Sociodemographic and clinical predictors for COVID-19 preventive measures compliance among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the levels of adherence among pregnant women to the basic COVID-19 preventive measures, and to analyze the effect of risk perception and sociodemographic and clinical factors on adherence. METHOD: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted at the obstetrics clinics of 50 primary care centers selected using a multistage sampling method. An online-administered, structured questionnaire was used to collect self-reported levels of adherence to four basic preventive measures against COVID-19, along with perceived COVID-19 severity, infectiousness, and harmfulness to the baby, besides sociodemographic and clinical data including obstetrical and other medical history. RESULTS: A total of 2460 pregnant women were included with a mean (SD) age of 30.21 (6.11) years. Levels of self-reported compliance were highest for hand hygiene (95.7%), followed by social distancing (92.3%), masking (90.0%), and avoidance of contact with a COVID-19 infected person (70.3%). Perceived COVID-19 severity and infectiousness, and harmfulness to the baby were observed in 89.2%, 70.7%, and 85.0% of the participants, respectively, and were variably associated with compliance to preventive measures. Analysis of sociodemographic factors highlighted the significance of education and economic status in determining adherence to preventive measures, which represents a potential inequity in the risk of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of patients' education to enable functional perception of COVID-19 that promotes self-efficacy, besides investigating the specific social determinants of health to tackle inequalities in terms of prevention efficiency and the subsequent health outcomes.

Falls and correlations among community-dwelling older adults: A Cross-sectional study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Falls are one of the major health issues faced by older adults, and they can result in physical harm, eventual loss of independence, and even death. Herein, we investigated the prevalence, alongside the main risk factors and resulting injuries, of falls among older adults. Methods: We employed a descriptive cross-sectional approach. Data were collected between February and July 2021 from 403 older adults aged 60 years or above via an online self-reported questionnaire. Basic activities of daily living (BADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were also recorded. Results: The prevalence of falls among community-dwelling older adults was 47.4%. Among those who had experienced a fall, 36.2% incurred injuries, 25.3% had fractures, and 23.1% required walking aids. Age between 95-104 years, female sex, participants on anti-hypertensive medications, history of hip or knee replacement surgery, and presence of a caregiver, were significantly more likely to have had a previous history of falls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, having a previous history of stroke, osteoporosis, lower limb weakness, dizziness, using wheelchairs as walking aids, and living with the fear of stumbling or slipping were significantly associated with history of previous falls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of falls is high among community-dwelling older adults in Jeddah. Physicians should identify older adults with higher falling risk and provide them with appropriate interventions. Public health strategies could significantly reduce falls and fall-related injuries in older adults.

Association between social media use and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among the general population in Saudi Arabia - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide global public health threat. Although acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination will be a critical step in combating the pandemic, achieving high uptake will be difficult, and potentially made more difficult by social media misinformation. This study aimed to examine the association between social media use and acceptance of receiving COVID-19 vaccine among the general population in Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 17 to June 19, 2021 among 504 participants of the general population in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected using a three-part online questionnaire (sociodemographic characteristics, medical and vaccination history, pattern of social media use). RESULTS: Among 504 participants who completed the survey, 477 participants were acceptant of the vaccine and 27 were non-accepting. A total of 335 individuals had already received the vaccine, 142 were willing to receive the vaccine and 27 were unwilling. One hundred and thirty participants denied using social media for COVID-19 news. Four factors were found to be significant in influencing vaccine acceptance in univariate analysis: having a chronic condition (odds ratio (OR) = 0.367, P = 0.019), believing that infertility is a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 0.298, P = 0.009), being concerned about a serious side effect from the vaccine (somewhat concerned: OR = 0.294, P = 0.022, very concerned: OR = 0.017, P < 0.0001), and basing the decision to be vaccinated on social media information (OR = 0.260, P = 0.006). Two of these factors fell away on multivariate analysis: basing the decision on social media information (OR = 0.356, P = 0.071), and a belief that vaccination causes infertility (OR = 0.0333, P = 0.054), suggesting that the associations are dependent on other factors. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there was no significant independent relationship between social media usage and people's willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Further studies to explore the association between social media use and vaccine decisions are required to generalize this observation to the Saudi population.

Prevalence and predictors of eating disorders: A cross-sectional survey of medical students at King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah.

