Educational Seminars Research Articles

الممارسات التأملية لدى مدرسي مادة علم الاحياء للمرحلة الاعدادية وعلاقتها بالتفتح الذهني

The current study aimed to verify:- Reflective practices among biology Teachers . Biotechnology teachers' open-mindedness In this study, the descriptive and associative research method was adopted. The research community consisted of all teachers of the biology subject for the preparatory and secondary stages in the Babylon Directorate of Education for the academic year (2021-2022) out of(494) teachers of the biology subject and a total of (328) teachers at the secondary level. 166 teachers in the preparatory stage. (200) teachers were selected as a final application research sample in a simple random method. By (90) teachers and(110) schools . The researcher adopted a measure of reflective practices and built a measure of open-mindedness: The scale of reflective practices:This scale included four topics, namely : the axis of planning and contained (10) paragraphs and the axis of implementation contained (10) paragraphs and the axis of evaluation contained (10) paragraphs and the axis of professional growth contained (10) paragraphs, and its psychometric properties were verified through the apparent validity and discriminatory strength of the paragraphs and the validity of the construction, and the stability was verified in the Cronbach Alpha method and the coefficient of stability was (0,92) .In the semi-partition method, the stability coefficient was (0,807) and the measure was destroyed in its final form from (40) paragraphs . 2- The open-mindedness scale: This scale included three areas: the field of production of ideas, containing (15) paragraphs, the field of diversity of ideas, containing (15) paragraphs, and the field of diversion of mind, containing (15) paragraphs, and its psychometric properties were verified, through the apparent validity and discriminatory strength of the paragraphs and the sincerity of the building. The stability was verified in the Cronbach Alpha method, and the stability coefficient was (0.92), and in the half-part method, the stability coefficient was (0.908), and the scale was damaged in its final form from (40) paragraphs The researcher adopted the statistical portfolio of social sciences and the Excell 2016 program and appropriate statistical means, and the results of the study showed: Teachers of biology have good reflective practices. Possessing a good degree of open-mindedness by biology teachers. In light of these results, the researcher made recommendations, the most important of which are:- 1.Encourage the directorates of education to prepare training courses to develop teachers' skills to bring about continuous changes in teachers' reflective practices 2.Organizing educational seminars and conferences to develop teachers' ideas and beliefs to raise their level of open-mindedness 3. Providing appropriate incentives for procedural research that will help teachers to succeed in their reflective practices Continuing the research, the researcher suggested the following studies 1-Conducting a correlational study on the reflective practices of biology teachers and their relationship to the educational achievement of their students 2-Conducting a study on the open-mindedness of biology teachers and their relationship to the educational achievement of their students 3-Preparing a training program for biology teachers according to their reflective thinking and its impact on their open-mindedness

Assessment of Marketing Practices and Strategies of Smoked Fish within Selected Markets in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

This study investigates the marketing practices of smoked fish within selected markets in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research findings highlight a predominant presence of married female marketers in the 25-30 age bracket, primarily equipped with secondary school education. Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) emerge as the favoured fish species, and the primary mode of transportation to these markets is public. Notably, refrigeration stands as the preferred storage method for unprocessed fish, with peak sales occurring in the afternoons during the dry season. Among the key discoveries, inadequate financial resources surface as the predominant external challenge faced by marketers, impacting the efficiency of their operations. To address these findings, we recommend the formation of cooperatives to facilitate access to financial resources through banks and government agencies. Additionally, investments in essential infrastructure such as smoking facilities (smoking kilns) are essential to mitigate adverse health effects on marketers. Furthermore, government intervention through educational seminars and awareness programs is suggested to empower smoked fish marketers to enhance their marketing strategies. Lastly, the implementation of price control measures is advised to mitigate price fluctuations faced by producers, retailers, and consumers, fostering a more stable and equitable market environment.

Quality provision in Pakistani health care system: insights into a major obstacle and the way forward.

