Views on Bioethics Statements among Medical Students from Three Different Saudi Universities

Objective To investigate the level of agreement with ethics statements amongst medical students from different Saudi Universities that use traditional or problem based learning (PBL) methods. Methods The respondents enrolled were medical students from Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) which utilizes PBL methods, King Saud University in Riyadh (KSU), and King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah (KAU), both of which utilize traditional methods. As all KSAU-HS medical students are applied medical science graduates, a fourth group consisting of applied medical science graduates from KSU and KAU were included as controls. The respondents were asked to grade their degree of agreement with 19 statements on different bioethical issues by using a Likert type scale from 1 to 5 (1= I completely disagree, 5= I completely agree). The 19 statements were further divided into 5 summative ethical domains: –(a) goals of medicine (3 questions), (b) autonomy and informed consent (9 questions), (c) quality of life (1 question), (d)resource allocation (4 questions), and (e)withdrawal and withholding of treatment (2 questions). To avoid gender bias, only male students were sampled as KSAU-HS has only male students. Overall mean scores and mean scores for each statement and for each domain by each university were compared using unpaired two-tailed t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results There were 43 students from KSAU-HS, 36 from KSU, 47 from KAU and 43 applied medical science graduates. There were significant differences between the overall mean scores by KSAU-HS on one hand (4.03 +/-0.69) and those by the other three groups on the other, being 3.75 +/- 0.66 (p=0.001) for KSU students, 3.76+/- 0.7 (p=0.015) for KAU students and 3,63 +/- 0.51 (p=0.0001) for the applied medical science graduates. The main differences between KSAU-HS students and the students from KSU and KAU were seen in the areas of objectives of medical care (p=0.05), autonomy (p=0.0001), patient centeredness (p=0.02), and informed consent (p=0.05). These differences could not be explained by the older age of KSAU-HS students or their being postgraduates as revealed by the different results seen with the applied medical science graduates. Conclusion The most paternalistic attitudes were held by the applied medical science graduates followed by KSU and KAU students. The least paternalistic were the students of KSAU-HS. We speculate that these differences are related to the different bioethics teaching and training methods used in the 3 universities

Allometric Growth Coefficients of Carcass Components and Carcass Waste in Awassi Lambs

This study aims to evaluate the developmental trends and the allometric growth values of carcass components and carcass waste in Awassi lambs. Twenty five entire Awassi lambs were seriously slaughtered at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 kg. Results revealed that the allometric growth coefficients of dissectible lean (0.853) and bone (0.793) weights were negative heterogonic (b<1) indicating that these tissues significantly (p<0.01) grew at slower rate than carcass weight. Conversely, fat was positive heterogonic (1.859) and considered a late maturing tissue. Also, it seems from the coefficients that leg is an early maturing (b=0.938), whereas shoulder is a late maturing (b=1.293). Rack, neck, breast and flank are isogonic (b=1) and grew at a similar rate in relation to carcass weight. Carcass fat, carcass waste fat and fat tail relative to empty body weight are 1.920, 0.089 and 1.036, respectively, indicating carcass fat and fat tail are positive heterogonic demonstrating that are high impetus and grow at a higher rate than empty body weight, whereas carcass waste fat had allometric coefficient <1, low impetus and early maturing tissue. Skin, testes, spleen and kidney exhibited isogonic growth indicating that these components are grow similar rate to empty body weight. On the other hand, head, feet, liver, lung, heart and empty digestive tract are early maturing organs than did empty body weight

Allometric Growth Coefficients of Carcass Components and Carcass Waste in Awassi Lambs

This study aims to evaluate the developmental trends and the allometric growth values of carcass components and carcass waste in Awassi lambs. Twenty five entire Awassi lambs were seriously slaughtered at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 kg. Results revealed that the allometric growth coefficients of dissectible lean (0.853) and bone (0.793) weights were negative heterogonic (b<1) indicating that these tissues significantly (p<0.01) grew at slower rate than carcass weight. Conversely, fat was positive heterogonic (1.859) and considered a late maturing tissue. Also, it seems from the coefficients that leg is an early maturing (b=0.938), whereas shoulder is a late maturing (b=1.293). Rack, neck, breast and flank are isogonic (b=1) and grew at a similar rate in relation to carcass weight. Carcass fat, carcass waste fat and fat tail relative to empty body weight are 1.920, 0.089 and 1.036, respectively, indicating carcass fat and fat tail are positive heterogonic demonstrating that are high impetus and grow at a higher rate than empty body weight, whereas carcass waste fat had allometric coefficient <1, low impetus and early maturing tissue. Skin, testes, spleen and kidney exhibited isogonic growth indicating that these components are grow similar rate to empty body weight. On the other hand, head, feet, liver, lung, heart and empty digestive tract are early maturing organs than did empty body weight

