Prevalence of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among male and female medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and evaluate the effect of ADHD on the academic performance of the affected medical students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study measured the prevalence of adult ADHD symptoms among medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A total of 354 Saudi medical students from King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, participated in a self-reported questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed on different social media platforms from December 2021 to April 2022. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 26% exhibited symptoms highly consistent with adult ADHD. Young age (<20 years, p=0.049) and non-marital status (p=0.048) were associated with a higher rate of ADHD symptoms with recorded statistical significance. Additionally, there is no significant association between grade point average and adult ADHD (p=0.560). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated a higher prevalence of adult ADHD among medical students in the Eastern Province than the reported rates locally and globally. This could be attributed to social and cultural factors, as well as the chosen method for assessing the symptoms of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual items.

Intestinal Ischemia Due to Methamphetamine Abuse in a Confused Elderly Patient: A Case Report.

Bowel ischemia is a critical entity that mandates an early and proper diagnosis. Causes of bowel ischemia are numerous, yet, identifying and treating the exact cause is challenging. Methamphetamine-induced bowel ischemia is rare but of clinical significance due to its high disease burden. We describe a case of a 67-year-old man who presented with colicky abdominal pain shortly after methamphetamine intake. CT angiography was done and failed to show occlusive causes, which pointed to a non-occlusive cause of bowel ischemia. The patient was hemodynamically stable on admission. Diagnostic laparoscopy was converted to laparotomy; segmental gangrene of both the small and large bowels was found. Resection of the ischemic part was done. The patient improved and was hemodynamically stable postoperatively. In conclusion, a holistic approach to patient history and physical examination can grab attention to unusual pathologies that lead to early intervention and fastened life-saving measures. Questions about stimulant drug use are crucial not only in younger patients but in older patients as well. In this case, we highlight the surgical, medical, and mental aspects of methamphetamine abuse in the elderly population.

Physicians' Gender Influence on the Patients' Choice of Their Treating Obstetrician-Gynecologist in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Several studies have investigated the gender preference of obstetricians-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) around the globe. Obstetrics and gynecology deal with female patients exclusively, and gender selection in this special female domain bears significant cultural and religious aspects in childbirth and gynecological conditions. Methods This cross-sectional study has investigated women's gender preferences of their OB-GYN in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and assessed the factors that influenced their choice. A total of 390 female participants above 18 years of age answered a self-reported questionnaire distributed on different social media platforms from June 2021 to August 2021. Results A majority of the study participants have preferred female OB-GYN for pelvic examination, primary health screening, antenatal care, and major gynecological surgery (92.6%, 72.8%, 68.2%, and 61%, respectively). Almost one-third (31.3%) of the study females reported that they would allow the presence of a male obstetrician in the labor room. The highest three ranked factors affecting a patient's decision for choosing the gender of the OB-GYN were physician's knowledge and experience, embarrassment with a male physician, and easiness to talk about women's issues with a female physician. Conclusion The vast majority of women in this study are inclined to choose female OB-GYN in general situations, for cesarean section, and in emergency situations.