Common Source Of Information Research Articles

Indian Cinema: A Bridge of Identity for Indian Diaspora with Special Reference to Bollywood Movie Pardes

Films have always been a common source of education, entertainment, and information across the world. Here Beard states “films are among the most common artifacts of modern popular culture that generate and reflect diverse cultures and the traditional values of a society. Consequently films have become a major part of modern society, through which people are becoming aware of different cultures from all over the world”. The paper aims to study the cultural studies and seeks to explore the role of Bollywood movies especially with special reference to movie Pardes (1997), directed by Subash Ghai. These kinds of movies played an important role in identity construction of Indian diaspora across the world. Diaspora may use media products as a form of cultural maintenance for their roots. The interesting fact is that though sociological factors such as friends, family and peer groups always play an important role in making the Indian identity. Bollywood movies not only act as a bridge between home, homeland and diaspora but they also help them to transmit the values, culture and traditions. All these together play a significant role in maintaining their ‘Indianness’, in Abroad.

Knowledge and utilization of premarital screening for sickle cell disease among residents of semi-urban community, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell disease is a major genetic disease that manifests early in life and may lead to significant morbidities. It is an inherited disorder resulting from an abnormality in the structure of a protein in the red blood cell called haemoglobin characterized by the presence of crescent-shaped erythrocytes. Sickle cell disease is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders among the African populations. This study assessed the knowledge and utilization of premarital screening for sickle cell disease among residents of semi-urban community of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for the study. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 308 participants and a semi structured questionnaire was used in collecting data for the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 at 5% significance level and 95% confidence interval and presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. Results: The result revealed that 73.1% of the participants had good knowledge of premarital screening for sickle cell disease and their commonest sources of information were family and friends (45.6%). More than half of the respondents (66.8%) had good utilization. Conclusions: Majority of the respondents had good knowledge and utilization of premarital screening for sickle cell disease. We recommend that there should be more emphasis on health education and awareness programmes at community level on premarital screening for sickle cell disease. Also, genetic screening services should be made available in all primary health care centers.

Saudi People’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Herbals’ Side Effects and their Interactions with Medications

Introduction: The safety of herbal medicines is of particular importance because the majority of these products is self-prescribed and is used to treat minor and often chronic conditions. If not used with caution, some herbals may cause side effects and interactions with drugs.
 Objective: To determine awareness, attitudes of Saudi people about side effects of herbs and herbal products, their interaction with medicines and to determine the common source of information about herbals. 
 Methodology: A cross-sectional study in the period from January to November 2023. on a random sample comprised of 530 Saudi persons living in different regions of Saudi Arabia using questionnaire in Arabic language. All data were analysed by descriptive statistics.
 Results: Among the study participants, there were 147 (28%) have medium interest in herbals and 36 (7%) have large interest, 150 (28%) believes that herbals have no side effects, 121 (23%) believes that herbals can be taken instead of medications, 82 (16%) believes that herbals have the same efficacy as medications, 103 (19%) take herbals with medications, 172 (32%) think that taking herbals with prescription medications may give better effect than taking each one separately, 78 (15%) don't know that taking medication with herbals can cause side effects, 87 (16%) don't know that herbals can interact with medications, only 73 (14%) reported that they told the doctor or pharmacist about taking herbals with medications. Laxative/constipation and carminative effect (19%), relieving pain (14%), cough and cold (13%), menstrual disturbances (8%) were the most conditions to be treated by herbal remedies among study participants. Only 12 (2%) had adverse effects from taking herbals. Anise (39%), Peppermint (37%), Ginger (21%), cinnamon (20%), cumin (19%), are among the commonly used herbs reported by participants. The source of information about herbals reported among participants were family and relatives (62%), media (12%).
 Conclusion: Although herbals are widely used, knowledge of their potential adverse effects and interactions with drugs is limited. There’s a need to increase public awareness of the community about risks of medical herbs.

