Background: Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of mortality. Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion people smoke. In Qatar, Smoking cessation services (SCSs) are provided free of charge to citizens and at a minimal cost to non-citizens. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of the smoking cessation program adopted by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) of Qatar. This was achieved through calculating the percentage of smoking cessation service users (survival probabilities) who maintained the non-smoking status after selected follow up periods. Moreover, the study highlighted the possible association of selected explanatory variables with smoking cessation survival probabilities. Methods: In this historical cohort study 490 participants were recruited by simple random sampling who attended the smoking cessation clinics (SCCs) in PHCC prior to 30/06/2021. The participants were contacted by phone and invited to participate in the study. The participants who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed utilizing a structured questionnaire. Results: Initially 311 (63.5%) of the participants quitted smoking after receiving SCSs. There were statistically significant differences between quitting smoking and the nationality and the educational level of participants (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.02 respectively). About one fourth (23.3%) of individuals who initially quitted smoking relapsed and resumed smoking as early as 6 months after completing their SCC visits. This relapse rate increased to 38.7, 47.2 and 51.1% after 12, 24 and 36 months respectively. Less than a half (45.8%) maintained the non-smoking status after 42 months from their initially quitting. Conclusion and recommendations: The findings of the study substantiate the effectiveness of SCSs designed within PHCC both in short- and long-term basis. Younger individuals, smokers with Arab ethnicity, smokers falling within high income and education groups were identified as high-risk groups and need highest focus. The accessibility to the service among the local population can be increased by upscaling the advertisement of the existing services.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a high prevalence in Qatar, necessitating a thorough understanding of its risk factors. This study explored the associations between specific risk factors and T2DM among adults attending Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centers in Qatar. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional study design, data were extracted from the electronic medical records of individuals aged 18 years and older who visited the PHCC health centers during the year 2017. Data analysis was performed using univariate and multiple regression models. Results: The study included 127,941 participants, 33% of whom were diagnosed with T2DM. Age was the most significant risk factor, with individuals aged 60 years and older having an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 7.53, and those aged 40–59 years having an aOR of 3.55. Sex was also found to influence T2DM risk, as males had an aOR of 1.47. Nationality also played a role, as individuals of southern Asian descent exhibited an increased risk of T2DM, with an aOR of 2.40, while Qataris had an aOR of 1.55. Having high blood pressure was associated with more than doubling the risk of developing T2DM. Conclusion: This study provides essential epidemiological insights that can inform decision-making related to T2DM in Qatar. Our findings highlight that males over the age of 40, particularly those of South Asian descent with high blood pressure are at increased risk of T2DM. Identifying the major risk factors is essential for the prevention and management of T2DM.

Background: Social media use has become highly prevalent among adolescents and has been linked to both positive and negative health outcomes. However, evidence regarding its relationship with mental health and obesity remains inconsistent, and limited data are available from primary care settings in Qatar. This study aimed to describe patterns of social media use and adolescents’ perceptions regarding its effects and to examine associations between active social media engagement, mental health outcomes, and BMI-for-age among adolescents attending Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centers in Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 5th May 2024 to 30th June 2024 among adolescents aged 11–17 years attending six PHCC health centers across Qatar. Participants were recruited using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, social media use, frequency of active social media engagement, and participants’ perceptions regarding the effects of social media. Mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and anger, were assessed using PROMIS Emotional Distress scales, while anthropometric measurements were used to calculate BMI-for-age z-scores. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. Results: A total of 429 adolescents participated in the study. Overall, 25.3% of participants were classified as overweight and 21.7% as obese. Moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, and anger were reported by 16.2%, 11.4%, and 10.3% of participants, respectively. TikTok (56.9%), Snapchat (48.7%), and Instagram (47.3%) were the most frequently used social media platforms. While 58.2% of participants perceived social media as having positive effects on communication and relationships, many also perceived it to contribute to obesity (47.6%), mental health disorders (41.7%), and excessive screen time (58.3%). However, these findings represented participants’ perceptions rather than objectively measured effects. Statistical analyses demonstrated limited evidence of associations between the measured frequency of active social media engagement and BMI-for-age, depression, anxiety, or anger. In multivariable analyses, higher household income was associated with increased odds of moderate-to-severe anxiety; however, the overall regression model was not statistically significant, and the finding should therefore be interpreted cautiously. Conclusions: Adolescents attending primary care services in Qatar reported substantial social media use, notable levels of emotional distress, and a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Although many participants perceived social media as having adverse effects on health and well-being, statistical analyses provided limited evidence of associations between the measured frequency of active social media engagement and mental health outcomes or BMI-for-age. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing perceived effects from observed associations and highlight the need for longitudinal studies using more comprehensive measures of social media use to better understand potential relationships with adolescent health outcomes.