Examination of Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction with Virtual Clinic Experience During COVID-19 in MNGHA, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic crisis brought great challenges on health care systems around the world, forcing many services to slow or temporarily shut down, including medical services in Saudi Arabia (SA). Health care institutions had to adapt new strategies such as virtual clinics to continue delivering care in light of the situation. Virtual clinics and telemedicine are relatively new and limited literature is available regarding patient's experience in SA. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess and evaluate the levels of patients' satisfaction with the experience of services provided by virtual clinics at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study based on secondary data collected by the corporate patient experience department at MNGHA. The analysis included all virtual clinics' visits from four MNGHA regions (Central, Eastern, Western, and AlMadinah) between April 19 and May 15, 2020. Findings: The results showed that more than half of our study participants were females (57%) (N = 7,803) and (64%) (N = 8,696) were between the age of 21-64 years. Most of the participants were from the Central region (73%) (N = 10,026). More than half of virtual visits were to hospitals (66%) (N = 9,098). Results from the ordinal regression showed that age, gender, region and, survey method were significantly associated with extreme satisfaction score (4.21-5.0). Males were more likely to be extremely satisfied than females (OR = 1.088), and patients between the ages of 6-20 were extremely satisfied compared with the age group 41-64 (OR = 1.309). Eastern region was more likely to be extremely satisfied than central region (OR = 1.121). Patients surveyed by calls were more likely to be extremely satisfied compared with SMS surveys (OR = 1.808), whereas facility type showed no significance. The overall satisfaction score was 4.1 out of 5. Interpretation: According to our findings, the majority of patients were satisfied with the experiences of virtual clinics at MNGHA. Therefore, we recommend exploring more frequent use of virtual clinics when appropriate beyond the pandemic. Virtual clinics can minimize the risk of disease transmission, save travel time, and is considered a cost-effective alternative to traditional clinics.

Efficacy of home healthcare on the management of tracheostomy patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluated the home healthcare efficacy in managing tracheostomy patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. Home healthcare is care provided to patients in the convenience of their homes to ensure high-quality care based on healthcare providers' supervision. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilizing a non-probability consecutive sampling technique, including all available tracheal patients with no exclusion criteria, was carried out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2019 and June 2022. The collected data included patient demographic variables and respiratory settings (ventilation type, daily ventilation need, tracheostomy duration, and ventilator settings). The outcomes included mortality rate and therapeutic outcomes of tracheal management. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients in the study, the most common type of respiratory-related infection was pneumonia (53%). Unlike respiratory-related causes, The mortality rate of patients admitted to the intensive care unit that was unrelated to respiratory causes was statistically significant (57%) (p=0.003). The mortality rate of patients who used aerosol tracheal collars (34%) was markedly higher than mechanically ventilated patients (57%) (p=0.004). The mortality rate following discharge from HHC was 40%, and was higher among patients aged >70 years (47%) (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Pneumonia was associated with the majority of ventilator-related infections and resulted in hospital readmissions. Ensuring proper practices and caregiver education is crucial to decrease the incidence of ventilator-related infections.

Knowledge of Undergraduate Students About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Aims Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. This study assesses the level of knowledge about COPD among undergraduate students that makes it different from other respiratory illnesses. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). The Bristol Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) was used to evaluate the knowledge about COPD, epidemiology, symptoms, exercise, smoking, and breathlessness domains. The questionnaire was distributed among the different male colleges. Results There were 304 respondents from five colleges. The overall BCKQ mean score was 15.16±4.52 (maximum 30). The mean score was highest for the Colleges of Pharmacy (18.89±2.17) and Medicine (18.00±3.84), and the College of Science and Health Professions had the lowest score (11.56±5.58). The highest overall means for the different domains (max=5) were for smoking (2.19±1.2), and epidemiology (2.83±1.27), while symptoms of COPD (2.23±1.06) and breathlessness (1.96±1.13) were the lowest among the domains. Conclusions There was a low level of understanding among undergraduate students in general, but the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy had better knowledge. On the other hand, the College of Science and Health Professions had a lower score. This indicates some areas for improvement in the education program. Appropriate development in the education program is recommended, such as increasing the awareness of symptoms of COPD and other aspects of the disease.

