bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of 1-methylecyclopropane and Low Temperature Storage on Postharvest Longevity of Banana cv ‘Ambul’
Authors: Wasala W. M. C. B. , Benaragama C. K. , Kumara G. D. K. , Sarananda K.H. , Dissanayake C. A. K.
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of low-temperature storage conditions on the local banana cultivar ‘Ambul’ postharvest longevity after 1-methylecyclopropane (1-MCP) application.Research Method: Banana fruits were treated with two dosages of 1-MCP; 1 mg·L-1 for 12 hours and 1 mg·L-1 for 18 hours at room temperature (29±30C). 1-MCP treated banana fruits were stored at ambient conditions (28 ±50 C and 70 ±6% of RH) and cool room conditions (14 ±10C and 85 ±4% of RH). Physico-chemical quality parameters, including ripening index, peel colour as L*, a*, b* values, physiological weight loss, pulp firmness, chlorophyll content, total soluble solids, respiration rate, ethylene production, pulp-to-peel ratio, sucrose, fructose and glucose contents, titratable acidity and pH of the fruits were measured before treatment and during the storage period.Findings: Banana fruits stored at ambient conditions reached yellow earlier within 18 and 21 days whereas fruits stored at cool room conditions maintained an extended green life up to 24 and 30 days. Although 1-MCP postponed the respiration and ethylene peaks, the effect was more pronounced at 14oC than in ambient conditions. 1-MCP treatment and low-temperature storage conditions significantly reduced the ripening rate as measured by regulating the changes in pulp firmness, total soluble solids, sugar conversion rate, chlorophyll degradation, pulp pH, and total titratable acidity; keeping the quality of fruits.Originality/value: Ambul’ banana fruits treated with 1ppm 1-MCP for 18h and stored at 14oC temperature ensured the longest shelf life of 30 days.
Phytoremedial Potential of Some Terrestrial Ornamental Plants Against Chromium: A Review
Authors: Jadaun N. , Pandey S.
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Adding unwanted toxic substances to water and soil degrades the quality of food and nutrients. The main cause of pollution on land and water surfaces is industrial discharge. Heavy metals found in industrial effluents include aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd). Chromium is considered one of the most perilous, poisonous, and carcinogenic heavy metals among them. The continuous use of these metals causes harm to the agro-biological system. Though the physical and chemical approaches are extremely expensive, ineffective and unsuitable for our environment but still are in use for getting rid of heavy metals.Research Method: The current analysis focuses on existing knowledge in the form of research papers available on google scholar and Scopus, issues associated with chromium pollution, such as its environmental, plant development, and human health toxicity as well as its prompt eradication through ornamental plants with high accumulation potential and contamination acceptance.Findings: There is a necessity for green and cost-effective technology for polluted soil and industrial wastewater. Phytoremediation has been considered the most encouraging and suitable green technique to remove contaminants in recent decades due to its low cost and environmental friendliness.Originality/ Value: Ornamental plants appear to be more viable options than edible crops and therapeutic plants as they provide several benefits, including heavy metal pollution removal, environmental embellishment with revenue generation and rare connection in the food chain.
Experiences of primary eye care use among adults in Southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study
Authors: Kentayiso Temesgen W. , Nkoane Naomi L. , Matlhaba Kholofelo L.
Published: September 2024

Background: Primary eye care (PEC) is an important component of comprehensive eye care services that allows communities to enjoy basic high-quality services. However, because of various determinants, communities do not use this service.Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experience of adults who used PEC services in the last 6 months.Setting: This study was carried out in four districts in southern Ethiopia from June to September 2023.Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study design was used to understand the experiences of adults 40 years and older who had used PEC services. Six focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 48 participants. A nonprobability purposive sampling technique was used to draw participants. Data were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti software version 23.2.2.Results: Primary eye care service use experiences of adults 40 years and above were discussed in terms of three emerging themes: the experience of community service use, barriers to service and suggestions to improve service. The study identified poor access to services, service provider-related factors and quality and awareness gaps as barriers to the use of PEC services.Conclusion: Attention to PEC services, integration of eye care with other primary health care services, deployment of service providers, awareness creation and expansion of PEC units are needed to improve PEC service use.Contribution: The findings will guide community-based intervention plans to reduce avoidable blindness and low vision, thus improving quality of life.
Effect of Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Anxiety and Happiness of Older Adults in the Nursing Home
Authors: Tapeh Zahra Asgari , Darvishpour Azar , Besharati Fereshteh , Gholami- Chaboki Bahare
Published: September 2024

Background:

Older adults encounter serious psychological challenges in addition to physical problems. Reducing stress and anxiety, along with promoting happiness, is critical to maintaining the mental health of the elderly. Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation (JPMR) will lead to peace of mind by relieving physical stress. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of JPMR on the anxiety and happiness of older adults.

