Prevalence, perception, and attitude regarding electronic cigarettes usage among young adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) usage among young adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; their perceptions of its harm and legal age, and the reasons and factors influencing their use. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out within the general community of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between December 2023 and April 2024. Participants aged 18-25 years were included. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to gather demographic data, perceptions, and attitudes toward e-cigarettes and reasons for their use. RESULTS: The majority of the 476 participants were female (n=378, 79.4%) and Saudi nationals (n=451, 94.7%). Current e-cigarette usage was 10.5% (n=50), being more prevalent among males (n=46, 46.9%) and non-Saudis (n=12, 48%). Respondents living alone (n=11, 34.4%) or with friends (n=4, 80%), those who perceived e-cigarettes as safer than cigarettes (n=38, 42.2%), or were unsure of age restrictions demonstrated high usage. Key motivators included flavors available, stress relief, and curiosity. CONCLUSION: Eelectronic cigarette use among Riyadh's youth was remarkable, especially among males. Reducing the e-cigarette usage prevalence in Saudi Arabia should be prioritized.

Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among Saudi radiologists: a cross-sectional multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are common health problems worldwide. Several factors cause these symptoms, including ergonomics and other individual considerations. Computer users are prone to repetitive strain injuries that increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Radiologists are susceptible to developing MSS because they work long hours analysing medical images on computers in an increasingly digitalised field. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of MSS among Saudi radiologists and the associated risk factors. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, non-interventional, self-administered online survey. The study was conducted on 814 Saudi radiologists from various regions in Saudi Arabia. The study's outcome was the presence of MSS in any body region that limited participation in routine activities over the previous 12 months. The results were descriptively examined using binary logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of participants who had disabling MSS in the previous 12 months. All university, public, and private radiologists received an online survey containing questions about work surroundings, workload (e.g., spent at a computer workstation), and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of MSS among the radiologists was 87.7%. Most of the participants (82%) were younger than 40 years of age. Radiography and computed tomography were the most common imaging modalities that caused MSS (53.4% and 26.8%, respectively). The most common symptoms were neck pain (59.3%) and lower back pain (57.1%). After adjustment, age, years of experience, and part-time employment were significantly associated with increased MSS (OR = .219, 95% CI = .057-.836; OR = .235, 95% CI = 087-.634; and OR = 2.673, 95% CI = 1.434-4.981, respectively). Women were more likely to report MSS than males (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.327-3.377). CONCLUSIONS: MSS are common among Saudi radiologists, with neck pain and lower back pain being the most frequently reported symptoms. Gender, age, years of experience, type of imaging modality, and employment status were the most common associated risk factors for developing MSS. These findings are vital for the development of interventional plans to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in clinical radiologists.