Patient-centered care (PCC) provides recognized global benefits but remains underexplored in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in Egypt. This study assesses the impact of communication skills training on doctor-patient relationships, patient-centered attitudes, and patient satisfaction in healthcare centers across Giza governorate. From November 2022 to January 2024, a multi-center longitudinal study was carried out in healthcare centers across the Giza governorate in Egypt, involving 102 physicians and 257 patients. The physicians completed a two-day training program titled “Effective Communication Skills Training,” based on the principles of patient-centered care. To assess outcomes, the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) was used to measure physicians' attitudes before and after the training, while the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9) evaluated patient satisfaction. Pre- and post-training PPOS scores exhibited a slight increase (mean difference = 0.06), with significant improvements for participants with pre-training scores ≤3 (p < 0.001). No overall significant difference was noted between pre- and post-training scores. In the sharing subdomain, surgical specialty and pre-training sharing scores were significant predictors of PPOS improvement. Patient satisfaction scores rose post-training, with a mean score of 4.44 ± 1 compared to 4.22 ± 0.67 pre-training (p = 0.001). The study demonstrates that communication skills training based on the PCC model effectively enhances PCC and patient satisfaction among physicians, indicating that targeted training can address PCC knowledge gaps and improve patient care.

Introduction: The phenomenon of burnout and the lifestyle of physicians significantly influence the delivery of healthcare. Over time, burnout intensifies, negatively impacting professional performance, which in turn leads to decreased quality of treatment, patient satisfaction, and productivity. Additionally, it increases the occurrence of medical mistakes and turnover among physicians. In addition to the direct influence of lifestyle on those components. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study is to assess burnout syndrome among Egyptian physicians, as well as to investigate factors that contribute to burnout, especially demographic characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and health habits. Methods: A cross-sectional study examined burnout prevalence and determinants among 502 Egyptian physicians in different governorates. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Questionnaire covered socio-demographics, The abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI), and The Health Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ). Results: Younger physicians under 30 showed higher burnout on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scales, with significant findings (P = 0.047), (P < 0.01) respectively. Male physicians showed stronger depersonalization than females (P < 0.01). Burnout was higher among residents and fellowship trainees, with significant differences in depersonalization (P = 0.021). PhDs showed decreased burnout with significant outcomes (P = 0.002). Longer-working doctors had increased burnout in depersonalization (P = 0.005). Single doctors were more depersonalized than married ones (P = 0.025). Depersonalization was higher in childless people (P = 0.002). However, non-chronic illness physicians were more emotionally exhausted (P = 0.042). Conclusion: These findings highlight the intricate relationship between burnout and lifestyle among physicians. A healthy lifestyle, including diet, routines, social support, and physical activity was linked to reduced burnout, while dietary harm avoidance was negatively correlated. This suggests opportunities to enhance the well-being of medical professionals through lifestyle interventions.

Background and Objectives: Mortality and illness due to COVID-19 have been linked to a condition known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) that is characterized by excessive production of inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6). Tocilizumab (TCZ), a recent IL-6 antagonist, has been redeployed as adjunctive treatment for CRS remission in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Tocilizumab on patients’ survival and the length of stay in hospitalized COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: Between January 2021 and June 2021, a multicenter retrospective cohort study was carried out in six tertiary care hospitals in Egypt’s governorate of Giza. Based on the use of TCZ during ICU stay, eligible patients were divided into two groups (control vs. TCZ). In-hospital mortality was the main outcome. Results: A total of 740 patient data records were included in the analysis, where 630 patients followed the routine COVID-19 protocol, while 110 patients received TCZ, need to different respiratory support after hospitalization, and inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed a statistically significant difference between the TCZ group and the control group. Regarding the primary outcome (discharged alive or death) and neither the secondary outcome (length of hospital stay), there is no statistically significant difference between patients treated with TCZ and the control group. Conclusions: Our cohort of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 did not assert a reduction in the risk of mortality or the length of stay (LOS) after TCZ administration.

Maternal knowledge regarding the neonatal danger signs (NDSs) plays a fundamental role in early detecting neonatal health conditions, decreasing untreated symptoms, and improving optimal infant development. This study aimed to determine the level of maternal knowledge about NDSs and identify associated socio-demographic factors among Egyptian mothers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthcare facilities through face-to-face interviews from January to March 2025. We included mothers older than 18 years with infants aged 1–24 months. Mothers were recruited through a multistage stratified sampling technique from nine Egyptian governments selected from all Egyptian geographical sectors. The Arabic Questionnaire to assess the Knowledge of Neonatal Danger Signs (AQ-KNDS) was used for assessing maternal knowledge with a score ranged from 1 to 16. Multiple linear regression model identified predictors of knowledge score. Of 1831 participating mothers representing 96.3% response rate, 31% were under 25, 97.3% were married, and 58.7% were living in urban areas. The median score of maternal knowledge was 14.0 (IQR: 13.0–16.0). 75.8% of mothers scored above 75.0%. Beheira governorate had the highest median knowledge score while New Valley had the lowest (15.0 (13.3–16.0) vs. 13.0 (12.0–14.0), P < 0.001). Higher-educated mothers had a significantly higher knowledge scores compared to lower education (median (IQR) 15.0 (13.0–16.0) vs. 14.0 (13.0–16.0), P = 0.006). The multivariable linear regression model predicted the higher knowledge score was due to living in rural areas ( β = 0.44; 95% CI 0.23–0.66); P = 0.001), attending antenatal follow-ups ( β = 0.53; 95%CI 0.30–0.76; P = 0.001), and seeking information from healthcare providers (β = 0.93; 95%CI 0.60–1.25; P = 0.001). These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted educational campaigns, particularly in underserved and remote areas. Strengthening antenatal services and leveraging trusted information sources could enhance early recognition of danger signs and timely medical intervention, ultimately contributing to reduced neonatal mortality rates in Egypt.