Advance directive preferences of patients with chronic and terminal illness towards end of life decisions: a sample from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Advance directives towards end of life decisions are seldom used among Arabs.

Aims: This study aimed at investigating advance care preferences among a sample of Arab patients.

Method: This cross-sectional study was undertaken over the period March 2012-March 2013 on a sample of 300 patients with chronic illness in King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, a major tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Physicians' knowledge and practice towards medical error reporting: a cross-sectional hospital-based study in Saudi Arabia.

Identifying reasons for under-reporting is crucial in reducing the incidence of medical errors. We studied physicians' knowledge of the occurrence, frequency and causes of medical errors and their actual practice toward reporting them. A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire was answered by 107 physicians at a tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Community- versus nosocomial-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock in patients admitted to a tertiary intensive care in Saudi Arabia, etiology and outcome.

Background: Sepsis syndrome is a major worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. While community-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock constitutes a major cause of admission to the intensive care unit, hospital-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock remain major preventable causes of ICU admission. This study evaluates the rate, etiology, complication and outcome of community- and hospital-acquired sepsis in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Family Satisfaction in Critical Care Units: Does an Open Visiting Hours Policy Have an Impact?

Unlabelled: For critically ill patients, the interaction between health care providers and family members is essential in daily decision making. Improving this relationship has a positive impact on satisfaction with the overall care provided to patients and reduces family member symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. In this study, we analyzed the impact of visitation policy (open versus restricted) on family satisfaction using the previously well-validated Critical Care Family Satisfaction Survey (CCFSS) questionnaire.

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of tuberculous lymphadenitis in Saudi Arabia, refining the diagnostic approach. Case series and review of literature.

Objective: Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis is the most common presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Obtaining a tissue biopsy for culture and histopathology is frequently needed to establish the diagnosis. The available diagnostic tools include excisional surgical biopsy, fine needle aspiration (FNA) and ultrasound-guided core lymph node biopsy.

Continuous Mandatory Onsite Consultant Intensivists in the ICU: Impacts on Patient Outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the impacts on patient outcomes of continuous versus on-demand access to certified consultant intensivists in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Two general adult ICUs within the same health-care organization were compared in terms of patient outcomes. One unit featured continuous mandatory presence of a consultant intensivist (unit A), whereas the other had continuous access to a consultant intensivist during daytime hours but only on-demand access during the night-time hours (unit B).

Physicians' attitudes toward reporting medical errors-an observational study at a general hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: : Accurate medical error reporting is crucial for reducing the occurrence of such errors and their adverse consequences. This study aims to investigate the views of physicians about medical error reporting in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: : This is a cross-sectional self-administrated survey study.