Tobacco Use among Health Care Workers in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

The present study targeted health care workers (HCWs) in Governmental Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centers in Abha City, southwestern Saudi Arabia. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was used to assess tobacco use and the reasons for smoking. The present study included 736 HCWs. The overall prevalence of tobacco use amounted to 26.3% (14.8% current and 11.5% former users). In a binary logistic regression analysis, males were found significantly more prone to smoke compared to females (aOR = 3.081, 95% CI: 2.004–4.739). Similarly, parental history of tobacco use was found to be a significant risk factor (aOR = 1.540, 95% CI: 1.040–2.278). Among current users, 89.9% were interested in quitting and 66.1% tried before to quit. The prevalence of smoking among HCWs in the present study, besides being a public health problem, represents a potential barrier in involving this group as a first line for tobacco control. There is a need for a national intervention programme in the country in a tailored manner for HCWs to control tobacco use parallel to the running national program for public. These interventions should begin early in basic medical education and to be applied continually during one’s medical career.

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COVID-19 Psychological Impact on Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18116076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 6076

Author(s):

Hasan S. Alamri ◽

Wesam F. Mousa ◽

Abdullah Algarni ◽

Shehata F. Megahid ◽

Ali Al Bshabshe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Psychological Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Impact

Objective: Little is known about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May till mid-July among 389 health care workers from government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a pre-structured online questionnaire that measured adverse psychological outcomes, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of depression and anxiety among health care workers. Results: A high level of anxiety was recorded among the health care workers, and 69.3% of health care workers below the age of 40 were found to have depression. There was a significant increase in depression among staff with chronic health problems (72.1% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.048). High anxiety levels were detected among young staff compared to others (68.7% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001). Moreover, 82.1% of the female staff were anxious, as compared to 55.6% of the males (p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found increased prevalence of adverse psychological outcomes among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for proper screening and development of corresponding preventive measures to decrease the adverse psychological outcomes.

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460. Point-of-Care, In-Home SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Testing to Assess Seroprevalence in At-Risk Health Care Workers

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.653 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S297-S297

Author(s):

Eric G Meissner ◽

Christine Litwin ◽

Tricia Crocker ◽

Elizabeth Mack ◽

Lauren Card

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

At Risk ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Medical Center ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Documented Infection ◽

Inconclusive Result ◽

Care Workers

Abstract Background Health care workers are at significant risk for infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Methods We utilized a point-of-care, lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunoassay (RayBiotech) to conduct a seroprevalence study in a cohort of at-risk health care workers (n=339) and normal-risk controls (n=100) employed at an academic medical center. To minimize exposure risk while conducting the study, consents were performed electronically, tests were mailed and then self-administered at home using finger stick blood, and subjects uploaded a picture of the test result while answering an electronic questionnaire. We also validated the assay using de-identified serum samples from patients with PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Between April 14th and May 6th 2020, 439 subjects were enrolled. Subjects were 68% female, 93% white, and most were physicians (38%) and nurses (27%). In addition, 37% had at least 1 respiratory symptom in the prior month, 34% had cared for a patient with known SARS-CoV-2 infection, 57% and 23% were worried about exposure at work or in the community, respectively, and 5 reported prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. On initial testing, 3 subjects had a positive IgG test, 336 had a negative test, and 87 had an inconclusive result. Of those with an inconclusive result who conducted a repeat test (85%), 96% had a negative result. All 3 positive IgG tests were in subjects reporting prior documented infection. Laboratory validation showed that of those with PCR-proven infection more than 13 days prior, 23/30 were IgG positive (76% sensitivity), whereas 1/26 with a negative prior PCR test were seropositive (95% specificity). Repeat longitudinal serologic testing every 30 days for up to 4 times is currently in progress. Conclusion We conducted a contact-free study in the setting of a pandemic to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in an at-risk group of health care workers. The only subjects found to be IgG positive were those with prior documented infection, even though a substantial proportion of subjects reported significant potential occupational or community exposure and symptoms that were potentially compatible with SARS-COV-2 infection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Pattern and Risk Factors of Sharp Object Injuries among Health Care Workers in Two Tertiary Hospitals, Al Taif–Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2016-2018

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.07.031 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Raja A. Fadil ◽

Nuha A Abdelmutalab ◽

Sitalnesa A Abdelhafeez ◽

Walid Mazi ◽

Sultan Algamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽

Sharp Object ◽

Care Workers ◽

Tertiary Hospitals

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Prevalence of burnout among frontline vs. non-frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Makkah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries ◽

10.24911/ijmdc.51-1626715532 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Adel Alhazmi ◽

Saad Alsaedi ◽

Rakan Alsarwani ◽

Abdulrahman Almalki ◽

Mohannad Fatani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Care Workers

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Self-Reported Needlestick Injuries in Dental Health Care Workers at Armed Forces Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/165.3.208 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 165 (3) ◽

pp. 208-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tahir Paul ◽

Ridwaan Omar ◽

Aymen Maktabi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Dental Health ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Needlestick Injuries ◽

Dental Health Care ◽

Care Workers

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Violence against Health-Care Workers in Governmental Health Facilities in Arar City, Saudi Arabia

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2020/6380281 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ruqayyah B. Al Anazi ◽

Saeed M. AlQahtani ◽

Amal E. Mohamad ◽

Sabry M. Hammad ◽

Hossam Khleif

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Exposure To Violence ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Northern Region ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers

Background. Violence against health-care workers (HCWs) showed increasing worldwide concern. No previous studies addressed violence against HCWs in the Northern region, Saudi Arabia. Objectives. To determine the prevalence of violence against HCWs in public hospitals and primary health-care centers in Arar city, KSA, and to identify its associated factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 352 HCWs in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities in Arar city from 1st October to 31st December 2018. Consented HCWs completed a structured self-administered questionnaire which was modified from the WHO questionnaire for violence. Results. Out of 352 health-care workers, 171 (48.6%) reported exposure to violence during work in the past year. The verbal violence was the most common form experienced (83%). Physicians were the main exposed group (59%). Being non-Saudi HCWs, older with longer duration of experience, working in hospitals, working in the emergency room, and working in evening or night shifts were significantly associated with more exposure to violence. The unmet demand for the patient and deficient staff number were the leading reasons for aggression. Only 16.4% of assaulted HCWs reported the violent acts to the higher health affairs authority with the most frequent reasons for nonreporting were their perception that it was useless and their fear of negative consequences. Conclusions. Violence against HCWs in Arar city, KSA, is a prevalent problem. Improving health security system and increasing staffing and their training on proper dealing with violence are highly recommended. Also, enforcing rules and regulations is an important demand to control and prevent violence against HCWs.

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