Al-Khobar City Research Articles

Depression and anxiety among hypertensive and diabetic primary health care patients. Could patients' perception of their diseases control be used as a screening tool?

Objectives:To measure the frequency and identify risk factors of depression and anxiety among diabetic and hypertensive primary health care (PHC) patients. Also to assess whether patients’ perception of their chronic diseases control and sleep disturbance could serve as screening tools for depression and anxiety.Methods:This cross-sectional study of 368 PHC patients was conducted in AlKhobar city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between April and May 2015. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used as diagnostic tools for depression and anxiety.Results:Frequencies, cross-tabulations and logistic regression tests were performed. Patient’s perception of chronic diseases control was significantly associated with the presence of depression and anxiety, while it was not seen in the tested disease control (glycated hemoglobin <7% and blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg). Sleep disturbance has a high specificity (98.9%) in screening for depression. Overall prevalence of depression or anxiety was 57.3% and detected cases was 23%. Depression comprise 48.7% (39.8% mild, 7.1% moderate, 1.8% severe). Anxiety comprise 38.4% (25.1% mild, 8.8% moderate, 4.4% severe). Co-existence of both disorders was 29.5%. Sleep disturbance, weight change, and low income had an independent significant effect on depression and anxiety.Conclusion:Having no sleep disturbance can rule out 98.9% of depression and anxiety cases. Patient’s feelings should be considered in chronic diseases health care plans. Depression or anxiety among diabetic and hypertensive patients have a high morbidity, but with low detection rate.

Effect of Planned Health Educational Program on Menstrual Knowledge and Practices among Adolescent Saudi Girls

Objectives: To assess knowledge, practices and quality of life of adolescent Saudi girls regarding menstruation and menstrual self-hygienic care. To find the relation between knowledge, practices and selected variables of quality of life of adolescent Saudi girls regarding menstruation and menstrual self-hygienic care. To evaluate the outcome and impact of health education program on knowledge and practices of adolescent Saudi girls regarding menstruation and menstrual self-hygienic care. Methods: An experimental study was conducted using pre-posttest design on a (39) Saudi adolescent girl students at the seventh secondary school, Al-Khobar City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Two tools used; first tool is structured questionnaire sheet, which was developed by the researcher and revised by three experts in the specialty. This tool used to assess the Saudi adolescent girl students' knowledge and practices regarding menstruation. The second tool was a quality of life scale which developed by World Health Organization. It included questions about quality of life, general daily activities; number of times suffering from pain and negative feelings and ability to study. After that the pretest was done. Data collected and analyzed. Accordingly, the researcher prepared the contents of the health educational program based on the adolescent Saudi girls’ level of knowledge and practices. Then the researcher prepared the contents, and then divided and implemented in two consecutive sessions. Immediately after implementing the program sessions, the same questionnaire sheets filled up individually by the participants as an immediate post-test. A comparison between the pre- and post-tests done to identify the effect of planned health educational program on menstrual knowledge and practices among adolescent Saudi girls using the appropriate statistical tests, (SPSS) version 23. Results: The results of the current study demonstrated statistical significant improvements regarding quality of life as (79.2% compared to 86.7%), level of menstrual knowledge scores as (47.36% compared to 94.73%), and self-hygienic care practices score as (94.9% compared to 28.2%), p<0.00. Conclusion: The present study concluded that statistically significant improvements observed regarding the Saudi adolescent girl’s menstrual knowledge, self-hygienic care practices and quality of life after receiving the well prepared, planned and implementation of menstrual health education program.

Sensitization to Common Aeroallergens in Asthmatic Children in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background:Allergic disorders, particularly bronchial asthma, are one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Bronchial asthma is more prevalent among children of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia compared with the other provinces. Environmental factors play major roles in the disease pathogenesis in genetically predisposed hosts. In this study, we characterize the pattern of allergenicity in asthmatic children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of skin sensitization profiles of 100 Saudi asthmatic children living in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The group compromised 32 females and 68 males, aged 5–14 years with a mean age of 8.98 ± 2.93 years. Skin prick tests were performed in a regional tertiary center, in the period between January 2011 and December 2012, using a variety of indoor and outdoor allergens.Results:The most common indoor sensitizing allergens found were the house dust mite (54%), cat fur (53%) and the German cockroach (26%). Among outdoor allergens, Salsola kali was the most common (48%), followed by Timothy grass (23%) and Chenopodium album (23%). Among trees, Prosopis glandulosa was found to be the most prevalent sensitizer (19%). Among the molds, Alternaria and Aspergillus species were the most prevalent (21% each).Conclusion:A high rate of sensitization to aeroallergens was found in asthmatic children living in Al-Khobar city. The pattern of sensitization found in our study reflects the newly altered nature of an ancient humid desert that has been influenced by the recent artificial modernization of the region.

