Aseer Region Research Articles

Students’ Preferences and Perceptions Regarding Online versus Offline Teaching and Learning Post-COVID-19 Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic at its peak compelled students to stay home and adapt to the distance learning system. The world has gone through phases of fear and respite in the recent years. There have been a number of studies related to student learning via online teaching during the pandemic. Now, as the vaccination coverage picks up and the pandemic appears to have achieved a plateau, it is time to take a view of students’ perceptions of online learning and its effectiveness in skill development during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assesses the students’ preferences and perceptions regarding offline and online learning post-COVID-19 lockdown and with the resumption of offline classes. A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University, Aseer region, from the period of 1 January 2022 to 30 January 2022. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to collect data from female students. Data analysis was conducted by using SPSS version 22.0. A total of 480 students participated in the study, their mean age was 19.79 ± 1.48. More than half of the students (64%) still fear getting COVID-19 as they continue with the in-person or offline classes despite having completed their doses of vaccination. Almost half of the students have difficulty in waking up after the recommencement of offline classes. The majority (77%) felt tired after starting offline classes, and 63% felt unhappy after starting offline classes again. The majority of students believe that, with offline classes, they have difficulty in time management and concentration. The majority of students believed that, with online classes, they are more comfortable in gaining knowledge and learning, more alert, more satisfied, and gain higher scores in exams. The majority of students preferred the online mode of learning, with about 72% of students wishing to continue online learning in the future. This research underlines the influence of fear of getting COVID-19 after the commencement of face-to-face learning amongst the students. Students were more inclined to continue with online classes because of fear of getting COVID-19, despite having full doses of the vaccination in Saudi Arabia. There is a need for a better understanding of students’ motivations and coping mechanisms during the pandemic.

Patients' Opinions Toward Healthcare Quality and Improvement in Aseer Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Population health is crucial to government planning. The 2030 national vision is transforming all Saudi sectors. The health sector revolution intends to boost life expectancy by reducing mortality due toroad traffic accidents and morbidity due to chronic illness. Health services will change from treatment-basedto person-centered and preventive care, empower the population, increase access to healthcare and improve service quality by offering high customer satisfaction. This study establishes a baseline assessment for public awareness, behavior, healthcare access, and quality. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Aseer region in southwestern Saudi Arabia in 2022, September and October. Using the Aseer region's2.1 million people to calculate the sample needed, the minimal sample size was 664. The study used cluster random sampling and a structured self-administered questionnaire to meet health transformation strategy requirements. All study variables underwent descriptive and bivariateanalysis. Result The survey received 1,381 responses, with 97.2% of participants being Saudi and 84.4% being male. 312 (22.6%) of participants self-reported their health status as weak; 615 (44.5%) self-reported as having a good health status; and 667 (48.3%) reported having high knowledge. 740 people (53.6%) said that health was very important in their daily lives. The evaluation rate for Ministry of Health services in primary healthcare centers was 585 (42.4%) medium and 398 (28.8%) media for inpatient services. Evaluation for surgical procedure availability was 388 (28.1%) media. The results showedthere is a statistically significant relationship (p-value < 0.05) between health status and age, gender, knowledge, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. And there is a statistically significant relationship between the availability and quality of the health service profile, including inpatient, outpatient, and virtual care. Nationality appears to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion Health promotion is effective because people are health conscious. The importance of health and lifestyle presents a tremendous opportunity to incorporate health into all policies and improve the availability of healthy lifestyle options and surroundings to support healthy behaviors that will reduce preventable disease and risk mortality and morbidity. Health status was also linked to healthcare availability and quality.

Evaluation occupationally radiation exposure during diagnostic imaging examinations

Occupational radiation exposure can occur due to various human activities, including the use of radiation in medicine. Occupationally exposed personnel surpassing 7.4 millions, and respresent the biggest single group of employees who are exposed to artificial radiation sources at work. This study compares the occupational radiation dose levels for 145 workers in four different hospitals located in the Aseer region in Saudi Arabia. The occupational exposure was quantified using thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD-100). The levels of annual occupational exposures in targeted hospitals were calculated and compared with the levels of the international atomic energy agency (IAEA) Safety Standards. An average yearly cumulative dose for the two consecutive years. The average, highest and lowest resulted occupational doses under examination in this work is 1.42, 3.9 mSv and 0.72 for workers in various diagnostic radiology procedures. The resulted annual effective dose were within the IAEA approved yearly dose limit for occupational exposure of workers over 18, which is 20 mSv. Staff should be monitored on a regular basis, according to current practice, because their annual exposure may surpass 15% of the annual effective doses.