Types of stigma experienced by patients with mental illness and mental health nurses in Indonesia : a qualitative content analysis

Background: Stigma refers to the discrediting, devaluing, and shaming of a person because of characteristics or attributes that they possess. Generally, stigma leads to negative social experiences such as isolation, rejection, marginalization, and discrimination. If related to a health condition such as mental illness, stigma may affect a person’s illness and treatment course, including access to appropriate and professional medical treatment. Stigma has also been reported to affect patients’ families or relatives, along with professionals who work in mental healthcare settings. Stigma is strongly influenced by cultural and contextual value systems that differ over time and across contexts. However, limited information is available on how types of stigma are experienced by patients with mental illness and mental health nurses in Indonesia. Method: We explored the stigma-related experiences of 15 nurses and 15 patients in Indonesia. The study design and analysis of interview data were guided by deductive (directed) content analysis. Results: Five themes emerged. Four themes were patient-related: personal/patients’ stigma, public/social stigma, family stigma, and employment stigma. The fifth theme related to stigma toward healthcare professionals working with patients with mental illnesses, which we categorized as professional stigma. Conclusions: This study has achieved a deep understanding of the concept of stigma in the Indonesian context. This understanding is a prerequisite for developing appropriate interventions that address this phenomenon and thereby for the development of mental health services in Indonesia. This study may also be transferable to other countries that share similar cultural backgrounds and adhere to traditional and religious value systems

Causes and risk factors for common mental illnesses : the beliefs of paediatric hospital staff in the United Arab Emirates

Background Children and adolescents with chronic physical health conditions are vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. The measurement of mental health literacy of health professionals working with such populations is important because of their role in promoting early and appropriate help-seeking. This study sought to determine the beliefs regarding the causes of and risks factors for three types of mental illnesses amongst health professionals in United Arab Emirates. Method A culturally validated mental health literacy survey presenting three vignettes of fictional characters meeting diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression with suicidal thoughts and psychosis was distributed. The survey measured health care professionals’ beliefs regarding the causes of and risk factors for these disorders. Results A total of 317 health care professional (> 90% nurses) were surveyed from across the UAE. Although 43.8% correctly endorsed exposure to a ‘traumatic event’ as the most likely cause for developing posttraumatic stress disorder, there was a more limited understanding of the contribution of biopsychosocial factors to the development of the mental illness, particularly for psychosis. Participant socio-demographic variables were associated with attributions of religious or spiritual beliefs and personal weakness as causal and/or vulnerability factors in the development of depression with suicidal thoughts and psychosis. Conclusions Efforts to improve mental health systems and health care providers in UAE and other similar Middle Eastern countries requires targeted mental health literacy programs that seek to integrate biopsychosocial models of mental illness and their treatment with the positive aspects of religious and cultural beliefs that are dominant in this region

Evaluation of the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education and FITBIT devices on quality of sleep and psychological worry: a pilot quasi-experimental study among first-year college students

BackgroundCollege students report disturbed sleep patterns that can negatively impact their wellbeing and academic performance.ObjectivesThis study examined the effect of a 4-week sleep hygiene program that included sleep education and actigraph sleep trackers (FITBITs) on improving sleep quality and reducing psychological worry without control group.Design, settings, and participantsA pilot quasi-experimental design, participants were randomly selected medical and health sciences from a university students in the United-Arab-Emirates.MethodsStudents were asked to wear FITBITs and log their daily sleep data and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Extensive sleep hygiene education was delivered via lectures, a WhatsApp group, and the Blackboard platform. In total, 50 students completed pre-and post-assessments and returned FITBIT data.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the prevalence of good sleep postintervention compared with pre-intervention (46% vs. 28%; p = 0.0126). The mean PSQI score was significantly lower post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (6.17 ± 3.16 vs. 7.12.87; p = 0.04, Cohen’s d 0.33). After the intervention, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved compared with pre-intervention (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, FITBIT data showed total sleep time and the number of restless episodes per night were significantly improved postintervention compared with pre-intervention (p = 0.013). The mean PSWQ score significantly decreased from pre-intervention to p = 0.049, Cohen’ d = 0.25. The correlation between PSQI and PSWQ scores was significant post-intervention (β = 0.40, p = 0.02).ConclusionOur results may inform university educational policy and curricular reform to incorporate sleep hygiene awareness programs to empower students and improve their sleep habits

