Saudi Physicians Research Articles

Awareness and experiences of cosmetic treatment providers with body dysmorphic disorder in Saudi Arabia.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is defined as a constant obsession with one’s external appearance and flaws, and it falls under the criteria of neuropsychiatric disorders. Individuals suffering from this disorder may seek unnecessary cosmetic procedures from cosmetic treatment providers such as dermatologists or plastic surgeons. Cosmetic treatments have become readily available, which has led to an influx of undiagnosed BDD patients electing to undergo such treatments. Therefore, physicians should have the clinical knowledge about BDD to diagnose and manage these cases to avoid psychological and physical harm to these patients. However, there were no studies conducted in our region to assess the awareness of BDD among physicians who provide cosmetic treatments with regards to their attitude toward such cases and how they would manage it. This study aims to assess the awareness of Body Dysmorphic Disorder among Saudi physicians who provide cosmetic treatments. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study among physicians practicing in hospitals and cosmetic clinics in Riyadh and Jeddah city (Saudi Arabia), who perform cosmetic procedures, namely dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and otorhinolaryngologists. A paper-based questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions was distributed among them. The total number of participants was 155 physicians: 113 (72.9%) males and 42 (27.1%) females. Eighty-two (52.9%) participants reported that they have been familiar with the diagnostic criteria of BDD for a long time and ninety-nine (63.8%) reported being familiar with the clinical picture of BDD. Sixty-three (40.6%) participants estimated the prevalence of BDD cases seen in cosmetic practice to range from 1%-5%, and most agreed on an equal prevalence of BDD among female and male patients. Half of the participants (n = 76) (49%) reported that they sometimes share knowledge about BDD with patients whom they suspect to suffer from this condition. In conclusion, cosmetic treatment providers in Saudi Arabia are aware of BDD, but we have identified a discrepancy between the self-reported participant knowledge of diagnostic criteria and their ability to accurately estimate the prevalence of BDD cases seen in clinical practice.

Level and determinants of job satisfaction among Saudi physicians working in primary health-care facilities in Western Region, KSA.

Introduction:Job satisfaction is an important factor influencing the health of workers and is directly related to quality of care.Objectives:To assess the level of job satisfaction and factors contributing to dissatisfaction of Saudi physicians in primary health care centers in Jeddah. Methods All Saudi physicians working in primary health care centers in a city in the Western region, KSA, were included in this web-based survey using the “Job Satisfaction Survey” questionnaire adopted by Paul E. Spector (1994). In addition, socio-demographic data (age, sex, marital status, work facilities, qualification, work experience and income) were collected (response rate 83% ).Results:63% of the physicians are satisfied about the nature of work in the primary health care centers, while 25.2% were satisfied about the payment. A large proportion of respondents were dissatisfied about the contingent rewards and fringe benefits (83.2%, 76.5%respectively). None of the specialists were satisfied about the work compared to 10.6% of the general practitioners.Conclusion:Slightly less than half of the physicians are satisfied. Financial incentives (contingent rewards and fringe benefits) impose a negative impact on job satisfaction for primary care physicians. On the other side, the nature of work has had the most positive impact on job satisfaction. Specialists were found to have less satisfaction. Investing in the physicians’ satisfaction about the nature of work in the primary healthcare facilities to create a sense of ownership that would be reflected on the quality of patient care is required. There is a need to conduct further studies on the fiscal privileges that lead to job satisfaction among physicians.

Prevalence of burnout syndrome and its related risk factors among physicians working in primary health care centers of the Ministry of Health, Al Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia, 2018-2019.

