Saudi Med J
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To evaluate the impact of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences on general surgery residents. Methods: Cross-sectional, survey based study including surgical residents in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kingdom of Bahrain. ⋯ Coronavirus-19 pandemic has a serious effect on all healthcare workers and surgical residents have experienced a considerable amount of stress. Accordingly, this psychological burden should be appropriately addressed in organizations planning strategies. We suggest formulating guidelines to help surgical trainees to continue their learning process with least psychological burden.
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To investigate the prevalence and determinants of burnout syndrome and depression among medical students at Unaizah College of Medicine (UCM), Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A cross-sectional study of all Saudi medical students studying at UCM, Qassim University, Al Qassim, KSA, between February to March 2020. Results: Of the total 305 students sampled, 153 (50.2%) fit the category of depression. Concerning burnout, only 5.6% of the total population met the Maslach Burnout Inventorydiagnostic criteria for burnout, with those determined to have burnout having ranked high on the emotional exhaustion and cynicism subscales, and low on the academic efficacy subscale. Male was strongly associated with burnout, while female gender and raising children were strongly associated with the presence of depression. Emotional exhaustion and high cynicism as determinants of burnout elevate the risk of depression. Conclusion: Our results highlight the high rate of depression and burnout, as well as the need for psychological intervention programs at medical schools to prevent the deterioration of student's mental health that has been associated with advancement in medical school.
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To improve our local data and demographics of thyroid neoplasm in Makkah region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provide some basic statistics for future studies in our local community. Methods: A record based retrospective epidemiological study was conducted and included 314 thyroid disease patients who were presented to our centers at Makkah region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between December 2009 and December 2019. Results: A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. The average age was 42.77 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1, and most of the patients were Saudi (77%). Fifty-seven percent of cases were benign, while in malignant cases, 33.4% were papillary thyroid carcinoma. The mean follow-up time was 15.44 months, with excellent compliance in 39.4% of the patients. Conclusion: Thyroid tumors have a leading incidence in head and neck tumors in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, mandating further studies to determine the causes and distribution in other regions of the country.
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To establish an association between cigarette smoking, cognition, and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in healthy young adults. ⋯ Plasma BDNF level is positively related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Young smokers have significantly impaired sustained attention and less ability to manage conflicting information as compared to age-matched non-smokers.
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To assess the cognitive status of older adults in Saudi Arabia. ⋯ Cognitive impairment affected around 21% of the participants. The reduced cognitive function was associated with increased age, female gender, low education level, unmarried, low income, dependency on others, functional impairment, and malnutrition. Such information could motivate health-policy makers to introduce appropriate measures to improve older adults' existing healthcare services in primary care, including cognitive function assessment.