Materials and Methods:

A single-group pretest-posttest design as a type of quasi-experimental study was conducted on 34 older adults living in a nursing home in Rasht, the north of Iran, in 2021. The intervention was performed one session per week, for 8 weeks. The research instruments included the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) and the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon test were used for data analysis.

Results:

After the intervention, the Mean (Standard Deviation [SD](of anxiety was 4.91 (1.96), and the Mean (SD) (of happiness was 37.18 (7.92). The mean score of anxiety among older adults after the intervention was significantly lower compared to the before intervention (Z = −4.73, p < 0.001). In addition, the mean score of happiness of the samples after the intervention was significantly higher compared to the before intervention (Z = −5.09, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

JPMR has a positive effect on reducing anxiety and promoting happiness in the elderly. Developing training programs and allocating time to non-pharmacological treatments such as JPMR for the elderly living in nursing homes will help make them happier and healthier.
Relationship between Vaginal Bacterial Infections and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rokni Hojjat , Ahmadi Amjad , Moradi Yousef , Nouri Bijan , Roshani Daem
Published: September 2024

Background:

Bacterial infections are among the most serious infections worldwide. They can cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, and ectopic pregnancy in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bacterial infections and pregnancy outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Materials and Methods:

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched from January 2000 to December 2018 using appropriate keywords to identify related articles. The final related studies were selected and evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results:

Results of this meta-analysis based on combining case-control studies showed that the presence of bacterial infections could lead increase in the odds of all pregnancy outcomes like premature infant birth (odd ratio [OR]: 1.50; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.39–1.61), preterm delivery (OR: 1.54; 95% CI, 1.39–1.70), abortion (OR: 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04–1.29), stillbirth (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12–1.49), and ectopic pregnancy (OR: 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05–-1.19). The results showed that the Risk Ratio (RR) of preterm delivery in pregnant women with vaginal infections was 1.57 (95% CI, 1.46–1.67), whereas the RR of abortion was 2.02 (95% CI, 1.72–2.38).

Conclusions:

Based on the results of this meta-analysis, the presence of bacterial infections in pregnant women can lead increase in the risk of pregnancy outcomes especially, preterm delivery, abortion, stillbirth, and ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary for obstetricians and gynecologists to pay attention to the diagnosis of these infections in women before pregnancy and during pregnancy in order to prevent the consequences of these infections.
Implementing the Verbal and Electronic Handover in General and Psychiatric Nursing Using the Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation Framework: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lazzari Carlo
Published: September 2024

Background:

Patient handover (handoff in America) is the transfer of information and accountability among nurses assigned to patient care. Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (ISBAR) is currently the most popular framework for framing handovers. However, research shows that incomplete handovers and information transfers among healthcare providers and nurses exist and are responsible for adverse patient events.

Materials and Methods:

The current systematic review aims to view contemporary literature on handover, especially but not exclusively in psychiatric settings, and to extract current conditions from Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) using the ISBAR framework. A total of fifty-five scientific papers were selected to support the scoping review. Eligibility criteria included structured research to analyze outcomes, completed by reviewing policy papers and professional organization guidelines on I/SBAR handovers.

Results:

Our systematic review shows that the application of ISBAR increases interprofessional communication skills and confidence and the quality of the transfer of clinical information about patients, resulting in increased patient safety and quality of care.

Conclusions:

Implementing the knowledge and application of structured patient handover will respond to current recommendations for service improvement and quality of care. Furthermore, nurses who use ISBAR also reported its benefits as they feel they can deliver what is required for patient care information in a structured, fast, and efficient way. A further increase in the efficacy of handovers is reported by using EPR.
Breakfast Skipping and Associated Factors Among Jordanian University Students
Authors: Alshdifat Enas , Alkhawaldeh Abdullah , Albashtawy Mohammed , Ta’an Wafa’a , Mohammad Khitam , Al-Rawashdeh Sami , Malak Malakeh , Al-Modallal Hanan , Al-Dwaikat Tariq , Aljezawi Ma’en , Hamadneh Shereen , Suliman Mohammad , Abdalrahim Asem , Albashtawy Sa’d
Published: September 2024

Background:

