ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition in children in Saudi Arabia. ADHD significantly impacts children and their families, particularly by increasing parental stress and diminishing quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, there is a research gap regarding the quality of life and coping mechanisms of parents managing children with ADHD. This study assesses levels of depression and anxiety, quality of life, and coping strategies among parents of children diagnosed with ADHD. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 151 parents of ADHD-diagnosed children, utilizing the WHOQOL-Brief for life quality, the Brief-COPE for coping strategies, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for depression (PHQ9-9 items) and generalized anxiety (GAD7-7 items) modules. RESULTS: Among the parents surveyed, 36% reported moderate to severe depression, while 39.1% experienced moderate to high anxiety levels. Quality of life was significantly positively correlated with higher household monthly income (HHI), employment status, sibling count, and effective coping strategies. Conversely, a parent's age, educational level, and, in particular, maternal status were inversely related to anxiety levels, with fathers displaying higher maladaptive coping scores. CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on the considerable anxiety and depression experienced by parents of children with ADHD, significantly affecting their quality of life. Lower quality of life among parents is associated with high levels of depression, anxiety, and ineffective coping strategies. These insights highlight the critical need for interventions to aid parental mental health, thereby improving their overall quality of life amidst ADHD challenges.
ABSTRACT
Background: The human skin, with a pH of 4 to 6, serves as a barrier against external pathogens. Alkaline handwash products (HWPs) can compromise this barrier and are widely used following the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to determine the pH of a sample of HWPs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and assess the effect of environmental factors on their pH. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study carried out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study involved a convenience sample of 33 liquid soaps, soap bars, and synthetic detergents (Syndets) from various brands. The pH of the handwash products was measured using laboratory-validated techniques. Data analysis was conducted using RStudio 2022 software. Results: Of the HWPs, 16 (48.5%) had a highly alkaline pH (≥10), while 14 (42.4%) had an acidic pH (4.0-6.9). Most liquid soaps were acidic (84.6%), with a mean pH of 5.9, whereas soap bars had a mean pH of 10.3. Syndets had a mean pH of 6.0. Conclusions: On average, liquid soaps and syndets offered a more physiological pH than soap bars. Liquid soaps were more affordable than synthetic detergents, making them a better value option among the three types of HWPs. Environmental factors such as exposure to hot weather did not have a significant impact on HWPs.
ABSTRACT
Introduction The literature informs us that people who are Deaf frequently struggle with health services, which contributes to lower health literacy due to communication and language barriers. Few health professionals understand sign language, so communication between a Deaf person and a health professional may rely on a mediator, usually a family member or an interpreter, to provide communication assistance. Aim This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCWs) at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) toward Deaf adult patients. Subjects and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs at KSUMC, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the HCWs using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic data (i.e., age, gender, marital status, etc.), previous interaction with Deaf patients, and KAP items. Results Of the 351 HCWs, 63.8% were females, and 41.6% were aged between 28 and 37 years old. The overall mean knowledge score was 1.14 out of 7 points. The overall mean attitude score was 46.2 out of 90 points, and the mean practice score was 19.1 out of 35 points. Significant factors of increased attitude include being a non-Saudi, being married, having children, increasing years of working experience, and being a nurse, while being a male, having previous interaction with a Deaf patient, and having skills in any type of sign language were the significant predictors of increased practice. Working in the surgery department was the only predictor associated with increased knowledge. Conclusion There was a significant deficiency, particularly with regard to knowledge and attitude toward Deaf patients. Increasing knowledge was associated with increasing practices but not with attitude. HCWs who had previous interactions with Deaf patients and had knowledge of any sign language tended to demonstrate better practice in dealing with Deaf patients. Further, longitudinal studies are needed to determine the level of KAP among HCWs in our region.