Awareness, Perceptions, and Use of Oral Nicotine Pouches Among Jazan University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Sleep aids, classified by their mechanisms of action, can promote sleep but may be misused, leading to harm. Exercise and pharmacological interventions like antihistamines, melatonin, and benzodiazepines also help manage sleep disorders. In Saudi Arabia, sleep disorders are prevalent, especially among university students.Objectives: Our study examines the prevalence and usage of the medication containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride, among Jazan University students, aiming to inform better practices and highlight related risks and benefits.Methods: A cross-sectional design study was conducted among Jazan University students in Saudi Arabia. The sampling of data utilized random selection. Data was cleaned in Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29 (Released 2023; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).Results: Our study comprised 437 participants from Jazan University aged 18-25 years. The majority reported earning less than 5000 SAR monthly and were unmarried (91.8%). Remarkably, 13.7% of participants were diagnosed with insomnia. Sleep aid containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride, utilized for mild to moderate pain relief and sleep induction, was the most prevalent medication, with 56.3% of participants having used it and 9.4% using it continuously for over 10 nights. Significant predictors for usage of sleep aids containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride included gender (p=0.041), with male students exhibiting higher usage rates, and college type (p<0.001), particularly medical students. Multivariate analysis confirmed male gender and enrollment in medical colleges as robust predictors. Age, income, marital status, and employment variables showed no significant associations.Conclusions: Our study highlights a considerable prevalence of sleep aids containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride usage among Jazan University students, notably influenced by gender and college type. Male gender and enrollment in medical colleges emerged as significant predictors of their usage.

Imposter syndrome (IS) and low self-esteem (SE) are common issues affecting medical students that can impact their well-being and development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with IS and SE among medical students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, 523 medical students in years 2-6 at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, completed validated questionnaires on IS (Young Imposter Scale) and SE (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Sociodemographic factors were also collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze IS and SE prevalence and correlates. Five hundred twenty-three students with a mean age of 22.09 ± 1.933 participated. The prevalence of low SE and positive IS was 17.6% and 24.3%, respectively. IS and SE had a significant negative correlation (p<0.001). Several sociodemographic factors were associated with increased IS, including 2nd and 4th-year students, forced study choice, and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0-3.49 (P<0.05). Paternal education beyond high school was associated with lower IS (P<0.05). Logistic regression analyses confirmed that 2nd-year students had a 3.88 times higher odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI); 2.19-6.88), and 4th-year students had a 2.37 times higher OR (95% CI; 1.40-4.02) of IS than other years. For SE, advanced academic years, forced study choice, 7+ hours of sleep, and a GPA above 3.5 were associated with higher levels (P<0.05). Negative self-appraisals were associated with lower SE, while positive attitudes were associated with higher SE (P<0.05). Our study reveals that IS and low SE are prevalent among Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, medical students. Therefore, intervention courses that address these issues in medical education at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, may be necessary to support medical students' well-being and academic success.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health issue, impacting bone health, immune function, and overall well-being. Despite abundant sunlight in Saudi Arabia, deficiency rates remain high, potentially due to limited sun exposure, cultural practices, and low dietary intake of vitamin D. University students are a key demographic for assessing public health awareness and behaviors related to vitamin D. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to vitamin D deficiency among Jazan University students, and to identify demographic factors influencing these aspects. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 429 students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, from March to June 2024. Data on KAP regarding vitamin D deficiency were collected via a validated bilingual online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate demographic predictors of KAP scores. Results: Among the participants, 47.3% exhibited high knowledge, 55% demonstrated high awareness, and 45.6% had high practice levels concerning vitamin D deficiency. Female students had significantly higher KAP scores than males (p &lt; 0.01), and health college students showed greater knowledge and awareness than their non-health peers (p &lt; 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed that gender was a significant predictor, with females displaying higher odds of better outcomes across all domains (Knowledge: AOR 2.66, 95% CI 1.73–4.07; Awareness: AOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.94–4.62; Practices: AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.10–2.49). Conclusions: The findings highlight a need for targeted educational programs and routine screening initiatives to address vitamin D deficiency among young adults. Public health strategies should prioritize awareness campaigns across all academic disciplines to improve vitamin D literacy and mitigate deficiency-related health risks.

