Introduction: Stroke is a significant health problem and is considered one of the leading causes of mortality and permanent disability worldwide. Hypertension is a primary risk factor for stroke. Thus, hypertensive patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are essential in preventing stroke. Objective: To examine hypertensive patients’ KAP towards stroke prevention among rural population in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design. The data were collected using a convenience sampling technique from hypertensive patients in the northwestern rural areas of Riyadh Province. A self-administered questionnaire was adapted from the Stroke Recognition Questionnaire (SRQ) and utilized to assess KAP towards stroke prevention among rural hypertensive patients. The STrengthening of the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to report the study. Results: A total of 196 hypertensive patients participated in the study. The total mean scores categorization into three quartiles showed that most respondents had poor levels of KAP towards stroke prevention. Weak positive correlations were found between KAP of patients. There were statistically significant differences between respondents’ attitudes and practices with their age, education, marital status, and occupational status. Discussion: This study denoted poor levels of KAP towards stroke prevention among hypertensive patients living in rural areas. This study showed the importance of further considering rural population by which improving their health and quality of life. Extending health educational programs and behavior-changing strategies to rural areas is essential to increase hypertensive patients and general public awareness about their stroke prevention and other health-related concerns.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a major international crisis. Although vaccination is the only hope to end this pandemic, adverse effects attributable to vaccines are still being reported. Active surveillance is critical for generating near-real-time, high-quality evidence for potential safety hazards, allowing us to respond quickly to vaccination Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of side effects following COVID-19 vaccination with Oxford–AstraZeneca among adults in northwestern Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and community-based study performed among individuals who had received any type of COVID-19 vaccination. A convenience sampling method was used to collect data using an online survey. Results: A total of 222 individuals responded to the survey, and the majority frequently reported both localized and systemic side effects after vaccination. The most reported side effects include pain at the site of injection, myalgia, headache, and fever. Some demographic factors were significantly associated with the reported post-vaccination side effects. Conclusion: The most prevalent side effects experienced by individuals after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine were determined in this study. Prior to the administration of a vaccination, counseling programs should be established to help people understand and deal with the possible side effects, with a special focus on demographic differences.

Workplace violence is a serious issue in healthcare settings. Nurses are particularly vulnerable, and such violence significantly impacts their professional lives, leading to decreased productivity and care quality. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of workplace violence against nurses through systematic review and meta-analysis in Saudi Arabia. Databases were searched for articles published in English from 2013 to 2023, including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Medline, Emerald, Wiley, and ProQuest. The quality of the included studies was rigorously assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and publication bias tests were performed. The pooled prevalence of workplace violence among nurses in Saudi Arabia was 61.8 % (95 %CI: 45.8 %–75.6 %). Subgroup analysis showed the highest prevalence of workplace violence in studies conducted before 2020 at 69.7 % (95 %CI: 42.0 %–88.0 %) and 2020-2023 at 57.0% (95 %CI: 35.6 %–76.1 %); in the western region at 90.2 % (95 %CI: 70.2 %–97.3 %); among female nurses at 81.8 % (95 %CI: 66.9 %–90.9 %); with patient relatives as perpetrators at 70.8 % (95 %CI: 46.4 %–87.2 %); during afternoon shifts at 78.5 % (95 %CI: 64.4 %–88.1 %); for verbal abuse at 54.9 % (95 %CI: 31.3 %–76.6 %); and in the intensive care unit at 68.1 % (95 %CI: 28.1 %–92.1 %). Meta-regression analysis revealed that the night shift significantly contributed to heterogeneity. The funnel plot and Egger’s regression test (P = 0.647) indicated no significant publication bias. This meta-analysis showed the estimate of workplace violence against nurses in Saudi Arabia is 61.8 %. Nursing managers and health policymakers should implement targeted interventions to prevent workplace violence, especially among female nurses, during afternoon shifts, in intensive care units, and in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Approximately five million individuals have traumatic injuries annually. Implementing prehospital blood-component transfusion (PHBT), encompassing packed red blood cells (p-RBCs), plasma, or platelets, facilitates early hemostatic volume replacement following trauma. The lack of uniform PHBT guidelines persists, relying on diverse parameters and physician experience.Aim: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various components of PHBT, including p-RBCs and plasma, on mortality and hematologic-related outcomes in traumatic patients.Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was executed to identify pertinent literature comparing the transfusion of p-RBCs, plasma, or a combination of both with standard resuscitation care in traumatized patients. Eligible studies underwent independent screening, and pertinent data were systematically extracted. The analysis employed pooled risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MD) for continuous variables, each accompanied by their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: Forty studies were included in the qualitative analysis, while 26 of them were included in the quantitative analysis. Solely P-RBCs alone or combined with plasma showed no substantial effect on 24-hour or long-term mortality (RR = 1.13; 95% CI, 0.68 - 1.88; P = .63). Conversely, plasma transfusion alone exhibited a 28% reduction in 24-hour mortality with a RR of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.53 - 0.99; P = .04). In-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay were mostly unaffected by p-RBCs or p-RBCs plus plasma, except for a notable three-day reduction in length of hospital stay with p-RBCs alone (MD = -3.00; 95% CI, -5.01 to -0.99; P = .003). Hematological parameter analysis revealed nuanced effects, including a four-unit increase in RBC requirements with p-RBCs (MD = 3.95; 95% CI, 0.69 - 7.21; P = .02) and a substantial reduction in plasma requirements with plasma transfusion (MD = -0.73; 95% CI, -1.28 to -0.17; P = .01).Conclusion: This study revealed that plasma transfusion alone was associated with a substantial decrease in 24-hour mortality. Meanwhile, p-RBCs alone or combined with plasma did not significantly impact 24-hour or long-term mortality. In-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay were generally unaffected by p-RBCs or p-RBCs plus plasma, except for a substantial reduction in length of hospital stay with p-RBCs alone.