Perceptions of the role of the secondary school counsellor in Saudi Arabia

The role and function of the school counsellor has always been a matter of controversy and confusion. Commonly school counsellors neither fill their defined role nor meet all students' needs. In Saudi Arabia this is exacerbated by a lack of professional identity and status, of a clearly defined role, and of administrative support and adequate facilities.This study exammes the performance and importance of the role of the schoolcounsellor in Saudi Arabia through the perceptions of principals, teachers, students and counsellors themselves. Questionnaires were administered to 112 principals, 316 teachers, 451 students and 117 counsellors; semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 principals, 14 teachers and 12 counsellors.Despite widespread support for counsellors there were considerable discrepancies in how different parties saw their role. Important functions were perceived as not being met. Counsellors were, and were seen to be involved in discipline and administrative tasks. Barriers to effective practice were shown to be: an absence of clear policy guidelines; poor resources; high student/counsellor ratios and lack of knowledge and cooperation from other school staff. Some ethical/professional issues were raised -like confidentiality- which indicated that without considerable structural change the service would continue to fail to meet either students' needs, or the expectations put upon it.The role of the school counsellor in Saudi Arabia needs to be more clearly defined, through training and (counselling) supervision, and assigned to qualified counsellors with facilities and the time to accomplish them successfully. Ultimately success will demand greater understanding of their role by all school staff whom might themselves benefit from training in counselling skills

Knowledge and Attitude of Saudi Arabian School Teachers with Regards to Emergency Management of Dental Trauma

Injury to both the primary and the permanent dentitions and their supporting structures is one of the most common dental problems seen in children.  School is one of the locations with greatest prevalence of occurrence of traumatic dental injuries.  School teachers play important role in prevention of dental trauma and improving its prognosis. The present study was undertaken to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding emergency management of dental trauma, first aid for avulsed tooth and influence of dental education among school teachers in Abha city. METHODS: The participants were 100 school teachers from Abha city and were interviewed using a questionnaire regarding management of dental trauma.  The completed proformas was collected and the result was statistically analyzed to know the knowledge and attitudes regarding emergency management of dental trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of school staff had little knowledge related to handling of traumatic dental injuries and emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth in school children. Majority of school teachers were eager to have knowledge regarding dental trauma through continues dental education programs and workshops.  First aid training increases knowledge about dental trauma and should be included in the course curriculum of teachers training program

Synergistic Effects Of Multidisciplinary Healthcare Approaches On Patient Care Quality In Hospital: A Meta-Analysis

The research conducts a meta-analysis to explore the effects of multidisciplinary healthcare approaches on patient care quality in hospitals. It includes a comprehensive review of literature on public health initiatives, nursing care, medical devices, and more, emphasizing their impact on patient outcomes. The methodology involves analyzing peer-reviewed articles to assess the impact of these approaches. Results show significant improvements in patient care quality, emphasizing the benefits of team-based, coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care. The discussion highlights the synergy between different care components and the need for strategic planning to address resource allocation and information overload. Recommendations are provided for healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and future research, focusing on enhancing collaboration, continuous education, supportive policies, and resource allocation. The conclusion underscores the importance of multidisciplinary strategies in improving patient care quality and outcomes, advocating for a shift towards integrated team-based care

Prevalence and correlates of diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension: a cross-sectional study from in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: diastolic dysfunction refers to impaired ventricular relaxation or filling regardless of ejection fraction and symptoms. It accounts for 8% and 25% in the hospitalized and general population, respectively. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and correlates of diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients living in Saudi Arabia. Methods: a multicentric, cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020 at King Khalid Hospital and Prince Sultan Center for Health Services, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University hospital in Al Kharj, and Al Kharj Military Industries Corporation hospital, KSA. All patients with hypertension who underwent an echocardiography were included in the study. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Results: the study included a total of 104 participants, where 51.9% were females andthe mean age of the patients was 48.01±12.81 years.Most patients had an abnormal echocardiography finding (64.4%, n = 67). The most common abnormalities were left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (44.2%, n = 46), and diastolic dysfunction, (35.6%, n = 37). The study revealed that age (aOR: 6.1, 95% CI 1.17-31.3; p = 0.032) and dyslipidemia (aOR: 3.45, 95% CI 1.16-10.24; p = 0.026) have significant association with LVDD in the patients with hypertension. Conclusion: in conclusion, diastolic dysfunction is prevalent among older hypertensive patients and those with dyslipidaemia. Age and dyslipidaemia were non-modifiable and modifiable factors associated with LVDD in hypertensive patients, respectively

Morphometeric criteria and partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of Ceratomyxa sultani n. sp. from the gallbladder of Upeneus margarethae in the Arabian Gulf, with a note on its seasonal prevalence

This paper describes a new coelozoic myxosporean parasite named Ceratomyxa sultani n. sp. isolated from the gallbladder of Upeneus margarethae sourced from the Arabian Gulf off Saudi Arabia. Of 104 U. margarethae specimens examined, 27 (26%) were infected, with the highest prevalence in winter and lowest in autumn. The pseudoplasmodia were disporous and irregularly elliptical in shape, with an average size of 22 × 17 μm. Mature spores were mostly elliptical with symmetrical valves and equal spherical polar capsules. Spores were 9 µm in length and 25 µm in thickness, while polar capsules were 4 µm wide with four filament coils. The paper further provides a morphological comparison with closely related Ceratomyxa spp. together with phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 18S rRNA sequence, which revealed that C. sultani n. sp. clustered within a robust clade of Ceratomyxa species from the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea or nearby geographic regions. Keywords: Myxosporea, Coelozoic, Ceratomyxa, Phylogeny, Seasonal variatio