Madam, Safety, cost-effectiveness, efficiency and equity are all components of quality healthcare. Key factors determining quality are’ and their families’ satisfactions and better disease outcomes.1 Doctors, paramedics, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, administrative staff, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and policymakers are the caregivers who have an essential direct or indirect role in providing, sustaining and improving health care.1 A population's health is crucial to a state's stability and growth. Quality in healthcare has been a subject of discussion across the globe for decades, with developed nations contributing the majority of its measures and recommendations6. In contrast it is still battling to fully establish and function in emerging nations like Pakistan. The health system in Pakistan comprises primary, secondary and tertiary health centres. The latter are found in a few urban cities and are run by both the public and private sectors. Private bodies include profit as well as welfare-based organizations.2,3 According to the WHO, on average, there are 6.3 hospital beds per 10,000 population in Pakistan, which is below its recommendation and much less compared to other developing nations.2 Majority of the population reside in rural areas and thus their option in various illnesses is primary or secondary health unit.3 The major drawback in such centres is lack of attendance by doctors and paramedical staff, lack of competent clinician or general practitioner along with absence of equipment, state-of-the-art laboratory and latest treatment options, all contributing to delays in diagnosis and management.4,5 There is also a lack of patient registry, long-term follow-ups, appropriate and timely referrals to higher health care centre and disease discussion between clinicians.3 Due to such weakened basic units, many patients directly visit an urbanized tertiary health center, which is a major cause of overcrowding of our hospitals. Some break-through policies which could address this dilemma is giving incentives to the assigned staff, providing commute in case of long travels, improving the infrastructure and facilities within the centers, installation of biometrics and having regular audit of attendance, number of patients treated and medications provided. Conducting education seminars regarding work ethics would also contribute towards a professional working environment leading to better patient outcomes.3,4 Creating awareness regarding the responsibility and crucial role of general practitioners in primary and secondary health units along with recognition of their importance, would also help in diverting medical community towards opting for such roles.6 ---Continue

1208. Impact of Selected Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control Strategies in Carbapenem Resistance in a Third Level Public Hospital in Colombía.

Abstract Background Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Programs and Infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies have been shown to effectively reduce antimicrobial resistance. The resources required for the implementation of these programs in low-resource settings could be limited. This study aimed to assess the impact of a few AMS and IPC strategies on carbapenem resistance in a third-level public hospital in Colombia. Methods A retrospective before-and-After study was completed. The baseline period consisted of 6 months (January 2021-Jun 2021) and the intervention period consisted of 18 months (July 2021-December 2022) The AMS intervention consisted of the implementation of prospective audits on prescriptions of meropenem, cefepime, and piperacillin-tazobactam, along with educational seminars. The IPC intervention consisted of screening for carbapenemase-producing-Enterobacterales (CPE) through rectal swabs for every patient transferred to the ICU and weekly for all patients in the ICU. A cohorting area with 24 beds was also established to isolate CPE colonized/infected patients Results During the intervention period, 886 prospective audits were made. We suspended 208, 111, and 55 prescriptions of Meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and cefepime respectively. The length of therapy was shortened in 239, 290, and 99 prescriptions of Meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and cefepime respectively. The antimicrobial consumption was lower in the intervention period for meropenem (24,8 DDD/100 patients-days Vs 74.3 DDD/100 patients-days baseline period). Figure 1 The prevalence of positive rectal swabs showed a downward trend during the intervention period. Figure 2. The prevalence of CPE also decreased and was 0,45 during the baseline period and 0,28 during the last semester of the intervention period. Figure 3 The carbapenem resistance K. pneumoniae laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection rate also decreased during the intervention period, going from 15.4/10.000 patients-days to 1.17/10.000 patient-days. Figure 4 Conclusion The implementation of selected AMS and IPC strategies in a resource limited third level hospital reduced the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and the rate of Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections. Disclosures GERARDO A. MUÑETON, Infectious diseases and Internal Medicine Specialist, PFIZER: Advisor/Consultant

Building Resilience in Students: Managed and Minimised Stress in Students

Stressful events in students' and teachers' personal, academic, and professional lives are widespread. The paper discusses many effective methods and techniques for correcting and preventing stress that are simple to learn and practice. They give good results in working with children, adolescents, and youths in training and education. Some practices are more complex and require more attention and effort to understand and master them, but they also have broader capabilities in various situations. Therefore, training sessions aimed at training in the prevention and correction of (di)stress conditions are very relevant and necessary. The results showed that there is a conscious and urgent need for students to reduce anxiety and stress, including ways to deal with learning stresses. Stress management can and should be structured and systematically organized, including in the instrumental sense: students need to be taught how to manage stress and themselves, increase their resistance to stress (resilience), and be trained to use different coping techniques with anxiety, as appropriate. In an empirical study, representatives of other groups of students from three Kazakh universities answered questions from three author's stress questionnaires. According to the respondents, the study results showed that students need knowledge about stress. The study showed the urgent need for special educational and training seminars, lectures, and even courses on (di)stress and physical, mental, and moral injuries and coping with them. Such classes are needed to help schoolchildren and students cope with stress and avoid problems with moral, mental, and physical health to prevent other negative consequences of school and related strains.

