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AlHefdhi HA, Al Zomia AS, Alshehri NM, Alaskari AA, Hussain AA, Lahiq LA, Asiri MA, Al Asiri W, Alahmari AM, Asiri HM, Alomari SA. Examining the Quality of Life and Discrimination Impact on Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia: A WHO-QOL Survey. Cureus 2024; 16:e53616. [PMID: 38449996 PMCID: PMC10916740 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease marked by social and repetitive or restricted behaviors, as well as communication difficulty. Objectives This survey aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of parents with ASDs in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia using the brief form of the World Health Organization (WHO-QOL) questionnaire. Furthermore, we sought to measure the severity of discrimination experienced by parents of children with ASDs and their impact on QoL. Methodology Using a Google form, a cross-sectional study was carried out online between March and April 2023. The patient records from four different regions of Saudi Arabia were used to recruit study participants. The survey was distributed through well-known social media channels (Instagram, Telegram, Facebook). Results A total of 99 parents were included in this study. The Southern region accounted for the bulk of participants (81.8%, n=81), nearly three-fourths of the children were boys (70.7%), mothers were more common among respondents (65.7%, n=65) than fathers, 66.7% of respondents reported being married, and 78.8% fall into the middle economic class category. The main source of information among the studied population was the Internet (39.4%, n=39), followed by relatives (23.0%, n=23), physicians (8.1%, n=9), and finally books (4%, n=4). The mean scores for the various domains are as follows: physical (58.48 ± 13.84), psychological (62.04 ± 18.08), social relations (61.20 ± 23.24), environment (24.12 ± 14.62), general QoL (72.93 ± 4.30), and general health (73.94 ± 4.63). Nearly half (46.5%) of parents have encountered stigma or discrimination toward their child or family. Individuals who reported experiencing discrimination exhibited significantly lower mean scores in multiple QoL domains than those who did not report discrimination for physical (54.11, ± 14.36vs, 62.26±12.28, p=0.003), psychological (55.80 ± 20.33 vs 67.45 ± 13.94, p=0.002), and social relations (55.43± 24.17 vs 66.20 ± 21.40, p=0.022). Multivariate analysis revealed that discrimination was the only significant predictor of QoL (p < 0.001). Conclusions The QoL of parents having a child with autism is low, moreover, the coincidence of discrimination and stigma significantly lowered QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayfa A AlHefdhi
- Family and Community Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU
| | | | | | | | | | - Lama A Lahiq
- Medicine and Surgery, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU
| | - Muzun A Asiri
- College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU
| | | | | | - Hamad M Asiri
- College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU
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Li H, Dodd-Butera T, Beaman ML, Burtea R. Immediate Caregiving Environment of Young Children with Autism: Findings from the U.S. National Survey of Children's Health. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 21:12. [PMID: 38276800 PMCID: PMC10815337 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that negatively affects children's learning, motor behavior, social communication, and interaction. It was estimated that, in 2020, 1 in 36 children aged 8 years in the United States had ASD. Caring for children with ASD might exert significant psychological and emotional distress on parents. Receiving parental emotional support and fostering positive parent-child interactions at home have been identified as beneficial for the immediate caregiving environment for children with ASD. The current secondary analysis of the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health examined parent-child interactions and accessible sources of emotional support for parents caring for 3-5-year-old children diagnosed with ASD (N = 243). Children with the following characteristics had higher odds of having ASD: male gender; having no private insurance or uninsured; and having less than excellent general health. Among parents, higher odds of caring for children with ASD were associated with accessing emotional support from various sources, especially from healthcare professionals and peers, and spending more time telling stories and/or singing to their children. Given these significant health disparities, educational interventions and strategies are needed to foster a positive home caregiving environment for young children with ASD, including equitable access to parent resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Department of Doctoral Studies, Institute of Health Research, School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, 606 E Huntington Dr., Room 235, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
| | - Teresa Dodd-Butera
- Departments of Public Health and Doctoral Studies, Institute of Health Research, School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, San Diego, CA 92108, USA;
| | - Margaret L. Beaman
- Department of Nursing, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - Rebecca Burtea
- Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA 91702, USA;
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Sulaimani GH, Kamel S, Alotaibi G, Telmesani N. Quality of Life Among Family Caregivers of Disabled Children in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e41320. [PMID: 37539394 PMCID: PMC10395756 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The physical and mental health of parents can be adversely affected by their child's disability, leading to a potential decline in their overall Quality of Life (QoL). This research aimed to determine the QoL of family caregivers and compare this based on sociodemographic factors and child characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected from multiple rehabilitation centers for children with special needs and learning disorders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study sample comprised 95 family caregivers who completed a self-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included sections on sociodemographic characteristics, child characteristics, and caregivers' QoL assessed using the RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The collected data were analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2022. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp, employing descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS Our findings revealed that the overall mean QoL score among caregivers was 57, ranging from 12 to 94. There were no statistically significant differences in QoL scores based on caregivers' age, gender, occupational status, or income. However, further analysis indicated significant associations between certain factors and specific domains of QoL. Specifically, caregiver education was found to be associated with role limitations due to emotional problems, while relationships with disabled children were linked to emotional well-being. The severity of the child's disability and the presence of another child with a disability in the family were associated with the bodily pain domain. Additionally, the presence of another child with a disability had an impact on perceived change in the health domain. CONCLUSIONS The QoL of family caregivers varied, highlighting the significant challenges faced by certain individuals. Factors such as education level, the relationship with the child, the severity of the disability, and the presence of multiple disabled children in the family were identified as influencing caregivers' QoL. These findings emphasize the importance of developing targeted interventions that can address emotional well-being and fatigue management while promoting a supportive society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghofran H Sulaimani
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Shady Kamel
- Saudi Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Ghadi Alotaibi
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Nada Telmesani
- Neurological Service of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nantes Université, Nantes, FRA
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Elkholi SM, Aldhahi MI, Al Awaji NN. Exploring the Influence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on the Accessibility of Rehabilitation Services Provided to Children with Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:medicina59050837. [PMID: 37241069 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59050837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Children with disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorder, and Down syndrome) are the most vulnerable and marginalized subset of the population, representing 2.7% of the total population of Saudi Arabia. The COVID-19 outbreak might have disproportionately affected children with disabilities, augmented their isolation, and induced severe disruptions to the services on which these children rely. Limited research has been conducted in Saudi Arabia to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rehabilitation services provided to children with disabilities and barriers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the lockdown implemented as a result of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the accessibility of rehabilitation services, including communication, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a survey was conducted between June and September 2020 during the lockdown in Saudi Arabia. A total of 316 caregivers of children with disabilities from Riyadh participated in the study. The accessibility of rehabilitation services provided to children with disabilities was assessed by designing a valid questionnaire. Results: A total of 280 children with disabilities received rehabilitation services before the COVID-19 pandemic and showed improvement following therapeutic sessions. However, during the pandemic, most children stopped receiving therapeutic sessions because of lockdown, which deteriorated their condition. This shows a significant reduction in the accessibility of the rehabilitation services provided during the pandemic. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed a drastic decline in services provided to children with disabilities. This caused a notable deterioration in the abilities of these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safaa Mostafa Elkholi
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Monira I Aldhahi
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nisreen Naser Al Awaji
- Department of Health Communication Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
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Ahmed AA, Almishaal AA, Hassan SU, Kamel RM, Atteya MRM, Obeidat ST, Abdelmaguid HS, Alanazi AA, Villacorte LM, Alghatani FD. Types and Sources of Social Support Accessible to University Students with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11. [PMID: 36832998 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11040464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
University students with disabilities face an increased risk of experiencing negative implications in educational, psychological, and social spheres during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at assessing various dimensions of social support and its sources during the COVID-19 pandemic that availed university students with disabilities. This cross-sectional descriptive study collected data from 53 university students with disabilities. We administered the Social Support Scale (SSC) to assess five dimensions: informational, emotional, esteem, social integration and tangible support, and access to social support from four sources: family, friends, teachers, and colleagues. Multiple regression analysis showed that university students with disabilities mainly relied upon their friends for informational support (β = 0.64; p < 0.001), emotional support (β = 0.52; p < 0.001), and social integration support (β = 0.57; p < 0.001). Family members (β = 0.406; p < 0.01) and colleagues (β = 0.36; p < 0.01) provided esteem support to students with disabilities. Support from teachers demonstrated an association with informational support (β = 0.24; p < 0.05). The findings from the current study suggest that students with disabilities primarily sought informational, emotional, and social integration support from their peers. Although teachers were the primary source of informational support, emotional and esteem support were not found to be significantly associated with them. These findings necessitate exploring the underlying factors and how to enhance them during unusual circumstances such as online distance education and social distancing.