Motivational Factors for Cessation of Cigarette Smoking among Current Smokers in Aseer Region: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Smoking is considered one of the leading public health problems with a direct heavy toll on lives, and indirectly, via passive inhalation of tobacco smoke. Smoking is a severe public health problem and can lead to substantial health and economic consequences. Aim of Study: To identify factors motivating smokers to quit smoking among adult Saudi smokers in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional research design. It included 428 Saudi adults, who are currently cigarette smokers, registered at the Smoking Cessation Clinics in Aseer Region, and who wish to quit smoking. The selection of participants was done by systematic random sampling. The data was collected by using the “Tobacco Programme Management System” questionnaire, along with some other motivational factors for getting the maximum responses from the participants. Results: The majority of quitters were males (95.6%). Almost two-thirds of quitters (60.3%) started smoking by the age of 15-20 years. Most quitters (75%) were cigarette smokers for more than 15 years. The main motives for quitting cigarette smoking were to improve health status (39.5%), followed by having a better quality of life (27.3%), and to save the costs of smoking cigarettes (19.9%). Motives for quitting differed significantly according to their place of residence, age groups, and educational level. Conclusion: The majority of current Saudi cigarette-smoking quitters are young males, well-educated with no or low monthly income. Most smokers start cigarette smoking during their adolescence. Recommendations: Parents should play an important role to motivate quitting smoking and keeping their young kids away from smoking. School-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs should be enforced. Keywords: Cigarette Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Motives, Fagerström Scores.

Nutritional Status and Its Associated Factors in Children Under 5 Years of Age in the Aseer Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Background: Despite progress in several health markers for under-five children, malnutrition continues to be a major health indicator and the chief cause of death in several countries. The manifestations of undernutrition, including stunting, underweight, and wasting, are major concerns worldwide. The present study aimed to explore stunting, wasting, and underweight in under-five children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in children who had medical files in three selected Primary Health Care Centers of the Aseer Region. Anthropometric variables, including age, weight, and height, were assessed using the World Health Organization guidelines. Results: The study included 664 children. The overall prevalence of wasting, underweight, stunting, and thinness was 17.8%, 20.5%, 30.3%, and 18.4%, respectively. Living in rural areas and at sea level were significant associated factors for overall stunting and living at sea level was the only significant associated factor for severe stunting. Conclusion: Malnutrition levels among under-five children in the Aseer Region continue to be a public health issue and are higher than the levels observed in other regions of Saudi Arabia. Governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders should collaborate to develop short- and long-term programs addressing the major determinants of childhood malnutrition and its associated health effects.

Prevalence of congenital heart defects in infants of diabetic mothers in Aseer region, Southwestern, Saudi Arabia

Background: Maternal diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including anatomical malformations such as congenital heart defects (CHD). Objectives: To determine the prevalence of CHD in babies born to mothers with pre-existing or gestational diabetes. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of all births of type 1, type 2 diabetic mothers, gestational diabetic mothers, and non-diabetic mothers admitted to the newborn nursery and the neonatal intensive care unit between July 2011 and June 2022 was performed. Results: A total of 2079 mothers and their offspring were enrolled in the study. Of 2079 mothers 1397 (67.2%) were non-diabetic and 682 (32.8%) were diabetic. In terms of diabetic status, the incidence of cardiovascular anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers is significantly higher than the infants of non-diabetic mothers (p

Factors Associated with the Gaps in the Knowledge of Diabetic Patients Attending Primary Health Care Center in Aseer Region, KSA

Objectives: To know the factors associated with the gaps in knowledge of diabetic patients about their disease attending a primary health-care center. Methodology: At the primary health-care center, this cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 type 2 diabetic patients, selected by simple random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was employed for the data collection. Results: Mean percent score of knowledge was found to be 30.4% among diabetic patients. About 52.5% of participants were 40–60 years of age, 53% were male, 76.3% were married, 16.5%, 24.5%, 21.5%, and 17.5% had illiteracy, primary, secondary, and university education, respectively. Almost half of the participants had a government job, while 37.1% were homemakers. Monthly income was 11,000–15,000 SR for 41.5% of participants. The duration of diabetes was &lt;5 years among 30% of participants. About 53.8% were using oral hypoglycemic, while 48.3% were using insulin. Regarding comorbids, 37.3%, 32.3%, and 4% were hypertensive, dyslipidemic, and had ischemic heart disease, respectively. Regarding the factors, participants' mean knowledge percent scores significantly differed according to their age, education and monthly income (P &lt; 0.001, P &lt; 0.001 and P &lt; 0.036 respectively). According to gender, social status, and occupation, knowledge percent scores were not statistically significant. Conclusion and Recommendations: Patients with type 2 diabetes had poor knowledge which differs significantly according to age, education, and monthly income. It is recommended to implement interventional programs that would enforce health education, keeping in mind the factors associated with gaps in the knowledge of diabetic patients.

Awareness of COPD and Its Risk Factors Among the Adult Population of the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Epidemiological studies are urgently needed to assess the prevalence of COPD in the region to determine the baseline, against which the future trends in the risk factor levels can be assessed and preventive strategies be planned to promote health among the population. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the awareness of COPD and its risk factors in Saudi Arabia. The cross-sectional studywas conducted among the general adult population aged 18 years and above living in the Aseer region. A minimum sample of 385 was targeted, using the Raosoft sample size calculator. An online questionnaire was prepared in both English and Arabic language using Google forms and distributed among participants through social media. It was observed that less than one-third (116, 30.12%) of the study population had ever heard about COPD. Nearly one-third spent time with smokers. Among all, 223 (57.3%) respondents had never heard and 46 (11.9%) respondents did not know anything about COPD. The majority correctly knew that the lungs are the primary organ affected by COPD (92, 79.3%). Age, sex, marital status, income, and occupation showed a significant association with COPD awareness. Nearly 41.4% knew that COPD progresses exclusively with age, COPD is more expensive for society than lung cancer (49.0%), cigarette smoking affects COPD (34.5%), COPD is fully recoverable with short-term antibiotics (35.0%), COPD lasts more than 18 months (48.1%), COPD can worsen with smoke exposure (37.4%), lead to disability (46.7%) and quitting smoking has an important role in preventing COPD (34.0%). The awareness regarding the disease was low among the respondents. Only one-third correctly knew that quitting smoking has an important role in preventing COPD. This study projects an urgent need of improving awareness of COPD and its risk factors in the general population.

Knowledge and Awareness of the Public toward Pediatric Eye Health and Diseases in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Population Study

Pediatric ophthalmic conditions are a common and a serious public health problem, as they can not only impact the child’s ability to learn, have a normal social life, and get a better quality of life, but they can also lead to complete blindness or visual impairment. Early intervention is necessary for childhood eye diseases since they can result in ongoing issues. The underlying causes of blindness in children differ significantly from region to region, depending on some factors, including socioeconomic development and access to primary healthcare services and facilities. However, it is estimated that there are over 19 million people globally with visual impairments and that there are roughly 1.4 million cases of blindness. As a result, the purpose of this study is to assess the parents’ and caregivers’ awareness in Aseer, Saudi Arabia, about various common pediatric ophthalmic diseases, including strabismus, amblyopia, refractive errors, and congenital glaucoma. By identifying the gap in knowledge and awareness, this could help create targeted educational and awareness programs geared toward the parents and the public of Aseer, Saudi Arabia, which could help prevent or reduce the prevalence of pediatric ophthalmic conditions, and boost the children’s eye health. Key words: knowledge, awareness, paediatric eye health, eye diseases, Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Prevalence of Smoking among University Students, Aseer region in Saudi Arabia – A Cross-sectional study

Prevalence of Smoking among University Students, Aseer region in Saudi Arabia – A Cross-sectional study

