scholarly journals Prevalence and Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders among Secondary Schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Author(s):  
Omar W. Althomali ◽  
Junaid Amin ◽  
Wael Alghamdi ◽  
Daria Hussain Shaik

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational health hazards and serious health concerns among teachers. About 39% to 95% of teachers suffer from musculoskeletal pain that can lead to a decline in their performance, frequent sick leaves and early retirement, and can have a negative impact on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for MSDs among secondary schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an electronic survey. A self-reported and validated Arabic version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used. Participants were recruited randomly through a two-stage sampling technique. A total of 251 respondents (57.8% males and 42.2% females) returned the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 87.3%. Female teachers (95.3%) suffered more than their male counterparts (81.4%). The most common site was the lower back (62.55%), followed by the shoulders (53.39%) and knees (41.04%). Most of the participants (72.7%) reported MSDs in multiple sites. Binomial logistic regression predicted that smoking is a significant risk factor for lower back disorders (p < 0.05). A high prevalence of MSDs can be due to a substantial lack of awareness and practice of ergonomics, which warrant the development of preventive strategies and educational programs.

Author(s):  
Dhafer ALSHAYBAN ◽  
Royes JOSEPH ◽  
Jisha LUCCA ◽  
Fatimah ALJISHI ◽  
Yara ALSADIQ

Prescription and non-prescription medication misuse or abuse is a global problem that has a negative impact on all human life aspects, including health, social, economic, and security status. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports, over 5% of adult people used drugs at least once in the year 2015, and 29.5 million of them were suffered from the consequences of inappropriate use of drugs. Information on the knowledge and perception among pharmacists regarding the misuse and abuse medications in Saudi Arabia are limited, and therefore, a study was conducted among pharmacy staff to assess their knowledge and awareness on drug misuse and abuse. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy professionals with more than three months of experience were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the participant's responses. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with the participant's responses. Ninety pharmacy professionals were responded. Overall, 69 (76.7%) participants agreed that misuse and abuse are two different terms. In addition, the study showed different responses for patients who suspected to be medication abusers. In conclusion, this study provides an initial picture of pharmacy staffs' knowledge and opinion regarding the misuse and abuse of medicines in Saudi Arabia. Participants' reactions toward such behaviors were different and not consistent. Therefore, there should be a clear policy to define the role of the pharmacy staff toward the misuse and abuse of medication in Saudi Arabia.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Olayan Alatawi ◽  
Faisal Alzahrani ◽  
Nasrin S Saiyed

Background: Levetiracetam (Keppra®) is a well-known second-generation anti-epileptic drug (AED). The study was aimed to addresses Levetiracetam use, availability and knowledge of toxicity among epileptic patients and their care givers in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital Tabuk Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital (KSAFH) in Tabuk city in Saudi Arabia. The study participants were epileptic patients and their care givers, selected from different outpatient departments using a convenient sampling technique. Data was collected using an Arabic self-reported questionnaire consisted of open-ended and closed-ended questions to facilitate study participants. Altogether, 381 persons answered the full questionnaire. The data were entered into SPSS version 26.0 for Windows, cleaned and managed before analysis. Results: Participants age ranged from 18 to 63 years, with a mean 29.6 years and standard deviation 5.8 years. 47.0% (n= 179) were male and 53.0% (n= 202) female. Six out of ten participants lived in the urban area (67.7%). Majority of the participants had knowledge about seizures (96.9%). About 31.0% of the participants and/or patients had seizures (epilepsy) since more than 20 years. Nearly 28.0% participants and/or patients had family history of seizures (epilepsy). Majority of the participants had Levetiracetam at home and aware of the correct usage of it. However, about 11% of the participants felt that Levetiracetam is used to help sleep. Eight out of ten of the participants reported “Sleepiness” as the side effect of Levetiracetam (79.3%). Half of the participants reported “Headache” as the side effect of Levetiracetam. About 94.0% of the participants knew that someone could take enough Levetiracetam to harm themselves. Conclusion: The study population used Levetiracetam, they demonstrated basic awareness of Levetiracetam use including the potential consequences of overdosing. Participants' knowledge regarding the toxicity of Levetiracetam is adequate. Special awareness programs for parents of children with epilepsy may be needed to reduce the knowledge gaps in the management of epilepsy and to ensure compliance and optimal therapeutic outcomes.


