Identifying knowledge deficiencies in genetics education among medical students and interns in Saudi Arabia- A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding genetics is crucial for medical students, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where genetic disorders are prevalent owing to high rates of consanguineous marriages. This knowledge is essential for the early detection, prevention, and management of genetic disorders, and for incorporating medical genetics and genomics into patient care. This study aimed to assess the current state of genetics knowledge among medical students and interns across Saudi Arabia and to identify knowledge gaps in genetics. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2023 involving 732 medical students from all regions of Saudi Arabia. The participants completed a validated questionnaire assessing their knowledge of basic genetics, genetic inheritance, genetic testing, and clinical genetics. RESULT: Over 60% of medical students and interns reported that they considered themselves to have only slight knowledge in all areas of genetics. The results revealed a general lack of medical genetic understanding among students and interns, particularly regarding genetic inheritance and testing. For genetic inheritance, slight knowledge was found in 65.2% of pre-clinical, 60.1% of clinical, and 53.2% of interns, with significant differences between groups (p < 0.001). In genetic testing, 75.4% of pre-clinical, 83.9% of clinical, and 90.6% of interns showed slight knowledge, with significant differences across stages (p = 0.021). This study also found that lectures, genetics laboratories, and problem-solving sessions were the preferred resources for learning genetics. CONCLUSION: The current study revealed a notable deficiency in the understanding of medical genetics among medical students and interns in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding genetic inheritance and testing. This is consistent with previous research highlighting the widespread lack of genetics knowledge among medical students. Integrating more comprehensive genetics education, especially during the clinical years, could improve students' preparedness and confidence in managing genetic disorders. These findings highlight the critical need for curriculum development to equip future physicians with the essential skills for managing genetic disorders.

Treatment Differences for Splenic Flexure Cancers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Backgrounds Colorectal surgeons worldwide have differing opinions on the best way to handle rare cases of splenic flexure colon cancers (SFCs). Although the majority of reviews indicate no significant variation in oncological outcomes among the three different procedure types used to treat SFCs, surgeons still exhibit diversity in their practices. This study determined the treatment preferences of colorectal surgeons in Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated the management of colorectal surgeons in handling SFC cases. We utilized a validated questionnaire developed by Manceau et al., consisting of 14 questions. Emails and phone numbers of members of the Saudi Society of Colorectal Surgery (SSCRS) were gathered. Google Forms surveys were administered from October 1-30, 2023. Results A response rate of 66% (58/88) was obtained among questioned colorectal surgeons. Their responses revealed that there was no consensus regarding the preferred procedure to treat SFCs. The most common treatment reported was segmental colectomy (SC) 21/58 (36.2%), followed by subtotal colectomy (STC) (19/58, 32.8%) and left hemicolectomy (LHC) (18/58, 31%). There was a strong consensus of 96% (56/58) of the respondents in favor of using stapler anastomosis rather than hand sewing. The frequency of performing SC, STC, and LHC in France was 70%, 13%, and 17%, respectively, compared to 36.2%, 32.8%, and 31% in Saudi Arabia, with a p-value of 0.001. The surgeons' preferred approaches to managing SFCs utilizing laparoscopic, open, or hand-aided in France versus Saudi Arabia were 63%, 31%, and 11%, respectively, compared to 84.5%, 8.6%, and 6.9%, with a p-value of 0.001. Conclusion A significant disparity exists regarding the treatment of SFCs between colorectal surgeons in France and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus among colorectal surgeons in Saudi Arabia regarding the surgical management of SFCs. Hence, it is imperative for the SCRSS to assemble a panel of experts to reach a consensus for the most appropriate and effective treatment of SFCs.

Medical Students' Perception of Pathology in Saudi Arabia.

Pathology is the bridge between basic science and clinical practice. An inadequate perception of pathology leads to an incomplete understanding of diseases, which consequently affects its management. This study aims to identify medical students' perceptions of pathology in medical colleges around Saudi Arabia and use their feedback to improve teaching strategies. A validated online self-structured questionnaire form was distributed to medical students in basic and clinical years, including private and governmental universities in all regions of Saudi Arabia. The study comprised a total of 476 medical students. It revealed that n = 226 (48%) of the participants were not aware of pathologists' roles, and n = 262 (55%) of students reported that the main reason was insufficient exposure to actual pathology practice. A total of n = 209 (44%) students believed the current teaching methods in the basic years were insufficient to provide clear perceptions of pathology. The majority of participants n = 366 (77%) chose practical sessions as the most effective strategy in teaching pathology. Our study demonstrated that medical students require more engagement in laboratories to improve their perception. We suggest that Saudi medical schools need to deliver more comprehensive and practical teaching methods that reflect the actual practice of pathology.

The Prevalence of Risk Factors Among Children Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Aged 4-17 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder commonly observed in children. Although the etiology of ADHD is still unclear, many risk factors have been shown to increase the prevalence of ADHD, such as genetics, environmental factors, socioeconomic status, maternal smoking, and low birth weight. AIM: The current cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of several risk factors associated with ADHD-diagnosed children aged 4-17 years using parent-reported data. METHODS: An observational cross-section study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023 using a self-constructed questionnaire that we sent to parents whose children were diagnosed with ADHD. The questionnaire included socioeconomic information (income, gender, parent education, number of children), child information (age, ADHD type, academic achievement), pregnancy and neonatal period (smoking status, gestation age, mode of delivery, child weight), and if there is a history of ADHD in the family. RESULTS: A total of 306 parents responded to the questionnaire. The majority of our study population was males (77.8%). The combined type, which includes symptoms of both hyperactivity and inattention, represented 70% of the population in our study, which is higher than the inattention type (23%) and the hyperactivity type (6%). The prevalence of several risk factors known to be associated with ADHD, such as family income, parental education, complications during pregnancy, and the low birth weight of the child, were also reported. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the frequency of risk factors among children diagnosed with ADHD in Saudi Arabia. The study revealed that males are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than females. We also found that the combined type is the most diagnosed ADHD among children. Furthermore, there are no significant differences in the prevalence of the risk factors during the gestational or neonatal period among ADHD-diagnosed children. Therefore, a large-scale prospective study is needed to aid in evaluating the frequency and significance of various risk factors among diagnosed children.