Exploring the relationship between burnout and emotional intelligence among academics and clinicians at King Saud University

Abstract Background Academics and clinicians are exposed to significant workload pressures and are at a high risk of stress and burnout. Objectives This study aimed to examine the relationship between burnout and emotional intelligence (EI) by comparing and corelating burnout and EI scores among academics and clinicians against several factors. Methods In this cross-sectional study, academics and clinicians at King Saud University and King Saud University Medical City and Affiliated Hospitals were invited to complete anonymous questionnaires: Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software for descriptive studies, group comparisons, regression analyses, and Pearson's (r) correlation tests. Results Study participants included 126 individuals (men = 65, 51.6%; women = 61, 48.4%). Of these, 65% were Saudi nationals and 35% were expatriates, and 76 were academics while 50 were clinicians. The mean (minimum to maximum) burnout total score was 55 ± 18.9 (8 to 97) and the global TEIQue-SF score ranged between 2.8 and 6.7 (5.04 ± 0.7). Burnout scores varied between departments and were higher among younger participants and non-Saudis. Age had a small direct correlation with self-control (r = .17, p = .05), and there was no statistically significant correlation with other EI factors. However, there was a moderate inverse correlation between age and emotional exhaustion (EE) (r = -0.33, p < 0.0001), and a small inverse correlation with depersonalization (DP) (r = -0.21, p = 0.02). T-tests demonstrated a statistically significant difference in EI factor "emotionality" among Saudis (5.2 ± .8) and non-Saudis (4.9 ± .8) (t124 = 2.2, p = 0.03), and for burnout subscales, there was a statistically significant difference in DP among Saudis (6.4 ± 4.8) and non-Saudis (8.5 ± 5.6), (p = 0.03). Moderate (r = -0.3, p = 0.01) and weak (r = -0.2, p = 0.05) negative correlations were found between EI factors and burnout subscales (EE, DP). Conclusion This study confirmed an inverse relationship between burnout and EI scores among academics and clinicians. The findings suggest the need for introducing measures and implementing a system for early detection of burnout among staff and providing support to enhance EI and requisite care for those undergoing burnout episodes

Medieval Islamic scholarship and writings on sleep and dreams

Islamic civilization between the 7th and the 15th centuries made great contributions to the development of science and medicine, and discoveries made during this time formed the basis for the emergence of the European Renaissance. Muslims view sleep as one of the great signs of Allāh, and a number of Muslim scholars studied and wrote on sleep and dreams. However, Muslim scholars' contributions to this topic have not been adequately represented in modern scholarship. Islamic scholars did far more than simply act as the preservers of the antiquity and Greek knowledge, but rather laid significant foundation, translation, interpretation, and transference of knowledge and experience, and have contributed original works in many fields of science and medicine including sleep. This brief article introduces some of the writings by Muslim scholars and philosophers about the importance of sleep, some sleep disorders, and dreams

Medical comorbidities in Saudi patients with narcolepsy: a case-control study

Objective: This case-control study sought to assess comorbid medical disorders in patients with narcolepsy type-1 (NT-1) and type-2 (NT-2). Material and Methods: he study comprised 80 consecutive Arab (Saudi) patients with narcolepsy (NT-1=56 and NT-2=24) and a control group of 211 adults matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Data were collected from cases and controls based on a predesigned questionnaire that was formulated based on previous studies to evaluate the chosen medical comorbidities. Results: Narcolepsy patients had a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia and a higher prevalence of high-risk for OSA than controls. Hyperlipidemia was more common in cases than controls, 8 (10%) vs. 3 (1.4%), p=0.002. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, the odds-ratios for hypothyroidism and high risk for OSA in the NT-1 group was 5.49 (95% CI, [0.8 - 38.6]) and 69.99 ((95%CI [20.6 -237.4]), respectively, and in the NT-2 group, 12.5, 95%CI [1.6-97.7], and 33.3, 95%CI [8.2-135.7], respectively. Conclusion: Arab (Saudi) narcolepsy patients had a higher association with hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and a higher risk of OSA than controls

Family violence among female medical students: Its prevalence and impact on their mental health status – A cross-sectional study

AbstractObjectivesViolence against women is recognized worldwide as a major public health problem. Studies show that violence affects the mental well-being of the victims. The study explores the prevalence of family violence among Saudi female medical students and its relationship with students' mental well-being and seeks to identify the effect of violence on students' academic achievements.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study on 1st- to 5th-year Saudi female medical students, utilizing a validated violence screening questionnaire that asked the respondents about how often they were physically Hurt, Insulted, Threatened with harm, and Screamed at (HITS). Furthermore, the study administered a validated mental well-being questionnaire, the Mental Health Inventory 5 (MHI-5), for the assessment of the mental status of the respondents. The analyses included simple univariate analyses, bivariate analyses and linear regression modelling.ResultsOf the total of 460 Saudi female medical students, 363 (79%) students participated in this study. Nineteen (5.3%) students confirmed being the victims of family violence. The victims had a mean MHI-5 score of 52%. A negative correlation was observed between violence and mental well-being scores. Significant association between the MHI-5 score and academic achievement was observed.ConclusionThe prevalence of family violence in this study is less than the reported figures in other studies. We could not demonstrate a direct relationship between family violence and academic achievement. Students' academic achievement was indirectly associated with the presence of family violence through changes in mental well-being

The effects of diurnal intermittent fasting on proinflammatory cytokine levels while controlling for sleep/wake pattern, meal composition and energy expenditure.

PURPOSE:This study aimed to assess the effect of diurnal intermittent fasting (DIF) during and outside of the month of Ramadan on plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, while controlling for sleep/wake pattern, sleep length and quality, meal composition, energy consumption and expenditure, and light exposure. DIF outside of the month of Ramadan was performed to evaluate the effect of DIF in the absence of the way of life accompanying Ramadan. METHODS:Twelve healthy male volunteers with a mean age of 25.1 ± 2.5 years arrived to the sleep laboratory on 4 times: 1) adaptation, 5 weeks before Ramadan; 2) 4 weeks before Ramadan while performing DIF for 1 week (fasting outside of Ramadan; FOR); 3) 1 week before Ramadan (non-fasting baseline; non-fasting BL); and 4) After completing 2 weeks of Ramadan while performing DIF. Plasma levels of cytokines were assessed using enzyme-linked immunoassays at 22:00, 02:00, 04:00, 06:00, and 11:00. RESULTS:During DIF, there was a significant decrease in the levels of cytokines, particularly, IL-1β and IL-6, in most measurements compared to non-fasting BL. This reduction was more obvious during the FOR period. There were no significant changes in the circadian phase of the measured cytokines reflected by the acrophase of the measured variables during fasting (FOR and Ramadan) compared to non-fasting BL. CONCLUSION:Under controlled conditions, DIF led to significantly decreased plasma levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8), particularly IL-1β and IL-6 across 24 h. DIF had no effect on the circadian patterns of the measured cytokines as shown by cosinor analysis

The effects of diurnal intermittent fasting on the wake-promoting neurotransmitter orexin-A

BACKGROUND: Food restriction has been demonstrated to increase the alertness in different species and to increase the levels of the wake-promoting neurotransmitter orexin. We hypothesized that diurnal intermittent fasting (DIF) increases orexin-A levels during fasting. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the effects of DIF, during the month of Ramadan, on orexin, while controlling for lifestyle changes that may accompany Ramadan such as sleep duration, bedtime and wake time, energy expenditure, light exposure, and food. METHODS: Eight young healthy volunteers (mean age, 25.4 ± 3.5 years) reported to the laboratory on three occasions: (1) 4 weeks before Ramadan while performing DIF for 1 week outside the month of Ramadan (fasting outside Ramadan); (2) 1 week before Ramadan (nonfasting baseline) (BL); and (3) during the 2nd week of Ramadan while performing DIF (Ramadan). Plasma levels of orexin-A were measured using an enzyme immunoassay five times at 22:00, 02:00, 04:00, 06:00, and 11:00. Caloric intake, light exposure, and sleep schedule were maintained during the participants' stays in the laboratory in the three study periods. RESULTS: Orexin-A levels increased in the daytime during fasting and decreased at night compared to BL. The differences in orexin-A levels between DIF and BL were significant at 06:00, 11:00, 22:00, and 02:00. CONCLUSIONS: DIF increases orexin-A levels in the plasma during fasting hours. This finding supports findings from animal studies showing that fasting increases alertness

Prevalence and Predictors of Arrhythmia in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and types of arrhythmias in Saudi OSA patients and to identify predictors of arrhythmia in this group of patients. Methods: This case-control study included all patients who underwent level I attended overnight polysomnography between 2009 and 2012. Electrocardiographic data collected during sleep studies of patients with and without OSA were manually reviewed. Results: The study comprised 498 patients (394 OSA patients and 104 non-OSA patients (controls). The prevalence of arrhythmia in OSA patients was higher than that in the controls (26.9% vs. 11.5%; p=0.001). Comparing OSA patients and controls showed: premature atrial contraction (10.2%vs.2.9%;p=0.019), premature ventricular contraction (PVC) (19.3%vs.9.6%;p=0.02), non-isolated PVC (bi/tri/qua) 10.8%vs.2.3%;p=0.04) and atrial fibrillation (1.6%vs.0%;p=0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, patients with OSA had twice the odds of having any cardiac arrhythmia (OR 1.91; CI 95% 1.27-3.11; p <0.05). Conclusions: Patients with OSA had a higher prevalence of arrhythmia compared to controls, and OSA is a predictor of arrhythmia during sleep

The clinical characteristics of Kleine–Levin syndrome according to ethnicity and geographic location

<p><b>Purpose:</b> Kleine–Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare, relapsing-remitting, debilitating sleep disorder. Examining KLS characteristics in different ethnic populations may help elucidate the genetic basis of the disorder. No studies have examined KLS in Arabs. Therefore, we compared the clinical characteristics of Saudi Arabian KLS patients to those in other published cohorts to determine whether Arab patients have a distinct phenotype.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> This study included all patients who were diagnosed with KLS at our center between June 2003 and July 2016 (<i>P</i> = 12; Six familial cases). All participants completed the Stanford KLS questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; eating attitudes were assessed with the Eating Attitudes Test-26. We compared the clinical characteristics of our patients to those in other published cohorts.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Saudi Arabian patients with KLS had similar features to those in patients from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, with only minor differences in sleep duration during disease episodes (2–3 h shorter). However, between episodes, Saudi Arabian KLS patients reported worse sleep, greater daytime sleepiness and higher levels of baseline depression, which may be related to KLS or to local cultural practices. Ankylosing spondylitis was present in five of the six familial patients.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Saudi Arabian patients with KLS exhibited similar clinical characteristics during episodes compared to patients with KLS of different ethnicities. However, a new and interesting finding is that KLS patients may have inter-episode behavioral and pathophysiological changes, which may suggest that KLS is not necessarily a static disorder.</p