Burnout syndrome (BS) is a relatively common occupational problem. It is a psychological and behavioral syndrome described by three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE); depersonalization (DP); and low personal accomplishment (PA).Objectives:This study aims to calculate the prevalence of BS and its related risk factors among physicians of primary health care centers (PHCCs) of the Ministry of Health (MOH, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.Materials and Method:A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 280 physicians working in PHCCs were selected as a comprehensive sample, the response rate was 80.7%. We excluded the trainee of residency programs, interns, and hospital physicians providing partial service in PHCCs. The data was collected by using two-part self-administered questionnaire including sociodemographic data, working conditions, and Maslach Burnout Inventory™-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel—MBI-HSS (MP). This data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program.Results:The mean score for EE was 24.99 ± 11.54 SD. The mean score for DP was 9.19 ± 6.13 SD. For PA, it was 29.41 ± 9.9 SD. The percentage of participants who scored high in EE was 47.3%. About one-half of the participants scored high DP and 59.7% had diminished PA. About one-quarter of the participants (24.3%) scored high burnout in all three dimensions. High EE was present in ages from 35 to 45 years, Saudi participants, rotating or covering physicians, and participants who were satisfied with their job. High DP was seen in Saudi physicians, family physicians, rotating or covering physicians, those who were not satisfied with their job, and physicians who work in rural areas. Low PA was seen in physicians who were not satisfied with their job, rotating or covering physicians, participants who do not have tasks other than clinical work, and physicians who work in Omran sector.Conclusion:There is a significant level of burnout among physicians working in PHCCs in Al Ahsa. High burnout was associated with some risk factors. Further research is needed to study this problem in depth.

Factors influencing urology physicians in Saudi Arabia for choosing their subspecialty program.

Aim:The aim of the study was to identify factors that influence urology physicians for choosing subspecialty and to know the most competitive urology subspecialty among residents.Methodology:An online questionnaire was sent to all Saudi Urology residents, registrars, and fellows all over Saudi Arabia, during February 2019–June 2019. The survey included demographic data, level and location of training, a subspecialty of interest, as well as 15 influencing factors that could affect physicians' choice in the form of Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree = 0 to strongly agree = 4.Results:Of the 193 urology Saudi physicians, 85 replied (44.1%). Their mean age was 29 + 3.2 years. The majority of them were male (98.8%). There were 66 (77.6%) residents, 12 (14.1%) were fellows, and 7 (8.2%) were registrars. Four factors were found to be significantly different across positions, i.e., personal interest in the subspecialty, patient's prognosis, potential to join a private hospital, and family/friend advice. Among residents, the highest score means of the impact factors were the patient's prognosis, potential to join a private hospital and family/friend advice. The most prominent factors that influence urology physicians to select their subspecialty were personal interest in the specialty (88.2%), followed by the patient prognosis and lifestyle (84.7%, 78.8%). About 28.2% of the participants have a desire of endourology, followed by infertility and pediatric urology (23.5% and 20%, respectively).Conclusion:The most influencing factors among urology physicians for choosing their subspecialty are the patient's prognosis and personal interest. Female medical graduates should be encouraged to join a urology residency.

Nutritional Knowledge and Self-Reported Nutritional Practice against Malnutrition among Physicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The new era of healthcare emphasizes the integration of nutritional care into healthcare management to improve patient outcomes. Previous studies indicated that nutritional knowledge among physicians is insufficient. Thus far, only a limited number of studies have assessed nutritional knowledge among Saudi physicians, without providing data regarding their views toward practice against malnutrition. Therefore, the aim of the present cross-sectional study was to address this knowledge gap among Saudi physicians in the hospitals of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 117 physicians were recruited using a questionnaire to collect physician characteristics, nutritional knowledge, and knowledge and practice related to malnutrition. The mean nutritional knowledge scores were low (50%; SD: 24%). Saudi physicians scored high in questions related to the medical field; however, their knowledge related to nutrition topics was poor. The majority of Saudi physicians agreed that the nutritional management of malnourished patients was difficult at screening (79%), assessment (78%), and treatment (78%) stages. The self-assessed knowledge and interest of physicians toward malnutrition was modest, and they found the malnutrition management to be only moderately relevant to their work. Nutritional knowledge and practice against malnutrition among Saudi physicians is insufficient. Saudi physicians require proper education and training in nutrition.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi physicians regarding cervical cancer and the human papilloma virus vaccine

BackgroundCervical cancer is considered the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide, with a reported 570,000 incident cases documented each year. Infection with certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be associated with more than 99% of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection and most cases of cervical cancers; however the uptake of this vaccine remains low in Saudi Arabia. Physicians can play a vital role in providing their patients with objective information regarding the HPV vaccine, yet little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this area. Materials and methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City (KAMC), Central Region, Saudi Arabia where data were collected through an online questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians. ResultsMost physicians (61%) displayed a good level of knowledge about cervical cancer; 94% were knowledgeable of the causative link between (HPV) infection and cervical cancer. Family medicine physicians had better knowledge regarding cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination than pediatricians (p=0.023). Physicians with >10 years of practice had better knowledge of cervical cancer than other respondents (p=0.041). 80% of the sample thought it was important for women to receive the HPV vaccine and 82% stated they would allow their daughters to be given the HPV vaccine. Lack of parental knowledge of the vaccine was significantly (p=0.034) associated with a lack of knowledge about HPV, and this was one of the most common barriers preventing recommendation of the HPV vaccine. ConclusionWith the increasing prevalence of HPV infections, better knowledge of HPV infection, HPV-related diseases, and the availability of HPV vaccinations from health professionals will assist with the implementation of effective prevention and treatment programmes.

