The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Among Diabetic Patients in the Northern and Western Regions of Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic debilitating metabolic disease caused by insulin deficiency. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially fatal complication characterized by acute hyperglycemia and metabolic acidosis. In light of the high prevalence of DM in Saudi Arabia, we sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi general population about DKA. Methods An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed through popular social media platforms among diabetics in the Saudi population. The survey questions involved demographic data; diabetes status including the time of diagnosis, current medications, and the latest HbA1c level; and an assessment of the knowledge about DKA through queries related to diagnostic criteria, definition, risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures. Results Our study involved 400 participants, and 42.5% of them were able to correctly identify DKA as an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Regarding the awareness of DKA's symptoms among the participants, 33.8% correctly identified excessive thirst as a key indicator, followed closely by frequent urination (31.8%), and the characteristic fruity breath odor (31.3%). As for the awareness of the participants of the causes of DKA, 33.8% correctly linked forgetting insulin injections to DKA development. Encouragingly, 39.8% of participants identified regular blood sugar monitoring as the most effective way to prevent DKA. Conclusions Most patients in our study demonstrated limited knowledge of DKA. However, a significant portion of them was able to identify it as an emergency. To prevent such events, raising awareness about DM and its complications may serve as the first step toward better outcomes in diabetic patients. We believe our findings can be used to devise quality-improving interventions in this field.

Adherence to Hydroxyurea and Patients' Perceptions of Sickle Cell Disease and Hydroxyurea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Hydroxyurea is a crucial treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD), but some patients' adherence to it remains suboptimal. Understanding patients' perspectives on SCD and HU is essential for improving adherence. This study aimed to assess hydroxyurea adherence and patients' perceptions of SCD and hydroxyurea among SCD patients in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 217 SCD patients using self-administered questionnaires from August 2022 to January 2023. The survey covered patient demographics, SCD consequences, and other clinical data. We used the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) to measure patients' disease perception and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) to evaluate patients' adherence to HU. Data were analysed using descriptive, t-test, and chi-square tests, and the p-value was set at <0.05 for significance. Results: More than half of the patients were male, with a mean age of 28.09 ± 8.40 years. About 57.6% of the patients were currently using HU. About 81.6% of HU users reported low adherence. The adherence was lower among individuals with infections/recurrent infections and in patients who received repeated blood transfusions. ICU admission, blood transfusion, and certain SCD complications were associated with HU use. Male patients had a higher perception of SCD consequences, concern, and understanding. ICU-admitted and recurrent hospitalized patients had a higher perception of the SCD-related consequences, symptoms, concerns, and emotional responses. Conclusions: HU seems a well-established and efficacious disease-modifying agent, but its underutilization for SCD patients remains challenging. To overcome the adherence challenges, healthcare providers must educate SCD patients about the role of hydroxyurea in lowering disease severity and addressing side effects to obtain maximum benefits. Healthcare providers may consider tailored educational interventions to improve adherence, particularly for patients with infections, recurrent hospitalizations, or repeated blood transfusions. Further research is needed to identify strategies for improving hydroxyurea adherence and patient education among SCD patients.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Knowledge and Awareness of Lung Cancer and Screening in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. With lung cancer often diagnosed at advanced stages, understanding the local population's awareness levels is crucial for designing effective preventive strategies. By identifying gaps in knowledge, the research aims to inform targeted health education efforts, optimize resource allocation, influence policy development, and contribute to the limited body of research on lung cancer awareness in the region, ultimately fostering improved public health outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia, from July 2022 to June 2023, 671 participants over 18 years old, encompassing both genders, were gsurveyed. Data was collected through a questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and LC-related awareness. SPSS 23 was used for analysis. Factors associated with knowledge scores were explored using independent t-tests and ANOVA, with the Tukey post-hoc test identifying specific group differences. Results: The study included 671 participants, most participants were between 18 and 35 years (73.5%), with 38.5% males and 61.5% females. Lung cancer (LC) awareness was high (95.1%), with 4.9% reporting a family history. Knowledge assessment revealed a mean score of 14.66, with 41.6% having low, 49.5% moderate, and 8.9% high knowledge levels. Correct responses were notable for recognizing LC as a common cancer, a leading cause of death, and associating smoking and shisha with risk. Symptoms were well identified. Screening awareness was at 63.5%, with 78.8% willing to undergo tests if at risk. Age, marital status, and occupation were associated with knowledge, while factors like gender, nationality, residency, education, income, and smoking status showed no significant associations. Conclusion: The findings indicate that there are knowledge gaps related to LC and its screening in Jazan region in Saudi Arabia. Effective awareness programs targeting specific sociodemographic groups are needed to improve the early detection and outcomes.