Assessment of Xerostomia or Hyposalivation among Smokers Using the Modified Schirmer Test in the Saudi Population: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Saliva is essential for maintaining homeostasis in the oral cavity through its various components. A decrease in Salivary Flow Rate (SFR) has various deleterious effects on the oral tissues. Several factors can alter salivary flow, and one such factor is smoking. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of smoking on salivary flow. Aim: To assess xerostomia and hyposalivation using the Modified Schirmer Test (MST) and the spitting method among smokers and compare the results with non-smokers in the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Institutional Diagnostic Clinic at the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia from February 2023 to March 2023. A total of 200 subjects were divided into two groups of 100 each. Group-I consisted of individuals with a smoking habit history for 10 years, while Group-II comprised healthy subjects with no smoking history. All subjects underwent screening for xerostomia and hyposalivation using the spitting method and MST. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0, and a p-value of &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean SFRs by the spitting method and MST were calculated, and the means were compared using an unpaired t-test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the two methods. Results: A statistically significant decrease in SFR was observed in smokers compared to healthy subjects using both methods (p&lt;0.001). There was an excellent correlation between the two estimation methods (p&lt;0.001). The prevalence of xerostomia in Group-I was 45 (45%), and in Group-II, it was 14 (14%), while the prevalence of hyposalivation in Group-I was 73 (73%) and in Group-II, it was 10 (10%). Conclusion: Salivary flow was lower in smokers compared to non-smokers in the Saudi population. There is an excellent correlation between the two assessment methods, and based on the study experience, the MST can be considered a reliable, objective, inexpensive, easy-to-perform, and well-tolerated test for assessing hyposalivation.

Abstract #1324617: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Distress Among Diabetic Patients in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Little is known about diabetes-related distress (DD), its prevalence and risk factors in the Saudi community. This study aims to assess prevalence of DD and identify its risk factors in diabetic patients.

Effect of Uncomplicated Diabetes Mellitus on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Among COVID-19 Patients in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; an ssRNA virus), which mainly affects the respiratory system but can also cause damage to other body systems. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious complication of COVID-19 that requires early recognition and comprehensive management. ARDS is a diffuse inflammatory process that causes diffuse alveolar damage in the lung. Aim:The study aimed toassess theeffect of uncomplicated diabetes mellitus on ARDS among COVID-19 patients in the Aseer region. A retrospective cohort study was conductedin Aseer Central Hospital between July 10, 2021 toJan 15, 2022 where confirmed inpatient COVID-19 cases in the Aseer region were classified into two groups. The first group was diabetic patients without any diabetes-related complications and confirmed for COVID-19 infection (diabetes group). The second group was confirmed COVID-19 patients free from any chronic disease.Extracted data included patients' diabetes status, medical history, socio-demographic data, COVID-19 infection data and vaccination, experienced signs and symptoms, tachypnea, use of accessory muscles of respiration, nasal flaring, grunting, cyanosis, need for hospitalization, need for mechanical ventilation and ICU admission. Results:The study included 144 patients with uncomplicated diabetes and 323 healthy patients with COVID-19 infection. The mean age of the diabetic group was 65.4±12.9 years old compared to 40.2±11.9 years old for the healthy group. Only one case of the diabetic group was vaccinated against COVID-19 at the study period versus two cases of the healthy group (P=.925). Also, 14 (9.7%) of the diabetic group were contacted with confirmed COVID-19 cases in comparison to 44 (13.6%) healthy cases (P=.238). A total of five (3.5%) diabetic cases neededmechanical ventilation during hospitalization compared to 23 (7.1%) healthy cases with no statistical significance (P=.125). Also, 12 (8.3%) diabetic cases admitted to ICU versus 42 (13%) of healthy cases (P=.145). Conclusions:In conclusion, there is a great controversy regarding the effect of diabetes on the progression of COVID-19 infection to ARDS. The current study showed that there was no significant difference between diabetic and healthy COVID-19 infected cases regarding ARDS related clinical factors mainly need of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation.

Evaluation and Assessment of Community Awareness About Coronary Artery Disease in the Aseer Region.

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD), a severe cardiovascular disorder, still remains the major reason for death among adults. In Saudi Arabia, the most common risk factors noticed were hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia. To date, various therapies have been used for managing CAD, but primary prevention remains the cornerstone to reducing the incidence of CAD-linked mortality and morbidity. The present research aimed to evaluate public awareness levels about CADin the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A structured questionnaire was used to assess the demographic variables, information regarding risk factors, and knowledge and awareness about CAD. To analyze the knowledgeand awareness of the general population regarding CAD, 26 well-constructed questions were framed and asked. General characteristics like knowledge, awareness, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications, effects, treatment, and prevention of CADwere recorded by asking questions with different options. The data obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 20.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Out of 651 participants, 66.51% were males and 33.48% were females, and 36.40% were aged between 26 and 35 years. Of the participants,14.13% had a positive family history of CAD, 66.05% had inactive lifestyle habits, and 59.60% did not report any stress. A total of 61.29% were unaware of CAD, but many of them were aware of the risk factors, symptoms, and complications of the disease. A total of 5.529% were suffering from CAD, with a time period of less than one year. Only 1.84% of participants were taking medicines for CAD. Conclusion Our study suggested that the community of the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia has meager knowledge and awareness about CAD. Westernized lifestyles and urbanization have caused poor physical well-being in people, leading to increased risk factors for CAD.Thus, we suggest that different educational public health awarenessprograms should be implemented by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia to decrease the prevalence of these life-threatening diseases.

