Burnout and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have had to deal with large numbers of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and were at a high risk of burnout and dissatisfaction regarding their work-life integration. This article aims to assess burnout, the work-life balance (WLB), and quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers and the relationship between these aspects in Saudi Arabia. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 491 HCPs from five secondary hospitals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used to gather data, including WLB, burnout, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Results. Healthcare professionals struggled to balance their work and personal lives during COVID-19 and reported many burnout symptoms and a low level of QoL. Two-thirds (68.8%) of HCPs arrived home late from work and (56.6%) skipped a meal. HCPs who worked through a shift without any breaks were found in 57.8%. It was reported that 39.3% of HCPs felt frustrated by technology while being exhausted from their work (60.5%). The correlation coefficients between the WLB and health-related QoL (HRQoL) showed a significant negative correlation for all items, which ranged from (-.099 to -.403, P<0.05). The WLB and burnout scores were successful predictors of low levels of HRQoL (P<0.001 for both explanatory variables). Conclusions. Work-life imbalances, high levels of burnout, and low QoL levels are common among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19. Hospital administration should address the WLB and reduce burnout symptoms among HCPs to increase satisfaction and improve the quality of care

Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Quality of Life among School Students in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey When Returning to School after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Increasing evidence suggests that Physical Activity (PA) can reduce depression and anxiety in adolescents. At the same time, Quality of life (QoL) is sensitive to both Mental Health and PA, but little is known about the mechanism between these three variables among adolescents. This study aimed to assess physical activity, mental health, and quality of life of school students when they returned to school after two years of distance learning in the Jazan region. This current investi-gation represents an observational cross-sectional survey conducted in January 2022 among a random sample of 601 students from intermediate and high schools in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used for data collection; the Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21) and the Fels PAQ for children. The analysis revealed a moderate level of physical activity, decreased HRQoL, and symptoms of mental health problems (anxiety, depression and stress) among the schools’ students when they returned to school following COVID-19 Lockdown. The overall pe-diatric Quality of Life mean score was (81.4 ± 16.4), which differs significantly according to gender, age groups, and grade levels (p < 0.05 for all). There was a negative correlation between overall quality of life and mental health domains. Sport is negatively correlated with mental illness symptoms and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with pediatric Quality of Life. The regression models revealed that stress is a significant predictor for the quality of life of male and female adolescents [β = −0.30, (95% CI (−0.59) to (−0.02), p < 0.05) and [β = −0.40, (95% CI (−0.70) to (−0.01), p < 0.05), respectively. The analysis revealed a moderate level of physical activity among the schools’ stu-dents when they returned to school following COVID-19 Lockdown. Children’s involvement in physical activity was associated with improved Quality of Life and mental health. The results call for the need to develop appropriate intervention programs to increase school students’ physical activity levels

The Impact of COVID-19 on Maintaining Physical Activity and Its Associated Factors among Medical Students

Background. Stay-home orders and the shutdown of university campuses and fitness centers have greatly influenced health behaviors, resulting in a widespread reduction in physical activity. This study aimed to identify factors associated with maintaining physical activity among Jazan University medical students during the COVID-19 shutdown. Methods. An official Arabic short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess physical activity before and during the COVID-19 home quarantine. Differences between groups were examined using chi-square analyses and the Mann&ndash;Whitney U test. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test whether certain demographic and exercise-related variables were significant predictors of maintaining physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results. More than half of the participants (53%) reported no change or increased physical activity level. Several factors were significantly related to physical activity heterogeneity including income (p = 0.04), fitness center membership (p &lt; 0.01), usage of fitness tracker devices (p &lt; 0.01), and the purchase of physical activity equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic (p &lt; 0.01). The odds of maintaining physical activity were higher among those who tracked their physical activity (AOR = 6.160; 95% CI = 3.782&ndash;10.032, p &lt; 0.001). Similarly, the odds of maintaining physical activity were higher among those who purchased home-exercise equipment during the pandemic (AOR = 2.243; 95% CI = 1.386&ndash;3.632, p = 0.001). Conclusions. Understanding the factors affecting physical activity behaviors is an essential step toward addressing the reduction in physical activity. This could help maintain physical activity levels during a potential future pandemic-related shutdown

