Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Vitamin C In The Treatment Of Septic Shock, Alyson O. Shaughnessy, Matthew Tieszen

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective:To assess the efficacy of improving outcomes of septic shock treatment with the addition of Vitamin C to standard treatment compared to standard therapy alone. To assess whether or not Vitamin C has a favorable outcome in the treatment of septic shock in terms of decreasing duration of vasopressor usage, reducing duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and improving mortality.

Design: Systematic literature review.

Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using the terms ascorbic acid, sepsis, septic shock, and vasopressors. In PubMed the following filters were used: humans only, clinical trials, studies within the past …

Keep The Beat With Heart Failure Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Brenda L. Peterson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is the number one diagnosis-related group (DRG) for people 65 years of age and older in the United States. This disease group is complicated and debilitating, requiring frequent hospitalizations with high mortality rates. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has identified CHF as an area for improvement in hospitals.

Context: This was a quality improvement project for an integrated medical center in the Central Valley, California with over 19,000 HF patients. In 2018, for patients 65 years and older, HF is the third-most admitted DRG …

The Impact Of Pulmonary Hypertension In Preterm Infants With Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Through 1 Year., Joanne M. Lagatta, Erik B. Hysinger, Isabella Zaniletti, Erica M. Wymore, Shilpa Vyas-Read, Sushmita Yallapragada, Leif D. Nelin, William E. Truog, Michael A. Padula, Nicolas F M Porta, Rashmin C. Savani, Karin P. Potoka, Steven M. Kawut, Robert Digeronimo, Girija Natarajan, Huayan Zhang, Theresa R. Grover, William A. Engle, Karna Murthy, Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium Severe Bpd Focus Group

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of pulmonary hypertension on neonatal intensive care unit mortality and hospital readmission through 1 year of corrected age in a large multicenter cohort of infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 1677 infants bornChildren's Hospital Neonatal Consortium with records linked to the Pediatric Health Information System.

RESULTS: Pulmonary hypertension occurred in 370 out of 1677 (22%) infants. During the neonatal admission, pulmonary hypertension was associated with mortality (OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.10-4.73, P < .001), ventilator support at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (60% vs 40%, P < .001), duration of ventilation (72 IQR 30-124 vs 41 IQR 17-74 days, P < .001), and higher respiratory severity score (3.6 IQR 0.4-7.0 vs 0.8 IQR 0.3-3.3, P < .001). At discharge, pulmonary hypertension was associated with tracheostomy (27% vs 9%, P < .001), supplemental oxygen use (84% vs 61%, P < .001), and tube feeds (80% vs 46%, P < .001). Through 1 year of corrected age, pulmonary hypertension was associated with increased frequency of readmission (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.38, 95% CI 1.18-1.63, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension have increased morbidity and mortality through …

Genetic Predisposition To Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Premature Infants: Current Knowledge, Challenges, And Future Directions., Alain Cuna, Lovya George, Venkatesh Sampath

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The role of genetics in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was initially informed by epidemiological data indicating differences in prevalence among different ethnic groups as well as concordance in twins. These early observations, together with major advances in genomic research, paved the way for studies that begin to reveal the contribution of genetics to NEC. Using the candidate gene or pathway approach, several potential pathogenic variants for NEC in premature infants have already been identified. More recently, genome-wide association studies and exome-sequencing based studies for NEC have been reported. These advances, however, are tempered by the lack of adequately …

Cumulative Fluid Balance As A Major Predictor Of Clinical Outcome In Patients Admitted To Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Muhammad Sohaib, Madiha Hashmi, Faisal Shamim, Fazal Hameed Khan

Department of Anaesthesia

Objective: Fluid balance remains a highly controversial topic in the critical care field, and there is no consensus about the amount of fluid required by critically ill patients.In this study, the objective was to find the relationship between fluid balance and in hospital mortality in critically ill surgical patients.Our secondary objective was to identify the association between use of colloid and acute kidney injury and use of blood products and development of ARDS.
Study Design: The medical records of adult patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) >48 hours, from Aug 2014 toFeb 2016 (18 months) were reviewed …

The Influence Of Body Mass Index On Survival And Length Of Stay In Patients With Septic Shock, Yasir Jawaid, Waseem Ahmed, Damir Kusmic, Aman Ajmeri, Kanaan Mansoor, Cristie Mannino, Thomas Judge, Larry E. Carter, Akash V. Ajmera

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Background: Obesity is one of the most widespread epidemics of our time. In fact, currently 65.7% of US adults age 20 and older are overweight, while 30.6% are obese. It has been well-established that obesity has numerous adverse effects on long-term health, however the specific effect on patients treated for sepsis and septic shock is unclear. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of total body fat content and surrogate marker for obesity. In our study, we aimed to identify if BMI was an independent risk factor for poor survival or increased length of stay (LOS) in patients with sepsis. …

Invasive Mediastinal Aspergillosis Presenting As Superior Vena Cava Syndrome In An Immunocompetent Patient, Yasmin Rahim, Aisha Memon, Javaid Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a disease of the immunocompromised with a predilection for the lungs, although dissemination to all organs is possible. Its diagnosis remains a challenge due to the absence of specific clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. In most cases, diagnosis is eventually made via invasive methods. It carries with it a high mortality due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment. Here, we report a fascinating case of a young, otherwise healthy, immunocompetent patient that presented to us with superior vena cava syndrome and a mediastinal mass. It was anticipated that a malignancy would be found on further workup …

The Association Of Qsofa, Sofa, And Sirs With Mortality In Emergency Department Pneumonia, Ian D. Mecham, Nathan C. Dean, Emily L. Wilson, Al R. Jephson, Michael J. Lanpsa

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Objective: To determine the association between 30-day mortality with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and quick SOFA (qSOFA) in emergency department patients with pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included the association of sepsis scores with hospital admission and direct ICU admission.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a pneumonia population conducted in the emergency department of 3 tertiary care medical centers and 4 community hospitals. Adult immunocompetent patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included from 3 twelve-month periods spanning December 2009 to October 2015. We generated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for …

Role Of Echocardiography In The Intensive Care Unit: Overview Of The Most Common Clinical Scenarios, Luca Longobardo, Concetta Zito, Scipione Carerj, Giuseppe Caracciolo, Bijoy K. Khandheria

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The intensive care unit (ICU) is among the more important settings in which echocardiography plays a pivotal role. The ease of use, speed of execution, and completeness of information on heart anatomy and function that echocardiography is able to provide makes this tool the perfect diagnostic technique in patients for whom exhaustive information must be quickly obtained by physicians who sometimes lack specific skills in cardiovascular imaging. However, the clinical entities encountered by ICU clinicians are often difficult to distinguish and patient symptoms may not be obvious. This brief review describes three common clinical scenarios that benefit from echocardiography in …

Exploring The “Weekend Effect” On The Care Of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices, Gbolahan O. Ogunbayo, Le Dung Ha, Naoki Misumida, Ayman Elbadawi, Qamar Ahmad, Remi Okwechime, Deborah Akanya, Andrew Kolodziej, Claude S. Elayi, Maya E. Guglin

The VAD Journal

Many studies have described differences in in-hospital outcomes and length of stay between patients treated for major cardiac conditions on weekdays versus weekends.¹ Our study aimed to explore the “weekend effect” on in-hospital care among patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, with a weighted estimate of more than 35 million admissions per year.² We identified patients 18 years or older with an ICD code signifying presence of a LVAD. Characteristics, comorbidities and clinical outcomes were compared between patients admitted on a weekend versus patients admitted on a weekday. The …

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Versus Phenobarbital For Cholestasis In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Tamorah Lewis, Simisola Kuye, Ashley Sherman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Although neonates and young infants with cholestasis are commonly treated with either phenobarbital or ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol), there is no evidence that phenobarbital is effective for this indication. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of ursodiol and phenobarbital for the treatment of cholestasis in a diverse NICU population.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including infants with cholestasis who were admitted to a Level IV NICU between January 2010 and December 2015. Drug courses of phenobarbital and ursodiol were identified within the medical record, and medical, demographic, and drug information were extracted. The primary outcome was reduction …

Implementation Of Attending-Supervised Ipass Handoff In The Neuro-Icu, Laura Cifrese, Md, Sonia Gill, Md, Megan Margiotta, Md, Muhammad Athar, Md, Rodney Bell, Md, Sara Hefton, Md, Fred Rincon, Md, Msc, Mbe, Syed Shah, Md, Mba, Jacqueline Urtecho, Md, Matthew Vibbert, Md, David Wyler, Md, Amandeep Dolla, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Background