A Meta-Analysis Study: Vitamin D Deficiency in Saudi Arabia between 2009 and 2013

Objective: Our aim was to review the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in different areas done by many researches.&#x0D; Methods: By systematic review with meta-analysis we collected the research performed in different areas of Saudi Arabia over the period of 2009-2013. This included both published papers (peer-reviewed) and papers presented at documented scientific conferences.&#x0D; Results: Fourteen papers were found, thirteen of which were peer-reviewed and published and one had been presented in a conference. They covered five main areas in KSA, and pooling the numbers yielded 6478 total healthy participants. 4694 (72%) were in the least healthy range with deficiency levels &lt; 20 ng/ml, and a total of 5355 (82.7%) were at levels below recommendations (&lt; 30 ng/ml). The central region in Riyadh and Qassim cities represented the most investigated area including 2755 participants with 6 articles; followed by the western region, at Jeddah and Makkah cities, with 2239 participants.&#x0D; The eastern region (2 articles in Dammam and Al Khobar cities with 339 participants) showed the lowest frequency of vitamin D deficiency at 29.2%, followed by the central region at 74%.&#x0D; Conclusions: Despite adequate sunlight and adequate intake of dairy products, vitamin D deficiency appears to be a major health problem in the Saudi community. There are some geographic areas in the country that may be at high risk. Control strategies should take these differences into account.&#x0D;

Perception of Saudi Mothers of Their Children with Down Syndromein Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PURPOSE:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;To evaluate the perception (awareness, feeling, belief and intention of attribute, characteristics and behaviors) of Saudi mothers of their children with DS and to identify the possible factors that affect their perception.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MATERIALS &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;amp; METHODS:&lt;/strong&gt; A cross sectional survey was conducted in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia (SA),in 2015 involving all Saudi mothers of children with DS in special education schools in the private sector (n=100). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia (SA),in 2014involving all Saudi mothers of children with DS in special education schools in the private sector (n=100). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.A Spss 21 was used for statistical analysis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESULTS:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;The response rate was 73%. The study found that 53.4% had a positive perception of their children with DS while 46.6 % perceived their children negatively. It is concluded that this positive perception of Saudi mothers of their children with DS related to: the burden (effect) imposed by the children with DS on the family and society, causal attribution of DS, education of children with DS, social integration and discrimination as well as health, treatment and care of the children with DS. The negative perception related to acceptance and joy with DS children, the quality of life of DS children, over-protection and dependence of these children as well as an embarrassment and disappointment of having children with DS.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Accordingly, it is recommended that educational programs be designed form others with children with DS, and for the community to improve mothers' disposition toward their children.&lt;/p&gt;

Optimization of chlorination boosters in drinking water distribution network for Al-Khobar City in Saudi Arabia

Water quality management in distribution networks is directly related to spatial distribution of chlorine boosters and its dosages. Water chlorination is essential to reduce the effects of bacterial and other microbiological contaminants. A higher dosage of chlorine generates harmful by-products in addition to changes in drinking water’s taste and odor. The optimization of chlorine dosage is necessary to decrease the microbial contaminants that affect water quality. Once the chlorine threshold is determined for microbial contaminant, it will help decision makers suggest optimal values. These decisions can rely on the estimated water quality index (WQI). WQI is an index to evaluate water quality and can be linked to adequate residual chlorine with optimal booster dosage, numbers, and locations in water distribution network (WDN). The city of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia’s WDN was selected to validate the application of this study. Based on geographic location, the city Al-Khobar water network was divided into five zones. The initial temporal and spatial analysis pointed out poor water quality zones. EPANET, a modeling and simulating software, was applied to evaluate the WQI. Those EPANET results were then integrated with an optimization model. The optimization model suggested new chlorine booster locations to improve water quality in the city of Al-Khobar water distribution network.

