Search

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and practice of intraoral scanners (IOS) and the factors affecting their accuracy amongst dental interns and practitioners. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study in which data was collected from a representative population in Saudi Arabia, with the help of online questionnaires. The forms were distributed to 500 dental interns and practitioners and the questionnaire's validity and reliability were evaluated for vetting and remarks. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: the participants' demographic details, questions on the awareness and knowledge of participants regarding IOS, and the factors affecting the accuracy in clinical use of IOS. Questions were to be answered with 'yes', 'no' and 'I don't know'. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the control chart technique and the chi-squared test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Most of the participants (58%) knew about the IOS and its applications (47.5%), but the majority of the participants did not use IOS in their clinics (43.5%). The majority of males (57.39%) and females (50.86%) strongly agreed that cost was a barrier to purchasing an IOS. To better get more knowledge on IOS, the specialists 66 (16.5%) and interns 54 (13.5%) chose continuing dental education programs and workshops. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) of knowledge and awareness, perception, and factors affecting parameters with different categories and years of experience. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, most participants had a positive stance towards IOS but due to inadequate knowledge and understanding, its use and applications were minimal. IOS was well-received regardless of operator training and experience. There is a significant need to increase awareness of this concept, as it may increase treatment efficiency and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telepharmacy education should be incorporated into the curricula due to its beneficial effects on students, providing pharmacy services during their practice. Therefore, this study aims to explore the knowledge and perceptions of pharmacy students regarding the integration of telepharmacy services into their education curriculum in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey from 1 June to 30 September 2023, among pharmacy students from five universities in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was divided into three sections, and descriptive statistics and a generalized linear model were used for analysis. A total of 523 pharmacy students participated. Approximately half of the students were aware of telepharmacy, and only one-quarter had studied it as part of their curriculum. Students believed that telepharmacy education should cover communication, reimbursement, and training for virtual patient interactions. There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.0001) between the knowledge and perception scores. In addition, students who had heard about telepharmacy before and those with a "somewhat" confidence level showed a significantly positive correlation with knowledge scores (p = 0.01). In conclusion, perception scores, students who had heard of telepharmacy, and those with a "somewhat" confidence level were all positively correlated with pharmacy students' understanding of telepharmacy. This study underscores the importance of integrating telepharmacy education and practical training into pharmacy curricula to prepare future pharmacists for the evolving healthcare landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Spirituality is an important aspect for clients with mental illness.Spirituality is essential to holistic care in mental health nursing.Nurses found an apparent disconnection between the theory and practice of spiritual care. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Nurses acknowledged that attitudes that allocate blame towards clients with mental illness have the most negative impact on clients' spiritual wellbeing.The conflicting worldviews between spiritual healing and a biomedical approach impact the provision of care as relationships among the mental health team are disrupted.The non‐assessment of the client's spirituality hindered nurses from providing spiritual care.Language differences between nurses and clients impede nurses from providing spiritual care. What are the implications for practice?: The use of spiritual therapy as an element of nursing care works if clients and nurses are both aware of the importance of spirituality.Nursing staff must also be aware of several issues that may make it difficult for nurses to provide such therapy, including specific symptoms of mental illness.Nurses can apply spiritual care effectively when they have significant spirituality.Nurses with good competency in mental health nursing skills are more likely to provide efficient spiritual care as part of holistic care. Introduction: Spiritual care is essential to clients with mental illness. Aim: To explore mental health nursing students' perspectives on spirituality and spiritual care and how this impacts clients with mental illness in an Islamic context (Saudi Arabia). Method: Thematic analysis is used to analyse data from two focus groups of mental health nursing students (one comprising eight, the other six). Results: Six themes emerged: factors affecting spirituality in mental illness, the impact of mental illness on spirituality, the use of spiritual healing in mental illness, nurses' use of spiritual healing; challenges in providing spiritual care and recommendations for improving spiritual care. Discussion: Clients being blamed for having mental illness by health professionals and the community harmed their spirituality. The religious support of peers was a practical approach to spiritual therapy, asserted as a beneficial element of nursing care. However, nurses found providing such therapy challenging because of the language barrier and the lack of any assessment of clients' spirituality. It was also challenging when dealing with specific symptoms of mental illness. Implications for practice: The study asserts that spiritual therapy in nursing care will work if the client knows its importance. Nurses who have significant spirituality can apply it effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical Cancer (CC) is the fourth most frequent malignancy worldwide among females with significant death rates. It ranks as the 8th most frequent cancer in Saudi female. CC is preventable, with likelihood of full treatment by early detection, because of its long pre-invasive period. Lack of awareness and practice on CC prevention and screening increase the risk of disease. Objective: to examine knowledge, attitude, and practice on CC prevention among Saudi female university students. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study with a convenience sample included 594 female university students studying at health and non-health colleges of Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in Al-Kharj City, Saudi Arabia. All female students were asked to complete an online questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and practice on CC prevention. Results: A total of 594 respondents to the questionnaire, 88.7% of them had unsatisfactory knowledge about CC. Out of a total of 27 points, students' knowledge mean score was 9.3 ± 6.4. Conversely the majority of students (94.4%) had positive attitude toward CC; the mean attitude score was 34.52 ± 5.04 out of 45. Regarding students practice, less than 7% of students were vaccinated against HPV and only 3.7% were screened for cancer cervix. Married females, health colleges students, and high attitude score were significant predictors for the students' knowledge about cancer cervix (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the respondents displayed lack of knowledge; however, they had a positive attitude toward CC. Very alarmingly, almost all of students had inadequate practice regarding CC prevention. So, the study recommends developing and implementing educational programs and strategies for female university students to improve their knowledge and practice related to cervix cancer. Results of this study provide evidence that can help in formulating effective awareness strategies and educational programs for women that would help in CC prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing and midwifery professionals' well-being may be affected by various factors, including the bullying of new nurses. Purpose: To analyze the relationship between bullying behaviors, perceived stress, and acute stress among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in Saudi Arabia, as well as the moderating role of gender and academic majors in this relationship. Method: A cross-sectional correlation design was used, and data were collected from 322 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students enrolled in four major nursing universities in Saudi Arabia. Results: Educational level, environment, and personal attacks had a significant negative impact on perceived and acute stress (social and non-social), while hostility toward academic achievement and direct negative behaviors had significant positive impacts on perceived and acute stress (social and non-social). Female nursing students reported a stronger impact of bullying behavior on their perceived stress, while male students reported a greater impact on social and non-social stress. Nursing students reported a stronger impact of bullying on perceived stress, while midwifery students reported a greater impact on social and non-social stress. Discussion: Nursing educators should raise awareness about the harmful effects of bullying and emphasize the importance of creating a safe, supportive learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly growing worldwide. Positive attitudes toward using CAM may reflect an evidence-based understanding and awareness of its common uses and potential abuses, facilitating its sound integration into the society for positive results. This study aimed to identify the level of knowledge, practices, and barriers associated with