Objectives: Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are psychiatric and public health issues that are prevalent among medical students, especially females. This study's objective was to examine the epidemiology of eating disorders, specifically their associated risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI), gender, academic year of studies, and socio-demographic factors among medical students at King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 417 medical students (138 males; 279 females) was conducted at King Abdul-Aziz University between January and April 2021. Participants were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. The survey, which consisted of questions from the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test was distributed online using WhatsApp. Binomial logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was used to identify the influencing factors on eating attitudes. Results: Among the 417 medical students, the prevalence of eating disorders was 32.1%. Participants' average age was 21.65±1.51 years. The BMIs of 54.4% of the students were within normal limits; 14.6 % of them were underweight, 19.2 % were overweight, and 11.8 % were obese. Female medical students (P=0.038, OR=1.62) and pre-clinical stage (P=0.007, OR=1.77) were significantly more likely to be associated with high risk on the EAT-26. A significant association was also found between overweight and obesity in the high-risk students (P=0.016, OR=1.69), but no significant association was found between ED risk and age (OR=0.65). The multivariate logistic regression models showed the most common predictors of EDs among the medical students were female gender and being overweight or obese (OR=2.02, OR=2.10, and OR=2.69, respectively). Conclusion: Eating disorders are common among medical students. The strongest predictors of eating disorders among the study group were female gender in the pre-clinical stage and being overweight or obese. This study highlights an underrated health problem among Saudi medical students. The implementation of eating disorders preventive program during medical schools that target females may be helpful. Further research is needed to address the best preventive and treatment strategies for EDs among medical students.

Cardiovascular risk factors among high-risk individuals attending the general practice at king Abdulaziz University hospital: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of death worldwide, accounting for 31.0% of all deaths and more than 18 million deaths annually. The 2008 World Health Report indicated that 144 (35%) of the 413 deaths per 100,000 in 2002 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) were due to CVD. Primary prevention is an important focus of most of the cardiovascular prevention guidelines around the world. In this study, we aimed to describe the prevalence of extrinsic risk factors for CVDs in a high-risk population attending general practice in Jeddah, KSA. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah. Patients started on lipid-lowering and/or antihypertensive and/or antidiabetes treatments without a history of established cardiovascular disease were interviewed. The questionnaire was adopted from the EUROASPIRE III study. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty high-risk individuals (80.0% female) were interviewed. Overall, 72% of the patients had been diagnosed with hypertension, 61.2% of patients had dyslipidemia, and approximately two-thirds of patients had diabetes mellitus. Most of the patients (88%) were non-smokers. The mean waist circumference of patients was 101.6 ± 14.1 cm, which suggests most were clinically obese. About 54.8% of the patients followed an unhealthy diet and 52.0% were physically inactive. There were significant differences between women and men in relation to dyslipidemia (p = 0.007), unhealthy diet (p = 0.034), being overweight (p = 0.018), and high blood cholesterol (p = 0.002). We observed significantly greater prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.073), unhealthy diet (p = 0.015), being overweight (p = 0.018), and high blood cholesterol (p = 0.000) in those patients with dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: Our study presents novel findings in the KSA. Women were more likely to have high-risk CVD risk factors compared with their male counterparts in this sample. Gender-specific prevention programs in the KSA should be considered to more appropriately target at-risk individuals, to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality associated with CVDs.

Metabolic syndrome among adults with type 2 diabetes in a Saudi teaching hospital: A comparative prevalence study using WHO and ATP III definitions.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global health concern and is a reliable predictor of long-term adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its components in a group of Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes using the World Health Organization (WHO) and Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III definitions, and to examine agreement between both definitions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults with type 2 diabetes who were followed up at the family medicine and endocrinology clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from January to March 2018. An interview-administered questionnaire was designed to collect demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and medical history. We used the 1999 WHO and 2001 ATP III definitions for diagnosing MetS. RESULTS: The study included 155 diabetes patients. The overall prevalence of MetS components (three of more components) among patients was 80% according to the WHO criteria and 85.8% according to the ATP III criteria. The kappa statistics demonstrated good agreement between both definitions (κ = 0.751, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing MetS using the WHO versus ATP III criteria were 92.5% and 95.5%, respectively. There was weak positive association between the number of MetS components and the number of diabetic complications. CONCLUSIONS: MetS was highly prevalent among Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of the diagnostic criteria. It is, therefore, imperative that clinicians identify MetS in this patient population and educate them on the importance of adherence to treatment and therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Knowledge of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors in the general adult population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study examining gender disparities.

