scholarly journals The Level of Keratoconus Awareness among the Saudi Population in Riyadh

Author(s):  
Turad Alkadi ◽  
Shahad Alruwaili ◽  
Shahd Al Mahfud ◽  
Fahad Alomair

Aims: This study aims to reveal misconceptions about keratoconus, to assess the level of knowledge among Saudi nationals and to compare the level of awareness of keratoconus between affected and unaffected individuals. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey on a study population that consisted of Saudi nationals over the age of 18 from November until December 2020 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to assess the level of knowledge of keratoconus among the Saudi population. Results: Three hundred and ten responses were obtained, the age range of the participants was between 18 to 50 years oldof which 182 were females and 128 were males. Thirty percent of participants stated that they had acquired their knowledge of keratoconus from the internet, while 29% stated that they had no knowledge of keratoconus at all. The majority of the sample (38.4%) had a high level of knowledge about keratoconus, 31.3% had a moderate level of knowledge and 30.3% had a low level of knowledge. A significant correlation between the level of knowledge and the diagnosis of keratoconus was found, in which keratoconus patients had a higher level of knowledge (44.2%) (p value < .05). Moreover, males (60.1%) had a higher level of awareness compared to females (23.1%) (p value < .05). Age had no significant effect on the level of knowledge (p value > .05). Conclusion: The level of knowledge about keratoconus among the Saudi population in Riyadh is moderate to high. Keratoconus patients had a higher level of knowledge compared to unaffected participants. We recommend further assessment of the level of knowledge about keratoconus with a larger sample size in different provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Author(s):  
Nader M. Elsayed Marei ◽  
Mohamed Tharwat Salama ◽  
Mohammed Ali Habibullah

Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of hand washing among dentists in Al Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by use of a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on WHO`s “Five Moments of Hand Hygiene Questionnaire” with a few notable changes. Statistical Analysis: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to analyze data. Results were displayed as counts and percentages. Results: The level of knowledge of Hand Hygiene (HH) was found high in 52% and moderate in 37% of the participants, when in the attitude levels the majority of the participants i.e. 88% had high level of attitude and was moderate in 7% of respondents. Level of practices of Hand Hygiene was high in 61%, moderate in 37% and almost none (1.4%) of our participants were found with a low level of practices. Conclusion: The population under study scored high on attitude when compared to practices and knowledge scores were the least. These points to the need for interventions for improving knowledge through regular workshops and continuing education. Since knowledge does not automatically translate into practices, emphasis on HH compliance must be laid.  Planned interventions to improve compliance must be multidimensional which considers and includes administrative support, clinic ergonomics and design, timely HH supplies, periodic educational programs, reminders, process surveillance and employee feedback to achieve sustained improvements. Keywords: COVID-19, Dentist, Hand hygiene, Knowledge, Practices.


Author(s):  
Amal Khalil AbuAlhommos ◽  
Fatimah Essa Alhadab ◽  
May Mohammed Almajhad ◽  
Rahmah Almutawaa ◽  
Sara Taleb Alabdulkareem

The purpose of the study was to assess the community knowledge of and to obtain a broad overview of attitudes towards appropriate prevention techniques that are recommended by the Ministry of Health to prevent COVID-19 transmission in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia between 1 May and 30 November 2020 to assess the community knowledge of and attitudes towards appropriate COVID-19 prevention techniques in Saudi Arabia. The study tool was developed based on an extensive literature review. Results: A total of 577 individuals were involved in this study. The majority of the participants knew that COVID-19 is classified as a severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by viral infection, and that it is more common among the elderly and those who have a chronic illness. More than half of the participants were able to identify the symptoms of COVID-19 correctly, which are fever, dry cough, and loss of taste. Approximately half the study participants were knowledgeable about appropriate distancing, handwashing, and preventive measures (e.g., wearing a cloth mask, smoking cessation, avoiding dangerous cultural behaviors that increase the probability of disease transmission). More than half of the study participants were able to identify the appropriate actions that should be taken if common COVID-19 symptoms appear. Conclusion: A promising level of knowledge and positive attitudes towards COVID-19 was observed in Saudi Arabia. Continuous efforts should be maintained to sustain the level of awareness among the public. Further studies are warranted to explore the level of knowledge and attitudes after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1297
Author(s):  
Edrous Alamer ◽  
Abdulaziz Alhazmi ◽  
Naaif A. Qasir ◽  
Rahaf Alamer ◽  
Halima Areeshi ◽  
...  