Gene Mutations Associated With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Among Saudi CLL Patients and Treatment Outcomes: A Single-Center Experience.

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) starts in white blood cells in the peripheral blood (stages 0 and 1). In CLL, leukemia cells often build up slowly. Many gene mutations are associated with CLL, such as trisomy 12, 13q14 deletion, and 17q deletion. Due to the lack of patients' disease characteristics, gene mutations, and treatment outcomes data among Saudi patients, this study aimed to identify the relation between the gene mutations of CLL and the treatment in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the BESTCare hospital information system. The study included all patients diagnosed with CLL and confirmed by flow cytometry in KAMC, Riyadh, between January 2010 and October 2020. The data included demographic information, mutation type or chromosome, present comorbidity, and type of treatment. Results The study included 100 CLL patients. According to different types of clusters of differentiation (CD), CD5 was positive in 84 (84%) patients, and 88 (88%) patients were positive for CD19. Cytogenetic remarkers were tested, revealing that 21 (21%) patients with trisomy 12 and 20 (20%) were positive for 13q14 deletion. Observation of patients' disease status based on the cytogenetic remarkers showed that out of 15 patients with trisomy, 12 (80%) had not progressed and were stable and alive. Out of 20 patients with 13q14 deletion, 16 (80%) were alive and 13 (65%) patients were stable. Conclusion CLL patients in KAMC, Riyadh, displayed trisomy 12, which is characterized by the worst prognosis of disease status, as the most frequently detected cytogenetic aberration followed by 13q deletion. However, most patients were stable and alive.

The Relation Between Theoretical and Practical Exams for Health Sciences Students at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences- Jeddah.

Introduction: A comprehensive approach to assessment is essential to ensure that all students' learning competencies are measured accurately. Therefore, multiple methods of assessment have been developed to address this matter. This Study aims to assess the correlation between health sciences students' performance on theoretical and practical exams. Methods: A correlational study design was conducted. The academic performance of 352 students across theoretical/practical courses was tested. SPSS version 29.0 was used for analysis. Spearman's rho correlation (Rs), Wilcoxon, and Mann Whitney were computed at p<0.05. Results: The theoretical performance was strongly correlated with the practical performance of all programs pooled together (Rs (352) = 0.67, p<0.001). Also, there was a strong correlation between theoretical and practical performance for male students (Rs (181) = 0.72, p<0.001), while a moderate correlation for female students (Rs (171) = 0.53, p<0.001). Mann-Whitney test revealed significant mean performance difference by gender both at theoretical (U = 9284, p<0.0001) and practical (U = 11,373, p < 0.0001) levels. Conclusion: There were significant correlations between theoretical knowledge and practical skills across the selected four programs.; The mean student's performance was better in the practical skills than in the theoretical knowledge assessment, and female students surpassed male students in both practical and theoretical assessments in the four programs offered to both genders.

Overconfidence, Time-on-Task, and Medical Errors: Is There a Relationship?