Author(s):  
M C Sriradha ◽  
Jebamalar J ◽  
Sasikaladevi S

Introduction: Overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions and open-air defecation are still major issues in rural households. This study aimed at assessing the internal, external environment and sanitation among a rural population. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Kedar village of Villupuram District from June 2018 to July 2018. Around 379 households were assessed regarding environment and sanitation using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Overcrowding was present in 29.1 houses. Twenty percent of the houses were inadequately ventilated. Separate toilet facilities were absent in 14.9% of houses. Mosquito nuisance was present among 29.9% houses and fly nuisance among 30.7% houses. Open drainage system was present among 21.3% houses. Lower socio-economic status was a significant risk factor of inadequate ventilation, absence of separate latrine and over-crowding. Conclusion: Awareness and health education on the health hazards of poor housing, imparting knowledge on government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Swacch Bharat are needed for those in the lower socio-economic strata for improving environment and sanitation. Key words: Over-crowding, sanitation, open air defecation, Swacch Bharat


Author(s):  
Dhafer Alshayban ◽  
Royes Joseph ◽  
Jisha Lucca ◽  
Fatimah Aljishi ◽  
Yara Alsadiq

Prescription and non-prescription medication misuse or abuse is a global problem that has a negative impact on all human life aspects, including health, social, economic, and security status. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports, over 5% of adult people used drugs at least once in the year 2015, and 29.5 million of them were suffered from the consequences of inappropriate use of drugs. Information on the knowledge and perception among pharmacists regarding the misuse and abuse medications in Saudi Arabia are limited, and therefore, a study was conducted among pharmacy staff to assess their knowledge and awareness on drug misuse and abuse. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy professionals with more than three months of experience were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the participant’s responses. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with the participant's responses. Ninety pharmacy professionals were responded. Overall, 69 (76.7%) participants agreed that misuse and abuse are two different terms. In addition, the study showed different responses for patients who suspected to be medication abusers. In conclusion, this study provides an initial picture of pharmacy staffs’ knowledge and opinion regarding the misuse and abuse of medicines in Saudi Arabia. Participants’ reactions toward such behaviors were different and not consistent. Therefore, there should be a clear policy to define the role of the pharmacy staff toward the misuse and abuse of medication in Saudi Arabia


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Khalid Aboalshamat ◽  
Ola Daoud ◽  
Lina Ayman Mahmoud ◽  
Sakina Attal ◽  
Rahaf Alshehri ◽  
...  

Objective. A dental loupe is a tool used by many dentists and dental students to improve visual field and performance. This study aims to assess the practices and attitudes about dental magnification loupes and their relationship to musculoskeletal disorders. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 400 dental students and dentists in four dental colleges in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The mean age was 28.35 years (SD = 8.50), and 56% of the participants were male. Also, 70.75% were students or interns, while 29.25% were dentists. Data gathering was conducted using a questionnaire that was composed of four sections: demographic, magnification devices usage, attitude toward dental loupes, and the Nordic questionnaire to assess musculoskeletal disorders. Results. A total of 66% of participants had used dental magnification tools before, but only 12.25% were using dental loupes at the time of the study. The main reported advantages of dental loupes were comfort in vision (59.25%) and improved work accuracy (53%), while the main disadvantage was difficulty in visual measurement (28.5%). A total of 73.25% reported that price was the main barrier to the use of dental loupes. Lower back (63.5%), neck (65.25%), and shoulder (46.25%) pain were the most frequently reported areas of discomfort. There was a significant relationship (<0.05) between the use of dental loupes and lowered levels of reported discomfort in the lower back, neck, shoulders, elbows, upper back, and feet. Conclusion. There are few dental professionals who use dental loupes in Saudi Arabia. There was a significant relationship between dental loupes use and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders among dental students and dentists.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-211
Author(s):  
Sidra Sarwar ◽  
Sara Khalid ◽  
Tahir Mahmood ◽  
Hadeeqa Jabeen ◽  
Shahid Imran

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are not only becoming prevalent among health care professionals in our country but are affecting their health and performance adversely. They are caused by poor ergonomics and awkward posture during work activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of neck and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in dentists of Lahore, Pakistan. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during October 2017 to March 2018. The data was collected using convenient sampling technique from 162 Dentists including 52 males and 110 females of Children hospital Lahore, Punjab Dental hospital and Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. Data was collected by using Mangalore Questionnaire for identification of musculoskeletal disorders. Descriptive analysis of the data was done using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Of 162 dentists, 115 (71%) suffered from musculoskeletal disorders. Shoulder was the most commonly affected region (30.9%) followed by neck (25.9%), arm (6.2%), wrist (4.3%), elbow (3.1%) and forearm (0.6%). Pain (45.7%) was found to be the most common complaint followed by muscle weakness (20.4%), paraesthesia (3.7%) and swelling (1.2%). Conclusions: It was concluded that majority of the dentists were suffering from musculoskeletal disorders with shoulder as the most affected region and pain as the most frequent complaint. Key words: Dentists, Musculoskeletal disorders, Neck pain, Upper extremity


Author(s):  
Hasan Saeed Alamri ◽  
Wesam F. Mousa ◽  
Abdullah Algarni ◽  
Shehata F. Megahid ◽  
Ali Al Bshabshe ◽  
...  

