The influence of ethical practice on sustainable supplier selection in the furniture industry

This study was carried out with an objective to investigate the sustainable supplier selection and ethics influence within the furniture industry. Literature has shown that corporates have increasingly adopted the ethical standards provided they also achieve economic sustainability. The current study carried out in the furniture industry aimed to achieve four objectives: (1) to appreciate the role of ethics in selection of a sustainable supplier; (2) to evaluate and assess different methods used in the selection of suppliers; (3) to appreciate the role of ethical practices in supply chain management; and (4) to explore the important ethical practices within the furniture industry. In the furniture industry, organizations are keen to involve top management in pushing for ethical practices that enhance sustainability within supply chain management. This includes the presence of environmental policies for sustainability and carrying out corporate social responsibility activities in order to boost it. Despite the cost still being a major factor for corporates, understanding the importance of ethical practice in such an industry is becoming appreciated as more rules and standards become standard in these corporate sectors. Thirty-one participants were interviewed in four groups. The major conclusions supported the appreciation of the role of ethics in influencing sustainable supplier selection and cite the significance of adopting ethical practices in the furniture industry. The study found out that the process of selecting suppliers is flexible, and that supplier selection is integrated with ethical practices. It boosts the organization’s image, reputation and competitiveness

Adenovirus and RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines’ perceptions and acceptance among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a national survey

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the perception, confidence, hesitancy and acceptance rate of various COVID-19 vaccine types among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, a nation with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus experience. Design National cross-sectional, pilot-validated questionnaire. Setting Online, self-administered questionnaire among HCWs. Participants A total of 2007 HCWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated; 1512 (75.3%) participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Intervention Data were collected through an online survey sent to HCWs during 1–15 November 2020. The main outcome measure was HCW acceptance of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. The associated factors of vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis and via measurement of the level of anxiety, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scale. Results Among the 1512 HCWs who were included, 62.4% were women, 70.3% were between 21 and 40 years of age, and the majority (62.2%) were from tertiary hospitals. In addition, 59.5% reported knowing about at least one vaccine; 24.4% of the participants were sure about their willingness to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and 20.9% were willing to receive the RNA BNT162b2 vaccine. However, 18.3% reported that they would refuse to receive the Ad5-vectored vaccine, and 17.9% would refuse the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine. Factors that influenced the differential readiness of HCWs included their perceptions of the vaccine’s efficiency in preventing the infection (33%), their personal preferences (29%) and the vaccine’s manufacturing country (28.6%). Conclusions Awareness by HCWs of the several COVID-19 candidate vaccines could improve their perceptions and acceptance of vaccination. Reliable sources on vaccine efficiency could improve vaccine uptake, so healthcare authorities should use reliable information to decrease vaccine hesitancy among frontline healthcare providers

Parental Attitudes and Hesitancy About COVID-19 vs. Routine Childhood Vaccinations: A National Survey

Objectives: To quantify parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and assess the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for COVID-19 vs. childhood vaccines. Methods: Eight vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS) items, adopted from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Immunization (SAGE), were used to assess VH for COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines. We distributed the online survey to parents with the commence of the national childhood COVID-19 vaccination program in Saudi Arabia. Results: Among 3,167 parents, 47.6% are decided to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The most common reasons for refusal were inadequate safety information (69%) and worry about side effects (60.6%). Parents have a significantly greater positive attitudes toward children's routine vaccines vs. the COVID-19 vaccine, with higher mean VHS (±SD) = 2.98 ± 0.58 vs. 2.63 ± 0.73, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Parents agreed more that routine childhood vaccines are more essential and effective as compared to the COVID-19 vaccine (Cohen's D: 0.946, and 0.826, consecutively; T-test p-value < 0.00). There is more parental anxiety about serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines (Cohen's D = 0.706, p-value < 0.001). Parents who relied on the Ministry of Health information were more predicted (OR = 1.28, p-value = 0.035) to intend to vaccinate as opposed to those who used the WHO website (OR = 0.47, −53%, p-value < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with intention to vaccinate children were parents who received COVID-19 vaccine, older parents, having children aged 12–18, and parents with lower education levels. Conclusions: Significant proportion of parents are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine because they are less confident in its effectiveness, safety, and whether it is essential for their children. Relying on the national official healthcare authority's website for the source of information was associated with increased acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccination. As parental intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is suboptimal, healthcare authorities could boost vaccine uptake by campaigns targeting hesitant parents

