Sensitivity and specificity of chest ultrasound in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department: A case-control study.

Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the role of chest ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and determine its accuracy using multi-detector CT-pulmonary angiography (MD-CTPA) as a gold standard technique for PE diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: A prospective case-control study was performed with 75 patients who presented to the emergency department of Minia Cardiothoracic University Hospital with clinical suspicion of PE. All patients were evaluated clinically and by laboratory tests to assess the risk of PE.

Symptoms of Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Apnea among Pregnant Women.

Objectives: Despite the fact that sleep disturbances have been associated with poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes in pregnancy, no studies have assessed excessive daytime sleepiness or the risk for sleep apnea among pregnant Saudi Arabian women. We sought to estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and the high risk for sleep apnea (OSA) in a sample of pregnant Saudi women.

Methods: An anonymous self-report questionnaire was completed by 517 pregnant women who attended obstetric outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a routine pregnancy check.

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.

Improving adherence to lung cancer guidelines: a quality improvement project that uses chart review, audit and feedback approach.

Introduction: The implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines is one of the most effective interventions for improving quality of care. A gap between guidelines and clinical practice often exists, which may result in patients not receiving appropriate care. This project aimed at improving adherence to lung cancer guidelines at our institution.

Impact of GI Tumor Board on Patient Management and Adherence to Guidelines.

Purpose: As the burden of cancer on the population and the health care system continues to increase with more complicated treatment options, the need for multidisciplinary teams to be as efficient as possible becomes more vital. Our study aimed to evaluate the consistency of GI Tumor Board (GI TB) recommendations with international guidelines, the adherence of physicians involved in patient care to TB recommendations, and the impact on the management of patients.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from January to June 2016 at our institution, which is a major tertiary hospital that provides comprehensive cancer care.

The pattern of bone involvement, management, and outcomes in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer: A retrospective study.

Context And Aim: The skeleton is a frequent site for metastasis in patients with breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Bone metastasis compromises skeletal integrity leading to skeletal-related events (SREs). This study aims at estimating the prevalence of bone metastasis in lung cancer and describing types of bone involvement, management, outcomes, and overall survival.

A Prospective Study on the Incidence and Outcomes of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia at a Tertiary Care Facility in Central Saudi Arabia.

Background: The incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia is low, yet highly dependent on the populations studied.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia and identify factors associated with its outcomes, namely time to disease onset, recovery duration, and platelet count.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between May and October 2013 at a large tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia.

Factors associated with recovery delay in a sample of patients diagnosed by MERS-CoV rRT-PCR: A Saudi Arabian multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Research evidence exists that poor prognosis is common in Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients.

Objectives: This study estimates recovery delay intervals and identifies associated factors in a sample of Saudi Arabian patients admitted for suspected MERS-CoV and diagnosed by rRT-PCR assay.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted on 829 patients admitted between September 2012 and June 2016 and diagnosed by rRT-PCR procedures to have MERS-CoV and non-MERS-CoV infection in which 396 achieved recovery.

Enhancing the performance of gastrointestinal tumour board by improving documentation.

Tumour board contributes to providing better patient care by using a multidisciplinary team approach. In the efforts of evaluating the performance of the gastrointestinal tumour board at our institution, it was difficult to assess past performance due to lack of proper use of standardised documentation tool. This project aimed at improving adherence to the documentation tool and its recommendations in order to obtain performance measures for the tumour board.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with cancer: a cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia.

Background: A significant proportion of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) along with conventional therapies (CT), whereas a smaller proportion delay or defer CT in favor of CAM. Previous studies exploring CAM use among cancer patients in the Middle East region have shown discrepant results. This study investigates the prevalence and pattern of CAM use by Saudi cancer patients.

Symptoms of Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Apnea in Liver Cirrhosis Patients.

Unlabelled: Background/propose. Sleep disturbance and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) have been reported in patients with hepatic cirrhosis with no hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The objective of this study was to evaluate daytime sleepiness and risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among liver cirrhosis patients.

Health-Related Predictors of Quality of Life in Cancer Patients in Saudi Arabia.

Research on Saudi Arabian cancer patients is a priority at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Because there is limited research on the quality of life (QoL) of Saudi Arabian cancer patients, the aim of this study was to identify the predictors of the QoL in a sample of Saudis with cancer. In August 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 438 patients with a variety of cancer types (145 breast, 109 colorectal, 38 leukemia, 45 lymphoma, and 99 other types) who attended the Oncology Outpatient Clinics at KAMC.

Prevalence of sleep duration among Saudi adults.

To examine the associations between sleep duration and a variety of demographic and clinical variables in a sample of Saudi adults.  Methods: A cross-sectional study among 2,095 participants was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between May and October 2014. A questionnaire was administered to collect data related to clinical health outcomes and demographic characteristics.

The predictors of poor quality of life in a sample of Saudi women with breast cancer.

Background: The protocols for treatment, along with many adverse effects, can strongly affect cancer patients' quality of life (QoL). As there is limited research on the QoL of Saudi Arabian women being treated for breast cancer, the purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of poor QoL in a sample of Saudi women with breast cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 145 Saudi women with breast cancer who attended the Oncology Outpatient Clinic at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh for routine follow-up.

Improving physician's hand over among oncology staff using standardized communication tool.

Cancer patients are frequently admitted to hospital for many reasons. During their hospitalization they are handled by different physicians and other care providers. Maintaining good communication among physicians is essential to assure patient safety and the delivery of quality patient care.

The effects of age and gender on the prevalence of insomnia in a sample of the Saudi population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia among the Saudi adult population.

Study Design: A cross-sectional insomnia survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The presence of insomnia was defined by difficulty initiating sleep, early morning awakening, or frequent awakening, in addition to the second-day effect in the form of fatigue, tiredness, or changes in the mode because of lack of sleep.

Saudi SCD patients' symptoms and quality of life relative to the number of ED visits.

Background: Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased emergency department (ED) use compared to the general population. In Saudi Arabia, health care is free for all individuals and therefore has no bearing on increased ED visits. However, little is known about the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and frequency of acute care utilization in this patient population.

Health-related quality of life in patients with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia.

Background: There is a lack of research concerning health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Saudi patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), particularly among adult populations. The aim of the current study was to describe the characteristics of SCD patients and their impact on their quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Six hundred twenty-nine adult SCD patients who attended King Fahad Hospital in Hofuf and King Fahad Central Hospital in Jazan were included in the analysis.

Diagnostic Utility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: The utility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G) test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis disease has been validated in high and low tuberculosis-prevalent (TB) countries.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the performance of the QFT-G test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis disease among tuberculosis patients in an intermediate prevalent country.

Setting And Design: A retrospective study at the King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R).

Effect of age and gender in the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness among a sample of the Saudi population.

The aim of this study is to assess whether the effect of gender on the excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is influenced by two confounders (age and hours of sleep per night). A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R). A total of 2095 respondents answered a questionnaire that included questions regarding gender, age, hours of sleep per night, and daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Validation of the Arabic version of the Epworth sleepiness scale.

Background: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a questionnaire widely used in developed countries to measure daytime sleepiness and diagnose sleep disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to develop an ESS questionnaire for the Arabic population (ArESS), to determine ArESS internal consistency, and to measure ArESS test-retest reproducibility. It also investigated whether the normal range of ESS scores of healthy people in different cultures are similar.

Factors associated with poor asthma control among asthmatic patient visiting emergency department.

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is a common chronic disease that affects people of all ages. Insufficient asthma control may cause frequent emergency department (ED) visit by patients who seek crisis management of their asthma.

Objectives: This study aims to identify the factors associated with poor asthma control.