Data Warehouse and Interactive Map for Promoting Cultural Heritage in Saudi Arabia Using GIS

With the urbanization of various regions, many historical sites may be misrepresented or totally neglected. As more people move to urban areas with time, heritage areas are being abandoned or ignored. The roads leading to such areas are less maintained, and they are not being adequately promoted. Over the years, the emergence and evolution of digital maps have played a significant role in tourist and cultural exploration and are important sources of information for tourists who are considering specific destinations. In this paper, the authors discuss the development and implementation of a geographic information system (GIS) in the tourism industry. They create an interactive map for tourist sites and suggest a means of retrieving tourist data. They select the Aseer region as a case study since it is rich with deep cultural heritage, comprising almost 4,000 heritage villages, and is considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the country. In this paper, the authors propose an initiative for the development and implementation of GIS in the tourism industry.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Girls ’ in Schools towards Depression, Khamis Maushyt, the Governate of Aseer Region, 2015, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Depression is an illness that involves the body, mind, and, thoughts that affect the way a person eats, sleep, feels about him/ her and thinks about things.&#x0D; Objectives: The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among girls in schools toward Depression, King Saudi Arabia, Khamis Maushyt, the Governate of Aseer Region.&#x0D; Methods: Community based cross–sectional descriptive study was conducted in Khamis Mushayt School to identify knowledge, attitude and practice among girls towards depression. A total of 207 students (girls) were involved in the study. They were selected by using simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.&#x0D; Result: The study showed that 180 (87%) students knew what depression means, 151(72.9%) of study group did not feel depressed, while 79 (38.2%) of the study group sometimes felt lonely. In the study, 50 (24.2%) of students go to the physician when they feel depressed and 53 (25.6%) students in the study group think that depression has medical treatment while 109 (52.7%) of study group believed that depression might have other treatment such as Holy Qur’an.&#x0D; Conclusion: There is a need for a national intervention program to promote of adolescent mental health in schools. The program should include the screening of students using psychometric scales.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Girls ’ in Schools towards Depression, Khamis Maushyt, the Governate of Aseer Region, 2015, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Depression is an illness that involves the body, mind, and, thoughts that affect the way a person eats, sleep, feels about him/ her and thinks about things.&#x0D; Objectives: The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among girls in schools toward Depression, King Saudi Arabia, Khamis Maushyt, the Governate of Aseer Region.&#x0D; Methods: Community based cross–sectional descriptive study was conducted in Khamis Mushayt School to identify knowledge, attitude and practice among girls towards depression. A total of 207 students (girls) were involved in the study. They were selected by using simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.&#x0D; Result: The study showed that 180 (87%) students knew what depression means, 151(72.9%) of study group did not feel depressed, while 79 (38.2%) of the study group sometimes felt lonely. In the study, 50 (24.2%) of students go to the physician when they feel depressed and 53 (25.6%) students in the study group think that depression has medical treatment while 109 (52.7%) of study group believed that depression might have other treatment such as Holy Qur’an.&#x0D; Conclusion: There is a need for a national intervention program to promote of adolescent mental health in schools. The program should include the screening of students using psychometric scales.

Association Between Blood Donation and Improved Sleep Quality Among Blood Donors in Aseer Region