BackgroundDepression, anxiety, and stress levels are considered important indicators for mental health. Khat chewing habit is prevalent among all segments of Jazan population in Saudi Arabia. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among Jazan University students, and information about the correlation between khat use and these disorders is scarce. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their correlation with khat chewing and other risk factors among Jazan University students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 642 students from Jazan University. Multistage sampling was used, with probability proportional to size-sampling technique. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 questionnaire was used to collect the data, which were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0 software.ResultsModerate depression was prevalent among 53.6% of the sample, anxiety was found among 65.7%, while 34.3% of the students suffered from stress. Female gender was strongly associated with higher mean scores for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, with P-values <0.05 for all. Moreover, anxiety symptoms scores were statistically associated with grade point average and caffeine consumption. Khat use was statistically associated with higher mean scores of anxiety among males and a higher mean score of depression and anxiety among females.ConclusionThe results indicate a high rate of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Jazan University students. Khat use was associated with anxiety, and a higher rate of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress was indicated among female students. Therefore, strategy for the prevention and management of depression, anxiety, and stress is highly recommended to minimize the impact of these serious disorders.

Background: Saudi Arabia frequently experiences both natural and human-made disasters, emphasizing the importance of disaster medicine in medical education. Given Jazan&amp;apos;s geographical vulnerability and the presence of large public gatherings, it is essential for Jazan University to ensure that its medical students are adequately prepared. This study aims to assess the knowledge of disaster medicine among medical students at Jazan University and to identify gaps in their emergency preparedness training. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Medical College of Jazan University from February 29 to April 3, 2024. The study involved randomly selected medical students from the second to sixth academic years, with informed consent obtained prior to participation. A total of 365 students were recruited based on a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. Data were collected via online questionnaires distributed through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter (now known as X), and Telegram. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data and knowledge scores. Associations between variables were evaluated using chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, and analysis of variance, with statistical significance set at p &amp;lt; 0.05. Results: Data analysis revealed a notably low level of knowledge, with students scoring an average of 7.14 out of 20. Students from rural areas scored higher than those from urban areas, and second-year students achieved the highest cognitive scores compared to other academic years. Gender and marital status did not show a significant impact on knowledge levels. The primary sources of information on disaster medicine were identified as websites and university curricula. The findings indicate a critical gap in emergency preparedness training among medical students, suggesting a lack of sufficient learning, knowledge, and engagement in disaster medicine. Conclusion: Medical schools should integrate comprehensive emergency preparedness training into their curricula, ensure the availability of adequate resources, and provide practical experience to enhance students&amp;apos; crisis response capabilities. Addressing these educational gaps will better equip future medical professionals to manage disaster situations effectively, thereby strengthening overall disaster response efforts.

Background: Waterpipe (WP) smoking exposes smokers to high levels of tobacco and toxins. This investigation is aiming to assess the prevalence of WP smoking among Jazan University students and to related influencing factors.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Multistage random sampling was utilized to target several colleges in Jazan University. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire where information about demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice were collected. Chi square test and T Students test were used to assess statistical difference of measured variable among studied groups.Results: A total of 610 Jazan University students were recruited in this survey. The prevalence of students who had ever tried WP smoking (even once) was 52% and the proportion of participants who were current smokers at the time of recruitment was 34%. Being a male student, older than 21, related to health speciality and non-smoker was found to have a higher level of knowledge concerning WP smoking. A higher proportion of smokers were found to agree that WP smoking made them more attractive, agree that smoking WP is cheaper than cigarettes and agree that flavoured WP is less harmful than unflavoured WP when compared to non-smokers. Influence of gender smoking practice was apparent where most female student smokers were found to prefer to smoke with friends but not in the home or a cafe.Conclusions: The prevalence of WP smoking detected among Jazan University students was relatively high which mandates appropriate implementation of educational health campaigns with targeting influencing social determinants.

Background/Objectives: Obesity among university students is a growing concern, often influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Few studies in Saudi Arabia have addressed this issue using a comprehensive framework. This study aims to examine the prevalence of obesity and its biopsychosocial predictors among university students, as well as their perceptions, behaviors, and comorbidities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jazan University during the 2024-2025 academic year. A total of 819 undergraduate students completed a structured, self-administered Arabic questionnaire. The tool assessed sociodemographic variables, body mass index (BMI) (calculated from self-reported height and weight), biological and psychological factors, social influences, lifestyle behaviors, and comorbidities. Bivariate associations were tested using chi-square analyses, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of obesity. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 19.6%, and 22.6% of students were overweight. Obesity was significantly more prevalent among males (26.7%) than females (9.6%, p < 0.001) and among students aged 24 years and above (24.0%, p = 0.024). Independent predictors of obesity included being overweight in childhood (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 3.47-7.90), belief in a genetic predisposition (AOR = 4.66), emotional eating (AOR = 2.57), academic or personal stress (AOR = 5.36), and social pressures related to body image (AOR = 2.96). Comorbidities significantly associated with obesity included high cholesterol (AOR = 5.40), sleep disorders (AOR = 2.99), and joint pain (AOR = 1.96). More than 80% of students with obesity reported current or past weight loss attempts, and nearly 60% received medical advice to lose weight. Conclusions: Obesity among Jazan University students is significantly associated with male gender, early-life weight history, emotional and academic stress, and social pressures. Students with obesity also experience a higher burden of comorbid conditions, even at a young age. These findings highlight the need for integrated, student-centered interventions that address both the psychological and social dimensions of weight management in university settings.

For Universities in Saudi Arabia, standards in language learning from the onset have suffered tremendously. Students for the most part have not been able to excel in English language courses largely due to student reticence. At Jazan University, students are no stranger to this predicament. This study focuses on a critical analysis of factors that engender reticence among level 1 preparatory year students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. This ushers the question, what are these factors are that engender reticence? The research was conducted by questionnaires and group interviews. There were many salient factors that were of relevance, namely role of teachers, anxiety, lack of motivation, attitudes, curriculum development, culture and classroom environment. A needs analysis was also conducted so as to advance recommendations for educators, administration and policy makers. This study supplies a ranking of these factors as well.

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using short stories for developing creative reading skills for Jazan University students. The current study used the quasi-experimental research design. The researchers divided the participants into two groups. The experimental group used short stories, while the control group did not receive any training except for the traditional approach. The main question raised in this research is ‘what is the effectiveness of using short stories on developing some creative reading skills among Jazan University students?’ To this end, the researcher collected data through a creative reading skills test. Furthermore, a model of the teaching program, based on using short stories, was improved and tested with a group of students in Jazan University in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results of the present research showed that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the experimental group students and those of the control group students in both creative reading skills and overall creative reading in favor of the experimental group. The results revealed that using short stories helped the experimental group students develop their creative reading skills and overall creative reading more effectively than those of the control group who were taught using the traditional way. The conclusion of the current research showed that the traditional way used in teaching reading skills in EFL classrooms should be developed to help students improve their reading skills.

Background: Oral health is integral to overall well-being, yet data on oral health knowledge and behaviors among university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are limited. Aim: The aim is to assess oral health knowledge, behaviors related to oral hygiene, and attitudes toward regular dental visits among university students in Riyadh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 university students in Riyadh using a validated Arabic questionnaire. Multi-stage stratified random sampling was employed. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, oral health knowledge, behaviors, and factors related to regular dental visits. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and logistic regression were used for the analysis. Results: The mean oral health knowledge score was 9.58 (standard deviation = 1.945) out of 13 points. Only 25% of participants reported regular dental visits. Students with regular dental visits had significantly higher knowledge (P = 0.002) and behavior scores (P &lt; 0.001) compared to those with nonregular visits. Oral health behavior score was a significant predictor of regular dental visits (odds ratio (OR) = 1.933, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.518–2.462, P &lt; 0.001). Higher family income was associated with an increased likelihood of regular dental visits (OR = 2.589, 95% CI: 1.831–8.070, P = 0.001). Conclusions: While university students in Riyadh demonstrate good oral health knowledge, there is a significant gap between knowledge and regular dental visit behavior. Interventions addressing socioeconomic barriers and promoting positive oral health behaviors are needed to improve dental visit frequency among this population.

Vaccination has a major role in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The behavior toward accepting the COVID-19 vaccine is complex and multifactorial, while the level of acceptance and hesitancy depends on many factors. This study aims to measure the level of vaccine acceptance among Jazan University students and identify its predictors. In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire based on the health belief model (HBM) was sent through social media “WhatsApp” to two strata of students selected by convenient sampling. The overall desire to get vaccinated was noted in 83.6% of participants, and 16.4% reported no desire to be vaccinated. The constructs of the HBM were shown to significantly predict vaccine acceptance with the exception of “perceived susceptibility”. In conclusion, the level of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among Jazan University students was relatively high. The HBM constructs are important predictors of the vaccination behavior with the exception of the construct “perceived susceptibility”.

Background: The articulating surface of the knee is the most commonly injured joint in athletes. However, there is a lack of proper prevalence and determinant estimations for knee injury among Jazan University students.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of knee injury among students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia and to identify the associated risk factors. An online self-administered modified Arabic version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire was distributed to collect data from the students. 884 participants were included and met our inclusion criteria.&#x0D; Results: The overall prevalence of knee injuries was 18% (n = 156). Ninety-two injuries were due to sports activity. Men were 2.7 more likely to have a knee injury than women. Performing 2–3 hours of training every week increased the likelihood of knee injury by 1.7 times more than being inactive or performing only 1 hour of activity per week. An increase in the body mass index was associated with knee injury.&#x0D; Conclusion: Our study highlights the high prevalence of knee injury among male students with a high body mass index, especially those studying in medical colleges. Further large-scale research is needed to address the limitations of this study and generalize the results to a larger population.

Background: Headache is considered as one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system , and there are many types of it . One of them is migraine headache. Worldwide it is a common disabling primary headache syndrome. Medical students most of the time are exposed to its various triggers. This might have huge impact on their lives and their academic performance. This topic has been studied in many countries to highlight the prevalence of migraine headache and to study its impact on the students’ life and academic performance. Unfortunately, no similar study was conducted neither in Jazan Area nor in Saudi Arabia as a whole Objectives: The main goal of this study was to know the prevalence of migraine headache among medical students at Jazan University and to assess its effect on their daily activities . Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2016-2017 academic year in Jazan university. 260 students were examined. The data were collected by using self-administered questionnaire which included demographic data and specific questions on headache based on international Headache Society criteria for diagnosis of migraine and other headache types. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS program . Results: The results showed that the prevalence of migraine among medical students was 5.0%. There was no significant difference between the gender according to p-value , but regarding the years of university studying there was significant difference in which the prevalence increased in parallel with advancing academic years at the university. Conclusion: the prevalence of migraine among medical students was found to be less than what seen in similar studies in different countries , without significant difference between the gender. All the students reported that the headache was interfering with their daily activities. Fatigue, too little sleep, and bright light were the most common triggering factors were identified in our study.

Tobacco smoking has a significant role in health deterioration worldwide; it can lead to many dangerous diseases. Tobacco smoking among medical students is common worldwide, but the prevalence and determinants vary from one community to another. Data from medical students in Saudi Arabia is limited. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determinants of smoking among medical students at the College of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered electronic survey was conducted to estimate tobacco smoking's prevalence and characteristics among medical students at Jazan University. The survey includes information on the gender, academic year, academic performance, type of tobacco smoking, and age of onset of the participants' tobacco smoking. Other data, like the prevalence of passive smoking and social factors, were considered, too. The sample size was 354, 51.7% males and 48.3% females, students with a response rate of 38.02%. The prevalence of smoking among medical students was 12.4%, while passive smoking prevalence was 39.9% of all medical students. The research shows that 18.6% of male and 5.9% of female medical students were active smokers. Regarding the type of tobacco, we found that 47% of male smokers used waterpipe, while the percentage among female smokers using waterpipe reached 77.8%. The age of onset of smoking for 34.9% of the smokers was between 18 and 21 years old. The prevalence of smoking is inversely proportional to the GPA. Additionally, 71.1% of the smokers did not have a smoker friend, and only 13.3% of the smokers were motivated to quit. University age is critical for smoking habits, and the smoking cessation rate was low. More campaigns should be done in universities to increase smoking cessation awareness, and smoking cessation clinics should be activated at universities.

PurposeAnemia is one of the most common disorders affecting the population in both low-income and developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in apparently normal male and female students of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.Material and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Gizan, Saudi Arabia. One hundred thirty-four (85 males and 49 females) healthy students with no outward signs of illness were recruited. A specific questionnaire related to sociodemographic and health characteristics was designed and validated. The collected samples were analyzed for complete blood count, serum iron, and serum ferritin.ResultsIn the male group, 81 participants (95.3%) were nonanemic with normal hemoglobin (14.99 ± 1.11g/dl), whereas only 4 males were anemic (hemoglobin <13.0 g/dl). On the other hand, anemia was more prevalent in female students, as 67.35% had hemoglobin values less than 12.0 g/dl. In addition, 26.54% of the anemic females had low serum iron and serum ferritin, indicating iron-deficiency anemia. Although the majority of male participants had normal hemoglobin levels, 37.6% of them had low mean cell volume (MCV), low mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), low mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and high red blood cell (RBC) counts, suggesting thalassemia.ConclusionAnemia, in particular iron-deficiency anemia, was found to be highly prevalent in females, whereas more than one-third of the male participants might be carriers of alpha or beta thalassemia. Additionally, low dietary iron intake and irregular meal consumption could be two of the possible causes of anemia in the study population. Conducting this study on a large scale of male and female students from different faculties of Jazan University will provide in-depth details about the prevalence and types of anemia among them.