Background: Literature suggest that physicians' high level of confidence has a negative impact on medical decisions, and this may lead to medical errors. Experimental research is lacking; however, this study investigated the effects of high confidence on diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Forty internal medicine residents from different hospitals in Saudi Arabia were divided randomly into two groups: A high-confidence group as an experimental and a low-confidence group acting as a control. Both groups solved each of eight written complex clinical vignettes. Before diagnosing these cases, the high-confidence group was led to believe that the task was easy, while the low-confidence group was presented with information from which it could deduce that the diagnostic task was difficult. Level of confidence, response time, and diagnostic accuracy were recorded. Results: The participants in the high-confidence group had a significantly higher confidence level than those in the control group: 0.75 compared to 0.61 (maximum 1.00). However, neither time on task nor diagnostic accuracy significantly differed between the two groups. Conclusion: In the literature, high confidence as one of common cognitive biases has a strong association with medical error. Even though the high-confidence group spent somewhat less time on the cases, suggesting potential premature decision-making, we failed to find differences in diagnostic accuracy. It is suggested that overconfidence should be studied as a personality trait rather than as a malleable characteristic.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Children and Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives This study aims to describe the disease parameters of children and adolescents diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Saudi Arabia. It also investigates the disease's progression and compares clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters at baseline and follow-up of patients with NAFLD. This study was done between two groups of patients: obese and those of average body weight.  Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2014 and 2018 through retrieved data from medical records. It included all children aged between six to 18 years diagnosed with NAFLD. Medical history was taken from each medical record, liver function test results, cholesterol, blood pressure readings, and body weight. Data have been restored from King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital (KASCH)​, Security Forces Hospital (SFH), and King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH). Results A total of 116 subjects met the inclusion criteria; 65 (56%) were male, and 81 (70%) were obese. The majority of subjects (n=112) had mild NAFLD, with (71%) obese and (29%) non-obese, followed by moderate NAFLD with 50% among obese and non-obese (N=2), and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with 100% non-obese (N=2). Data showed that patients' proportion of obese to non-obese is 70% (N=81) to 30% (N=35), respectively.  Conclusion NAFLD was found to affect obese children and adolescents more than non-obese, and male patients had a higher proportion of NAFLD than females. Also, obese patients had more advanced stages of NAFLD than non-obese patients. Finally, most subjects had been diagnosed with mild stage while a few had developed NASH.

Complications of Percutaneous Radiologic Gastrostomy Among Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) is the method of choice for patients incapable of ingesting nutrition orally. The complications related to PRG are classified into major and minor complications. This article presents the prevalence of major and minor complications of PRG among adult patients admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2017 and 2018. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, which included adult patients who underwent a new PRG intubation between 2017 and 2018 in KAMC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The variables reviewed were the demographics, comorbidities, indications of tube insertion, major and minor complications, and mortality rates. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients who underwent PRG were covered in this study with a mean age of 69.2 + 20.4 years. The most common indications were neurogenic pharyngeal dysphagia (31%) and dementia (29%). Most of the complications reported were minor (40%) and major complications were found in 2%. The percentage of patients with both minor and major complications was 37%. The patients who had no complications made up 21%. Major skin complication was reported in 19 patients (18%), while leakage was the most occurring minor complication found in 49 patients (47%). The 30-day mortality was observed in five patients (5%) and one-year mortality was observed in 21 patients (20%), and none of them were related to the PRG tube. CONCLUSION: This study found that the PRG procedure had low rates of complications in KAMC. The majority were minor complications, and the mortality rate was low with none being related to the tube itself. So PRG may be considered to be a relatively safe procedure.

Hypertension and Ovarian Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Saudi Arabia.

Background There is limited evidence that evaluates the association between hypertension and ovarian cancer. The study aims to investigate the association between ovarian cancer and hypertension, the difference in lipid profile, and the association between body mass index (BMI) and ovarian cancer. Methods We conducted a case-control study at King Abdelaziz Medical City (KAMC), oncology department. All Saudi female patients who were diagnosed with primary ovarian cancer admitted to the oncology department at KAMC from 2016 to 2019 were selected. The data were collected from medical records of patients of the KAMC by chart review using The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs BESTCare database. Results A total of 137 Saudi female patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer attending to gynecology and oncology center in KAMC from 2016 to 2019 were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 57 in cases and 56 in controls with a mean BMI of 29.64 in cases and 31 in controls. There were 63 obese cases, therefore, the proportion of obesity was 46%. Approximately one-third of cases were overweight (28%) while one-fourth (26%) of them were underweight or normal weight. Roughly two-thirds of cases were hypertensive with an overall proportion of 66 % (95% confidence interval (CI) 58-74) while one-third of controls were hypertensive with an overall proportion of 32%. Cases were having significantly higher triglycerides (p=0.03) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.001) than controls. The significant variables were analyzed using logistic regression. It was found that hypertensive subjects were 10.06 times more likely (95% CI: 4.88-20.71) to be associated with the cases as compared to controls (p<0.001). Also, an increase in BMI was significantly associated with being a case with OR = 1.07 (95% CI: 1.02-1.12; p=0.004). Conclusion In conclusion, hypertension, elevated BMI, higher triglycerides, and lower HDL were significantly associated with ovarian cancer.