Negotiating what it means to be “free”: gender equality and governance in North and East Syria

ABSTRACT In this article, I discuss the radical gender equality reforms in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava, and how they have affected women’s lives since the implementation of the Women’s Law in 2014. Based on 40 in-depth interviews, eight group interviews, and participant observation, this ethnographic study illustrates how the ideal of the “free” woman permeates society in North and East Syria, prescribing desired forms of behavior and appearance. Drawing on the literature on gender and nationalism in postcolonial processes of state building, my study provides an analysis of the AANES’ gender discourse that considers the real-life governing effects of the reforms. Building from the Foucauldian premise that modern power engenders disciplinary practices, I examine how awareness-raising efforts and education seminars establish new forms of control in the public sphere. I contend that the reforms operate as governing tools and, as such, shape women’s subjectivities. Engendering both discipline and resistance, they result in the emergence of new subjectivities that are not entirely determined by either ideology or by patriarchal structures.

Social Education Seminar for PKH Beneficiary Families in Nisam Subdistrict, North Aceh

This article discusses the role of mothers as Beneficiary Families (KPM) in the Family Hope Program (PKH) in the family and social life in Nisam Subdistrict, North Aceh. This program aims to improve the welfare of poor families through financial assistance provided to the KPM mothers. The analysis results show that the role of KPM PKH mothers is significant in supporting family life and contributing to social changes in the local community, maintaining a positive attitude in interacting with others. This conclusion illustrates that the activities of delivering lectures in the PKH program have a broad impact in improving the understanding, skills, and active participation of KPM PKH mothers, and have the potential to bring about positive changes at the social and economic levels for the benefiting community.

Signs of perceptual disorder during movement were reliably assessed in children with cerebral palsy in Sweden.

The aim of this Swedish study was to evaluate the assessment of clinical signs of perceptual disorder in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Three experienced raters assessed 56 videos of 19 children from 1 to 18 years of age with bilateral spastic CP, which were recorded by colleagues at an Italian hospital. Six signs were evaluated for inter-rater reliability and criterion validity. Clinical applicability was evaluated by assessing inter-rater reliability between 47 Swedish clinicians, who examined 15 of the videos during face-to-face and online education seminars. There were 41 physiotherapists, two occupational therapists and four doctors, with 1-37 years of clinical experience and a median of 10 years. The experienced raters demonstrated moderate to almost perfect inter-rater reliability (kappa 0.54-0.81) and criterion validity (0.54-0.87) for startle reaction, upper limbs in startle position, averted eye gaze and eye blinking. The clinicians recognised these signs with at least moderate reliability (0.56-0.88). Grimacing and posture freezing were less reliable (0.22-0.35) and valid (0.09-0.50). Four of the six signs of perceptual disorder were reliably recognised by experienced raters and by clinicians after education seminars. Extended education and larger study samples are needed to recognise all the signs.

Nurturing Healthy Media Consumption Habits in Early Childhood: A Social Campaign Approach

In contemporary society, the pervasive presence of digital devices has profoundly influenced the media consumption patterns of young children, presenting challenges and opportunities for their development. This study explores the impact of media content on early childhood and the urgent need for informed parental supervision. Utilizing a Research and Development (R&D) methodology, a comprehensive social campaign titled "Healthy Watching" was developed and implemented in Pontianak, Indonesia. The campaign aimed to empower parents, particularly mothers, with the knowledge and skills necessary to guide their children's media interactions effectively. Through educational seminars, videos, stickers, and social media platforms, the campaign fostered awareness about age-appropriate content, screen time limits, and the importance of active parental engagement. The campaign's efficacy was evaluated through stakeholder engagement and behavioral assessments of eight target mothers. The results indicate significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, emphasizing the campaign's success in promoting healthy media consumption habits. This study provides valuable insights into the design and implementation of social campaigns to address the challenges of digital media in early childhood.

