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Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking among health care workers (HCWs) at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC), the biggest tertiary-care center in Jordan., Methods: Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire on cigarette smoking distributed among 760 HCWs. Questions were designed to collect various demographic parameters and different aspects related to cigarette smoking., Results: Six hundred HCWs returned the completed questionnaire. Responders were divided into 3 groups; physicians, 260 (43%); nurses, 250 (42%); and other HCWs, 90 (13%). Mean age (+/-SD) for the whole sample was 35.3 +/- 6.9 years. Men constituted 52%. The overall prevalence of smoking was 65%. Fifty-six percent of smokers smoked daily, with a mean consumption of 10 cigarettes per day. Smoking was more common among men (82%) than women (47%). The 31- to 40-year age group constituted nearly half the population studied; 58% of HCWs in this category were current smokers. In the physician group, the highest smoking rate was observed among family practitioners working in the emergency department (75%). Of the internists, 44% were current smokers. There was no statistical difference between the resident and specialist subgroups in this category (P = .45). All pulmonologists were nonsmokers, the second-lowest smoking rate was seen in the dermatologist subgroup (10%). The women in the nursing group had a smoking rate of 17% compared with the 49% of the men in the nursing group who smoked. In the other HCW group, 70% smoked cigarettes., Conclusions: Our results showed a very high percentage of cigarette smoking among HCWs at KHMC. Smoking cessation programs should be introduced among Jordanian physicians., ((c) 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine)

Objective: To define the clinical spectrum of tracheobronchial straight metallic pin aspiration in adults, assess predisposing conditions, evaluate the efficacy of bronchoscopy, and determine the outcome and complications at the largest 2 hospitals in Jordan., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 60 consecutive clinical cases from 2 referral-based medical centers (32 patients at King Hussein Medical Center [KHMC] and 28 patients at Al-Basheer Hospital). Medical records of adult patients (>13 years of age) who presented with history of straight metallic pin aspiration over 6-year period (July 2000 and July 2006) were analyzed. Clinico-radiological features and location of the pins were studied. The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) was used for foreign body (FB) identification and removal in all KHMC patients; video assisted rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia was used at Al-Basheer Hospital., Results: All patients were females <28 years of age. Fifty-six patients (93%) presented within the first 24 hours after aspiration. Medical history was suggestive of FB aspiration in all patients. Chest x-rays demonstrated the radio opaque pins in all patients. At bronchoscopy, the intermediate bronchus was the most common site of FB lodgment (62%). Ninety-two percent of patients were discharged on the same day of the procedure., Conclusion: Tracheobronchial straight metallic pins are relatively frequent FB in Jordanian young females and can occur in a very specific clinical setting. Removal of these FBs can usually be accomplished successfully by FFB.