Examining the Effects of Social Media on Mental Health Among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are immersed in a highly advanced technology setting, characterized by extensive availability of personal devices, the internet, and other social media platforms, which greatly impact their mental development. Concerns arise around potential negative consequences, including social isolation, internet addiction, exposure to improper content, depression, cyberbullying, and sleeping difficulty. The impact of social media on the mental well-being of adolescents has emerged as an escalating concern. The continuous exposure to carefully selected content, online harassment, and the expectation to comply with unrealistic standards all contribute to the development of depression and anxiety. This research aims to explore the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents in the Saudi Arabian context. METHODS: This online cross-sectional study was conducted on Saudis aged 10 to 24 years old who have social media accounts in Saudi Arabia between August and November 2023. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors that make the study participants more likely to be mentally affected by social media. RESULTS: A total of 2856 participants were involved in this study. The most commonly used social media platform by the study participants was Twitter (30.3%). The majority of the study participants (77.4%) reported that they have tried to reduce their social media usage for mental health reasons. The most commonly agreed-upon statements were that "they feel that excessive social media use has negatively affected their sleep patterns," "they often sleep late in the night because of social media usage," and "they check their social media account before they sleep in the night," accounting for 71.0%, 66.1%, and 58.3%, respectively. Overall, the study participants showed a low level of being mentally affected due to social media with a mean score of 7.8 (SD: 3.9) out of 21, which is equal to 37.1%. Older participants (aged 16-24 years) were more prone to be mentally affected due to social media compared to younger ones (aged 10-15 years; p < 0.05). On the other hand, participants who were married, had a middle school education level, or lived in the northern, western, or eastern regions were less likely to be mentally affected due to social media compared to others (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study participants showed a low level of being mentally affected due to social media. Individuals in the 16-24 years age group show a higher susceptibility to mental impacts resulting from social media usage. The primary duty for reducing the potential negative effects of social media should not rest only on parents and caregivers. Advocating for the creation of technology-free zones and fostering in-person friendships among teens could be a beneficial approach that policymakers should support.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns of Lung Cancer Screening Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the primary cause of death connected to cancer on a worldwide scale. Obtaining a deep understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior patterns of doctors is essential for developing successful strategies to improve lung cancer screening. This study aims to identify the attitudes, beliefs, referral practices, and knowledge of lung cancer screening among physicians in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An online survey was conducted from July to December 2023 to investigate the attitudes, beliefs, referral practices, and knowledge of lung cancer screening, and adherence to lung cancer screening recommendations among physicians in Saudi Arabia. Internal medicine, family medicine, and pulmonology physicians of all levels (consultants, senior registrars, and residents) who are currently practicing medicine in Saudi Arabia formed the study population. This study employed a previously developed questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors that indicate a better degree of knowledge and a positive attitude toward lung cancer screening. RESULTS: This study involved a total of 96 physicians. The study participants demonstrated a significant degree of understanding regarding lung cancer screening, with an average knowledge score of 5.8 (SD: 1.7) out of 8, equivalent to 72.5% of the highest possible score. The accuracy rate for knowledge items varied from 44.8% to 91.7%. The study participants had a moderately favorable attitude toward lung cancer screening, as shown by a mean attitude score of 14.4 (SD: 3.7) out of a maximum possible score of 30, which corresponds to 48.0% of the highest achievable score. Around 36.5% of the survey participants reported engaging in the practice of discussing the results of lung cancer screening with patients. The primary obstacles frequently cited were challenges in patient scheduling, insufficient time to discuss lung cancer screening during clinic appointments, and patient refusal, constituting 59.4%, 53.1%, and 53.1% of the identified barriers, respectively. Physicians in Saudi Arabia, particularly those employed in private hospitals, demonstrated a higher level of knowledge of lung cancer screening compared to others (p < 0.05). In contrast, individuals with 11-15 years of experience were shown to have a 78.0% lower likelihood of being educated about lung cancer screening compared to their counterparts (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study's results indicate that there is a need for the development of specialized educational initiatives aimed at Saudi Arabian physicians, particularly those with 11 to 15 years of experience who exhibit a limited understanding of lung cancer screening. Utilizing programs that provide continuing medical education would aid in their education. There is a need to facilitate communication between physicians and patients. It is critical to address the identified issues, such as streamlining the appointment scheduling process and ensuring patients have sufficient time during clinic visits. Furthermore, it is critical for the success of nationwide screening initiatives to foster collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors.

