Introduction: Research is a fundamental component for advancing healthcare and medical knowledge. It enhances students’ ability to practice evidence-based care in clinical practice. Despite the recognized benefits, barriers such as lack of time, skills, funding, and guidance impede students’ involvement in research. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of conducting a specialised extracurricular research course designed for medical students at King Faisal University. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design, including a control group. Participants were second-to-sixth-year medical students, divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group participated in a comprehensive research course over eight months. A pretest-posttest self-administered questionnaire was given at the beginning and end of the course to assess research knowledge and attitudes. The control group completed the same at equivalent time points. Results: The paired sample t-test demonstrated significant improvements in pre- and post-test scores for research knowledge among students who attended more than 50% of the course (p = 0.009). Similarly, students who attended less than or equal to 50% of the course content also showed significant gains in research knowledge (p = 0.005). However, the comparison between the intervention and control groups did not show a significant difference (p = 0.160). Conclusion: This study highlights the effectiveness of a structured research training program in enhancing medical students’ research knowledge and attitudes. The findings advocate for integrating formal research training into medical curricula to prepare future healthcare professionals for evidence-based practice and sustained research engagement. Despite limitations such as non-randomized assignments and a single-institution focus, the study underscores the transformative impact of systematic research education on medical students’ professional development.

Background: Effective interpretation of electrocardiogram (ECG) data is a critical skill for primary health care physicians and part of the Family Medicine residency program curriculum. However, there is a lack of data regarding the competency of Primary Health Care Physicians in ECG interpretation in Saudi Arabia. To evaluate the competence of primary healthcare physicians in Saudi Arabia in interpreting common ECG abnormalities. Additionally, it seeks to understand participants’ perspectives on the facilitators and barriers to effective ECG learning. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 28 September 2023 to 1 November 2024. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of primary health care physicians. Results: A total of 257 physicians participated in the study. Nearly half of the participants (51.8%) attended cardiology rotations and completed the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course. Findings revealed that 74.3% of participants demonstrated poor knowledge of ECG interpretation. Factors significantly contributing to ECG competence included completion of the ACLS course (p-value = 0.035), teaching during clinical rotations as a knowledge source (p-value = 0.020), and participation in ECG courses (p-value = 0.031). Barriers identified encompassed inadequate training programs and inconsistent exposure to ECGs. Conclusion: Primary health care physicians demonstrated unsatisfactory performance in ECG interpretation. Completion of ACLS and dedicated ECG courses, as well as exposure to structured teaching during clinical rotations, were significantly associated with higher competency. Therefore, integrating them into core medical curricula is recommended to enhance ECG interpretation skills among primary health care physicians. Further research is warranted to identify the most effective educational strategies for improving competency in this essential clinical skill.

Background: Ophthalmology is a clinical and surgical specialty with high physical demands. Despite advancements in ophthalmic equipment, improper ergonomic practices contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), affecting practitioners’ performance and productivity. Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence, severity, and functional disability of WMSDs among ophthalmologists in Saudi Arabia using the Total Disability Index (TDI) and examining associations between disability severity and task-related difficulty. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey included 280 ophthalmologists practicing in Saudi Arabia, recruited through institutional and professional channels and convenience-based dissemination. Data were collected from Jan–Apr 2025. Functional impairment was assessed using the validated 14-item TDI. Multivariable logistic regression modeled associations between TDI scores and task-related pain, adjusting for confounders. Results: Among 280 ophthalmologists, 85.7% reported WMSDs symptoms, most commonly weekly. Mean TDI score was 8.0 ± 9.3. Most (90.0%) had minimal disability, 8.6% moderate, and 1.4% severe. None had crippling or bed-bound disability. The cervical (27.9%) and lumbar spine (25.7%) were most affected. Higher TDI scores independently predicted pain during clinic examinations (adjusted OR = 1.124; p < 0.001), laser procedures (OR = 1.064; p < 0.001), and surgery (OR = 1.065; p < 0.001). Conclusion: WMSDs are highly prevalent among ophthalmologists practicing in Saudi Arabia and are associated with measurable task-related difficulty. These findings support structured ergonomics education, exercise programs, and institution-level workplace modifications.

Background and Objectives: Priapism, most commonly the ischemic (low-flow) type, is a debilitating complication affecting males with sickle cell disease (SCD), making prevention a critical aspect of care. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of priapism and identify its associated predictors among adult patients with SCD. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from February 2024 to August 2025. Results: A total of 240 male SCD patients were included, of whom 33 (13.8%) reported a lifetime history of priapism. The median age at the first priapism episode was 29 years. Multivariate logistic regression identified a history of blood transfusion as the only significant independent predictor of priapism (aOR = 10.36, 95% CI: 1.32–81.14, p = 0.026). Episode frequency varied, with 33.3% of affected patients reporting episodes occurring monthly or less than weekly. Regarding timing, 45.5% of episodes occurred during sleep, while 27.3% occurred in the early morning hours. Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that patients receiving hydroxyurea experienced priapism at significantly younger ages compared with non-users (95% CI: 23–33 years). This difference was confirmed by a statistically significant log-rank test (p = 0.012), indicating a more rapid decline in the probability of remaining priapism-free with increasing age among hydroxyurea users. Conclusions: Priapism in SCD remains a significant clinical challenge despite available therapeutic options. Transfusion burden, alongside previously recognized predictors, serves as a key indicator of priapism risk and underscores the importance of early identification and intervention. Although hydroxyurea is effective in managing several complications of sickle cell disease, priapism was observed in patients despite its use, and episodes continued to occur with increasing age; however, these findings may be influenced by confounding factors such as age, disease severity, and transfusion history.