To assess knowledge about cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the general population, we emphasized gender-related disparities and other lifestyle and health-related factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 individuals from the general population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was administered to assess knowledge of CVD types, symptoms, and risk factors. The majority of participants identified coronary heart disease (73.7%) as having CVD, with no sex effect. Males had higher knowledge regarding cerebrovascular disease (44% vs 31.5%) and congenital heart diseases (60% vs 51.9%) as being part of CVD, while they had lower knowledge of peripheral arterial disease (44% vs 50.7%) than females, respectively (P < .05). Males exhibited better knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptoms than females. Knowledge was optimal for major CVD risk factors, such as smoking (90.6%) and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (85.1%); however, gaps were observed in recognizing diabetes (56.2%) and stress (69.4%) as factors for CVD. The mean overall knowledge score was 16.33 ±â€…5.72 25, with no difference between sexes (P = .239). Predictors of good CVD knowledge included university-level education, daily healthy food consumption, and perceived life as highly stressful; nonetheless, sex showed no significant effect. While the general population displayed a suboptimal understanding of CVD, notable sex disparities were observed, highlighting the need for tailored public health interventions. Emphasizing cognitive and behavioral aspects can foster better prevention and management strategies, given the evident gender disparities.

A Rare Case of Hereditary Multiple Exostoses in a Woman.

Hereditary multiple exostosis (HME) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple bony spurs or lumps, commonly affecting the long bones. This case report exposes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of HME in a 28-year-old female nurse, who initially presented with persistent bilateral knee pain. After extensive evaluation involving orthopaedic and oncology specialists, the diagnosis of HME was made. Despite the discovery of multiple exostoses, the patient reported improvement following a tailored physiotherapy regimen. This case study underscores the complexity and broad spectrum of symptoms associated with HME. It emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing such conditions, which can lead to better patient outcomes and an improved quality of life. By shedding light on the role of physiotherapy in managing rare genetic disorders such as HME, this case report contributes to the growing body of literature exploring noninvasive treatment options for these diseases.

Intravenous Iron Versus Oral Iron Administration for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Patient-Preference Study.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous iron supplementation has been reported to provide a superior safety profile and effectiveness in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) compared to traditional oral iron supplements. AIM: To assess preference for intravenous iron versus oral iron among patients with IDA at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study included 267 adults diagnosed with IDA or on treatment for IDA at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between February 2023 and March 2024. A specially modified questionnaire was used for the collection of data, which included demographic and treatment-related data. The values of the variables are presented as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. Differences with an asymptotic two-tailed P-value of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The majority of the included patients were women (95.5%), Saudi nationals (90.6%), and from the Western region (98.1%). About half of the included patients were receiving intravenous iron supplementation (51.7%), and the other half were receiving oral iron supplements (48.3%). However, the majority of the patients (74.9%) reported that they preferred intravenous iron treatment. With regard to factors that affected their preference, education level (P = 0.044), employment status (P = 0.009), and income level (P = 0.007) were identified as significant predictors. Among the patients who preferred oral iron therapy, the reason cited by the majority, that is, 79.1%, was that tablets were easier to adhere to than needles, while 50.7% stated that tablets had fewer side effects than needles and 64.2% reported a fear of needles. Among the patients who preferred intravenous iron therapy, the majority, that is, 82.4%, stated that intravenous administration was easier for them. Further, 73.5% were of the opinion that intravenous iron therapy had fewer side effects (73.5%), 27.7% reported that they were unable to swallow iron tablets, and 52.5% reported that they had difficulty remembering to take iron tablets. About a third of patients discontinued oral iron therapy due to changes in bowel habits (35%). Although 18.7% of the patients reported feeling pain with intravenous iron therapy, the majority were satisfied (79.4%) and recommended intravenous iron treatment for anemia to friends and family members (84.6%). In contrast, more than half of the patients on oral therapy were uncomfortable (56.2%) with the treatment. Further, 37.1% were not satisfied with their iron tablets, and 25.1% of patients stated that they would not recommend iron tablets for anemia treatment to their friends or family members. CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients preferred intravenous iron therapy to correct IDA because oral therapy was associated with difficulties related to swallowing iron tablets and remembering to take the tablets. Although the results indicate that both therapies have similar effectiveness, patients receiving intravenous treatment appeared to be more satisfied with the treatment and recommended it to friends and family.

