King Saud University Students Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Standard Infection Control Precautions Among Medical Students at King Khalid University Hospital.

Background Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risk extends beyond patients to healthcare workers and medical students. However, many HAIs are preventable by adhering to standard infection control precautions (SICPs). This study assesses medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding SICPs at the College of Medicine, King Saud University. Methodology A cross-sectional study was undertaken at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving interns and medical students from years 1 to 5. The researchers constructed and validated an electronic questionnaire, which was used for data collection from December 2022 to June 2023. The estimated sample size was 371 students and interns, stratified by sex and educational level. The data collected included demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding SICPs. Results Out of371 participants, approximately a quarter (25.1%) had a good knowledge score, 25.6% had a positive attitude, and 26.7% had good infection control practice. There was an association between good knowledge and male gender; being in clinical years 3, 4, 5, and interns; and attending infection control training (p < 0.05). A significant difference in practice was noted among females (p = 0.002). Conclusions This study showed low-to-moderate knowledge, attitude, and practice toward SICPs. These findings indicate a gap between the recommended guidelines and their implementation in healthcare settings, highlighting the necessity for integrating infection control education throughout the medical curriculum. Further research involving a larger sample from multiple institutions is warranted.

الدوجماتية لدى طلبة الجامعة وعلاقتها ببعض المتغيرات

هدفت الدراسة إلى استقصاء مستوى الدوجماتية لدى الطلبة في جامعة الملك سعود وجامعة المجمعة، وكذلك الكشف عن الفروق في الدوجماتية وفق الجامعة، والجنس، والمستوى الدراسي، والمعدل التراكمي، والتخصص العلمي، والاشتراك في الأنشطة الطلابية. تكونت عينة الدراسة من 499 طالبًا وطالبةً للعام الدراسي 2020/2021، واعتُمد المنهج الوصفي، وطُبِّق مقياس الدوجماتية المكون من 30 فقرة من إعداد الركيبات والجعافرة (2019)، بعد التحقق من صدقه وثباته وتكييفه ليناسب البيئة السعودية. أشارت نتائج الدراسة إلى وجود مستوى فوق المتوسط من الدوجماتية للطلبة في الجامعتين؛ فقد بلغت قيمة "ت"11.11 عند مستوى الدلالة α = 0.05. وكان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في الدوجماتية لصالح طلبة جامعة الملك سعود؛ إذ بلغت قيمة "ت" 5.39 عند مستوى الدلالة α = 0.05. وعمَّا يخص الجنس، فكان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية لصالح الطلاب؛ فقد بلغت قيمة "ت" 4.06 عند مستوى الدلالة α = 0.05. وعمَّا يتعلق بالتخصص الأكاديمي، فقد كان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية لصالح التخصص العلمي؛ إذ بلغت قيمة "ف" 9.21 عند مستوى الدلالة α = 0.05. وأشارت الدراسة كذلك إلى عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في الدوجماتية تعزى إلى المستوى الدراسي. وفي المعدل التراكمي، كان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية لصالح المعدل الأدنى (أقل من 3.4)؛ فقد بلغت قيمة "ف" 8.17 عند مستوى الدلالة α = 0.05. كذلك لم توجد فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية متعلقة بالاشتراك في الأنشطة الطلابية. ومن خلال هذه النتائج، توصلت الدراسةُ إلى عدد من التوصيات والمقترحات، تتضمن إعداد برامج إرشادية لخفض مستوى الدوجماتية لدى الطلبة.