Although breakfast skipping among university students is a significant concern, its prevalence and the contributing factors among university students have received little attention in the literature. This study aims to determine the prevalence of skipping breakfast among Jordanian university students and examine the associated factors and variations in rates of skipping breakfast by day of the week.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students between March and May 2022 through a self-questionnaire. A convenience sample of 891 students was chosen at four Jordanian public universities. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results:

The prevalence of skipping breakfast among university students was 66%. The reasons for skipping breakfast were having no time due to oversleeping and having no feeling of hunger (59% for both), followed by having no energy to prepare the breakfast and making no difference (49% and 48%), and not being able to afford to eat or buy breakfast (19%). There is a strong correlation between eating fast food and skipping breakfast. With whom the student eats breakfast is significantly associated with breakfast skipping, revealing that the highest percentages of skipping occur with friends. About 63% of students skipped breakfast through university days compared with 37% on the weekend, while 37% of them had breakfast through university days compared with 67% on the weekend.

Conclusions:

A high percentage of university students in Jordan skip breakfast. More attention should be paid to correlating factors and developing interventions to help students adhere to the breakfast.
The Need for Yamā and Niyamā in Promoting Adolescents' Physical and Mental Well-being
Authors: Sharma Sachi , Rawat Vikas
Published: September 2024

Children in today's global world deal with the pressure of competition because of new standards and opportunities and tend to suffer from stress and mental disorders. A stressful life can lead to a variety of health issues if left untreated. It is necessary to show them how to cope with their tension and anxiety. In this context, yoga, an art and science of healthy living as well as a spiritual discipline emphasizes bringing mind and body into balance. The first two limbs of yoga according to Aṣṭāṅga yoga are restraints known as “yamās” and observances known as “niyamās.” These are a set of guidelines for practicing moderation in life and gradually fostering a sense of self-discipline, contentment, and detachment as you go. They are powerful tools for developing the personality of children, thereby improving their physical and mental well-being. Thus, it should be promoted at all stages of life, from pregnancy to old age. Early in life, children who learn these codes and remind themselves of what is right will not go astray when they grow up and will remain strong mentally and morally. Hence, there can be no integrated personality without the application of yogic ethical principles. Therefore, in this study, an attempt has been made to highlight the importance of yamā and niyamā in nurturing mental and physical health among adolescents.
Exploring the Bioenergy Pathways Affecting the Low Back Pain – A Review
Authors: Keshavamurthy  , Singh Amit Kumar , Buttagat Vitsarut , Divya B R
Published: September 2024

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem affecting the daily activity of a person. The subtle energy pathways with the imbalance of the wind element/Vata dosha are the cause of back pain, as per ancient texts. Releasing these energy blockages through different approaches from the traditional healing system is found to be effective in treating LBP conditions. To explore and compile the different subtle energy pathways of the human body and identifying the energy lines affecting back pain and possible remedial approach. Relevant information was obtained and compiled using different sources such as Classical texts of Yoga, Upanishads, Ayurveda, and Traditional Thai Massage. Scientific Research papers were explored using different key words-low back pain, marmas, meridians, nadis, sen lines for understanding the energy pathways and its approach in treating LBP. The paper identifies and compiles the subtle energy pathways from a different system with respect to its location, function and emphasizes in compiling information related to LBP and the treatment approach.
Boundary Aware Semantic Segmentation using Pyramid-dilated Dense U-Net for Lung Segmentation in Computed Tomography Images
Authors: Agnes S. Akila
Published: September 2024

Aim:

The main objective of this work is to propose an efficient segmentation model for accurate and robust lung segmentation from computed tomography (CT) images, even when the lung contains abnormalities such as juxtapleural nodules, cavities, and consolidation.

Methodology:

A novel deep learning-based segmentation model, pyramid-dilated dense U-Net (PDD-U-Net), is proposed to directly segment lung regions from the whole CT image. The model is integrated with pyramid-dilated convolution blocks to capture and preserve multi-resolution spatial features effectively. In addition, shallow and deeper stream features are embedded in the nested U-Net structure at the decoder side to enhance the segmented output. The effect of three loss functions is investigated in this paper, as the medical image analysis method requires precise boundaries. The proposed PDD-U-Net model with shape-aware loss function is tested on the lung CT segmentation challenge (LCTSC) dataset with standard lung CT images and the lung image database consortium-image database resource initiative (LIDC-IDRI) dataset containing both typical and pathological lung CT images.

