Several investigations evaluated the possibility of different types of mouth wash rinse in minimizing the SARS-CoV-2 load. However, results still controversial. The study aim is to assess the short-term efficiency of several over-the-counter mouth rinses and lozenges in minimizing the salivary viral load for SARS-CoV-2 in patients with confirmed COVID-19 in comparison to saline. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with 4 arms. The recruited cases were randomized using a simple randomization technique and were assigned to chlorhexidine digluconate mouth rinse (CHX mouth rinse), 2 mg of chlorhexidine digluconate lozenges (CHX lozenges), povidone iodine mouth rinse (PVP-I mouth rinse) or saline as a control group. Saliva were collected from all study subjects by passive drool technique at two time points. First, prior to intervention with mouth rinse or the lozenges, the baseline saliva sample was collected. Second saliva samples were collected immediately after the mouth rinse. Real time PCR was conducted and the value threshold cycle (Ct) for each sample was recorded. Majority of the participants had an education level of high school or less (60%), were married (68.3), males (58.3%), and non-smokers (58.5%). No statistically significant differences between groups at the two times test (P > .05). However, a significant decrease of salivary viral load in all four groups combined (P-value for E genes = .027, and for S genes = .006), and in PVP-I mouth rinse specifically (P = .003 and P = .045, respectively). Povidone iodine mouth rinse showed a potential influence on the reduction of the viral load on a short-term basis. However, longer-term studies of the effect of these products should be conducted.

This cross-sectional study aims to determine children's age at their first visit to dentists and factors associated with these visits. This cross-sectional community survey-based study was conducted in 2019 during the events of the 10th Gulf Oral Health Week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All participants including visitors and dentists, with current or previous experience in caring for children aged six months to ten years, provided their consents for the study. Among the visitors, 348 participated in the survey. Most children, aged three to ten years, first visited the dentist with complaints of pain and dental cavities. The risk of a late visit to the dentist increased (OR: 2.28; CI 95%: 1.01–5.14) among caregivers who did not help their children brush their teeth. Using the Internet for accessing health information negatively impacted the visits (OR: 27.00; CI 95% 1.26–57.35). While employed mothers took their children to the dentist at an earlier age (OR: 2.284; CI 95% 1.08–4.79), early visits were mostly missed by mothers with smaller families (OR: 0.043; CI 95% 0.48–0.98). The results of our study show that the caregiver's attitude, source of health information, employment, age, and number of children are risk factors associated with late visits to dentists.

Objective: In this study, we aim to determine post-pandemic level of secondary traumatic stress and the associated factors among healthcare workers practicing in the Western province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: Healthcare workers practicing at public health sector of the Western province of Saudi Arabia. Received Web-based Self-administered questionnaire, assessing post-pandemic Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), using Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). Results: A total of 380 responses received. Logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Females had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing STS (OR=2.425, p< 0.001). Doctors were significantly more likely to experience STS compared to other specialties (OR=2.863, p=0.016). Participants sleeping 7 hours were associated with a lower likelihood of STS (OR=0.427, p=0.016), while sleeping 6 hours showed a trend towards lower STS but was not statistically significant (p=0.068). Participants aged 50 and above were significantly less likely to experience STS (OR=0.275, p=0.021). Lastly, Saudi nationals were significantly more likely to experience STS compared to non-Saudis (OR=2.717, p=0.014). Conclusion: Female healthcare workers, doctors, and those younger than 50 years old were all found to be at a significantly higher risk of STS. Interestingly, sleep duration emerged as a potential protective factor, with those sleeping 7 hours exhibiting a lower risk of STS. Finally, the analysis revealed a higher prevalence of STS among Saudi nationals compared to non-Saudis.

Introduction: COVID-19-related stigma is the level of stigma associated with being involved with the pandemic. It has been reported that a significant number of healthcare workers experienced anxiety, depression, stigmatization, physical violence, harassment during the COVID-19 pandemic; even the families of the healthcare workers were victims of discrimination and stigmatization. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma among the healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and to assess the COVID-19-related stigma, its associated factors, and burnout correlate. Methods: Web-based, self-administered questionnaire has been sent to healthcare workers’ official emails through the internal communication department in the targeted hospitals. It includes the COVID-19-related stigma-validated scale “E16-COVID19-S” and two questions relative to the full Maslach Burnout Inventory assessing the burnout. The required sample is 377 based on the sample size calculation with a response rate of 50%. Results: A total of 407 responses were received from the targeted population. Of them, 49.4% scored high on the COVID-19-related stigma scale. The correlation between the COVID-19-related stigma and burnout was found to be moderately positive and statistically significant (rs = 0.515, p= <0.001). Conclusion: It has been found that gender, workplace capacity, ever taking COVID-19 test during the pandemic had a significant impact on scoring high on the COVID-19-related stigma scale. Moreover, there is a correlation between being stigmatized during the pandemic and being burned out.

This study assessed the willingness of general dental practices (GDPs) to participate in research. All 263 GDPs in South East London that provide dental care under National Health Service (NHS) contracts were invited. The survey instrument was adapted from previous studies and piloted before administration. Geographical factors and practice characteristics associated with willingness to participate in research were explored in logistic regression models. A total of 77 responses were received (response rate: 29%). Of them, 40 (53%) expressed interest in being involved in primary care research. They saw their main role as collecting data and facilitating access to patients. Time, bureaucracy and lack of energy were the main reasons behind a decision not to engage with research. Those spending more time in NHS services were more likely to be willing to participate in research. Other possible indicators were single-handed GDPs, participation in the dental foundation training programme and location in more affluent areas.

Introduction: This study examined patient-reported reasons for missed dental appointments, factors associated with acknowledgment behavior, and patient preferences for system responses in primary care dental clinics within the Jeddah First Health Cluster. It also introduces the Patient-Induced Service Loss (PISL) framework as a conceptual model to guide future estimation of preventable service loss associated with missed appointments. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients recorded as dental no-shows was conducted over five consecutive working days in November 2024. Virtual interviews were administered to patients identified through the appointment management system across all primary care dental clinics (n = 381). Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine associations between patient characteristics and acknowledgment behavior. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of acknowledgment of the missed appointment. Results: Most participants (76.4%) acknowledged missing their appointment. Among those who acknowledged the missed visit, transportation difficulties (24.9%), forgetting the appointment (13.4%), and time conflicts (9.2%) were the most frequently reported reasons. In the multivariable analysis, lower education levels were associated with higher odds of acknowledgment compared with university-level participants (elementary or middle school: OR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.26–6.91; high school: OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.004–3.02). Urban residence and preference for reminders delivered 24 h before the appointment were also independently associated with acknowledgment (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.14–3.96 and OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.45–4.43, respectively). Nearly half of participants reported previous experience cancelling appointments. When asked about appropriate system responses, most participants favored corrective rather than punitive measures, with 68.6% recommending placement on a waiting list. Conclusion: Missed dental appointments reflect a complex interaction between patient behavior and system design. Transportation barriers and reminder timing were important factors associated with non-attendance and acknowledgment patterns. The proposed PISL framework provides a conceptual direction for future evaluation of the operational and economic consequences of missed appointments. System-level improvements, including optimized digital reminders, clearer communication of cancellation policies, flexible scheduling, and real-time release of cancelled appointment slots, may help strengthen patient engagement and reduce preventable service loss in primary dental care.