The Influence of Gender and Education on Awareness About Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among King Saud University and Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a global issue facing the world. In a conservative community like Saudi Arabia, discussing such matters is considered taboo, and this might impact the awareness of STDs. Therefore, this study aims to determine if gender, level of education, and university affiliation influence the level of awareness of STDs. This research is a cross-sectional study that involves 389 students who are studying at King Saud University (KSU)and Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMAMU). Twenty-six questions were gathered from a previous study and implemented into the questionnaire and were validated after. Overall, awareness about STDs was poor. Females scored higher than male participants (7.9 ± 3.3 vs. 7.1 ± 3.2, p < 0.017) respectively. Interestingly, undergraduates scored higher than postgraduates (4.7 ± 3.7 vs. 3.7 ± 3.3, p < 0.029). For the university, KSUstudents scored higher than their counterparts did at IMAMU (10.4 ± 5.7 vs. 8.9 ± 5.5, p < 0.01). Female participants have shown a higher level of STD awareness than males, but the overall awareness is still extremely low. However, KSU scored higher than IMAMU As a result, appropriate education and promotion efforts about STDs must be implemented based on gender and education level.

Association between consumption of tryptophan with sleep quality in King Saud University students

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sleep quality and tryptophan consumption in King Saud University students by using a PSQI questionnaire. This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it included 122 Saudi students, who received the PSQI questionnaire via Twitter, Telegram, and WhatsApp. All data was encoded in Excel for statistical analysis. Generally, low consumption levels were noted for tryptophan, coffee/tea, and soft and energy drinks in 42.6 %, 47.5 %, and 76.2 % of the participants, respectively, whereas dairy consumption was high in 32 % of the participants. Moderate consumption of caffeinated drinks was noted in 50.8 % of the participants. Meanwhile, moderate scores were noted for sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep delay, and fatigue during day time; high scores for inability to sleep within 20 mins after going to bed were noted in only 25.4 % of the participants. When the obtained data was examined in three groups, gender (p = 0.02), specialization (p = 0.02), not falling asleep within 20 min (p = 0.003), sleep delay (p = 0.01), feeling cold during sleep (p = 0.02), and having a good sleep in the previous month (p = 0.04) were associated. By contrast, no association was observed between tryptophan consumption and sleep quality. Interventional studies involving a large sample size, gender bias, other age groups, and other ethnic populations should be carried out in the future.

The Factors Influencing 21st Century Skills and Problem-Solving Skills: The Acceptance of Blackboard as Sustainable Education

This study aims to investigate the mediating roles of students’ self-efficacy and problem-solving in the relationships between independent variables with the Blackboard System (BS) and performance impact in order to better understand how they relate to one another. This is carried out to fully appreciate the potential benefits of using BS in education and to provide detailed explanations of how BS usage may improve academic attainment. The purpose of this study was to discover the essential factors that determine how college students use BS. This study examined the effects of a number of parameters discovered in the literature about using Blackboard as sustainable education in higher education using the students’ self-efficacy and problem-solving abilities. In total, 396 King Saud university students completed a written questionnaire that served as the source of the data. Structural equation modeling with squares was used to examine the data (Amos-SEM). The results showed that control variables are the main factors influencing learners’ adoption of 21st century skills by using Blackboard as a sustainable education model and, consequently, the effectiveness of organizing training system integration. While students were not entirely in agreement with the rational reflection for problem-solving skills, the results of students’ self-efficacy and issue skills show a good impact on their academic performance in colleges and universities. To foster students’ self-efficacy and problem-solving skills, as well as their use of BS in higher education teaching processes, the study’s findings provide essential information on how colleges and universities may improve students’ acceptance of 21st century skills by using Blackboard Systems as a sustainable education model.

The Influence of L1 in English Language Acquisition: A Case Study of ESL Learners at King Saud University

This study aims to analyze the important role First Language (FL) plays in Target Language (TL) acquisition. Researchers have repeatedly pointed to the need for Target Language (TL) teachers to maximize the use of TL while minimizing the use of L1. Teachers alternate between L1 and TL. Common Language Errors occur in the L1 transition to TL. These include over-extension of analogy, transfer of structure, and interlingual errors. The depth of these errors depends on the level of similarity between one language to the other. Once teachers understand that although acquiring TL is important, the use of L1 cannot be eliminated in classrooms, rather, it facilitates learning. This study aimed at investigating the reasons for using L1 in foreign language teaching and learning, as well as the positive benefits of L1. For the analysis purpose, survey data were collected from 54 King Saud University students using an open-ended questionnaire. The findings revealed that the proficiency of both TL and L1 was good and from the Chi-square test and the vocabulary-based questions, the perceived proficiency showed an association with an understanding of cognates. Also, the result revealed that there was no association between opinion on L1-TL interference and sentence structure-based difficulties at a 5% level of significance.