Assessment of family physicians' awareness and knowledge of familial hypercholesterolemia in governmental hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background:Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited and complex multifactorial disease that can lead to early onset of coronary artery disease (CAD). Diagnosis, treatment, and management of FH require a well-trained physician with high awareness of the disease and different risk factors to avoid complications.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study evaluated family physicians’ awareness and knowledge of FH using self-administered questionnaires in governmental hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2018.Results:A total of 225 family physicians completed the questionnaire, with a response rate of 58.4%. The mean age of respondents was 31.3 years and more than 59.1% were men. Although 72.4% of physicians rated their familiarity with FH as average and above, 48.4% of all participants had poor FH knowledge, while only 51.6% had acceptable FH knowledge. About 65.8% of physicians reported that they routinely take a detailed family history, perform a physical examination, and screen close relatives. Awareness of various clinical algorithms for diagnosis of patients with FH was very low at 52.0%. The mean FH knowledge and familiarity scores were significantly higher (P < 0.001) among participants who were older, had higher training levels, or longer years in practice.Conclusions:The current study revealed significant deficits in FH familiarity, awareness, knowledge, and practice among Saudi physicians. FH educational programs directed at all physicians involved in FH patients’ management are necessary to improve physicians’ knowledge of all aspects of FH management, including the importance of a mechanism for identifying people at risk for a genetic condition by a process of systematic family tracing.

Knowledge and practices of primary health care physicians regarding updated guidelines of MERS-CoV infection in Abha city.

Background:Human coronaviruses (hCoV) usually cause mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illnesses. The novel coronavirus (nCoV), or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is a particular strain different from any other known hCoV with the possibility of human and also zoonotic transmissions. The aim of the study to assess primary health care (PHC) physicians’ knowledge and adherence regarding Saudi Ministry of Health guidelines regarding MERS-CoV.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study design was followed to include 85 PHC physicians in Abha city. An interview questionnaire has been designed by the researcher that was used to assess knowledge and practices of PHC physicians regarding diagnosis and management of MERS-CoV. It includes personal characteristics, the MERS-CoV knowledge assessment questionnaire, and practices related to adherence toward guidelines regarding MERS-CoV.Results:PHC physicians’ knowledge gaps regarding MERS-CoV included protected exposure (32.9%), highest seasonal incidence of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia (60%), relation between incidence of MERS-CoV and overcrowding (62.4%), case fatality of MERS-CoV cases (63.5%), and collecting specimens from MERS-CoV patients (64.7%). The knowledge of PHC physicians about MERS-CoV was poor among 5.9%, good among 63.5%, and excellent among 30.6%. Personal protective equipment to be used when seeing suspected cases of MERS-CoV infection were mainly the mask (94.1%), gloves (78.8%), the gown (60%), goggles (31.8%), and the cap (22.4%). All participants stated that the most important standard precaution that should be applied when seeing a case of MERS-CoV infection is hand washing, whereas 97.6% stated that the most important respiratory precaution to prevent transmission of respiratory infections in PHC setting when seeing a case of MERS-CoV infection is masking and separation of suspected MERS-CoV patients, and 81.2% stated that upon exit from the room of a MERS-CoV patient, the physician should remove and discard personal protective equipment. PHC physicians’ knowledge about MERS-CoV differed significantly according to their nationality (P = 0.038), with non-Saudi physicians expressing higher percent of excellent knowledge than Saudi physicians (40% and 20%, respectively). Those who attended continuing medical education (CME) activities had significantly higher percent of excellent knowledge than those who did not attend a CME activity (55.6% and 23.9%, respectively, P = 0.011). PHC physicians’ knowledge did not differ significantly according to their age, gender, qualification, experience in PHC, and practice-related adherence to guidelines. PHC physicians’ practice-related adherence to guidelines about MERS-CoV differed significantly according to their position (P = 0.035), with specialists having the highest percent of excellent practice (13%).Conclusions:There are knowledge gaps among PHC physicians in Abha city, and their practice is suboptimal regarding MERS-CoV infection. Less than one-fourth of PHC physicians attend CME activities about MERS-CoV infection. However, significantly less practice-related adherence to guidelines are associated with Saudi PHC physicians, those who did not attend a related CME activity, and MBBS qualified physicians’ general practitioners. To increase awareness, more CME activities related to MERS-CoV infection management needs to be organized.

