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.

Background: Egypt had the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the underlying mechanisms of occult HCV infection (OCI) remain unclear. OCI is defined by the presence of HCV RNA in hepatocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) despite undetectable levels in serum. This hidden viral reservoir may contribute to late relapse in antiviral-treated patients. This study aims to quantify OCI prevalence across different subgroups in Egypt, evaluate its association with liver enzyme levels, and examine the recurrence rate of viremia among OCI cases. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to January 29, 2025, across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Results were reported as prevalence (%) or standardized mean differences (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), using a random-effects model. All statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: This study included 36 articles with study durations spanning from 2010 to 2022. OCI prevalence was lowest in healthy individuals (5.2%) and highest in patients with blood-related malignancies (32%) and liver disease (21.9%). Among other groups, prevalence was 9.5% in hemodialysis patients, 11.4% in HCV patients who achieved SVR, and 13.6% in individuals who spontaneously recovered from HCV. Genotype 4 was the most frequently reported genotype in OCI cases. Viremia recurrence among OCI-positive patients who achieved SVR ranged from 5 to 50%. ALT and AST levels were significantly higher in the OCI group, with an SMD of 1.56 (95% CI: 0.86–2.26, p < 0.001) for ALT and 1.70 (95% CI: 0.86–2.60, p < 0.001) for AST. Conclusions: The prevalence of OCI is significantly high among patients with blood-related malignancies and liver disease. Of particular concern is its presence in blood donors and apparently healthy individuals, underscoring potential public health implications. Moreover, follow-up studies have documented a high rate of viremia in HCV patients who achieved SVR, suggesting a potential mechanism for late relapse. These findings underscore the necessity for continued surveillance and longitudinal studies to elucidate OCI’s role in viremia persistence, its infectious potential, and its association with both hepatic and extrahepatic complications.

Background: This study analyzes trends in HIV-related mortality disparities between Black and White populations in the USA from 1999 to 2023. Methods: CDC WONDER data were utilized to assess absolute disparities, measured as the age-adjusted mortality rate difference, and relative disparities, measured as the age-adjusted mortality rate ratio, in Black-White HIV mortality. Trends were analyzed using Joinpoint regression, with the average annual percentage change (AAPC) serving as a summary measure for the entire period and the annual percentage change (APC) used to evaluate the magnitude of change within specific intervals. Results: The absolute disparity showed a consistent decline, with an AAPC of − 6.46% ( p < 0.001). Similarly, the relative disparity significantly decreased, with an AAPC of − 1.10% ( p < 0.001). A detailed analysis of relative disparity revealed a notable inflection point in 2007, marked by an initial increase from 1999 to 2007 (APC 0.96%, p = 0.002), followed by a decline from 2007 to 2023 (APC − 2.12%, p < 0.001). The findings for both Black-White females and males consistently demonstrated reductions in both relative and absolute disparities, aligning with the overall trend. Among age categories, the 45–54 age group showed the greatest improvement in absolute (− 8.11%) and relative (− 2.65%) disparities, while the 25–34 group showed the least, with a slight increase in relative disparity (+ 0.23%, p = 0.66). Conclusion: This study shows significant progress in reducing absolute Black-White HIV mortality disparities, while the reduction in relative inequalities is more modest, emphasizing the need for continued and strengthened public health efforts.