Assessing the Awareness and Understanding of Hospital Triage Among the General Population of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Background Hospital triage is a critical process in emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. The efficiency of the triage process significantly impacts the overall functioning of the ED and patient outcomes. However, the effectiveness of triage is not solely dependent on the healthcare professionals conducting it. The awareness and understanding of the triage process among the general population also play a crucial role. Methods This study aimed to assess the awareness and understanding of hospital triage among the general population of Al-Ahsa. A cross-sectional design was conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, from July to September 2023. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Results This study examined the awareness, understanding, attitude, and socio-demographic factors of hospital triage among 389 participants in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Results showed that 59.4% (n=231) of participants were aware of emergency triage, with 91.8% (n=457) agreeing with patient classification based on deterioration. Expectations for waiting time varied, with 38.8% (n=151) expecting 5-10 minutes. Participants expressed positive attitudes, with 91% (n=354) believing triage improves patient care. Socio-demographic analysis revealed higher awareness among younger age groups, males, and highly educated individuals. Educational level was associated with participants' attitudes. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted awareness campaigns and improved waiting room amenities for effective hospital triage. Conclusion The study found that public awareness of emergency triage is average, with high satisfaction with the concept of patient classification based on deterioration. Periodic health education sessions regarding the importance of ER triage are recommended for healthcare visitors and staff.

Electrocardiogram Interpretation Competency of Medical Interns in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective To determine the competence of medical interns in Saudi Arabia in interpreting common ECG abnormalities, explore limitations, and facilitate solutions to the development of ECG interpretation skills in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from 11 June 2022 to 3 November 2022 using the convenience stratified sampling technique among 373 medical interns (54.4% male and 45.6% female) in 15 medical colleges within Saudi Arabia. Results Almost all (91.7%) of the participants recognized the basic ECG elements, as they correctly identified normal ECG patterns. The most well-understood ECG pathologies were ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, and acute myocardial infarction, which were accurately interpreted by 69.2%, 67.8%, and 61.9% of the participants, respectively. The least understood ECG result was a pathological Q wave, which only 20.9% recognized. Most (63.5%) participants attributed their challenges in ECG interpretation to their inadequate training in college, and 57.4% of them stated that practical case-based training could best facilitate the improvement of their skills in ECG interpretation. Conclusion Most of the participants showed unsatisfactory performance in ECG interpretation. Despite their completion of advanced cardiac life support courses, their overall performance did not improve significantly. Most of them believed that their colleges did not adequately train them to read ECGs. Thus, a majority think case-based training is a key strategy for improving their ECG interpretation skills.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Self-Prescribed Aspirin Use for Prevention of Adverse Ischemic Vascular Events Among Moderate-Risk Individuals: A Single Center Study.

Introduction Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence against the use of aspirin for primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the arguably unwarranted use of aspirin has increased over the years, which may or may not be based on any specific medical advice, and merely self-prescribed. Aim This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unwarranted aspirin use among moderate-risk individuals for the primary prevention of adverse vascular events in Saudi Arabia. Patient and method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients who presented to the emergency room (ER) due to suspected cardiac diseases. The data were collected from the patients who visited ER in King Fahad Hospital, Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Participants were asked about their socio-demographic characteristics, aspirin use habits, and their comorbidities. Results Of the 100 patients, 35% were aged more than 60 years old. The overall use of aspirin was 78%. The prevalence of aspirin use was significantly more common among the older age group (53.8%), those with associated chronic diseases, such as diabetes (59%) and hypertension (75.6%) and those with a previous history of hospitalization due to stroke or a cardiac event (66.7%). Conclusion The use of aspirin among patients who are at moderate risk of cardiovascular events was widely prevalent, but their unwarranted use was low. Older patients with chronic diseases who believed in its great benefit and tended to ignore its complications are the most common users of aspirin. More research is recommended to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with unwarranted use of aspirin in patients with CVD in our region.

Prevalence, Causes, and Adverse Clinical Impact of Delayed Presentation of Non-COVID-19-Related Emergencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Multicenter Observational Study.

Objective: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide, resulting in decreased and delayed hospital visits of patients with non-COVID-19-related acute emergencies. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and outcomes of patients with non-COVID-19-related medical and surgical emergencies. Method: All non-COVID-19-related patients hospitalized through emergency departments in three tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in June and July 2020 were enrolled and categorized into delayed and non-delayed groups (presentation ≥/=24 or <24 h after onset of symptom). Primary outcome was the prevalence and cause of delayed presentation; secondary outcomes included comparative 28-day clinical outcomes (i.e., 28-day mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute surgical interventions). Mean, median, and IQR were used to calculate the primary outcomes and inferential statistics including chi-square/Fisher exact test, t-test where appropriate were used for comparisons. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with delay in seeking medical attention. Results: In total, 24,129 patients visited emergency departments during the study period, compared to 48,734 patients in the year 2019. Of the 256 hospitalized patients with non-COVID-19-related diagnoses, 134 (52%) had delayed presentation. Fear of COVID-19 and curfew-related restrictions represented 46 (34%) and 25 (19%) of the reasons for delay. The 28-day mortality rates were significantly higher among delayed patients vs. non-delayed patients (n = 14, 10.4% vs. n = 3, 2.5%, OR: 4.628 (CI: 1.296−16.520), p = 0.038). Conclusion: More than half of hospitalized patients with non-COVID-19-related diagnoses had delayed presentation to the ED where mortality was found to be significantly higher in this group. Fear of COVID-19 and curfew restrictions were the main reasons for delaying hospital visit.