Results:

The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using Intersection over Union, dice coefficient, precision, recall, and average Hausdorff distance metrics. Segmentation results showed that the proposed PDD-U-Net model outperformed other segmentation methods and achieved a 0.983 dice coefficient for the LIDC-IDRI dataset and a 0.994 dice coefficient for the LCTSC dataset.

Conclusions:

The proposed PDD-U-Net model with shape-aware loss function is an effective and accurate method for lung segmentation from CT images, even in the presence of abnormalities such as cavities, consolidation, and nodules. The model’s integration of pyramid-dilated convolution blocks and nested U-Net structure at the decoder side, along with shape-aware loss function, contributed to its high segmentation accuracy. This method could have significant implications for the computer-aided diagnosis system, allowing for quick and accurate analysis of lung regions.
Feasibility of Four-dimensional Adaptation of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Based on Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy-computed Tomography
Authors: Zhao Xiaodong , Zhang Rui
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been increasingly used for cancer patients due to the fast delivery and improved dose conformity. Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) can significantly decrease dose to normal tissues and allow for dose escalation. However, current imaging techniques cannot provide four-dimensional (4D) patient anatomy or dose information during VMAT, which is critical for ART that involves respiratory motion. A novel imaging tool named VMAT–computed tomography (VMAT-CT) has the potential to reveal intra-fractional patient information. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 4D adaptive VMAT based on 4D VMAT-CT.

Materials and Methods:

A commercial QUASAR respiratory phantom and an in-house deformable lung phantom were used in this study, and lung VMAT plans, including 4D union plan and 4D ART plan, were generated for the phantoms. A real lung patient’s plan was also used in this feasibility study. ART plans based on 4D VMAT-CT were created for the phantoms and the real patient when planning goals were not met. Dose escalation plan based on 4D VMAT-CT was also created for the real patient.

Results:

Planning target volume (PTV) coverage for the QUASAR phantom was 85.5% after breathing pattern being changed, and went up to 95% after adaptive re-planning. PTV coverage for the deformable phantom was 93% after deformation and breathing pattern being changed, and went up to 95% after re-planning. Re-planning and dose escalation were feasible and can spare normal tissues for the real patient. 4D ART plan based on 4D VMAT-CT required smaller margins than 4D union plan while maintaining the same prescription dose coverage.

Conclusions:

ART based on 4D VMAT-CT is feasible and would potentially facilitate re-planning and PTV dose escalation for VMAT patients who have the motion issue.
Needs Assessment to Incorporate Saudi Human Genome Project and Personalized Medicine into Saudi Undergraduate Medical Curriculum
Authors: El Naggar Marwa Ahmed
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The Saudi Human Genome Program (SHGP) is one of the groundbreaking national programs and the largest genome initiative in the Middle East. His Royal Highness has put the growth of the health-care sector at the top of government priorities to ensure and increase the welfare of the Saudi nation. There are a few studies about needs assessment to incorporate the Saudi Human Genome and personalized medicine in Saudi Arabia's medical curricula until now.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the need to incorporate Saudi Human Genome theme and personalized medicine into the Saudi undergraduate medical curriculum.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was implemented and a simple random sample of 28 faculty members and medical educationists working inside KSA was taken. The study followed Kern's six-step approach to curriculum development designed by Kern et al. 2005, by the application of its first four steps: (i) problem identification and general needs assessment, (ii) targeted needs assessment, (iii) goals and objectives, (iv) educational strategies, (v) implementation, and (vi) evaluation and feedback. A self-administered questionnaire was designed on Google Forms and distributed electronically by E-mail and WhatsApp groups to assess faculty members' needs determine course objectives and teaching methods, and level, and determine the departments that will manage it, and students' assessment tools.

Results:

Twenty-eight medical educationists and faculty members from different specialties participated in the study. 26 (92.9%) and 16 (57.10%) of the study population stated that their undergraduate medical curriculum did not address the topics of the Saudi Human Genome and personalized medicine, respectively. Twenty-two (78.60%) agreed that there is a need to incorporate both topics in the curriculum. Twenty-four (85.70%) agreed that incorporating SHGP will familiarize students with the importance of genetic counseling in reducing and preventing hereditary and genetic diseases.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of incorporation of the Saudi Human Genome Project and personalized medicine into the Saudi medical curriculum, and there is a need to incorporate both topics into it to gauge its effectiveness and identify areas for its implementation improvement.
A Rare Case of Rectal Adenocarcinoma and Small-Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumor in a Young Patient with Long-Standing Crohn's Disease
Authors: Azzam Nahla
Published: September 2024

Background:

The association of adenocarcinoma of the colon and neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the small bowel has been previously described in Crohn's disease (CD), however the concomitance of both neoplasms is extremely rare. Here, the author reports a rare case of both rectal adenocarcinoma and small-bowel NET in a young male with long-standing CD.

