Plentiful of healthcare practice is based on a disease/treatment approach rather than a prevention one.  That is, the predominant focus is on treating existing symptoms and conditions that bring the patient to healthcare setting. There is no doubt about the significance of this approach for acute conditions, but there is some question whether this is the most efficient and effective way of distributing healthcare for increasing number of diseases and limited resources. The evidences from everywhere have showed the profound cost benefit of prevention in healthcare practice. Healthy community, therefore, is the ultimate aim in any health services planning. The priority of care giver is shifted now to promote health and prevent disease in any stage (susceptible, subclinical, clinical and recovery/disability) before death, and in all situations, as health status cannot remain constant for an individual, family, community or country over a period of time.

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Background: All medical colleges give students courses in epidemiology and biostatistics to help them in understanding medical data and to prepare them to conduct graduate and professional research. After graduation, understanding and correct application of the principles of epidemiology and biostatistics help the physicians in making better diagnostic and management decision based on best evidence. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out among junior (chronic resident) doctors at several hospitals in Baghdad from the 1 st of January till the 31 st October 2009. A total of 212 physicians answered the questionnaire which covered demographic characteristics, average score of graduation, number of published or accepted to publish researches, reading health/medical journals, understanding the methods and statistical analysis of research and the answers of 25 multiple choice questions (MCQs) in basic epidemiology and biostatistics. Results: No physician conducted or participated in any medical or health research. Only 19.34% of them read medical/health journals regularly, 29.72% read occasionally, and 50.94% not read. For those who read the medical/health journals regularly or occasionally (104 respondents), 42.31% not understand the methods and the statistical analysis of the researches. For those who not read (108 respondents), 61.11% blame the difficulty of the methods and statistics of researches as a main cause to flee from the journals. The mean of the MCQs exam was 62.38% (which is not very promising), more than 50% 0f the physician got score below 55%, and more over, about one third failed in the exam. Conclusion: Improving our students (who will become doctors) experience of learning and knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics courses is an urgent need to meet the evidence based transition in medicine.

Background: The prevalence of both obesity & diabetes are increasing all over the world & more in women.  They have a negative impact not only on morbidity & mortality but also on quality of life. Objectives: To assess the HRQoL with a specific comparison between obese & normal weight among women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 618 diabetic women aged 18 to 45 years. Data collection was done by interview & SF36 questionnaire. A comparison for Physical Component Summary & Mental Component Summary scores were done on the base of their Body Mass Index. Results: There was a significant difference score between obese & normal patients in PCS (p=0.001) & in MCS (p=0.009). The normal weight patients had significantly higher PCS mean (±SD), in strata of ; age (≤35,>35)=78.43(±8.80), 65.02(±17.9) /socioeconomic status (poor, fair) =69.96(±20.72), 67.50(±15.71) /marital status (single, married, divorced or widowed)=72.50(±14.81), 67.68(±17.44), 71.09(±16.79) /number of children (≤ 2 / >2 ) =68.66(±12.91), 69.64(±20.82) /smoking (smoker , nonsmoker) =72.50(±8.55), 68.44(±17.34) / duration of DM (5-10 year, >10 year) =67.68(±16.46), 70.27(±17.18)/complications of DM (one complication , > one complications) =71.12(±15.56), 77.91(±8.98)/treatment type (OHM, injection, both) =64.86(±18.87), 73.67(±14.49), 60.00 (±10.31)& regularity of visit (poor,fair,good) =66.25(±9.78), 60.31(±19.73), 72.63(±14.00). Also the same thing in MCS mean (±SD), in strata of; (SES) (poor) =72.11(±18.82), number of children (>2) =69.20(±19.66), smoking (smoker) =82.25(±11.50), duration of DM (>10 year) =67.55(±16.3), complications of DM (> one complications) =65.81(±10.17), & regularity of visit (poor) =59.86(±18.46). Conclusions: Obese patients have a lower score as compared with normal weight patients in PCS & MCS.

Background: Hair loss is a common distressing disease and challenging problem for many dermatologist. Telogen effluvium is the most common hair loss disease in which nutritional deficiencies may precipitate the disease through their effect on hair structure and growth. Study Aim : Validating role of serum ferritin level and body mass index in Chronic Telogen Effluvium and analyzing association between these factors with socioeconomic, demographic, gynecological factors and weight loss effect. Establishing a nutritional preventive advice to improve treatment successfulness and decrease the disease occurrence.                Methods :  A case series study on 327 chronic telogen effluvium patients (15-65 years old) main teaching dermatological outpatients' clinics in Baghdad. Data were collected by direct interview and questionnaire filling to analyze the associations between variables set in the data collection tool with serum ferritin level and body mass, which in turn may precipitate chronic telogen effluvium. Results :Mean patients' age was 39±9 years, 93.6% of patients had serum ferritin below normal for hair cycle requirement (≤70μg/l). Serum ferritin significantly associated with age (p value= 0.002) and 41.1% of poor socioeconomic patients had serum ferritin ≤20μg/l.  Nearly half of the patients with ≥3 pregnancies, 43.9% of patients on weight-losing diet and 52.7% of those who actually lost weight had low ferritin levels with statistically significant associations. Being obese is a risk factor for having low serum ferritin (OR= 0.297). Conclusion : Serum ferritin found to be ≤ 70μg/l in the majority of chronic telogen effluvium patients, which is significantly associated with patients' socioeconomic status, age, and weight status.