Descriptive Study and Surgical Management Among Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma Patients Admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City From 2000 to 2017: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histologic type of breast carcinoma. The etiology of ILC is unknown; however, many contributing risk factors have been suggested. Treatment of ILC can be divided into local and systemic. Our objectives were to assess the clinical presentations, risk factors, radiological findings, pathological types, and surgical options for patients with ILC treated at the national guard hospital. Identify the factors associated with metastasis and recurrence. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study at a tertiary care center in Riyadh. All adult patients aged 16 years and above, from different nationalities, and both genders, were diagnosed with ILC from 2000 to 2017 and followed up at KAMC. The sampling technique was a non-probability consecutive technique. Among 1066 patients identified, 91 patients were diagnosed with ILC over seventeen years study period. RESULTS: The median age at the primary diagnosis was 50. On the clinical examination, 63 (71%) cases were found to have palpable masses which was the most suspicious finding. On radiology, the most encountered finding was speculated masses which were seen in 76 (84%). Regarding the pathology, unilateral breast cancer was seen in 82 while bilateral breast cancer was found only in eight. For the biopsy, a core needle biopsy was the most commonly used in 83 (91%) patients. The most documented surgery for ILC patients was a modified radical mastectomy. Metastasis in different organs was identified with the musculoskeletal system being the commonest site. Different significant variables were compared between patients with or without metastasis. Skin changes, post-operative invasion, estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors were significantly associated with metastasis. Patients with metastasis were less likely to have conservative surgery. Regarding the Recurrence and five years survival, out of 62 cases, 10 had recurrence within five years, which was more prevalent in patients who had fine needle aspiration, excisional biopsy, and nulliparous patients. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to exclusively describe ILC in Saudi Arabia. The results of this current study are highly important, as these results provide baseline data of ILC in the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

Dietary trends and obesity in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Dietary habits in Saudi Arabia have been shifting toward the Western diet, which is high in fat, salt, and sugar, leading to a high obesity rate. Different dietary strategies such as the Ketogenic Diet (KD), Intermittent Fasting (IF), Gluten Free Diet (GFD), and Calorie Restriction Diet (CRD) have shown an influential role in weight loss. This study aimed to compare trending diets and correlate different types of diet with obesity and lifestyle among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on Saudis and non-Saudis over 18 years old. We used convenience sampling, an online questionnaire distributed via social media channels, including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SPSS 28 software was applied for data analysis. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between different variables. Statistical significance was considered at a value of p less than 0.05. Results: Most participants were females residing in the Eastern and Central regions of Saudi Arabia. Although most do not follow any dietary plan, they exhibited acceptable exercise and lifestyle. The minority of the study population followed different types of diet plans, such as KD, IF, and GFD. The purpose of most of the participants who have used these strategies was for weight loss but failed to sustain the dietary plan for more than 1 month. Conclusion: Obesity remains a challenging issue in Saudi Arabia. Adherence to dietary regimes could help in controlling obesity. Increasing the awareness of the benefits of each dietary plan for health, choosing the appropriate one, and sustaining a balanced nutrition pattern.

The Use of Vaping Among Male Health Sciences Students Compared to Other Male Students in Riyadh.