Case Report:

The patient presented with clinical and radiological features of intestinal obstruction 2 years posttotal colectomy and end ileostomy for rectal cancer and found to have ileal NET.

Conclusion:

Small-bowel NET symptoms can mimic CD and is a rare entity, but physicians should suspect NETs in CD patients presenting with intestinal obstruction.
The Incidence and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms and their Impact on the Quality of Work: A Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Albugami Muneerah , Naguib Rania , Alhawsawi Manar , Bashiri Rahmah , Almutairi Mashaeel , Mohiden Maya
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The number of working Saudi women is significantly increased. Many women go through menopause when in employment. This work aims to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms (MS) among working Saudi women.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of Saudi women working at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), aged 45–55 years. It is a self-administered questionnaire about the Menopause Rating Scale assessing the severity of MS and their effect on the work.

Results:

11.8% of participants had severe/very severe MS; the most common MS were irritability, anxiety, depressive mood, and sleep problems. There was a significant association between osteoarthritis and joint pain of MS. MS that had a negative impact on work were tiredness/lack of energy, sleep disturbances, mood swings, joint and muscular aches followed by irritability/anxiety, and hot flushes/sweating. There was no statistically significant association between the severity of MS and body mass index or marital status or educational level, occupation, income, medical conditions, or physical exercise. The majority of women at PNU found that the work environment had a minimum negative impact on their MS. The most common strategies to manage MS at the workplace were wearing appropriate clothing and getting more information about menopause. The actions that help improve the workplace to cope with MS were flexible working hours, better ventilation, air-conditioning, and temperature control, access to informal support at work, and administration awareness of menopause as a health problem.

Conclusion:

Working Saudi women have mild-moderate MS. The work environment at PNU had a minimum negative impact on MS.
Long COVID
Authors: Masood Mohammed , Chodisetti Sai Sundeep , BaHammam Ahmed S.
Published: September 2024

The new devastating pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) has been related to approximately 600 million cases and more than six million deaths till now. After recovery from COVID-19, some patients develop long-term sequelae called long COVID (LC). LC cases have been reported with multi-system involvement, with the most common being neuro-psychiatric, cardiorespiratory, hematological, and gastrointestinal systems highlighting the need for multidisciplinary team involvement and treatment. Since we are more than two and half years into this pandemic, we have more understanding of the pathophysiology and successful treatment of acute COVID-19, and we see more survivors and, subsequently, individuals with LC. However, the pathogenic mechanisms leading to LC are not clear till now. This review describes the potential pathogenic mechanisms leading to LC and common clinical manifestations reported from current evidence.
Clinical Outcomes of Patients Attending a Flu Clinic at a Tertiary Health-Care Facility in India during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Agarwal Neeraj , Pandey Sanjay , Mishra Abhisek , Biswas Bijit , Lohani Pallavi
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

In response to ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, flu clinics were set by most of the hospitals all over India to screen patients for the disease. The study aimed to find out treatment outcome of patients attending a flu clinic at a tertiary health-care facility.

Methods:

It is an observational study, cross-sectional in design. The study used data routinely collected at the flu clinic of a selected tertiary health-care facility of a selected state of India. Data collected between March 22, 2020, and May 31, 2020 were used for the study.

Results:

Among 3873 study participants

,

364 (9.4%) required admission in COVID-19 isolation ward for testing, while 1536 (39.6%) were referred for further management and the rest being symptomatically managed or home quarantined. In multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis, females, lockdown phases, symptomatic, severe acute respiratory illness patients, those with contact history with a COVID-19 case, chronic comorbidities, and health worker had significantly higher odds of being admitted in COVID-19 isolation ward compared to others. Those who belonged to the age group of 16–30 years had significantly lower odds of admission. On the other hand, age, sex, lockdown phases, native district COVID-19 risk category, symptom status, chronic comorbidity, contact history, travel history. and profession were significant predictors of referral for further management.