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Zahra A, Hassan SUN, Hassan MS, Parveen N, Park JH, Iqbal N, Khatoon F, Atteya MR. Effect of physical activity and sedentary sitting time on psychological quality of life of people with and without disabilities; A survey from Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health 2022; 10:998890. [PMID: 36225781 PMCID: PMC9548647 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.998890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mental and psychological health issues are on the rise globally. People with disabilities are at greater risk of poor psychological quality of life especially after covid-19 pandemic. Along with other factors physical activity (PA) may have a significant effect on mental health. This study aims to analyze the difference of PA participation and sitting time among people with and without disabilities and their association with psychological quality of life. Methods A standard questionnaire was used to collect the data from disabled and non-disabled participants above 15 years of age. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed to yield statistical results. Results Total study sample consisted of 359 participants (67.7% without disability and 32.3% with disability). Participants without disabilities reported a significantly better psychological quality of life (QOL) (Mean score = 68) as compared to the ones with disabilities (Mean score = 61), (p < 0.01). There was significant difference between the sitting time of two groups with longer sitting time among people with disabilities (6.1 h/day) as compared to non-disabled (5.3 h). Optimum level of PA was strongly associated with better psychological quality of life among individuals without disabilities (p = 0.00). Younger age (p = 0.00) and being single (p = 0.01) were significant predictors of poor psychological health among non-disables. Increase in sedentary sitting time was significantly associated with poor psychological quality of life among both groups. Conclusions Tailored health policies to encourage PA and reduce sitting hours should be formulated to improve psychological health with special focus on individuals with disabilities. Future studies with large sample size are recommended to validate the current results and further explore the difference in association of PA and psychological wellbeing in people with and without disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqeela Zahra
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Aqeela Zahra
| | - Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan
- College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Nuzhat Parveen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Jangan-gu, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Naveed Iqbal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahmida Khatoon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Raafat Atteya
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
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Zahra A, Hassan MS, Park JH, Hassan SUN, Parveen N. Role of Environmental Quality of Life in Physical Activity Status of Individuals with and without Physical Disabilities in Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19074228. [PMID: 35409909 PMCID: PMC8998774 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The promotion of physical activity (PA) in various subgroups of the population such as people with physical disabilities has been spotlighted in the revised guidelines of The World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. In order to update public health interventions, there is a need to identify factors that may promote or prevent engagement in PA for special subgroups of the population. This study aims to calculate the PA levels of individuals with and without physical disabilities in Saudi Arabia, their assessment of the environmental (EQoL), and the predictive role of EQoL in PA. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the EQoL domain in standardized WHOQoL Questionnaire were administered on both groups of the population. The study sample comprised 116 individuals with physical disabilities and 243 individuals without any form of disability as a control group. A regression analysis was performed to analyze the predictors of PA in both groups. Findings showed that among the individuals with disabilities, older people were more likely to engage in PA as compared to the younger age group (p < 0.05) and males were significantly less likely to meet the PA criteria. Some of the EQoL features such as safety increased the likelihood of PA up to 2.3 times (p < 0.05) in individuals with physical disabilities. In addition, opportunities for leisure activities were a significant predictor of PA among both groups of individuals with and without physical disabilities (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that upcoming public health interventions should focus on improving various dimensions of EQoL for the promotion of physical activity among individuals with physical disabilities. Additional studies are needed to further explore various sociodemographic and environmental factors which can affect the PA status of disabled groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqeela Zahra
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-583675414
| | | | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 440-746, Korea;
| | - Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan
- College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nuzhat Parveen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81451, Saudi Arabia;
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Szurgacz D, Zhironkin S, Pokorný J, Spearing AJS(S, Vöth S, Cehlár M, Kowalewska I. Development of an Active Training Method for Belt Conveyor. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 19:ijerph19010437. [PMID: 35010694 PMCID: PMC8744991 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The global situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced employers to find an adequate way to conduct training in order to ensure work safety. The underground mining industry is one of the industries which, due to its nature, was not able to switch to remote work. Conducting traditional training risked spreading the virus among workers. For this purpose, it was necessary to start a search for a form of training that would be safe and would not cause additional stress for employees. Research on the development of an active employee training method and testing of the method itself was conducted online. In order to develop a method of active training, one of the most important workstations was selected, which is the operation of the conveyor belt. The training method comprises four training modules. The modules cover questions related to the operation of the conveyor belt, emergencies, its assembly and disassembly, repair and maintenance. The developed issues also take into account questions concerning natural hazards and work safety. The entire training course lasts 10 days. Every day, an employee receives a set of eight questions sent to their email address, which they must answer before starting work. The article describes the methodology and implementation of the training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid Szurgacz
- Center of Hydraulics DOH Ltd., 41-906 Bytom, Poland;
- Polska Grupa Górnicza S.A., ul. Powstańców 30, 40-039 Katowice, Poland
| | - Sergey Zhironkin
- Department of Trade and Marketing, Siberian Federal University, 79 Svobodny av., 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Department of Open Pit Mining, T.F. Gorbachev Kuzbass State Technical University, 28 Vesennya st., 650000 Kemerovo, Russia
- School of Core Engineering Education, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, 30 Lenina st., 634050 Tomsk, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Jiří Pokorný
- Faculty of Safety Engineering, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, Lumírova 13/630, 700 30 Ostrava-Výškovice, Czech Republic;
| | - A. J. S. (Sam) Spearing
- School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, 1 Daxue Road, Tongshan District, Xuzhou 221116, China;
| | - Stefan Vöth
- Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Westhoffstraβe 15, 44791 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Michal Cehlár
- Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Technologies and Geotechnology, Institute of Earth Sources, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Izabela Kowalewska
- Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Na Grobli 15, 50-421Wroclaw, Poland;
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