Saudi Arabia Research Articles

Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia and its Risk Factors among Diabetic Patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) is related to a three- to sixfold increase in the risk of severe hypoglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IAH and its risk factors and determine the frequency of hypoglycemic symptoms. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IAH and its risk factors and determine the frequency of hypoglycemic symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted among T1D patients attending Jazan Endocrine and Diabetes Center in Jazan province, Saudi Arabia. A total of 151 patients participated, using the interview-based Clarke questionnaire, a validated eight-item questionnaire to evaluate IAH. Scoring four or more answers as reduced awareness categorizes the participant as having IAH. The prevalence of IAH was 25.2% among the T1D patients. IAH was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI; p = 0.034), occupation (p = 0.014), and blood glucose monitoring methods (p = 0.027). Shaking and sweating were the most commonly reported symptoms of hypoglycemia. A BMI of <25 kg/m2 was higher linked to hunger and speech difficulty compared to a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 (p < 0.05). Changing the insulin injection site was associated with confusion, odd behavior, and speech difficulty (p < 0.05). Monitoring blood glucose four times daily was associated with sweating, odd behavior, and incoordination (p = 0.024) compared to monitoring less than four times daily (p < 0.05). A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reading of ≥7 was linked to odd behavior compared to an HbA1c reading of <7 (p = 0.032). Patients committed to insulin injections were more likely to experience palpitations than non-committed patients (p = 0.038). Each one-unit increase in age, monitoring blood glucose, and income was associated with a decrease in the odds of IAH (OR of Age = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.95) (OR of income = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.55). Moreover, individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25 (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.13-8.25), employed individuals (OR = 18.2, 95% CI: 3.75-105), and diabetes duration of more than ten years (OR = 3.96, 95% CI: 1.31- 13.2) exhibited an increase in the higher risk of IAH. IAH was prevalent among T1D patients attending Jazan Endocrine and Diabetes Center. The main associated factors included BMI, blood glucose monitoring method, and occupation. Future research should investigate the underlying causes of the observed associations and explore strategies to enhance the awareness of hypoglycemia.

Experiences of Patients With Heart Failure With Providers in Saudi Arabia

This study explores the experiences of patients with heart failure with providers in Saudi Arabia. Most participants were men (64.8%) and 45 to 74 years old (68%). The overall mean score of patient experience was 82.81 ± 18.46, with the highest domain being the overall rating of providers at 89.36 ± 19.42. Nurse practitioners were rated higher than physicians across both sites and within each site. The difference in the ratings between nurse practitioners across the 2 sites was not significant. The study findings highlight the importance of adopting the nurse practitioner role in integrated patient-centered health care teams.

Issues in Learning Labial Consonants of English by Arabic Speaking Students in Saudi Arabia: A Test of Feature Model

Issues in Learning Labial Consonants of English by Arabic Speaking Students in Saudi Arabia: A Test of Feature Model

The association between social media food marketing exposure with nutritional kap and BMI among adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The association between social media food marketing exposure with nutritional kap and BMI among adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person delivery of obesity management for adult patients with obesity in Saudi Arabia

Effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person delivery of obesity management for adult patients with obesity in Saudi Arabia

Factors associated with feeding problems in children with developmental disabilities in Saudi Arabia

Factors associated with feeding problems in children with developmental disabilities in Saudi Arabia

The Effect of YouTube on Speaking and Listening Skills of Students

In an English as Foreign Language context like Saudi Arabia, university business students face a difficult challenge to speak in English and to understand what is spoken. The students don’t have the opportunity in their daily life to listen to native speakers in or outside the classroom, but they are expected to listen to the text book audios in the classes spoken by the native speakers of English. Therefore, the difficulty rises in Listening and Speaking Skills Course as the students are not exposed to the British accent. In order to solve this problem, the researcher used YouTube videos spoken by the native speakers in the experimental group, and the control group just had the normal practice of listening to only the textbook audios. The researcher adopted quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest in both control and experimental groups and analyzed the performance of the students using SPSS and Excel. The study proved that the results of experimental group improved significantly in their listening comprehension skills and performed better in their presentations than the control group. In the English as Foreign Language contexts, where business students fail to have exposure to the native accent of English, YouTube videos can make a great contribution in improving their listening and speaking skills.

The Perceived Impact of Social Media on Family and Social Relationships in Saudi Arabia

This article endeavors to investigate the effect of technology adoption on the social changes acknowledged in the realms of Saudi Arabia in the context of the issue that has recently seen a ginormous usage of internet access, particularly in the last decade. Adopting a mixed methods approach, 300 young people aged between 18 and 30 years were sampled from two universities and one high school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who later took part in both questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews. The objective entailed implying that web browsing caused temporal shifting, thus making real-time social communication distanced, and revealing any changes in the traditional values/norms. The study indicates a significant shift in women's social relations in KSA, with internet usage allowing them to break traditional norms and alter cultural acceptance and social relationships.