Drug-Drug Interaction Knowledge among Healthcare Professionals

Background: The healthcare professionals who are closest to patients receiving medication include medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists. To develop new strategies to lower drug drug interactions (DDIs), it is crucial to comprehend the extent to which these providers can recognize an interaction and identify a suitable management strategy. The scant information that is currently available suggests that there is little DDIs understanding of medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists. Aim of the study: It's critical to evaluate healthcare providers' understanding of drug-drug interactions and common sources of information on these interactions in order to increase patient medication safety. Method: A cross-sectional study design will be applied. More than twenty drug combinations will be given to participants, and they must categorize them as "no interaction," "may be used together with monitoring," "contraindication," or "not sure." The study will be carried out in the King Hussein Medical Center at the Royal Medical Services for two months after obtaining the ethical approval. The target population will be all physicians, nurses, and pharmacists working at KHMC whereas the sample will be all physicians, nurses, and pharmacists who agree to participate in the study and provide a consent form. Utilizing SPSS for Windows version 24 statistical software, data will be analyzed. Means will be used to describe continuous variables in descriptive analysis, whereas frequency distributions (such as percentages) will be used to describe categorical variables. For categorical variables, Fisher's exact test will be applied, and for continuous variables, Student's t-test will be employed. To describe the results of possible drug/drug interaction questions, the mean will be computed. Results: The study was done by enrolling 350 healthcare professionals among whom 60 were Physician, 40 Pharmacist, 200 Nurses and 50 allied healthcare providers. ..........

Knowledge of Air Pollution and its Predictors among Traders in Douglas Market, Imo State, South–Eastern Nigeria

Background: Air pollution is currently a major threat globally, particularly in a developing country such as Nigeria. With its dire implication for human health, it is imperative to study and understand the knowledge and contributory practices of the populace as key to the development of necessary intervention measures.
 Aims and Objectives: To assess knowledge and its predictors, also contributory practices towards air pollution among traders in Douglas Market, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
 Methodology: A cross – sectional analytical design using a combination of cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 200 participants. Data was collected using a pretested semi – structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant relationship and simple binary regression was used to determine predictors of knowledge of air pollution. The p – value was set at 0.05 significance level.
 Result: The mean age of the respondents was 36.2 ± 10.4 years with a slightly higher female proportion (59.0%). Almost all the respondents (97.9%) are aware of air pollution and the most common sources of information were the social media (38.8%) and the internet (23.2%). Respondents with good knowledge of air pollution in this study stood at 84.1%. Use of generators (73.5%) was the most common source of air pollution among the study participants. Factors significantly associated with knowledge of air pollution were age (p = 0.0000), marital status (p = 0.0192) and level of education (p = 0.0000). Predictors of poor knowledge of air pollution were: being within the ages of 42 – 49 years (OR: 27.33) and having non – formal education (OR: 32.50).
 Conclusion: There is overall good knowledge of air pollution, however there was still relatively low knowledge in the less educated and elderly populace. This should inform policy making with targeted advocacy towards the education and guidance of people to become knowledgeable about air pollution and related health risks. Also efficient generation and supply of power will reduce the use of generators.