• Duty hour restrictions, cross coverage, and the growing number of mid-level practitioners has led to an increased number of handoffs across medical specialties
• These handoffs are well-known points of communication breakdown which can lead to patient safety issues
• Factors contributing to an effective handoff include standardization of communication, appropriate training and supervision, ample time, a quiet environment, and a supportive culture
• We hypothesize that attending supervision of handoffs is feasible and can improve practitioner perception of transitions of care

Congenitally Corrected Transposition Of The Great Arteries In A Septuagenarian From The Developing Country Of Pakistan, Hunaina Shahab, Salima Ashiqali, Mehnaz Atiq

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) is a rare congenital cardiac defect with atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance which leads to heart failure and limits patients' lifespan. We report the case of a 70-year-old lady, from a poor province in Pakistan, who presented for the first time with palpitations and was diagnosed to have CCTGA. She had moderate pulmonic valve stenosis which was protective against heart failure. She had six children all born via spontaneous vertex delivery in her local village. This case exemplifies the fact that pulmonic stenosis is favourable for patients with CCTGA. In a country where …

A Rare Case Of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Secondary To Dabigatran Successfully Treated With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, C. Hutchinson, F. M. West, H. Hirose

Department of Medicine Posters

Introduction

Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is used for stroke risk reduction in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism. Minor side effects include indigestion and stomach pain. Major life threatening bleeding occurs in up to 2% of patients and is largely attributed to gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Here, we describe a case of a dabigatran related diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) treated successfully with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Alcohol Drives Oxidation-Dependent Desensitization Of Airway Cilia Motility Responsiveness, Michael Price

Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol abuse, which can impair clearance of pathogens and debris from the airway, is associated with an increase in complications and a higher mortality rate during the progression of pneumonia. With prolonged alcohol exposure, mucociliary clearance (MCC), which depends on the coordinated beating of cilia, is dysfunctional. Effective MCC relies on cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activation of ciliary beat frequency (CBF). PKA activation and stimulation of CBF are blunted with chronic exposure to alcohol. This phenomenon is known as alcohol-induced ciliary dysfunction (AICD). Previous studies have shown that concomitant feeding of mice with alcohol and antioxidants prevents AICD, suggesting a …

Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae Meningitis In The Context Of Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery – A Case Report., Ricky Buckshaw Do, Casey Judge Do, Jennifer Strow Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: A 17 Year Experience From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Omar Irfan, Haris Khan, Zarrar Khan, Alina Ashraf, Rimsha Ahmed, Javaid Khan, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Objective: Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is an autoimmune, multi-system, small and medium vessel vasculitis with granulomatous inflammation. Aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological presentations of patients with GPA amongst the Pakistani population. It is a single centre retrospective single observation study.

Results: Study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi with records were reviewed from January 2000 to December 2017. Definitive diagnosis was made using a combination of serological anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) testing along with the clinical and radiological presentation. A total of 51 patients met the diagnostic criteria in the time …

Spinal Cord Trauma: An Overview Of Normal Structure And Function, Primary And Secondary Mechanisms Of Injury, And Emerging Treatment Modalities, Daniel Morin

Senior Honors Theses

The structures of the spinal cord and vertebral column are designed to provide flexibility, while still providing ample protection for the spinal cord deep within. While it does offer remarkable protection against most routine trauma, the spinal cord is still vulnerable to high-force etiologies of trauma and may become damaged as a result. These events are referred to as primary injury. Following the initial injury, the body’s own physiological responses cause a cascade of deleterious effects, known as secondary injury. Secondary injury is a major therapeutic target in mitigating the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI), and much research is …

Guided Mentorship: Enhancing Pediatric Resident’S Skills In Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Alyssa Stoner, Kadriye O. Lewis, Jennifer Flint, Shekinah Hensley, Brian Lee, Jenna Miller

Posters

Literature supports multiple aspects ofsimulation-based training1-5to impart technical skills and behavioral skills

Effects of different pedagogies have not been investigated in simulation

Pediatric residents have minimal exposure to pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) due to restrictions in work hours and increasing quality and safety initiatives6

Code LITE(Low-tech, Internal, Training Experience) is a simulation environment for our residents utilizing a guided mentorship approach, known as cognitive apprenticeship