Comparing the accuracy of point-of-care with laboratory (capillary, venous, and arterial) blood glucose levels in critically ill patients with and without shock.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of point-of-care capillary and venous/arterial samples to laboratory testing of venous/arterial samples in critically sick shocked and non-shocked patients. This is a prospective case-control study including capillary, venous, and arterial blood samples from 268 critically ill patients. The King Fahd Military Medical Complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, was the site of this investigation. RESULTS: We were able to obtain data on 268 patients for this investigation. POCT and lab findings of venous and central blood did not differ significantly (P = 0.389 and 0.208), while POCT indicated somewhat higher results with venous glucose concentrations of 10.18 and 10.05 (POCT and lab tests respectively) and 9.18 and 9.54 (POCT and lab tests respectively). In addition, the mean differences between POC and laboratory analyses of venous, arterial, and central glucose were 0.13, - 1.75, and - 0.36 mmol/L for venous, arterial, and central glucose, respectively. Except for arterial blood glucose, we did not observe a significant difference between POCT and routine laboratory analysis of glucose concentrations in critically ill patients. Compared to laboratory blood analysis, the use of POCT is marginally accurate, with no difference between shocked and non-shocked patients.

Reply to Alsarwani, R.M. Comment on "Alghnam et al. The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12361".

We genuinely thank Dr. Alsarwani for his insights [...].

The prevalence of long-term rehabilitation following motor-vehicle crashes in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: In Saudi Arabia, motor-vehicle crashes (MVC) are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). There is limited information locally on the magnitude and need for rehabilitation following MVC. This study examined the prevalence of MVC patients requiring long-term rehabilitation and the epidemiology of associated injuries. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at four hospitals of the National Guard Hospitals Affairs from January 2016 to March 2019. The study used data from an institutional trauma registry of all MVC admissions. Chi-square tests, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare patients requiring long-term and short-term rehabilitation. RESULTS: The study included 506 patients. The study population was relatively young, with an average age was 32.8 ± 15.5 years, and the majority were males. Over two-thirds (71.3%) of patients required long-term rehabilitation. Half the patients sustained multiple fractures, and 17.0% sustained traumatic brain injuries. Overall, 53.1 and 61.8% of patients required occupational and physiotherapy, respectively. Those admitted to the intensive care unit were four times more likely to need long-term rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant burden of long-term rehabilitation following MVC. Patients were relatively young, thus posing a significant burden on future healthcare utilization. Policymakers should use these findings to guide primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention to improve health outcomes.

The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and its association with diabetes and hypertension among beneficiaries in the National Guard Health Affairs system of Saudi Arabia. We included individuals aged 17 years and older, and patients were classified as diabetic or hypertensive if they had any visit during the 4 years where the primary diagnosis was one of those conditions or they were taking diabetes or hypertension medications. The association between obesity (body mass index ≥30) and diabetes and hypertension were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusting for age, gender, nationality, and region. A total of 616,092 individuals were included. The majority were Saudi nationals (93.1%). Approximately 68% of the population were either obese (38.9%) or overweight (29.30%). Obesity was more prevalent among Saudi nationals (39.8% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.01) and females (45.3% vs. 31.2%, p < 0.01). Obesity was independently associated with diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.24, p < 0.01) and hypertension (OR = 2.15, p < 0.01). The prevalence of obesity in the study population was alarming and more pronounced among women. Our findings call for efforts to intensify preventive measures to reduce obesity and associated conditions. Using electronic records to examine the impact of interventions to reduce obesity and chronic conditions may help monitor and improve population health.

Impact of COVID-19 on Children's and Adolescent's Mental Health in Saudi Arabia.

