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BACKGROUND: Research in family medicine is important. The objectives of this study were to explore the contribution of family physicians, their attitudes and practice, and the barriers to research in family medicine in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on Saudi family physicians in 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to family physicians through WhatsApp and email. Information sought included demographic data, scientific profile, number of publications, reasons for conducting research, barriers to the conduct of research, attitudes and skills for the conduct of research, and priority areas of research. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Descriptive statistics included mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Student's t-test was used to compare the means of two groups of physicians. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the association between categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 313 family physicians filled the questionnaire; majority were male (65%), were married (90%), and worked under the Ministry of Health (73%). The total number of publications since graduation was 1165 papers with an average of 3.8 papers per physician. More than 70% were interested in conducting research, and more than two-thirds considered research important to the advancement of family medicine. One-third of the family physicians were currently involved in conducting research, while 30% were supervising at least one research project. The top five areas of priority were chronic diseases, mental health, health promotion, quality of healthcare, and medical education/training; whereas the top five obstacles to the conduct of research were the lack of time, lack of research environment, lack of financial and technical support, and the absence of skills. CONCLUSION: Saudi family physicians make a good contribution to research. The researchers and research bodies should focus on identifying the priority areas for research in family medicine in the next few years and provide support to achieve some of the objectives of the National Vision of 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, turned into a pandemic in record time. Communication of disease presentation and mechanism of spread remain keys to getting ahead of the virus and limiting its spread beyond the capacity of management. Owing to huge academic focus and pandemic concern around the globe, this bibliometric analysis investigated research productivity related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic using the Web of Science database. The relevant data were harvested, and search query was further refined by publication years (2020 OR 2019) and document types (article, book chapter, and proceedings paper). Finally, 6694 records were imported and downloaded in Plaintext and BibTeX formats on August 1, 2020. The data analysis was performed using MS Excel, VOS viewer, and Biblioshiny software. Of the 6694 publications that appeared in that period, the USA and Chinese research institutions topped the numbers. At the same time, the Journal of Medical Virology and CUREUS (Cureus Journal of Medical Science), remained favorite journals for publications. The pattern of multi-author publications has outstripped that of single-authors. Apart from COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus, the important keywords mentioned included pandemic, pneumonia, epidemiology, public health, outbreak, epidemic, China, infection, and treatment. The analysis shows a strong local research response from China, with large teams reporting on the disease outbreak. Subsequent studies will document a global response as the virus spreads worldwide. The initial research related to the current coronavirus outbreak was reported from within China. The data and patterns were supposed to alter as the virus spread globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Journal of Family and Community Medicine (JFCM) is the official peer reviewed scientific publication of the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine. Unlike many peer medical journals, the contents of JFCM, have never been analyzed. The objective of this study was to perform an analysis of the contents of the JFCM over a 16-year period to discern the study designs and statistical methods used with a view to improving future contents of the journal. Materials and Methods: All volumes of the JFCM, from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2010 were hand searched for research articles. All papers identified as original articles were selected. For every article, the study designs and the statistical methods used were recorded. Articles were then classified according to their statistical methods and study designs. The frequency of study designs was calculated as a simple percentage of the total number of articles, while the frequency of statistical methods was calculated as a percentage of articles that used those statistical methods. Results: A total of 229 articles were analyzed. Of these, 66 (28.8%) either reported no statistics or reported simple summaries. The cross-sectional design was used in 175 (76.4%) of all analyzed articles. Statistical methods were used in 163 (71.2%) articles. Chi-squared test was used in 111 (68.1%) articles, and t-test used in 48 (29.4%) articles. Other common statistical tests were: Regression, which was used in 35 (21.5%) articles, ANOVA used in 23 (14.1%) articles, and odds ratio and relative risk tests which were used in 22 (13.5%) articles. Conclusions: The JFCM has a wide range of study designs and statistical methods. However, no article on experimental studies has been published in the JFCM since its inception [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common causes of both morbidity and mortality worldwid, and the management and prevention of acute respiratory infections is a global problem, especially in developing countries. This study sought to assess the community's compliance and practice of measures for the prevention of respiratory infections and discover their source of health information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the five biggest shopping malls in Riyadh city in July 2014. The required sample size was 980 persons aged 15 or older, with 196 from each of the five biggest shopping malls from each of the five geographic areas of Riyadh. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using standardised questionnaire, and analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Overall, 48.3% of the participants thought that they were susceptible to any of the respiratory infections of pandemic influenza; 59.7% always washed their hands with water and soap and 34.8% used antibacterial soap. About 29% reported avoiding touching their eyes, noses, and mouths directly with their hands; 63.5% covered their noses and mouths with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. A substantial number said they "never" shared their personal stuff, including towels (70.5%) and utensils (49.0%) with others. Only 21.2% avoided crowded places or wore a mask (9.1%) in such a situation. A high proportion (62.8%) did not take the seasonal flu vaccine. The most common sources of health information included television/radio (47.9%), social media (29.4%), and friends/family (28.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Health authorities should seize every opportunity to prevent respiratory infections by adopting all evidence-based infection control measures to improve public awareness, attitude, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this paper was to determine the validity and reliability of a questionnaire tool for measuring students' attitudes toward components relevant to research training programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The paper reports the responses of 564 Saudi Arabian students from seven government universities to the questionnaire comprising 16 items on 3 conceptual subscales, which measured students' attitude to research activities in the college; students' opinion of faculty involvement in research; and infrastructural facilities in the college. The results of this study provide the final scale, with all the 16 items of the initial Likert scale, for which strong evidence was obtained. Results: Results indicated that the students' attitude toward the research (SAR) scale had three latent factors, which explained 62% of the variance: The three subscales measured includes: (i) Research activities offered in the college, (ii) students' opinion of faculty involvement in research, and (iii) infrastructural facilities offered in the college for research. The full scale including three subscales had good internal consistency (rs = 0.72 and α = 0.77 for full scale; and a between 0.71 and 0.79 for three subscales). Conclusion: This study provides evidence of reliability and validity of the SAR scale for the measurement of students' attitudes toward research training programs in Saudi Arabian Universities. The research findings will provide the basis for further research on health science students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Family & Community Medicine is the property of Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Family & Community Medicine is the property of Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reviews scientific research on occupational back pain and focuses on prevention of this problem. It discusses some of the challenges of translating the evidence of this multi-factorial condition into policy. Medical science is currently unable to clearly distinguish between back pain caused by work and that possibly due to other causes but which affects the individual's capacity to work. Back pain affects the vast majority of people at some point in their lives and is very costly to both the health care system and the industry. Evidence suggests that heavy lifting, driving, and vibration of the whole body are linked to occupational back pain. Once the risk factors