PS014 Effect of Airborne Particulate Matter on Cardiovascular Diseases in Dammam and Al-Khobar Cities of Kingdom Saudi Arabia

PS014 Effect of Airborne Particulate Matter on Cardiovascular Diseases in Dammam and Al-Khobar Cities of Kingdom Saudi Arabia

Detection of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Urban Sprawl in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia: An Analysis of Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data

While several studies examined land use and land cover changes in the central and western parts of Saudi Arabia, this study is the first to use remote sensing data to examine the decadal land cover changes in Saudi Arabia’s eastern coastal city of Al-Khobar between 1990 and 2013. Specifically, it utilized ISODATA classification method to classify Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI data collected from 1990, 2001, and 2013 and then detected changes in the land cover within the study area. It then measured urban sprawl by calculating the relative Shannon’s entropy index values for the three years. With overall classification accuracies greater than 85%, the results show that urban built-up areas increased by 117% between 1990 and 2001 and 43.51% from 2001 to 2013. Vegetation increased by 110% from 1990 to 2001 and by 52% between 2001 and 2013. The entropy index values of 0.700 (1990), 0.779 (2001), and 0.840 (2013) indicates a high rate of urban sprawl and the city dispersing near the outskirts and towards the neighboring cities of Dhahran and Dammam. Future studies should examine the current challenges faced by the city’s residents due to urban expansion and attempt to find ways to resolve them in the near future.

Risk factors of breast cancer among the primary health-care attendees in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer has been the most common cancer among the Saudi female subjects for the last decades. Objective: To screen primary health-care (PHC) attendees for the risk factors of breast cancer in Eastern Saudi Arabia and assess their practice for the early detection of the disease. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the PHC centers of Al-Khobar city. Women attending the PHC centers aged 25 years and older were included in the study. Six hundred PHC attendees were selected from five health centers by proportionate allocation to the average population served by each health center. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire, which was composed of three sections: sociodemographic information, risk factors among PHC attendees, and practice for the early detection of breast cancer. The cancer risk was calculated by a cancer risk calculator and classified into low, moderate, and high risk. Result: About 7% of the study sample showed a moderate to high risk of developing breast cancer. The most common risk factor of breast cancer among the PHC attendees was the use of contraceptive pills (51.2%), followed by obesity (42.8%), breastfeeding for a period less than 12 months (24.3%), age of puberty less than 12 years (18.7%), history of breast cancer in the second degree relatives (9.5%), menopause (9.3%), and the use of hormonal replacement therapy (8%). Among the avoidable risk factors, obesity was significantly more common among the less-educated women, while breastfeeding for less than 12 months was more common among the highly-educated women. Moreover, the most common practiced measure for the early detection of breast cancer was breast self-examination (44.6%), followed by mammogram (16.3%) and, last, clinical examination (11.6%). Conclusion: A substantially large proportion of female PHC attendees showed the avoidable risk factors of breast cancer. Moreover, more than half of the population was not involved in screening for the early detection of the disease. This situation demands the attention of medical and public health workers.

Prevalence and pattern of menstrual problems and relationship with some factors among Saudi nursing students

Background : Menstrual problems affect not only women, but also families, social and national economy as well. These problems for women in developing countries who may face life-threatening conditions are considered as minor health concern. Identification of abnormal menstrual patterns throughout adolescence may permit early identification of potential health concerns for adulthood. Nurses play a key role central to public education and prevention on menstrual hygiene among female adolescents. Methods : Analytic method based on cross sectional survey was undertaken on 342 nursing students in Al Khobar city. Taking in consideration the ethical issues the data collected by using a valid, self-administered questionnaire including close ended questions to assess the menstrual patterns and prevalence of menstrual problems among Saudi nursing students also to examine any relationship between the menstrual problems with the demographic data and menarcheal age. Results : Serious percentages of students who were suffered from many kinds of menstrual problems, some significant relationships between menstrual problems and some factors such as the academic year, marital status, menarcheal age, and mother education level found but not with age. Conclusions : The findings reported high prevalence of menstrual problems and their implication on the quality of life, this indicates the importance of the health team role especially the nurse in health education about menstrual problems targeting the community as well as teaching about female reproductive system and its function in the schools that could contribute in early detection of the menstrual dysfunctions.

