An Evaluation of Mentorship for Hospital Residents in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative study using Semi-structured Interviews

Background

In this study, we explore how doctors in training perceive mentorship and leadership and whether they believed that mentoring influences the development of leadership skills. The study also addressed whether certain leadership styles lend themselves better to mentoring.

Methods

A qualitative research method was employed in this study and ethical approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), after which twelve hospital residents were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by the authors and thematic data analysis was performed.

Results

Three themes emerged and were later refined, using Braun and Clarke's 2006 thematic analysis method:1. Purpose of mentorship, with sub themes: a. Expectations, b. Perception of mentorship as supervision, and c. The role of mentorship, including informal mentoring in leadership development2. Role of mentorship in leadership development.3. Perceptions of a leader, with sub-themes: a. The leader as a manager, b. The leader as a role model, and c. The merits of different leadership styles.

Discussion

Most of the residents (doctors in training) viewed mentorship in a positive way. However, when the mentor was perceived more as a supervisor, the usefulness of mentoring was less clear. However, they found that informal mentoring would contribute to leadership skills and would inspire them to become leaders themselves. They were likely to be influenced positively when they saw the leader as a role model, rather than a manager.

The correlation between vitamin B12 and folate levels and bone mineral density among the Saudi population in a primary care setting

Purpose

Bone health and osteoporosis are significant health problems in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 40%-50% of women and 25%-33% of men sustain osteoporotic fractures in their lifetimes. Hence, identifying the risk factors for osteoporosis is crucial in reducing the incidence of fractures.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 557 patients (female 60%, male 40%) aged ≥18 years (mean age, 66.53 years [standard deviation ± 14.169]) who underwent bone mineral density (BMD) scans at the Department of Family Medicine & Polyclinics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) between January 2004 and June 2019. Data collected included demographics, BMD values, vitamin B12 levels, and folate levels.

Results

This study indicated that the prevalence rates of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies among the study population were 8.4% and 1.3%, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between vitamin B12 levels and fracture risk (P =0.044). However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between BMD at either site (lumbar spine or femoral neck) and vitamin B12 (P =0.926.,070) and folate levels (P =.683.,79). BMD showed a significant positive correlation with body mass index at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (P = 0.000). There was no statistically significant association between vitamin B12 levels and the use of metformin (P =.26).

Conclusion

Vitamin B12 is associated with fracture risk; however, vitamin B12 and folate levels are not correlated to BMD (femoral neck and lumbar spine).

Hospital residents’ perception of mentorship as influencing clinical leadership: a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews

Background: In this study, we explored how doctors in training perceive mentorship and leadership and whether they believed that mentoring influences the development of leadership skills. The study also addressed whether certain leadership styles lend themselves better to mentoring. Methods: A qualitative research method was employed in this study and ethical approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), after which twelve hospital residents were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by the authors and thematic data analysis was performed.  Results: Three themes emerged and were later refined, using Braun and Clarke’s 2006 thematic analysis method: 1. Purpose of mentorship, with sub themes: a. Expectations, b.  Perception of mentorship as supervision, and c. The role of mentorship, including informal mentoring in leadership development 2. Role of mentorship in leadership development. 3. Perceptions of a leader, with sub-themes: a. The leader as a manager, b. The leader as a role model, and c. The merits of different leadership styles. Discussion: Most of the residents (doctors in training) viewed mentorship in a positive way. However, when the mentor was perceived more as a supervisor, the usefulness of mentoring was less clear. However, they found that informal mentoring would contribute to leadership skills and would inspire them to become leaders themselves. They were likely to be influenced positively when they saw the leader as a role model, rather than a manager.

Bone mineral density loss in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Evidence of increased risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is inconsistent. This study aims to investigate this relationship and to identify the predictors of increased loss of bone mineral density in Saudi patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty-four patients and controls who are age and gender matched, were included in this study with 1:1 ratio. Patients' included in this study were adults with confirmed liver cirrhosis. Bone mineral densitometry (BMD) at both lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) were collected for both groups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of BMD loss.

RESULTS

Results showed that cirrhotic patients are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis or osteopenia at LS (OR 2.23, 95% CI [1.19-4.19], P = 0.01) but not at FN, when compared to control sample. Patients with cirrhosis were found to have lower vitamin D and PTH levels (P = 0.0005) and (P = 0.006), respectively. Of the possible predictors tested (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], phosphorus, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and Model for End Stage Liver Disease [MELD] score), female gender was the main predictor of loss of BMD at LS only (OR 4.80, 95% CI [1.47-15.73], P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that cirrhotic patients are at increased susceptibility of having decreased BMD, particularly at the LS and it highlights the need for preventive measures, especially for female patients.