The magnitude of influence of personal and professional factors on the career choices of medical students.

Medical students face uncertainty in choosing their future careers, which is influenced by personal and professional factors and can have a direct impact on the healthcare system and society. In this study, we aimed to analyze the magnitude of influence of personal and professional factors on students' choices of a future specialty, among medical students in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. This cross-sectional exploratory study used cluster sampling and collected demographic data, influencing factors, preferred specialty, and engagement level, using a 20-item questionnaire. The study included 1,105 students, of which 60.5% were women. Income was the most influential factor for both sexes (68.5%) and was statistically significant for men (P < 0.0001), with personal experience and type of patients served being more important for women. Many students (42.6%) were undecided about their future specialty. However, general surgery was the most preferred specialty, followed by internal medicine (10.9%) and obstetrics and gynecology (5.5%). Women had a significantly higher mean personal score than men, indicating a preference for surgery (3.07 ± 2.2 vs. 2.78 ± 2.1; P = 0.029). In this study, we found that income significantly influenced medical students' choices of specialty, with surgery being the most common, and that many students are undecided about their specialty, needing career counseling and mentoring programs.

Anemia among adult patients with diabetes attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A retrospective study.

The prevalence of anemia in adults with diabetes is of growing importance due to its impact on overall health and the management of diabetes-related complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia among adult patients with diabetes at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective study was done on 1208 patients with diabetes >18 years who attended the study setting from 2010 to 2022. Data about patients' demographics, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; %), hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, iron, mean corpuscular Hb, mean corpuscular volume, free thyroxine and triiodothyronine (T3), and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were collected. Of patients, 86.6% had anemia with a prevalence of 30.2%, 47.6%, and 22.2% for mild, moderate, and severe anemias, respectively. The prevalence of anemia was significantly higher among females, those with high serum ferritin, normal serum iron or normal serum T3, lower mean HbA1c level (%), lower serum iron or T3, and higher serum ferritin or TSH. A significant positive correlation was found between Hb level and HbA1c level (%), serum iron, free T3, and body mass index. A significant negative correlation was found between Hb level and mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin, and serum TSH. Being female, having high serum ferritin, lower mean free T3, and a high TSH were risk factors for anemia. The prevalence of severe anemia was significantly higher among patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. A high prevalence of anemia was found among studied diabetics. Anemia screening should be included in the routine assessment of patients with diabetes. A multidisciplinary approach involving endocrinologists, hematologists, and dietitians is recommended to ensure holistic care and address all aspects of the patient's health. In addition, further research should be supported to better understand the mechanisms linking diabetes and anemia and to establish evidence-based guidelines for managing anemia in diabetics.

