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.

Transition to remote/hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic among Saudi students of the College of Applied Medical Sciences: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unparalleled and unique stressors and challenges to the field of applied health sciences education. This study explored how the College of Applied Medical Sciences (COAMS) Saudi students perceive the transition to remote/ hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory investigation was carried out during the months of February and March in the year 2023 among 196- COAMS Saudi students, using the 48-item previously developed and validated questionnaire, and with a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were generated for participants' demographics, and for each questionnaire item and statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test. Results: Out of the 283 undergraduates who have enrolled in COAMS, a total of 196 students have agreed to participate in the study with an overall response rate of 69.3%. Over 70% of COAMS students were satisfied and engaged in their on-site coursework. Nevertheless, questionnaire data indicates that their satisfaction and level of engagement diminished following the shift to remote learning. More than 62% of COAMS students were satisfied with their instructors' instructional and assessment strategies during on-site coursework, but such perceptions have decreased with remote instruction. Hybrid learning can be beneficial and effective in improving the performance and learning experience of COAMS students. As compared to female students, COAMS male students were more satisfied with remote learning because it met their needs (p = 0.017). Conclusion: Remote classrooms have lower attendance and interest than on-site classes. Despite lower satisfaction levels in online courses, hybrid learning was viewed favourably by COAMS students. Higher educational institutions should develop plans to increase student involvement, improve academic integrity, and assess the effect of the pandemic on undergraduate education on a regular basis. By incorporating these measures, educational institutions can enhance and support the remote learning experience for their students.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control precautions among laboratory staff: a mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Clinical laboratories provide diagnostic testing services to support the effective delivery of care in today's complex healthcare systems. Processing clinical material and the use of chemicals or radiation presents potential hazard to laboratory workers, from both biological and chemical sources. Nevertheless, the laboratory should be a safe workplace if the identification of possible hazards, clear guidelines, safety rules and infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions are applied and followed. The main aim of this systematic review was to identify, critically appraise and synthesise the research evidence to gain a clear explanation of the implementation and knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of IPC guidelines among hospital laboratory staff. METHODS: For this systematic review we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and CINAHL (EBSCO), PubMed, grey literature, reference lists and citations for studies published between database inception and November, 2021. All qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies whose aim was to explore risk perception and KAP of IPC guidelines among laboratory staff in any healthcare setting were included, without language or date restrictions. Evidence was narratively synthesised into group of themes. The quality of the evidence was assessed with Joanna Briggs Institutes Critical Appraisal Tools. RESULTS: After the full-text screening, a total of 34 articles remained and were included in the final review. Thirty papers were considered to be of high quality and the remaining four were considered to be of low quality. The available evidence shows that there was good knowledge, good attitudes and moderate immunisation status, but there was still poor practice of IPC precautions and an inadequate level of training among laboratory workers. CONCLUSION: There is a gap among KAP related to the implementation of IPC guidelines, which indicates that laboratory staff may be at high risk of acquiring infections in the workplace. These findings suggest that training (including IPC precautions, safety policies, safety equipment and materials, safety activities, initial biohazard handling, ongoing monitoring and potential exposure) of laboratory staff to increase their knowledge about IPC precautions could improve their use of these precautions.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome Related to Blood Eosinophilic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients.

Introduction The term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a range of illnesses that impair breathing and airflow. Clinical history of COPD is further impacted by frequent exacerbations known as acute exacerbation COPD in which these specific symptoms worsen contributing to emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalization. Blood eosinophils are a crucial indicator of therapy effectiveness and exacerbation rate. The role of blood eosinophils as a biomarker for treatment, response, exacerbation risk, inflammation, and other symptoms in COPD patients is implemented by the Global Initiative Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) as guidelines. Objective To determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes related specifically to eosinophilic COPD Patients. Methodology This is a retrospective single-center study of all AECOPD presented at ET between 2018 to 2019. A total of 120 patients were included. Patients were divided into two groups depending on blood eosinophil count: high (>300cells/µL) and low (<300cell/µL). Finally, Binary logistics regression was performed to determine correlations between clinical characteristics and eosinophil count levels. Results In the high eosinophil patients' group: none of the independent variables were statistically significant. However, in the low eosinophil patients' group: ER visits, lung disease, and symptomatic exacerbation made a statically significant contribution to the model (p-value of .008, .01, .001) respectively. Conclusion and recommendation The higher eosinophil levels showed better clinical outcomes compared to lower eosinophil levels. Increasing the level of symptomatic AECOPD episodes in low eosinophil levels may be linked to the onset of bacterial infection and airway inflammation. The study further recommends a prospective cross-sectional multi-center study which includes a follow-up of the patients to assess the number of exacerbations after initial treatment.

Burnout Among Saudi Radiological Sciences Undergraduate Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented new stressors and challenges to the applied health sciences' education. This study explored the prevalence of burnout among Saudi radiological sciences students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2020 among 176-Saudi radiological sciences students, using the 16-item questionnaire of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students and through non-probability convenient sampling technique. The 16 items of the questionnaire were scored on a 7-point frequency rating scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day) and consisted of three distinct burnout dimensions/subscales: a) emotional exhaustion (5-items), cynicism (5-items), and professional efficacy (6-items). The means of individual items that make up each scale of burnout were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results/Observations/Findings: From the 176-radiological sciences students approached, 96 (54.5%) completed the questionnaire. The percentage of students who were at moderate to high risk of burnout was 70.8% for emotional exhaustion, 75% for cynicism, and 74% for professional efficacy subscales. Emotional exhaustion was significantly higher among fourth-year students (P = 0.042), than third-year students. Cynicism was significantly higher among fourth-year female students (P = 0.035), than third-year female students. The professional efficacy was significantly lower among fourth-year female students (P = 0.007) than males. Conclusion: Our study shows 73.3% moderate to high burnout rates among Saudi radiological sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout increases as students advance to the fourth year. A block/modular curriculum structure for fourth-year courses may be necessary to reduce burnout among fourth-year students. Academic counseling can ease students' emotional stress and reduce burnout risk.