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 UK Variant of Concern Lineage-Related Perceptions, COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Travel Worry Among Healthcare Workers

Background: Healthcare workers' (HCWs') travel-related anxiety needs to be assessed in light of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Methods: An online, cross-sectional questionnaire among HCWs between December 21, 2020 to January 7, 2021. The outcome variables were HCWs' knowledge and awareness of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage that was recently reported as the UK variant of concern, and its associated travel worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score. Results: A total of 1,058 HCWs completed the survey; 66.5% were female, 59.0% were nurses. 9.0% indicated they had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Regarding the B.1.1.7 lineage, almost all (97.3%) were aware of its emergence, 73.8% were aware that it is more infectious, 78.0% thought it causes more severe disease, and only 50.0% knew that current COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing it. Despite this, 66.7% of HCWs were not registered to receive the vaccine. HCWs' most common source of information about the new variant was social media platforms (67.0%), and this subgroup was significantly more worried about traveling. Nurses were more worried than physicians (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Most HCWs were aware of the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and expressed substantial travel worries. Increased worry levels were found among HCWs who used social media as their main source of information, those with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and those with higher GAD-7 scores. The utilization of official social media platforms could improve accurate information dissemination among HCWs regarding the Pandemic's evolving mutations. Targeted vaccine campaigns are warranted to assure HCWs about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines toward SARS-CoV-2 variants

Psychiatric traits in patients with vasovagal and unexplained syncope

Abdullah Alhuzaimi,1 Alwaleed Aljohar,2 Ahmad N. Alhadi,3,4 Abdulqudous Aljenedil,2 Ahmad S Hersi1 1Department of Cardiac Sciences, King Fahad Cardiac Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4SABIC Psychological Health Research &amp; Applications Chair (SPHRAC), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Purpose: Syncope is a common condition affecting almost one-third of the general population. The present study measures the prevalence of psychiatric traits in patients presenting with syncope (unexplained and vasovagal) and whether recurrent attacks have an impact on psychiatric profiles.Patients and methods: This is a case&ndash;control study in a tertiary hospital enrolling all patients aged &ge;12 years with single or recurrent syncopal attacks. A self-reporting psychometric questionnaire (The Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised) was used to screen for depression, anxiety, somatization disorder, and phobia. Crude comparisons of average scores were done. Further, multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to measure the impact of syncope on each psychiatric domain. The control group were matched for age, gender, and chronic illnesses with a ratio of 1:3.Results: There were 43 cases and 129 control subjects, with predominance of females (67.4%) and an average age of 33.8 years (standard deviation = 16). There were no significant differences in average scores of depression (13 vs 14.53, P = 0.31), anxiety (11.3 vs 10.4, P = 0.51), or phobia (5.4 vs 5.2, P = 0.88). However, the syncope group had a higher average score for somatization disorder (18.53 vs 13.66, P = 0.002). Binary logistic regression model showed that the association between syncope and somatization disorder was independent of competing confounders (odds ratio = 3.75, 95% confidence interval: 1.72, 8.15, P = 0.001). A sub-analysis of the case group showed that patients with multiple syncopal attacks (six or more) had higher average scores of depression, anxiety, phobia, and somatization disorder compared to those who had less than six attacks.Conclusion: Syncope was independently associated with somatization disorder traits. Further, recurrent syncope resulted in greater deterioration of patients&rsquo; psychiatric profiles. Thus, taking into account the psychiatric status in the management of such patients is crucial. Keywords: syncope, psychiatric disorders, anxiety, somatization disorder, phobia, depressio