Assessing the Level of Awareness About Breath-Holding Spells Among the General Population in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective Breath-holding spell (BHS) is a serious condition that affects healthy and normal children. It is a paroxysmal non-epileptic disorder and usually occurs after the child gets angry, annoyed, or aroused. In such a scenario, an episode of crying and silent expiration associated with color changes, either cyanosis or pallor, leads to loss of consciousness in the child. In Saudi Arabia,studies assessing the awarenessamong parents about BHS have been scarce. In light of this, this study aimed to evaluate the awareness of BHS among parents in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study conducted between June and October 2023 by usingGoogle Forms to collect data about awareness of risk factors of BHS among the general population in Makkah. We employed a validated andself-generated survey that was distributedthrough social media platforms. Results The study included 602 participants; 138 (22.9%) of them had witnessed BHS episodes. Of note, 407 (67.6%) thought that there was a connection between BHS and iron deficiency anemia. A significant majority (n=565, 93.9%) mentioned that spells can lead to passing out and seizures, and 542 (90%) thought that spells are dangerous. The majority (n=479, 79.6%) reported that the actions required during spells involvelaying the child on the floor, keeping the child away from anything sharp, staying with the child,and calling 911 if the child remains blue or is not breathing for longer than a minute. The most common source of information for the participants was the Ministry of Health (n=182, 30.2%). Conclusions This study found a generally lowlevel of awareness amongparents regarding several aspects of BHS. Hence, we recommend conducting educational campaigns to ensure parents have accurate information about BHS so that they can respond appropriately to its occurrence in children.

Segmentation is the key to a successful marketing strategy in the wine industry

This article is about market segmentation and its application, which has a great importance for wineries. Based on the research, three different segments could be derived from the data: female, male and age groups. The results show that the most common sources of information for wine tasting are Facebook, the Internet, and friends. Frequency of wine tasting and preferences for wine selection differed between segments.

The nutritional knowledge of nurses working at the medical college hospital in the northern district of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Background: Nutrition significantly impacts disease prevention and patient recovery. As healthcare providers across various health sectors, nurses often have the opportunity to offer dietary guidance to patients. However, there is a dearth of studies in the literature that assess nurses’ nutritional knowledge in Bangladesh. Objective: This study aimed to determine the nutritional knowledge of nurses employed at a tertiary-level medical college hospital in the Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, with 109 staff nurses completing a self-administered questionnaire. This questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, work-related information, and 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) aimed at assessing nurses’ nutrition knowledge. Data were collected between April and May 2022. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square (χ2) tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The average score of nutrition knowledge was 63.4% (SD = 13.94) for all nurses, falling within the low to moderate range. Nurses with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (22.2%) and 11 - 15 years of work experience (14.7%) demonstrated a very good level of nutrition knowledge. Education level (χ2 = 18.659; p <0.05) and work experience (χ2 = 22.356; p <0.01) significantly influenced knowledge levels. Most nurses sought nutritional advice from less than 25% of patients, with doctors/physicians being the most common source of nutrition information provided by nurses. Conclusion: The average nutritional knowledge score of Bangladeshi nurses was low to moderate. Education level and length of work experience significantly impacted knowledge levels. Therefore, it is recommended that effective ongoing nutrition education programs, nursing curriculum reforms, and in-service training are crucial to enhancing nurses’ nutritional knowledge.

Medical Trainees' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Electronic Cigarettes and Hookah: A Multinational Survey Study.

The rising prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and hookah use among youth raises questions about medical trainees' views of these products. We aimed to investigate medical trainees' knowledge and attitudes toward e-cigarette and hookah use. We used data from a large cross-sectional survey of medical trainees in Brazil, the United States, and India. We investigated demographic and mental health aspects, history of e-cigarettes and tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes toward e-cigarettes and hookah, and sources of information on e-cigarettes and hookah. Although all medical trainees were eligible for the original study, only senior students and physicians-in-training were included in the present analysis. Of 2,036 senior students and physicians-in-training, 27.4% believed e-cigarette use to be less harmful than tobacco smoking. As for hookah use, 14.9% believed it posed a lower risk than cigarettes. More than a third of trainees did not acknowledge the risks of passive e-cigarette use (42.9%) or hookah smoking (35.1%). Also, 32.4% endorsed e-cigarettes to quit smoking, whereas 22.5% felt ill equipped to discuss these tobacco products with patients. Fewer than half recalled attending lectures on these topics, and their most common sources of information were social media (54.5%), Google (40.8%), and friends and relatives (40.3%). Medical trainees often reported incorrect or biased perceptions of e-cigarettes and hookah, resorted to unreliable sources of information, and lacked the confidence to discuss the topic with patients. An expanded curriculum emphasis on e-cigarette and hookah use might be necessary because failing to address these educational gaps could risk years of efforts against smoking normalization.

The Impact of Social Media on Seeking Dermatological Care.

Social media is used by more than half of the world's population. Social media is becoming more widely recognized as a significant factor when looking for healthcare services because of its capacity to affect an individual's decision. Therefore, we aim to investigate the influence of social media and the use of filters on seeking cosmetic dermatological procedures among the general population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study utilized an online form for data collection. The questionnaire was developed by the authors after an extensive literature review. The data collection took place in October 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods. A total of 1,031 responses were analyzed, with females representing the majority (85.2%, n = 878). About half (47.4%, n = 489) indicated a willingness to undergo an aesthetic procedure, 16.3% (n = 168) had already done one procedure at least, and 53.2% (n = 548) had a specific procedure to do in the future. Healthcare professionals were the most common source of information (53.9; n = 556), followed by social media (22.7%; n = 234). In the Snapchat application, 94.5% (n = 974) of the participants used face filters. Undergoing an aesthetic procedure showed statistically significant associations with age, gender, educational level, employment, and income. Hiding skin lesions or acne was the most frequently reported reason for using photo editing apps or filters. While healthcare providers were the most frequently reported source of information, Snapchat influenced around 33% of the study's participants to undergo an aesthetic procedure.

Protein supplement intake by non-athlete gym attendees in Jazan region: misconceptions and gender differences.

Protein supplements (PSs) have gained widespread popularity among non-athlete gym attendees, who often perceive them as essential tools for muscle growth and recovery. However, misinformation surrounding PSs may lead to inappropriate use and negative health consequences. This study aimed to assess whether non-athlete gym attendees using PSs have greater misconceptions than non-users while also examining the prevalence of PS consumption and gender differences. A cross-sectional study of 387 participants in the Jazan region was conducted. Customers of 10 fitness centers were screened with a questionnaire comprising questions to measure PS misconceptions. Participants were divided into PS users and non-users. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test to assess the associations between variables. An independent t-test was used to compare the PS Misconception Index Score between the two groups. A total of 82.4% of non-athlete gym attendees consumed at least one PS. Our findings revealed a significant association between gender and PS utilization (P<0.001), with a higher proportion of females (90.8%) consuming PS than males (77.6%). PS users had a significantly lower PS Misconception Index Score than non-users (26.8 vs. 28.3; P=0.006), indicating that PS users had a higher number of misconceptions. The internet (41.37%) and coaches (gym instructors/trainers) (34.48%) were the most common sources of information about PSs, with muscle gain being the primary reason for consumption (82.75%). PS consumption is highly prevalent among non-athlete gym attendees in the Jazan region, with many individuals having misconceptions about their benefits and potential risks. Targeted educational interventions are needed to promote evidence-based knowledge about PSs for gym attendees, as well as for coaches, given that they were among the primary sources of information on supplements.

Obstetric Violence: What Do Midwifery Students Know?

The aim of this study is to determine the diagnosis levels and experiences of obstetric violence, which negatively affects women, of midwife candidates. The sample of the descriptive study consisted of 203 students studying in the Midwifery department of a public university who volunteered to participate in the research (Participation rate: 56%). Data were collected with the "Personal Information Form", "Obstetric Violence Diagnosis Form". Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data. The mean age of the students who contributed to the research was determined as 21.20±2.18. While it was determined that 59.1% of the students participating in the study had knowledge about obstetric violence, it was determined that the most common source of information was the internet (27.6%) and the immediate environment (13.8%), respectively. It was determined that 33.5% of the students witnessed obstetric violence. In addition, 23.2% of the students stated that obstetric violence is common in health institutions. In the light of the study findings, it was determined that the knowledge level of midwifery students about diagnosing obstetric violence should be improved. Therefore, raising awareness through improved educational models, standardizing care through the implementation of clinical practice guidelines, establishing protocols for respectful care, establishing the preventive legal basis, and promoting the humanization of childbirth will be key to eradicating obstetric violence.