Preference for Visiting Emergency Department Over Primary Health Care Center Among Population in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Demand for urgent care is increasing, and the pressure on emergency departments (EDs) is of significant concern. Demand growth is to some extent due to the over-utilization of EDs by patients who seek care for non-urgent problems. It has been estimated that up to one-third of all ED visits are non-emergent. In EDs, patients with non-urgent problems are blamed for increased demand, even though most of the patients' reasons for attending EDs are not well studied. The aim of this study is primarily to determine the factors that influence the decision of patients to visit EDs instead of their primary care physician for non-urgent problems. Secondary aim of this study is to assess the level of ED knowledge among the participants.  Methods This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study following a convenient sampling technique conducted through an online questionnaire distributed to the population in Saudi Arabia (SA). The data, which includes sociodemographic data, ER knowledge, the correct definition of ED, cases that ED deals with, and reasons for visiting an ED over a primary health care center (PHC), were collected during August and September 2021. Results Of the 915 respondents, the most common age group was 25 years old or less (34.4%) and the majority were females (68.3%). It was observed that slightly more respondents preferred to visit a PHC (50.4%) while 49.6% preferred to visit EDs when having a medical condition. The proportion of respondents who would visit a PHC was 90.9%, and 36.6% indicated having good experiences there. The overall mean knowledge score was 4.63 (standard deviation [SD] 1.51) out of 6 points, with low, moderate, and high knowledge classified among 12.9%, 22.4%, and 64.7% of respondents, respectively. The five most reported reasons for choosing the ER as the preferred clinic over a PHC were: (1) ED provided quick medical care, (2) easy access to emergency care, (3) unavailability of appointments at a PHC center on the same day, (4) lack of full investigation at the PHC center, (5) lack of primary care providers at the PHC. The least reported reason was advice from another person to visit the emergency department. It was found that a significantly low knowledge was demonstrated by the over 45-years age group (p <0.001) and those who were unemployed (p = 0.018). Conclusion This study showed that 49.6% would prefer to visit the ED. It demonstrated the reasons for choosing the ED over a PHC, with the most reported reason being that the ED provides quick medical service, while the least reported reason was advice from another person to visit the ED. For the correct utilization of EDs, it is recommended to increase the knowledge and awareness level of the general population through public campaigns and awareness videos on social media applications.

Physical activity and cancer prevention: awareness and meeting the recommendations among adult Saudis.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of information about the proportion of the adult Saudi population that meet the recommended guidelines of physical activity (PA) to reduce cancer risk. Moreover, their awareness about the role of PA in cancer prevention is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aimed at estimating the proportion of adult Saudis meeting the PA guidelines, specifically those recommended by American Cancer Society (ACS) for cancer prevention, and to assess the public awareness about the role of PA in cancer prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a multistage sampling method, 2,127 adult Saudis of both genders were recruited from 6 urban and 4 rural primary health care centers in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Participants were personally interviewed to gather information about their sociodemographic characteristics, searching activity about PA and cancer, and the time spent in leisure time PA (moderate and vigorous)/week using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire with show cards. Finally, items about the role of PA in cancer risk reduction were inquired. RESULTS: Of the included participants, 11.6% met the recommendations for cancer prevention (≥ 45 minutes of moderate-vigorous PA activity/≥ 5 days/week or 225 minutes/week). Multivariate regression showed that being male (AOR=1.49, CI=1.09-2.06), <20 years of age (AOR=3.11, CI=2.03-4.76), and unemployed (AOR=2.22, CI=1.57-3.18) were significant predictors for meeting PA recommendations for cancer prevention. Only 11.4% of the sample indicated correctly the frequency and duration of PA required for an average adult to be physically active and while >70% of them indicated the role of PA in prevention of hypertension, coronary heart disease and lowering elevated blood cholesterol, only 18.6% and 21.7% correctly mentioned the role of PA in reducing colon and breast cancer risk, respectively. Poor knowledge was found among those with less than college education and aged ≥ 50 years. The level of knowledge was significantly positively correlated with total leisure time PA of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of adult Saudis in Al Hassa was aware about the role of PA in cancer prevention and engaged in sufficient LTPA for cancer risk reduction benefits, highlighting the need for public health actions to include policies and programs that address factors deterring their participation in LTPA and increasing their awareness with remedies to manage the prevalent misconceptions.