Site response assessment at the city of Al Khobar, eastern Saudi Arabia, from microtremor and borehole data

Al Khobar City is affected by distant earthquakes from the Zagros fold-fault belt, which is part of the subduction zone between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. These earthquakes have generated substantial site effects on the sedimentary layers, which in turn significantly influence earthquake ground motions in the area. Mapping of site response using microtremor measurements compared with geological and borehole data from Al Khobar City is the main objective of this work. The resonance frequency and the corresponding horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ratio values have been calculated using the Nakamura technique on data from seismograph instruments deployed at 113 sites in Al Khobar City for different time periods. The recording length was about 1 h with a sampling frequency of 100 Hz. Most of the measured sites present three peaks of resonance frequency; the first peak ranges from 0.33 to 1.03 Hz, the second peak ranges from 1.03 to 1.23 Hz, while the third one ranges from 1.23 to 1.73 Hz. Tests have been conducted to ensure that these peaks are of natural origin The northern zones of Al Khobar City have lower resonance frequency values, indicating great sediment thickness. In contrast, the southern parts of the city have higher resonance frequency values, suggesting shallow bedrock depths. Furthermore, 29 geotechnical boreholes have been drilled to different depths in Al Khobar City. Standard penetration test (SPT) data has been corrected and used to calculate the resonance frequency at their locations. The borehole results showed that the resonance frequency values range from 0.27 to 1.95 Hz. These results are well correlated with those from the microtremor measurements. Accordingly, the first peak has been interpreted as being due to the impedance contrast between the limestone bedrock and the overlying sediments, while the third peak originates from a boundary between the uppermost surface layer and the underlying sediments.

Urban Residential Water Demand Prediction Based on Artificial Neural Networks and Time Series Models

Water demand prediction is essential in any short or long-term management plans. For short-term prediction of water demand, climatic factors play an important role since they have direct influence on water consumption. In this paper, prediction of future daily water demand for Al-Khobar city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investigated. For this purpose, the combined technique of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and time series models was constructed based on the available daily water consumption and climatic data. The paper covers the following: forecast daily water demand for Al-Khobar city, compare the performance of the ANNs [General Regression Neural Network (GRNN) model] technique to time series models in predicting water consumption, and study the ability of the combined technique (GRNN and time series) to forecast water consumption compared to the time series technique alone. Results indicate that combining time series models with ANNs model will give better prediction compared to the use of ANNs or time series models alone.

Energy savings approaches of buildings in hot-arid region, Saudi Arabia: case study

Recently, the energy savings have become more pronounced as a result of the worldfinancial crises as well the unstable oil prices. Certainly all entities need to adapt EnergyConservation and Management Strategies. This is due to high monthly consumptionof energy; energy bills of Saudi telecom exchange buildings are a good example. Toimprove energy savings of such installations, it is necessary to either provide welldesigned new buildings, or enhance existing buildings with more energy saving strategypractices. This paper investigates the impact of heating, ventilation and air conditioning(HVAC) system characteristics, designed spaces of buildings, operational strategies,the impact of envelope thermal characteristics and energy conservation measures.These measures are classified under three types; i.e. zero-investment, low-investmentand high-investment energy conservation measures. The study shows that the energyconservation measures (ECMs) pertaining to the HVAC system characteristics andoperation represent the highest potential for energy reduction. Attention should begiven to window thermal and solar radiation characteristics, when large window areasare used. The type of glazing system needs to be carefully considered in the earlydesign phase of future buildings. The HVAC set points to provide optimal operation oftelecom devices in the exchange center. The Paper presents the thermal optimizationof centers of different size in the hot–arid regions, Saudi Arabian city of Al Khobar,eastern province and the effect of adding wall and roof insulation on cooling energyis evident. Also the total reduction of around 3-20% is obtained by applying both walland roof insulation.

