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Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus associated with conditions such as skin warts and cervical cancer. Although many individuals clear the infection, some face persistent risks. Cervical cancer, which is linked to certain types of HPV, is a major health concern both globally and in Saudi Arabia, with preventive measures including HPV vaccination. However, parental knowledge and attitudes toward vaccinating their children vary. Therefore, this research aims to assess parental acceptance and understanding of the HPV vaccine in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire during 2022-2023. The data were cleaned in Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The study assessed parents' knowledge and acceptance of HPV vaccination. Results A total of 380 participants were included in this study, the majority of whom were female, married, well-educated, and residents of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Awareness about the HPV vaccine was modest, with only 46.6% of participants having heard of it. Most parents reported that their doctors did not mention the vaccine (62.9%), and 67.1% stated that their children had not received it. Factors influencing acceptance included support from the Ministry of Health and belief in the vaccine's effectiveness. Concerns about side effects and vaccine effectiveness were the main barriers to vaccination. Sociodemographic factors, including gender, age, education, employment, and number of children, significantly influenced both knowledge and acceptance. Notably, awareness of HPV was strongly associated with acceptance. Conclusions Our study revealed limited knowledge and vaccine acceptance among parents in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic factors, including gender, age, education, employment, and number of children, significantly influenced both knowledge and acceptance. Thus, sociodemographic factors played a significant role in shaping these attitudes, emphasizing the need for targeted awareness campaigns and improved communication between healthcare providers and parents to enhance vaccine uptake.
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Introduction Electrocardiography is a crucial emergency tool in the pre-hospital situation. It is a useful non-invasive diagnostic technique for quickly identifying various heart disorders. The clinical value of the electrocardiogram (ECG) depends on the clinician's ability to interpret the result of the ECG accurately. Aims This study aims to assess the competency as well as the confidence in the interpretation of ECG among medical students at King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students enrolled at King Faisal University. Four hundred and ten (410) medical students from all five years completed an electronic self-administered pre-validated questionnaire. The questionnaire includes basic demographic data and ECG strips to assess medical students' competency and confidence levels in interpreting each case. Results More than half of the medical students were considered to have low competency (56.1%) and confidence (59%) levels. Increased competency and confidence scores were associated with fifth-year medical students and those who learned more about ECG interpretation through teaching during clinical rotations. The majority of medical students correctly interpreted anterior MI (69.3%), ventricular tachycardia (65.6%), and supraventricular tachycardia (61.2%). On the other hand, most students were unable to correctly identify pacemaker ECG (19.8%), long QT (21.2%) and left bundle branch block (33.4%). Conclusion Medical students' competency and confidence in ECG interpretation seems to be lacking. Fifth-year medical students who learned more ECG skills through teaching during clinical rotations tended to be more competent and confident with their ECG interpretation skills.