An Empirical Investigation into Students’ Actual Use of MOOCs in Saudi Arabia Higher Education

Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, are a type of educational innovation where enrollment in the courses given is free and available online. The MOOCs course selection is extensive and may accommodate hundreds or thousands of students at once. The current study, however, aims to look into how the academic self-efficacy of real MOOC users affects learning engagement and perseverance in higher education in Saudi Arabia. This study added the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to social cognitive theory. Therefore, the primary goal is to create a new model by examining the variables that affect the perceived utility and perceived service quality, as well as the students’ general perceptions of MOOCs that are really used. Therefore, this research used a quantitative approach and distributed the questionnaire online through a Google Form. It collected data from 276 King Saud University students and used it to test the hypothesized correlations using structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The study’s findings showed that perceptions of perceived benefits and service quality consistently had a significant influence on social interaction, influence, networks of support, and social identity. A further finding was that reported utility and perceived service quality have always been significantly influenced by academic self-efficacy in actual MOOC use. Because of this, learning engagement and perseverance in Saudi Arabian higher education are significantly impacted by the academic self-efficacy of real MOOC users. According to the findings, MOOC programs generally have a positive influence on the kingdom’s higher education system. As a result, it is almost certain that this research model will assist university decision-makers in determining whether or not MOOC usage is prevalent at Saudi educational institutions.

Sleep Duration, Body Mass Index, and Dietary Behaviour among KSU Students.

Adolescents who receive an adequate amount of sleep benefit from a positive health status. Previous studies have documented several health consequences connected with obesity as well as short sleep duration among adolescents. Poor sleep quality with obesity and uncontrolled diet can lead to chronic diseases in the future. This study aimed to examine the link between eating habits, sleep duration, and body mass index (BMI) among King Saud University (KSU) students. The study was cross-sectional and conducted from February to May 2021 on 311 recruited students (male and female) of KSU premises. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was used to describe sleep duration linked with a dietary pattern that included fruit and vegetable intake. The questionnaire consists of two sections of 15 and 10 questions each. The questionnaire was created using the Google Forms tool and distributed through social media platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp. The obtained data was transferred into excel to perform the statistical analysis. The mean total of students who participated in this study was 21.45 ± 23.11. Female students (72.3%) were actively involved in this study. About 30.2% of students were found to be overweight and obese. Around 67.8% of students had insufficient sleep, 32.2% had adequate sleep, and over 70% of students fell asleep within 30 min of going to bed. A total of 71.7% of students showed good sleep quality, whereas 28.3% reported poor sleep quality. BMI was categorized into four groups: 17.7% of individuals were underweight, 52.1% were of normal weight threshold, 20.6% were overweight, and 9.6% were obese. On a regular basis, 12.5% of students consume vegetables and 6.4% fruits daily. The results of this study show that only 8% of students eat breakfast, whereas 62.1% eat lunch, and 29.9% eat dinner. This study concludes that short sleep duration was associated with obesity among KSU students. This association was also found between sleep duration and dietary factors, specifically in the consumption of fruits and vegetables in terms of eating behaviour.

