Factors associated with tobacco use among Saudi Arabian youth: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Introduction: The epidemic of tobacco use poses one of the most severe public health challenges globally, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This study investigates the factors associated with tobacco use among Saudi Arabian youth using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework.

Methods: A cross-sectional study used the 2022 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) to assess tobacco use among 5610 Saudi students aged 13-15 years.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 mortality in Saudi Arabia: A retrospective multi-center study.

Background/aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increased morbidity and mortality in health institutions worldwide. The present study describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 mortality rates. Investigating the factors that affect COVID-19 mortality will be helpful in reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality in healthcare systems.

Secondhand smoke exposure among adolescents in the gulf cooperation council countries: analysis of global youth tobacco surveys.

This study aimed to analyze patterns and predictors of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among adolescents (12-16 years old) in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Nationally representative data from the most recent Global Youth Tobacco Survey in each country were analyzed (N = 17,220). SHS exposure at home, in public places, and at school was assessed.

Prevalence and Predictors of Soft Drink Consumption among Adolescents in the Gulf Countries: Findings from National Surveys.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of soft drink consumption among adolescents in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using nationally representative data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS).

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in a school survey and included 22,116 adolescents aged 12-18 years from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected and analyzed using complex survey methods.

The prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of tobacco and nicotine use among students in healthcare disciplines in Saudi Arabian universities: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the most significant health-related problems worldwide. However, the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of tobacco and nicotine use among students on healthcare courses in Saudi Arabia are limited.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire that was distributed via SurveyMonkey between November 2022 and June 2023 to all student universities offering healthcare courses.

Menstrual Changes Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Menstrual changes, including altered cycle length and bleeding patterns, have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of menstrual changes occurring after COVID-19 vaccination among female students and staff at a university in Saudi Arabia. : A cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 18-39 years who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Perceptions of health warnings on cigarette sticks among the adult population in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Health warnings on cigarette sticks are emerging as a tool to control tobacco consumption; hence, understanding how they are perceived is valuable in determining their effectiveness. Our study aimed to evaluate the perception of health-related messages and warnings on individual cigarette sticks. It also aimed to evaluate the perceptions of the effectiveness of cigarette packaging warnings and the acceptance level for the inclusion of health warnings on cigarette sticks.

The association between cultural and social occasions and smoking cessation: The case of Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Tobacco use remains high in Saudi Arabia, necessitating an understanding of the influence of cultural and social events on smoking cessation. This study examined whether cultural and social events like Ramadan, Eids, and birthdays, motivate Saudi adults to quit smoking.

Methods: Convenience sampling of 742 Saudi tobacco users was conducted between July 2021 and May 2022.

Dissuasive cigarettes as a tobacco control measure: a scoping review.

Objective: The aim was to identify and review the research literature on dissuasive cigarettes, including key concepts, types, sources of evidence and research gaps.

Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched up to January 2023 with no language or date restrictions. All study designs were included.

Silver Spike Point Therapy in smoking cessation: What is it and does it work?

Smoking is a global health challenge that causes a myriad of diseases. Smoking cessation services are part of the armamentarium to combat smoking epidemic. In addition to the approved treatments, alternative therapies, including electrical stimulation, have been proposed.

Awareness and utilization of smoking cessation clinics in Saudi Arabia, findings from the 2019 Global Adult Tobacco Survey.

Background: Tobacco use remains a leading cause of premature death. To combat tobacco use, the Ministry of Health (MOH) improved access to smoking cessation clinics (SCCs) by developing fixed SCCs and mobile SCCs, which move based on demand across locations. The goal of this study was to investigate awareness and utilization of SCCs among tobacco users in Saudi Arabia and the factors that influence their awareness and utilization.

The associations between cigarette smoking behavior and the use of heated tobacco products among Arab cigarette smokers: Findings from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, and Yemen.

As the availability of tobacco forms has evolved, emerging products known as heated tobacco products (HTPs) are increasingly being consumed worldwide and are claimed to be less harmful than tobacco cigarette smoking. To date, it is unknown whether Arab cigarette smokers are using or susceptible to HTPs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between cigarette smoking behavior and the use of and susceptibility to HTPs in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The associations between the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body and smoking behavior change among Saudi smokers.

Introduction: Recently, Saudi Arabia has extensively reformed its tobacco control policies and extended its smoking cessation services. A public outrage on social media among smokers was witnessed, especially after the implementation of plain cigarette packaging, which might have discredited the significant efforts of tobacco treatment services and tobacco control policies. However, it is not known how the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body among Saudi smokers might affect their smoking behavior.

Lifestyle factors and quality of life among primary health care physicians in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Physicians are considered to be a high-risk population for a poor quality of life (QoL), but few studies of lifestyle factors include the QoL among them.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lifestyle factors and a positive QoL among primary health care (PHC) physicians.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 20 primary healthcare centers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The Emerging Global Tobacco Treatment Workforce: Characteristics of Tobacco Treatment Specialists Trained in Council-Accredited Training Programs from 2017 to 2019.

Tobacco use is projected to kill 1 billion people in the 21st century. Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD) is one of the most common substance use disorders in the world. Evidence-based treatment of TUD is effective, but treatment accessibility remains very low.

Association of Viral Load in SARS-CoV-2 Patients With Age and Gender.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health emergency. Age and sex are two important factors associated with risks and outcomes of various diseases. COVID-19 morbidity also seems to be affected by patient age and sex.

The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Saudi Arabia.

Background: In late 2019, cases of severe pneumonia with unidentified etiology began to emerge in Wuhan, China, before progressively spreading first nationally and then globally.The current study sought to investigate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among blood donors in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Saudi Arabia to screen blood donors who were not known to be previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Delphi consensus on research priorities in tobacco use and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia.

This is the first study to develop research priorities in tobacco use and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. Health personnel and community volunteers participated in a national internet survey using the Delphi method. In Round 1, 75 experts identified 33 research priorities.

Prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae Antibiotic Resistance in Medina, Saudi Arabia, 2014-2018.

Antibiotic resistance is a rising dilemma of significant implications on global public health. Few data exist for the prevalence and trends of antibiotic resistance in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we have set out to identify the prevalence and trends of antibiotic resistance in King Fahad Hospital in Medina over the period between February 27, 2014, and December 31, 2018.

Asthma control and its association with knowledge of caregivers among children with asthma. A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the level of asthma control among children and to investigate the association between asthma control and the knowledge of caregivers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2018 to July 2018 among 278 children with asthma aged 1-12 with their caregivers attending the primary health care centers in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. An asthma knowledge questionnaire was used to measure the parents' knowledge.

Implementation of Cigarette Plain Packaging: Triadic Reactions of Consumers, State Officials, and Tobacco Companies-The Case of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: In August 2019, Saudi Arabia started implementing plain packaging for cigarettes. Three months later, an opposing campaign on twitter using an Arabic hashtag "the new smoke" gained momentum amongst smokers. The purpose of this study is to document this opposing campaign's timeline and describe consumers, government, and tobacco industry rhetoric.

Cancer incidence attributable to tobacco smoking in GCC countries in 2018.

Introduction: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. The current study aims to provide an estimate of the population fractions of cancer cases attributable to tobacco smoking in the GCC countries.

Methods: Population attributable fraction (PAF) was calculated for cancers that were listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to have sufficient evidence of causal association.