Assessing stress associated with temporomandibular joint disorder through Fonseca's anamnestic index among the Saudi physicians.

The study aims to investigate signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among physicians in a tertiary health‐care center. It has estimated the level of symptomatology, determined the association with demographic data, and identified the related occupational risk factors. A cross‐sectional survey was used, and physicians of genders, all age groups, and nationalities from King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were recruited. Subjects who had rheumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, trigeminal neuralgia, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) trauma were excluded. The data were collected through a self‐administered questionnaire that measured TMD severity and oral parafunctional behaviors. Fonseca's anamnestic index (FAI) and an oral validated behavior checklist were used to assess the signs and symptoms of TMD. A total of 282 physicians participated in the study, and the prevalence of TMD signs among physicians was 37% (106); among them, 88 (83%) were within the light dysfunction category. Female physicians reported significantly higher FAI than males for side‐to‐side mandibular movement (12% vs. 5%, P = 0.04), reporting ear pain (18% vs. 10%, P = 0.04), and noticing clicking when chewing or opening the mouth (35% vs. 20%, P = 0.006). Younger practitioners (28–31 years old) who reported clicking while chewing or opening the mouth tended to have reported higher TMD dysfunction (35%) than those aged 40 and above (13%; P = 0.007). Self‐reported signs of TMD were 37% among our population. Information collected from FAI is useful in early diagnosis and prevention of TMD.

The Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Board Certified Medical Doctors: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome varies in different countries. A pooled analysis showed a global prevalence of 11.2% (Lovell RM et al. 2012). Health care providers represent a distinct part of society. Their careers are perceived as stressful with specific challenges. Few studies looked at the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBS among board certified physicians and surgeons. We also assessed whether the type of practice, specialty or number of hours worked per week influence this prevalence. Methods: Board certified physicians and surgeons in Saudi Arabia were invited to complete a web based survey. It included questions regarding participant demographics, specialty, practice type and hours worked per week. The Rome IV validated questionnaire was used to identify subjects with irritable bowel syndrome. The primary outcome of the study was the prevalence of IBS among physicians. Secondary outcomes included exploring the effect on IBS prevalence of age, gender, marital status, work hours, specialty, gastroenterology subspecialty, and working in a public versus private hospital. Results: The final analysis included 594 subjects, with 419 males and a median age of 41. The vast majority (86%) were married. Nearly 90% worked in a public hospital exclusively, and the median number of hours worked per week was 48. The overall prevalence of IBS was 16.3%. In a binary logistic regression model, age (OR = 0.931, p<0.0001), gender (OR = 0.504, p=0.003) and work hours (OR 2.397, p<0.0001) significantly predicted the presence of IBS. Marital status and specialty did not predict IBS prevalence. Conclusion: This study shows that the prevalence of IBS among Saudi physicians to be 16.3%. IBS was more common in females, those who worked longer hours and younger physicians. To our knowledge, this is the first study to look at the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome among physicians and surgeons utilizing the Rome IV criteria. Only one previous study looked at the prevalence of IBS among resident physicians (Wells MM et al. 2012). In that study the prevalence of IBS was (19 %) not that different from our results. There was no association between practicing certain specialties and IBS. However, the lack of difference in our cohort may be attributed to the relatively small sample size from each specialty.461 Figure 1 No Caption available.

