Using social media surveys and interventions to address vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Countering COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been a challenge in Saudi Arabia, one of the countries affected most by the pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Aims: To identify information needs, perceived benefits, concerns, trusted information sources, social norms, and predictors for COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Saudi Arabia and identify effective messaging strategies to increase vaccination intentions among the unvaccinated.

Method: Between March and April 2021, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey ( = 2883), and in part, a randomized experiment for unvaccinated participants ( = 675) in Saudi Arabia using Facebook Ads and Messenger.

General anaesthesia combined with bilateral paravertebral blockade (T11-T12-L1) vs general anaesthesia for bilateral varicocelectomy. A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Introduction: Varicocelectomy is a common operation in urology associated with considerable postoperative pain. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to investigate whether a combination of general anesthesia and bilateral nerve stimulator guided paravertebral nerve blocks could provide better postoperative pain relief compared to general anesthesia in combination with placebo paravertebral nerve block.

Methods: Sixty patients scheduled for varicocelectomy were randomized prospectively.