Residents completed pre and post rotation surveys and participating residents were observed during their simulation experience Just-in-time, in-situ simulation program

10 minute specific scenario with 10 minute debriefing session

Interprofessionalteam: nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, attending …

Code Lite: Developing Pediatric Residents’ Resuscitation Knowledge And Skills Using A Guided Mentoring Approach, Alyssa Stoner, Jenna Miller, Jennifer Flint, Shekinah Hensley, Brian Lee, Kadriye O. Lewis

Posters

Background: Simulation-based learning is a popular training method in healthcare education. Literature supports multiple aspects of simulation-based training for technical skills and behavioral skills, however the effects of different pedagogies have not been investigated in this educational method.

Objective: Examine the effects of guided mentorship during simulation on pediatric residents’ learning experience.

The Corticosteroid Compounds Prednisolone And Vamorolone Do Not Alter The Nociception Phenotype And Exacerbate Liver Injury In Sickle Cell Mice., Luis E F Almeida, Jesse M Damsker, Sarah Albani, Nina Afsar, Sayuri Kamimura, Drew Pratt, David E Kleiner, Martha Quezado, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Zenaide M N Quezado

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Publications

Clinicians often hesitate prescribing corticosteroids to treat corticosteroid-responsive conditions in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients because their use can be associated with complications (increased hospital readmission, rebound pain, strokes, avascular necrosis, acute chest syndrome). Consequently, SCD patients may receive suboptimal treatment for corticosteroid-responsive conditions. We conducted a preclinical trial of dissociative (vamorolone) and conventional (prednisolone) corticosteroid compounds to evaluate their effects on nociception phenotype, inflammation, and organ dysfunction in SCD mice. Prednisolone and vamorolone had no significant effects on nociception phenotype or anemia in homozygous mice. Conversely, prednisolone and vamorolone significantly decreased white blood cell counts and hepatic inflammation. Interestingly, …

Constrictive Pericarditis Presenting As Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Report Of Two Cases, Manesh Kumar Gangwani, Salman B. Mahmood,, Fariha Hasan, Javaid Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare presentation. We need a very high index of clinical suspicion to diagnose the disease. It most commonly presents secondary to tuberculosis (TB) in the developing world and post-radiation therapy in the developed world. Classically, it presents with symptoms of heart failure and as pericardial thickening or calcification on imaging studies. In hospital settings, constrictive pericarditis is not usually considered as a differential in patients presenting with pleural effusion. According to the literature, associated pleural effusions in cases of constrictive pericarditis could be left-sided. Herein, we present two unusual presentations of cases with bilateral pleural effusions. …

Opioid-Related Critical Care Resource Use In Us Children's Hospitals., Jason M. Kane, Jeffrey D. Colvin, Allison H. Bartlett, Matt Hall

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been a rapid increase in the rate of pediatric opioid-related hospitalizations. It is unknown how this increase has impacted the use of pediatric critical care. Our objective in this study was to assess the trends in pediatric hospitalization for opioid ingestions in a cohort of US children's hospitals and, specifically, to evaluate the impact on pediatric critical care resource use.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of the Pediatric Health Information System was performed to identify hospitalizations for opioid ingestions from 2004 to 2015. Admission to the PICU and the use of naloxone, vasopressors, and ventilation …

Features And Outcomes Of Methamphetamine-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension., Roham T Zamanian, Haley Hedlin, Paul Greuenwald, David M Wilson, Joshua I Segal, Michelle Jorden, Kristina Kudelko, Juliana Liu, Andrew Hsi, Allyson Rupp, Andrew J Sweatt, Rubin Tuder, Gerald J Berry, Marlene Rabinovitch, Ramona L Doyle, Vinicio De Jesus Perez, Steven M Kawut

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

RATIONALE: Although amphetamines are recognized as "likely" agents to cause drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), (meth)amphetamine-associated PAH (Meth-APAH) has not been well described.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively characterize the clinical presentation, histopathology, and outcomes of Meth-APAH compared with those of idiopathic PAH (iPAH).

METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of patients with Meth-APAH and iPAH presenting to the Stanford University Pulmonary Hypertension Program between 2003 and 2015. Clinical, pulmonary angiography, histopathology, and outcomes data were compared. We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to estimate the epidemiology of PAH in (meth)amphetamine users hospitalized in California. …

Teaching The Principles Of Pediatric Critical Care To Non-Intensivists In Resource Limited Settings: Challenges And Opportunities, Michael F. Canarie, Asha N. Shenoi

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mobile Critical Care Recovery Program (M-Ccrp) For Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Sikandar Khan, Ashok Biju, Sophia Wang, Sujuan Gao, Omar Irfan, Amanda Harrawood, Stephanie Martinez, Anthony Perkins, Frederick W. Unverzagt, Sue Lasiter

Medical College Documents

Background: Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) with acute respiratory failure (ARF) face chronic complications that can impede return to normal daily function. A mobile, collaborative critical care model may enhance the recovery of ARF survivors.
Methods: The Mobile Critical Care Recovery Program (m-CCRP) study is a two arm, randomized clinical trial. We will randomize 620 patients admitted to the ICU with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation in a 1:1 ratio to one of two arms (310 patients per arm) – m-CCRP intervention versus attention control. Those in the intervention group will meet with a care coordinator after …

Achromobacter Xylosoxidans/Denitrificans Bacteremia And Subsequent Fatal Escherichia Coli/Streptococcus Anginosus Pleural Empyema, S. Habib, N. Fuca, M. Azam, A. H. Siddiqui, K. Rajdev, M. Chalhoub

Journal Articles

© 2018 The Authors Achromobacter xylosoxidans, a gram-negative bacillus with low virulence has rarely been reported to cause clinically significant infections. We report an unusual case of MDR Achromobacter xylosoxidans/denitrificans bacteremia from a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and subsequent fatal pleural empyema due to MDR Escherichia coli and Streptococcus anginosus. A 44-year-old male presented to the hospital with chief complaints of chest tightness associated with a productive cough. He was found to have pleural empyema secondary to MDR E. coli and S. anginous. Three months prior to current presentation, he had a history of MDR A. xylosoxidans originating from …

Experimental Intravascular Hemolysis Induces Hemodynamic And Pathological Pulmonary Hypertension: Association With Accelerated Purine Metabolism, Victor P. Bilan, Frank Schneider, Enrico M. Novelli, Eric E. Kelley, Sruti Shiva, Mark T. Gladwin, Edwin K. Jackson, Stevan P. Tofovic

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is emerging as a serious complication associated with hemolytic disorders, and plexiform lesions (PXL) have been reported in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that repetitive hemolysis per se induces PH and angioproliferative vasculopathy and evaluated a new mechanism for hemolysis-associated PH (HA-PH) that involves the release of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) from erythrocytes. In healthy rats, repetitive admin- istration of hemolyzed autologous blood (HAB) for 10 days produced reversible pulmonary parenchymal injury and vascular remodeling and PH. Moreover, the combination of a single dose of Sugen-5416 (SU, 200mg/kg) and 10-day …

Teaching Children Road Safety Through Storybooks: An Approach To Child Health Literacy In Pakistan, Haris Ahmad, Rubaba Naeem, Nukhba Zia, Asher Feroze, Amarah Shakoor, Uzma R. Khan, Asad Mian

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) commonly affect the younger population in low- and-middle-income countries. School children may be educated about road safety using storybooks with colorful pictures, which tends to increase the child’s interest in the text. Therefore, this study assessed the use of bilingual pictorial storybooks to improve RTI prevention knowledge among school children.
Methods: This pretest-posttest study was conducted in eight public and nine private schools of Karachi, Pakistan, between February to May 2015. Children in grades four and five were enrolled at baseline (n = 410). The intervention was an interactive discussion about RTI prevention using a …

Awareness, Use And Perceptions About E-Cigarettes Among Adult Smokers In Karachi, Pakistan., Maryam Sarfraz, Hamza Abdur Rahim Khan, Amna Urooba, Zainab Manan, Omar Irfan, Ramlah Nadeem, Huma Baqir, Saad Farooq, Zarrar Khan, Javaid Khan, Sarah Saleem

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of awareness, current use and intention to use of e-cigarettes among adult smokers.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July to August 2016, and comprised people aged above 18 years who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Convenience sampling method was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 22 was used for data analysis..

RESULTS: Of the 387 participants, 359(92.8%) were male. The overall mean age was 32.4±12.6 years. Moreover, 215(55.5%) respondents belonged to the middle socio-economic class. Besides, 249(64.3%) …