Mothers' Awareness of Obesity and Its Complications Among Children in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Awareness about obesity, its complications, and an age-appropriate, healthy, active lifestyle are essential to maintaining a healthy life. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness Saudi Arabian caregivers have regarding obesity and regular physical activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a survey was conducted among parents in Saudi Arabia using a structured questionnaire. A convenience and snowball sampling method was employed to recruit participants from various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed parents' knowledge about obesity, its complications, and healthy, active lifestyle practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associations between variables were examined using chi-squared tests. RESULTS: In this study, responses from 256 moms in various Saudi Arabian locations were included in the analysis. Merely 35.5% of the participants demonstrated good knowledge about obesity and its complications. Regarding the promotion of a healthy, active lifestyle, only 11.3% of the participants were aware that kids should eat five types of vegetables and fruits daily, whereas 85% were aware that kids should have <2 hours a day of screen time, and 75.4% were aware that kids should be engaged in physical activity for at least one hour daily. CONCLUSION: This study highlights a concerning gap in knowledge among caregivers in Saudi Arabia concerning obesity and its consequences, with merely 35.5% of participants demonstrating a good understanding of obesity and its complications. Alarmingly, only a fraction (11.3%) showed awareness of the importance of promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced awareness initiatives focused on obesity and its prevention to ensure optimal child health development, avert health issues, and strengthen positive dynamics between parents and children.

Two versus Three Infusion Regimens of N-Acetylcysteine for Acetaminophen Overdose.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen overdose is a common clinical condition, often leading to liver toxicity. Current treatments involve the three-infusion N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) regimen (FDA-labeled), which may be complex, time-consuming, and need to be changed. An alternative uses two infusions instead, which offers possible advantages regarding simplicity and administration errors. This study sought to compare the respective efficacies and safety outcomes when treating acute acetaminophen overdose among children and adolescents. METHODS: At Montreal Children's Hospital, a retrospective study was conducted comparing pre-2003 FDA-labelled three-infusion NAC therapy with a two-infusion regimen. Information was collected regarding patient demographics, NAC administration details, errors, rates of hepatotoxicity, and adverse reactions, and the statistical test Chi-square test was employed to obtain the results. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 65 received a two-infusion regimen, and 61 patients received the FDA-labeled regimen. The two-infusion group experienced significantly fewer administration errors (4 errors vs. 23 errors; p < 0.001), while the rates of hepatotoxicity between them were similar. There were no instances of liver transplantation or mortality due to either regimen. Adverse reactions occurred equally frequently between both regimens with no discernible difference-the meantime to administer NAC was 9 h for the two-infusion regimen and 8.5 h for FDA-labeled regimen groups, respectively. Three cases of hepatitis were successfully treated with timely NAC therapy, and no liver transplantation or mortality occurred. Adverse reactions, including anaphylactoid reactions, were observed in both groups but were resolved when temporarily stopped and restarted at a slower infusion rate. CONCLUSIONS: The two-infusion NAC regimen proved similar efficacy at protecting liver damage and improving patient outcomes compared to its FDA-labeled three-stage counterpart, with significantly fewer administration errors for this version of NAC treatment, suggesting potential advantages in terms of safety and simplicity. Future research should investigate larger cohorts and more variables to validate these results further and optimize the management of acetaminophen overdose cases; further investigation should focus on dosing strategies, personalized approaches, and long-term patient care in this context.

Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Baby Walkers, Baby Car Seats, Oral Health, and Child Screen Time in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Awareness of age-appropriate milestones and developmental stages is crucial for parents to identify any potential delays or concerns early on and seek appropriate interventions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers in Saudi Arabia regarding baby walkers, baby car seats, early dental visits, and screen time for young children. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents in Saudi Arabia using a structured questionnaire. A convenience and snowball sampling method was employed to recruit participants from various regions of the country. The questionnaire aimed to assess parents' knowledge regarding the recommended use of baby walkers and baby car seats, their awareness of the importance of early dental visits, and their understanding of appropriate screen time guidelines. Additionally, the survey explored parents' practices toward these recommendations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, and associations between variables were examined using the chi-squared test. Results A total of 1318 participants were included. The analysis revealed that the majority of the participants (n=1066,81.3%) use a baby walker, while only (n=292,22.3%) consider that they should never be used. Overall, (n=388,29.6%) of the participants never used a car seat for their infants or children. In terms of early childhood dental visits, approximately (n=518,39.5%) of the participants reported actually taking their child to the dentist within the recommended timeframe. Regarding screen time for children, (n=148,11.3%) of the participants reported that their children spend >5 hours daily in front of the screen.  Conclusions Raising parents' awareness about recent childcare recommendations and safe practices is crucial for promoting optimal child development, preventing health problems, facilitating evidence-based decision-making, reducing risks, enhancing parental confidence and empowerment, and nurturing positive parent-child relationships.

Topical Corticosteroid Phobia Among Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)- A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Anxiety about using topical corticosteroids (TCS) for childrens among parents and caretakers is a common cause of treatment failure and an overall decline in the child's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives and worries of parents of Atopic dermatitis (AD) children regarding TCS. Additionally, we investigate the degree of phobia in relation to the use of the TCS. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 301 parents of children who had been identified with atopic dermatitis from two hospitals in Taif city were enrolled in this study. Parents who chose to participate were sent a questionnaire measuring their level of fear of TCS using the TOPICOP© scale, which also included inquiries about their demographics and clinical characteristics. Multivariate analysis was used to determine what factors influence people's overall levels of fear. Results: The median global TOPICOP score was 66.6% (IQR 60.4-75%), SD 12.83%, which showed that nearly two-thirds of the participants showed corticosteroid phobia. A multifactorial ANOVA model showed that parents who had a female child with AD and mothers who had experienced drug allergies had a significant influence on TOPICOP scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: Topical corticosteroid phobia is widespread among parents of children patients with AD in Taif. Regarding the utilization of TCS, we place a strong emphasis on the significant role that physicians play as sources of reliable information and proper education.

Analyzing Cardiovascular Characteristics of Patients Initially Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells proliferate uncontrollably, leading to metastasis, which can be related to death. Breast cancer is the most prevalent type among women worldwide. Early detection with screening mammography has contributed to the decline in breast cancer incidence and mortality. Breast cancer patients are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, with elderly patients dying from complications. Understanding the patients' cardiovascular status prior to treatment is essential. The study's objective was to evaluate the cardiovascular characteristics of women with breast cancer at diagnosis within the designated time frame of one year. Methodology This was a retrospective study that focused on patients in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, who were initially diagnosed with primary breast cancer over a span of one year. The inclusion criteria encompassed eligible patients, while those not meeting the criteria were excluded. Data extraction from patients' records was conducted, and the analysis was executed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results This study analyzed the cardiovascular attributes of breast cancer patients, focusing on 136 female cases. The study found significant patterns concerning cardiovascular risk factors in breast cancer patients, categorized by menopausal status. Premenopausal female cases had a mean age of 43.09 ± 8.31 years, while postmenopausal patients had an average age of 58.07 ± 11.70 years. Postmenopausal patients had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, type II diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia compared to their premenopausal counterparts. No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, axillary lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis. This study emphasized the importance of regular check-ups for menopausal women to detect potential health complications early. Conclusion In summary, breast cancer is a global health concern, and understanding its impact on the cardiovascular system is crucial for comprehensive patient care. A study in Saudi Arabia found associations between cardiovascular risk factors and menopausal status in breast cancer patients. Postmenopausal patients had more prevalent risk factors, emphasizing the need for proactive assessment and management. Age-appropriate screenings and interventions are essential. Integrated healthcare approaches should consider the interplay between breast cancer and cardiovascular health, with medical professionals vigilant in evaluating and addressing risk factors to mitigate complications and optimize long-term outcomes.

Knowledge and Attitudes around First Aid and Basic Life Support of Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers and Parents in Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The foremost cause of children's (1-19 year) death is inadvertent injuries. While most of these accidental harms occur at home and school, rapid and suitable parental and teacher intervention is required to increase the chances of a child's survival. Therefore, both parents and teachers of the children in kindergarten and elementary school must be knowledgeable in first aid practice and basic life support (BLS) training. OBJECTIVES: In the current study, our ambition is to evaluate the orientation level, knowledge, and attitudes around first aid and BLS training of kindergarten and elementary school teachers and parents in the city of Taif, Makkah region. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in Taif, Saudi Arabia, targeted kindergarten and elementary school teachers and parents of students enrolled at these levels. There were 648 participants included in this study. The researchers assessed teachers' and parents' knowledge and attitudes around first aid and BLS using a validated, self-administered online questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 648 participants, including 248 (38.3%) teachers and 400 (61.7%) parents. The socio-demographic analysis showed that 412 (63.6%) are females and 233 (36.5%) are between the ages of 36 and 45 years. Approximately 142 (21.9%) participants reported previous training in the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) program, though more than half of them (53.5%) had outdated certificates (more than 2 years). The mean total knowledge for our study was 4.6 ± 1.4, with 22.4% of the participants being educated about first aid support and expressing a fair level of CPR foundations. Only a small percentage (2.3%) of the participants exposed a good and adequate theoretical level of knowledge around CPR skills and performance, while most of the contributors unveiled a poor level of knowledge (over 75%). There were no statistically significant differences between parents and teachers (p > 0.05). Finally, numerous participants (85%) appreciated training in the CPR program, and the most common motive was a "wish to avoid unnecessary death". CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a sizable portion of the contributors expressed a lack of proficiency in the fundamental CPR training knowledge and skills, pointing to an alarming public concern. Promisingly, a sizable percentage of participants expressed motivated attitudes toward CPR training. Therefore, additional study and data are required to effectively combat injury, with an emphasis on investigating causes and risk factors, burden and socioeconomic health determinants, community awareness level and desire to contribute, and accessibility for disseminating specific intervention strategies.

COVID-19 in a Pre-Omicron Era: A Cross-Sectional Immuno-Epidemical and Genomic Evaluation.

The seventh human coronavirus was discovered and reported primarily in Wuhan, China. After intense seasons with repercussions in all areas of humanity, the pandemic demonstrates a new perspective. In Brazil, the pandemic concept had impacts in vast areas, including healthcare hospitals. This present study aims to describe and synthesize data from a determined period from the year 2021 that correlate the symptoms of passive and/or active patients for COVID-19 and their respective results of IgG/IgM serological tests in hospitals in the city of Cruzeiro, São Paulo, Brazil. The form had been applied to 333 people and obtained conclusive results and several symptoms were presented; in addition, asymptomatic cases were also analyzed and directed in the genomic study of variants of concern, as well as vaccination data in the study region.

Awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Among Saudi Arabian Women in 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Studies on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Saudi Arabia are limited due to strict religious faith-related observances. The aim of this study was to assess Saudi mothers' awareness about SIDS. Methodology A cross-sectional online electronic survey was administered in different Saudi regions. A self-reported validated Arabic questionnaire was used for collecting data. The study sample included 363 respondents from 384 sample members. Results The final sample consisted of 363 (94.8%) respondents, a reduction in size due to 21 non-responders from the total 384 sample members. Two-hundred and thirty-two (63.9%) of the 363 respondents reported not having heard of any SIDS prevention messages, while 36.1% of them had received such messages. Most of the respondents (53.2%) correctly reported that babies should be laid on their backs while putting them to sleep, and only 5.5% reported that babies should be laid in their stomachs when being put to rest. Participants > 50 years, of urban residence, and with primary education had higher knowledge levels. Participants with an age of 18 to 29 years and those with higher education had higher knowledge levels about the correct baby position. Participants with an age between 30 and 39 years, of urban residence, and those with a primary educational level had a higher prevalence of receiving messages about SIDS. Conclusion A very good understanding of the proper way to put a baby to sleep among the participants was found, and most of them thought that messages about SIDS were not useful. This study suggests that health education messages regarding SIDS should be directed to all pregnant mothers.