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Hypertension is a chronic disease common in developing countries like Afghanistan, and improving patient awareness of the risk factors and the significance of regular treatment decreases the burden of the disease. In Afghanistan, a higher level of health literacy can help patients with hypertension to know the risk factors, the role of lifestyle management, and the significance of regular treatment for hypertension. Also, a higher level of health literacy can provide venues for the patient to comprehend the provided information and actively participate in the care. Alternatively, patients with lower health literacy might need to appropriately understand the information related to diet, treatment, and provider communication during the management of hypertension. A lack of understanding of hypertension-related treatment suggestions might lead to poor compliance with hypertension medication. This qualitative study aimed to assess the health literacy level among patients seeking care for hypertension at Blossom Health Care Center in Kabul, Afghanistan. A total of 198 patients who had hypertension participated in the study, and patients were interviewed using a Likert scale for responses generated by a focus group of 10 Afghan doctors practicing in Kabul, Afghanistan. We found that 68.7% of patients with hypertension scored Strongly Disagree to having adequate hypertension knowledge. Moreover, around 37.3% of participants indicated Always visiting a doctor for this condition, and 38.4 indicated Always taking their medication. Studies have shown that lower health literacy in patients with hypertension might negatively impact their health outcomes. Therefore, increasing awareness and knowledge of hypertension related-treatment among people with hypertension might improve their overall health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide and in the countries, Islamic scholars do not have a consensus on the criteria and definition of brain death. This lack of consensus on the definition of brain death and its legal status has resulted in delays in withdrawal of care and futile care to the brain-dead patient population that negatively strains the limited resources for human organs in the Islamic community. Also, Islamic countries with organ transplantation resources lack legislation on endorsing brain death and its legal status as death which creates delays in harvesting viable organs from eligible donors. These delays can negatively impact the life quality of patients with end-organ failure waiting for an organ and make organs non-viable for transplantation, adding to the already existing shortages in Islamic countries. This brief review aims to clarify some of the barriers in the determination of brain death and organ donation in Islamic countries and address religious and ethical issues that exist that affect issues of access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of any healthcare system are multifaceted and complex in today's everchanging world. This paper will focus on healthcare delivery as it relates to the concepts of funding, patient-centered care and physician shortages within the systems of Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and France. Of great concern in the United States is the fact that healthcare is not universal. There are currently more than 43 million Americans who are uninsured. Poor funding affects patient access to care and the patient-centered focus of the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Collaborative patient-centered practice is a method that facilitates health care professionals working together and with their patients. Suggestions for reform in the United States will be discussed as they relate to the most successful aspects of each of the healthcare delivery systems in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]