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Introduction The Eustachian tube regulates middle ear functions such as ventilation and pressure normalization. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is defined as the failure of the Eustachian tube to maintain one or more of its functions. It is a common condition that is associated with other middle ear disorders such as cholesteatoma, tympanic membrane atelectasis, and otitis media with effusion (OME). This study aims to assess ETD prevalence and risk factors in the Qassim region. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia during the period from September 20 to October 10, 2023. Data were gathered via a validated, self-administered electronic questionnaire that encompasses socio-demographic information, the prevalence of ETD, and the prevalence of its various symptoms, as assessed by the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7). Results Our study in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, with 467 participants reveals a high prevalence of ETD at 12.2%. The 18-25 age group dominates (50.1%), with a majority of females (66.2%). Symptom analysis using the ETDQ-7 questionnaire shows varied prevalence, with severe pain (7%) and muffled hearing (29.8%) notable. Logistic regression identifies significant predictors, including hearing loss history (odds ratio = 28.2) and smoking (odds ratio = 3.70). Specific symptoms, such as feeling blocked or underwater, significantly correlate with more severe ETD symptoms (odds ratio = 1.73). Conclusion Our study highlights a notable prevalence of ETD. Significant predictors, including hearing loss history and smoking, were identified. Specific symptoms, such as feeling blocked or underwater, were associated with more severe ETD symptoms.
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BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure approved for treating psychiatric and movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia, and other neurological conditions. The widespread use of DBS may not be reflected in the medical education curricula in Saudi universities, thus jeopardizing future patients' access to it. This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward DBS as a therapeutic option. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted. The survey was distributed on online platforms to acquire responses from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The target population was medical students in the preclinical and clinical phases of medical education from different regions of Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: A total of 1075 medical students from various medical schools in Saudi Arabia were included. More than half of the students aged 21 to 23 (50.1%) were females (63.2%). More than half of the students have correctly recognized DBS as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment (59.7%). Only 20.1% of the students stated that they received adequate education/training about DBS. About 53.8% of the students had self-rated their knowledge as poor, whereas 20.6% had rated their knowledge as good. A negative bias was more observed among the older students and students with a family history of DBS treatment. Half of the participants (54.1%) indicated that DBS is associated with severe adverse effects. A significant association between the level of knowledge about DBS and the academic level was observed. CONCLUSION: Almost half of the medical students had poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude toward DBS in Saudi Arabia. The current medical curricula are incommensurable with the clinical implications of DBS, which may deny future patients from such an effective therapeutic option. We recommend incorporating DBS teaching sessions to enhance future physicians' awareness and understanding of the benefits of this intervention.
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BACKGROUND: Monkeypox outbreaks in non-endemic countries emphasize the importance of being prepared to prevent its progression to a pandemic. To effectively control monkeypox, healthcare providers must have sufficient knowledge and good attitudes and practices to limit its spread. We initiated this project to assess the factors associated with health workers' knowledge and attitude toward monkeypox in southwestern Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We included 398 eligible health workers working at various health facilities. Data was collected using an online survey, and participants had an opportunity to consent. We conducted descriptive statistics for all variables and used chi-square statistics, t-test, and multivariate analysis to establish the association between health workers' demographic characteristics and knowledge of monkeypox disease. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.93 ± 8.25 years for the included participants, and most of them were between 22 and 29 years, male, single, nurses, working in government hospitals, and had worked for at least five years. The chi-square and t-test showed that the participants' knowledge level was significantly related to age, marital status, job title, and medical practice. Most of the participants had low knowledge and good attitudes toward monkeypox prevention measures. Multivariate analysis showed that higher knowledge was associated with younger age after controlling all other significant bivariate relationships between knowledge and demographics. CONCLUSIONS: This study found low knowledge levels and high good attitude levels of monkeypox among the participants. As such, there is a need to support health workers in understanding monkeypox epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. Therefore, Saudi Arabia will be making significant strides to being well prepared and ready to handle future monkeypox outbreaks.