Background: Massive vaccination campaigns have been undertaken globally to combat the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). While most COVID-19 vaccines have shown excellent efficacy and safety profiles in clinical studies, real-world monitoring of vaccine safety is still important. In this study, we aimed to investigate the early side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine in children between 12–18 years old in Saudi Arabia. Method: To investigate the side effects in children in this age range following the administration of either one or two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine, we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey. General and demographic data were collected, and vaccine-associated side effects following vaccination were evaluated. Results: The study recruited a total of 965 eligible participants. Overall, 571 (60%) of the study participants reported at least one side effect following Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccination. The most frequently reported side effects were pain or redness at the site of injection (90%), fatigue (67%), fever (59%), headache (55%), nausea or vomiting (21%), and chest pain and shortness of breath (20%). Joint or bone pain were reported less frequently among our participants (2%). Our data showed that more female participants reported side effects compared to male participants, with 52% and 48%, respectively. Side effects were more common after the second dose compared to the first dose in our study cohort. Conclusions: While 60% of the children (12–18 years old) who received Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine reported side effects, our data showed that these side effects were not different from those that were reported in the clinical trials which lasted only for a few days. Side effects were more common after the second dose. Larger epidemiological and molecular studies are needed to evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine in protection of children against SARS-CoV-2 reinfections.


Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Syed Faisal Zaidi ◽  
Rayan Mgarry ◽  
Abdullah Alsanea ◽  
Sakar Khalid Almutairi ◽  
Yaser Alsinnari ◽  
...  

Introduction: Various drug–food interactions exist that may hinder treatment and can sometimes be lethal. Our aim was to assess the level of public knowledge and awareness in Jeddah city, Western Saudi Arabia, about drug–food interactions, along with the effects of demographics on their knowledge. Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered in this cross-sectional study to participants spread across multiple locations in Jeddah, including in malls and public gatherings. Participants included both males and females. Sample size was calculated through Raosoft® software. Data analysis was executed using IBM Statistic SPSS and the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 410 people participated in the study and only 92.68% (380) of responses were enrolled in the study; 7.32% (30) were not enrolled due to the exclusion criteria. Surprisingly, only six out of eighteen questions regarding drug–food interactions in the administered questionnaire were correctly answered by 380 participants. Data indicated that the participants had a poor to intermediate level of both knowledge and awareness with respect to drug–food interactions. Furthermore, participants showed moderate to strong awareness of the effects of alcohol and tea generally, and their interaction with medication. Conclusion: Participants in our study showed inadequate knowledge of basic and fundamental information about drug–food interactions, which highlights the dire need to increase awareness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-311
Author(s):  
Hafiz A. Makeen ◽  
Saad S. Alqahtani ◽  
Nawazish Alam ◽  
Santhosh J. Menachery ◽  
Rabea M. Ageeli ◽  
...  

Natural and artificial food colors are widely used in a variety of food products. This study was designed to assess the awareness and perception of coloring agents present in food and beverages on children's behavior among people of Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on representative samples of 387 married people from different places in Jazan region of Saudi Arabia from August to December 2019. The study utilized a validated questionnaire consisting of 12 questions to gather the information from 387 participants (52.9% males and 47.03% females). Approximately 77% were young adults; belong to age group of 26-45 years (P = 0.000). Majority (40.5%) of them had four or more children (P = 0.000). While significant level of knowledge about the use of foods and beverages containing coloring agent was found in the participants (P = 0.001), they were not aware that it may affect the child's health. Only 24.7% were able to tell the name of a coloring agent (P = 0.001). Significant percentage (88.9%) of parents reported about child hyperactivity after consumption of specific type of food and beverages, particularly fizzy drinks (35.61%), chocolates (31.82%), and sweets and candy (30.3%). Target populations were considered to be aware of presence of coloring agent in food and beverages used by their children regularly but they are not much aware of its harmful effect on long-term use.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Lartey ◽  
ELLEN KONADU ANTWI-ADJEI ◽  
Solomon Agyapong ◽  
Abdul-Kabir Mohammed ◽  
Derrick N.O. Mensah ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Corneal transplantations are surgeries performed for irreparable corneal diseases and damage. However, there is a gap between the number of potential recipients and the number of donor corneas available. The main aim of the study was to determine the awareness and attitudes toward corneal donation among applicants and staff of DVLA, Kumasi-Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. 100 participants were selected using convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit responses from participants concerning awareness and attitudes toward corneal transplant. Results: The mean ± SD age of the participants was 32.05 ± 11.48years and age range, 18-67years. Males were 66% whilst females constituted 34%. 32.7% of the participants were aware of corneal donation. Majority of the participants were Christians (83.1%) and Singles (63%). Television was the source of information with the highest preponderance (49.4%). 67.3% were willing to donate their corneas after death. 63.9% were willing to indicate their donor statuses on drivers’ license form which had a significant association with willingness to donate cornea after death (p<0.05, ᵪ 2 = 12.187). Conclusion: There is a poor level of awareness (32.7%) of transplant and donation amongst the study population but a good level of willingness to donate organs (67%). Consent via driving license would seem to be a good potential mode of obtaining consent to supplement the harvesting of adequate tissues for transplant if adequate awareness is created.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Pallavi Pawar ◽  
Nilotpol Kashyap ◽  
Rohit Anand

