Association of elderly age and chronic illnesses: Role of gender as a risk factor.

Background And Aims: Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death as well as disability worldwide. There is a little information about the prevalence of these diseases among Saudi elderly population. The aim of the study was to assess the role of gender as risk factor for chronic diseases among elderly patients seen at primary health care centers and identify the most common chronic comorbidities among the elderly.

Capacity and readiness of primary health care centers for implementation of the basic strategy for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia. A case study from the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To assess the capacity and readiness of primary healthcare centers (PHC) for the implementation of basic strategies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Facility-based face-to-face interviews were conducted in 41 PHCs included in this survey, using the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire. Main area survived were: availability of human resources, medical equipment, infrastructure, medicines, service utilization, referral systems, and community outreach.

Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in adults visiting primary health-care setting in Riyadh.

: Subclinical hypothyroidism is an asymptomatic condition with normal thyroxin and raised thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in primary health care (PHC) settings in Riyadh and explore the relationship of TSH level with age, gender, family history, body mass index, and co-morbid conditions. : A cross-sectional study of adult visitors to nine satellites PHC clinics in military housing in Riyadh was carried out.

Patient's Desire and Preference for Provision of Information Toward Greater Involvement in Shared Care.

Objectives: To determine the perceptions of patients on whether they receive sufficient information about their medical problems, their preferences to obtain information, and factors that may influence their preferences.

Design And Settings: Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted in a primary health-care center affiliated with the National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: Patients attending the center between October and December 2010 were interviewed using a questionnaire developed to meet the objectives of the study.

Class attendance and cardiology examination performance: a study in problem-based medical curriculum.

Background And Aims: Information on the effect of students' class attendance on examination performance in a problem-based learning medical curriculum is limited. This study investigates the impact of different educational activities on students' academic performance in a problem-based learning curriculum.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on the cardiology block at the College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Shared clinical decision making. A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Objectives: To determine preferences of patients regarding their involvement in the clinical decision making process and the related factors in Saudi Arabia.  

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a major family practice center in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between March and May 2012. Multivariate multinomial regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with patients preferences.