Primary and Specialized Physicians’ Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Medical Practice

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treatment purposes in Saudi Arabia is a common practice by the public. Studies have found that using these products is not always a safe practice. Research has showed that many of CAM products could result in fatal adverse effects either when used alone or combined with conventional medicine. Health institutions are currently working on increasing the awareness of these adverse effects and the proper utilization of CAM, however addressing the knowledge gap among healthcare professionals is still an area of demand. Thus, this study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of primary and specialized physicians at King Abdulaziz Medical City KAMC about CAM. Method: This is a cross sectional study based on an interview structured questionnaire that was validated through pilot testing and distributed among physicians in the following fields at KAMC; internal medicine, family medicine, Surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. We included physicians from both genders, any nationality, and excluded all physicians who have not been practicing for more than one year. The minimum sample size required was 231. All the data were entered and analyzed by SPSS software version 21. A confidence interval of 95% was used and a P value less than or equal.05 is significant. Results: The research team was able to interview 220 physicians from different specialties and occupation with a response rate of 95.5%. The overall results were that the majority of participants (73.7%) had a poor knowledge about CAM. Also, it was found that there is no correlation between the level of knowledge and the specialty (P=0.26). Unlike Saudi physicians who believe in the beneficence of CAM, non-Saudis tend to have a more negative attitude toward this practice (P= 0.023). Resident and newly practicing medicine physicians had more positive attitude toward CAM compared to physicians with long history of practice (P=0.037). Almost 50% of our participants have obtained some knowledge about CAM from websites, books, and EBM articles. 81.1 % of the physicians insisted on the importance of receiving formal education about CAM. Conclusion: In conclusion we recommend that education about CAM to be given in the form of seminars, lectures, or part of the medical school curriculum. We also emphasize that this education should not be given to a certain medical specialties as our result showed that the knowledge and attitude toward CAM does not have a correlation with specialty.

Knowledge and Awareness of Osteoporosis among Saudi Physicians and Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM:We aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis in a sample of 141 health professionals.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A group of 141 health professionals (medical, surgical, primary health care and nursing departments) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study in the period from August 2017 to November 2017. The participants completed a questionnaire composed of 19 questions about osteoporosis which covering the main domains of knowledge on osteoporosis. Each correct answer carried 1 point whereas incorrect or ‘don’t know’ carried 0 points. This gave a total score range of 0-19. A cut-off level of < 10 points was considered as poor knowledge while ≥ 10 was regarded as good knowledge.RESULTS:Out of 141 respondents, 78 were females, 63 males, mean age of the participants was 38.17 ± 9.6 years, less than 40 years (n = 89), more than 40 years (n = 52). Nurses (n = 54), medical (n = 29), surgical (n = 35), primary health care (n = 23). Most of the study group with experience of fewer than 10 years (n = 66), 127 (90.1%) had good knowledge and 14 (9.9%) had poor knowledge p-value < 0.01.CONCLUSION:Our study revealed that Saudi health professionals have a good of knowledge about osteoporosis and no significant difference in osteoporosis knowledge between the health professional subgroups.

Perceptions of emergency medicine residents on the quality of residency training in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

We compare educational environments (i.e. physical, emotional and intellectual experiences) of emergency medicine (EM) residents training in the United States of America (USA) and Saudi Arabia (SA). A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using an adapted version of the validated Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) survey instrument from April 2015 through June 2016 to compare educational environments in all emergency medicine residency programs in SA and three selected programs in the USA with a history of training Saudi physicians. Overall scores were compared across programs, and for subscales (autonomy, teaching, and social Support), using chi-squared, t-tests, and analysis of variance. A total of 219 surveys were returned for 260 residents across six programs (3 SA, 3 USA), with a response rate of 84%. Program-specific response rates varied from 79%-100%. All six residencies were qualitatively rated as "more positive than negative but room for improvement". Quantitative PHEEM scores for the USA programs were significantly higher: 118.7 compared to 109.9 for SA, P=0.001. In subscales, perceptions of social support were not different between the two countries (P=0.243); however, role autonomy (P<0.001) and teaching (P=0.005) were better in USA programs. There were no significant differences by post-graduate training year. EM residents in all three emergency medicine residency programs in SA and the three USA programs studied perceive their training as high quality in general, but with room for improvements. USA residency programs scored higher in overall quality. This was driven by more favorable perceptions of role autonomy and teaching. Understanding how residents perceive their programs may help drive targeted quality improvement efforts.

