Background: Several studies reported that Inter-professional Education (IPE) plays a major role in creating an effective collaborating environment in healthcare settings to achieve high-quality patient care. This study measured the College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS) students’ readiness for and perceptions of IPE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 232 undergraduate students in Riyadh, using a stratified random sampling method. All the undergraduate students of CAMS were included. Two previously validated questionnaires, the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) and the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) were used in the study. Results: The mean score for the RIPLS was 86.8. The Tukey post-hoc test score was significantly higher comparing the Occupational Therapy and the Respiratory Therapy programs. There was no difference between the overall RIPLS and subscales between male and female students as well as senior and junior students. For the IEPS, the mean score was 77.7. The Tukey post-hoc test score was significantly higher in the Occupational Therapy and Respiratory Therapy programs. Conclusion: The current study indicated that the Applied Medical Sciences’ students demonstrated readiness for IPE as an important element in creating collaborative teamwork in their programs. The early incorporation of IPE in the pre-professional years will enhance collaboration in management and patient care.

The consumption of dietary supplements is increasing worldwide, yet national data from Saudi Arabia remain limited. This study examined the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of dietary supplement use, with emphasis on vitamin intake. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 477 adults meeting inclusion criteria. Self-reported data included demographics, supplement use in the past 12 months, types and forms consumed, frequency, motivations, and information sources. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied. Overall, 58% reported using at least one supplement in the past year, with vitamins comprising 81% of use. Pills and capsules were preferred, and daily intake was most common (58%). Female gender (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.26–3.31) and higher education (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI: 1.88–8.64) significantly predicted vitamin use. Common motivations included health promotion (19%), symptom relief (24%), and physical appearance (10%), with gender differences in reasons related to general health and immunity. Nearly three-quarters of participants relied on informal sources for supplement intake. Dietary supplement use is prevalent, particularly among women and the highly educated. Targeted education and regulatory measures are needed to promote safe, informed use, aligning with the national health strategies under Saudi Vision 2030.

The development of Digital Health in Saudi Arabia has been evolving at a rapid pace, in alignment with the health sector’s 2030 Transformation Program. This chapter will cover the development of the digital health sector and outline some of the main technologies that serve it. As an introduction, the journey of digital health, specifically Electronic Health Records, among other technologies within the landscape of Saudi Arabia, have been outlined. Followed by an introduction of the digital health transformation, technologies and solutions that were introduced or enhanced in the existing digital market, including: Telemedicine, patient portals, mHealth, wearable health monitoring technologies, virtual reality and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, blockchains, and the Seha virtual hospital. The chapter will be explored through references to key players in the digital health ecosystem, such as the patients, providers, the Ministry of Health (MOH), other regulators and initiatives, including their contributions to digital health in the Kingdom. The chapter will conclude with implications and opportunities for investment in this field, specifically artificial intelligence (AI). Research, partnerships and changing healthcare reform are highlighted as driving improvements in Saudi Arabian digital health.

BACKGROUND: To recruit poorly ventilated lung areas by providing active and adequate oxygenation is a core aspect of treating patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) mode is increasingly accepted as a means of supporting patients with ARDS. This study aimed to determine whether the APRV mode is effective in improving oxygenation, compared to conventional ventilation, in adult ARDS patients. METHODS: We conducted the study according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched for clinical trials in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library until April 2019. We included all studies comparing APRV and other conventional mechanical ventilation modes for adult ARDS patients. Our primary outcome was oxygenation status (defined as the day 3 PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio). The secondary outcomes were the length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. Sensitivity analyses were performed including studies with conventional low-tidal volume ventilation as a comparator ventilation strategy. RESULTS: We included six clinical trials enrolling a total of 375 patients. The day 3 PaO₂/FiO₂ was reported in all the studies, and it was significantly higher in patients receiving APRV (mean difference [MD] 51.9 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 8.2–95.5, P = 0.02, I ²= 92%). There was no significant difference in mortality between APRV and the other conventional ventilator modes (risk difference 0.07, 95% CI: −0.01–0.15, P = 0.08, I ²0%). The point estimate for the effect of APRV on the LOS in ICU indicated a significant reduction in the ICU LOS for the APRV group compared to the counter group (MD 3.1 days, 95% CI 0.4–5.9, P = 0.02, I ²= 53%). CONCLUSION: In this study, using the APRV mode may improve oxygenation on day 3 and contribute to reducing the LOS in ICU. However, it is difficult to draw a clinical message about APRV, and well-designed clinical trials are required to investigate this issue.

To estimate the survival of adult and pediatric patients receiving mechanical ventilation and determine the associated risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in the intensive care unit (ICU) at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) and King Abdullah Children's Specialist Hospital (KACSH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The analysis includes data from medical records of all patients admitted to ICUs who received mechanical ventilation between 2016-2018. For each patient, potential risk factors were collected. The main outcome of this study was the mortality during the stay in ICU after receiving mechanical ventilation. Results: A total of 262 adults and 175 pediatric patients were admitted to ICUs and received mechanical ventilation during the study period. For adult patients, the overall mortality was 37%, with a median survival time of 11 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6-20 days). The main risk factors independently associated with the increased mortality rate were being aged 51-60 (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.7-1.0) and factors related to ICU admission. For the pediatric population, the mortality rate was 17%, with a median survival time of 16 days (IQR 7-37 days). Prematurity with respiratory problems was the main recorded cause of initiation of mechanical ventilation (50% of patients). Neonates who had mechanical ventilation within one month of their birth and were born extremely preterm had a high mortality rate after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Both patient age and the causes of the initiation of mechanical ventilation were influencing the survival of patients who required mechanical ventilation.

Malnutrition could profoundly affect older adults’ oral health and quality of life, whereas oral health might, in turn, impact dietary intake and nutritional status. The present study aimed to investigate the association between general and oral health and nutritional status among older adults attending nutrition clinics at two main medical centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-section study was carried out among adult patients (≥60 years) who attended a geriatric clinic or nutrition clinic at King Khalid University Hospital or King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh. A validated clinician’s Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), Oral Health Impact Profile-5 (OHIP-5), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) were collected from each participant. A total of 261 participants with a mean age of 72.14 (±8.97) years were recruited. Diabetes (71%) and hypertension (80%) were present in the majority of patients. The overall MNA-SF score was (10 ± 3). Based on the categorization of the MNA-SF score, 65.9% were classified as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Participants with OHIP-5 scores higher than the median (>5) were more likely to be malnourished than those with scores at or lower than 5 (p < 0). The adjusted odd ratio for the MNA-SF score categories indicated that for a one-unit increase in the total SF-36 score, the odds of the malnourished category are 0.94 times less than the risk of malnutrition and normal nutritional status, with OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94–0.95). Malnutrition or being at risk of malnutrition is likely associated with poor general and oral health. Healthcare providers need to incorporate dietitians into care plans to promote the nutritional health of older adults.