Conclusion:

Half of the study participants were home quarantined or symptomatically managed. Age, sex, symptom status, contact history, travel history, chronic comorbidity, and profession were significant predictors for their treatment outcome.
Experience from a Medical College in Saudi Arabia on Undergraduate Curriculum Management and Delivery during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Soliman Mona , Aldhaheri Saleh , Neel Khalid Fouda
Published: September 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. In response to the pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education announced the suspension of educational activities. The pandemic has challenged universities worldwide to provide education virtually as an immediate response to prolonged lockdown periods. This article highlights the College of Medicine's experience at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, in managing undergraduate medical education in response to the pandemic situation. We describe the process of implementing the curriculum's delivery online during the lockdown and the decisions regarding the final assessment for all years. Furthermore, we highlight the steps taken to prepare for the new academic year 2020–2021 as a blended learning approach in light of the COVID-19 situation.
Employment of Ethnography Research to Ensure Effective Delivery of Medical Education and Clinical Training
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Shrivastava Prateek Saurabh
Published: September 2024

Ethnography is one of the qualitative approaches, wherein the researcher gets submerged into the study setting that has to be explored. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in PubMed and a total of five articles were selected based upon the suitability with the current review objectives. The ethnography approach gives a sense of freedom to the researchers to understand in depth the multiple variables in clinical settings or in the delivery of medical education, as the approach remains open ended. In fact, the generated evidence helps the administrators or teachers to understand the dynamics and the root cause of the problem, which then can be effectively sorted out. In conclusion, the application of ethnography empowers the administrators to get a better understanding of the issues in the delivery of medical education and health care. The need of the hour is to encourage training of faculty members in qualitative research, as a trained ethnographer can utilize their skills for the better understanding and effective resolution of the issues impacting effective curriculum delivery.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Awareness toward Autopsy Practice among King Saud University Medical Students
Authors: Aljerian K , AlHogail N , Alaqeel SA , Alderaan KM , Al-Hawamdeh AT , Alhudhaif HJ
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The present study was undertaken to understand the level of awareness, education, and motivations of medical students toward the practice of autopsy.

Methods:

We distributed 213 questionnaires among undergraduate medical students. A total of 199 participants gave informed consent to be enrolled in this study and agreed to the anonymous publication of the findings. After data curation, the data were coded and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SmartPLS software).

Results:

Saudi medical students who studied the autopsy course find a student’s ideology to be a determinant variable governing the perception of autopsy performance. Their acquisition of knowledge about autopsy did not suffice to change their attitude toward performing autopsies. However, the students’ self-reported awareness positively affects their attitude toward performing autopsy.

Conclusions:

The students think that autopsy causes neither disfigurement nor disrespect of the cadaver. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a more hands-on approach could help include the “hidden curriculum,” i.e., the crucial aspects that escape formal teaching and arise from watching teachers, their attitudes, techniques, and interests. The insights obtained from this study aim to improve and advance forensic studies among medical students in Saudi Arabia.
Role of Basic Healthcare Structures in Strengthening the COVID-19 Response Strategy
Authors: Mharchi Saliha , El Mostafa Ben , Maamri Abdellatif
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

In June 2020, the Oujda-Angad prefecture recorded the highest number of positive cases at the regional level. In this context, our objective is to improve the quality of care for COVID-19 patients through the implementation of an effective response strategy.

Material and Methods:

This monocentric, retrospective study was carried out in two health care facilities: A Regional Hospital Center AL FARABI, and a first-level health center (Health Centers), in order to record the number of patients treated by each facility. In addition, we report in parallel the different decisions issued by the persons in charge during this same period since the registration of the first case COVID-19 March 2020 until January 2021 in the prefecture of Oujda-Angad, capital of the eastern region of Morocco.

Results:

The response strategy installed was based on a set of decisions, of which the involvement of the first-line health centers was the main action. Since their involvement, these centers have responded by performing from November to May 2020 (9457 tests) for suspected cases, of which 4760 (50%) were detected positive. 3956 of them were managed at home (83%), and 682 (14.32%) were referred to regional hospital facilities. The case fatality rate recorded in hospitals was 2.56% (122 cases).

Conclusion:

Different strategies have been put in place at the level of the prefecture of Oujda-Angad in its response plan, based on international experiences (containment and mitigation strategy) and local decisions (involvement of frontline facilities in the care of COVID-19 patients). The epidemiological situation has been stabilized, and the number of cases has decreased because of these actions.
Effects of Online Information and Social Media Platforms on Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Childhood Vaccinations in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aldekhyyel Raniah , Al-Hazmi Ali M. , Al-Qahtani Reem N. , Albadrani Wejdan F. , Alsaawi Felwah S. , Alqahtani Maha S. , Alshammari Hayat Mohammed
Published: September 2024

Objective:

The aim is to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of parents towards childhood vaccinations. We also aim to explore if there is an association between parents' seeking vaccine information on the Internet and social media platforms, and vaccine hesitancy toward childhood vaccinations.