Tacit knowledge sharing in organizations: Evidence from a qualitative analysis of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Agency for Visiting Affairs, Saudi Arabia

Tacit knowledge sharing in organizations: Evidence from a qualitative analysis of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Agency for Visiting Affairs, Saudi Arabia

Review of Chest Pain in Children after COVID-19 Pandemic in Albaha, Saudi Arabia

Review of Chest Pain in Children after COVID-19 Pandemic in Albaha, Saudi Arabia

Interventions reduce burnout among nurses and improve patients’ safety: Systematic review

Background: There is conflicting data regarding the kinds, amounts, lengths, and methods of burnout therapies, as well as how clinical nurses rate their own burnout. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical nurses' burnout interventions. Method: This study examines the benefits of burnout reduction strategies for clinical nurses through a comprehensive review. We followed the PRISMA guidelines' suggestions. In order to obtain results that appropriately represented the effects of burnout therapies, we selectively included research published between 2019 and 2024. A work written entirely in English. Search engines from the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus were used. Result: Six studies were considered in this systematic review, of which two were interventional studies and four were randomized controlled trials. There were studies done in China, Turkey, Iran, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. A workshop on burnout prevention, stress-coping and cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional freedom strategies, emotional regulation training, and a mindfulness training program are some of the interventions that are used. Among the burnout metrics employed were Pines &amp; Aronson, MBI, and ProQoL. There were 337 nurses in all in the interventional groups and 324 in the control groups. Conclusion: Burnout was successfully decreased by a mindfulness training program, emotional freedom techniques, emotional regulation training, stress-coping and cognitive behavioral therapy, and a burnout prevention course.

Oral candidiasis and potential risk factors among disabled and non-disabled in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Oral <i>candidiasis</i> and potential risk factors among disabled and non-disabled in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Quality of life and psychological distress in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and transplantation

BACKGROUND Among diverse profound impacts on patients’ quality of life (QoL), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently results in increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Renal replacement therapies such as hemodialysis (HD) and transplantation (TX) are intended to enhance QoL, although their ability to alleviate psychological distress remains uncertain. This research posits the existence of a significant correlation between negative emotional states and QoL among ESRD patients, with varying effects observed in HD and TX patients. AIM To examine the relationship between QoL and negative emotional states (depression, anxiety, and stress) and predicted QoL in various end-stage renal replacement therapy patients with ESRD. METHODS This cross-sectional study included HD or TX patients in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The 36-item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was used for data collection, and correlation and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS The HD and TX transplantation groups showed statistically significant inverse relationships between QoL and DASS scores. HD patients with high anxiety levels and less education scored low on the physical component summary (PCS). In addition, the results of the mental component summary (MCS) were associated with reduced depression. Compared with older transplant patients, TX patients’ PCS scores were lower, and depression, stress, and negative working conditions were highly correlated with MCS scores. CONCLUSION The findings of this study revealed notable connections between well-being and mental turmoil experienced by individuals undergoing HD and TX. The PCS of HD patients is affected by heightened levels of anxiety and lower educational attainment, while the MCS of transplant patients is influenced by advancing age and elevated stress levels. These insights will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patient support.

Interrelationship between depression and low back pain-related disability among patients seen at orthopedic clinics in Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, severity, and determinants

Interrelationship between depression and low back pain-related disability among patients seen at orthopedic clinics in Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, severity, and determinants

Advancing Arbitration for Multinational Construction Projects in Saudi Arabia Through Flexibility and Legal Reforms

The role of arbitration in resolving multinational construction disputes in Saudi Arabia is explored, focusing on procedural flexibility, confidentiality, and the impact of recent legal reforms. Multinational companies prefer arbitration over traditional litigation due to its closed process, which protects sensitive information—crucial in Saudi Arabia's privacy-focused business environment. Using qualitative methods like case studies, interviews, and legal document analysis, the research highlights key themes such as the need for arbitrators with technical expertise and cultural understanding, enhancing the arbitration process. Confidentiality is a major factor in choosing arbitration, offering protection from public exposure. Additionally, arbitration’s procedural flexibility allows for customized solutions, leading to faster dispute resolution. Legal reforms, including the Saudi Arbitration Law 2012 and the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), have strengthened the arbitration framework, boosting investor confidence and improving efficiency. Future research should examine the long-term impact of these reforms, assess the effectiveness of new arbitration institutions, and explore challenges in maintaining confidentiality and selecting competent arbitrators across sectors.