Health first, convenience second: Caregiver perspectives of commercially produced complementary foods in five Southeast Asian capital cities.

Caregivers in low- and middle-income countriesincreasingly feed commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) to older infants and young children-shaped by factors including industry promotion. The dynamics of CPCF consumption and caregiver knowledge, attitudesand behaviours regarding complementary feeding practices are poorly understood in these settings. We examined how caregiver knowledge/attitudes/behaviours about CPCF shape the feeding of older infants and young children in the capital cities of five countries in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila).An online, web-based, cross-sectional panel survey was conducted among mothers of a child aged 6-23 months. One hundred participants were included in each of the five capital cities. Questionnaires were undertaken in the official language of each city. Data were analysed in Stata (version 17.0), using χ2 tests to examine difference between variables of interest.All mothers purchased CPCF for their youngest child aged 6-23 months at the time of survey. CPCF were commonly fed to children at least once per day, and in many of the five cities at most or every feeding. While factors such as convenience and affordability influenced CPCF purchase, mothers primarily purchased CPCF for nutritional reasons. The most common source of feeding information was health care professionals, followed by social media.CPCF are ubiquitous in the diets of older infants and young children of educated middle-upper socioeconomic status mothers in capital cities of Southeast Asia, with perceived healthiness a key driver in selecting CPCF. A strong governmental regulatory response to industry marketing/promotion will be critical to addressing CPCF appropriateness, including health and nutritional claim use.

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge and practices related to cough and sneeze etiquette among health care providers, respiratory patients and their attendants in a tertiary care centre

Background: The emergence of respiratory infections including Tuberculosis, COVID-19, influenza A and B viruses have a significant impact on health worldwide. Cough and sneezing etiquette including respiratory hygiene have been recommended as most cost-effective preventative tool to reduce such transmission. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among health care providers, respiratory patients and their attendants admitted in the Respiratory Medicine department at a tertiary care hospital for 6 months duration i.e., from December 2022 to May 2023, aiming to assess the knowledge and practices related to cough and sneeze etiquette. A total of 200 study subjects were interviewed with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The study findings were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 200 subjects, most 95 (47.5%) of subjects belonged to the age group between 40 to 60 and 109 (54.5%) were females and 91 (45.5%) were male. Majority of the participants were medical students; 62 (31%) followed by paramedical staff; 49 (24.5%), laborers and doctors; 26 (13%). Only 88 (44%) participants had heard about cough etiquette. Most common source of information regarding the proper cough and sneeze etiquette among the participants was television or internet;112 (61%). The patients and their attendants were having poor knowledge regarding the proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Conclusions: The knowledge and practice of cough and sneezing etiquette was not satisfactory especially among the general population. There is the utmost need for awareness regarding the knowledge and correct practice of cough etiquette.

Caregivers' Experiences Regarding Antibiotic Usage in Treating Children's Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Southern Tanzania.

