Establishment of an Accelerated Doctor of Family Medicine Program at Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Primary health care is well known to be the cornerstone for the health of the society. Furthermore, efficient health care at the secondary and tertiary levels is entirely dependent on effective primary health care. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is currently building up a rigorous primary health care system with a large number of well-equipped primary health care centers.

The need for national medical licensing examination in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Medical education in Saudi Arabia is facing multiple challenges, including the rapid increase in the number of medical schools over a short period of time, the influx of foreign medical graduates to work in Saudi Arabia, the award of scholarships to hundreds of students to study medicine in various countries, and the absence of published national guidelines for minimal acceptable competencies of a medical graduate.

Discussion: We are arguing for the need for a Saudi national medical licensing examination that consists of two parts: Part I (Written) which tests the basic science and clinical knowledge and Part II (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) which tests the clinical skills and attitudes. We propose this examination to be mandated as a licensure requirement for practicing medicine in Saudi Arabia.

Therapeutic efficacy of hysterosalpingography with special reference to application of hydrostatic pressure during the procedure.

Background: In the majority of infertile females, cause lies within the fallopian tubes. The causes for tubal obstruction include tuabal endometriosis, chlamydial and tuberculous infections, salpingitis, due to previous tubal approach, previous tubal pregnancy, peritubal adhesions due to previous appendicectomy, ovarian, uterine or adnexal operations. Other less important but easily treatable significant causes include tubal obstruction due to debris, fine adhesions or even unexplained tubal spasm.

Food signs in radiology.

Certain diseases show classic radiological signs that resemble various types of food items like fruits, meat, vegetables, eggs, bakery, grocery and confectionary items. In this article various food signs are discussed and correlated with the various food items in a pictorial way. The objective of this pictorial essay is to provide the information and learn the characteristic radiological signs resembling various food items.

Comparison of an integrated problem-based learning curriculum with the traditional discipline-based curriculum in KSA.

Objective: To compare the integrated problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum of the third year medical students of KSU at the Al-Qaseem campus with the traditional discipline-based teaching curriculum of students of Riyadh campus.

Design: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Al-Qaseem and campuses of King Saud University (KSU).

Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration using 25G needle as a new technique for a wide range of pathological conditions.

Objective: This study is to report on the use of 25 gauge (G) needle in ultrasound (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA), as a new technique for a wide range of pathological conditions, and to assess the yield of positive tissue material and the complications compared to those reported in the literature using larger needles.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-two patients presented consecutively at King Saud University Teaching Hospitals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period 2000 to 2002, with various pathological conditions, underwent US guided FNA using 25G needle. The adequacy of the tissue obtained, and the pathological outcome were tabulated.

Cigarette smoking behavior among male secondary school students in the Central region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the smoking habits among male secondary school students in Al-Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards smoking.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Qassim region, KSA during March 2003. Randomly selected was 14 out of 110 government male secondary schools.

Acquired Intercostal Arteriovenous Fistulas: Transesophageal Doppler Echocardiographic Diagnosis.

Acquired intercostal arteriovenous fistulas are recognized complications of traumatic injuries. In this article, transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic findings in a patient with posttraumatic acquired intercostal arteriovenous fistulas are presented. The findings have been confirmed by angiography.