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the oral health status of 6-12 year old children and their mother’s knowledge, attitude, and practices in Bhilai city. Moreover, this study was also carried out to determine whether mother’s oral health related knowledge, attitude, and practices have a significant influence on the oral health of their children. Materials and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among children (n=600) aged between 6-12 years, attending both government and private schools accompanied with their mothers in Bhilai city. The oral health status of the children was evaluated by using WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (2013). The parents were then asked to fill 25 item based on selfadministered questionnaire. Mother’s knowledge, attitude, and practices were assessed by direct contact with mothers using close ended questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: The data was then entered and analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Also, p value≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The result of the study showed that 90% of mothers had good knowledge, 75% mothers had average attitude, and 51% mothers had high level practices related to oral health. An inverse relationship was found between children’s oral health status and their mother’s knowledge, attitude, and practices about oral health. Thus, the findings were highly significant. Conclusion: Results showed that mother’s oral health related to knowledge, attitude, and practices had a significant impact on oral health status of their children.


Author(s):  
Amar Fathi Mohamed Khalifa ◽  
Yasser Nabil AlKhudairy ◽  
Adel Ahmed Algahtani ◽  
Bandar Mohammed Abduljabbar ◽  
Fahad Majed Aldawsari ◽  
...  

Background: Over-the-counter-drugs (OTC) are drugs that can be obtained by patients without a prescription from a physician. In Saudi Arabia, it has been reported that more than half of university students practiced self-medication and used OTC drugs. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study, among medical and non-medical students in Riyadh. The sample size was 421, by systemic random sampling. A pre-coded pre-tested online questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS V 23. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was no significant relationship between what the participants were majoring in and the usage of OTC drugs (p value= 0.373). Gender also had no relation with the use of OTC (p value= 0.168). Panadol appeared as the most commonly used OTC drug 62.9% for the relief of the most commonly mentioned factor which is headache 50.12%.  Conclusion: Medical education didn’t have much of an effect on the use of OTC drugs. Moreover, professional guidance or advice was not considered most of the time for taking OTC, but the majority of respondents portrayed good behavior towards usage of OTC.


Author(s):  
Ragab Eid Saif Hassan ◽  
Abdulrahman waseem hamid Alhamid ◽  
Abdullah Abdlilwahid Abdullah Alshuaybi ◽  
Abdulaziz Osama Asaad Hamadallah

Aims: To evaluate the quality of life of patients after endodontic treatment, and their satisfaction toward the endodontic treatment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross sectional study, was conducted on 300 patients who underwent endodontic treatment from 6 months to a week ago. The study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using statistical analysis software SPSS v.26. Results: In the OHRQoL items, the total degree of the oral health-related quality of life assessment was medium with (M = 2.72 out of 5, RII = 54.4%, SD = 0.67), the most affected was "Feeling an excruciating pain in the mouth" with (M = 3.37 out of 5, RII = 67.4%, SD = 0.77), while the least was  " Feeling irritable with others because of the teeth or mouth" with (M = 2.32 out of 5, RII = 46.4%, SD = 1.35). The total degree of the personal satisfaction assessment was high with (M = 3.78 out of 5, RII = 75.6%, SD = 0.67). "Postoperative Pleasantness" was the most satisfied part with (M = 3.86 out of 5, RII = 77.3%, SD = 0.87). Conclusion: This study showed a moderate level of OHRQoL among patients after the endodontic treatment, and a high level of satisfaction among patients toward the endodontic treatment.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Lartey ◽  
ELLEN KONADU ANTWI-ADJEI ◽  
Solomon Agyapong ◽  
Abdul-Kabir Mohammed ◽  
Derrick N.O. Mensah ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Corneal transplantations are surgeries performed for irreparable corneal diseases and damage. However, there is a gap between the number of potential recipients and the number of donor corneas available. The main aim of the study was to determine the awareness and attitudes towards corneal transplants among applicants and staff of DVLA, Kumasi-Ghana. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. 100 participants were selected using convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit responses from participants concerning awareness and attitudes toward corneal transplant. Results: The mean ± SD age of the participants was 32.05 ± 11.48years and age range, 18-67years. Males were 66% whilst females constituted 34%. 32.7% of the participants were aware of corneal transplant. Majority of the participants were Christians (83.1%) and Singles (63%). Television was the source of information with the highest preponderance (49.4%). 67.3% were willing to donate their corneas after death. 63.9% were willing to indicate their donor statuses on drivers’ license form which had a significant association with willingness to donate cornea after death (p<0.05, ᵪ2= 12.187). Conclusion: There is a poor level of awareness (32.7%) of transplant donation amongst the study population but and a good level of willingness to donate organs (67%). Consent via driving license would seem to be a good potential mode of obtaining consent to supplement the harvesting of adequate tissues for transplant if adequate awareness is created. Keywords: Knowledge, Willingness, Unwillingness, Cornea, DVLA


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