Community-level awareness of proper immediate steps regarding ocular chemical injury in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Although the eyes represent 0.1% of the total human body, they are exposed to many injuries, some of which may cause blindness. Ocular chemical injury is a true ocular emergency requiring immediate assessment and initiation of treatment. The present study targeted the general population in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate knowledge of chemical injuries to the eye and the immediate management of the injury. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional design was employed using a convenience sample of 536 residents of the Jazan region who completed an online, self-administered, anonymous, and pre-validated questionnaire. Results: Most of the respondents were 18–30 years of age (66.0%), and 274 (51.1%) were female. Respondents had an average score of 7.70 (standard deviation: 1.78) out of a total score of 16, indicating an overall lack of knowledge of ocular chemical burns. The majority (95.1%) agreed that ocular complications could result from ocular chemical injury. Regarding the first action in ocular chemical injuries, 317 (59.1%) thought that eye irrigation with a large amount of water, 155 (28.9%) chose to go to the emergency department, 40 (7.5%) chose irrigation of the eye with a small amount of water, 13 (2.4%) chose using eye drops, and 11 (2.1%) chose to cover the eye. Conclusion: The knowledge of ocular chemical burns is lacking in the general population of the Jazan region. There are several knowledge gaps, some of which are serious, necessitating rigorous efforts to correct them through educational programs at the community level

Admission Grades as Predictors of Medical Students&rsquo; Academic Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia

Background: Admission to medical school is competitive, and different countries use various tests in addition to high school grades to minimize selection bias. A few studies have been conducted to evaluate the usefulness of these tests as predictors for students&rsquo; academic performance. In this article, we aimed to assess factors that influenced students&rsquo; grades in medical school. Methods: A cross-sectional study included all students who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Jazan University between 2018 and 2020. Scores of the included participants were extracted from the registry of Jazan University, and additional questions about study habits were completed by the included students. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed for the factors that impacted academic performance. Results: There were 331 included candidates, and the majority of them were female (53%). About 60% of the participants were medical residents at the time of the study, and 40% were interns. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that grades in high school and the pre-requisite tests were positively associated with students&rsquo; academic performance. Further, studying more than two hours per day was positively correlated with better grades in medical school. Conclusion: Scores of the admission tests can serve as predictors for student performance in medical school. National studies are deemed essential to evaluate additional admission tests for medical school, an action that would minimize selection bias

Associations of Electronic Device Use and Physical Activity with Headaches in Saudi Medical Students

Background and Objectives: Primary headaches are highly prevalent among medical students, negatively impacting their health and academic performance. Excessive electronic device use has been implicated as a risk factor, in contrast to physical activity, which may be a protective factor; however, comprehensive data are lacking, especially for Saudi medical trainees. This study aims to investigate the associations between device use, exercise, and headaches among Saudi medical students. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 504 medical students at Jazan University completed an online survey collecting sociodemographic factors, headache characteristics/triggers, electronic device habits, exercise frequency, and headache impacts. Descriptive analyses summarized sample characteristics. Logistic regression identified predictors of 12-month headache prevalence. Results: Overall, 83% reported experiencing headaches in the past year. High headache prevalence was observed among females (86.6%) and third-year students (88.3%). Using electronic devices ≥4 h daily was associated with higher adjusted odds of headaches (OR 13.89, 95% CI 1.96–98.54) compared to ≤1 h daily. Low physical activity (exercising 1 day vs. 7 days a week) also increased headache odds (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.61–9.42). Headaches impairing productivity (OR 4.39, 95% CI 2.28–8.45) and exacerbated by exercise (OR 10.37, 95% CI 2.02–53.35) were further associated with headache susceptibility. Conclusions: Excessive electronic device use and physical inactivity appear to be modifiable risk factors for frequent headaches in Saudi medical students. Multifaceted interventions incorporating education campaigns, skills training, and support services focused on promoting responsible technology habits, and regular exercise may help mitigate headaches in this population. Robust longitudinal studies and trials are warranted to establish causal mechanisms between lifestyle factors and headaches among medical undergraduates

