Effect of Stress on Sleep Quality among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: It has long been understood that sleep is a necessary therapeutic element of human physiology and is crucial for healthy functioning, mental health, and quality of life. Medical students frequently minimize their sleep and habits to cope with their workload and their stressful lives, which has a negative influence on both mental health and academic performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of stress and its effect on sleep quality among medical students (in both the preclinical and clinical years) at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional research design was applied in this study. The sample constituted medical students at Jazan University, Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered online survey was distributed actively to measure the variables of interest. RESULTS: This study examined the sleep quality and psychological distress among 347 students. The findings revealed that a significant proportion of students experienced sleep difficulties, with 52.8% reporting mild sleep problems and 46.6% reporting moderate sleep difficulties. In addition, a notable percentage of participants (28.2%) reported very high psychological distress, while 27.4% experienced severe psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that medical students had a high level of stress and poor sleep quality, which led to unhealthy habits, such as consuming many energy drinks. Hence, it is recommended that concerns should be addressed to minimize the risk of developing chronic illnesses.

Résumé Introduction:Il est depuis longtemps admis que le sommeil est un élément thérapeutique essentiel de la physiologie humaine et qu'il est crucial pour un fonctionnement sain, la santé mentale et la qualité de vie. Les étudiants en médecine ont souvent tendance à réduire leur sommeil et à modifier leurs habitudes pour faire face à leur charge de travail et à leur vie stressante, ce qui a une influence négative sur leur santé mentale et leurs performances académiques. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer la prévalence du stress et son effet sur la qualité du sommeil chez les étudiants en médecine (tant en années précliniques que cliniques) à l'Université de Jazan en Arabie saoudite.Matériel et méthodes:Une étude transversale a été réalisée dans le cadre de cette étude. L'échantillon était constitué d'étudiants en médecine de l'Université de Jazan, dans la région de Jazan, en Arabie saoudite. Une enquête en ligne auto-administrée a été activement distribuée pour mesurer les variables d'intérêt.Résultats:Cette étude a examiné la qualité du sommeil et la détresse psychologique chez 347 étudiants. Les résultats ont révélé qu'une proportion significative d'étudiants rencontrait des difficultés de sommeil, avec 52,8 % signalant des problèmes de sommeil légers et 46,6 % signalant des difficultés de sommeil modérées. De plus, un pourcentage notable de participants (28,2 %) a signalé une détresse psychologique très élevée, tandis que 27,4 % ont connu une détresse psychologique sévère.Conclusions:Cette étude a révélé que les étudiants en médecine présentaient un niveau élevé de stress et une mauvaise qualité de sommeil, ce qui conduisait à des habitudes peu saines, telles que la consommation excessive de boissons énergisantes. Par conséquent, il est recommandé de prendre des mesures pour réduire le risque de développer des maladies chroniques.

Knowledge and Practice toward DEXA Scan among Women in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk, presents a significant public health challenge. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans offer a reliable means of assessing bone mineral density (BMD) and detecting osteoporosis. The aim of this study is to assess awareness, attitude, and practice of women in the Jazan region toward DEXA scan. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0. The total knowledge scores of participants were calculated to assess potential associations with sociodemographic data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 400 women, 230 (57.5%) had low knowledge scores primarily due to poor knowledge of the DEXA scan procedure. Merely 39 women had undergone a DEXA scan mainly due to medical prescription (n = 22, 56.4%). Total knowledge scores were significantly higher among women with high monthly incomes (p = 0.019) and those working in medical-related jobs (p = 0.017). Conclusions: This study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve awareness of DEXA scans among women in Jazan City. Additionally, the findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence awareness levels, emphasizing the importance of tailored educational strategies to reach diverse demographics.

Awareness and Perception Toward Alzheimer's Disease Among Residents Living in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing public health concern, yet misconceptions about the condition are common. This study assessed awareness and social perceptions of AD in Jazan. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 925 adults was conducted. Knowledge was assessed using a 30-item Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). Social perceptions were evaluated using a 10-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Many had misconceptions about AD epidemiology, causes, management, and care. The mean ADKS score was 8.89 ± 5.17 out of 30. Knowledge was poorest for symptoms, risk factors, treatment, caregiving, and life impact. Knowledge was highest in those aged >45 years (p = 0.018), in those with income > 15K SR (p = 0.004), in retired individuals (p = 0.023), and in those who learned about AD from books (p = 0.001), healthcare professionals (p = 0.001), or had an affected relative (p = 0.001). However, knowledge was low across all domains, averaging only 29% correct answers. Most respondents held positive social perceptions, yet sizable minorities saw isolation, legal intervention, and institutionalization as appropriate. Additionally, a portion of respondents associated stigma with individuals affected by AD and expressed a sense of burden associated with the condition. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial knowledge gaps and some stigmatizing attitudes about AD in Jazan. Awareness regarding the causes, diagnosis, and management of AD was low. Misconceptions exist that AD only affects older people. Improved public education, especially for higher-risk groups, is needed to address misconceptions and promote social inclusion for those with dementia. Healthcare professionals can play a crucial role.

Prevalence of Hemorrhoids and Their Risk Factors Among the Adult Population in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoids are defined as the symptomatic enlargement and distal displacement of the normal anal cushions. They can be either internal, external, or internoexternal, according to their position in relation to the dentate line. They can cause significant financial burdens and personal discomfort. However, the typical symptoms of hemorrhoids include bleeding, pain, skin irritation, fecal leakage, prolapse, mucus secretion, and developing a thrombosed hernia. Nonetheless, research has shown that individuals with and without hemorrhoids equally report these symptoms. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hemorrhoids and their risk factors among adult subjects in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This investigation was a cross-sectional study targeting adults diagnosed with hemorrhoids in the Jazan region. Data collection was performed via a self-administered questionnaire to measure sociodemographic data of the participants, lifestyle factors associated with hemorrhoids, clinical presentations of the disease, and Rome IV criteria for diagnosis of functional constipation. The chi-squared test was used to assess the frequency of hemorrhoid symptoms according to the participants' sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: In the current study, which recruited 361 participants, 59% (216 individuals) reported experiencing at least one symptom of hemorrhoids. The majority of the sample were females (60%), Saudis (96%), and living in urban areas (59%) and had a university education (77.3%). The most common risk factors identified were lack of regular physical activity (83%), prolonged sitting during office work (51%), and consuming food with saturated fat (50%). A total of 44% (159 participants) had a family history of hemorrhoids, and 40% reported suffering from constipation three times or more per week. Only 34% (123 participants) had been diagnosed with hemorrhoids by a physician. Interestingly, the majority of participants (57%) preferred using home remedies instead of seeking medical care from a healthcare professional. When assessing factors associated with experiencing a minimum of six hemorrhoid symptoms per month, age, lifestyle factors, family history of hemorrhoids, and defecation practices were found to be significantly correlated with a higher occurrence of symptoms (with a p-value of less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study identified a high prevalence of hemorrhoid symptoms and their risk factors among the adult population in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The findings suggest a need to increase the awareness of the public about hemorrhoids risk factors and the importance of seeking healthcare at an early stage of the disease.