Background: This study aims to investigate the mental health of COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out targeting confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Due to travel and time constraints as well as the accessibility of patients, cases were included from East Jeddah Hospital, King Abdulaziz Hospital, and the Oncology Center in Jeddah. The data were collected using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed COVID-19 cases, personal data, medical history, smoking, traveling abroad, and work-related conditions. Additionally, data regarding contact level with COVID-19 cases were considered. The mental health statuses of the patients were assessed using a validated Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. The study included 261 COVID-19 patients whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years. Results: The survey findings revealed that 13% of COVID-19 patients had a borderline level of anxiety, 26.8% were considered anxiety cases, while 60.2% were normal. The findings also revealed that 29.9% had a borderline level of depression, 18.4% were considered depression cases, while 51.7% were normal. Conclusions: This study concluded that COVID-19 patients experience anxiety and depression, and as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread, the results of the study are particularly useful in developing a strategy to psychologically support COVID-19 patients.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
Nora A. Althumiri ◽  
Mada H. Basyouni ◽  
Norah AlMousa ◽  
Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim ◽  
Rasha A. Almubark ◽  
...  

The global prevalence of obesity is increasing. Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases and health conditions. This study aims to estimate the current prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia and described the current national-level status of the association between obesity and various health conditions. This study is a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted over phone-interviews in June 2020. In this study, a proportional quota-sampling technique was used to obtain equal distributions of participants, stratified by age and gender, across the 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. Weight and height were self-reported, and the obesity was determined as BMI ≥ 30. Logistic regression adjusted for age and gender was used for exploring current associations between obesity and health conditions. Of the 6239 participants contacted, 4709 participants responded and completed the interview with a response rate of 75.48%. Of them, 50.1% were female, the mean age was 36.4 ± 13.5 (Range: 18–90), and the median age was 36. The national weighted prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was 24.7%, and the prevalence in the sample (unweighted) was 21.7%. Obesity was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes [Odd ratio, (OR) = 1.52], hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.69), hypertension (OR = 1.61), lung diseases (OR = 1.69), rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.57), sleep apnea (OR = 1.82), colon diseases (OR = 1.31), and thyroid disorders (OR = 1.8). This study provides an update on the recent prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia. It also shows the variation in prevalence rates between different regions, which might be explored further. Although obesity shows a decreasing trend, almost one-quarter of this study sample were obese. Obesity is currently associated with many health conditions that can affect the individuals’ quality of life, impose stress on the healthcare system and impose an economic burden on the country. This evidence highlights the need for action to focus more on obesity in Saudi Arabia.


Author(s):  
Sujata Mandhwani ◽  
Sadaf Zia ◽  
Emad Salman Shaikh ◽  
Dante Duarte ◽  
Erum Tanveer

The adverse effects of excessive mobile phone (MP) use on children include deprivation from sleep, increased risk of lack of concentration, depression, anxiety and obesity. No such study has been conducted in children from Pakistan. Objectives: To assess the association of MP usage and musculoskeletal disorders in school going children. Methods: This was a cross sectional survey. Data were collected from different private schools of Karachi, Pakistan. Convenient non probability sampling technique was used. A sample size of 385 students was taken keeping a confidence interval of 95% with 5% margin of error. Results: A total of 385 subjects participated. It was also noticed that 75.6% (291) students have smart phone and 5.2% (20) have conventional phone and remaining 19.2% (74) have camera phone. It was noticed that the participants 306 (79.5%) said they slept for 1–2[Formula: see text]h daily and 30 (7.8%) had sleep for 3–4[Formula: see text]h daily. One hundred and four 104 (27%) had noticed pain in neck. Conclusion: The use of MP for any activity was associated with sleep deprivation and pain in wrist/hands followed by neck and upper back pain. The usage of MP should be limited to avoid the stress on musculoskeletal parts of the body.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabila Kanwal ◽  
Ghazala Riaz ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Riaz ◽  
Shoumaila Safdar

Absenteeism is a usual pattern of absence from a duty or responsibility. Usually, absenteeism is considered as an indication of person poor performance. In this study a descriptive cross sectional study design was used. A close ended questionnaire was used as a research tool. Convenient sampling technique was used. Data was analyzed on SPSS 20 version. Nurses are absent from their duties because they suffer from minor ailments e.g. headache and backache? In response of this question, 42.5% responded said that they are strongly agreed, 17.5% were agreed, 8.8% were neutral, 21.3% were disagreed, and 10% were strongly agreed. Nurses do absent from their work because workload is too heavy, 42.5% were agreed, 30% were strongly agreed, 12.5% were neutral,7.5% were disagreed and 7.5% were also strongly disagreed. The lack of appropriate recognition and reward could lead to dissatisfaction and absenteeism among nurses, in response of this question nurses asked that they do absent 31.3% agreed, 41.3% strongly agreed, 15.0% are neutral, 12.5%are disagreed and 0% are strongly disagreed. Staff absenteeism is a growing management concern. It can contribute to sickness absence, staffing instability, work overload and job dissatisfaction that could have a negative impact on patient care. The rate of absenteeism can be reduced by productive management, and loyal leadership. It will not only reduce absenteeism rate but also improve quality of care toward the patients. In return of good performance nurses need appraisal.Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-2: 110-114


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