Materials and Methods:

Cross-sectional study was conducted in five mega malls in Riyadh by purposive sampling technique. Data collection lasted for 3 weeks from February 2020 using a self-developed questionnaire, which included: (1) sociodemographic information, (2) KAP, and (3) sources of information on childhood vaccination.

Results:

Five hundred and fourteen parents participated in our study, with most being mothers (79.4%). Most parents were informed about vaccination (94.7%), believed vaccines are safe (89.8%), and want their children to get the recommended vaccinations (92.4%). Forty-nine percent of parents use the internet as a source to seek vaccination information, while only 21% trust online information. As for social media, 27% mentioned that they use it to seek vaccine information but only 15% trust them as a source of information. 13.2% indicated that they changed their minds regarding vaccination because of information from the Internet, and 11.7% changed their minds from social media. We found a strong statistically significant association between vaccine hesitancy and information obtained from the internet and social media platforms (P = 0.000122, and 0.000025), respectively. Vaccine hesitancy, and information from family, and friends were statistically significant (P = 0.00003).

Conclusions:

We found a potential impact of internet health information and social media platforms on parents' hesitancy toward childhood vaccination.
Stress, Sleep, and Use of Sleep Aids among Physicians during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: AlAteeq Deemah , Almokitib Aljoharah , Mohideen Maya , AlBlowi Nouf , Fayed Amel , Alshahrani Sultan M.
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to explore the use of sleeping aids among physicians in Saudi Arabia and its correlation with stress and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods:

A sample of 1313 physicians was collected through an online cross-sectional convenience survey. The survey was E-mailed by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to the registered physicians in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes questions related to personal and sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19, sleep-aid use, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Perceived Stress Scale.

Results:

The participants were from various job levels (398 consultants, 1919 registrars, and 716 residents) and mainly from the central (38.2%) and Western (35%) regions. More than a third of them were using sleep aids (38.6%), which were mostly melatonin (75.7%). More than half of them had insomnia (67.1%), and the majority had moderate to high perceived stress (80.1%). Significant associations were found between insomnia and a number of personal and sociodemographic characteristics: Single status, young physicians, residents, smokers, and involvement in a COVID-19 management team. Other significant associations were found between stress and a number of personal and sociodemographic characteristics: Female sex, single status, young physicians, residents, working in the Ministry of Health, being on call 5–8 times/month, and involvement in a COVID-19 management team.

Conclusions:

Physicians in Saudi Arabia have had increased insomnia, stress, and use of sleep aids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Single, young physicians need more attention to support their psychological well-being.
The Effect of Complete Denture Rehabilitation on Nutritional Status of Geriatric Patients
Authors: Singh Yash Pal , Saini Monika , Rehman Shuja Ur
Published: September 2024

Background:

Nutrition in elderly patients has been the topic of interest in field of geriatrics. Quality of life is directly correlated with nutritional status in geriatric patients.

Aim of the Study:

This study was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional status when completely edentulous patients were rehabilitated with conventional complete dentures.

Materials and Methods:

Hundred edentulous patients, in the age group of 45–65 years, were selected, and biochemical blood analysis was done at three different time periods (0, 3, and 6 months after delivery of complete dentures) for levels of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and hemoglobin in blood. The results at three different time periods were then compared to evaluate the change in the values of these nutrients in the body.

Results:

Loss of teeth was associated with lower than normal values for calcium, protein, phosphorus, and hemoglobin in blood. There was a significant improvement in the blood calcium and protein levels at the end of 3 months, whereas there was no significant improvement in the blood phosphorus and hemoglobin.

Conclusion:

Complete denture rehabilitation has a definite positive impact on nutritional status of geriatric patients.
Acute Appendicitis Secondary to Foreign Body Ingestion in a 5-Year-Old Girl
Authors: Alfraih Yasser , Alshehri Khaled
Published: September 2024