Background Vaping has become widely used by teenagers due to its accessibility, variety of flavors, peer influence, and the thought that it is a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of vaping among health sciences students compared to other college students in Riyadh and identify reasons for its usage. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three major universities of Riyadh: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and Al-Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. A self-administered online questionnaire related to the use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes was utilized. It included questions about the use of conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes and the reasons for using them. Responses were compared between health sciences and non-health sciences students in Riyadh. Results An electronic survey was distributed online, and 442 students responded, but two of them did not agree to participate, so they were removed from the sample. Out of 440 students, 312 (71%) were health sciences students, and 128 (29%) were non-health sciences students. Smoking conventional cigarettes was found among 38 (12%) health sciences students, and 22 (17%) non-health college students smoked conventional cigarettes (p=0.16). Regarding vaping, 117 (38%) health sciences students smoked e-cigarettes. On the other hand, 47 (39%) non-health college students smoked e-cigarettes (p=0.99). Anxiety/stress relief (54%) and peer influence (46%) were the most common reasons for those who smoked conventional cigarettes. Regarding the most common reasons behind using e-cigarettes, the majority (55%) considered e-cigarettes less harmful than conventional cigarettes. The second most common reason was having no distinctive odor (36%). Conclusion The study found that there was a high prevalence of the self-reported use of e-cigarettes. It appears that the use of conventional cigarette smoking is not as common as e-cigarettes among university students. This study found that university students tend to use e-cigarettes more than conventional cigarettes due to the belief that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes.

Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students Towards Helicobacter pylori Infection and Its Prevention and Management: A Study From Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a virulent pathogen causing gastritis and ulcers followed by serious complications. Despite being a heavy burden to eradicate, there are not many studies that assess the comprehension of future physicians regarding this bacterium. The objective of this study was to assess medical students' knowledge and attitude toward H. pylori while evaluating the variations based on their socio-demographic factors at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students in all four years of medical college. The data was collected by distributing an online questionnaire which included three following sections: demographic data, knowledge regarding H. pylori infection, and attitude toward H. pylori infection. Total knowledge and attitude levels were grouped into three and two categories, respectively, and compared between the respondents' socio-demographics. Results Out of 330 respondents, the majority were females (n=185, 56%), and the mean age was 22.8±2.1 years. There were 184 students (56%) who had an excellent attitude (>70%) and 140 (44%) students had average knowledge (34-70%). The medical students' knowledge level was significantly (p<0.001) different between the participants according to their year of study and gender, with higher scores reported by male students in their clinical years (sixth and fifth years). Conclusion Medical students of KSAU-HS, Riyadh, had an overall average knowledge and excellent attitude towards H. pylori infection, and its prevention and management which emphasize the need for more comprehensive education and awareness programs throughout the medical curriculum to ensure future physicians are well-prepared to address the challenges associated with H. pylori-related health issues.

Knowledge and Awareness of Syncope Among the Population of Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Although syncope is a common emergency in medical settings, no research has yet evaluated the general population's awareness regarding it. This study investigated the general population's knowledge and awareness of syncope and if they could differentiate syncopal and non-syncopal causes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC). Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh through a validated, self-administered Arabic questionnaire that was distributed to the general population through social media using Google Forms (convenience sampling). Participants younger than 18 or not from Riyadh were excluded from the study. Two cardiologists validated the questionnaire, following which forward and backward translation was done. The questionnaire contained three sections. The first section included demographic data and chronic conditions. In the second section, participants were asked if they or one of their relatives had ever experienced syncope. The third section had eight scenarios assessing the participants' syncope knowledge. Subjects with ≥five correct answers were considered to be aware. Results The number of total responses was 405 participants. Regarding demographic data, 53% of the participants were female, 33% had a medical background, and 76% had a university degree (n = 214, n = 134, and n = 306, respectively). The mean age of the participants was 33.2 ± 13.3 years. Participants who were aware of syncope represented 55% (n = 221). Among the syncope cases, orthostatic syncope had the highest number of correct answers (79%, n = 319), followed by vasovagal syncope (61%, n = 246). Males performed better in cases one (p = 0.001), two (p = 0.004), and seven (p = 0.01). Conclusions The results of this study showed that most participants were considered aware of syncope. Gender, marital status, and having a medical background had a significant influence on the results.