Background COVID-19 outbreak was sudden and unexpected in most countries. It has spread globally between January and March 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the outbreak as a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. While this lockdown has proven to be an important and successful method of social distancing to counter the growing spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, it has also created a degree of psychological impact on the public. Children may be strongly exposed to pandemic-generated biopsychosocial stressors, and once the containment measures of the population are needed to minimize the spread of viruses, they may be negatively impacted by the disturbance of everyday life as a result of social isolation. During school closures, children's routines may change, and healthy behaviors, such as physical activity, adequate diet, or good sleeping habits, may be less likely to happen. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from 20 March 2021 to 30 March 2021, targeted at children's parents and adolescents. Our concentration was on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychiatric wellbeing of children and adolescents. The data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire which contains 56 close-ended questions for parents of children and 46 close-ended questions for adolescents. Statistical analysis was performed using R v 3.6.3 (R Foundation, Vienna, Austria). Counts and percentages were used to summarize the distribution of categorical variables. Results The questionnaire was completed by 1141 respondents, 454 were < 18 years old. Thus, these respondents completed the questionnaire on behalf of themselves. The remaining 688 respondents were adults and completed the questionnaire on behalf of their children. Results showed that higher children's age was associated with less increase in worrying, restlessness, and a higher increase in sadness. Higher age was associated with a higher increase in the frequency of waking up, sleeping little, and uneasiness, and nervousness. Having relatives who were infected with COVID-19 was associated with higher increases in most of the negative behaviors such as anxiety, sadness, sleeping little, indecisiveness, and irritability. Punishment threats, screaming, and hitting were associated with a higher increase in negative behaviors during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Results showed that neither the gender of the parent nor the child was associated with any of the domains of the child's behavior. Children whose parents were divorced had higher scores on anxiety, restlessness, and sleep disorders than children whose parents were not divorced Conclusion COVID-19 has caused increased stress on families, especially children and adolescents who are vulnerable populations. Our results show that the COVID-19 pandemic can affect the mental health of children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia. We showed that parental stress is a predictor of psychiatric problems, which, if unaddressed, can cause child maltreatment and greater psychological distress.

The prevalence of head and facial injuries among children in Saudi Arabia following road traffic crashes.

BACKGROUND: Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of death among children in Saudi Arabia. Childhood injuries can be prevented or minimized if safety measures, such as car seats, are implemented. The literature on the epidemiology of head and facial injury among children is limited, which affects the ability to understand the extent of the burden and hinders investment in public health prevention. OBJECTIVE: Describe the epidemiology of head and facial injuries among children admitted to the hospital following MVCs. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Five hospitals in several regions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data on all patients ≤16 years old, who were admitted to the hospital following MVCs between 2016-2019. Differences in various characteristics like head injury status and age groups were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Head and facial injuries. SAMPLE SIZE: 253 patients. RESULTS: Of the injured population, 97 (38.3%) sustained a head injury, and 88 (34.8%) had a facial injury. Thirteen (9.1%) children were driving the car at the time of the crash. About half of the children were seated in the back (53.8%) without a seatbelt or safety seat. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of head and facial injuries is striking. In addition, the study revealed that driving among children is not uncommon, which warrants monitoring and implementing interventions. Improved documentation of restraint use and police enforcement of safety laws can play a significant role in reducing associated injuries. The study findings highlight the importance of combination or rear seating as well as age-appropriate restraint in order to reduce the likelihood of head or facial injuries among children. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study using the electronic search system to identify patients, but may have missed cases that were not coded correctly. Large amount of missing data for some variables. Additionally, the analysis was limited to those admitted to the hospital. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

The relation between teeth loss and cognitive decline among Saudi population in the city of Riyadh: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Teeth are necessary for sensory input to the brain during the chewing process, but how the decrease in this sensory input, due to loss of teeth, may cause weak memory and lead to cognitive decline is not well understood. This pilot public survey aiming to assess the correlation between the number of missing teeth, periodontal disease, and cognitive skill in the city of Riyadh. MATERIAL& METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional survey, targeting geriatric population aged ≥60 years, was performed in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was conducted to all participants to assess their cognitive function. Assessment of oral health status was carried out, including the number of present dentation and their periodontal status. Community periodontal-index (CPI) was used to assess the periodontal condition. The primary variables were number of missing teeth, periodontal disease and MoCA test scores. Chi-square test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed and the significant P- value was set at <0.05. RESULTS: Of 95 participants, overall, 57 (60%) and 38 (40%) were male and female, respectively, with a mean age of 65.67 ±â€¯6.32 years. Females showed more significant cognitive decline than males (P < 0.001). Cognitive decline was significantly high in participants with low educational level 19 (95%), unemployment 41 (79%), and lower income people 26 (79%), while being cognitive intact was significantly higher in highly educated 13 (87%), retired 21 (62%), and higher income people 28 (74%) at (P < 0.001). An advanced age and greater number of missing teeth are associated with lower MoCA test scores. No statistical significant correlation with regard to periodontal disease and MoCA test scores. CONCLUSION: Based on the preliminary data, positive correlation was confirmed when the number of missing teeth and cognitive skill were assessed. Therefore, larger, multi-center regional surveys are needed to investigate further this relationship.