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INTRODUCTION: The research explores healthy aging among elderly individuals globally and in Saudi Arabia. Factors like health services, lifestyle, and chronic diseases affecting seniors are examined. However, there is a gap in culturally relevant research, particularly in Arabic-speaking countries. This study aims to understand elderly individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding healthy lifestyles for effective functional preservation in aging. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, specifically Al-Ahsa, from February to May 2023. The Raosoft calculator was employed to determine a sample size of at least 384 participants. The data was analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Regarding the associations between knowledge levels and demographics, education significantly impacts knowledge (p=0.003). Retired respondents exhibit higher knowledge (50.4%) compared to those with jobs (10.4%) (p=0.002). Smoking has a significant impact on knowledge (p=0.012). Regarding the opinions on elderly care, respondents agree on the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables (52.2%), increased protein intake (64.3%), less fat (83.5%), and regular exercise (44.3%). Supplements' necessity is disagreed upon (95.7%). Living with family is favored (67.8%), and elderly self-management is recognized (60.9%). Significant differences are seen in fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0.001), less fat usage (p=0.000), exercise habits (p=0.000), smoking (p=0.000), and using just salt in cooking (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Study findings underscore the importance of education in influencing healthy behaviors and informed choices, with education levels significantly impacting knowledge levels. Respondents' preferences for balanced diets, exercise, and self-management reflect a positive trend toward embracing healthy aging principles. Notably, the study identifies disparities between knowledge groups in various lifestyle factors, highlighting the potential of education to drive positive changes in behaviors.
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Background Because of the use of invasive devices and procedures in critically sick patients, patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are particularly vulnerable to nosocomial infections. Although a significant illness may necessitate admission to the PICU, infections can also emerge after admission. Nosocomial infection is a major public health issue related to increased morbidity, death, and healthcare costs. This study aimed to determine the pattern, frequency, and outcomes of nosocomial infections among children who were admitted to the PICU. Methodology This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric population aged from one month to 14 years old who acquired infections after 48 hours of admission to the PICU at East Jeddah General Hospital, Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2022. The data were collected from medical and laboratory records. Results A total of 51 patients developed 145 nosocomial infections. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were the most commonly reported type of nosocomial infections (28.3%). The majority of the isolated organisms (58.7%) were gram-negative, followed by fungal infections (35.1%) and gram-positive organisms (6.2%). The death rate for patients with nosocomial infections was 29.4%. Increased death rates among individuals with CLABSIs and gram-negative isolates were observed to be significantly correlated (p = 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that regular surveillance systems were necessary to assess the relationship between these well-known risk variables with PICU, implying that preventing these infections through particular treatments could be cost-effective and contribute to the safety of healthcare systems.