the use of CAM among medical and nonmedical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and July 2023 involving a sample group of medical and nonmedical students from King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. A total of 341 students completed the survey. Approximately 53.4% of the participants were medical and 46.6% were nonmedical students. Herbal medicine was the most used among medical students (21%) followed by aromatherapy (12%) and chiropractic (11%), while the most used CAM among nonmedical students was spiritual healing/Quran (19%). The prevalence of good knowledge is higher in medical students compared to nonmedical students in some CAM modalities. In addition, the results show that there are no significant differences in attitudes toward CAM among medical and nonmedical students. Respondents from both groups were keen on gaining more knowledge about all the CAM modalities. It is important to utilize the data from this study for enhancing curricula in university programs and promoting education and practice related to CAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite considerable progress in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain major public health issues in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacists must possess adequate knowledge and professional attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in pharmacy practice. This study aimed to examine pharmacy students' level of HIV knowledge, their attitudes toward people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA), and their risk perceptions when providing services to PLWHA. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey tool was developed and administered to pharmacy students during their final academic year at Taibah University in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive and Pearson's Chi-Square Test or Fisher's Exact Test as appropriate, were performed to find the difference with a p-value of 0.05. Results: A total of 130 pharmacy students responded to the questionnaire (89.6% response rate). While descriptive results showed students' knowledge about HIV/AIDS was low (the mean knowledge score was 8.22 out of 15). Post-exposure prophylaxis was only known by 36.2% of pharmacy students, and the time it takes HIV to become AIDS was only known by 11.5%. More than half of the students (60.8%) did not realize that antivirals could not treat HIV/AIDS. Only 18.5% of students agreed they could counsel and treat HIV-positive people. A survey of pharmacy students found that 46.2% believed that they did not receive enough education on working with PLWHA in a safe and responsible manner, and 20% were unwilling to assist PLWHA. Among pharmacy students, 54.6% recommended HIV testing for healthcare professionals and 53.9% for patients before surgery. Conclusion: The study highlighted inadequate students' knowledge, modest attitudes, and negative risk perceptions toward HIV/AIDS. Saudi Arabian educational institutions and health care planners should perform educational interventions to enhance HIV/AIDS understanding among healthcare students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse is a global problem. Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a result of child abuse, with shaking being the most common form of maltreatment, causing mortality or severe brain damage in infants. A lack of awareness of SBS among current and future healthcare professionals can have serious consequences. To date, no studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia to examine student nurses' awareness of SBS, so we sought to assess this issue in an academic institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For this questionnaire-based study, we employed a cross-sectional, descriptive design. The target population was nursing students from every year of study in the institution's five-year undergraduate nursing programme, who received an online questionnaire during the 2022–2023 academic year. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Of the 293 respondents, 100.0% confirmed that they were not aware of SBS through their nursing curricula, and 62.1% reported not being made aware of SBS at all during their academic journey. The majority of participants were unaware of the negative consequences of shaking a baby. Most were not aware that shaking a baby vigorously can cause permanent blindness (73.4%), postural impairments (56.7%), sleep disorders (61.1%), or convulsions (60.1%). The results of our study revealed a statistically significant relationship between nursing students' awareness of SBS and both their year of study and marital status. Those at higher academic levels and those who were married were more aware of SBS. To improve nursing students' knowledge of SBS and help them to better inform the public of this syndrome, particularly parents, child maltreatment topics should be added to nursing curricula in Saudi Arabia, and their importance should be emphasised. This will help reduce the prevalence and burden of SBS nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nursing students in internship programs can play a role in preventing pressure injuries as they engage in real clinical situations and are assigned to conduct clinical tasks. Thus, nursing students in internship programs should be adequately prepared in terms of their knowledge and attitudes to contribute to pressure injury prevention. Objective: To explore and understand the knowledge and attitudes of nursing interns toward pressure injury prevention in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 161 nursing interns from various public hospitals across three provinces in Saudi Arabia and used an online questionnaire. The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool and Attitude toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention instrument were used to collect data from nursing students in the internship program. The Statistical Package of the Social Sciences Program version 28 was used for the data analysis. Results: Participants reported inadequate knowledge regarding the prevention of pressure injuries, with a mean knowledge score of 48.15%. Additionally, the participants showed unsatisfactory attitudes toward the prevention of pressure injuries, with a mean score of 61.36%. Significant differences were observed in knowledge (P = 0.008) and attitude (P < 0.001) levels between sexes, with female participants scoring higher than male participants. Additionally, students who completed longer internships had better knowledge levels than those who completed shorter internships (P = 0.007). In the open-response question, participants reported a lack of preparation and support during the internship and suggested recommendations to address these deficiencies in preparation and support. Conclusion: Nursing interns need pre-internship preparation and continuous learning and support during the internship to manage and prevent pressure injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change poses a worldwide challenge with anticipated exacerbation in the future, resulting in irreversible consequences. Nursing students may be vulnerable to experiencing psychological effects associated with climate change. Aim: The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward climate change and their psychological distress. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 377 nursing students from three universities located in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt in the Middle East. Data collection was conducted using scales for assessing nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards climate change and their psychological distress. Correlations were assessed and multiple regression analysis was conducted to explore the predictors of students' psychological distress. Results: The current study showed that knowledge regarding climate change significantly and positively correlated to the attitude toward climate change (r = 0.213), then again, the score of psychological distress significantly and negatively correlated to the score of students' knowledge and attitude regarding climate change (r = − 0.182 and − 0.110 respectively). Regression analyses showed that academic achievement had the strongest positive impact on students' psychological distress, while knowledge regarding climate change and attitude toward climate change had negative impacts (β = 0.381, β=-0.205, and β=-0.045 respectively). Moreover, knowledge and attitude regarding climate change were found to be significant predictors of students' psychological distress, collectively accounting for 18.2% of the observed variance. Conclusions/Implication for future practice: The findings highlight the importance of incorporating climate change into nursing education programs. By enhancing nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards climate change, there is potential to reduce their psychological distress. This study underscores the need for curriculum reforms that integrate climate change topics, aiming to foster a well-informed and resilient future nursing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background of the Study: Mammograms are sometimes met with issues of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis; therefore, they are less reliable in identifying cancer in women with dense breasts. As a result, it is critical to be aware of other sensitive screening techniques for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Aim: The ultimate objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of nursing undergraduates regarding non-invasive biomarkers, such as volatile organic compounds in breath, nipple aspirate fluid, sweat, urine, and tears, for the early detection of breast cancer to help improve patient care, determine the risk factors, and encourage practice of breast self-examination. Methods: Cross-sectional research was done in the Department of Nursing at Farasan campus using a self-structured questionnaire as the study tool. A total of 260 students willingly participated. The study tool had evaluation questions focused on the non-invasive biomarkers of breast cancer, risk factors, and breast self-examination practices to collect data. The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistical significance was calculated at P <.05. Data analyses were done using Microsoft Excel (2013). Results: A s ignificant knowledge gap existed among the study participants about the non-invasive biomarkers of breast cancer. A lesser percentage of students (25%) stated that they do breast self-examination on a monthly basis. The most common reasons for not doing the breast self-examination were "not knowing how to do the breast self-examination" (77.3%), fear of a positive diagnosis (53.9%), thinking that they are not at risk as all were in their teens and hence not required (44.7%), and lack of time (48.7%). Age and frequency of breast self-examination were significantly associated (P <.05) as those few students (22.7%) who were doing breast self-examination practices every 2–4 months belonged to a higher study year. Furthermore, knowledge regarding incidence rates and health care expenditure by the government on breast cancer was also significantly low (P <.05). Conclusions: Outcomes would help prioritize actions to help future nurses better understand breast cancer, allowing them to extend patient care in the best way possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre 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.)

