The aim was to assess the oral health of children with β-thalassemia major (BTM) and their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in relation to the serum ferritin level (SFL). Thirty-nine children with BTM underwent an interview, salivary sampling and an oral clinical examination. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used to assess their OHRQoL. The mean age of the participants was 9 ± 3 years, with 62% females. The body mass index and salivary secretion rate were within normal ranges. The mean plaque index, gingival bleeding index and number of decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces were 70 ± 29, 38 ± 25 and 3.2 ± 4, respectively, with no significant differences between individuals with SFL below or above 2000 ng/mL (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in any of the ECOHIS questions (p > 0.05). The mean ECOHIS score was 4.2 ± 4. Individuals with SFL ≥2000 ng/mL had a significantly higher mean score in the family domain “Parent Distress” than those with lower SFL (p ≤ 0.05). Within the study limits, children with β-thalassemia major generally had high dental caries experience and gingival inflammation, yet an acceptable OHRQoL. Those with high SFL had less favorable scores in the domain “Parent Distress”.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of parents of paediatric patients with physicians’ communication skills.MethodsA survey among Saudi parents of 200 child patients was conducted in Madinah Maternity and Children Hospital, Almadinah Almunawwarah, Saudi Arabia, in July–September 2011. One of the parents of each child was interviewed once by trained interviewers using a questionnaire in Arabic to ascertain their satisfaction with physicians’ communication skills. Four domains of communication were measured: relationship-building, information exchange, degree of involvement of the parents in the child’s care, and demonstration of efforts and competence. Appropriate statistical tests were used, with a P value ⩽0.05 as the indicator of a significant difference.ResultsMost of the respondents were mothers (85%). Statistically significant differences by medical facility (inpatient and outpatient) were observed for all the domains of communication studied. The average satisfaction scores for relationship-building were high for mothers, inpatient facilities and children with chronic diseases. The average scores for the other domains were high for fathers, inpatient facilities and children with acute and emergency conditions. The average overall satisfaction score differed significantly by medical facility and parent’s educational level.ConclusionThe satisfaction of the parents with physicians’ communication differed by domain, inpatient or outpatient department, child’s disease, parent’s relationship to the child and the educational level of the parent. Large-scale studies are needed to investigate the generalizability of these results

Beta thalassemia major (BTM) is a chronic hereditary blood disorder. Patients are dependent on blood transfusion and are prone to multiple comorbidities. Depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) can complicate their condition. No reports from Saudi Arabia to measure DAS in BTM patients. We report the prevalence of DAS symptoms in our BTM patients using the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 Items) test. A cross-sectional study including adolescents and adults aged 14 years and above with BTM treated in Almadinah Almunawwarah and excluding patients who had bone marrow transplant or with central nervous system insults were performed. A total of 31 male and 31 female patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 24.32 ± 7.05 years. Depression symptoms were detected in 60 % of patients, anxiety symptoms were detected in half of the studied group, and stress symptoms were detected in 38.7% of patients. We found a significant positive correlation between DAS and DASS total score. Age below or above 18, parent’s employment, patient’s educational level, and status of satisfaction about medical care were statistically significant in having positive effects on scores of DAS symptoms. BTM patients are prone to develop psychological disorders, which can affect the course of the disease. Our results are comparable to international and Arab population studies, which have the highest reported prevalence. It is important to not ignore the psychological evaluation of patients with BTM and to refer them for proper evaluation and management.

KSA has been reported to have a high prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD). The most common complication of SCD in children is pain due to vaso-occlusion crises (VOCs) that ensue when sickle-shaped red blood cells are entrapped in small vessels, leading to infarcts. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness about VOCs among parents of patients with SCD and its correlation with the disease outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted including 123 parents of children with SCD, aged 2-18 years old. All recruited participants were residents of Almadinah Almunawwarah. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The mean total knowledge score was 30 ± 4. The majority of parents (74%) had a good level of knowledge about SCD. There was a significant association between the total knowledge score and the outcome of VOCs during the year prior (p < 0.05). There was no association between the total knowledge score and the parents' education and family income. Regarding methods of increasing awareness of VOCs, 60.97% of parents thought that the best method was by direct meetings about health education, while 30.89% preferred to have written information about the disease. Only 21.13% argued that the internet was a better choice for raising awareness. In this study, the parents of SCD patients had a good level of knowledge about VOCs. There was a significant association between the parents' awareness of VOCs and a better disease outcome in their children, as they had fewer attacks and hospital admissions.

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an autosomal inherited hemostasis disorder caused by a deficiency or defect in the blood protein known as von Willebrand factor, which is necessary for platelets to adhere to damaged vessel walls. The main symptoms of the condition include spontaneous bleeding from mucosal membranes, excessive wound bleeding, and menorrhagia in girls. On the other hand, hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a heterogeneous group of diseases that damage red blood cells, with clinical manifestations depending on the different membrane protein-encoding gene mutations, their different functional consequences, and the mechanism of inheritance. It is typically characterized by the presence of jaundice, anemia, and splenomegaly. Here, we report a novel pathogenic mutation in a child with HS that led to hemolytic anemia since the age of two years associated with recently discovered type 1 VWD, as we were unable to find any cases that have been previously reported to have HS associated with VWD. According to our analysis of the literature, there is no definitive link between the two hematological disorders.