Assessment of Quality of Life Among Patients With Primary Hypothyroidism: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction Hypothyroidism is a globally prevalent condition with a huge impact on health. It has been demonstrated that hypothyroidism is associated with negative health outcomes that have a significant impact on quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess the relative significance of various parts of quality of life satisfaction in adult patients with hypothyroidism. This study has never been done in Saudi Arabia. No previous research was conducted in our region to highlight the quality of life of these patients. From this, it is very important to acknowledge the impact of hypothyroidism on quality of life, to help improve their lives and reduce the burden of the disease. Method This is a case-control study conducted on patients with hypothyroidism presented to the family medicine clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. The participants were divided into two groups: patients with primary hypothyroidism (cases) and euthyroid subjects of the same age without chronic illnesses (control group). We used the Short Form-12 questionnaire (SF-12) and a sociodemographic questionnaire as a tool to assess the quality of life. Results Compared to healthy euthyroid controls, patients with hypothyroidism had a significantly reduced quality of life regarding their physical (p<0.001) aspect, with mental health not being affected. Smoking, female gender, and BMI showed significant associations with their mental health status (p=0.021, p=0.001, and p=0.045) respectively. Conclusions Regarding the results of the current study, there is a reduced level of physical health in patients with hypothyroidism than in healthy controls, which adversely affects their QoL. Smoking, gender, and BMI were associated with lower mental health among patients with hypothyroidism, which adversely affected their quality of life. Health practices should include assessment of the quality of life, monitoring by specialized physicians, and educational programs for these patients.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccination has been established as preventing severe and mortal COVID-19. Vaccination is critical strategy in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, to restrict infections and reduce disease severity. Vaccination coverage will be more extensive if we can better identify vaccination barriers in the population, especially among vulnerable groups, of which one is pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and detect the factors that influence vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, web-based study conducted in Western, Eastern, North, South, and Central Regions in Saudi Arabia between July and September 2021 among pregnant women, using multi-stage sampling. All pregnant women above 18 years were invited to participate in the study. Pregnant under 18 years of age and those with a contraindication to receiving COVID-19 vaccination were excluded. Binomial logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was used to identify the influencing factors on vaccination acceptance. Results: Among the 5307 pregnant women, the acceptance level of COVID-19 vaccine was 68%. In the multivariate regression model analysis, the most common predictors of acceptance were living in North Region (P = 0.001, OR = 1.9), living in South Region (P = 0.000, OR = 3.06), and living in Central Region (P = 0.035, OR = 1.42) in comparison to living in Western Region. Gestational week (P = 0.018, OR=0.98), income more than 8000 SR (P = 0.000, OR = 0.51), education level (primary, secondary, and university; P = 0.002, 0.008, and 0.010, respectively), having had gestational diabetes mellitus (P = 0.013, OR = 1.86), being vaccinated with influenza vaccine during present pregnancy (P = 0.000, OR = 4.55, OR = 1.81), being vaccinated with tetanus vaccine during present pregnancy (P = 0.039), and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine could harm their baby (P = 0.000, OR = 0.12). Conclusion: Our study reported high acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. The major two reasons for refusal were concerns about a lack of data on COVID-19 vaccination safety and the possibility of harming the fetus. Continued public health efforts, such as educational television programs and awareness campaigns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women, are required to raise awareness. More studies of COVID-19 vaccine safety in pregnant women would assist in overcoming these obstacles and encourage pregnant women to be vaccinated.

Effect of Depression on Diabetes Self-Care in Type 2 Diabetes Patients at a Saudi Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the relationship between depression and diabetes, especially with regard to diabetes self-care, treatment compliance, and preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of adult diabetes patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess depression. RESULTS: A total of 346 patients were included: 266 (77%) women and 80 (23%) men. While 20/3465 (59%) patients were on oral hypoglycemic drugs (OHA), 71/346 (20%) were on OHA + insulin and 70/346 (20%) were on insulin alone (P < 0.001). On binary logistic regression analysis, Saudi ethnicity, female sex, and age 18-29 years were more likely to be associated with depression (P < 0.001). Patients receiving treatment with OHA alone, eating a healthy diet at least once a week, consuming five servings of fruits/vegetables at least once a week, complying with antidiabetic and antihypertensive treatment, and receiving retinal examination in the previous year were less likely to have depression. CONCLUSION: Depression in diabetes is more likely in patients of young age who do take care to eat a healthy diet or comply with advice regarding drug therapy, exercise, and follow-up examinations.

Cardiovascular health and lifestyle habits of hospital staff in Jeddah: A cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cardiovascular disease was responsible for over 17.9 million deaths in 2016, accounting for 31% of deaths globally and 37% of deaths in Saudi Arabia. With a lifetime risk exceeding 60% for the general population, healthcare professionals are continuously monitoring the health of others but often do not find time to care for themselves. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors; medical conditions, such as, hypertension and diabetes mellitus; stress; and attitudes and barriers against healthy lifestyle choices among healthcare professionals at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among the staff at King Abdulaziz University Hospital over a period of 12 weeks. A validated questionnaire was adopted from a study that had previously been conducted in the United Kingdom. RESULTS: The study included 400 healthcare workers, of whom, 78% were clinical staff and 22% were non-clinical staff. Approximately, two-thirds of the clinical staff were aged ⩽25 years, whereas 43.2% of the non-clinical staff were aged 26-35 years. Most of the clinical staff (70.5%) were female, compared to 56.8% of the non-clinical staff. Significantly higher rates of hypertension and smoking were observed among the non-clinical staff than among the clinical staff. However, no other significant differences were observed in the prevalence of diseases between the groups. Overall, poor lifestyle, in terms of low compliance with the recommended dietary and physical activity guidelines, was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the clinical staff at King Abdulaziz University Hospital was not markedly different from that among the non-clinical staff, except the prevalence of hypertension and smoking, which was significantly higher among the non-clinical staff. Further studies that include staff from other institutions are recommended.