Eating disorders (EDs) involve persistently disturbed eating and related behaviors that result in altered consumption or absorption of food with potential physical or psychological function impairment. There are four major types of EDs: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified. This investigation aimed to study the prevalence of EDs by assessing the nutritional status of nutrition students and dietitians from multiple provinces in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study included 175 male and female nutrition students and dietitians. EDs were diagnosed using the Eating Attitudes Test - 26 item (EAT-26) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Dietary intake was estimated using repeated 24-hour recall records. Diets were analyzed using food processor nutrition and fitness software. The intakes were compared with the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). The mean participant age was 24.62 ± 4 years. According to EAT-26 diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of EDs was 15.4%. The ED participants had normal body mass index values of 23.6 ± 3.47kg/m2. The diet analysis showed that these subjects had a lower intake of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients but higher intakes of other micronutrients than the RDA. Nine (33.3%) of the subjects were students and 18 (66.7%) were dietitians. I EDs were more prevalent among dietitians than students. The EDs included a high number of other specified feeding or eating disorders and unspecified eating disorder cases. Subjects with ED had an unbalanced diet and poor nutrition. Our investigation concluded that the prevalence of EDs in Saudi Arabia was 15.4% among nutrition students and dietitians. Moreover, EDs were more prevalent in some provinces of Saudi Arabia. Intakes of energy, macronutrients, and some micronutrients were low, while those of other micronutrients were higher than the RDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of monkeypox infection among dental hygiene professionals and students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of dental hygiene professionals (n = 259). The questionnaire was developed based on previous literature, and descriptive analysis and a Chi‐square test were performed. Results: A total of 159 dental hygienists responded to the questionnaire. Results indicated that only 1.7% had good knowledge, 7.7% had moderate knowledge and 90.6% had low knowledge of the monkeypox outbreak. The mean knowledge scores varied among dental hygiene students, practitioners and faculty members. Significant group differences were observed for some questions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study concludes that dental hygienists had moderate to low level of knowledge of the monkeypox infection and its implications for oral health and patient care, indicating a need for more education on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caring behavior is a major focus of the nursing profession and an important dimension of nursing practice that sets nurses apart from other healthcare professionals. Effective patient-centered care requires ensuring nurses have the emotional intelligence and happiness to address the daily demands of practice. The purpose of this study is to examine the emotional intelligence and happiness among nursing students and their relationship with caring behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study was conducted on nursing students (n = 363) from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, via an online survey. Measures include demographic data survey, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, and Caring Behaviors Inventory scale. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were conducted for this study. Results: Nursing students reported their highest degree of caring was in terms of 'respectful differences to others', while their lowest was in 'knowledge and skills'. Emotional intelligence and happiness were significant predictors of caring behaviors and explained the variance in assurance of human presence (17.5%), knowledge and skills (17.5%), respectful differences to others (18%), and positive connectedness (12.9%). In the final regression model, emotional intelligence and happiness were significant predictors of caring behaviors and explained 19.5% of the variance. Conclusions: Emotional intelligence and happiness among nursing students were found to be important factors to improve their caregiving behaviors. Therefore, nursing educators should consider integrating emotional intelligence and happiness interventions for students into their curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing students constitute the future nursing workforce; their knowledge can readily influence potential donors' decisions on organ donation. This study aimed to assess nursing students' knowledge of organ donation, determine its impact on their attitude, and identify relevant factors. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study assessed the level of knowledge and attitude toward organ donation among nursing students using the following two questionnaires: (1) knowledge about organ donation and (2) attitudes toward posthumous organ donation. Non-probability convenience sampling was employed to collect data. Results: A total of 278 nursing students demonstrated a low level of knowledge on organ donation, with a score of 6.43 out of 15. This influenced their attitude toward organ donation (χ2 (3) = 33.91, p < 0.001). Nursing students who were willing to donate their organs showed higher knowledge (7.33 ± 3.23) compared to those who were not willing to donate their organs (5.21 ± 3.09), p < 0.001. Registered donors had higher knowledge (8.52 ± 2.99) than non-donors (5.80 ± 3.17), p < 0.001. Conclusions: Even though nursing students typically favor organ donation, findings have revealed a low knowledge score. Therefore, it is necessary to improve knowledge of organ donation through nursing curricula and research, which could potentially increase the number of donors among future nursing students and, by extension, the broader population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is growing evidence supporting the presence of oral manifestations associated with COVID-19. The study investigates the knowledge of dental undergraduates and recently graduated dentists concerning oral presentations related to COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study in Saudi Arabia comprised 305 individuals, including undergraduate dental students, interns, and freshly graduated dentists. Data were collected using a questionnaire disseminated to approximately 500 subjects via WhatsApp groups and other applications. The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study for validity, edited, and validated by 2 supervisors at the College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding sociodemographic attributes, the level of expertise of dental practitioners, and their knowledge and perspectives regarding COVID-19 and the implementation of oral lesions interrelated to it. The data was subjected to analysis through the utilization of descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, employing the statistical software SPSS (version 24). Results: About 43.9% of subjects stated that COVID-19 causes oral symptoms. Respondents most frequently reported COVID-19-related dry mouth. Oral ulcers, Candida infection, Hyperpigmentation, tongue coating, atrophy, Petechiae, Herpes, white lesions, Gingivitis, and Periodontitis are further symptoms. COVID-19's oral manifestation was unknown to 41.0% of subjects, and 37.7% of respondents lacked knowledge regarding the most impacted locations of oral manifestations. Oral signs and COVID-19 symptoms are debated and significantly associated with higher educational levels. Conclusion: The dental students and freshly graduated dentists in this study have proper knowledge of COVID-19 and its symptoms. Also, most dental students and newly graduated dentists recognize the potential correlation between COVID-19 and oral manifestations with an average to excellent knowledge of the types and sites commonly affected. The level of awareness was associated with higher educational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dentistry is a profession that demands a high level of physical work and excessive repetitive movements in strained positions, both of which are risk factors for developing musculoskeletal pain (MS-P). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the awareness of ergonomics and physical activities in controlling MS-P among dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted at a university dental hospital in Saudi Arabia, through a validated self-administered questionnaire, distributed to undergraduates and postgraduate's dental students. RESULTS: Out of 402 students responded to the questionnaire, 337(83.8%) reported suffering from MS-P with 67.7% of participants did not take any measures to alleviate their symptoms and the majority reported limited physical activity. Females reported significantly higher MS-P than males. Lower back (56.5%), neck (56.2%) and shoulder (50%) were the most frequently reported MS-P. Unexpectedly, undergraduate reporting significantly more pain than interns and postgraduate students (P = 0.009). The dental students' awareness of ergonomics and MSDs were insufficient. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, student's awareness of MSD and ergonomics were the major factors for controlling MS-Ps. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of enhancing students' knowledge of the importance of controlling work-related MS-P, especially during their university educational hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the availability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and screening facilities at various health centers in Saudi Arabia, the annual death rate due to cervical cancer is high. Therefore, knowledge and awareness are essential for self-care and educating others, particularly among healthcare students. The present descriptive, cross-sectional study explored female pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer. A total of 140 students participated in the survey. The survey was conducted for the period between April 2022 to September 2023. We observed a good knowledge score and positive attitudes among 8.5% and 93.5% of participants, respectively. A total of 10% of the study participants reported good practice scores. Most participants had never been screened for cervical cancer (94.3%). Among the non-screened subjects, feeling healthy and lacking information were the participants' significant reasons for not screening for cervical cancer. A positive history of cancer related to smoking significantly impacted the knowledge score (p = 0.050). The current study reveals that healthcare awareness programs for cervical cancer and HPV vaccination are necessary at the level of educational institutions to improve public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common factor in causing cervical cancer. HPV vaccine is a successful strategy to prevent cervical cancer. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine female university students' knowledge and perceptions concerning HPV infection and its vaccine. Materials & methods: The participants in this cross-sectional survey were female students of applied medical sciences at Imam Abdurrahman Bin Faisal University Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted using a structured 28-multiple-choice items questionnaire. A total of 168 participants were included in the survey between September to November 2022. Results: The average age of participants was 20.10±1.74 years. The majority of the participants (52%) had knowledge of HPV. Whereas 52% of participants showed a positive attitude toward HPV vaccine. The age of the participants was positively and significantly associated with good knowledge of HPV (OR=1.884, 95% CI 1.06-3.35). Participants from a healthcare worker's family were convinced that it could infect both men and women equally (67% vs. 42%, p-0.02). Conclusions: Overall knowledge and attitude toward HPV and its vaccine were found adequate. It is crucial to implement an educational program within universities and awareness campaigns in community to encourage vaccination, which leads to lower incidence of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary supplements (DSs) have grown in popularity over the last two decades, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to educate medical students, the future health care providers, about the appropriate and safe use of DSs. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, use, and attitude of undergraduate students at medical colleges at Jouf University towards DSs use for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Methods: The present descriptive cross sectional questionnaire based study involved undergraduate medical students at Jouf University, KSA. After ethical approval, data were collected using an online questionnaire through Google forms during the second term of academic year 2021-2022. The questionnaire was divided into two sections composed of four components including Demographics data, health status, use and attitude, and students, perceptions toward dietary supplements use. Data were analyzed by employing GraphPad Prism®9 software. Findings: The questionnaires were completed by 574 students, with 256 (44.5.0%) males and 318 (55.4%) females. Participants who never used DSs (25.78%) were excluded from the study. The most commonly used supplement was multivitamins (24.8%), followed by vitamin D (21.1%). 26.29% used DSs based on HCP advice, while 24.41% made their own decision. The majority (65%) believed that DSs could boost their immune systems, while 35% believed that dietary supplements could always lower the risk of infecting with COVID-19. Approximately 43.7% of participants believed that DSs had no side effects.The majority of participants (46%) believed that DSs intake was not required after COVID-19 vaccination, and 56.6% believed that healthy food could be used instead of DSs. 62% of study participants continued to use DSs after being prescribed them. Approximately 67.6% said they would recommend DSs for COVID-19 prophylaxis and 63.4% said they would recommend DSs for treatment. Conclusion: The current study's findings highlighted the significant prevalence of DSs consumption among students at medical colleges, at Jouf university, based on HCP advice and self-decision. The study suggests educating undergraduate students on the proper use of DSs for COVID-19 treatment or prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) have significant consequences for children's health and well-being. Dentists play an important role in identifying and reporting CAN cases. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward CAN among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students, comparing second-year (preclinical) and fifth-year (clinical) students, both male and female, in the College of Dentistry at King Saud University during the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, using a questionnaire with 23 multiple-choice questions and an electronic link. The results revealed that most dental students (96%) were aware of CAN, with social media being the most utilized source of information (85%). However, the dental college was noticed as the least utilized source (50%). Most dental students recognize the significance of CAN in dentistry and expressed an intense interest in learning how to effectively deal with such cases. Only a small proportion, 16%, of dental students reported experiencing incidents of CAN in their clinical practice. In general, there were statistically significant differences between preclinical and clinical students, but there were no significant differences in awareness between female and male students when the source of information and role in dealing with CAN were taken into consideration. Both preclinical and clinical dental students were aware of CAN, although there were concerns about their ability to cope with it. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive education and training programs across the dental curriculum about CAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doctors are usually challenged by the transition between theoretical basic science knowledge and actual clinical practice. Thus, a critical educational intervention is the early incorporation of pharmacists into the pharmacotherapy courses for undergraduate medical students from their college years and moving to the practice setting. Objective: We sought to determine if a pharmacist-led education course would improve medical students' knowledge of general pharmacotherapy topics. Methods: All fourth-year female medical students were invited to enroll in the pharmacy practice curriculum between January and March 2022. The program was divided into three main domains: formal lectures, a hands-on prescription writing skills session, and on-site pharmacy practice sessions. The pharmacy practice session was divided into three sections: first section pharmacy practice, second section pharmacy innovation, and the third section clinical pharmacy. Those who completed the curriculum were requested to complete preand post-session assessments and curriculum evaluations. Results: One hundred fourteen medical students enrolled in the pharmacy practice module. One hundred eleven (97.4%) completed the pre-and post-course assessment. After completing the module, the medical students' knowledge scores improved from pre- to post-course. A significant difference in the overall knowledge was observed between the pre-course and post-course scores (9.51 versus 16.04; p<0.001). The difference between the pre-course and post-course scores was also significant when comparing the knowledge per each part of the assessment, showing an average score of 2.78 versus 4.05 (p<0.001) for the first section; 3.39 versus 5.49 (p<0.001) for the second section; 3.34 versus 6.48 (p<0.001) for the third section. The program received overall positive feedback; the experience was rated overall as "Excellent" by 73% of the participants. Conclusion: We have demonstrated the impact of a pharmacist-led curriculum for medical students on improving their knowledge of fundamental pharmacy practice areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most prevalent conditions affecting the vaginal organs is the human papilloma virus (HPV). Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge and attitudes have been the subject of numerous studies in Saudi Arabia. However, there are only a few studies that have examined university students' attitudes and knowledge of the human papillomavirus and the vaccine that is associated with it. Aim: To predict the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV and its related vaccine among undergraduate nursing students. Methodology: This was descriptive cross-sectional research. After being selected from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University's College of Nursing, 307 nursing students agreed to take part and completed an online survey that was self-administered. Results: The majority of the participants (73.5%) had a low level of knowledge of HPV with a mean score of 2.77 ± 1.78. In addition, more than half of the participating nursing students (57%) had a moderate attitude toward HPV vaccination with a mean score of 51.18 ± 11.16. The study results also verified that there was a highly significant correlation between the nursing students' demographics and their knowledge and attitudes toward HPV (p < 0.001). According to the SEM, nursing students' knowledge regarding HPV accounted for 48% of the variance in students' attitudes. Conclusion: Nursing students' knowledge regarding HPV vaccination is an important predictor of students' attitudes regarding HPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Healthcare students are subjected to high-stress levels due to different academic, social, and financial stressors. Persistent and severe stress might predispose students to depression and anxiety. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the level of perceived stress among healthcare students and its relation to anxiety and depression. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia. The 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to evaluate perceived stress, and depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). All statistical analyses were carried out using PSPP Statistical Analysis Software version 1.2.0. Results. A total of 701 respondents participated in this study. The average age of the students was 20.9 years old, and 59.3% were female. Almost three-quarters of students perceive themselves as stressed. Around two-thirds were categorized as having borderline/cases of depression or anxiety. Perceived stress was four times more likely among students with cases of anxiety [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 4.83; 95% CI 2.89, 8.06], depression [AOR = 4.79; 95% CI 2.68, 8.53] as compared with those without these conditions. Conclusions. Stress is highly prevalent among healthcare students, and it is strongly associated with female gender and students' anxiety and depression. Therefore, the mental health of healthcare students is an essential factor affecting perceived stress and at-risk individuals. Therefore, preventative mental health interventions targeting healthcare students are necessary to help improve mental health and cope with stressors in academic education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nursing and allied health students represent a significant percentage of undergraduate students. Academic advising is integral to students' success. Objective: This study aimed to identify nursing and allied-health science students' perspectives on academic advising functions and identify the demographic factors associated with these perspectives. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 252 students who completed a survey on students' perspectives on academic advising functions. Students were recruited from a large public university in western Saudi Arabia. Results: The results revealed that 97.6% of students reported knowing their academic advisor and 80.8% reported meeting with their advisor at least once over the past year. Overall, students perceived academic advising as important (M = 4.0, SD ± 0.86). The social role of academic advising was perceived as its most important function (M = 4.1, SD ± 0.85), followed by the academic role (M = 4.0, SD ± 0.87) and the personal role (M = 3.9, SD ± 0.87). The results showed that junior students perceived academic advising as more important than their counterparts. There was a weak significant correlation between students' perception of academic advising functions and the number of meetings held with their advisors. Conclusion: Faculty should improve students' understanding of the academic advisor's role in academic progress. Students understanding of their academic advisor's role in supporting their academic progress should be emphasized, especially among senior students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare workers involved in procedures that generate aerosol or handling patient specimens are associated with a high possibility of COVID‐19 infection. Thus, it is very important for the health workers to understand the knowledge related to transmission, prevention and protocols of COVID‐19. Methods: Cross‐sectional questionnaire study was conducted on dental hygiene students in Saudi Arabia. An online version of pre‐tested and validated questionnaire was used to test the KAP for COVID 19. Results: The mean score for knowledge‐related questions was found to be 2.91 ± 1.59, attitude‐related questions to be 2.84 ± 1.41 and for practice‐related questions to be 4.20 ± 1.36. After converting the scores into percentages, any score <60% was categorized as poor score, 60%–80% as average score and >80% as good score. Students showed poor knowledge and attitude towards COVID‐19. But the practice of dental hygiene students towards COVID‐19 was found to be good with the score of 83.4%. Conclusion: The outcome of this cross‐sectional study shows that most of dental hygiene students studying in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are following good practices towards COVID‐19 inspite of having poor knowledge and attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional descriptive study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and nursing interns in Saudi Arabia regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Interns received a soft copy of a structured and validated self-administered questionnaire using an online survey platform. A total of 266 interns responded to the questionnaire. On average, the participants achieved good scores in the knowledge and practice domains, followed by the attitude domain. The average knowledge percentage was 76.1% (SD 17.1) compared to 84.6% (SD 20.5) for practices and 61.5% (SD 23.2) for attitudes. The results suggest that pharmacy interns had insignificantly better overall scores compared to non-pharmacy interns for knowledge, attitudes, and practices. This study shows that the scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and nursing interns regarding antibiotic use and resistance were high overall. However, interns' belief in their responsibility in preventing antibiotic resistance is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to allergens could be life-threatening for people with food allergies. Restaurants and cafes are challenging environments for accommodating food allergies. This study aimed to measure King Saud University female students' awareness about food allergens on restaurants' and cafes' menus. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 379 students aged 18 years and above. A paper-based questionnaire was used, which comprised 16 questions related to the definition of food allergies, food allergens, and food allergy symptoms; the definition and prevention of cross-contact of food allergies; emergency treatment procedures for food allergies; strategies for the prevention of food allergy reactions; customer expectations towards restaurants; and preventive measures taken for food allergies. The results indicate that the overall average score of food allergen awareness was 10.90, which falls in the higher range. Furthermore, female students in the age groups of 23 to 27 years and 33 to 37 years had higher levels of awareness than female students in the age group of 18 to 22 years. The results also showed that the level of awareness among science college and health college students was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that among humanities college students. Post-graduate students also showed a higher level of awareness of food allergens than bachelor's students. These findings also indicate that listing all allergens in the restaurants and cafes' menus statistically significantly (p < 0.05) increased the level of awareness of female students about food allergens on restaurants' and cafes' menus, compared to restaurants and cafes that do not list all allergens on their menus. In general, female students at King Saud University showed a high level of awareness about food allergies on restaurants' and cafes' menus. The study recommends assessing the impact of awareness of female students with and without food allergies on their practices and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess nursing students' attitudes, professional roles, perceived knowledge and preparedness in managing intimate partner violence. Design: A cross‐sectional descriptive study design was used. Methods: The sample consisted of 191 nursing students from 14 universities in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from November to December 2021 using the Inventory of Beliefs about Intimate Partner Violence, Nursing Roles and Values, Educational Preparedness and Self‐Efficacy scales. Results: The students' attitudes, professional roles, perceived knowledge and preparedness were moderate. When nursing students perceived themselves as knowledgeable, they rejected intimate partner violence, were in favour of their roles in managing intimate partner violence and were confident in their abilities to deal with this issue in practice. Only a quarter of the participants had received education on intimate partner violence although more than half of them were in their fourth year. Female participants had experienced domestic violence/intimate partner violence at a greater rate than male participants. Nursing students who had been exposed to education on intimate partner violence rejected intimate partner violence, but those who experienced domestic violence/intimate partner violence had more tolerant attitudes. Conclusion: This study helps identify potential barriers to preparing nursing students for providing care for victims of intimate partner violence. There is a lack of adequate intimate partner violence educational content in nursing curricula. Establishing effective intimate partner violence education that integrates clinical training in nursing schools is crucial for enhancing students' attitudes and confidence in managing intimate partner violence. Impact Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a major global health problem leading to serious long‐term physical and mental health consequences. Nurses have professional roles to fulfil in preventing and managing IPV. Little is known about the attitudes and preparedness of nursing students to manage IPV, especially in the Middle East. Nursing students neither tolerated nor justified IPV and possessed moderate views about the role of nurses in managing it. The students believed that they had adequate knowledge, but their preparedness to manage IPV was lower than their perceived knowledge. A positive and significant relationship was found between IPV education and students' attitudes, although IPV education was not adequately established in undergraduate nursing programs in Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of domestic violence/IPV experiences among the participants was considerable and was higher among female participants. Personally experiencing violence had a significant negative influence on the students' attitudes toward IPV. Nursing curricula should include IPV education that offers training opportunities where the students are able to apply theory in practice. Nursing schools must provide support and consultation for students who are victims or survivors of domestic violence/IPV. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of IPV on students' attitudes and preparedness for managing it in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic cigarettes are immensely popular among youths across the globe. However, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding their use vary by country. The present study investigated the knowledge and attitudes toward e-cigarette use among first-year university students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted, and an online, self-administered questionnaire assessing the knowledge of and attitudes toward e-cigarette use was utilized to conduct this study. The study population included students from all streams enrolled in their first year of university. Descriptive statistics were used to report percentages and frequencies, while advanced statistics, such as multiple logistic regression analyses, were used to determine associations. Results: The lifetime and current prevalence of e-cigarette use was 27.4% and 13.5%, respectively, among first-year university students. The mean age of smoking initiation was 16.4 ± 1.2 years. Of e-cigarette users, 31.3% smoked every day and 86.7% used flavored e-cigarettes. Knowledge of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes was high (addiction, 61.2%; asthma, 61%; nicotine content, 75.2%). However, when comparing e-cigarettes to regular cigarettes, only 22.5% and 48.4% of the students reported that they carry the same risk and contain the same chemicals as regular cigarettes do. There was a lack of knowledge (17.1%) regarding government regulations related to e-cigarettes. An attitude of support was observed regarding banning e-cigarettes (2.6 ± 1.5 on a scale of 0 to 4), while at the same time, some associated e-cigarette use with helping to reduce tobacco dependency (2.1 ± 1.2). Marketing adverts were agreed upon to positively influence youth (1.9 ± 1.4). However, the participants' perceptions relating e-cigarette use to style were not well articulated. Significant gender differences were found: most of the women who participated in the study had better knowledge of e-cigarettes (p < 0.001). Being male, having higher income status (OR = 1.67; p = 0.013), being a current smoker (OR = 11.6; p < 0.001), and having intention for future use (OR = 3.45; p < 0.001) were strong predictors of e-cigarette use. Conclusions: These findings suggested the increasing popularity of e-cigarette use among male first-year university students. More educational campaigns and stricter regulations are needed to curb this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise that nursing students have a potential role in responding to disasters in their communities and in disaster relief operations • To learn about nursing students' awareness of, competence in and attitudes towards disaster preparedness and disaster nursing • To be aware that the basics of disaster nursing and disaster preparedness should be part of undergraduate nurse Background: Any country is at risk of disasters associated with natural, biological, technological and societal hazards. Such disasters pose ever greater challenges for healthcare systems. Nurses and nursing students have a crucial role in responding dynamically to disasters in their communities. Aim: To investigate nursing students' knowledge of and self-perceived competence in disaster nursing and attitudes towards disaster preparedness. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to investigate knowledge, competence and attitudes in a convenience sample of 300 nursing students in their third and fourth years at a nursing college in Saudi Arabia. Students were asked to complete an online questionnaire on disaster nursing and disaster preparedness. A 96% response rate was obtained. Results: Most participating students had a favourable attitude towards disaster preparedness. They also perceived themselves as having a relatively high degree of competence in disaster nursing. However, most participants had inadequate knowledge of disaster nursing and may not have been fully aware of their role in disaster relief operations. Conclusion: Enhancing nursing students' awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness and competence in disaster nursing can potentially save lives. Disaster nursing and disaster preparedness should be part of undergraduate nurse education curricula and nurse educators should develop innovative educational interventions on these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rapid growth of information technology and the widespread use of smartphones has created the perfect environment for social media addiction, a condition that affects all members of society, including health-care students and professionals. Current evidence suggests that the direct and indirect effects of social media addiction on human health could include, among other things, burnout. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between social media addiction and burnout among health-care students and professionals in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used with an online questionnaire distributed to health-care students and professionals via social media platforms. A convenience sampling method was used to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of three sections measuring demographic variables, social media addiction, and burnout. Results: The 789 participants who completed the questionnaire had a mean age of 25.77 years (± 8.26) and came from 22 cities in Saudi Arabia. Students had significantly higher scores for social media addiction than interns/residents (P = 0.018) or specialists/consultants (P < 0.001). Participants were found to experience different levels of burnout, reporting no/mild burnout (34.98%), moderate burnout (35.49%), high levels of burnout (23.83%), and severe burnout (5.7%). A significant direct relationship between social media addiction and burnout was found (F [1,787] = 91.877, P < 0.001, R2 = 0.105). Conclusion: The findings provide insight into the prevalence of social media addiction and burnout among health-care students and professionals and the possible association between two variables. There is a need for further research comparing the correlation between social media addiction and burnout in different groups (i.e., students, interns/residents, and specialists/consultants), as well as identifying factors that affect social media addiction and burnout among these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health sciences students are exposed to a wide variety of specialties. Their experiences influenced their desire to pursue advanced health science degrees. Many factors influence health science students' career choices, affecting many elements of health care delivery. To highlight academic programs, semesters, and colleges that require career development guidance; analysis of students' knowledge of career development and post-graduation possibilities, and their academic program satisfaction will help health science students in obtaining jobs and contribute to economic development. Health science students should focus on career development to overcome difficulties and improve job prospects after graduation. Methodology: The study included a convenient sample of health college students from King Khalid University in Asir province. Colleges were used for a single-stage cross-sectional study. Data were analysed in three categories: first, the demographic information. Second, the students' current perception of their program, and in the third section, they were asked to predict future career opportunities. To analyse data and understand the impact of career development counselling, Microsoft Power BI Desktop was used to create coherent, graphically immersive reports and chi-squared tests to see if the future perspective is affected by demographic and current perspectives variables. Results and Conclusions: The study revealed that most college participants desire to implement a CDC program. Those who have completed half of their college program chose CDC. Second-year college students start to worry about their future professions and seek CDC for more serious guidance and job exploration. Overall, increasing undergraduate students' awareness of professional development appears to be an efficient way to provide career education while still in college. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For decades, practical clinical examinations have been valid and reliable methods to evaluate health sciences undergraduate students' clinical performance and competencies for a wide range of skills. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a widely used practical clinical examination. This study aims to assess health sciences students' perceptions about OSCE as an evaluation method of clinical skills acquisition. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and 157 students of five health science programs, who undergo real-time OSCE at Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences (PSMCHS), Dhahran, were invited to participate in this study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed quantitatively. Results: The findings revealed that 57.8% of the participants perceived OSCE positively due to its unique features related to structure, logical sequence, standardized score tools, and coverage of a broad spectrum of critical clinical skills. On the contrary, 62.3% (n=96) of participants believed OSCE was stressful, and 58.4% (n=90) thought it was threatening because of inadequate preparation. Conclusion: Health sciences students perceived OSCE as an effective evaluation method for clinical skills. However, OSCEs generate feelings of uncertainty and aggravate a high-stress level. This stress requires the educators at the academic and clinical settings to conduct dry run simulated scenarios beforehand to orient and guide students to manage and confound their stress and anxiety during real-life OSCE experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation is part of the training provided to nurses enrolled in the master's degree for critical care nursing programmes at our institution. Although the students are practicing nurses, many still make mistakes when performing nursing procedures related to critical care during simulation sessions, and these mistakes must be addressed during the debriefing session. The aim of the study is to compare the knowledge and skills acquired by groups of postgraduate critical care nursing students who were exposed to high-fidelity simulation (HFS) by using different debriefing structures. Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover design was utilised during the post-tests and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). The students were divided into two groups: one was exposed to HFS with a 3-phase debriefing, and the other was exposed to HFS with a multiphase debriefing. Both groups involved facilitator-guided and video-assisted debriefings. Results: Overall, the post-test scores (p-value: Phase 1 = 0.001 and Phase 2 = 0.000) and post-OSCE scores (p-value: Phase 1 = 0.002 and Phase 2 = 0.002) support that the group of postgraduate students who underwent HFS with a multiphase debriefing structure gained significantly higher scores compared to the group who underwent HFS with a 3-phase debriefing structure. Conclusion: Debriefing is a critical component of successful simulation. Learning requires assessment that creates constructive criticism based on feedback and reflection. A multiphase debriefing structure, specifically the healthcare simulation after-action review, provides a significant advantage for knowledge and skills acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the Integrating Sustainability Development Education Program in Nursing to Challenge Practice Among Nursing Interns in Health Care. Background: The combination of sustainable development and climate change in health care delivery benefits from the apparent environmental changes. Subjects and Methods: The quasi‐experimental, cross‐sectional, comparative study included 160 nursing interns who completed the intervention. Both genders were assigned to Saudi (N = 80) and Egyptian nursing interns (N = 80). Data was collected using a self‐administered questionnaire, which included the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire and the Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between student nurses' knowledge, attitude and behaviour during pre‐intervention and post‐intervention, as well as in student nurses' sustainability development dimension effectiveness after than before program implementation. Conclusion: The program had a significant effect on all sustainability development domains and a large effect on total sustainability development during post‐intervention. This study recommended that educational programs can upgrade sustainability development and challenge practice levels. Implications for Nursing Management: Sustainable development is the future of management and is the next phase of management innovation. Sustainability, in the context of health care, is about progress in high‐quality patient care delivery for all by promoting the three elements of sustainable development: environmental, social and financial. Nurses play a significant leadership role in addressing environmental sustainability and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) was first administered to all pharmacy graduates and served as one of the prerequisites for obtaining a pharmacist license. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether institution and applicant characteristics are associated with first-time SPLE success. Passing status for 2284 SPLE first-time applicants was obtained from online public data for the years 2019 and 2020. The data included applicant sex, institution type (public vs. private), and college establishment year (2006 or earlier vs. after 2006). Overall, the SPLE first-time pass rate in 2020 was significantly higher than in 2019 (98.0 vs. 95.9%; p = 0.0062). Applicants from pharmacy colleges established in or before 2006 had a higher SPLE first-time pass rate, compared to those from pharmacy colleges established after 2006 (98.2 vs. 95.2%; p < 0.0001). The pass rate for male applicants was lower compared to female applicants (95.8 vs. 97.5%; p = 0.0221). The results of logistic regression showed that exam year (2020 vs. 2019), applicant sex (female vs. male), and pharmacy college establishment year (≤2006 vs. >2006) were statistically significant predictors. Further studies are needed in the upcoming years when more cumulative data are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation-based education (SBE) provides a safe, effective, and stimulating environment for training medical and healthcare students. This is especially valuable for skills that cannot be practiced on real patients due to ethical and practical reasons. We aimed to assess medical students' attitude, perception, and experience of simulation-based medical education in Saudi Arabia. Method: A validated cross-sectional survey, using the KidSIM scale, was conducted to measure the level of perception and experience of students from different health sciences specialties toward integrating simulation as an educational tool. Participants responded to questions investigated the importance of simulation, opportunities for Inter-Professional Education (IPE), communication, roles and responsibilities, and situation awareness. Only students with previous experience of SBE were considered for participation. Result: This survey was completed by 246 participants, of whom 165 (67%) were male students and 228 (93%) were aged between the range of 18–30 years old. Of the respondents, 104 (67%) were respiratory care students, 90 (37%) were anesthesia technology students, and 45 (18%) were nursing students. Most of the participants had previous experience in IPE simulation activities (84%), and more than half of the students (54%) had a grade point average (GPA) ranging between 5.00 and 4.50. Overall, students had positive attitudes toward and beliefs about SBE, with a mean score of 129.76 ± 14.27, on the KidSIM scale, out of 150. Students' GPA was significantly associated with a better perception to the relevance of simulation (p = 0.005), communication (p = 0.003), roles and responsibilities (p = 0.04), and situation awareness (p = 0.009). GPA is merely the sole predictor for positive attitude toward simulation with coefficient Beta value of 4.285 (p = 0.001). There were no significant correlations between other students' characteristic variables (gender, specialty, study year, experience in IPE, and prior critical care experience). Conclusion: We found that health sciences students' perception of SBE in Saudi Arabia is generally positive, and students' performance is a significant determinant of the positive perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is essential for practicing dentists to have adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its implications in the dental practice. Their attitudes should also be up to the professional expectations. This study aimed to assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS infection and attitudes towards its patients among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and distributed among a sample of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Twenty questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and oral manifestation of HIV were presented. Results: A total of 405 questionnaires were completed (67% response rate). Participants showed low knowledge of safety regarding HIV (39.5%) and 44.2% indicated that they would take an HIV test after needle stick injury. The proportion of correct answers regarding transmission of HIV through saliva, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and aerosols by hand pieces was 41%, 37.5%, and 26.4%, respectively. Almost 50% of the surveyed dental students expressed unwillingness to treat HIV-positive patients. Poor knowledge was noted regarding oral manifestations of HIV (32.7%). Of the participants, 57.8% indicated that infection control procedures are very important for the treatment of HIV patients and 50.6% believed that a dentist can make a decision to reject the treatment of HIV patients. According to the participating dental students, the three major oral manifestations in HIV patients are hairy leukoplakia (47.4%), oral candidiasis (44.7%), and Kaposi's sarcoma (43.5%). Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge and unprofessional attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients were identified among this group of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Dental educators and health care planners in Saudi Arabia should plan to promote the knowledge and attitudes of dental students in Saudi Arabia towards the treatment of HIV patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: University students usually find it difficult to handle academic challenges by themselves and tend to seek help. Academic help seeking is defined as "a behavioral strategy that involves controlling one's behavior and interacting socially to obtain help from other people." Methods: A cross-sectional design was planned. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on academic help-seeking behaviours among year 5 undergraduate pharmacy students. Demographic and background information was described in terms of frequency. Their reasons for seeking academic help (five items) and factors considered for choosing academic resources (six items) used a Likert scale ranging from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). Usefulness (ten items) was rated on a five-point scale ranging from 'very useful' to 'not useful at all.' Frequency (ten items) was rated on a five-point scale ranging from 'never' to 'every day.' Results: A total of 116 pharmacy students completed the survey. The study indicated that the key reasons for seeking help were positive factors—a further improvement of one's learning and the desire to complete a course. The resources that were most frequently used were peers, the course online portal, and online educational resources. The resources that students found most helpful were peers, the course instructor, textbooks, and online resources. Discussion and conclusion: The frequency of using a certain support resource was not mirrored by its helpfulness. Resources, including professors, teaching assistants, and textbooks, were found helpful but not frequently consulted for help. On the other hand, summaries and notes, for example, were frequently used but not particularly helpful. However, peers currently taking the course and the course management system were found to be very useful and frequently used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small group training may be incredibly useful for both learners and facilitators. Successful small groups, on the other hand, encourage active and deliberate participation and enhance student learning. Main Body: The goal of this study was to see how students react to small-group teaching. Patients and methods: A descriptive faculty-based study was done at Jazan University College of Sabya including 335 students from three departments participating in an online questionnaire about their knowledge, abilities, and attitudes toward small group teaching. Results: Most of the students had a high level of knowledge and abilities, as well as a good attitude toward small group instruction (67.75%). Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of taking into account students' success in small group education. Recommendations: recommend giving more attention to education through small group discussion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) has steadily grown over the past few years, rising in popularity amongst young adults, especially. Owing to the perception that e‐cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, some people have resorted to using them as a means of quitting cigarette smoking. This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, perception and use of e‐cigarettes among Jazan University students in Saudi Arabia. An observational cross‐sectional study was conducted with 775 students. Using stratified random sampling to recruit study participants, the dataset tabling the use of e‐cigarettes, as well as knowledge, perception and awareness was collected using a translated and culturally adapted structured Arabic questionnaire. Our results showed that 21.0% of the participants used e‐cigarettes and 35.1% of them used them to quit smoking. E‐cigarette use was mostly reported by students from the College of Medical Applied Sciences (31.7%). The overall knowledge score was 3.9, with a standard deviation of 1.3 for the score range from zero to seven. About half of the participants correctly identified e‐cigarettes as not less addictive' than cigarettes. However, 70.2% of students failed to identify e‐cigarettes as a source of second‐hand exposure to nicotine. About two‐thirds of the sample believed that e‐cigarettes could adversely affect health. The perception of using e‐cigarettes for smoking cessation was not significantly associated with e‐cigarette use. In conclusion, the prevalence of e‐cigarette use was similar to that reported in the literature. However, Jazan University students failed to identify the health risks associated with e‐cigarette use. Therefore, a strategy to enhance students' awareness of the benefits and harms of e‐cigarettes is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microbiome science deals with the development of diseases that are derived from the interaction between the host immune system and microbes. Microbiome disturbance or dysbiosis has been increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Thus, this field is pivotal in the management of allergic disorders. Despite the increasing prevalence of allergic disorders in Saudi Arabia, medical students lack knowledge of microbiome science. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of medical sciences students on the human microbiome, dysbiosis, and management of the impaired microbiome with a focus on allergic diseases and asthma. Methods: An online survey was designed, validated, and distributed to 100 final-year students and interns majoring in clinical nutrition, public health, and clinical laboratory sciences at a single university in Saudi Arabia. The study period was from November 2020 to January 2021. Results: The overall knowledge of the human microbiome was adequate among the participants, but their understanding of dysbiosis and management of the impaired microbiome was low to moderate. Knowledge of dysbiosis management was significantly higher in students majoring in clinical nutrition than in those majoring in public health and clinical laboratory sciences. Conclusions: Collectively, this study provides the first evidence that knowledge of specific domains of microbiome science among a cohort of medical sciences students in Saudi Arabia is insufficient. Large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these observations at a national level, and specific curriculum modifications are necessary to improve the knowledge of future healthcare professionals about clinical applications of microbiome science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents are the most powerful instruments in promoting good mental health. This study examined the relationship between parenting style and the mental health of female adolescents in Tabuk, KSA. The study employed a correlational methodology, using Convenience Sampling of 100 participants. Standardized questionnaires of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and Measure of Parental Style were distributed. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21.0. Majority of the respondents belong to 20 years of age (26%), were first-year students (34 %), from a nuclear family (77%) with five to six siblings (27%) and in the income bracket 15,000-25,000 SAR (25%). Parents were over controlling (maternal [73%] and paternal [65%]). There was a high rate of mental health problems among female adolescents, represented by anxiety (25%), stress (20%) and depression (18%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral cancer awareness among current and future dental practitioners plays a substantial role in the early detection and prevention of oral cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of oral cancer prevention (OCP) among oral health practitioners in the College of Dentistry at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, and to determine factors that facilitate, or limit practices related to oral cancer prevention. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was done among dental students (n = 274), interns (n = 81), and faculty members (n = 117) in the College of Dentistry at Jazan University between May 2019 to February 2020. The questionnaire was developed in English and modified from a previously validated and published questionnaire into Arabic. It covered every KAP of oral cancer prevention that was useful in accomplishing the study's objectives. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine the factors associated with the practice of oral cancer prevention in the past year. Results: Only 29.7% reported having participated in any OCP activities in the past 12 months while about 42% and 53% of participants referred suspected oral cancer patients to the departments of maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine, respectively. Most of the participants had poor knowledge (71.9%), unfavourable attitudes towards OCP (83.6%) and poor levels of practice (62.9%). The study found that the attitude of the participants was significant in influencing their practices of OCP in the previous 12 months, after adjusting for all other factors. Conclusion: It was concluded that the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of OCP among the sample population was poor. The survey findings suggest that oral health practitioners in Jazan are inexperienced in the methods to adopt for prevention and early detection of oral cancer, despite the high prevalence of oral cancer among province residents. Further research should investigate effective educational strategies and training for improving the participation of students, interns, and faculty members in oral cancer prevention activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the influence of nursing students' sleep quality on their patient safety (PS) competence (i.e., knowledge of the dimensions of PS). The investigation surveyed 242 nursing students in a Saudi university. The majority of the surveyed students were characterized as having poor sleep quality. Notably, more male students experienced poor sleep quality than female students. The students reported the highest confidence in "culture of safety" and "managing safety risk"; they exhibited the poorest confidence in "working in teams." Increased length of sleep latency decreased sleep efficiency, and increased daytime sleepiness-related dysfunction was associated with reduced PS competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]