Background: High altitude like Aseer region has many challenges, where exposure to hypoxia is the most reported challenge. The ambient hypoxia activates a number of physiologic consequences including hyperventilation, increased resting heart rate and stimulation of erythrocyte production with the goal of preserving the oxygen content of arterial blood at or above sea level values. Aim: The current study aims to assess the association between blood donation and improved sleep quality among blood donors in Aseer Region, southern of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using self-administered questionnaire during the period from May to August 2022 targeting all Saudi population aged 18 years or more living in Aseer region. The study questionnaire was uploaded online using social media platforms by the researchers and their colleagues till no more answers were obtained. The study questionnaire included participants’ personal data, medical history, blood donation data including frequency, causes and associated symptoms. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: A total of 447 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Participants ages ranged from 18 to 60 years with mean age of 26.9 ± 12.7 years old. A total of 215 (48.1%) participants reported donating blood which was only once among 68 (31.6%), and 2-3 times among 82 (38.1%). Regarding overall sleep quality among blood donors in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, exactly 116 (54%) of the study participants with blood donation history were poor sleepers while 99 (46%) were good sleepers. Better sleep quality was significantly associated with more frequent blood donation times. Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study showed that sleep quality among Aseer residents after blood donation was much lower than reported incidence especially among participants who donated blood more than once. Also, the attitude toward blood donation was good where nearly 1 out of each 2 participants donated blood for moral issues. Key words Blood donation, sleep hygiene, relation, Aseer region, high altitude

Assessment of Quality of Life among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Aim of study: To explore quality of life (QOL) among elderly population and to identify the factors associated with their QOL. Methods: Following an observational cross-sectional research design, this study included 405 elderly patients attending the primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was constructed and utilized for data collection. It included personal and socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, clinical data and the WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire to assess participants’ QOL. Results: About half of participants (53.3%) were males, 65.7% was less than 70 years old, 89.4% were Saudi, and 68.1% were currently married. Regular exercise was practiced by 19.3% of participants, while 8.4% were smokers. About two-thirds of participants were hypertensive (64%), or diabetic (63.2%), while 49.6% had musculoskeletal diseases, about one third had visual problems (38.8%), eye diseases (34.8%), or dyslipidemia (33.6%), while 23.2% had heart disease. The mean overall percent score for WHOQOL was 66.4±11.4%, while the lowest mean percent score was for their physical health (64.5±11.4%), while that for psychological domain was 66.2±11.5%, that for social relationships was 68.1±17.7%, and for environment was 67.6±14.6%,while negative feelings were always felt by 4%, very often by 23%, and quite often by 45%. Participants’ WHOQOL mean percent scores differed significantly according to their age group (p&lt;0.001), marital status (p&lt;0.001), educational status (p&lt;0.001), occupational status (p=0.001), monthly income (p&lt;0.001), residence (p=0.004), and regular practice of exercise (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Elderly people attending PHC centers in Aseer Region have suboptimal overall QOL, with their physical health being the lowest manifestation. Several chronic diseases are highly prevalent among elderly people, such as hypertension, diabetes, sensory problems, musculoskeletal diseases, heart and urinary diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to provide high attention toward geriatric care in order to enhance their QOL. Key words: Elderly, primary health care, Quality of life, life style, WHOQOL.

Factors affecting patients’ waiting time at the Radiology Department

Aim of Study: To identify the extent and causes for prolonged patient waiting times and overcrowding at the Radiology Department (RD) in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study design was followed. It included 107 staff members at the RD in Aseer Central Hospital. A data collection tool was designed by the researchers and used for data collection. Results: 51.4% of patients were referred to RD from the outpatient clinics, 27.3% were referred from the ED, while 21.3% were inpatients. Monday and Tuesday were the most overcrowded days at the RD (33.3% and 20.8%, respectively). Almost half of the patients (47%) stayed in the waiting area for 1-3 hours. Patient waiting times differed significantly according to their days of received radiologic services, with the longest waiting time being on Wednesday (44.4%, p=0.021), and according to patients provided radiologic services. The most frequently stated causes by the radiology staff for overcrowding at the RD were the “huge number of patients received directly from the community who did not go via a primary health care center”; “the large number of non-emergency patients” and the “socially recommended cases sent to RD via the ED” (45.8%, 32.7% and 29.9%, respectively). Conclusions: Patient waiting times are unduly prolonged. It is mostly 1-3 hours. The main bulk of overcrowding comes from patients referred from the outpatient clinics. The main causes for overcrowding are the excessive number of non-emergency, unscheduled patients, and the socially recommended cases, in addition to the shortage of specialist radiology physicians. Recommendations: There is a need to implement an elaborate system to organize unscheduled patients, who may crowd out other emergency patients and to allocate a special radiology section for patients referred from the ED. To increase the number of serving specialist radiologists at the RD of Aseer Central Hospital. To enforce provided radiology services at primary care centers in Aseer Region. Key Words: Waiting time, Radiology Department, Patient referrals