Saudi Med J
-
To evaluate the awareness of spina bifida (SB), risk factors and possible preventive measures among mothers who had been following in our clinic with a spina bifida affected child. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with 38 mothers of SB patients who are following at SB and hydrocephalus clinic at King Fahad University Hospital, Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. ⋯ Thirty-eight mother were included in this questionnaire. Most of the participants were Saudi (94.7%). Ten out of 38 women (26.3%) had used medications during pregnancy (pain medications and herbal drugs), 4 out of 38 (10.5%) had been exposed to imaging radiation, while 9 (23.7%) had experienced moderate to high grade fever (39-41°C) during pregnancy. Moreover, the majority (86.8%) of these women did not receive folic acid (FA) before pregnancy, and 42.1% of them did not have FA during their first trimester. Only one (2.6%) gave positive family history of SB while, 6 (15.8%) reported having other SB children. Conclusion: There is a considerably low level of awareness in mothers of SB patients despite prevalence of this anomaly in the Eastern province. This necessitates an effort from health care providers to educate the community about this birth defect entity. Furthermore, genetic counseling should be encouraged especially in those who have a positive familial history for better understanding. Also, larger sample size with randomized controlled trials and larger epidemiological studies should be implemented.
-
To assess virus knowledge among dentists in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with recommended management practices of patients. Method: A structured questionnaire was distributed to dentists in major Saudi cities between September 2016 and December 2017. The questionnaire investigated participants' knowledge about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) transmission, consequences, patient identification and history taking practices. Data was collected using paper-based questionnaires or an online link sent to dentists registered with Saudi Dental Society nationwide. The analysis was carried using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) logistic regression, odds ratio and confidence intervals to identify the relationship between variables. ⋯ Best management practices depends on correct patient identification. Educational campaigns should target dentists, given the unique nature of dental practice.
-
To culturally adapt and validate a mammography-specific self-efficacy (MSSE) scale into Arabic for the Saudi Arabian context. Methods: A methodological study aimed at tool translation and adaptation conducted in primary healthcare centers in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia between March 2016 and May 2016. The MSSE scale was translated and adapted into Arabic using standard procedures. Content and face validity were investigated. ⋯ The confirmatory factor analysis supported the scale's single-factor structure and the goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the model's good fit (comparative fit index=0.961, Tucker-Lewis index=0.943, root-mean-square error of approximation=0.076, and standardized root-mean-square residual=0.045). Women who had a mammogram in the last 2 years scored significantly higher on the scale (39±6.2) than women who had never received a mammogram (35.88±7.2; p=0.009). Conclusion: The study confirmed that the scale's Arabic version has good psychometric properties, using reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and extreme groups validation. The scale is likely to be useful for evaluating interventional studies aimed at improving mammography screening participation rates.
-
[No Abstract Available].
-
To investigate the correlation between the characteristics of urethral stricture and incision scars in patients with urethral stricture and median sternotomy incision. Methods: We identified 368 patients who had undergone internal urethrotomy between January 2014 and December 2017. A total of 49 male patients with a median sternotomy scar and diagnosed with urethral stricture were retrospectively evaluated. The median sternotomy incision scars were assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of patients with a VSS score of less than 4 points, and those with ≥4 points constituted group II. The groups were compared in terms of age, smoking habit, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, urethral stricture etiology, length and localization, and stricture relapse after intervention. ⋯ The mean total VSS score was 2.0 points in group I and 7.46 points in group II. There was a significant correlation between the VSS total score and the urethral stricture length among the whole study population (correlation coefficient value=0.481; p less than 0.001). The urethral stricture was longer as the VSS score increased. Conclusion: A poorly healed median sternotomy incision scar can predict a poor wound healing in the urethra tissue. Further large scale, multi-center and prospective studies are needed to clarify this relationship.