The Surgical Education Seminar Series: A novel, free resource from the Association for Surgical Education and the Society for Improving Medical Professional Learning

The Surgical Education Seminar Series: A novel, free resource from the Association for Surgical Education and the Society for Improving Medical Professional Learning

Physicians’ Compliance With Order Entry Forms for Intravenous Pantoprazole in a Tertiary Care Hospital

The widespread inappropriate use of intravenous (IV) pantoprazole, due to its high cost, is a substantial issue. To improve its rational use, an order entry form (OEF) based on the institutional guideline, was implemented. Physicians were required to fill an OEF upon administration of IV pantoprazole. We aimed to evaluate the compliance of physicians as well as the accuracy of filled OEFs six months after the implementation. The study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Tehran. Chart review was performed for all patients with an IV pantoprazole order. IV pantoprazole OEFs received by the hospital pharmacy for these patients were evaluated in terms of quantity and quality (e.g., completeness, accuracy of filled items, etc.). Only for 270 (62%) patients, OEFs were received by the hospital pharmacy. Indications were specified in 199 (73.5%) forms, and their agreement with the forms filled by the researcher was 37.8%. The most frequent indication specified in OEFs was stress ulcer prophylaxis (40.7%). IV pantoprazole administration was rational only in 15.9% of cases. The emergency ward had the highest frequency of orders (57.9%), while having the lowest fill rate (56.7%) among the wards with the highest number of orders. The disagreement between the researcher and the OEFs regarding the need for IV medication was 39.5%. This study demonstrated that the compliance of physicians with the accurate completion of OEFs was suboptimal. It seems that for long-lasting changes in IV pantoprazole utilization patterns, barriers should be determined, and additional methods such as ongoing educational seminars or feedback might be needed along with OEF.

Penanganan Stunting Kampung Lalang: Sosialisasi Serta Pembagian Vitamin Oleh Kelompok Kukerta Universitas Riau

The Real Working Lecture (KKN) is a vehicle for the application and development of knowledge, which is carried out off campus in certain time, work mechanism, and requirements. KKN implemented by universities is an effort to increase the content and weight of education for students and to get greater added value to higher education. Through community service activities in Lalang Village, there will be synergy between universities and the community. The purpose of this KKN acticity is to provide an understanding to the local community about the importance of health for young generation, specifically for their babies. Frequently, stunting become a massive issues for babies in this village. The service is carried out through educational workshops, seminars, teaching, and discussions. The result of this dedication provide an overview of how importance for a mother and their kids to mantaian what they eat and how to have a healhty live due to stunting issues.

Literasi Pemanfaatan dan Pencegahan Efek Radiasi pada Masyarakat Lansia di Lingkungan Kecamatan Trawas Kabupaten Mojokerto

Radiation can originate from various natural and artificial sources. Ionizing radiation can impact individual health because ionization events can result in DNA damage, cell death, and harm to tissues and organs. The elderly is one of the vulnerable groups that should receive more attention regarding their health conditions. Aging is a natural phase in the human life cycle that significantly affects various aspects of life, including health and quality of life. The quality of life in the elderly can be influenced by their well-being, emotions, physical health, occupation, cognitive abilities, and social life. In connection with the radiation phenomenon that can have serious implications for the health and quality of life of individuals, including the more vulnerable elderly population, adequate knowledge about safe radiation utilization and a detailed understanding of radiation's effects and prevention become essential in maintaining their health and improving their quality of life. Community outreach activities were conducted in the form of educational seminars with the aim of increasing the elderly community's literacy regarding the effects and utilization of radiation in the Trawas District, Mojokerto Regency, over a duration of one day. It is worth noting that the Trawas District, Mojokerto Regency, has experienced an increase in its elderly population over the past few years. The results of this community outreach program have shown a positive overall progress, with an increase in participants' self-confidence in understanding the provided material and an improvement in their knowledge regarding the utilization and prevention of radiation effects. This improvement is demonstrated by the significant difference between pre-test scores (mean value: 22.82) and post-test scores (mean value: 80.82), as assessed through a statistically significant paired T-test (t value: 35,537 with p<0.001) and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p<0.001).