Overview of the Association Between the Pathophysiology, Types, and Management of Sickle Cell Disease and Stroke.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that affects hemoglobin and increases stroke risk, particularly in childhood. This review examines the pathophysiological association between SCD and stroke, the classification of stroke types, risk factors, diagnosis, management, prevention, and prognosis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted via PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Relevant studies on SCD and stroke pathophysiology, classification, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention were identified. Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickle-shaped, obstructing blood vessels. Recurrent sickling alters cerebral blood flow and damages vessel walls, often leading to ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes (HS). These occur most frequently in childhood, with ischemic strokes (IS) being more common. Key risk factors include a prior transient ischemic attack (TIA), low hemoglobin, and a high leukocyte count. Neuroimaging is essential for diagnosis and determining stroke type. Primary prevention centers on blood transfusions and hydroxyurea for those at high risk. Acute treatment involves promptly restoring blood flow and managing complications. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding stroke mechanisms, optimizing screening protocols, and improving long-term outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on SCD and stroke to highlight opportunities for further research and standardizing care protocols across institutions. Ultimately, a holistic perspective is critical for mitigating the high risk of debilitating strokes in this vulnerable patient population.

Knowledge, attitude and practices towards surgical wound care and healing among the public in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate how much the people in the Jazan region know about the care and healing of surgical wounds. Proper care of surgical wounds is very important to achieve the best treatment outcomes and to avoid negative consequences. However, factors like obesity, diabetes, and certain medications can impair wound healing, with surgical site infections being a major problem in the healthcare system. Therefore, this study aimed to determine public awareness and perceptions of surgical wound care to help improve education and raise awareness of the importance of proper wound care for better results. We run an observational cross-sectional study among adults above 18 years in the Jazan region. An online self-administered questionnaire was used in the collection of data. Simple random sampling was the used technique and 384 participants were calculated. The study used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis and employed descriptive statistics, independent t test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation, and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with knowledge of surgical site infection and wound care. This study analyzed 599 participants' knowledge, attitude, and practice about surgical site infection and wound management. While participants had a strong general understanding of surgical wounds, only 17% had a high degree of knowledge about surgical site infection and wound management. Medical students had the highest degree of knowledge, and being a medical student was the only significant predictor of having a high level of knowledge about surgical site infection (SSI) and wound care. The study emphasizes the necessity of enhanced patient education and investment in medical education quality. The participants in this study had high overall knowledge regarding surgical wounds but lacked particular knowledge concerning surgical site infection and wound management. Medical education was discovered to be a strong predictor of having a high level of knowledge about surgical site infection and wound management. Healthcare professionals should take the lead in giving accurate and reliable information regarding wound care techniques to patients, and legislators should invest in enhancing medical education quality.

The Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on Academic Performance among Affected Students.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease that is highly prevalent in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, and is mostly characterized by many complications such as vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), acute chest syndrome (ACS) and well-documented neurological complications. These complications may affect patients' academic performance. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted in Jazan Province. General and demographic data were collected and questions about academic performance of students with SCD were answered. Both t-tests and chi-square tests, along with multiple logistic regression, were used for analysis. RESULTS: 982 participants were selected for this study with a mean age of 23 years (SD: 7). Most of the participants were female (64%). The number of participants with SCD was 339 (36%), of whom 42% were male. Students with SCD recorded lower grade point averages (GPA) and more absences compared to healthy participants. Further, about 60% of students with SCD thought they performed better than 40% of the participants without SCD during the COVID-19 pandemic when most of the educational activities were online. CONCLUSION: As has been previously reported, this study suggested that the academic performance of students with SCD is negatively affected compared to healthy individuals, and this is mostly due to complications associated with the disease. Further, students with SCD acknowledged better performance with online education, an option that should be considered to improve their academic performance. National studies on a larger population are required by health and education officials, and supportive online educational programs are warranted to enhance the academic performance of this population.