Family Physicians' Approaches to Mental Health Care and Collaboration with Psychiatrists.

Objective This study aimed to determine the proportion of family physicians referring patients to psychiatrists and conducting psychotherapy or mental health consultations themselves. Additionally, the factors affecting family physicians' approaches to dealing with mental health patients were investigated, including referrals to psychiatrists and physicians' views about better management plans for patients with mental health disorders. Method In this cross-sectional observational study, online surveys were distributed, using Google forms, to family physicians in primary healthcare centers and hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The participants were 175 family physicians. A previously developed survey under the name "collaboration between psychologists and primary health care physicians" was adapted to suit the purposes of the present study, by changing the aim of the survey from psychologists to family physicians. Results Physicians who received inter-professional training in a clinical training program were more likely to agree that their education prepared them well for collaboration with psychiatrists, compared to those who did not receive such an education (p<0.001). The younger and less experienced physicians were more likely to carry out psychotherapy and mental health consultations by themselves more often than were the more experienced physicians (33.1% versus 9.7%; p<0.001), it has also been shown that almost 90% of physicians agreed that collaboration with psychiatrists is necessary for the care of their patients, and only a third responded that psychiatrists were accessible if and when they want to consult with them. Conclusions Family and primary care physicians must collaborate with psychiatric professionals in order to provide effective services. Moreover, family physicians should receive more education about mental health, and effective communication should be encouraged in order to deliver better care to psychiatric patients in primary healthcare settings.

High blood pressure in children attending pediatric clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure (BP) is an important health issue on a global level. It is one of the major factors for mortality in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, high BP is considered a significant risk for heart disease responsible for 30% of all deaths all over the world. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of hypertension in children attending the pediatric clinics and determine the common risk factors associated with high BP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 6-15 year aged children attending the pediatric clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah; children were selected using sytematic random sampling technique. Data was collected by interviewing the parents using a structured questionnaire. SPSS was used for data entry and analysis. Computed frequency and percentages for categorical variables, and mean and standard deviations for continuous variables. Chi-square test and correlation used to determine associations, and logistic regression performed to determine factors associated with blood pressure >= 95th percentile. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 14.4% and 6.5%, respectively, in males, whereas, in females, it was 16.3% and 5.2%, respectively. A high prevalence observed for the 6-10 years age group as compared with the 11-15 year age group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). A high prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in overweight and obese group was noticed. A significant positive correlation between systolic BP and weight, height, and BMI was demonstrated. The common risk factors for hypertension in this study were the age range of 6-10 years, (odds ratio OR = 2.44), overweight and obese children (OR = 2.44), children with family history of hypertension (OR = 1.39), and children with low birth weight (OR = 1.05). CONCLUSION: These factors are considered risk factors for such a chronic disease as cardiovascular disease. Consequently, continuous BP monitoring and early identification of high BP in children are some of the greatest strategies for the prevention of chronic diseases in adulthood.

Assessment of perceived needs and preferences with regard to the education of residents in Medical Ethics in King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Medical ethics is the branch of ethics that deals with moral issues in medical practice. Many postgraduate training programs have developed educational interventions in ethics to meet accreditation standards and prepare learners for certification examinations and clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the attitude of residents in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) toward the need for ethics education and identify the most effective methods of teaching ethical issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of residents in different specialties at KAUH was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographic data, assessment of the educational need for ethics education, assessment of the impact of various learning methods, and assessment of the need for ethically important practices and behavior. SPSS version 16.0 was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive analysis included frequency distribution, percentages, mean, and standard deviation (SD); Chi-square test and t-test were employed to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Eighty-eight of the 102 residents invited to participate in the study returned completed questionnaires, providing a response rate of 86.3%. Their ages ranged between 24 and 38 years with a mean of 27.7 (standard deviation 2.8) years. Approximately two-thirds of the residents (65.9%) agreed that medical ethics can be taught and learned while only 19.3% of them disagreed. The most effective methods of ethical education according to the residents were discussion groups of peers led by a knowledgeable clinician (78.4%), clinical rounds (72.7%), and an incorporation of ethical issues into lectures and teaching rounds (69.3%). CONCLUSION: This study documents the importance residents placed on ethics education directed at practical, real-world dilemmas and ethically important professional developmental issues.