Assessment of Knowledge about Nuclear Radiation, and Awareness of Radiation Protection among Medical Students in Riyadh Universities, Saudi Arabia

Background and Aims: Nuclear medicine is considered one of the main medical specialties exposing practitioners to high radiation doses. Therefore, the assessment of knowledge about protection measures is imperative to ensure the safety. The aim of the study is to assess knowledge among medical students about nuclear radiation at Riyadh universities, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional as an online survey which assesses knowledge about nuclear radiation safety and radiation protection awareness. We distributed it to medical students in Riyadh’s governmental universities. Results: A total of 584 responses were collected. The participants represented four universities in Riyadh, and 64.9% of them were in clinical years. The study found that 16.1% had adequate knowledge and awareness toward nuclear radiation. Moreover, 44.7% had moderate knowledge while 39.2% had inadequate knowledge. Limitations include the lack of knowledge about personal monitoring devices (81.5%), how to use them (70.7%) and dose limits (51.5%). Furthermore, 74.1% of interns showed adequate awareness, when compared to clinical and preclinical students, who had figures of 16.3% and 8.1% respectively. 70.8% preferred obtaining information from medical websites, while 44.7% opted E-learning. Moreover, it emerged that King Saud University students had the highest level of awareness while Imam Mohammed bin Saud University students showed the lowest. Conclusions: The study revealed that the level of awareness among medical students about nuclear radiation protection is low. This stems from the lack of knowledge about personal monitoring devices with regards to safety and how best to use them.

A Comparative Study of the Master's Program in Educational Administration in a Saudi University and Four Similar Programs in the United States

The current study aimed to compare the master's program in educational administration at King Saud University (KSU) and four master's programs in the same discipline at distinguished universities in the United States. This study compared the admission requirements for master's programs, study plans, curricula, and graduation requirements for a master's program in educational administration at KSU and master's programs in educational administration and leadership offered by the four American universities. The study attempted to discover the similarities and differences in the previously mentioned topics. The researcher found some likenesses between the master's program at KSU and the four American universities, such as the agreement on the efficiency and the qualification of students who plan to study in the master's programs and the significance of preparing students with the essential skills and school principals with the necessary knowledge, in addition to the similarity of many conditions for graduation and obtaining a master's degree. On the other hand, the research likewise found multiple dissimilarities between the master's program at KSU and those of the four American universities in many areas, including the following: There are many admission prerequisites for the master's program at KSU compared to the four American universities. Furthermore, there are differences in the number of units KSU students have to complete at KSU compared to the four American universities. It is also noted that students in the KSU educational administration program are obliged to complete scientific research to complete graduation requirements, while students in the four American universities enjoy other options that serve as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master.

Effect of quarantine on eating behaviors and weight change among King Saud University students in Riyadh

BackgroundTo determine the effect of quarantine on eating habits and weight change, as well as the primary changes in weight and eating habits among King Saud University students. AimThis study aims to identify the effects of quarantine on eating behaviours and weight changes. Also, it determines the main changes in eating behaviours and weight among KSU students in Riyadh from March 23 to June 21, 2020. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of a random sample of KSU students. Saudi male and female (non-pregnant females) bachelor’s degree students at KSU in the Riyadh region, who had not tested positive for COVID-19, satisfied the selection criteria. The total number of responses to the questionnaire was 1053; after the elimination of 320 responses that met the exclusion criteria, 733 students were included in the study. ResultsThe current study results confirmed as 52.4% of students ate more of snacks. Among students’ most consumed food items during the quarantine were starches, coffee, dairy, and poultry. Contrastingly, the least consumed food items were energy drinks, fish, and soft drinks. Further, 53.7% of the students gained weight, which was associated with anxiety, boredom, and consumption of red meat and eggs. However, weight loss among students was associated with concerns regarding weight gain, changes in food quantity, changes in appetite, and the consumption of vegetables. ConclusionAlthough lockdowns are an important safety measure to protect public health, the findings of this study show that quarantine affects eating and Emotional Eating (EE) behavior such as consuming more starch, dairy, and poultry among students at KSU. Furthermore, this study can help the Saudi authorities develop guidelines to direct Saudi food markets to increase advertising and promote healthy foods during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of Shifting to Distance Education in Light of the Coronavirus Crisis from the Perspective of Faculty Members at King Saud University: تحول طلبة جامعة الملك سعود نحو التعليم عن بعد في ظل أزمة فيروس كورونا (COVID19) من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس في ضوء بعض المتغيرات