Developing students' critical thinking abilities using the English literacy comprehension Journal: A case study in Biology Education

Students must master their critical thinking ability because it is the basis for analyzing arguments so that they can develop a reasonable mindset. In addition, the critical thinking ability to speak English is also an important thing that students must possess to face the globalization era. In its development, literacy culture has become one of the skills of the 21st century. One way to improve literacy is to understand English journals for reference needs for the preparation of scientific papers in universities. Therefore, this study aims to examine students' critical thinking skills in understanding English journals in the Biology Education seminar course. This is a case study at the private universities in the city of Bandung involving 60 students in biology education. Students are given the task of reading independently from a journal. Data collection in this study was obtained from student reports in the form of PowerPoint, assessment results, and observations. Data analysis is carried out with stages of data validity, data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. The study results showed that students' critical thinking skills in understanding English journals can be developed by integrating them into course assignments.

ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOMES OF "REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CENTER FOR DISEASES OF THE ORAL MUCOSA" FUNCTIONING THROUGHOUT 10 YEARS. FUTURE TRENDS

Diseases of the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips are an important problem in dentistry. There are difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of secondary stomatitis, as they are symptoms of common diseases and syndromes, have similar signs, lesion elements, and course dynamics.
 In order to improve the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment of oral mucosa and red lip pathology, prevention of major dental diseases, the Department of Postgraduate Education of Dentists has been operating the Regional Scientific and Practical Center for Oral Mucosa Diseases since 2011, where intraand interdisciplinary consultative approaches have been created, controlled therapy and medical examination are carried out.
 The article analyzes the counseling work of the center and identifies the prospects for its activities.
 Analyzing the work done over 10 years, patients are divided according to the classification of SOPR diseases into groups of primary (independent) and secondary (symptomatic) stomatitis. During the period of the center's activity, 5412 patients were admitted, including 3648 (67.41%) with pathology of the OSJD and red lip border. The analysis showed that the number of coincident diagnoses in patients referred for consultation was 40.1%, discrepancies 33%, without a diagnosis was 20.6% and without a referral 6.3%.
 The center's work was implemented in various forms. On-site educational seminars for dentists were held in the districts of the region to improve the level of knowledge on oncological dentistry, especially dangerous infections at outpatient dental visits.
 Thus, the analysis of the results of the work of the regional scientific and practical center for diseases of the oral mucosa, based on an intraand interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment, allowed us to formulate recommendations for improving the training of doctors and their activities, developing clinical thinking and outlining prospects.

PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN GEOLOGICAL MUSEUMS OF UKRAINE AND SPAIN

The publication actualizes issues related to the prospects for geological science development and ways of cooperation between Ukraine and Spain. As part of the bilateral cooperation between these countries, at the end of February 2023, a meeting of geologists was held in Barcelona at one of the leading research institutes in Spain. The main issues discussed were the popularization of geology and the geological museum’s development. The first part of the article contains an overview of the peculiarities of the tectonic structure, stratigraphy, rock complexes, and unique reference sections within Ukraine, which are of world scientific importance. The second part is devoted to the characteristics of the Ukrainian museums of Earth sciences, the problems of modern scientific research, the geological monuments preservation, and strengthening the role of geological museums in popularizing knowledge about the Earth. As a result, joint projects within the framework of international cooperation between Ukraine and Spain are proposed. Cooperation will occur at the level of individual Institutes of Earth Sciences and Natural History Museums, as they store primary geological information. For the accumulation of geological information, its preservation and presentation, it is necessary to unite museums into a single museum space and international museum organizations. To create a general complex multi-level museum database. In addition, cooperation can be manifested in joint expeditions in which factual material can be obtained for further analytical research; in the organization and conduct of joint research, conferences, and educational seminars; in publishing joint scientific works, etc. Such events will contribute to exchanging information/specimens and improving external communication for further developing the museum business, educational and scientific activities in the geological field.

Through education and continuous professional development — to new professional achievements

The profession of a doctor requires constant training, because information is updated quite rapidly and the acquired knowledge must meet modern requirements and have scientific basis. Moreover, specialists need to improve not only their skills, but also have legal and organizational knowledge. Consequently, we needed a platform to discuss important and urgent issues of dentistry; however, the pandemic and the war deprived us the opportunity to meet in person. The non-governmental organization “Ukrainian Dental Association”, which united doctors of all specialties, took up the solution of this issue together with providers of continuous professional development (CPD). Already in the first half of the year, seven educational seminars for dentists were held in real time; as a result, the number of views reached 20,000.

