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Since the burden of disease has shifted towards non-communicable diseases and public health management, there is a greater need to direct resources to address risk factors of the diseases rather than the diseases themselves. The downstream agenda focused on treatment services and is still an important problem at the level of national health management. Much has been accomplished in preventive programs for infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia but a great deal more is needed to combat non-communicable diseases. While a national non-communicable diseases program is being established in the Kingdom, more advanced pilot projects of NCD can be started in the regions. A model for cardiovascular diseases in Qassim will be presented.

Objective: A follow-up study, to compare the short-term outcome of preterms, in two hospitals in Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia., Methods: Preterms admitted in two hospitals, 47 in hospital A and 36 in hospital B, were followed from admission until one month after discharge. Preterms were compared on gestational age, birth weight, birth head circumference and length of stay. Outcome measures were weight gain per day, feeding patterns on discharge and feeding patterns one month after discharge compared with the feeding of normal infants (200 infants) at the age of 6 weeks., Results: No difference was found between the two hospitals on admission in gestational age, mean birth weight, birth head circumference and length of stay. Mean weight gain per day was significantly higher in hospital A, 9.56 (± 19.7) gm, compared to 1.22 (± 29.47) gm in hospital B. (P=0.049). But the proportion of exclusive breast fed infants, one month after discharge was higher in hospital B, 37.5% compared to 13.2% in hospital A. (p=0.0224)., Conclusion: Our study showed that there is a clear hospital level difference in the same region, in the short-term outcome. This emphasizes that outcome should be continuously followed and that differences should be evaluated in perinatal audit procedure.

Objective: To evaluate CME activities in Al-Qassim region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Methods: A study using a pre-structured questionnaire was conducted in Al-Qassim, targeting physicians working in the hospitals. The survey was conducted in two phases. The first phase was conducted at the inception of the department of professional education and the second one year later. Questionnaires were given to a sample of physicians working in the hospitals., Results: Mean CME hours in the region increased from 5.5(±5.9) to 14.2(±19.7), p=0.0001. 50% said that the CME should be presented differently. There was a need for regular courses (61%), departmental and bedside activities (52%) and visiting speakers (45%). Only 47% of the physicians were using the Internet., Conclusion: There is a need to shift from credit counting to a process that can yield professional development through practical courses and departmental activities. The use of the Internet in CME activities should be encouraged.

Background: Accurate information about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is important for their prevention., Objectives: This study is intended to assess knowledge on AIDS in students of secondary schools in Buraidah city and to measure the effect of a health education program on their knowledge about AIDS in general, modes of HIV transmission and the degree of their misperception about the transmission of the disease through casual contact., Methodology: A well-designed health education program using personal communication and visual media techniques was conducted for 483 secondary school students in Buraidah secondary schools during the year 1997. Pre and post-tests were done to examine their knowledge about AIDS., Results and Recommendations: The results of this study pointed out that a health education program on AIDS for students of secondary schools greatly and significantly improved their scores on general knowledge on AIDS views on its transmission and misperception of AIDS (p<0.01). Continuous in-service programs for secondary students are recommended.