An observation of the concentration and type of fluoride compound present in "over-the-counter" adult toothpastes available in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: This study was performed to observe the type and level of fluoride compounds existent in 'over-the-counter' (OTC) adult toothpastes available in the open market of Saudi Arabia and to compare them with local and international guidelines. Materials and Methods: More than 100 hyper stores, shops and pharmacies of Dammam and Al Khobar cities were selected randomly and searched for the availability of fluoride containing adult toothpastes. Only toothpastes in which fluoride was present as an active ingredient were included and name of the compound of fluoride and its concentration stated on the packaging of the toothpaste were noted. Results: There were 59 different commercial brands of OTC toothpastes in which sodium fluoride was found in 59.3% of the toothpaste brands (35 of 59), 32.2% of the brands (19 of 59) had sodium monofluorophosphate, 3.3% toothpaste brands (2 of 59) had a combination of sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophoshpate as an active ingredient, and 5% of the brands (3 of 59) mentioned the fluoride concentration in parts per million (ppm) but did not indicate the type of compound of fluoride present in them. Fluoride concentration found in toothpastes ranged between 1,000-1,470 ppm. Conclusions: Types of fluoride compounds found in toothpastes were consistent with internationally published guidelines. However, majority of toothpastes had 1,450 ppm fluoride which was consistent with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and European guidelines but exceeded the normal range set by United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) and American Dental Association (ADA). Care should be taken when these toothpastes are being used to prevent possible side-effects of fluoride over-exposure.

Knowledge about bronchial asthma management in primary health care physicians in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia.

Context:The prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Primary health care (PHC) centers follow the national protocol, which is based on the severity of the disease for the management of asthma. The Saudi initiative for asthma (SINA) management adopted from the global initiative for asthma guidelines, which was recommended by several recent studies, is based on the control level of asthma.Aims:To assess the knowledge of PHC physicians and family medicine (FM) residents in Al-Khobar, about the management of BA.Methodology:A cross-sectional study was conducted in all PHC centers and the university FM clinic in Al-Khobar. All PHC physicians and 3rd and 4th year FM residents were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire developed according to SINA guidelines was used to assess theoretical knowledge of BA, and a predesigned checklist was used to assess the different inhaler techniques. Scoring was established and collected data were analyzed.Results:Only 8% of the sample had good theoretical knowledge of BA; 41% had poor knowledge. The knowledge of the residents was better than that of the PHC physicians. The mean knowledge score was significantly better among those using guidelines compared to the rest. About 23% had good knowledge of inhaler techniques. Knowledge of PHC physicians and FM residents about dry powder inhalers was deficient, and PHC physicians had little knowledge of metered dose inhalers with spacers.Conclusion:The knowledge of physicians about the management of BA was deficient. The national guidelines based on the level of control for asthma management should be updated and physicians given periodic training.

Attitudes and practices of complementary and alternative medicine among adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Saudi Arabian adolescents. A multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 736 adolescents (358 males, 378 females) aged 15–19 years from secondary schools. The study was carried out in Al-Khobar city, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The findings revealed that the use of CAM by adolescents in their lifetime ranged from 1.6% for acupuncture to 58.6% for honey treatment, with significant differences between genders, except in the use of dietary supplements, black cumin, and acupuncture therapies. Females were more likely to use CAM for treating abdominal pains, cold and flu, and cough than males (P < 0.000). Family members and friends (67.7%) were the main source of CAM usage, followed by television (10%), and Internet (8%). Religious and medicinal herb healers were the CAM healers most commonly visited by adolescents. Nearly 21–43% of adolescents had positive attitudes toward CAM, with some significant differences between males and females. It can be concluded that CAM is widely used by Saudi adolescents, but caution should be exercised for the safe usage of some CAM treatments. CAM should not be ignored; however there is an urgent need to establish regulations for CAM usage.

Effectiveness of Newly Introduced Variable Message Signs in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Recently, Variable Message Signs (VMS) were introduced in Saudi Arabia and their reliability under local environment is being tested. This paper aims to evaluate the possible response of the drivers to VMS when used for messages related to traffic conditions. A major arterial in Al-Khobar city in Saudi Arabia with a massive VMS board was selected for this paper. The evaluation process started by interviewing drivers selected randomly from the study area. About 77% of the interviewed drivers indicated positive attitude toward messages requesting change of route. The drivers’ interviews demonstrated statistical relationship between the degree of response to messages requesting change of route and the reason for such request. The maximum response was for messages related to accidents, roadwork activities, and traffic congestion. A field experiment was also conducted along the studied arterial. It was found that VMS statistically increased the percentage of diverted traffic during specific peak periods.