The Management and Outcome of Stroke Patients Admitted on Weekdays Compared to Weekends at the King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background and Purpose: Stroke is an unexpected medical emergency that can result in significant disability. The weekend effect suggests that individuals with acute medical problems are not treated the same way on weekends as they are on weekdays. There is no previous published study about weekend effect on stroke patients from Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was an IRB approved, retrospective, cohort study. All stroke patients admitted between January 2017 and December 2018 were included. Ten standards of care were chosen to assess compliance with standardized care. Seven measures were chosen for acute management of stroke. Results: A total of 731 patients were included, 68.5% were males; 493 (67%) were admitted during weekdays and 238 (33%) on weekends. There was no difference for age (P = .32), gender (P = .32), nationality (P = .62), stroke subtype (P = .27) and stroke severity (P = .69) on weekday or weekend admission. In two-third patients, more than 70% of stroke orders were utilized, with no difference in thrombolysis rate (P = .81). There was no difference in recurrent stroke (P = .86), mortality or discharge disposition (P = .34) between the patients. The patients admitted during weekdays had less complications (38 vs 46%; P = .04). Conclusions: There was no difference in the quality of care provided to stroke patients admitted during weekdays or weekends. There was no difference in the use of acute intervention on weekends and weekdays. Patients had similar outcomes and discharge disposition whether admitted on weekdays or weekends, except that those admitted on weekends had a significantly greater overall number of complications.

Medical Students and Faculty Perceptions About Online Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic: Alfaisal University Experience.

Background and Objectives: Off-campus online learning methods abruptly increased and gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have highlighted the limitations of online learning mode; however, further studies on the experiences of medical students are needed. This study aimed to investigate the preclinical medical students and faculty members' experiences with online education and learning. Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using convenience sampling. Two hundred nine students and 13 faculty members who participated in the online courses offered during the spring semester of 2019-2020 completed an online questionnaire. A 30-item questionnaire for the students and a 25-item questionnaire for the faculty were used in this cross-sectional study. Results: Overall, 30% of the student sample was satisfied; importantly, high-achieving students (GPA > 3.5) were less satisfied (25 vs. 32%; p = 0.006). Satisfaction was also low (35%) for student-faculty interaction opportunities. About half of the student sample agreed that small-group interactive sessions would improve learning (53%). The most favored course format was the blended mode (43%), followed by traditional (40%) and online modes (17%). Six out of 13 (46%) faculty members were satisfied with their online experiences. Most of them found virtual teaching applications convenient (77%). Conversely, few faculty members agreed to interact effectively (54%), while 69% favored a blended format. Conclusions: The level of satisfaction in fully online courses offered during the COVID-19 pandemic remained low, especially among high-achieving students. Both students and faculty favored the blended format for future purposes. Small group active-learning strategies and web-based interactive tools may facilitate engagement and student-faculty interactions.

A Pattern of Lipid Profile Among Saudi Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Dyslipidemia is prevalent in adults living with type 1 diabetes, and it can worsen the presentation of microvascular complications such as retinopathy. This study aims to identify the pattern coupled with the frequency of dyslipidemia in diabetic adults who followed up at different clinics in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, and evaluate the associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective chart review study of 514 adults with type 1 diabetes was conducted in a tertiary health care facility in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Demographics were retrieved by using the implemented electronic medical records. Fasting lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were checked for all subjects. RESULTS: Five hundred and fourteen (514) subjects aged 18-65 years were studied (mean age: 26.1 ± 7.1 years). There were 318 (62%) females in the sample, and their mean age was significantly different from the mean age of males (p = 0.01). The mean duration of having diabetes was 12.8 ± 6.9 years. The prevalence of lipid abnormalities included abnormal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (70%), hypercholesterolemia (23%), abnormal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (8%), and hypertriglyceridemia (5%). Abnormal HDL was significantly higher in males than in females (p=<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of other lipid abnormalities between the two genders and the age group < or ≥ 25 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of the tested lipids levels between the two genders. One hundred and forty-three (143) (27.8%) patients had more than one abnormal lipid condition. A statistically significant difference was observed in the mean HbA1c between males and females (p=0.001). Otherwise, there was no significant association of lipid abnormalities with gender, age, diabetes duration, and weight. CONCLUSION: The most prevalent lipid abnormality was high LDL cholesterol. Nearly a third of the tested individuals had more than one lipid abnormality. Furthermore, poor glycemic control was linked to abnormal lipid profiles. Consequently, local programs must aim to screen and intervene early to delay and prevent future severe vascular complications related to non-treated dyslipidemia.

