Community-Level Awareness of Proper Immediate Steps Regarding Ocular Chemical Injury in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background An ocular chemical injury is a critical medical condition that results in harm to many components within the orbit, including the epithelium, cornea, and anterior segment. Most accidents tend to transpire among individuals in younger age groups, primarily as a result of their exposure to hazardous conditions either within their domestic environment or in occupational settings. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the extent of community awareness of chemical eye injuries and the appropriate measures for urgent care, focusing on different age groups within the Al-Qassim region. Methods A cross-sectional study was utilized in this research, employing data from a sample of 384 individuals residing in Qassim. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which was administered online and ensured anonymity. The questionnaire used in this study had been previously validated. Results The study included a total of 384 participants who were not affiliated with the medical field, selected from the Al-Qassim region. Most of the respondents demonstrated fairly good level of awareness regarding ocular chemical injury (69%). There was a statistically significant relationship between age and the level of awareness (p-value=0.00001<0.05). Most participants believed that ocular chemical injury could cause ocular complications (93.8%) and identified chloride and detergents (92.2%) as the main materials that cause ocular injuries. Conclusion Overall summary, this study's findings suggest that there exists a moderate degree of knowledge among the public regarding chemical injuries to the eye and the appropriate rapid response to such injuries. Majority of the community members were aware that ocular chemical injury can cause ocular complications, blindness, perforation, scarring, and cataracts. Additionally, chloride and detergents were found to be the most common causes of ocular injuries among the population. The study found the most common immediate action when exposed to ocular chemical injury was to irrigate the eye with large amount of water. The study established a statistically significant association between the age and awareness about ocular chemical injury; thus, age appears to be a key factor influencing the amount of awareness seen.

Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction Among Pregnant Women With Pre-Existing Diabetes Mellitus or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective This study investigates the prevalence and risk of thyroid disturbances in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a tertiary hospital setting in Riyadh, SA. This research's findings may help identify potential risk factors associated with thyroid disturbances during pregnancy and facilitate early diagnosis for at-risk pregnant women. Subjects and methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at an endocrinology clinic between October 2018 and December 2021 to evaluate the electronic records of pregnant women with DM or GDM who had documented normal thyroid function before pregnancy. Results Three hundred ninety-six files that met the selection criteria were deeply investigated and analyzed. The analysis showed that 378 (95.5%) patients were of Saudi nationality, and the mean age in years ± SD for the selected patients was 34.23 ± 5.468. The prevalence of obesity was 63.7%, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32.78 ± 6.78 kg/m2. The patients in this study were categorized into three groups based on their type of DM: 57 were diagnosed with type 1 DM (14.4%), 120 with type 2 DM (30.3%), and 219 with GDM (55.3%). The study identified 43 patients (10.85%) with subclinical hypothyroidism and 74 (18.69%) with hypothyroidism. Among the remaining patients, thyroid function was within the normal range for 264 (66.67%). The study also identified eight patients (2.02%) with subclinical hyperthyroidism and seven (1.77%) with hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was reported at 33.4%, with most of the dysfunction observed in the GDM group (20.7%). By comparison, the type 1 DM and type 2 DM groups presented a lower prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, accounting for only 4.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Conclusions Hypothyroidism, both clinical and subclinical, is more prevalent among patients with GDM than individuals with type 1 and type 2 DM. Research suggests a greater risk of developing hypothyroidism in patients with an increased BMI and among those older during pregnancy.

Parents' Knowledge and Perception Toward Short Stature in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Short stature is a common reason for referral to pediatric endocrinologists. A Saudi study highlights significant short stature prevalence, with parents exhibiting varied knowledge levels. Common normal variants of short stature are familial short stature, constitutional, and idiopathic short stature. Pathologic causes of short stature include growth hormone deficiency, genetic disorders, and chronic diseases. Parents' knowledge plays an important role in the diagnosis and early intervention of this condition. Insufficient studies prompt the authors to conduct a novel survey assessing Saudi parents' knowledge and perceptions of short stature, filling a research gap. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study conducted among Saudi Parents in five different regions of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among parents via an online survey. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic characteristics and questions to assess the knowledge and perception regarding short stature. Non-probability sampling targets parents living in Saudi Arabia. Data is analyzed by SPSS version 29 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). Results Our study on Saudi parents' knowledge of short stature reveals diverse awareness levels. While genetic causes are widely recognized in (71.6%; N=245) of parents (N=352), awareness drops for factors like low birth weight (23.9%; N=82) total of (N=352). Parents show uncertainty in recognizing short stature (51.4%; N=352) and varied beliefs on growth cessation. A majority (65.6%; N=231) of parents (N=352) prefer early intervention, with 41.5% (N=146) of parents (N=352) recognizing growth hormone therapy. Sociodemographic factors influence knowledge scores, with higher scores in males (21.03) and Central region residents (22.03; p<0.001). Notably, 83.4% (N=248) of parents (N=352) acknowledge psychological complications.  Conclusion Our study highlights varied awareness among parents regarding short stature, emphasizing genetic causes but demonstrating gaps in recognizing certain factors. Sociodemographic factors significantly influence knowledge scores. Psychological complications are widely acknowledged.

Measurement of Patient Satisfaction With the Trend of Virtual Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The consequences of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare systems worldwide are undeniably disrupting regularly provided care for non-COVID-19 patients. Since the start of the pandemic, medical services in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the situation by providing medical care through virtual clinics. This article aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had experience with the virtual clinics of Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was sent to all participants who visited the virtual clinic between May 2020 and July 2020. The questionnaire included demographic data and 16 statements to assess patient satisfaction with the virtual clinic experience.  Results A total of 123 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 33 ± 12 years; 61% were females and 39% were males. Most of the participants were from the Qassim region (77.2%), while 22.8% were from other regions in Saudi Arabia. Dermatology clinics were the most frequently visited virtual clinics, followed by psychiatry clinics. Most of the participants were satisfied with the virtual clinics, with average scores greater than three for most of the components of the questionnaire. Conclusions The participants showed considerable satisfaction for virtual clinics in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the service was relatively new to them. Future additional efforts will be needed to support clinically appropriate and acceptable virtual visits combined with in-person visits after the pandemic.