barcelona, Spain was examined by Dr. Atiyeh Abdallah, Dr. Nasser Rizk and Dr. Huseyin Yalcin; College of Health Sciences and Dr. Eileen McBride, Sidra Medicine, Qatar.
First of its kind to address and describe the types, frequencies and causes of laboratory-associated errors using the electronic OVA reporting system in Qatar the last capstone project of the day. Titled:” Studying Frequencies, Types and Causes of Medical Laboratory Associated Errors Using the Electronic Occurrence, Variance And Accident (Ova) Reporting System In Department Of Laboratory Medicine And Pathology At Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)” was presented by Rana Al Jurf. A project done under supervision of Dr. Atiyeh Abdalla and examined by Dr. Layla Y Kamareddine, Dr. Maha Al-Asmakh, Dr. Mashael Al Shafai; College of Health Sciences and Dr Allal Ouhtit, College of Art and Science. Supervised by Dr. Nasser Rizk, “Profiling of the Differentially Expressed Genes of Inflammation and Angiogenesis of Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Evoked by Cell Injury In-Vitro to Mimic Acute Ischemic Stroke-Like Conditions” presented by Fatima Alzahra Al Hamed. Dr. Fatiha Benslimane, Biomedical Research Center; Dr. Hazem Fathy Ahmed Elewa & Dr. Abdelali Agouni, College of Pharmacy and Dr. Mohamed Dehbi Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar examined this thesis. Dr. Hatem Zayed supervised the fifth thesis delivered by Salma Nagy Younes, examined by Dr. Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa from College of Medicine, Dr. Ajaz Bhat, Sidra Medicine, Qatar; Dr. Shahab Uddin Khan, Dr. Kirti Sathyananda Prabhu & Dr. Muhammad Faiyaz-Ul-Haque from Hamad Medical Corporation.
In the thesis titled “Anticancer Activity of Guggulsterone in Human Leukemic Cells”, Salma highlighted that guggulsterone could serve as a potent natural anti-cancer agent that may be an effective treatment for leukemia alone or in combination chemotherapy as project novelty. Wasaif Al Shammari discussed the topic of security and safety in student laboratories not widely discussed in published research, especially Biomedical Sciences Laboratories, including microbiology and Haematology labs in her capstone project titled “ Evaluating the Safety of Qatar University’s Education Labs in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences by Risk Management Process”.
A project Supervised by Dr. Nasser Rizk, examined by Dr. Marawan Abu Madi, Dr. Mashael Al Shafai, Dr. Hatem Zayed & Dr. Gheyath Nasrallah from College of Health Science and Dr. Hashim Abdelrahman Alhussain from Biosafety Biomedical Research center. On the third day of BMS Master Defense Reeham Albuainain delivered her capstone project “Performance evaluation of Architect (ELISA) and confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of HBV and HCV infection” supervised by Dr. Hadi Yassine.
The last capstone project presented by Raniya Albuainain covered the topic “ Performance Evaluation for the HIV and Syphilis Detection Protocols that are used by the Medical Commission diagnostic laboratory in Qatar” supervised by Dr. Gheyath Nasrallah. BMS Head of the Department Dr. Marawan Abu Madi complimented the dedication, drive and scientific curiosity of the students even under crucial COVID-19 situations. “We are very pleased with the development, work ethic and scientific aptitude of the students. They are an asset to the Biomedical Research Community in Qatar,” he said. BMS graduate program Coordinator Dr. Layla Kamareddine elaborated that at first, this was very confusing to students and a little disappointing too, as they have been anticipating the moment to stand up and defend their work since they first joined our Graduate Program. Faculty members also participated in this virtual event, bringing the number of attendees sometimes to double the number we see in a typical thesis defense. The Department of Public Health, at the College of Health Sciences, organised thesis oral defenses for two candidates of Master of Public Health.
In addition to faculty examiners from the department, examinations committees consisted of examiners from the College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine. Rula Shami, under the supervision of Dr. Mohammed Fashilul Alam, presented her thesis titled “The Role of Qatar Community Pharmacists in Depression Care: a Survey of Attitudes, Practices and Perceived Barriers”. The results of her study, on 358 pharmacists, showed that pharmacists’ moderately positive attitudes towards depression and its care were not reflected in their current practices. A set of perceived barriers against provision of depression care were also identified in this study. Noora Salem, under the supervision of Dr. Mujahed Shraim delivered her thesis “Adult Hospital Inpatient Experience in Qatar and Associated Factors: A CrossSectional Study”.
The results of her study, included 14,367 survey participants, showed that the national average of hospital score has increased from 87.7 percent to 88.9 percent in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Moreover, recommendation of a hospital showed a higher score in 2019 compared to 2017.
Communication with doctors and nurses rating domains had the largest association with overall hospital rating and recommendation of the hospital. Improving patient experience and engagement with the healthcare system is an important outcome, which should be evaluated and monitored regularly to assess the progress in achieving the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 priorities for Qatar. The students acknowledged their supervisors, internal and external committee members for their support and guidance.
