Pulsed high-intensity laser therapy versus low level laser therapy in the management of primary dysmenorrhea.

[Purpose] To determine the effect of pulsed high intensity laser therapy (HILT) versus low level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. [Participants and Methods] This was a randomized clinical trial that included 30 females diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea who were assigned randomly into two groups of equal numbers. The treatment was three sessions every cycle for three consecutive cycles, where group (A) received pulsed HILT and group (B) received LLLT. All participants were evaluated before and after treatment sessions by visual analogue scale (VAS) and at the end of treatment by pain relief scale (PRS). [Results] The results showed a significant decrease in the severity of pain in the two groups. Comparison between the two groups showed a statistically non-significant difference in the severity of pain and pain alleviation at the end of the treatment course. [Conclusion] Both pulsed HILT and LLLT are effective in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, with no significant differences between the two modalities.

Diagnosis and referrals to physical therapy among caregivers of children with genetic disorders: a qualitative inquiry.

PURPOSE: Genetic disorders are common in Saudi Arabia. Impaired motor development is one of the major characteristics associated with genetic disorders. Early identifications and referrals are key to receiving physical therapy. This study aims to explore caregivers of children with genetic disorders' experience with early identification and referrals to physical therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An inductive qualitative design of 16 caregivers of children with genetic disorders was done to investigate the identification and referral process to physical therapy. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and multiple coders coded the data to increase the trustworthiness of the analysis. RESULTS: The analysis led to emergence of four main themes. Caregivers revealed their struggle with the detection process. They struggled with the vague information related to their children's condition. They also expressed a desperate need for guidance to clarify the process for genetic testing, counseling, and rehabilitation. Although their overall experience with physical therapy was satisfactory, they encountered a number of issues related to scheduling appointments, delayed referrals, and unconfirmed diagnoses. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could indicate that more efforts are required to expedite and elucidate the identification and referral of children with genetic disorders in Saudi Arabia.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe process of referring children with genetic disorders to physical therapy (PT) is not clearly understood by caregivers. Providing caregivers with information about the benefits of PT for children with genetic disorders is needed to encourage adherence to PT sessions and rehabilitation plan.Caregivers expressed the need for further education on the wide spectrum of genetic disorders.Caregivers experienced costly and lengthy genetic testing process that often lead to inconclusive results which could delay the referral process. Alternative solutions should be considered to provide these children with early access to rehabilitation services including PT. One of these solutions could be implementing regular screening and monitoring as well as parent education to aid in detecting delays and expedite the referral process.

Influence of Practice Characteristics on the Adoption of Electronic Dental Records in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: The adoption of electronic dental records (EDRs) is less extensively studied than electronic medical records (EMRs) in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a multivariate analysis was conducted to calculate the adoption of EDRs and determine the practice characteristics that influence adoption. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with 220 dental practices in Jeddah from August to December 2021. The questionnaire contained 10 items that measured the adoption of EDRs and identified the region, district, practice characteristics, and practice size. A regression analysis was used to ascertain the relationships between EDR adoption and the predictor variables. RESULTS: About 93% of the dental practices, we surveyed in Jeddah had adopted EDRs. Public dental practices and large practices were associated with higher rates of adoption (respectively, 97.0%, p = 0.016; 97.8%, p = 0.009). The logistic regression model showed statistically significant results regarding practice characteristics, practice size, and the acceptance of insurance patients. EDR adoption was 89% less likely for private dental practices, 99% less likely for smaller dental practices (≥2 dentists), and 98% less likely in dental practices that did not treat patients with insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sample showed a high rate of EDR adoption. Among the participants, public practices, large practices, and practices that treat patients with insurance were the most positively inclined toward EDR adoption.

The Prevalence and Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on Asthma Exacerbations in Asthmatic Adult Patients in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective We aim to evaluate the prevalence and impact of allergic rhinitis comorbidity in asthmatic patients in the Qassim region and identify whether rhinitis affects asthma control. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study on asthmatic adults who live in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed through social media. The questionnaire is composed of the validated Arabic versions of the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire, the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire. Results The total number of participants was 380; however, after 98 were excluded, 282 asthmatic patients were included in this study. Of them, 33% had allergic rhinitis. Females constitute 67% of the study participants, while males comprise 33%. The findings of the study indicate that there is a significant association between allergic rhinitis and asthma control in the Qassim region. Symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and nasal obstruction are significantly associated with poor asthma control (p = 0.006). Having a known family history of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis is significantly associated with worse asthma control (0.004). Conclusion In summary, this study found a high prevalence of rhinitis symptoms comorbidity in asthmatic patients in the Qassim region. Overall, the study established the existence of a relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthmatic control. Symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and nasal obstruction are significantly associated with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms. However, there is no significant association between nose problems that occur in specific seasons or months and allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms, suggesting that seasonality may not have a strong impact on asthma control. House dust mite allergies have a borderline significant association with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms. Having a family history of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis is associated with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms, thereby indicating a significant impact on asthma control.

The Prevalence of Acceptance Between General Anesthesia and Spinal Anesthesia Among Pregnant Women Undergoing Elective Caesarean Sections in Saudi Arabia.

Background The choice of anesthesia for an elective cesarean section should be based on an individual benefit-risk assessment, considering the pregnant woman's preferences, concerns, and the available medical expertise. This study aimed to determine the preferences for general and spinal anesthesia among women undergoing elective cesarean sections and the factors affecting their choice. Methods The study design is a cross-sectional study, and it was conducted on pregnant women to measure the acceptance of general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia in patients with elective cesarean sections in Saudi Arabia. Random pregnant women were invited to participate in this study across Saudi Arabia after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. A digital questionnaire was distributed across Saudi Arabia to be filled out by female residents. A Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA) sheet was used for data entry, while IBM SPSS software version 27.0.1 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Results The study included 813 participants; most (28%) of them were 25-30 years old. Of the study participants, 54% had chosen spinal anesthesia before, 22% had chosen general anesthesia, and 24% had chosen neither. Reasons to choose general anesthesia were reported as follows: 21.6% feared pain during surgery, 24.2% feared watching the surgical procedures on their bodies, 16.6% feared back pain, 12.8% feared being paralyzed, and 15.1% feared needles used to administer anesthesia in the lower back. Reasons for choosing spinal anesthesia were reported as follows: 26.3% had back pain concerns; 13% feared prolonged unconsciousness; 9.6% feared having a headache after surgery; 17% had post-surgery pain concerns; 30.1% wanted to be alert at the time of the birth of the baby; 10.6% feared the chances of experiencing nausea and vomiting; and 7.4% feared not being able to breastfeed. Conclusion Spinal anesthesia was chosen by more participants than general anesthesia. There was a statistically significant association between choosing spinal anesthesia and the number of previous pregnancies, parity, history of preterm labor, and recommendation to undergo general or spinal anesthesia by non-medical staff. It was also significant with the older age and higher educational level of participants. This decision may be influenced by a number of variables, the most significant of which are prior experience with general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia, educational attainment, and non-medical advice.