The study aimed to identify the transition to distance education for King Saud University students in light of the coronavirus crisis from the faculty members' perspective following certain variables; such as obtaining the perspective of faculty members about students' use of distance education tools, their satisfaction level with the transition toward distance education, and the reflection of such transition and its obstacles in light of the coronavirus crisis. The study followed the descriptive approach with a sample of (362) faculty members at King Saud University. The study used a questionnaire consisting of (4) axes that were directly related to the study questions. The results of the study indicated that the application level of distance education tools by King Saud University students in light of the coronavirus crisis came largely according to the relative weight of 81.7%. There was a significant level of satisfaction with King Saud University students regarding the transition, with a relative weight of 80.9%. The study also showed that there were significant repercussions regarding the transition to distance education in light of the coronavirus crisis; where the approval rate was 86.6%. In addition, there were noticeable obstacles, from the perspective of the university's faculty members that hinder the transition process for the students; where the rate was 72.3%. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the responses of the study sample towards the impact of shifting to distance education due to the age variable to the benefit of the sample individuals under the age of (40); no such differences appeared on the variable of gender. The study showed the presence of statistically significant differences between the responses of the study sample towards the impact of shifting to distance education due to the variable of years of experience; these differences were for the benefit of those who have less than (5) years of years' experience and for the benefit of the sample who have (5) to (10) years of experience. The researcher recommended the necessity of spreading awareness in the local community and changing their views towards graduates and students of distance education by believing in them with confidence and conviction in their capabilities and competence.

Prescription and over-the-counter drug misuse among female students at a Saudi university

ABSTRACT Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drug misuse is understudied among Arab youth. We estimated the prevalence, correlates and reasons for misusing these drugs among female King Saud University students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2019, using self-administered questionnaires inquiring about lifetime, past-year, and past-month misuse, reasons for misuse and prescription drugs sources. Results: Five-hundred and nineteen students (91.53%) responded. Lifetime OTC drug misuse was 29.09% (95% CI = 25.19%, 33.00%), while past-year and past-month misuse were 22.35% (95% CI = 18.77%, 25.93%) and 11.95% (95% CI = 9.16%, 14.74%), respectively. Lifetime prescription drug misuse was 62.24% (95% CI = 58.06%, 66.41%), whereas past-year and past-month misuse were 52.60% (95% CI = 48.31%, 56.90%) and 34.68% (95% CI = 30.59%, 38.78%), respectively. Tramadol was most commonly misused. Prescription drugs were obtained from family members. Health-college students had 13% lower odds for misusing OTC drugs (AOR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.50, 1.50), and 21% lower odds for misusing prescription drugs (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.54, 1.15), compared to non-health college students. Conclusions: Prescription drug misuse is high among these female students. Education of students and their families about the harms of misusing these drugs is warranted.

Moral Intelligence and its Relation to Conflict Resolution Skill among King Saud University Students in the light of some Variables

The aim of the present study was to identify moral intelligence and its relation to conflict resolution skill among King Saud University students in the light of gender, the type of college (sciences or humanities) and the study level. Furthermore, this study attempted to find out whether it is possible to predict the conflict resolution skill among students of King Saud University (KSU) by their score on the moral intelligence scale. The sample of the study consisted of (360) students from KSU. The researchers used the correlative and comparative descriptive method. The findings of the study indicated that the score of the moral intelligence and conflict resolution skill was low. In addition, the findings showed that there was a difference in moral intelligence in favor of males, while there were no statistically significant differences in the moral intelligence based on the type of college or the study level. The study findings also revealed that there was a statistically significant correlation at the level of 0.01 between moral intelligence and conflict resolution skill. It was also found out that independent variables (dimensions of moral intelligence: sympathy, conscience, recognition of emotions &amp; moral imagination) contribute to predicting the overall skill of conflict resolution.&#x0D; Keywords: conflict resolution, moral intelligence, KSU, KSA.&#x0D;

الذكاء الأخلاقي وعلاقته بمهارة حل النزاعات لدى طلبة جامعة الملك سعود في ضوء بعض المتغيرات

الذكاء الأخلاقي وعلاقته بمهارة حل النزاعات لدى طلبة جامعة الملك سعود في ضوء بعض المتغيرات

The Reality of Parallel Education Programs from the point of view of the Students at King Saud University Parallel Education Programs

The aim of the study was to identify the reality of parallel education from the view of King Saud University students. The descriptive method was used. A questionnaire was used to and distributed to a random sample of (425) students from College of Education at the parallel education program. The study showed the following results: The total average of the whole questionnaire was (4,659) with high rate. The axis of admission and registration in parallel education at King Saud University was (0,84) with high rate, while the axis of teaching stylsds was (0,82) with high rate. The evaluation methods axis was (0,91) with high rate. Finally, the obstacles parallel education at King Saud University axis was (0,87) with high rate. Several recommendations and proposals were made to upgrade the parallel education and improve its output at King Saud University and all universities in the kingdom.

The Effect of Geographic Constraints on the Academic Achievement of Students at King Saud University Using GIS Techniques: A Case Study

This research studied the effect geographic constraints of students' daily journey to King Saud University (KSU) on their learning achievement, their participation in extracurricular activities, and their visit of the university library. The data was collected from a random sample of KSU students that consisted of 854 students via an online survey during the academic year 2016. The technologies of geographic information systems have been employed to build a spatial model to measure the distance and taken time for the daily student drive from their houses to the university. 30% of the students’ houses are at a 20 km distance from KSU, 35% of the students need about 40 minutes to arrive at the university, and 8% who need about one hour to arrive. Since Riyadh is urbanized, high in population density, and has a lot of traffic, theses distances and time students spend in their daily drives to the university are causing stress and exhaustion and affect students' academic achievement. 68.42% of students indicated that the location of their homes affects their learning achievement and 63.95% answered that it affects their attendance of activities in the university. Regarding visiting the library, about 58.16 responded that location of their homes affects library visits. The study clarified that there is a negative correlation between the students’ delay times and their academic rate, in other words as the delay times increase, students GPAs decline and subsequently, their academic achievement is less. Finally, the study suggested to specifying and rescheduling the work times for employees and students in Riyadh to reduce the daily drive times, the environmental pollution, and economic depreciation and help increase students' academic achievement by delaying the official working hours for Higher Education institutions by an hour; to start at 9.00 a.m. instead 8.00 a.m. as is currently the case.

The Effect of Geographic Constraints on the Academic Achievement of Students at King Saud University Using GIS Techniques: A Case Study

This research studied the effect geographic constraints of students' daily journey to King Saud University (KSU) on their learning achievement, their participation in extracurricular activities, and their visit of the university library. The data was collected from a random sample of KSU students that consisted of 854 students via an online survey during the academic year 2016. The technologies of geographic information systems have been employed to build a spatial model to measure the distance and taken time for the daily student drive from their houses to the university. 30% of the students’ houses are at a 20 km distance from KSU, 35% of the students need about 40 minutes to arrive at the university, and 8% who need about one hour to arrive. Since Riyadh is urbanized, high in population density, and has a lot of traffic, theses distances and time students spend in their daily drives to the university are causing stress and exhaustion and affect students' academic achievement. 68.42% of students indicated that the location of their homes affects their learning achievement and 63.95% answered that it affects their attendance of activities in the university. Regarding visiting the library, about 58.16 responded that location of their homes affects library visits. The study clarified that there is a negative correlation between the students’ delay times and their academic rate, in other words as the delay times increase, students GPAs decline and subsequently, their academic achievement is less. Finally, the study suggested to specifying and rescheduling the work times for employees and students in Riyadh to reduce the daily drive times, the environmental pollution, and economic depreciation and help increase students' academic achievement by delaying the official working hours for Higher Education institutions by an hour; to start at 9.00 a.m. instead 8.00 a.m. as is currently the case.