The use of olive oil for skin health in a Saudi population: A cross-sectional study.

The use of topical olive oil (OO) for skin health is common among Saudis and worldwide. Therefore, this cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the use of topical OO for skin health among Saudis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was administered to Saudis at four different malls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 401 participants were enrolled in the study. The results showed that the average knowledge score of the participants was 3.4±0.3 (out of 5) and 87% had fair knowledge. The top source of knowledge among the participants was friends/relatives. In the attitude section, the average score was 4.1±0.5 (out of 5). Females had a higher attitude score 4.2±0.5 as compared to males 4±0.5 (P=0.03). The most common reason for using topical OO among the participants was skin moisturizing (73%). Female gender was the only significant factor associated with the use of topical OO (P<0.001). The use of topical OO for skin health is highly prevalent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, more awareness of the benefits and adverse effects of topical OO use is required especially from health educational organizations. The preliminary results of this study suggest further research with a larger sample in an academic setting across the nation.

Prevalence of Insomnia Among Patients with Bronchial Asthma.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is commonly reported in patients with asthma. However, the prevalence of insomnia and its relationship to asthma control have not been established. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of insomnia in adults with asthma and to evaluate the association between insomnia and level of asthma control. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 200 patients recruited from pulmonary clinics at a tertiary care center. Adults (age ≥16 years) diagnosed with asthma by the primary treating physician were recruited over a 6-month period from December 2018 to May 2019. Asthma and insomnia severity were assessed using the Asthma Control Test and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 51±17 years, and 67% were female. Insomnia (ISI score ≥10) was present in 46.5% of the participants. The severity of insomnia was inversely related to the level of asthma control: moderate-to-severe insomnia was more frequent in patients with uncontrolled asthma (43%) than in those with partially controlled asthma (25%) or well-controlled asthma (12%) (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Insomnia is common among patients with asthma, especially those with suboptimal asthma control. Further investigations are required to more fully understand the complex relationship between asthma and insomnia.

Accuracy and Quality of YouTube Videos as a Source of Information on Vitiligo.

PURPOSE: Vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by patchy depigmentation in the skin, affecting not just the physical well-being of patients, but also the mental, emotional, and social aspects of their lives. Social media provides a platform where patients can interact and share experiences, and for physicians and experts to disseminate knowledge on the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and overall quality of vitiligo-related content on YouTube. METHODS: Thirty videos were screened by relevance according to the inclusion criteria. Videos were categorized as either healthcare or non-healthcare sources, and viewer engagement ratio was calculated for each. Three independent vitiligo experts rated the content using the following assessment tools: DISCERN, Accuracy in Digital-health Instrument (ANDI), and Global Quality Scale (GQS). Lastly, Cronbach's alpha was used to estimate the inter-rater reliability and consistency. RESULTS: Most of the screened videos came from health-care sources (57%). Non-healthcare sources achieved a slightly higher viewer engagement ratio, although the difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.23). DISCERN score was low overall in most videos. However, DISCERN score was higher for health-care sources as compared to non-healthcare sources (30.5 ± 9.4 vs 22.7 ± 4,2, p = 0.009). Scores of ANDI and GQS were higher for health-care sources but not statistically significant. There was a good internal consistency in DISCERN rating among the evaluators (0.86). CONCLUSION: Our study shows a low overall accuracy and quality of YouTube videos on vitiligo. It is recommended that health-care sources improve their information material in terms of quality and viewer engagement, as very little can be done to prevent non-healthcare sources in publishing their own videos. Efforts in educating the public on making distinction between evidence and non-evidence-based claims should also be taken.