76. Profile and spectrum of congenital heart defect in pediatric patient with down syndrome

Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal abnormality worldwide. It occurs in 1 of every 800 live births. Almost one-half of patients with Down Syndrome have congenital heart defect. Our objective is to describe the frequency and spectrum of congenital heart defect (CHD) among children with Down Syndrome in Saudi Arabia and identify the rate of primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension among pediatric patients with Down syndrome. Cross-sectional, retrospective study of the cardiac anomalies among 331 pediatric patients (0–18 years) with Down Syndrome in King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) from August 2001 till October 2014. The demographic data, reason for referral, echocardiography data including systolic function parameters, the presence of CHD, type and details of CHD, presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHTN), history of cardiac surgeries or transcatheter interventions. Among the 331 pediatric patients with Down Syndrome; 230 patients (69.5%) have Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). The patients with CHD were significantly younger (median age 3 months) with lower weight (P-value <0.05) and height (P-value <0.05) compared to patients with no CHD. The median age at first assessment was 3 months. The most common type of CHDs among DS pediatric patients was atrial septal defect secundum (ASD II) which account for 33.5% of all CHD followed by ventricular septal defect (VSD) which account for 26.5%, then atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) 21.7% and moderate to large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) 21.7%. There is another (11.7%) who have other CHDs. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 32% of patients with CHD vs 4% among patients with no CHD. There is significant relationship between CHD and pulmonary hypertension with odds ratio 11.3 (CI 3.99–31.83, P-value <0.05). 15% of patients underwent either cardiac surgery or transcatheter intervention. Almost two thirds of Down Syndrome patients have CHD with pulmonary hypertension affecting almost one third of patients with CHD. The most common CHD among Down Syndrome patients were ASD, VSD, AVSD and moderate to large PDA. Early detection is required to facilitate early management and prevent complications manage patients and preform early interventions as appropriate

11. Prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among patients with recurrent vasovagal and unexplained syncope

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness and absence of postural tone followed by spontaneous recovery. Neurally mediated syncope (vasovagal) and idiopathic unexplained syncope (US) are the most common causes of syncope. Syncope is a very limiting disease that, if recurrent, affects the patients’ physical and psychological health. Our objective from this study is to measure the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among patients with US. All patients (>12 years) with vasovagal or US who were evaluated in King Khalid University Hospital were identified. Echocardiography and table tilt test reports were reviewed and patients who had cardiac syncope (due to arrhythmia or structural heart disease) were excluded (N = 18). Ninety-four patients were included for further psychiatric assessment. The patients were contacted to fill the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), which is a self-reporting questionnaire used to evaluate traits of depression, anxiety, somatization disorder and phobia. SCL-90-R scale has been translated to Arabic and validated in previous studies. Of the included cohort, 43 responded to fill the assessment scale, and 51 were excluded due to failure of communication (N = 41) or refusal to participate (N = 10). A control group was recruited with a case: control ratio of 1:3 matching for age, gender, and chronic illnesses.There were 43 patients and 129 control subjects, with predominance of females (67.4%) and an average age of 33.8 (SD = 16). There was no difference in average scores of depression (13 vs. 14.53, P = 0.31), anxiety (11.3 vs. 10.4, P = 0.51), or phobia (5.4 vs. 5.2, P = 0.88). However, the syncope group had a higher average score for somatization disorder (18.53 vs. 13.66, P = 0.002). Binary logistic regression model was measured after grouping the cohort into above and below median scores. After adjusting for age, gender, and chronic illnesses, the association between syncope and somatization disorder remained significant (OR = 3.75, CI; 1.72, 8.15, P = 0.001). Despite no statistical significance, when looking at the effect size, having an anxiety score above the median was 52% higher in cases compared to controls (OR = 1.52, CI; 0.74, 3.14, P = 0.255). A sub-analysis of the case group was applied and showed that patients who had multiple syncopal attacks (6 or more) had higher average scores of depression, anxiety, phobia and somatization disorder compared to those who had less than 6 attacks (Table). Patients with vasovagal or US have similar incidence of depression, anxiety or phobia symptoms and higher incidence of somatization symptoms compared to control subjects. However, recurrent and more frequent attacks of syncope was predictive of more deteriorative psychological profile for all four domains. Our findings should prompt motivation to study the effectiveness of psychological intervention in patients with recurrent syncope