Investigation of the Use of Computer-aided Translation (CAT) Tools in Freelancing Practice in Saudi Arabia

To cope with large information content in today’s multilingual Saudi Arabia, translation services are essential. Like any other industry, translation practice was heavily affected by technological advances. Professionals in the translation field use technology like Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tools to complete their translation tasks. Freelance translators are not exempt from this. This study examines the utilization of CAT tools in the freelance industry in Saudi Arabia. Fulford and Granell-Zafra (2005) have proposed a model that incorporates both information and Communication Technology (ICTs)and CAT tools, facilitating a diverse array of activities such as document creation, information search and retrieval, communication, business management, marketing, procurement, and translation. While CAT tools support document creation, business management, and translation, ICT tools are responsible for the remaining activates . This research aims to thoroughly analyze the characteristics of Saudi freelance translators who use CAT tools, evaluate their usage of CAT tools, and acquire valuable insights into their overall attitudes towards CAT tool. The data was gathered using the survey method and distributed among 98 Saudi freelance translators. The data was analyzed using SPSS descriptive analysis and frequency tables showing percentages of each respondent. The results show that Saudi freelance translators employed general-purpose software like MS Word and MS PowerPoint, whereas less interest was given to special-purpose software which represent CAT tools . The vast majority of the participants agreed on the positive effect of CAT tools. Finally,it may be beneficial to conduct further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

An investigation into the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among undergraduate medical students (A prospective cross-sectional KAP survey)

Introduction: The most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide is the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It is believed that over 80% of sexually active women have contracted the virus at some point in their lives. About 11 million women in Saudi Arabia who are aged 15 to 44 years are at risk of having HPV-related cervical cancer. Aim: To assess the awareness and knowledge of undergraduate medical students (males and females) about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and to pinpoint the major factors influencing their attitudes towards it. Subjects and methods: A prospective, cross-sectional online survey included 411 undergraduate medical students (males and females) across different grades during three months, from January 1st to March 31st, 2024, at the Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. We statistically analyzed the collected data using Microsoft Office®, Excel® 2016, and IBM's Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS®) version 26.0. IBM is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Results: The majority of participating students were of young age, 20–25 years old (233, 56.69%), female (393, 95.62%), and of Saudi nationality (260, 63.26%). The most common recruited students were from the preparatory year (124, 30.17%), while the fewest were from the M6 grade (6, 1.46%). We implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' awareness", which yielded the following scores: not acceptable (124, 30.17%), fairly acceptable (101, 24.57%), moderately acceptable (95, 23.11%), acceptable (71, 17.27%), and highly acceptable (20, 4.87%). Next, we implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' knowledge", which yielded the following scores: very low (130, 31.63%), low (110, 26.76%), moderate (90, 21.90%), high (50, 12.17%), and very high (31, 7.54%). We implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' attitude" to assess the students' attitude towards HPV vaccine utilization. We interpreted the calculated scores as inadequate or poor (136, 33.09%), reasonable or fair (100, 24.33%), sufficient or good (80, 19.46%), remarkable or very good (70, 17.03%), and outstanding or excellent (25, 6.08%). results were of statistical significance (the P-value is &lt;0.00001). Conclusion: The estimated degree of awareness and knowledge about the HPV vaccination among undergraduate medical students at the Batterjee Medical College (BMC) was poor. This results in low motivation and utilization of the available vaccine.

Paymob: transforming digital payments in Egypt and the region for a cashless society

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, the students will be able to analyze the FinTech industry in emerging markets, distinguish the growth strategies for startups in the hyper-growth phase, using the Ansoff matrix, evaluate and select geographical markets for expansion (foreign country selection) and understand the liability of foreignness concept. Case overview/synopsis In 2015, Islam Shawky, Alain Al-Hajj and Mostafa Menessy founded Paymob in Egypt, a FinTech start-up providing technological and financial solutions to consumers and merchants in the country. The company had grown into one of Egypt’s most prominent digital payment providers by deploying infrastructure and technologies that empower the underserved with access to financial services. In 2021, Paymob had gained a lot of support from venture capital investors that ended with closing the largest in Egypt Series A fund of $18.5m led by Dubai-based venture capital firm Global Ventures. Although Paymob had already reached great success in Egypt, the founders’ vision was to become the regional leader of digital payments, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises. So, they are considering regional markets similar to Egypt’s, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a call with a lot of structure but a lot of competition, and Pakistan, a market with much less competition but relatively unstructured. The founders found themselves in early 2022 deciding between these two markets in preparation for the next round of Series B $50m funding. Complexity academic level This case study can be useful for courses in executive education. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Spatial Dynamics of Logistics Risk Management in Saudi Arabia: Using Spatial Panel Model Analysis

Spatial Dynamics of Logistics Risk Management in Saudi Arabia: Using Spatial Panel Model Analysis

Benthic Ostracods as Pollution Indicator: A Case Study from Sharm Obhur, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia

Benthic Ostracods as Pollution Indicator: A Case Study from Sharm Obhur, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia