Background: Social Anxiety disorder (SAD) is common worldwide. However, data from Saudi Arabia is deficient. This study aims to determine the prevalence of SAD across Saudi medical students and its associations with sociodemographic factors and their academic performance. Methods: The main outcome was presence/absence of SAD and the secondary outcome was its level of severity. These were assessed from the Social Phobia Inventory. Associated factors included sociodemographic variables, as well as educational characteristics of students. Descriptive statistics were reported as counts and percentages, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed through bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Of 5896 Saudi medical students who participated in the study, the prevalence of SAD was almost 51%. While 8.21% and 4.21% had reported severe and very severe SAD, respectively. Older age students were at lower risk of developing SAD (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.89 – 0.96). In contrast, females (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01 – 1.26), students enrolled in private colleges and colleges implementing non-problem-based learning (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.09 – 1.52 and OR = 1.29. 95% CI = 1.15 – 1.46 respectively) were at higher risk. A significant elevated risk of SAD was found among students who had previously failed, and had a low GPA. Conclusion: SAD is prevalent among the sampled population, and different associated factors were identified. Current results could raise the awareness of faculty members and healthcare providers towards early detection and management of these cases.

Background: As the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has recently requested all food facilities to display the calorie count on their menus, this study aimed to identify the perceived changes in costumers’ eating behaviours in response to the calorie count display (CCD) policy in the Eastern Province. Methods: This was a mixed methods study. The first being quantitative, using a cross-sectional questionnaire which included 400 customers of both genders, aged 10 years and older, and was collected at food facilities from three cities in the Eastern Province. Customers completed a self-administered questionnaire and handed their registered receipts. Collected receipts were used to calculate the total calories ordered per customer. The second method is a qualitative in-depth interview with food facility managers. Results: Customers who reported checking the CCD were 30.5% of the total sample, and 58.2% of them changed their order accordingly. The mean calories ordered were 36 kcal less in customers checking the CCD than those who do not (P=0.674). Customers who exhibit healthy lifestyle habits calculate their daily consumed calories, knowledgeable of the recommended daily caloric intake (RDCI), dining in a dine-in restaurant, and have an educational level of above high school were more likely to check the CCD. This study found that customers who cared to check the CCD were more likely to change their eating behavior. It has been found that only a small percentage (12% to 18%) of customers were knowledgeable regarding the RDCI. After the implementation of the policy, restaurant managers reported a positive change in customers eating behavior, which was more profound in females and athletes. Conclusion: There is a significant association between checking the CCD and positive behavioral changes in customers’ eating behaviors. The results of this study suggest that further enforcement and awareness raising are crucial to increase the number of customers checking and using the CCD.

Background: The Emergency Room (ER) is one of the most used areas in healthcare institutions. Problems with over utilisation and overcrowding have been reported worldwide. This study aims at examining the characteristics of paediatric ER visits, the rate of hospital admissions and its associated predictors at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a retrospective, medical record-based study. Variables included gender, age group, nationality, complaints, Triage level, shifts and seasons. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies/percentages. P-values were obtained through a Chi-Squared test while unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were estimated by binary logistic regression, where admission was considered as the outcome. Results: The total number of paediatric patients included was 46,374, and only 2.5% were admitted. Males comprised 55.4% while females comprised 44.6%. The most common age group were toddlers, and 92.4% of the total sample were Saudis. The most common complaint was fever (26.9%) followed by respiratory symptoms (24.9%). Only 7 patients (0.02%) were classified as triage I (Resuscitation), and most were triage IV (Less urgent) (71.0%). Most visits occurred during the winter months. Adjusted ORs showed that neonates had higher odds of admission (OR = 3.85, 95%CI = 2.57–5.76). Moreover, those presenting with haematological conditions showed an OR of 65.49 (95%CI = 47.85–89.64), followed by endocrine conditions showing an OR of 34.89 (95%CI = 23.65–51.47). Triage I had a very high odds of admission (OR = 19.02, 95%CI = 2.70–133.76), whereas triage V was associated with a very low odds of admission (OR = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.23–0.38). Conclusions: A low rate of hospital admission was found in comparison with other rates worldwide. This was mostly attributed to an alarmingly high number of non-urgent ER visits. This further emphasises the problem with improper use of ER services, as these cases should be more appropriately directed towards primary healthcare centres. Further studies to examine the impact of prioritising patients in the ER based on the identified predictors of hospital admission, in addition to the standard triage system, are suggested.

(1) Background: Nursing managers as responsible personnel are required to think outside the box in order to make useful decisions using an appropriate style in a creative manner. This study aims to investigate the relationship between nursing managers’ decision-making styles and managerial creativity. (2) Methods: A multi-center cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 245 managers in five large government hospitals using self-administered questionnaires on managerial creativity and general decision-making styles. (3) Results: A significant relationship was found between rational, avoidant, and dependent styles and total managerial creativity. A positive correlation was present between the rational style and total managerial creativity and a negative correlation was found between avoidant, dependent, and spontaneous styles and total managerial creativity. According to a regression analysis, the rational style has a positive effect on managerial creativity, whereas the dependent and avoidant styles have a negative effect. (4) Conclusions: The majority of nursing managers in various hospitals throughout the kingdom are creative and almost all use rational and dependent decision-making styles, which are significantly related to managerial creativity. Thus, it is important to continue to conduct training programs on decision-making styles, especially the rational, dependent, and avoidant styles, for the top-, middle-, and low-level managers.

Purpose: Otolaryngology has experienced notable advancements and growth in the application of artificial intelligence (AI). However, otolaryngologists’ perception of these tools are lacking. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of otolaryngologists toward AI. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 otolaryngologists in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A piloted questionnaire was used to gather information on knowledge, attitude, and opinions regarding AI. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26. Results: Of the sample, 60% indicated average perceived knowledge of AI, while approximately 44.5% perceived their AI knowledge in the field of otolaryngology to be below average. A significant positive correlation was identified between knowledge and attitude scores. It was found that a higher knowledge score was more closely associated with seeing more than 15 patients per day, while a higher attitude score was more closely associated with being older, being a consultant, and having more years of professional experience. Of the sample, 38.2% strongly agreed that the application of AI in scientific research should be included in the residency training program. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of incorporating AI tools into certain aspects of the otolaryngology residency training program, highlighting their significance.

Background: International travel exposes individuals to diverse health risks, necessitating proactive pre-travel health preparations. Saudi Arabia has witnessed increased outbound travel. This study addresses a critical gap in knowledge by investigating the utilization and perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed patients at the Family and Community Medicine Center of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University during January 2024 to explore perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among the Saudi Arabian population. Adults aged 18 years or older in the waiting area were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Of the 772 participants, 624 (80.8%) engaged in international travel within the last year. However, 593 (76.8%) had never sought pre-travel health consultations. Age, gender, and education level significantly influenced the pursuit of pre-travel health advice, with older individuals, females, and those with higher educational attainment more likely to seek consultations. Participants perceived vaccination recommendations (597, 77.4%) and disease prevention information (678, 87.8%) as crucial parts of pre-travel health consultations. However, barriers to seeking advice included perceived low risk (445, 74.8%), lack of awareness (215, 36.3%), time constraints (128, 21.6%), and cost concerns (92, 15.5%). Conclusion: The low prevalence of pre-travel health consultations among travelers highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns and the integration of travel health services into primary healthcare. Addressing the identified barriers and leveraging preferred information sources are crucial steps towards enhancing the uptake of pre-travel health consultations, ultimately improving the health and safety of international travelers from the region.