Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of an Arabic version of PROMIS® of dyspnea activity motivation, requirement item pool and sleep-related impairments item bank.

BACKGROUND: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Dyspnea Activity Motivation & Requirement item pool and sleep related impairments (SRI) item bank are designed in assessing the impact of dyspnea and sleep and guiding patient management. However, to effectively utilize this tool in Arabic-speaking populations, it is essential to perform a thorough translation and cultural adaptation process. Therefore, the aim of the study is to translate and cross-culturally adapt the translated items of the PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation and requirement and SRI into Arabic. METHODS: A universal approach to translation adopted from PROMIS guideline document for translation and cultural adaptation, and the Chronic Illness Therapy translation methodology. The forward translation step followed by back work translation and Harmonization and quality assurance. Cognitive interview and pilot testing was conducted among 30 Arabic respondents across 5 different countries of Arabic speaker to produce a single version for Arab countries. RESULTS: A successful translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Arabic was achieved while maintaining equivalency. The translation was clear and more colloquial sentences were semantically equivalent and easy to understand. Equivalence of meaning of PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation, requirement and SRI were achieved. All items were appropriate, relevant to culture and it measured the same concept as the original items. In Items 2 of the dyspnea activity motivation related to leisure activity "shopping", the term "catalog and website" was added instead of "catalog only" which makes item in line with the original source but more comprehensive and applicable to current shopping trends. CONCLUSIONS: The PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation, requirement items pool and SRI item bank are culturally and linguistically suitable to be used in Arab country. By extending the accessibility of this measure to Arabic-speaking population, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of management and patient-centered care in the region. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the psychometric properties of these instruments.

Tele-Physical Activity Promotion Program among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and distance learning affected physical activity (PA) levels among college students. The aims were to assess the effectiveness of a tele-health PA promotion program for 6 weeks, among junior college students, on PA level and on the proportion of physically active students during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A pre-post study design was conducted on 46 students aged 19 (±0.9) years old in Saudi Arabia. The study consisted of online introductory and educational PA classes, followed by a 6-week course during which students received daily online PA promotive messages. Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar's tests were used to measure the mean differences in PA level and the changes in proportion of physically active students before and after the program, respectively. Results: The proportion of students who perform walking increased significantly from 47.4% to 68.4% (p = 0.02), while the number of students who perform moderate PA in their leisure time increased significantly from 38.9% to 69.4% (p = 0.02). No significant differences were detected between other PA levels. Conclusions: This program is effective in encouraging more college students to be physically active, but not in improving PA levels. Larger scale studies using PA objective measurement tools are needed.

Assessment of park paths and trails to promote physical accessibility among wheelchair users in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Individuals with mobility disabilities are less likely to meet physical activity standards and are at greater risk of developing non-communicable chronic diseases at earlier ages. Public parks are an essential resource for participation in physical activity. However, environmental factors may limit the participation of wheelchair users. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) and to explore the wheelchair accessibility of five public parks in Saudi Arabia through descriptive analysis. Methods: A descriptive study design was implemented to evaluate wheelchair accessibility features of five public parks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and process, resource, and management assessments were conducted. Phone GPS-App Strava was used to track the segments and measure their distances. Results: Audits in multiple parks using PEAT were time-consuming despite being user-friendly. The descriptive analysis of paths and trails across the five parks showed some positive features, such as adequate bollard/gate clearance, but the path slope and condition of the path surfaces were more variable. Conclusion: This study is the first to examine wheelchair accessibility in public parks in Saudi Arabia. Preliminary audits of paths/trials in five public parks revealed the strengths and weaknesses of accessibility and features that promote physical activity participation for wheelchair users. These findings can guide future use of PEAT in large-scale studies and inform environmental modifications.

Assessment of Park Paths and Trails for Physical Activity Promotion among Older Adults in Saudi Arabia: Feasibility and Future Directions.

Chronic diseases affect more than 80% of older adults. One modifiable risk factor for secondary prevention is physical activity. Public parks are an essential resource for physical activity, but environmental features may limit participation. Our aims were (1) to assess the feasibility and utility of the Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) for use in a larger-scale study focused on older adults and (2) to examine the physical activity-promoting features of five public parks. METHODS: A descriptive study design was used to assess five public parks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April to June 2022. Additionally, process, resource, and management assessments were also conducted. RESULTS: The PEAT was easy to use, but additions are recommended to increase relevance to older adults with chronic disease. Descriptive analyses revealed positive features, such as adequate lighting, but other features such as path slope were more variable. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings can guide the future use of the PEAT for older adult participants and inform environmental modifications.

Arabic Translation and Rasch Validation of PROMIS Anxiety Short Form among General Population in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the PROMIS Anxiety Short Form 8a item bank into Arabic for the general population of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The PROMIS Anxiety Short Form was translated according to the FACIT group method. Second, psychometric validation was conducted on a convenience sample of 322 participants (mean age, 26 ± 10.4 years; predominantly female) from the general population in Saudi Arabia. Rasch analysis (Winsteps® version 5.6.1) was used to examine category functioning, item fit, the person separation index, item difficulty, unidimensionality, and local dependency. RESULTS: Translation and cultural adaptation demonstrated that most of the items were culturally suitable and conveyed the same underlying concepts as the original scale. The five response categories of the scale satisfied the category functioning criteria, and all items fit the underlying construct, with the exception of one item that demonstrated a misfit. The item difficulty demonstrated poor targeting for the sample population; however, the person separation index and reliability were good (2.67 and 0.88, respectively) and no local dependency was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic translation of PROMIS-A SF8a demonstrated good structural validity and psychometrics, making it a valuable tool for screening anxiety in Arabic-speaking populations. The application of this outcome measure shows promise for healthcare professionals and patients alike, as it contributes to the provision of high-quality care and formulation of appropriate treatment plans.

Prevalence of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia and Associated Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Saudi Arabia and the association between knee OA and modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. METHODS: A self-reported, population-based, cross-sectional survey between January 2021 and October 2021 was conducted. A large, population-representative sample (n = 2254) of adult subjects aged 18 years and over from all regions of Saudi Arabia was collected electronically using convenience sampling. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria were used to diagnose OA of the knee. The knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) was used to investigate the severity of knee OA. This study focused on modifiable risk factors (body mass index, education, employment status, marital status, smoking status, type of work, previous history of knee injury, and physical activity level) and non-modifiable risk factors (age, gender, family history of OA, and presence of flatfoot). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of knee OA was 18.9% (n = 425), and women suffered more compared to their male counterparts (20.3% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.001). The logistic regression analysis model showed age (OR: 1.06 [95% CI: 1.05-1.07]; p < 0.01), sex (OR: 2.14 [95% CI: 1.48-3.11]; p < 0.01), previous injury (OR: 3.95 [95% CI: 2.81-5.56]; p < 0.01), and obesity (OR: 1.07 [95% CI: 1.04-1.09]; p < 0.01) to be associated with knee OA. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of knee OA underlines the need for health promotion and prevention programmes that focus on modifiable risk factors to decrease the burden of the problem and the cost of treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Needs Assessment for the Establishment of Master's Degree Programs in Respiratory Care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Despite recent advancements in the respiratory care (RC) profession, no single institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) offers a master's degree program in RC. Methods: A nationwide and validated survey was used to explore the current needs and interests in establishing RC master's degree programs in the KSA. The process included representatives from the healthcare industry, universities, and professional societies. Results: A total of 1250 stakeholders across the KSA completed the survey. The sample includes 722 (58%) males, 504 (40%) respiratory therapists, 547 (44%) students, 138 (11%) leaders, and 61 (5%) were academic respondents. Most respondents were from Central 491 (39%) and Eastern 307 (25%) regions, with 1003 (80%) of the total sample worked or studied in governmental sectors. A total of 574 (82%) of the leaders and RTs had Bachelor degree and 430 (61%) of them had 1-5 years working experience. According to 80% of the employers and employees, only 0-5% of the RTs in their organization had a master's degree. The calculated mean % of the agreement (agree/strongly agree) on the needs was 83% in all needs' assessment items, which shows a great support for establishing a master's in RC to meet the personal, professional and society needs. The mean % of the agreement for the level of interests among all participants was 86%, indicating a great level of interests in establishing a master degree in RC. The agreement % on the needs assessment and level of interests in establishing a master degree in RC in KSA were ≥80% in each stakeholder group. Conclusion: There are obvious needs and interests in establishing master's degree programs in RC in the KSA. A master's degree in RC should be established to address the growing needs for advanced RC services throughout the nation and enhance RC research.