The variance of knowledge and practices about diabetes mellitus in primary health care physicians of Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Objective: To assess PHC physicians’ knowledge and practice related to DM. Methods: A total of 109 (PHC) physicians in Jazan Region were interviewed using a questionnaire that comprised personal characteristics data and PHC physicians’ assessment of knowledge (15 questions), and practice (10 questions). Results: Regarding PHC physicians’ knowledge, 27.5% had poor grade, 48.6% had satisfactory grade while 23.9% had good grade. Regarding their practice, 53.2% had poor grade, 22% had satisfactory grade while 24.8% had good knowledge grade. PHC physicians’ knowledge grades differed significantly according to their age groups (p=0.041), with highest percentage of “good” knowledge grade among those aged>40 y. PHC physicians’ practice grades differed significantly according to their age groups (p=0.009), with least percentages of “good” grade among those aged<30 y. Practice grades also differed significantly according to nationality (p=0.005), with none of the Saudi physicians having “satisfactory or good” grades. Practice grades differed significantly according to qualification (p<0.001), with least percentage of “good” grade among those with MBBS degree. Practice grades differed significantly according to duration of experience after graduation (p<0.001), with least percentages of “good” grade among those having least experience. Conclusions: PHC physicians’ knowledge and practice grades in Jazan Region are suboptimal. Better knowledge and practice grades about DM are present among older, non-Saudi, more experienced and higher qualified PHC physicians. Therefore, continuing medical education and training should be enforced for all PHC physicians, especially Saudi, younger, newly graduated PHC physicians.

COPD care in Saudi Arabia: physicians' awareness and knowledge of guidelines and barriers to implementation.

To assess Saudi physicians' awareness and knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guideline recommendations. Cross-sectional study including physicians involved in COPD care in five hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The level of physicians' knowledge was considered as satisfactory (score > 80%), fair (score 50-80%) or poor (<50% of total score). Among the 44 physicians included in the study, the mean ± standard deviation knowledge score was 29.5 ± 4.2 out of 45 points (65.5%). Most physicians appeared to be unaware of any COPD guidelines (n = 27, 61.4%), and reported not adhering to guidelines (n = 28, 63.6%). Saudi physicians' knowledge about Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines was assessed as fair. It is therefore highly recommended to increase physicians' awareness and knowledge about COPD-related guidelines.

Celiac disease-related osteopathy among Saudi celiac patients: Are we adherent to recommendations?

Background/Aims:There are no reports from Saudi Arabia documenting the picture of osteopathy in celiac disease (CD) and the adherence of physicians to the guidelines and recommendations to screen for bone disease. We conducted this study to document the prevalence of CD-related osteopathy and the Saudi physicians' adherence to the screening recommendations.Patients and Methods:We identified the biopsy proven CD cases diagnosed between 2003 and 2012. In addition to demographic data, we collected laboratory (serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone levels) and imaging [Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)] data. Vitamin D levels of <50 nmol/L and 50−<75 nmol/L defined deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. T score (of lumbar spine and femoral neck) of ≤−2.5 defined osteoporosis and a score of ≤−1 and >−2.5 defined osteopenia.Results:We identified 80 children and 128 adults with CD. Only 42% of children and 67% of adults had their serum vitamin D level measured. DEXA was ordered in 7% of children and 36% of adults. Vitamin D deficiency was widely prevalent and significantly higher in adults (95.3%) than children (76.3%). Low bone mass density (BMD) in adults was 86.9% (45.6% with osteopenia and 41.3% with osteoporosis).Conclusions:We document low adherence of physicians to recommended guidelines to recommendations to screen for osteopathy in CD. Vitamin D deficiency and low BMD are highly prevalent among Saudi CD patients. This may be a reflection of the low vitamin D stores in the Saudi general population.

Barriers of using electronic medical records among Saudi physicians

Background: Adoptions of electronic medical records (EMRs) is restricted by many barriers, which may differ from one facility to another depending on the personal demographic data of such facility. Objective: To assess the barriers of the physicians in Al-Hada Military Hospital in Taif City toward implementing EMR. Materials and Methods: Questionnaire consisted of personal demographic variables, practical demographic variables, cost, data entry, and usefulness variables were distributed to 131 practicing physicians, who accepted to participate, were present at the time of the study (not on vacation or leave), and who were working in Al-Hada Military Hospital in Taif City (excluding visiting or locum physician). Result: Of the 129 physicians, 107 were men representing 83% whereas women represented only 17%. Most of the participants were from family and community medicine (25%), followed by surgery (20%), pediatrics (14%), medicine (12%), and OBG (8%). Twenty-five (19%) strongly agreed that EMR is too costly, 20 (15%) participants strongly agreed that EMR is time-consuming, and 39 (30%) strongly agreed the easiness of data entry into EMR. Conclusion: Generally, the barriers of Al-Hada Military Hospital physicians toward implementing computerization of medical record are mainly the cost and time.

