Health professions’ students have an alarming prevalence of depressive symptoms: exploration of the associated factors

Contains fulltext : 172650.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: There is a need to better understand the depression phenomenon and to clarify why some students become depressed and others don't. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms among health professions' (HP) students, and to explore the association between socio-demographic factors (e.g. year of study, discipline, gender) and depressive symptoms. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study, stratified proportionate sampling strategy was used to select the study sample during the academic year 2012-2013. The students from four health professions' schools situated within a large, public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were screened for depressive symptoms using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II). Chi-square test, student t-test and ANOVA were used to compare different categorical variables. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 79.0 %, the highest among dental students 86.1 %, and lowest among nursing (49.7 %). The overall prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 47.0 %; it was highest among dentistry students (51.6 %), followed by medicine (46.2 %), applied medical sciences (AMS) (45.7 %) and lowest among nursing students (44.2 %). A statistically significant association was found between the presence and severity of depressive symptoms on one hand and the female gender (p = 0.000) and year of study on the other hand. CONCLUSION: This study seems to indicate an alarming rate of depressive symptoms. Female gender, dentistry, the third year for all schools and fifth year for medicine and dentistry have the highest association with depressive symptoms. Future studies may be needed to explore further the reasons and explanations for the variation in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among these groups. The factors that deserve exploration include curricular variables and personal factors such as the students' study skills

Arabic Translation, Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the 7-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in Two Community Samples

Objectives: Depression is a common mental disorder, the severity of which is frequently assessed via interview-based clinical scales such as the 7-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-7). The current study aimed to translate and examine the validity of an Arabic version of the HAMD-7 scale. Methods: This study took place between February and March 2016 in the Psychiatry Department of King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The HAMD-7 scale was translated into Arabic using forward and backward translation methods. A total of 153 Arabic speakers were recruited to test the translated scale, including 57 medical students and 96 members of the general public. The Arabic version of the HAMD-7 scale was completed by trained investigators during face-toface interviews with the participants. In order to assess convergent validity, participants also completed an Arabic version of the self-assessed Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. Subsequently, the test-retest reliability of the translated HAMD-7 scale was evaluated two weeks later during a second interview. Results: Overall, HAMD-7 scores were positively correlated with PHQ-9 scores (r = 0.633–0.749). Moreover, the translated HAMD-7 scale proved to be reliable in terms of test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient: 0.807; P <0.001). With regards to internal consistency, the Cronbach’s α values ranged between 0.607–0.756. Conclusion: The Arabic HAMD-7 scale was found to be reliable and valid among two samples of Arabic speakers in Saudi Arabia. However, further research among Arab-speaking patients diagnosed with depression is needed in order to establish its usefulness in assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. Keywords: Psychiatry; Depression; Psychometrics; Validity and Reliability; Translation; Questionnaire Design; Saudi Arabia

Antimicrobial Usage and Resistance in Makkah Region Hospitals: A Regional Point Prevalence Survey of Public Hospitals

(1) Background: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials and subsequently rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major public health priority. Over-prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics is one of the main contributing factors for the emergence of AMR. We sought to describe antimicrobial prescribing trends among patients in public hospitals in Makkah hospitals. (2) Method: We undertook a point prevalence survey (PPS) in six hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from January 2019 to July 2019. The survey included all the inpatients receiving antimicrobials on the day of PPS. Data was collected using the Global point prevalence survey (PPS) tool developed by the University of Antwerp, Belgium. (3) Results: Of 710 hospitalized patients, 447 patients (61.9%) were treated with one or more antimicrobials during the study period. The average bed occupancy among six hospitals was 74.4%. The majority of patients received antimicrobials parenterally (90.3%). Of the total prescribed antimicrobials, 415 (53.7%) antimicrobials were used in medical departments, 183 (23.7%) in surgical departments, and 175 (22.6%) in ICUs. Pneumonia (17.3%), skin and soft tissue infections (10.9%), and sepsis (6.6.%) were three common clinical indications. Ceftriaxones were the most commonly used antibiotics that were prescribed in 116 (15%) of patients, followed by piperacillin, with an enzyme inhibitor in 84 (10.9%). (4) Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of antibiotic use in the hospitals of Makkah, which could be a potential risk factor for the incidence of resistant strains, particularly MRSA infection. Public health decision-makers should take these findings into consideration to update national policies for antibiotic use in order to reduce the risks of further increases of AMR

Artificial neural network analysis of the flow of nanofluids in a variable porous gap between two inclined cylinders for solar applications

Copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are utilized to enhance heat transfer (HT) which is used in the efficiency of solar energy systems. Copper nanoparticles have excellent thermal conductivity (TC) properties that enable them to conduct heat efficiently. In this arrangement, the gap between the two cylindrical channels is settled for the hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) flow in an inclined position that is favourable to sunlight. The nanomaterials consist of a mixture of PVA and Cu nanoparticles (NPs), to execute HNFs. Solar radiation is present on the hot side of the system. The porous gap between the two channels is considered variable which plays a crucial role in enhancing heat transfer and energy conversion. The varying permeability of the gap is adjusted to control the flow resistance and improve the stability of the system. It is observed that higher porosity allows for better convective heat transfer and reduced pressure drop. The transformed equations are solved through an artificial neural network (ANN) while the control volume finite element method (CVFEM) is also used to handle the governing equations. The Cu and PVA (HNF) improves solar radiation absorption and protects components, ultimately increasing the performance and efficiency of the systems

Drug use patterns and demographic correlations of residents of Saudi therapeutic communities for addiction

أهداف البحث: تصف هذه الدراسة سمات نزلاء المجمعات العلاجية السعودية، وأنماط تعاطيهم للمخدرات، والعلاقة بين هذه المتغيرات. طرق البحث: تفحص هذه الدراسة الاستعادية بيانات جميع نزلاء مجمعات الإدمان العلاجية السعوديين الذين التحقوا بها منذ تأسيس أول مجمع علاجي عام ٢٠٠٠ حتى منتصف ٢٠١٤. وتشمل هذه المجمعات ثلاثة مجمعات حكومية ومؤسستين غير حكومية، ويقع اثنان من هذه المجمعات في الدمام وواحد في كلا من الرياض، وجدة، والطائف وقد بلغ مجموع النزلاء ٢٠٢٣ نزيلا. النتائج: جميع نزلاء المجمعات العلاجية هم من الذكور البالغين؛ ٨٥.٦٪ منهم سعوديون، أما البقية فجميعهم تقريبا من مواطني دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي. وكان متوسط أعمارهم ٩,٣٣ عاما (±٨.٨ عاما)، ومستويات تعليم معظمهم من الدراسة الثانوية أو أقل، والمتزوجون منهم ٢٥٪، و٧٠.٨٪ منهم بلا وظيفة. وتشير أنماط تعاطيهم للمخدرات إلى أن ٣٥.٨٪ منهم يستخدمون الأفيون، و١٥٪ الحشيش، و١١.٩٪ يستخدمون الحشيش والأمفيتامين معا، و١١.١٪ الأمفيتامين، و٧.٩٪ الخمور، ويستخدم ١٠.٩٪ منهم ٣ أو أكثر من أنواع المخدرات في الوقت نفسه. وقد وُجد أن تعاطي الأمفيتامين والحشيش أكثر انتشارا بين النزلاء الأصغر سنا مقارنة بالأفيون والخمور، التي كانت أكثر استخداما بين النزلاء الأكبر سنا. وكان الأفيون أكثر استخداما بين سكان المنطقة الغربية بينما سكان المناطق الشمالية والجنوبية يفضلون الأمفيتامين. الاستنتاجات: أظهرت هذه الدراسة أن أنماط استخدام المخدرات للنزلاء مشابهة للنزلاء المنومين في منشآت علاجية أخرى. ولكن، إدمان الأفيون كان أكثر انتشارا. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، كان نوع المخدر المستخدم يختلف حسب منطقة السكن، مما يستدعي الانتباه عند التخطيط لتوفير الخدمات في هذه المناطق

AN OVERVIEW OF IATROGENIC OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS

Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial condition described as an abnormal or excessive buildup of body fat that endangers an individual's health. It is a huge global public health problem. Prednisone and anti-psychotic medicines are known to cause weight gain and&nbsp; obesity. In this era of precision medicine, it is critical to identify individuals who are most likely to gain weight as a result of pharmaceutical use. Hypoglycemic anti-diabetes medicines, psychotropic agents (atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants), anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer agents, and different hormones are the most regularly reported prescription groups that may cause weight gain. The obesity pandemic is multifaceted, but medication-induced weight gain may play a role. While doctors may aim to pick pharmacotherapies&nbsp; with the least detrimental influence on weight, the literature on the weight effects of medicine is frequently inadequate and empty of alternative treatments. Because of the devastating consequences of adolescents&nbsp; obesity, new therapies are desperately needed. Real-world data reveal that the majority of teenagers do not lose weight over time, and pharmacological therapy should be recommended