The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7–71%), sexual (3.7–81%), financial (21.3–26%), and psychological (7.5–89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22–69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy affecting women globally, significantly impacting their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of symptoms in newly diagnosed BC patients undergoing chemotherapy in Oman using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-A); Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2024 at the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre (SQCCCRC), University Medical City, Oman. The study included 105 Omani women, aged 18 to 60, diagnosed with stage I to III BC and undergoing chemotherapy. Symptom evaluation was performed using ESAS-A. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes, while the Mann–Whitney U test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine associations between independent variables and symptom scores; Results: Out of 127 invited participants, 105 (82.6%) agreed to participate. The average age was 43.6 years (SD = 7.2). Fatigue (37.1%), poor well-being (30.5%), and drowsiness (27.6%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Anxiety and depression affected 21.9% and 17.1% of participants, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that having children was linked to higher fatigue and shortness of breath, while inversely associated with pain. A family history of chronic disease was significantly correlated with higher depression scores; Conclusions: This study is the first in Oman to utilize ESAS-A for assessing symptom burden in newly diagnosed BC patients undergoing chemotherapy. The findings highlight the importance of personalized symptom management and enhanced supportive care to improve patient well-being.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adult Omani patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The quality of life of these patients in Oman is unknown. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from June to October 2022 and included patients with SCD. A validated Arabic version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL in 8 domains. Results: A total of 235 patients with SCD were included in this study, the majority of whom were female (74.9%) and between 18 and 35 years of age (64.6%). The lowest HRQoL was reported for the domain of role limitations due to physical health (median score = 25.0, interquartile range [IQR] = 35.0), while the highest was seen for role limitations due to emotional problems (median score = 66.7, IQR = 100.0). Frequent SCD-related emergency department visits/hospital admissions and the adverse effect of SCD on patients’ social lives had a significant negative impact on SF-36 scores for all 8 HRQoL domains (P ≤0.05). Additionally, SCD’s impact on academic performance and a history of having been bullied due to SCD had a significant negative impact on SF-36 scores for 7 domains (P ≤0.05). Conclusion: Omani adult patients with SCD reported relatively poor HRQoL in several domains, with various factors found to be significantly associated with this. Healthcare providers and policy makers should consider offering additional clinical, educational and financial support to these patients to enhance their HRQoL.

Antenatal depression is a common mental health problem that women experience during their pregnancies. If left untreated, it can increase a woman's risk of developing postnatal depression and have adverse effects on both mothers and children. Therefore, early identification of depression requires a valid screening tool. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is still the most widely recognised screening instrument used to identify symptoms of postnatal depression. Despite the existence of a general Arabic version, it may not accurately reflect the unique cultural characteristics and healthcare practices of Oman. Therefore, the validity of the EPDS for antenatal depression remains uncertain, as no studies have yet addressed its validation in this population. To establish the validity of the Omani Arabic version of EPDS with an optimal cut-off value as a screening instrument to identify symptoms of depression among women attending antenatal care. A thoroughly translated and modified Arabic Omani version of the EPDS was designed and validated, with the Arabic PHQ-9 being used as the gold standard. Self-questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 352 women receiving antenatal care at University Medical City Oman and five primary healthcare centres in Muscat governorate, the capital city of Oman. Receiver Operator Characteristic curve was plotted, the area under the curve was calculated, and the optimal cut-off value was identified using Youden’s index. The Omani version validation of the EPDS yielded an optimal cut-off score of 11/12 for antenatal depression, with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 86.30%, 71.37%, 45.65%, and 94.92%, and an area under the curve of 0.85. Youden's index reached a maximum at 0.58 with a cut-off point of 11. The optimal cut-off value is 10 in the first trimester (Youden’s index 0.63) with sensitivity of 100.00% and specificity of 63.16%, 11 in the second trimester (Youden’s index 0.56) with sensitivity of 86.21% and specificity of 69.90%, and 12 in the third trimester (Youden’s index 0.60) with sensitivity of 78.57% and specificity of 80.99%. The internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha was 0.70, indicating acceptable reliability. The study's findings indicate that the Omani version of the EPDS as a valid instrument to screen symptoms of antenatal depression among Omani women.

Objectives: This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions and use of ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) among physicians at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman. It also explored perceived benefits, barriers and ethical concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) integration into clinical practice. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2024 using a structured online questionnaire distributed to physicians across different specialties. The survey covered demographics, familiarity with LLMs, applications in medical education, research, clinical care, administrative tasks and ethical considerations. Results: A total of 146 physicians were included (response rate = 48.7%); 65.1% were familiar with ChatGPT or other LLMs and 70.5% had used them, mainly for education (47.9%) and research (46.6%). Use in clinical practice (29.5%) and administrative tasks (18.5%) was less frequent. Most physicians perceived LLMs as enhancing research (82.9%), education (79.5%), administrative work (74.4%) and patient care (54.1%). While 89.8% believed LLMs could improve professional work, only 39.7% expressed confidence in integrating outputs while upholding academic standards. Ethical concerns were widespread (96.6%), focusing on reliability, accuracy and data privacy. Despite low awareness of ethical guidelines (15.1%), 87.0% expressed willingness to engage in AI-related training. Male physicians reported higher use for research and diagnostics (P <0.05 each), younger physicians (<30 years) more often used LLMs for education (P = 0.037) and senior physicians more frequently perceived bias in outputs (P = 0.045). Conclusion: Physicians at SQUH demonstrated moderate familiarity and cautious optimism towards LLMs. Addressing gaps in training and ethical awareness is crucial for responsible AI adoption in clinical and academic practice.

Objectives: Female infertility causes considerable emotional distress for affected women, negatively influencing their quality of life (QOL) and marital stability. This study aimed to identify factors influencing QOL and marital distress among Omani women attending a fertility clinic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included Omani women seeking infertility treatment at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from November 2022 to February 2023 and assessed QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF and marital adjustment using the Arabic Revised-Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results: A total of 150 women were included in this study. The mean World Health Organization QOL-Brief Version score was 69.40 ± 11.03, with mental health scoring the lowest and social relationships the highest. Primary infertility was reported by 58% and most participants were over 35 years old and unemployed. Mental health QOL was positively associated with polygynous marriages and younger age. The marital adjustment was negatively correlated with younger age at marriage and disparities in spousal education levels. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for targeted psychological support to improve the QOL and marital dynamics of Omani women undergoing infertility treatment.