for occupational back pain are identified, an otherwise chronic and disabling condition can be prevented in the majority of patients. As explained in this article, three levels of prevention for occupational back pain have been reported as effective. Failure to implement preventive measures may lead to a high incidence of occupational back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The obesity epidemic, which is among the most common nutritional disorders, is rising rapidly worldwide. It leads to several health problems such as metabolic disorders, stroke, and even cancer. Efforts to control obesity with exercise and diet have a limited value in obese patients and different approaches to do this have been tried. In this paper, we share our experience with bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) in treating obesity: Its safety, tolerability, and its efficacy in weight reduction. Materials and Methods: From January 2009 to September 2012, a total of 190 gastric balloons was inserted on patients at the endoscopy unit in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar. This is an evaluation of the first 100 patients. All the patients had a body mass index of over 30 kg/m² and were within the age range of 17-55 with a mean age of 32 years. After consent, preballoon investigation tests and anesthesia evaluation, BIB was inserted under monitored anesthesia care sedation in the endoscopy suite. The balloon was filled with 500-700 mls of stained saline. All patients' were given an analgesic and antiemetic for a week and antisecretory proton pump inhibitor's for 6 months. Diet and the importance of the exercise were part of the preballoon insertion phase and protocol. The balloon was removed after 6-12 months. Results: The weight loss response to BIB in the 100 patients are classified into four groups: In the uncooperative, noncompliant patients - the maximum weight loss was 7 kg, while in the most compliant patients the weight loss reached up to 39 kg. In addition, there was significant improvement into diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and fatty liveras. Its safety and tolerability were extremely acceptable. Conclusion: Our data indicates that in well-selected patients, BIB is an effective device, which with minimum complications helps to achieve body weight loss and resolve many obesity related morbidities in cooperative and dedicated obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A headache is a very common condition that can have a significant impact on one's quality of life. It is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide.The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of primary headache disability, its characteristics, risk factors and its impact on daily life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Fayoum governorate. The sample size was 1909 participants. A multistage random sample technique was used to select adults aged above 18 years. A self-structured questionnaire solicited information on sociodemographic characteristics, headache characteristics, and the headache disability index. SPSS v 22.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Headaches caused complete disability in 19.5% of the study group, and 76.8% developed severe disability. Participants who reported that they had a headache more than once a week were; 44.5% had moderate pain and 40.2% had more intense pain. About 55% complained of attacks rather than continuous headache and were more likely to have a degree of complete disability, (P = 0.001). A statistically significant association was found between living in urban areas, working in professional occupations, complaining of severe headache in the form of an attack and seeking medical advice, with high scores of headache disability. CONCLUSION: Headache is a condition that affects the entire population in a way that causes high levels of disability. Good management is necessary for the reduction of the adverse effects of headaches on the health of the population. This should focus on raising public awareness by means of education and on the provision of basic healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: A confidential inquiry by the Directorate General of Health Affairs, Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, found physicians in different hospitals were reluctant to enter patients' related information in electronic medical record systems. One of the major issues raised was that they didn't have the required computer literacy. Our aim, therefore, was to conduct a survey to highlight the computer literacy among the physicians of Makkah region. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed from May to July 2009. A structured questionnaire of four A4 size paper was distributed among the physicians of the Makkah region working in seven different hospitals. The questionnaire contained questions on background knowledge of computers, i.e., (a) basic computer vocabulary knowledge (BCVK) (10 questions), (b) basic computer skills (BCS) (22 questions), (c) basic communication and internet skills (BCIS) (12 questions). Results: Response rate of 368, i.e., 81.6% of sample size (n = 451) was attained. The maximum response came from King Abdul Aziz Hospital (Taif), i.e., 79%. Overall BCVK, BCS and BCIS were the highest among the physicians of Alnoor Specialist Hospital, i.e., 71.3%, 91.4%, 87.7%, respectively. All the hospitals had a satisfactory level of BCVK, but levels of BCS and BCIS were above satisfactory except King Abdul Aziz Hospital (Jeddah) that showed a satisfactory level in BCIS. Conclusion: Majority of the physicians had a good or an excellent level of computer background knowledge that gave a prediction toward the issues of their non'promising attitude and beliefs about electronic data entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Health research training is an important part of medical education. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions, barriers, and practices of medical research of family medicine residents in Medina, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among family medicine residents in the Joint Program of Family Medicine Post-Graduate Studies in Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data was collected using a validated tool. SPSS was used for data analysis; frequencies and percentages obtained for categorical variables. Student's t-test and ANOYA performed to compare attitude score by sociodemographic variables. Chi-square test was to assess association between attitude and motivation with gender; all test performed at 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: One hundred residents participated in this study with a response rate of 76%. Forty-seven percent were men, 58% were year 1 or year 2 residents, 52% were 27 years or younger, and 65% were married. The males had a significantly higher average attitude score (45.2 ± 6.5) than the females (42.0 ± 6.9, P = 0.02). About half of the residents were not willing to conduct research. Seventy-five of participants had done some research (75%). A cross-sectional study design was the most common type of study that had been used by participants (71%). More than half (58%) had done the research because it was obligatory in the curriculum. The most important barriers to medical research were difficulty in publishing (37%) and the lack of statistical support (36%). CONCLUSIONS: The male residents had more positive attitude toward research. Half of the residents were not willing to conduct research. The main barriers were difficulty in getting the research published and the lack of statistical support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, there has been significant advancement in higher education and research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) However, no research has quantified the studies on mental health in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this review was to review literature on mental health in KSA over the last four decades and compare it with studies done in other medical and surgical specialties. This narrative review is based on research published in the global scientific database of Web of Science, Scopus and Medline/PubMed. Mental Health Research of Saudi Arabia published since 1975 was retrieved. Publications related to other medical specialties such as surgery, internal medicine and pharmacology were also retrieved for comparison. A total of 159,796 studies related to medical and non-medical specialties were conducted in Saudi Arabia. A total of 52,699 related to medical specialties, 670 of which were on mental health and 52,029 on other medical specialties. At the beginning of the last decade there was a sharp increase in medical research (including mental health) publications from Saudi Arabia. Mental health research does not differ from research in other medical specialties in its output. In spite of the huge strides made in research in KSA, the provision of support for mental health research in the Kingdom is inadequate. Possible challenges and recommendations have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of telemedicine has increased considerably in healthcare delivery, especially during this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has, therefore, become necessary to train medical students to better equip them for this new means of healthcare delivery. The aim of the present study was to assess the perception of undergraduate medical students on telemedicine training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 521 undergraduate medical students studying in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via a self-administered pretested questionnaire comprising two main sections: demographics and knowledge and opinions regarding telemedicine training. RESULTS: About 73% students think that the use of telemedicine for patient care will increase in the future, and 59.3% think that the medical students should be trained in telemedicine. Majority of the students (78%) opined that telemedicine training should be optional and 58% said it should be taught during the clinical phase of the undergraduate curriculum. The best telemedicine training course learning objectives medical students opined to be included were: telemedicine practical skills (70.2%), legal aspects of telemedicine practice (68.3%), and potential positive and/or negative use of telemedicine tools and methods (67.6%). Telemedicine skills students would like to learn how to effectively engage patients, knowledge about telemedicine regulations and the consequences of breaching them. CONCLUSION: Medical students are aware of the importance of incorporating telemedicine training into the medical curriculum. Training these students is vital to ensure their competence as physicians in their future clinical careers, that is make them a digitally health-literate future workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Family & Community Medicine is the property of Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

