The Impact of Recurrent Epistaxis on the Quality of Life of Children and the Functioning of Their Families.

Introduction Epistaxis, or nosebleeds, is a common pediatric emergency, impacting their quality of life (QoL). Existing research on epistaxis has predominantly focused on clinical aspects, overlooking its broader impact on the quality of life of affected children and the functioning of their families. This study seeks to fill that gap by assessing the impact of recurrent epistaxis on children's QoL, family dynamics, and parental stress in Saudi Arabia's Eastern region. Methods A survey was conducted involving 168 parents of children with recurrent epistaxis, using the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQL 4.0TM) Short Form (SF) for QoL assessment across different age groups, the PedsQL 2.0 Family Impact Module to evaluate the effect of the child's health on family dynamics, and a custom questionnaire for gathering sociodemographic and health-related information. Better QoL and family functioning were indicated by higher scores. Results Recurrent epistaxis was more frequent (>4 times per year) in 58.9% of cases, with unknown causes in 72%. A total of 116 (69%) of the children never needed medical intervention for epistaxis and 52 (31%) visited ER 1-2 times. The lowest scores for both children and parents were in the emotional functioning domains (77.9 and 78.2, respectively). In the study, both parents and children who had no history of ER visits exhibited significantly higher quality of life (QoL) scores compared to those who did, with parents reporting 83.7% versus 77.2% (P=.022), and children showing 84.6% versus 79.9% (P=.049), respectively. Parents of older children, ages 13-18 years, reported a higher Quality of Life (QoL) at 83.9%, compared to those with younger children, ages 2-4 years, who reported a QoL of 57.3% (P=.003). Conclusion The overall QoL scores of families of children with recurrent epistaxis were relatively high, indicating a variable and limited general impact. Significantly higher QoL was observed in families of older children and those without ER visits.

Public Awareness of Triage Systems and Waiting Times During Emergency Department Visits in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: The effective functioning of emergency departments (EDs) is essential for providing timely and appropriate medical care to patients with acute health issues. Triage, a critical aspect of ED operations, involves prioritizing patients based on the severity of their conditions. However, patients' understanding of the triage system plays a significant role in ensuring its efficient utilization. This study aims to examine the community's understanding of the triage system and the influencing factors. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study included 775 participants from the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, all of whom had prior visits to the ED during their lifetime. The data was randomly collected between June and July 2023 through a self-administered online questionnaire. RESULTS: The results showed that a substantial number of participants (73.8%) were aware of why some patients are prioritized over others in terms of room allocation, while 26.2% lacked this awareness. Among those aware, the majority (80.5%) believed that the priority system is fair, while 19.5% disagreed. Roughly two-thirds (64.8%) of the participants understood the concept of triage, while 35.2% lacked knowledge in this regard. The history of ED visits, age, and highest level of education were significantly associated with knowledge (p < 0.001). Participants who had a history of ED visits, were aged 20-29 years, and had a bachelor's degree had the highest percentage of adequate knowledge. The study also found that the most common reasons for non-urgent visits to the ED were the unavailability of appointments elsewhere (35%) and the perception that the ED provides faster care (30.4%). CONCLUSION: The study's assessment of triage knowledge reveals a moderate understanding among participants, with a majority demonstrating awareness of the prioritization system. The associations identified between demographic factors and triage knowledge highlight the importance of tailoring educational initiatives to specific groups. Individuals who visited the ED frequently and those who sought prior care exhibited better triage knowledge, suggesting potential opportunities for targeted interventions.

Parental Beliefs and Attitudes Toward the Use of Baby Walkers in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background Baby walkers (BWs) are popular among parents worldwide, despite safety concerns and developmental impact concerns, as they are influenced by cultural beliefs, social myths, and personal interests. This study aims to assess parental beliefs and attitudes toward the use of BWs in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 mothers in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, which included demographic information, BW usage, reasons for usage/non-usage, and awareness of the dangers and disadvantages of BWs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results Among the participants, 332 (83.0%) reported using BWs for their children. The majority of parents i.e. 237 parents (71.3%) used walkers for their child's fun and 146 parents (43.9%) used them for 1-2 hours daily. Among the reasons for non-usage, concerns about affecting the child's walking and potential injuries were most common in 29 (42.6%) and 28 (41.1%) parents, respectively. Significant associations were found between mother's age, child's birth order, age of crawling, age of independent walking, and BW usage. Forty-eight children (14.4%) who used walkers experienced injuries, including falling downstairs 20 (41.6%) and flipping over on a flat surface 21 (43.7%). Conclusion This study highlights the prevalence of BW usage and the reasons behind parental decisions in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. While many parents use BWs to promote early walking and provide entertainment, concerns about safety and potential developmental impacts persist.

Morphometry of Conus Medullaris in the Saudi Population and Its Clinical Importance.

Objective The objective of this article is to evaluate the morphometry and termination of conus medullaris (CM) in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Methodology The lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 179 citizens of Saudi Arabia were selected and divided into males and females. Parameters such as the level of termination of CM, the length/width of CM, and its termination were reported. Results The maximum number of males and females were observed in the less than 20 years age group as 23 (25.5%) and 22 (24.7%), respectively. The termination level of CM was at the (first lumbar vertebra) L1 vertebra in 51.4% of the Saudi population. The level of termination of CM is below the (second lumbar vertebra) L2 level in one patient at L3, L3-L4, L5, and L5-S1 levels. On comparing the length of CM, no statistically significant difference was observed between the different levels of the vertebra. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the width and the CM termination (p=0.02). The various age groups and CM termination had no statistically significant correlation (p=0.47). Conclusion The most common level of termination of conus medullaris was at the L1 vertebra. The level of CM termination is strongly associated with the width of CM.