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common illnesses, especially in children and account globally for a substantial proportion of consultations with family doctors. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of caretakers regarding antibiotic usage in treating URTIs in Southern Tanzania. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at Iringa Regional Referral Hospital in Southern Tanzania from March to June 2022 involving 300 caregivers. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. About two-thirds (71.7%) of the caregivers had poor knowledge regarding antibiotic usage in treating children's URTIs. In this study, 96.7% of the caregivers correctly identified amoxicillin as the most prescribed medication for treatment of children's URTIs. However, about two-thirds (65.0 %) of the parents were aware of the antibiotic resistance that could be caused by misuse of antibiotics. In this study 50.7% of the respondents had poor attitude while 49.3% had good attitude regarding antibiotic usage in treating children's URTIs. Similarly, 53% of the respondents thought local medications are better than antibiotics in treatment of URTIs. Regarding practices, 75.3% of the respondents used to complete the dose of antibiotics when prescribed for treatment of URTIs and 69.7% used to treat their children at home when having URTIs. A significant association was found between the majority of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and the level of knowledge. Similarly, there was a statistically significant association between knowledge and attitude of caregivers pertaining to antibiotic usage in treating children's URTIs. There is lack of knowledge among caregivers regarding antibiotic usage for treating children's URTIs at the regional hospital and also more than half of the caregivers had poor attitude towards antibiotic usage. Therefore, caregiver's educational interventions should be implemented through health promotions and educational campaigns that should be mainly conducted by medical doctors since they were reported by the caregivers to be the commonest source of information.

Home Management of Fever in Under-Five Children: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Mothers Attending a Paediatric Outpatient Clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Fever is a common problem in children especially in under-fives. Most fevers start outside the hospital thus management of fevers at home may limit complications from febrile illnesses. This study assessed mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of home management of fever in under-five children. It was a cross-sectional study and data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Of 219 respondents, majority were of age group 31-40 years 114(52.1%) and of middle social class 56(50.0%). Most respondents correctly defined fever 165(75.3%), knew the causes of fever 149(68.0%), and the correct site of measurement using a thermometer 114(52.1%) but did not know high body thermometer 132(60.3%). Majority knew fever could be managed at home 184(84.0%) and was harmful 207(94.5%). The commonest source of information about fever was obtained from health workers/hospitals 118(54.9%). more than half of respondents had thermometers 141(64.4%), knew how to use it 136(62.1%) and would measure their child’s temperature at home if fever was suspected 161(73.5%). Most would monitor their child’s temperature at home 191(87.2%), would manage child’s fever at home 171(78.1%), would visit the hospital because of child’s fever 204(93.2%) and would do so within 2-3 days of onset of fever 59(40.1%). Only about a third of respondents had good knowledge (39.7%) and good practice (33.2%) on the home management of fever in children while about half (59.8%) had good attitude. Massive enlightenment campaigns on home management of fever should therefore be carried out so as to reduce complications that could arise from unduly high temperature at home. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Fever, Home management

Breaking the Taboo: Determinants of Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Among Egyptian Women

Drawing on 32 semi structured in-depth interviews with Egyptian women, this paper discusses determinants of sexual knowledge and attitudes among premarital and married women and women's agency in presenting sexual desires and gaining sexual knowledge in Egypt. Three main themes emerged as follows: (1) Attitudes toward being sexually educated; the findings show that most women have a positive attitude toward sexual knowledge and being sexually educated. However, there is still some embarrassment and shame associated with expressing their sexual needs or seeking more information about them. (2) Gender inequity in sexual knowledge: respondents have reported that they face social oppression and challenges when expressing their sexual desires, and there is gender inequity in obtaining knowledge about sex. Additionally, women agreed that men have the right to obtain knowledge about sex and that Egyptian society supports men in acquiring such knowledge. (3) General knowledge about sex; the internet is the most common source of information about sex. There is agreement that intimate relationships should be an enjoyable experience for both partners. Furthermore, women have stated that there are some indicators of successful sexual relationships. The current research contributes by filling a gap in the knowledge about women’s sexual education in Egypt, where empirical literature on women’s sexual knowledge in such conservative culture is lacking.

