Background: Reports on adherence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Egypt and the Middle East region are lacking. This study aimed to measure adherence to treatment among a sample of patients with RA at Ain Shams University Rheumatology outpatient clinic and to assess factors affecting it. Methods: A crosssectional descriptive study was carried out at the rheumatology outpatient clinic on a sample of 140 patients with RA. An interview questionnaire was used to measure adherence using the 8-item Morisky's scale, factors affecting adherence to treatment like patients satisfaction were assessed using the short form patient satisfaction questionnaire, also patients' knowledge, beliefs and rate of prescription refilling were assessed. Disease Activity Score-28 was used as an objective method to assess RA disease activity. Results: According to Morisky's scale, 90.6% and 9.4% were classified as low and moderately adherent, respectively, none was classified as highly adherent to treatment. Important barriers to adherence reported were fear of side effects, nonavailability of free drugs in hospital pharmacy and cost of medications. Younger patients (P 5 0.002) and those reporting greater general satisfaction (P 5 0.02) were more likely to be adherent. In addition, on-time refill rates of medication (P 5 0.001) and disease activity (P 5 0.02) were associated with higher adherence scores and thus further validated the results of the adherence questionnaire. Conclusions: Higher adherence was associated with more positive beliefs on medication, greater satisfaction with health care and less disease activity.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission. Despite the development of several vaccines, inequitable distribution and vaccine hesitancy impact their role in protecting HCWs. Adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice remains a cornerstone in preventing disease spread in health facilities and in communities. Objectives: The study aims to measure knowledge and practices of physicians in relation to COVID-19 infection prevention and control. It also aimed to identify perceived barriers facing IPC practice. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we used an online survey to collect data from physicians working in a university hospital in Cairo throughout June-July, 2020. The survey included 12 items for knowledge, 8 items for practice and 6 items for perceived barriers. Scores for knowledge and practice of IPC were calculated and transformed into percent scores. Results: Three hundred and eighteen (318) physicians responded to the survey. The mean knowledge percent score was 57.1±15.9. Participants knew the least about facemasks and gloves protectiveness. The mean percent score for IPC practice was 78.8±12.2. Less than a quarter of physicians "always" used N95 mask during all patient care procedures or did a seal test when donning one. Overcrowded emergency departments, improper work place design, shortage in IPC supplies and insufficient training were the main barriers to IPC practice cited by almost 90% of the study participants. Conclusion: Physicians in our study had average IPC Knowledge score compared to other studies. Continuous IPC training can largely improve IPC knowledge and practice among physicians.