Foreign body (FB) ingestion is common among children. Complications following FB ingestion are reported to be around 1%. The prevalence of acute appendicitis caused by FB ingestion is rare. We present a case of a young girl who presented to the emergency department with acute appendicitis secondary to FB ingestion. A previously healthy 5-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms as well as a history of recent FB ingestion. Her physical examination was in keeping with acute appendicitis, and a computed tomography abdomen and pelvis confirmed the presence of FB distal to the neck of the appendix and measures around 6 mm causing obstruction and dilatation. At the time of laparoscopic appendectomy, acute appendicitis with perforation was confirmed and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged home on the 5th day with satisfactory outcome. Presentation of FB ingestion can vary. Most physicians are aware of the respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms that can occur; however, the possibility of FB causing acute appendicitis should also be considered.
Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Outcome of Training for Surgical Residents in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alessa Mohammed Yousef , Alyahya Abdulwahab Abdullatif , Buhalim Rayan Abdulwahab , Albahr Abdulelah Wasmi
Published: September 2024

Background:

Several health-care measures were taken during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that may affect surgical residents' exposure and training.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to assess and measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical residents' education and their burnout level during that time.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-section questionnaire-based study was conducted among 417 residents in various surgical specialties in Saudi Arabia from April 2021 to July 2021.

Results:

A total of 135 residents (32.4%) were level 1, and 112 residents (26.9%) were level 2. During the pandemic, 41% of the residents reported that the number of educational didactics was lower than before, and 24.9% indicated more didactics now. The proportion of residents who attended clinics and surgical cases was higher before the pandemic compared to during the pandemic. However, 36.2% of the residents were concerned that the changes in surgical training during the pandemic could lead to unpreparedness for the next career step. In addition, most of the residents were more burnout during the pandemic compared to before.

Conclusion:

Surgical residents were concerned that they might be less competent in their specialty due to a reduction in educational didactics during the pandemic. In addition, a higher level of burnout and stress was observed in the majority of residents.
Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms among Patients Using Beta-Blockers in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Jaffer Mohammed A. , Al-Shaqrawi Ibrahim Bader , Al-Omar Omar H. , Al-Jammaz Abdullah A. , Al-Ghanim Meshaal K. , Al-Saif Albaraa M. , Al-Shunayf Mohammed N.
Published: September 2024

Background:

The relationship between depression and beta-blockers (BBs) use is a controversial topic for many decades. Due to the interference with adrenergic and serotonin receptors, BB use has been linked to depression in many early cross-sectional and case studies. Others have investigated the indirect relationship between BB use and novice antidepressant use. However, larger trials have yielded inconsistent findings. The objective of this study is to identify the presence of depression and depressive symptoms among patients using BBs in the internal medicine, cardiology, and psychiatry Departments in King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) and to measure its prevalence.

Research Design and Methods:

A cross-sectional study included patients visiting Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Psychiatry clinics at the KKUH in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who is known using BBs for any indication and excluded patients previously diagnosed with depression before taking BBs. This study was carried out from December 2018 to October 2019. Either physically or over the phone, patients were requested to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 questionnaire. Drug names and pictures were provided for ease of drug identification. The sample size was 291, with a confidence interval of 95% and 5% margin of error. Written consent was acquired from all participants.

Results:

Two hundred and ninety-one surveys were collected, among 151 (52%) were females and 140 (48%) were males. Females were more likely to report depressive symptoms and had higher scores of symptom severity on average (P < 0.016). Only 17 patients (5.8%) were found to report no depressive symptoms, while most patients reported mild depressive symptoms (35%). We have not found a statistically significant relationship between BB type and the magnitude of depressive symptoms severity.

Conclusions:

Although the usage of BBs and the prevalence of depressive symptoms were not directly correlated in our study, compared to the local prevalence, our patients demonstrated a higher prevalence trend of depressed symptoms. In addition, our observations did reveal fascinating information on the gender disparity in depression.
Short-and Long-Term Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients Presenting with Diarrhea
Authors: Altuwaijri M , Farhoud MH , Al Masri MK , Altuwaijri FA , Azzam N , Iqbal K , Barry Mazin Adnan
Published: September 2024

Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are frequently observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals at distinct time intervals after the initial diagnosis. Psychological distress in the form of anxiety, burnout, and depression is regarded as a common complication of COVID-19, but also as a risk factor for the development and exacerbation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is highly prevalent among COVID-19 patients and the general population. The pathophysiological mechanisms culminating in the diagnosis of IBS are yet to be fully understood, however, factors including gut–brain interaction, COVID-19-related intestinal damage, and other external influences might play a role in this process. While long-term GI complications of COVID-19 such as IBS are speculated to develop as a result of a multifaceted interaction between the virus itself with the host, in addition to the effects of psychological distress, further research on this topic is warranted. The purpose of this study was to explore possible factors correlating with the development of IBS and depression during the follow-up period post-COVID-19 infection.