Background: Diabetes is a highly prevalent chronic disease and Bahrain is ranked amongst the top ten. Diabetes has many complications. Retinopathy caused by diabetes if considered number one leading cause of blindness world wild. This study explore the factors influencing the uptake of the Digital Retinopathy Screening Programs (DRGP). Methods: Five of the Primary Care centers in the country providing the (DRSP) have been visited on daily basis for two weeks in row and patients attending for the test have been questioned, defaulters were called and questioned through the phone for the causes. Results: A total of 367 type II DM patients were enrolled in the study with a (42.5%) are within the age range of 50-59. 75.2 % of the sample attended for the screening and were questioned and the remaining non attendees were questioned through the phone. A Comparison between the characteristics and reasons behind attendance and non attendance amongst the two groups was conducted statistically by SPSS using Chi Sequare test and Fisher's exact test. Results using P-Value showed that the major reasons for non attending the appointments are forgetting the appointment, ignorance, neglect, some special circumstances like sickness or travel and miscommunication between patients and staff or physicians. While on the other hand, reminders and physician recommendations have show to be of a positive influence over patients' attendance. Conclusion: It is quiet essential to work on strategies that decrease the percentage of defaulters and improve the uptake of an important screening program such as the DRSP. Reminder systems, Improvement of the communications between patients and health care provider and increasing physicians' recommendations to enhance patients' awareness are all modifiable factors that can influence best on improving such service.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the lethal cancers all over the world. Early detection of colorectal cancer has been shown to reduce incidence and mortality. Primary care physicians have a crucial role in early detection of cancer. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of primary care physicians in Bahrain towards CRC screening and to determine the barriers related to CRC screening. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among primary care physicians working at primary health care centers in Bahrain. It included 174 physicians. A self-filled questionnaire that includes demographic information, knowledge scale, attitude scale, practice scale items and barriers of not performing CRC screening was used as the study tool. Results: The overall knowledge score revealed that 51.7% had poor knowledge score and 48.3% had adequate knowledge score. Majority of the participants (93.7%) agreed to have a structured screening program for colorectal cancer rather than an opportunistic one. Most of the physicians (60%) reported that less than 25% of those eligible patients truly receive a screening. Physician’s lack of time was the top barrier of not performing CRC screening. Conclusions: This study showed that most primary care physicians have poor knowledge regarding CRC screening and the majority do not screen their eligible patients for CRC.

Background: Both depression and obesity are widely spread problems with major public health implications. Obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. However, its consequences on mental health is less certain. This study explore the association between obesity and depression among adults in Bahrain.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among adults ≥18 years attending general practice in four primary care health centers that have been selected randomly from the four governorate in Bahrain. Self-filled questionnaire that includes demographic information, depression scale and other behavioral and clinical factors were used as the study tool. Weight and height were measured for each participant and BMI was used to assess obesity. Depression was assessed using beck depression inventory scale, with a score of more than 16 to indicate clinical depression.Results: The prevalence of depression is 16% while the prevalence of obesity is 42% among adults in the study. The prevalence of depression among underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese adults are almost the same (around 16%). Analysis using Chi Square test and regression analysis test showed no significant association between obesity and depression.Conclusions: The present study did not confirm any relationship between obesity and depression among adults attending primary care clinics in Bahrain.