distant learning in some courses was implemented, thereby increasing the burden on teachers. The aim of this study was to assess the level of burnout and the impact of distant learning on burnout in primary school teachers during the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 295 primary school teachers in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire having two parts: the first part included questions on sociodemographic charecteristics and the second part included questions related to distant learning and the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Chi-square test was used to assess association between burnout and various factors. For comparison of mean scores by various factors, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. RESULTS: A high level of burnout was perceived by 48.4% of the teachers in the dimension of emotional exhaustion, 26.4% in the depersonalization dimension, and 60% in the reduced personal accomplishment dimension. Teachers in the public school showed a higher burnout score than teachers in the private schools. The teachers in 40-50 age group had higher scores than the teachers with other age groups. There were no significant differences in terms of gender and years of experience. A higher proportion of teachers working in private schools had higher personal accomplishment than teachers working in Government schools (P = 0.01). Regarding personal accomplishment and depersonalization subscales, there were differences between the different types of schools. The teachers who believed "distance/E-learning was difficult" had lower personal accomplishment score. CONCLUSION: According to the study, primary teachers in Jeddah suffer from burnout. More programs should be implemented to deal with teacher burnout and more research focusing on these groups should be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Self-empowerment-based patient-centered services with a coaching approach are imperative in the management of students with obesity. This study evaluated the applicability and effectiveness of self-empowerment-based patient-centered coaching for the weight loss program model for obese students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized control trial recruited 60 obese students aged 17--22 years in Universitas Indonesia from August to December 2021. Intervention group subjects were coached by a health coach. Each health coach assisted four subjects with SMART model coaching in six meetings every 2 weeks through a zoom platform. Both groups had instructions on obesity, nutrition, and physical activity from specialist doctors online. Paired t-test or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate, to compare the measurements of anthropometry, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), food intake (food record form), physical activity (physical activity form), subjective well-being (subjective well-being questionnaire), and healthy behavior habits (satisfaction scale) between the two groups before and after the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 41 obese students completed the study, 23 from intervention group and 18 from the control group. The change in total body fat (-0.9 [-12.9, 0.70] vs. 0.0 [-6.9, 3.50], P = 0.02) and healthy behavior habit (13.5 ± 11.85 vs. 7.5 ± 8.08, P = 0.04) in the intervention group was significantly greater than in the control group. The change in satisfaction scale of hobby/passion (2 [-4.6] vs. 1 [-2.2], P = 0.02), movement exercise (2.3 ± 2.11 vs. 1.2 ± 1.93, P = 0.03), sleep rest (2 [-6.5] vs. 1 [-3.2], P = 0.01), and spiritual (1 [0.6] vs. 0 [-1.3], P = 0.00) was significantly higher in the coached group. CONCLUSION: A weight loss program for obese students was tested through self-empowerment-based patient-centered care with a coaching approach and has proven to effect changes in anthropometric indicators, body composition, self-empowerment, food intake, and physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are under significant constant stress as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study, therefore, was to analyze bibliometrically the impact, trend, and characteristics of scientific production related to the mental health of health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bibliometric analysis of the scientific production on the mental health of health professionals and COVID-19 in Scopus from December 2019 to December 2021 was performed. An advanced search was designed using Boolean operators in Scopus and applied in April 2022. The metadata was entered into Microsoft Excel for the elaboration of the tables, SciVal to obtain the bibliometric indicators, and VosViewer to plot collaborative networks. RESULTS: A total of 1393 manuscripts, 1007 of which met the eligibility criteria, were found on the mental health of health workers and COVID-19.The country with the highest academic production was the United States and Harvard University with 27 manuscripts as the most productive institution. The scientific journal with the highest scientific production was the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health with 138 manuscripts and 1580 citations, and the author with the most citations per publication was Carnnasi Claudia with 69.8. CONCLUSION: The countries with the highest economic income occupy the first places in scientific production on the mental health of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the United States as the leader. There is a gap in the scientific knowledge on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in middle- and low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has swept across the Middle East has ignited religious tensions. Although the implementation of effective preventive measures is the best way to control the spread of COVID-19, in such countries as Saudi Arabia, these restrictions have sometimes been viewed as violations of religious practice. The present study explores the reasons for ignoring the authorities' recommendations, and the inability of the authorities to create a sense of inclusion in the protective measures they introduce against the COVID-19 outbreak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia and data were collected from 922 participants. The questionnaire contained 17 questions on personal characteristics, compliance with governmental protective measures, and participants' understanding of religious evidence. The SPSS was used for data analysis. Categorical data was presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between people's compliance to the protective measures and their understanding of religious evidence. RESULTS: The age of the study participants ranged between 17 to 68 years with a mean age of 43.9 (±12.69) years. About half of the participants reported always complying to Mosque precautions (49.9%) and keeping distance (53.7%). However, only 34.3% participants always maintained social distancing while visiting relatives; about 25.2% often kept a social distance. We found that an adequate understanding of religious principles was significantly associated with accepted overall commitment, and inadequate understanding was significantly associated with lack of commitment. An adequate understanding of religious principles was significantly associated with a positive attitude toward future commitment and inadequate understanding was significantly associated with a negative attitude. CONCLUSION: We recommend that the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia solicits the support of religious scholars to give a proper explanation of the religious evidence and eliminate misconceptions to promote compliance with the protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nicotine addiction has many consequences. The World Health Organization has classified nicotine dependence as a disorder of substance use. This study aimed to assess the dependence in users of different tobacco and/or nicotine-containing products (TNPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analytical, cross-sectional study involved 211 TNP users in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that consisted of two main sections. The first section included sociodemographic domain, TNP status domain, and the Stages of Change model domain. The second section of the instrument included the ABOUT dependence construct comprising 12 items. Independent t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis were used to assess the relationship between the study variables. RESULTS: Most users of TNPs exclusively used tobacco cigarettes (53.1%). Total dependence score was significantly associated with gender, marital status, age group, monthly income, nicotine concentration in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) liquid, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P < 0.05). Total dependence score was correlated with the duration of TNP usage (r = 0.24, P < 0.001), Switching attempts to another TNP (r = 0.16, P = 0.020), attempts of quitting TNPs (r = 0.25, P < 0.001), and willingness to quit (r = -0.37, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Dependence was associated with gender, marital status, age group, monthly income, nicotine concentration in e-cigarette liquid, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. It was also associated with duration of TNP usage, Switching attempts to another TNP, attempts of quitting TNPs and the willingness to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propolis means a gum that is gathered by bees from various plants. It is strongly adhesive resinous substance, collected, transformed, and used by bees to seal holes in their honeycombs. Bees use it to seal holes in their honeycombs, smooth out internal walls, as well as to cover carcasses of intruders who died inside the hive in order to avoid their decomposition. Propolis also protects the colony from diseases because of its antiseptic efficacy and antimicrobial properties. It also has been reported to possess various biological activities, namely anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and hypolipidemic. The aim of this review is to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of propolis since a little number of researches studied this effect when we compare with the huge number of papers that reported many other biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Falls among the elderly are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They constitute the second leading cause of unintentional deaths after road-traffic accidents. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of falls among the elderly and to investigate the factors that contribute to this phenomenon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the elderly, over the age of 60, in Riyadh. The sample under scrutiny was estimated to be 357 in total. A pilot study was conducted among 15 subjects. Two questionnaires were used for the interviews which were translated into Arabic using the "Morse Fall Scale." The questionnaires assessed: the participants' previous history of falls, whether a secondary diagnosis had been obtained, whether any ambulatory aids had been used or whether an IV connection had been fitted during convalescence. They also inquired if any gait/transferring device had been used to assist the patient at any time. RESULTS: Out of 357 participants, 206 (57.7%) had a history of falls. Study found an association between the number of falls recorded, the age of the participants, and whether the participant was female. Furthermore, there were statistically significant associations between the history of falls and a condition of impaired health. The results also showed that environmental hazards play a significant role in the occurrence of falls with P ≤ 0.001, in which 103 (81.7%) of the individuals who were exposed to environmental hazards revealed a history of falls. CONCLUSION: Falls among the elderly are common. Significantly, if the health of the individuals is impaired, and there are contiguous environmental risk factors, these elements combine to play a part in the occurrence of such falls. There is, therefore, a need to design and develop a health awareness program to prevent such problems in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the responses of countries to emerging infectious diseases have altered dramatically, increasing the demand for health-care practitioners. Telehealth (TH) applications could have an important role in supporting public health precautions and the control of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarizes the existing literature on the current status of TH applications used during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and discusses the extent to which TH can support public health measures. TH mobile applications (e.g., Seha, Mawid, Tawakklna, Tabaud, and Tetamman) have found effective tools to facilitate delivering healthcare to persons with COVID-19, and tracking of COVID-19 patients. TH has been essential in the control of the spread of COVID-19 and has helped to flatten the growth curve in Saudi Arabia. Further research is needed to explore the impact of TH applications on the progression of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomedical publications from a country mirror the standard of Medical Education and practice in that country. It is important that the performance of the health profession is occasionally documented. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the quantity and quality of biomedical publications from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in international journals indexed in PubMed between 2008 and 2012. Materials and Methods: PubMed was searched for publications associated with KSA from 2008 to 2012. The search was limited to medical and biomedical subjects. Results were saved in a text file and later checked carefully to exclude false positive errors. The quality of the publication was assessed using Journal Citation Report 2012. Results: Biomedical research production in KSA in those 5 years showed a clear linear progression. Riyadh was the main hub of medical and biomedical research activity. Most of the publications (40.9%) originated from King Saud University (KSU). About half of the articles were published in journals with an Impact Factor (IF) of < 1, one-fourth in journals with no IF, and the remaining one-fourth in journals with a high IF (≥1). Conclusion: This study revealed that research activity in KSA is increasing. However, there is an increasing trend of publishing in local journals with a low IF. More effort is required to promote medical research in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine involves the use of electronic communication and technology to remotely deliver clinical services to patients. With the increase in the adoption of telemedicine in healthcare delivery, "webside healthcare" is becoming the virtual analog of bedside care. The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has recently established the use of telemedicine, including social media (SM) and medical applications (Apps) to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services to patients and healthcare providers. In the present study, we evaluated medical interns' perception of the use of telemedicine, SM, and medical Apps in patient care, their awareness of related guidelines to find out if targeted training is needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative study recruited and interviewed, through semi-structured key informant (KI) interviews and focus group discussions (FGD), a total of 24 male and female medical interns. The Interns were purposefully sampled from all Saudi Arabia's 5 main geographical regions until data saturation was observed. The transcripts of five KI interviews and 6 FGDs done were thematically analyzed and are presented as themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Medical interns discussed the advantages and disadvantages related to telemedicine, SM, and medical Apps in healthcare services. Overall, interviewees appreciated the role telemedicine, SM, and medical Apps play in the healthcare and for such particular specialties as family medicine and (tele-) psychiatry. However, the interns believed that training on the technical operational aspects of different telemedicine modalities with an emphasis on targeted education for related ethical and legal regulating guidelines was vital. CONCLUSION: Most interviewed medical interns had a positive perception of telemedicine and were willing to use it in their daily clinical practice. However, there were some challenges to its successful implementation such as prompt training on its proper use and clear ethical and legal guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a persistent public health issue requiring consistent global effort for its eradication and control. Research on the subject plays a vital role in combatting the disease, giving future directions, and meeting the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study aimed to evaluate the global TB research trends and performance from 2011 to 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the data for TB-related research publications from 2011 to 2020 were extracted from the Web of Science database and a comprehensive analysis was performed on the R-bibliometrix package. RESULTS: An increasing number of publications with an annual growth rate of 6.32% and a plateau in production from 2015 to 2018 was observed. Of 145 countries, the United States of America (USA), China, India, the United Kingdom, and South Africa led and made up half of the global contribution. Out of 91,862 authors, Zhang Y was the most productive with 205 articles and Barry CE had the highest H-index of 45. Only seven of the top 20 authors were from high-burden countries. The University of Cape Town was the leading institutional affiliation, followed by Stellenbosch University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The most frequent international collaboration was between the USA and South Africa, occurring on 1203 instances. Only five of the top 30 high-burden countries were present in the top 30 collaborations. PLOS ONE, disseminating 2271 articles, was the most productive out of 3500 sources. CONCLUSION: The past decade has seen a steady increase in global TB research. Prominent authors, affiliations, and countries showed collaborative trends, but publications were found to be mostly from developed, low-burden countries except China, India, and South Africa. To meet the goals set by the SDGs and the WHO End TB Strategy, high-burden countries need to explore feasible opportunities and global support to enhance their expected TB-related research contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is a worldwide issue. To intensify our efforts to find a solution to this problem, we need to comprehend its magnitude and underlying causes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of influenza vaccine hesitancy and the reasons for it among healthcare workers (HCWs) and mothers of preschool children attending Zagazig Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) Center, Sharqia Governorate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Zagazig MCH Center involving 77 HCWs and 210 mothers of preschool children. Two validated questionnaires (one for HCWs and one for mothers of preschool children) were used to collect data on hesitancy to influenza vaccine. Data analysis perfomed using SPSS v 25.0. For quantitative variables, statistical significance was determined using t-test, whereas Chi-square test was employed for quantitative variables. Poisson regression model was used to determine the independent predictors of influenza vaccine hesitancy. P < 0.05 was used as a level of statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of hesitancy to the influenza vaccine was 46.8% among HCWs and 54.3% among mothers of preschool children. Fear of side effects (42.9%) and doubt in the usefulness of the vaccine (42.1%) were the most frequent barriers. Hesitancy was significantly more prevalent in the negative-attitude HCWs (62.0%) than positive-attitude HCWs (18.5%). According to Poisson regression analysis, the age of the index child, the mothers' source of information, and the frequency of vaccination were the critical indicators of influenza vaccine hesitancy in the studied mothers. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccine hesitancy among the studied sample is high (46.8% among HCWs, and 54.3% among mothers of preschool children). Periodic health education campaigns to increase awareness and change the negative attitude about the influenza vaccine are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Much research has found that smoking is one of the major risk factors for a variety of physical diseases and mental disorders; however, few studies have been conducted on smoking in Egypt. Furthermore, to the researcher's best knowledge, no study in Egypt has compiled data on smoking prevalence, motives, and levels of nicotine dependency. In order to fill in this gap, the current study has attempted to summarize the situation and construct an accurate picture of smoking in Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2000 Egyptian adults in Fayoum through a multistage cluster sampling technique. For data collection, the Socioeconomic Status Scale was deployed. In addition, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS), the Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRSS), and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were used. Data analysis performed using SPSS version 22.0. For qualitative data, Chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance. Bivariate Pearson correlation was used to test for the association between quantitative variables. RESULTS: Of the total sample of 2000 adults, 40.4% had anxiety and 24.3% had stress, and 19.5% showed severe to extremely severe level of depression. For MRSS, tension reduction or relaxation was found in 46.5% adults while 9.8% had high level of nicotine dependence. There was a statistically significant association between psychometric disorders, on one hand, and both smoking motivation and nicotine dependence, on the other (P < 0.001). The DASS score had a statistically significant correlation with age, smoking duration, nicotine dependence level, and MRSS subscales. CONCLUSION: Smoking is linked to psychological symptoms and shows a moderate to high level of nicotine dependence, with a higher level of dependency, smoking pleasure, stress reduction/relaxation, and hand-mouth movement as motives for smoking. Furthermore, there was a correlation between nicotine dependence, on one hand, and depression and stress on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: With growth of the use of point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) around the world, some medical schools have incorporated this skill into their undergraduate curricula. However, because of epidemiology of disease and regional differences in approaches to patient care, global application of PoCUS might not be possible. Before creating a PoCUS teaching course, it is critical to perform a needs analysis and recognize the training obstacles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A validated online questionnaire was given to final-year medical students at our institution to evaluate their perceptions of the applicability of specific clinical findings, and their own capability to detect these signs clinically and with PoCUS. The skill insufficiency was assessed by deducting the self-reported clinical and ultrasound skill level from the perceived usefulness of each clinical finding. RESULTS: The levels of expertise and knowledge in the 229 students who participated were not up to the expected standard. The applicability of detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (3.9 ± standard deviation [SD] 1.4) was the highest. However, detection of interstitial syndrome (3.0 ± SD 1.1) was perceived as the least applicable. The deficit was highest in the detection of AAA (mean 0.95 ± SD 2.4) and lowest for hepatomegaly (mean 0.57 ± SD 2.3). Although the majority agreed that training of preclinical and clinical medical students would be beneficial, 52 (22.7%) showed no interest, and 60% (n = 136) reported that they did not have the time to develop the skill. CONCLUSION: Although medical students in Saudi Arabia claim that PoCUS is an important skill, there are significant gaps in their skill, indicating the need for PoCUS training. However, a number of obstacles must be overcome in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon is being increasingly used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Several case reports have suggested an association between interferon therapy and sarcoidosis with hypercalcemia. We report a case of severe hypercalcemic crisis with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy in a male patient who was receiving interferon therapy for hepatitis C. Gastroenterologists should be aware of this unusual but clinically important complication of interferon therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The effect of cyberbullying varies from the small levels of discomfort to serious psychological and social issues. Studies on parents' perception of cyberbullying in Saudi Arabia are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine parents' awareness and perception of cyberbullying of their children in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done on 1249 parents in Saudi Arabia using a standardized validated questionnaire. The questions were on cyberbullying and its association with the school, the difference between cyberbullying and traditional bullying, the importance of parents' attention and their knowledge of cyberbullying, and the platform on which they think cyberbullying occurs. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages while mean and standard deviation were computed for quantitative data. Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests, as appropriate, were applied to test for statistical significance. RESULTS: About 43% parents strongly agreed that cyberbullying was more harmful than bullying in the schoolyard. Parents reported that video games were the most common social platform for cyberbullying. About 64% parents strongly believed that cyberbullying caused psychological harm, and 78% parents responded that it was important to monitor the child's use of the Internet. Seventy-eight percent of parents strongly believed that schools should be proactive in addressing cyberbullying. As for the parents' role, 72.8% strongly believed that parents should be more proactive in addressing cyberbullying, whereas 27.9% thought that parents' involvement would reduce it. Most participants (75.1%) said that more laws should be passed to prevent or punish cyberbullying. CONCLUSION: There is a need to raise the awareness of the Saudi community about the effects and consequences of cyberbullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the responses of countries to emerging infectious diseases have altered dramatically, increasing the demand for health-care practitioners. Telehealth (TH) applications could have an important role in supporting public health precautions and the control of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarizes the existing literature on the current status of TH applications used during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and discusses the extent to which TH can support public health measures. TH mobile applications (e.g., Seha, Mawid, Tawakklna, Tabaud, and Tetamman) have found effective tools to facilitate delivering healthcare to persons with COVID-19, and tracking of COVID-19 patients. TH has been essential in the control of the spread of COVID-19 and has helped to flatten the growth curve in Saudi Arabia. Further research is needed to explore the impact of TH applications on the progression of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Although unintentional childhood injuries are a major cause of morbidity, there is a dearth of literature on the issue in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of unintentional childhood injuries in Saudi children, safety of their home environment, and the parents' attitude toward home safety measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a consecutive sample of parents accompanying children aged ≤12 years to the pediatric outpatient clinics of a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using SPSS; Chi-square test and t-test were used to identify variables associated with injury in the preceding 12 months. Logistic regression analysis performed to identify the significant variables associated with injury after contolling for other variables. RESULTS: A total of 283 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of unintentional childhood injuries was 24.7% in the past 12 months. The majority of these injuries occurred at home (74.3%). Accidental falls were the most reported (62.9%) cause of injury followed by burns (22.9%). Being a male child, attending a nursery or kindergarten, and having parents who kept hazardous objects within the reach of children were found to be significantly associated with higher odds of injury. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of unintentional childhood injuries was high in the study population. Significant gaps were found between parents' reported knowledge and practice. Focused educational programs to improve home safety will be valuable in reducing this burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global health problem of immense magnitude. Increased awareness and knowledge about obesity in health-care providers are essential to addressing this global issue. The aim of the present study was to assess the baseline knowledge on obesity of university students in health-related programs and evaluate the effectiveness of modified physiology laboratory (MPL) sessions in enhancing the awareness of obesity of these students by repeated exposure to physiological differences between normal weight (NW) and overweight or obese (OW/OB) individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a quasi-experimental study in which three regular physiology laboratory exercises were modified (MPL) to address different aspects of obesity. A total of 319 students (181 male and 138 female) from health-related colleges taking the physiology course during academic session 2011–2012 were included in the study. A questionnaire on obesity served as a measure of prior knowledge and improvement of evolution of student knowledge. The questionnaire was administered thrice: Beginning of the first MPL session (pretest), at the end of the second session of the first MPL (posttest-1), and the end of second session of the final MPL (posttest-2). Correct knowledge (CK), perceived knowledge (PK), and accuracy of knowledge (KA) were evaluated. Students gathered and analyzed physiological data in these sessions to explore the differences between NW and OW/OB subjects. RESULTS: The students' level of PK on obesity was high, but KA was low in pretest. The three knowledge indices improved significantly (P <0.001) from pretest (PK = 77.2%; KA = 52.8%; CK = 40.5%) to posttest 1 (PK = 93.5%; KA = 70.1%; CK = 65.9%). However, from posttest 1 to posttest 2, only small but significant increments were observed in CK (10.5%) and KA (8.7%). CONCLUSION: The awareness and knowledge on obesity of health-related undergraduate university students at baseline were low, but significantly improved after MPLs. The students' knowledge did not only increase but also improved in accuracy. This increase in awareness and knowledge of obesity is expected to directly impact on the students' lifestyles and boost their confidence to counsel others on obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to the use of nonconventional medical practices together with standard medical care. Specific forms of CAM included in this study are the use of honey, dry and wet Hijama, Quran, Zamzam water, Nigella sativa (black seed), and others. The objective was to determine the prevalence of the use of different CAM modalities by the attendees of primary health-care centers (PHCCs) and assess the reasons behind their use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at PHCCs in the cities of Dammam and Al Khobar, over a period of 12 months. The study population was patients and their accompanying relatives attending the PHCCs, aged 18 years and above. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in Arabic designed by the investigators after a review of the literature on the use of CAM. Questionnaire was modified after pilot testing among 200 medical students, and was validated by two expert consultants of the family and community medicine department at the university. The questionnaire was administered and supervised by the 3rd and 4th year medical students. Data were entered and analyzed using the SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) statistical software. Descriptive statistics were computed, and odds ratios were calculated for associations between CAM use and various independent factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors which predict the use of CAM by attendees. All the analyses were performed at α =0.05. RESULTS: The total number of attendees interviewed was 2114; 52.5% of whom reported using CAM. The types of CAM varied in their popularity of use, the majority of users favoring honey and Quran, 24.6% and 20.5%, respectively. Recommendations by relatives and friends were reported as the most common reason in this sample for using CAM (56.1%). Age, awareness of CAM, perceptions that use of CAM is better, use of CAM helps, herbs had no side effects, CAM was easy to obtain, and the attendee currently suffers from a disease were significantly associated with higher CAM use. CONCLUSION: More than 50% of the participants reported using CAM; honey and Quran were the most widely used modalities. For people to make informed decisions on the use of complementary medicine, physicians should impress on their patients to inform their doctors of their use of complementary medicine modalities so that encouragement could be given where appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Owing to the rising population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the need for family physicians is growing. The number of family physicians who would be available in the health service in future is dependent on the attitudes of medical students because their choice of specialty is a major factor in satisfying this demand. The aim of the study was to evaluate the attitudes of medical students to family medicine as a future career. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. A total of 308 students were randomly selected from problem-based learning groups. Data were collected using a 25-item validated questionnaire, and Excel and SPSS were used for data entry and analysis. Mean and standard deviation were used to describe numerical data and frequencies and percentages to describe categorical data. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 308 medical students, 201 (65.3%) of whom were male, completed the questionnaire. Majority of the students (229 [74.3%]) agreed that family physicians make important contributions to medicine although family medicine was one of the least preferred specialties of the students. CONCLUSIONS: Most students were aware of the importance of family medicine; however, only a few of them chose this specialty. Further studies should be conducted to identify the factors that influence medical students' decisions in their choice of family medicine as a future career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a noteworthy hazard for stroke and coronary illness, is one of the most significant preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in developed and developing nations. Adherence to antihypertensive medications and lifestyle alterations can greatly affect the control of hypertension. This study investigated factors that impact on treatment compliance of patients on antihypertensive therapy at the National Guard-Health Affairs (NGHA) Primary Health-Care Clinics (PHCC), Dammam, Saudi Arabia, taking into account the Health Belief Model (HBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the NGHA PHCC, Dammam. A total of 402 individuals were included in the study through convenience sampling method. Data were gathered by structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into the computer and analyzed using SPSS software. The data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was used to compare ratios, and a Pearson's correlation analysis of HBM variables was carried out; all tests were performed at 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The proportion of treatment-compliant participants in this study was 39.6%, and the participants' 'mean age was 54.09 (SD±10.703) years. About 59% females were compliant to the treatment regimen as against 19.7% of males. A total of 33.5% of the married participants were compliant, as against 16.7% of the single participants who were compliant. Unemployed patients (72.3%) were more compliant than the employed participants. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study showed that the compliance of most hypertensive patients with antihypertensive therapy was poor. Based on the HBM, all predictors including perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Therefore, the provision of health education by health-care providers to patients could have a substantial positive impact on patient compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Patients' perception of their physician's empathy influences their compliance with treatment and the resulting quality of life. We aimed to measure the patient-rated empathy of physicians and to determine patient-level factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled adult (≥18 years) patients attending the outpatient clinics of the departments of family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery. We measured patients' rating of their physician's empathy using the Jefferson Scale of Patient's Perception of Physician Empathy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 23.0; categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, and all quantitative variables were presented as mean and SD. Associations were explored by Chi-square test and Student's t-test. Regression analysis was performed to identify factors significantly associated with the empathy score; P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of a total of 390 patients with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 40.5 (13.6) years, 189 (48.5%) were male. The mean (SD) total patient-rated physician empathy score was 26.6 (6.0). Multilevel linear regression modeling revealed that having a health professional in the family, suffering from an acute illness (as compared to chronic illness), consulting a physician recommended by relatives/friends, trusting the physicians' expertise, shorter (<10 min) waiting time, and perceived adequate consultation time were associated with higher empathy ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' perception of physicians' empathy is indispensable for the success of a clinical consultation. It is influenced by patient-level social and clinical factors. On-the-job physician training in empathy, effective monitoring, and feedback mechanisms should be an integral component of the quality control of hospital services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The timeliness of vaccinating children is the pillar of the cost-effective strategy of decreasing the burden of many infectious diseases. Delayed immunization creates the risk of failure. There is regional variation in the rate of delayed vaccination. The purpose of present study was to determine the timeliness of vaccination and reasons for delay in vaccinating children under the age of 2 years in Sakakah, Northern Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 195 children under 2 years of age consecutively taken from four randomly selected primary health centers in Sakaka, Al Jouf province. A pretested proforma was used to screen the vaccination cards of the children for any delays in vaccination. Parents of children whose vaccinations had been delayed for more than 4 weeks were interviewed to determine the reasons for the delay. The reasons for delay were grouped under three different themes, i.e., child related, facility related and social issues. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 8.6 ± 5 months; 45% were girls and 38% were first or second order babies. In our sampled population, 23% children had delayed vaccinations of more than 4 weeks. The delay was similar for both male and female children (21.5% of males and 25% of females). High education of parents, working mothers and low birth order were positively associated with timeliness of vaccine uptake (P < 0.05). Of those with delayed vaccination, only 15.6% mentioned facility or appointment related reasons; illness of the child was reported by 46.7%. CONCLUSION: There is considerable delay in vaccination of children in Sakakah, Northern Saudi Arabia. A third or more birth order of the child, parents having less than university education, and child's mother being home maker are related with increased risk of delayed vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In these modern times of digitization, the use of Internet has become an integral part of everyday life, especially the lives of adolescents. At the same time, Internet addiction has emerged as a serious affliction. However, the impact of Internet addiction on these crucial years of life has not been well studied in India. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction in adolescents of the urban areas of Kamrup district and assess its association with depression, anxiety, and stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of higher secondary schools/colleges in the urban areas of Kamrup district in Assam. Out of 103 government and private higher secondary school/colleges of Kamrup district, Assam, 10 colleges were selected randomly, and a total of 440 students were enrolled in the study. A pretested, predesigned questionnaire, Young's Internet Addiction Scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS21) were used in the study. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to assess the association between Internet addiction and depression, stress, and anxiety. RESULTS: Majority (73.1%) of the respondents were females, and mean age was 17.21 years. The prevalence of Internet addiction was 80.7%. The main purpose of using Internet was social networking (71.4%) followed by study (42.1%), and majority (42.1%) reported spending 3-6 hours a day on internet. There was a significant association between Internet addiction and stress (odds ratio=12), depression (odds ratio=14), and anxiety (odds ratio=3.3). CONCLUSION: Internet addiction is a serious problem with a profound impact on mental health. Therefore, early intervention is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus among medical experts as to whether patients with epilepsy (PWEs) should be permitted to drive. PWEs who have had uncontrolled seizures in the past year are at an increased risk of road traffic accidents, often leading to the destruction of property, injury, or death. Currently, there is no clear policy on whether PWEs can drive in Saudi Arabia. Existing policies attempt to balance the potentially harmful and beneficial aspects of the issue. The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of PWEs who are unfit to drive. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected by interviews, a structured validated questionnaire, and a review of the medical records of 140 PWEs, with a response rate of 84%. RESULTS: Fifty four percent of PWEs were found unfit to drive. Of the 118 participants, 17.7% did not drive and 97 (82.3%) drove. Of the 21 patients who did not drive, 14 (11.8% of the total sample) never drove and 7 (5.9% of the total sample) stopped driving because of epilepsy. Of the 104 patients who drove, 45 (43.2% of the total sample) had a history of seizures while they drove. These incidents had resulted in the involvement of 28 patients (26.9% of the total sample) in motor vehicle accidents and 17 (16.3% of the total sample) patients being admitted to the emergency room. CONCLUSION: Structured regulation and licensing procedures are necessary for PWEs to drive safely. Regulations in other countries demand that seizures be controlled for 1 year before epileptic patients are allowed unrestricted driving. Such regulations would improve road safety in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator for assessing the quality of health care because it affects the timely, efficient, and patient-centered delivery of quality health care, and patient satisfaction is associated with the clinical outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between waiting time and patient satisfaction in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at family medicine and other specialized clinics. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed to patients seen at the outpatient clinics. Variables collected were sociodemographic information and patient satisfaction scores to evaluate the association between waiting time and satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 406 patients participated in the study. Half of the patients reported being satisfied with the waiting time, while the remaining were dissatisfied (mean satisfaction score 38.4 ± 6.63). Family medicine clinic scored better in waiting time than other specialized clinics; between arrival and registration (P < 0.01), between registration and consultation (P < 0.01), consultation time (P < 0.01), and overall waiting time (P < 0.01). Patients treated at the family medicine clinic were more likely to be satisfied than those seen in other specialized clinics (61.2% vs. 40%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Overall satisfaction was lower than shown in previous literature. Gender and clinic type were significantly associated with satisfaction score; those who attended the family medicine clinics were more satisfied than those attending other specialized clinics. Findings may be used to inform researchers, clinicians, and policy-makers' decisions on quality improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Many medical students, junior doctors, and other health-care professionals have been affected by the negative experience of bullying. Research is scarce on bullying experienced by medical and nonmedical students in Saudi Arabia unlike what is found in Western countries. It is unclear whether being a nonmedical student modifies the risk of being bullied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 400 university students using convenient sampling. The sample comprised 295 students who responded and were stratified into medical (n = 176) and nonmedical (n = 119) groups. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyze our data. Normality was measured using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Statistical significance was tested using chi-square test for categorical variables, and t-test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Almost half of the respondents were found to have experienced some bullying, victimization, or other harassment during their medical education. The most common forms of bullying were verbal abuse and undue pressure to produce work (43.8%; n = 77). Nonmedical students experienced more bullying than medical students and were more likely to be female, single, and younger in age. The number of medical students subjected to sexual harassment (1.7%; n = 3) was higher than nonmedical students (0.8%; n = 1). Physical violence was more towards nonmedical (4.2%; n = 5) than medical students (1.1%, n = 2). The rates of bullying continue to be associated with anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest similar bullying rates in the developed world but higher than previously reported in a Saudi study. Bullying or harassment affects both medical and nonmedical students and is associated with high levels of anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Alternative medicine is defined as medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession. The teaching of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in medical schools is becoming prevalent worldwide. Only a few studies have been done to assess medical students' attitude toward CAM and the need for CAM courses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students in two universities, King Saud (KSU) and Majmaah (MU) medical colleges, between February and April 2015. A survey was developed and validated by a pilot study. Data were gathered from both colleges by means of hard and soft copy surveys. Medical students of both genders from the 1st year to the 5th year from both universities were targeted in this study. Fifth-year students from Majmaah and students from the preparatory year were excluded from the study. KSU students comprised 1433, while MU students comprised only 180. The sample size was 384. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The study included 399 medical students. Bloodletting is the most known modality (80.7%), while homeopathy is the least known with a percentage of 7.47%. The overall assessment of the attitude toward CAM was neutral, with a mean of 3.1. Students who had taken a CAM course previously were more satisfied with their knowledge than those who had not, showing a statistical significance of P = 0.0001. CONCLUSION: This study showed a lack of knowledge of CAM among medical students. There was an association between taking a CAM course and students' satisfaction with their knowledge. Most of the students agreed with the inclusion of CAM courses in the medical curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are multidimensional and change rapidly in short intervals in the 1st year of life, asking for simultaneous assessment of various feeding dimensions in children of 6 months and older. Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) is a composite index which measures complete feeding practices for infants and young children. The present study was conducted to assess IYCF practices for children aged 6-36 months in terms of ICFI and some sociodemographic factors and find out the association of ICFI with nutritional status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2015 to October 2015 in Girdharnagar ward of Ahmedabad. Two hundred and ten mother-child pairs were selected by two-staged cluster sampling and were interviewed using a schedule adapted from Knowledge, Practices, and Coverage 2000+ model questionnaire. Appropriate anthropometric measurements were taken and nutritional indicators were calculated. Chi-square test, t-test, and regression analysis were applied wherever required. Epi info version 7.0 and MS Excel 2007 were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nearly 65.2% of the children were stunted, 43.3% were underweight, and 11.9% were wasted. Only 38.3% of the children were initiated on breastfeeding within 1 h of birth. Only 19.1% of the children were breastfed for 2 years and beyond. Meal frequency was adequate in 64.3% and dietary diversity of >4 food groups was given to only 15.7% of the children. Significant higher proportions of children with low ICFI scores had illiterate mothers, were older, and belonged to lower socioeconomic strata. There was statistically significant association of ICFI with all the three nutritional status indicators. Higher proportion of children with lower ICFI scores had lower weight-for-height Z-scores, weight-for-age Z-scores, and height-for-age Z-scores. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that ICFI can be used to measure IYCF practices in a single composite index, which in turn can reflect the nutritional status of the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Falls among the elderly are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They constitute the second leading cause of unintentional deaths after road-traffic accidents. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of falls among the elderly and to investigate the factors that contribute to this phenomenon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the elderly, over the age of 60, in Riyadh. The sample under scrutiny was estimated to be 357 in total. A pilot study was conducted among 15 subjects. Two questionnaires were used for the interviews which were translated into Arabic using the "Morse Fall Scale." The questionnaires assessed: the participants' previous history of falls, whether a secondary diagnosis had been obtained, whether any ambulatory aids had been used or whether an IV connection had been fitted during convalescence. They also inquired if any gait/transferring device had been used to assist the patient at any time. RESULTS: Out of 357 participants, 206 (57.7%) had a history of falls. Study found an association between the number of falls recorded, the age of the participants, and whether the participant was female. Furthermore, there were statistically significant associations between the history of falls and a condition of impaired health. The results also showed that environmental hazards play a significant role in the occurrence of falls with P ≤ 0.001, in which 103 (81.7%) of the individuals who were exposed to environmental hazards revealed a history of falls. CONCLUSION: Falls among the elderly are common. Significantly, if the health of the individuals is impaired, and there are contiguous environmental risk factors, these elements combine to play a part in the occurrence of such falls. There is, therefore, a need to design and develop a health awareness program to prevent such problems in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Data on doping violation in Saudi Arabia are scarce. Our aim was to investigate the Saudi experience of anti-doping and review all positive samples and adverse analytical findings (AAFs) of Saudi athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed databases of the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee from 2008 to May 2016. The samples originated from various sporting events and were collected in and outside sport competitions. The substances investigated were those included in the annual lists of prohibited substances produced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). All urine samples were tested in laboratories accredited by the WADA. Samples were declared positive if they contained any prohibited substance on the WADA list for that year. RESULTS: In 4482 urine samples tested, 141 positive samples (3.1%) and 195 AAFs of prohibited substances were detected. The prevalence of positive samples was highest in 2012 (6.6%) and lowest in 2015 (1%). The most prevalent prohibited substances detected were anabolic steroids (32.8%) and stimulants (27.6%). The most frequently detected compounds were amphetamines (22%) and tetrahydrocannabinol (12.8%). The highest prevalence of AAFs was in bodybuilders. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of doping in Saudi Arabia seems to be higher than western countries, but this needs to be confirmed with further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Health-care communication skills training may be particularly needed in the Arabian Gulf countries because of the variety of cultures within the physician and patient populations. This study describes the implementation and results of a communication skills training program for physicians in Qatar that assessed previous training, and effect of previous training on participants' course evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a 2-day communication skills training course covering seven culturally adapted modules. Educational strategies included large and small group work with the standardized patient, demonstration videos, and lectures. At the end, participants completed a course evaluation survey. Data analysis performed with SPSS; frequencies and percentages were calculated, and Chi-square test applied to evaluate statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 410 physicians in Qatar have participated in the course over a period of 2 years. Evaluation ratings of the course were high. Participants rated the module on Breaking Bad News as the most useful, and the small group role-play as the most helpful course component. One-third of participants had previously participated in experiential communication skills training. There was no association between previous experience and evaluation of the course. CONCLUSION: Physicians in Qatar positively evaluated a 2-day communication skills course, though the majority of participants did not have any previous exposure to experiential communication skills training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine perceptions of parents about child abuse, and their impact on physical and emotional child abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred parents attending three primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Riyadh serving National Guard employes and their families, were requested to participate in this survey. Data was collected by self administered questionnaire. Five main risk factors areas/ domains were explored; three were parent related (personal factors, history of parents' childhood abuse, and parental attitude toward punishment), and two were family/community effects and factors specific to the child. SPSS was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive analysis included computation of mean, median, mode, frequencies, and percentages; Chi-square test and t-test were used to test for statistical significance, and regression analysis performed to explore relationships between child abuse and various risk factors. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of the parents reported a childhood history of physical abuse. Almost 18% of the parents used physical punishment. The risk factors a ssociated significantly with child abuse were parents' history of physical abuse, young parent, witness to domestic violence, and poor self-control. Child-related factors included a child who is difficult to control or has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents who did not own a house were more likely to use physical punishment. Abusive beliefs of parent as risk factors were: physical punishment as an effective educational tool for a noisy child; parents' assent to physical punishment for children; it is difficult to differentiate between physical punishment and child abuse; parents have the right to discipline their child as they deem necessary; and there is no need for a system for the prevention of child abuse. CONCLUSION: The causes of child abuse and neglect are complex. Though detecting child abuse may be difficult in primary care practice, many risk factors can be identified early. Parents' attitudes can be measured, and prevention initiatives, such as screening and counseling for parents of children at risk, can be developed and incorporated into primary care practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]