Association Between Acute Otitis Media and Inner Ear Disorders Among Adults in Aseer Region.

Introduction Acute otitis media (AOM) is an infection of the middle ear that produces pain, fever, and discharge, as well as hearing loss. It is one of the most common problems that pediatricians encounter. Almost 80% of children have had at least one episode of AOM, and between 80% and 90% have had at least one episode of otitis media with effusion before entering school.

Recurrence rate of scabies in patients 14 years or older in Saudi Arabia.

To estimate the rate of scabies diagnostic recurrence and identify factors associated with the high likelihood of frequent scabies recurrences among adults in Saudi Arabia.  Methods: This multi-center retrospective study was conducted in adult patients who were diagnosed with one or multiple recurrent infestations of scabies between January 2016 and September 2018 at the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs hospitals and clinics, Saudi Arabia. The number of scabies recurrences during the study period was recorded and modeled using a Poisson model.

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.

Rate and factors for scabies recurrence in children in Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite the fact that several scabies outbreaks emerged in schools in Saudi Arabia in 2018, no study has investigated the risk of scabies recurrence among children in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to estimate the rate of scabies recurrence and identify factors that were associated with an increased risk of recurrence among children.

Methods: This is a multi-center retrospective study of children (age < 14 years) who were diagnosed between May 20, 2015 and September 12, 2018 with one or multiple recurrent scabies at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) hospitals and clinics in Saudi Arabia.

Systematic review of the epidemiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Arab countries.

Objective: To assess the epidemiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Arab countries, and identify gaps for future research.

Methods: We searched PubMed from July 1978 to July 2014 and reviewed local journals with cross-referencing. The keywords we used were ADHD, diagnosis, prevalence, incidence, factor, diagnosis, rate, risk, and each of the names of the 22 Arab countries (Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and so on).

A lesson learned from Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) caused by novel Corona virus hit Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and resulted in hundreds of mortality and morbidity, fears and psychosocial stress among population, economic loss and major political change at Ministry of Health (MoH). Although MERS discovered two years ago, confusion still exists about its origin, nature, and consequences. In 2003, similar virus (SARS) hit Canada and resulted in a reform of Canada's public health system and creation of a Canadian Agency for Public Health, similar to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Problem-based learning in undergraduate medical education in Saudi Arabia: time has come to reflect on the experience.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is being increasingly used in many undergraduate medical schools worldwide due to its recognized advantages.

Objectives: To explore views of medical students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) about the appropriateness of the PBL concepts and process. Differences in students' views were examined as well.

Towards integration of health economics into medical education and clinical practice in Saudi Arabia.

In an era of expanding health sectors and rising costs, doctors are expected to have a working knowledge of health economics to better use resources and improve outcomes and quality of health care. This article recognizes the dearth of knowledge and application of economic analyses in medical education and clinical practice in Saudi Arabia. In particular, it highlights the desirability of knowledge of health economics in ensuring certain competencies in medical education and the rationale for inviting doctors to apply knowledge of economics in Saudi Arabia.

Accreditation and culture of quality in medical schools in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia (SA), the largest country in the Gulf Region, has witnessed unprecedented expansion in undergraduate medical education (UME) with more than 200% increase in medical schools over the last five years. Such rapid expansion creates major challenges in relation to quality of outcomes to the extent that some authors argue that SA needs reform similar to Abraham Flexner. This may explain the strong movement towards accreditation of UME in SA but it is important to reflect on purpose of accreditation and learn from the experience of developed countries.

E-learning in Saudi Arabia: 'To E or not to E, that is the question'.

Background: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has witnessed unprecedented growth in higher education and E-learning in recent times. In the last five years, one university and five colleges have been commissioned every month; 800 scholarships have been awarded every month for overseas study; a national center for E-learning has been established; and E-units or departments have been set-up in almost every university. E-learning has become important for discussion to quote Shakespeare 'To E or not to E that is the question.

Medical students' evaluation of their exposure to the teaching of ethics.

Background: The subject of Biomedical Ethics has become recognized as an essential integral component in the undergraduate curriculum of medical students.

Objectives: (1) To review the current Biomedical Ethics Course offered at the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). (2) To explore the perception of medical students on the different components of the course.

Perceptions of primary health care (phc) doctors on the prevention of coronary heart disease (chd) in riyadh, saudi arabia.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death throughout the world. PHC doctors are in a unique position to prevent CHD and promote health in the population. However, the perception of PHC doctors on CHD prevention has not been well documented.

Quality issues in continuing medical education in Saudi Arabia.

The issue of continuing medical education (CME) in Saudi Arabia is no longer quantity but rather quality. Quality Management (QM) of the current huge number of CME activities is essential to ensure its merits and outcomes. Sound evaluation is the cornerstone of any QM process to CME.

Appointment system in primary care: opinion of consumers and providers.

Background: The appointment system in primary care is widely used in developed countries, but there seems to be a problem with its use in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: (1) To explore opinions and satisfaction of consumers and providers of care in Primary Health Care regarding walk-in and the introduction of the appointment system. (2) To examine factors which may affect commitment to an appointment system in PHC.

Steroid therapy for post-tonsillectomy symptoms in adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Post-operative morbidity following tonsillectomy remains an important clinical problem despite advances in anesthetic and surgical techniques. This study investigated the effect of a one-day course of intravenous dexamethasone on recovery from tonsillectomy.

Patients And Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 30 consecutive adult patients between 18 and 35 years of age, who had no previous or known contraindications to steroid therapy, were randomly assigned at the time of surgery to either a 24-hour course of dexamethasone (3 doses of 6 mg IV) or placebo with the first dose administered during surgery, and subsequent doses given after 8 and 16 hours.

Is there a need to involve doctors in management of health care in Saudi Arabia.

Recently, the role of doctors and managers in health care management has become a hot topic in the newspapers and public magazine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The aim of this paper is to contribute constructively and scientifically to this topical issue by emphasizing that commonality and interaction between medicine and management dictate more involvement of doctors in management. Although one may argue that doctors are usually not well trained in resources management, scientific evidence supports the need for more involvement of doctors in managing health care system.

Learning objectives of medical students: What is the message.

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