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Introduction Delirium is a common and serious neuropsychiatric disorder, of acute onset, present at any age, but more common in older adults, and very common in clinical practice. It combines mental and behavioral symptoms with a fluctuating course, with worsening of the condition in the afternoon and at night, with important repercussions on increased mortality, greater risk of cognitive impairment, and hospitalization costs. Delirium's impact extends to patients, families, and healthcare systems, emphasizing the need for public awareness and education in Saudi Arabia. Methodology It is a cross-sectional conducted in Saudi Arabia that aims to assess knowledge, risk factors, and attitudes regarding delirium among all Saudi and non-Saudi residents aged 18 and older. A 36 self-administered questionnaire, standardized Nordic, was used. Data were cleaned in Microsft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, USA) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). This study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from May 2023 till March 2024. Results Our study involved 1,470 participants from Saudi Arabia, primarily females (79.1%), Saudi nationals (89.9%), and unmarried individuals (65.4%). Most participants were aged 18-24 (59.5%) and held bachelor's degrees (57.3%). Commonly recognized delirium risk factors included increasing age (63.3%), dementia (58.2%), and longer ICU stays (48.7%). The participants showed moderate knowledge of delirium symptoms and consequences. Attitudes varied, with many agreeing that delirium requires intervention (30.7%) but fewer considering it preventable (17.1%). Sociodemographic factors, including gender and age, significantly influenced knowledge and attitudes, while education levels did not. Conclusion Our study found that gender and age influenced knowledge and attitudes, highlighting the importance of targeted education. Future research should further investigate the effectiveness of such interventions in enhancing knowledge and awareness and promoting preventive actions.
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Background Telemedicine has gained prominence in healthcare, and understanding its impact on diverting non-urgent cases from the emergency room (ER) has become crucial. This study delves into the dynamic relationship between telemedicine utilization and ER visits, seeking to understand the transformative impact of telehealth on breaking the traditional ER cycle. Method To explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services in the broader population of Saudi Arabia, we adopted a cross-sectional design utilizing the convenience sampling method. Data collection was facilitated through a self-administered online survey comprising four sections: demographic variables, ER visits, awareness of non-urgent cases, and suggestions. The collected data were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) for descriptive analysis. Results Among the 1140 participants, the majority were females (56.8%), with 43.2% being males. Regarding age distribution, the highest percentage fell within the 18-25 age group (46.8%). Nationality-wise, a substantial proportion identified as Saudi (95.2%). Educational backgrounds varied, with 60.7% holding a bachelor's degree. Notably, 62.6% of the visits were classified as urgent. A significant portion (66.8%) demonstrated awareness of alternative options for non-urgent care, such as outpatient clinics and telemedicine services. Specifically regarding telemedicine, 82.8% of respondents believed that video consultations and prescription refills could effectively address non-urgent conditions. Furthermore, 89.6% of participants agreed that educating patients on self-care and home remedies could help manage symptoms and deter unnecessary ER visits. Conclusions The positive reception of telemedicine, as evidenced by high satisfaction rates among participants, further reinforces its role in reshaping the landscape of healthcare delivery.
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The most common acute hyperglycemic emergency is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is one of the leading causes of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) related deaths in people aged 30 and under. In this meta-analysis, the Overall use of IV insulin in patients with mild/moderate vs. severe diabetic ketoacidosis was compared in randomized controlled trial articles from January 2011 to December 2021 using EMBASE, Medline, and CENTRAL. Only 8 of 3258 studies met the inclusion criteria. This review shows that intravenous insulin can significantly decrease plasma glucose and potassium levels in mild/moderate cases and severe cases. However, it can decrease the resolution time of acidosis more quickly in mild/moderate cases than in severe cases. In the current meta-analysis, the use of IV insulin is secure and efficient. There was no discernible difference in the effectiveness of IV insulin between mild/moderate and severe DKA.