Assessment of Contact Lens with the High Definition (HD) Property

AbstractBackground: Contact lenses have been in use since the 1930s. During these years, many materials have been consid-ered with the aim of producing more advanced and biocom-patible devices. The 1940s was the era of the first modern contact lenses, with the debut of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The lack of oxygen supply to the cornea was the main disadvantage of PMMA. This oxygen impermeability was solved with the development of different contact lens materials, new generation of contact lens use hydrogel and silicone to enhance oxygen permeability. Recently, the new contact lens material known as silicone hydrogel lenses has been used to produce a new lens with the HD property.Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to assess a new high definition silicone hydrogel contact lens.Patients and Methods: 22 subjects have been recruited from King Saud University students (male, age 21±1.5 years). The new Balafilcon A lenses (PUREVISION 2 HD); (Bausch + Lomb, Tokyo, Japan) has been assessed and compared with another (non HD) silicone hydrogel lens Balafilcon A (Pure-Vision, Bausch & Lomb Inc., Rochester, NY).The participants asked to wear each of the two lenses for one week (the lens was given randomly) and 48 hours wash out period was allowed between the lenses. Clinical tests including visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) were applied to evaluate the lens performance at the end of each week. Additionally, contact lens dry eye questionnaire (CLDEQ-8) has been used to obtain the subjective feedback.Result: The mean of CLDEQ-8 with PureVision was 8.1 and with Pure Vision 2 HD was 6. For contrast sensitivity the mean with PureVision was 1.74 while with Pure Vision 2 HD was 1.77. The mean of Visual Acuity was equal with the two lenses 1.00 log. Statistical tests using Wilcoxon-signed rank test showed no significant difference exist between the HD PureVision 2 and PureVision lens. For Visual Acuity (p= 0.317), Contrast sensitivity (p=0. 150) (Fig. 2) and CLDEQ-8 (p=0.339).Conclusion: The silicone hydrogel HD lens evaluated in this study showed good performance. However, no significant difference in clinical performance was observed between the HD lens and the non HD silicone hydrogel lens.

Dental students' preferences regarding teaching methods in Riyadh

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to identify and compare the preferences of male and female undergraduate dental students on different aspects of teaching lectures and clinical courses in two major dental schools in Riyadh: the College of Dentistry of King Saud University (KSU) and Riyadh Elm University (REU). Materials and Methods: A questionnaire of three parts was formulated: Part 1 contained demographic data; Part 2 covered information about: the length and timing of lectures, schedule announcement, attendance, having materials before sessions, interactive sessions, and getting handouts and clinical demonstrations; and Part 3 covered preferences regarding logbooks, written assignments, quizzes, resources, team-based learning (TBL), and student feedback. The questionnaire was distributed to male and female undergraduate dental students in two dental schools in Riyadh. A stratified random sampling method was applied to collect a sample of 345 participants. Results: Among the participants, 159 were from KSU and 186 were from REU and 183 were male and 162 were female. About 74% of the dental students preferred the use of logbooks, and 40% preferred not to have written assignments. A total of 63% preferred using several resources, and REU students (72%) stated this preference more. More than half of the students (58%) agreed on having frequent quizzes. More REU (61%) than KSU students (38%) preferred (TBL). The majority (78%) preferred to take their feedback into consideration. Conclusions: This study illustrated that logbooks, writing assignment, and quizzes are learning styles that are still acceptable by dental students. Teachers should consider the feedback from the students when evaluating course outlines.