Current status of the educational environment to acquire and maintain the professional skills of radiotherapy technology and medical physics specialists in Japan: a nationwide survey.

This study aimed to investigate the educational environment of radiotherapy technology and medical physics specialists (RTMP) in Japan. We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey in radiotherapy institutions between June and August 2022. Participants were asked questions regarding the educational system, perspectives on updating RTMP's skills and qualifications, and perspectives on higher education for RTMP at radiotherapy institutions. The results were then analyzed in detail according to three factors: whether the hospital was designed for cancer care, whether it was a Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO)-accredited hospital, and whether it was an intensity-modulated radiation therapy charged hospital. Responses were obtained from 579 (69%) nationwide radiation therapy institutions. For non-qualified RTMP, 10% of the institutions had their own educational systems, only 17% of institutions provided on-the-job training, and 84% of institutions encouraged participation in educational lectures and workshops in academic societies. However, for qualified RTMP, 3.0% of institutions had their own educational systems, only 8.9% of the institutions provided on-the-job training, and 83% encouraged participation in academic conferences and workshops. Less than 1% of the facilities offered salary increases for certification, whereas 8.2% offered consideration for occupational promotion. Regarding the educational environment, JASTRO-accredited hospitals were better than general hospitals. Few institutions have their own educational systems for qualified and non-qualified RTMP, but they encourage them to attend educational seminars and conferences. It is desirable to provide systematic education and training by academic and professional organizations to maintain the skills of individuals.

Evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers regarding high-risk nosocomial infections: A global cross-sectional study.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a vital role in delivering care and are frequently exposed to the risk of acquiring infections within the hospital setting. Around 15% of hospitalized patients suffer from these infections globally. However, the role and awareness of HCWs in the transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward high-risk microbial infections among HCWs on a global scale to identify measures to address this problem. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between 2022 and 2023, with HCWs selected as the study population. Data concerning KAP were collected through a self-administered online survey questionnaire, using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. A total of 743 HCWs from various countries participated in the study, with the majority of respondents being doctors (64.9%). Data were mainly obtained from Saudi Arabia (26.78%), Iraq (25.84%), India (15.7%), the United States of America (15.2%), and Africa (Sudan, Nigeria) (13.98%). The frequency of good KAP scores among physicians (KAP: 82.5, 80.66, and 70.5), nurses (KAP: 74.1, 73.07, and 88.7), medical practitioners (KAP: 87.2, 77.58, and 75.1), and technicians (KAP: 76.1, 74.38, and 89.6) were obtained as mentioned. With respect to experience, HCWs showed good KAP scores in 1-5 years (KAP: 82.4, 83.3, and 74.1), 5-10 years (KAP: 80.6, 74.54, 83), 10-20 years (KAP: 74.7, 79.1, and 82.7), and >20 years (KAP: 84.6, 78.8, and 82.8) categories. This study suggests that HCWs have good KAP regarding infection prevention, but there is still room for improvement. Educational seminars and awareness programs can provide better adherence to barrier protection measures such as hand washing, use of gloves, and hand disinfection.

EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTITUDES ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION IN AL-QUNFUDAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor of the colon and rectum. It can be cured if detected in the early stage through established screening programs. CRC screening is the best way to improve cancer morbidity and mortality. Various approaches such as stool tests, virtual colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy are available for early de- tection. On average, a person after reaching the age of 45 should begin the screening process for CRC periodically for 5 years. Our study aims to measure the populations awareness and knowledge of the effect of CRC screening on CRC outcomes. A cross-sectional study questionnaire was designed and distributed among Saudi residents of the Al-Qunfudah region. A total of 385 participants replied: 55.8% of the participants were males, 78.8% of the study participants mentioned that they had heard about CRC, and 27.3% reported that CRC is common in Al-Qunfudah. In addition, 62.1% knew that CRC is more common in men but only 32.2% had a good awareness level. Moreover, 16.4% of the participants reported that they had received a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy 69.9% did not think of the colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy procedure as the main barrier to undergoing early screening for CRC. Good aware- ness regarding CRC was demonstrated in 34.4% of highly educated participants, which was directly associated with levels of education. In conclusion, much more awareness regarding CRC screening is needed in the Al-Qunfudah region. Educational seminars and programs should be made mandatory, and the healthcare system should focus on high-risk individuals.