Macronutrients Imbalance and Micronutrient Deficiencies among Healthy Saudi Physicians in Al Madina, Saudi Arabia.

Context:Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health. Physicians are involved in medical nutrition therapy of their patients; however, little is known on how physicians are personally adherent to good nutrition. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional practices of Saudi physicians.Subjects and Methods:This is a pilot study that included 48 healthy Saudi physicians, of both genders, randomly selected from King Fahad Hospital, Madina, Saudi Arabia from June 2013 to December 2013. Self-reported dietary intake over 24 h was assessed. The adequacy of nutrient intake was evaluated by comparing the physicians’ intake to the dietary reference intakes (DRI).Results:The mean age of physicians was 41.6 ± 10 years, weight was 78 ± 20.2 kg, and body mass index was 27.76 ± 5.37 kg/m2. They reported adequate daily consumption of food energy with high intake of carbohydrate (178.5 ± 46.4%) of DRI and high fat and protein intake from animal sources with low fiber intake (34.9 ± 25.1%) of DRI. Daily intakes for most of the micronutrients were lower than recommended with the exception of phosphorus, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B12 with no significant difference between males and females, except for lower intake of iron and Vitamin D by females. Vitamin D was the most severe deficient vitamin; 46.1 ± 53.9% of DRI.Conclusions:Nutritional practices of the sampled group of Saudi Physicians were not optimal. They have a high prevalence of micronutrients deficiencies. In addition, they tend to consume less fiber, more carbohydrate, and food from animal sources. Actions are needed to control nutrition status in Saudi Arabia, including the adoption of healthy eating pattern early in life, extensive nutrition and health education, and intervention strategies.

Attitudes toward implementing electronic medical record among Saudi physicians

Back ground: Although the electronic medical record (EMR) offer several benefits, its application is still meager. This article describes the state of EMRs, their advantage over existing paper records, and the problems impeding their implementation. Objective: To assess the readiness of the physicians in Al-Hada Military Hospital in Taif city toward implementing EMR. Material and Methods: Questionnaire consisting of personal demographic variables, practical demographic variables, beliefs and attitudes variables, and security and confidentiality variables were distributed on 131 practicing physician, accepting to participate, present at the time of the study (not on vacation or leave), and working in Al-Hada Military Hospital in Taif city (excluding visiting or locum physician). Result: Of 129 physicians, 107 were male subjects, which represented 83%, while female subjects represented only 17%. Most of the participants were from family and community medicine (25%), followed by surgery (20%), pediatrics (14%), medicine (12%), and then OBG (8%). Other departments represent almost 21% cumulatively. Most of the physicians showed an encouraging awareness and beliefs about the potential benefits of implementing EMRs. About two-third of physicians believe in easiness of using EMRs, and only 4% expressed their need for intensive training. Conclusion: Generally, the attitudes of Al-Hada Military Hospital physicians toward computerization of medical record were excellent. These positive attitudes fall in favor of adopting EMRs.

Medical Colleges in Saudi Arabia: Can We Predict Graduate Numbers?

The shortage of Physicians is a major problem in many countries. Medical colleges are often encouraged to increase the graduate numbers. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi physicians form only 37.89% of the physician manpower. The remainder of the physicians are expatriates. It was recently estimated that the Kingdom would need 29,128 physicians by the year 2014 in order to maintain the same physicians-to-population ratio, i.e., 2.7 per 100,000. To solve the problem, the higher education institutions invested in medical education and increased their number of college graduates. However, there are many questions about whether this strategy will proof successful in covering the shortage or whether this will lead to problems, for example an excess in the number of physicians. These can only be answered if future graduate numbers are estimated and kept under control. In this study, common data mining techniques were reviewed and applied to the output of Saudi medical colleges over the past years. These techniques can be used to predict graduate numbers. The results show the importance of developing a national student information center to fix the data collection problems described in this paper.