Mobile phone related-symptoms among primary care attendees in Al-Khobar city, Eastern Saudi Arabia

Background: Several studies have shown that use of mobile phones may cause adverse health problems such as headache, sleep disturbances, ear warming and other symptoms. Aims and Objective: To determine the prevalence of symptoms due to the use of mobile phone and to identify some factors associated with its use among primary health care (PHC) attendees in Al-Khobar city, eastern Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using interviewer-administered questionnaire during the month of May 2009 in Al-Khobar city. Three PHC centers were randomly selected and 431 attendees were interviewed. Results: About 68.0% were using mobile phones for more than five years. About 43% had a single call time of 5-9 minutes and 56.8% had a daily call time from 30 minutes to one hour. Symptoms due to use of mobile phone included ear warming (52.9%), headache (15.1%), and facial numbness (13.0%). Factors found to be statistically significantly associated with presence of symptoms due to mobile phone use were daily call time of 30 minutes or more, using mobile phone for 3 or more years, and ending the call because of medical reasons. Conclusion: The use of mobile phones was associated with subjective symptoms. It is suggested that excessive daily use of mobile phones should be avoided. Further research is needed to establish a cause-effect relationship.

Indoor air quality levels in a University Hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Aim of the Study:The complex hospital environment requires special attention to ensure a healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) to protect patients and healthcare workers against hospital-acquired infections and occupational diseases. Poor hospital IAQ may cause outbreaks of building-related illness such as headaches, fatigue, eye, and skin irritations, and other symptoms. The general objective for this study was to assess IAQ inside a large University hospital at Al-Khobar City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:Different locations representing areas where most activities and tasks are performed were selected as sampling points for air pollutants in the selected hospital. In addition, several factors were studied to determine those that were most likely to affect the IAQ levels. The temperature and relative percent humidity of different air pollutants were measured simultaneously at each location.Results:The outdoor levels of all air pollutant levels, except volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were higher than the indoor levels which meant that the IAQ inside healthcare facilities (HCFs) were greatly affected by outdoor sources, particularly traffic. The highest levels of total suspended particulates (TSPs) and those less than 10 microns (PM10) inside the selected hospital were found at locations that are characterized with m4ore human activity.Conclusions:Levels of particulate matter (both PM10 and TSP) were higher than the Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs). The highest concentrations of the fungal species recorded were Cladosporium and Penicillium. Education of occupants of HCF on IAQ is critical. They must be informed about the sources and effects of contaminants and the proper operation of the ventilation system.

Awareness and knowledge of pediatric cardio- pulmonary resuscitation in the community of Al-Khobar city.

Background:The history of resuscitation going back thousands of years has been reported in literature throughout history. This concept has undergone several decisive revolutionary changes particularly in pediatrics. Although the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is relatively new in pediatrics, progress has been remarkable in the last a few decades. As it becomes more popular, especially under the influence of globalizing media, CPR also becomes a life requirement that is not restricted to health professionals.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional community-based survey of 753 individuals of both sexes, visiting the first Pediatric Health Awareness Week held at Dammam University Hospital in April 2013. Data were collected by a personal face-to-face interview during which a short history was taken and a check list of sociodemographic data and questions related to infants' CPR was completed. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS.Results:The study was carried out on 753 subjects (602 Saudis, 151 non-Saudis, 483 females, and 270 males). The mean age of participants was 33.3 ± 10.9 years. The postsecondary school level of education was 37.5% among females versus 21.9% among males. Of the participants, 80.8% of the females and 86.5% of males were totally unaware of CPR. The mean number of children among participants was 3.5 ± 2.5 children. There were 150 participants (19.9%) with disabled children; 32% of them (6.4% of all participants) were completely unaware of CPR despite having disabled children. Overall, 15.5% of all female participants had attended some CPR course (s) compared with 6.1% of the males; 18.7% of the females had watched CPR program (s)/video (s) on TV or online compared to 11.1% of the males, and 59.4% of the females were willing and eager to participate in any CPR course compared with 29.3% of the males. The reasons for not wanting to attend CPR courses were as follows: 48.6% indicated that it was because of the unavailability of such courses, 41.4% said because of time constraints, and 10% gave financial reasons. Finally, the study showed that 365 females (84.3%) and 247 males (91.2%) did not know when to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and/or chest compression, and would do it for the wrong reasons.Conclusion:Public awareness and knowledge on CPR was inadequate even among the younger population, and among parents with disabled children. The general public were willing to improve their knowledge and skills of CPR. We recommend that CPR courses/campaigns should be provided to the public and be included in high school curricula.