Enhancement of Nitraria retusa Growth by Rhizospheric Microbial Inoculum

Native desert vegetation in Kuwait has been severely depleted due to both natural and anthropogenic factors and are facing the danger of extinction. Symbiotic rhizospheric microflora influences the growth of plant communities in different ecosystems. The objective of this study is to emphasize the enhancing effect of rhizospheric microbial inoculum on the growth of native desert plants. A shed house experiment was conducted using Nitraria retusa which was selected on the basis of its importance and potential for the revegetation of desert flora. The plant was propagated in three different soil treatments: soil with added rhizospheric inoculum (SI), soil with added amendment (SP) and soil with added rhizospheric inoculum and amendment (SIP). The growth performance of N. retusa in terms of shoot height and number of leaves was monitored on a monthly basis during 120 d experimental duration and compared with control soil treatment (SC) which was soil without any additions. The results clearly demonstrated the enhancing effect of rhizospheric microbial inoculum when combined with fertilizers in soil amended treatment (SIP) on the growth of N. retusa. Additionally, N. retusa in the inoculated treatment (SI) maintained a high survival rate during the experiment compared to other treatments.Desert Plants is published by The University of Arizona for the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum. For more information about this unique botanical journal, please email the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Publications Office at [email protected]

Mental health literacy among pediatric hospital staff in the United Arab Emirates

BACKGROUND: In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 35% of the population are aged 0-24 years. A significant proportion of these young people are living with chronic conditions (e.g., asthma, type 1 diabetes, cardiac conditions, and genetically-transmitted conditions such as thalassemia and cystic fibrosis). This group has increased vulnerability to developmental delays and mental health problems, and is increasingly coming to the attention of service providers in mainstream schools, primary healthcare centers, and pediatric hospitals. Despite the government directing attention to improving the mental health of the UAE population, there is concern that mental health services are not growing at the rate needed to meet the mental health needs of children and young people with chronic conditions. METHOD: A cross sectional survey design was used to determine the mental health literacy of nurses and other healthcare professionals working with children with chronic illnesses. Participants completed a culturally-adapted mental health literacy questionnaire comprising three vignettes of fictional characters meeting diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and depression with suicidal thoughts. Participants also completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). RESULTS: Participants were 317 healthcare professionals from across the UAE. The majority were nurses. Correct identification of the diagnosis for each vignette was limited, with the highest level of accuracy achieved for the psychosis vignette (n = 113, 54.3%). Accurate identification of appropriate evidence-based interventions was also limited. K10 scores indicated 40% of participants had moderate to high levels of psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are concerning and provide important data to inform the development of undergraduate and continuing education programs for nurses. The K10 scores suggest healthcare professionals are under considerable stress, highlighting the need to support healthcare professionals who experience multiple psychosocial stressors

Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit Emissions and Their Impact

This article was published in the journal, Water Air and Soil Pollution [© Springer].The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comFluid catalytic cracking unit is of great importance in petroleum refining industries as it treats heavy fractions from various process units to produce light ends (valuable products). FCC unit feedstock consists of heavy hydrocarbon with high sulfur contents, and the catalyst in use is zeolite impregnated with rare earth metals, i.e., lanthanum and cerium. Catalytic cracking reaction takes place at elevated temperature in fluidized bed reactor generating sulfur-contaminated coke on the catalyst with large quantity of attrited catalyst fines. In the regenerator, coke is completely burnt producing SO2, PM emissions. The impact of the FCC unit is assessed in the immediate neighborhood of the refinery. Year-long emission inventories for both SO2 and PM have been prepared for one of the major petroleum refining industry in Kuwait. The corresponding comprehensive meteorological data are obtained and preprocessed using Aermet (Aermod preprocessor). US EPA approved dispersion model, Aermod, is used to predict ground level concentrations of both pollutants in the selected study area. Model output is validated with measured values at discrete receptors, and an extensive parametric study has been conducted using three scenarios, stack diameter, stack height, and emission rate. It is noticed that stack diameter has no effect on ground level concentration, as stack exit velocity is a function of stack diameter. With the increase in stack height, the predicted concentrations decrease showing an inverse relation. The influence of the emission rate is linearly related to the computed ground level concentrations