Prevalence and correlates of imposter syndrome and self-esteem among medical students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Imposter syndrome (IS) and low self-esteem (SE) are common issues affecting medical students that can impact their well-being and development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with IS and SE among medical students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, 523 medical students in years 2-6 at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, completed validated questionnaires on IS (Young Imposter Scale) and SE (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Sociodemographic factors were also collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze IS and SE prevalence and correlates. Five hundred twenty-three students with a mean age of 22.09 ± 1.933 participated. The prevalence of low SE and positive IS was 17.6% and 24.3%, respectively. IS and SE had a significant negative correlation (p<0.001). Several sociodemographic factors were associated with increased IS, including 2nd and 4th-year students, forced study choice, and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0-3.49 (P<0.05). Paternal education beyond high school was associated with lower IS (P<0.05). Logistic regression analyses confirmed that 2nd-year students had a 3.88 times higher odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI); 2.19-6.88), and 4th-year students had a 2.37 times higher OR (95% CI; 1.40-4.02) of IS than other years. For SE, advanced academic years, forced study choice, 7+ hours of sleep, and a GPA above 3.5 were associated with higher levels (P<0.05). Negative self-appraisals were associated with lower SE, while positive attitudes were associated with higher SE (P<0.05). Our study reveals that IS and low SE are prevalent among Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, medical students. Therefore, intervention courses that address these issues in medical education at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, may be necessary to support medical students' well-being and academic success

Utilisation of the health belief model to study the behavioural intentions relating to obesity management among university students: a cross-sectional study

Background Overweight and obesity are excessive fat accumulations linked with many health problems, including heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Multiple studies have demonstrated that beliefs about overweight, obesity and self-efficacy play essential roles in the success of interventions for obesity management.Objectives This study aimed to identify the perceptions of university students of overweight and obesity using the health belief model (HBM) and to analyse their association with the body mass index (BMI) categories of the students.Design A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study and a multistage sampling technique were used to ensure the recruitment of students from selected colleges of Jazan University—Saudi Arabia.Setting Six colleges of Jazan University were randomly selected to ensure equal representation of health sciences, sciences and humanities colleges.Participants A total of 579 students completed an online survey between January and April 2023.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome measures were demographic characteristics and HBM constructs. Secondary outcome measures were behavioural intentions relating to obesity management.Results This study demonstrated that gender and self-reported family history of obesity were significantly correlated with the BMI categories of the students (p &lt;0.001). Students in the underweight category showed the highest mean score for perceived severity (3.62 ±0.08). Perceived self-efficacy in exercise and diet was significantly associated with BMI categories, with adjusted ORs of 2.82 (2.10 to 3.79) and 1.51 (1.09 to 2.09), respectively. Perceived barriers to healthy eating and regular physical activity were significantly related to the behavioural intentions of obesity management. Multivariate logistic regression showed that perceived severity, perceived cues to action, perceived barriers and self-efficacy in dieting and exercise were significant predictors of behavioural intentions for the management of obesity.Conclusion This study underscores the need for tailored health promotion strategies that consider the perceptions and beliefs of people about the management of obesity

Knowledge and behaviors of parents towards child vaccination in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To evaluate parental knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards child vaccination in Saudi Arabia and to examine the factors associated with immunization. Methods: An observational cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jazan, southwest Saudi Arabia. A total of 447 parents who visited the primary health care centers were enrolled using a multistage stratified random sampling method. A structured, self-administered questionnaire involving information on parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards childhood vaccination was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze and to interpret the data. Results: The immunization knowledge level was 68.0 %, and most respondents had a positive attitude (86.6 %) toward child vaccination. Mothers (74.7 %) showed signs of a higher level of knowledge than fathers (60.5 %). In turn, fathers (91.9 %) had a significantly more positive attitude towards immunization than mothers (81.9 %). Parents working in the medical field showed a significantly high level of knowledge and a significantly positive attitude towards child immunization (p &lt; 0.05). The logistic regression model suggested that the most important independent predictors of immunization compliance were being a mother and working in the health field. Conclusion: The results show that most of the parents have acceptable levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Health educational programs are needed to improve the levels of parental knowledge and practices