A national survey of the antibiotic use, self-medication practices, and knowledge of antibiotic resistance among graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global public health concern that was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths and indirectly associated with 4.95 million deaths in 2019. Antibiotic resistance (ABR) occurs naturally, but its prevalence has been accelerated broadly due to antibiotic misuse and overuse, poor infection control practices, and availability of substandard and falsified medicines. ObjectivesTo assess antibiotic use and knowledge of ABR among graduates of tertiary education in Nigeria and evaluate if tertiary education, academic background (science, social sciences, or the arts) and years post-graduation significantly impact antibiotic use and awareness of antibiotic resistance. ResultDespite having tertiary education, 47.7 % of respondents self-medicate with antibiotics, 54.9 % of respondents don't carry out laboratory investigations before using antibiotics, and 70.1 % reduce or stop taking antibiotics on feeling better. Inconvenience, limited access to doctors and financial constraint were the most common reasons for self-medication. Academic background, age, gender and years post-graduation had no statistically significant effect on self-medication practices (p-value>0.05). Inappropriate antibiotic use for viral-infections like sore throat, cold and flu, and diarrhoea was reported in 50.2, 42.6 and 40.2 % of respondents, respectively. Amoxicillin (54.2 %), metronidazole (48.2 %), and ciprofloxacin (45.6 %) were the most used antibiotics. Pharmacists were the most consulted health professionals before antibiotics were used, and the internet is the most common source of information on antibiotic resistance. Most-respondents, 85.5 %, correctly identified that antibiotic misuse contributes to ABR. ConclusionThe increased knowledge and awareness of ABR among respondents did not translate into proper antibiotic use, emphasizing the need for more stringent regulations on antibiotic dispensing and prescribing. Health sector reforms focused on utilizing technology like telemedicine to improve convenient access to health care, and multiple health insurance schemes to reduce out-of-pocket spending should be prioritized to improve health equity and universal health coverage (UHC).

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Electrical Burns.

Burn prevention programs can effectively reduce morbidity and mortality rates. In this article, we present the findings of our investigation of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi Arabian population regarding electrical burns. Our study was a cross-sectional online survey that used a five-part questionnaire to assess the participant's demographic information, knowledge of electrical burns, attitudes toward electrical injuries, and practices related to electrical burns and their prevention. Overall, 2314 individuals responded to the survey (males: 41.2%; females: 58.8%). A total of 839 participants (36%) had a personal or family history of electrical burns. Approximately ≥90% of the responses to questions on electrical burn-related knowledge were correct; relatively less responses to questions on the extent of tissue damage from electrical burns and arcs were correct (74% and 29%, respectively). Only 54% of the respondents knew that applying first aid to the burn-affected areas at home could lead to a better outcome; 27% and 19% did not know the correct answer and thought that this would not lead to a better outcome, respectively. The most common source of information was school or college (38.9%), followed by social media (20.8%) and internet websites (16.3%). Enhancing community awareness and practices related to electrical burns is a cost-effective and straightforward strategy to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with electrical injuries.

Awareness of cancer among adolescents: A study of nine focus groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.

One third of cancers are potentially preventable by modifying key risk factors that arise during adolescence. To help inform prevention efforts, we investigated adolescents' understanding of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs and barriers to help-seeking. Nine focus groups were conducted with purposefully sampled, binary-gendered friendship groups of 12 to 17-year-olds. Interviews were analysed using a qualitative descriptive method based on the topic schedule, transcripts and field notes. Behavioural, genetic and environmental factors were commonly explored as risk factors. Most cancer symptoms identified focused on physical indicators, such as lumps and skin appearance. Facilitators and barriers to good health choices involved both external and internal factors: education, affordability, attitudes and the social environment. Most participants indicated they would talk to trusted friends and family members about health issues, but only when the condition became 'serious'. The most common source of health information was the internet. Adolescents have a good understanding of behavioural risk factors, but poor knowledge of some key cancer symptoms. A support system was recognised to be a substantive factor in dealing with health issues, as were youth-focused health services. Understanding of the preventability of many cancers was not widespread with participants. SO WHAT?: The results emphasise a requirement for appropriate, affordable and accessible youth-focused health services. There is a need for age- and culturally appropriate interventions that improve knowledge of cancer symptoms. Immunisation against the viruses implicated in cervical cancer is one example of a clinical cancer prevention intervention in adolescence.