Assessment of Patient Experiences in an Academic Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Introduction Patient continuous assessment is an important component of patient-centered healthcare systems and requires the identification of the services and resources of these systems to ensure patient satisfaction. This study aimed to determine the factors that affect patient satisfaction, identify patients' unmet health care and informational needs, and suggest measures to fill these gaps in healthcare systems. Methods A cross-sectional study included 235 patients who were admitted to the medical ward of an educational tertiary healthcare center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between June-September 2016. A self-administered questionnaire based on the Arabic version of the "échelle de qualité des soins en hospitalisation" or the quality of care in hospitalization scale (ESQ-H) consisting of two subscales that measured their satisfaction with the services received was offered to the study participants. We analyzed the data to identify factors associated with patient dissatisfaction using IBM SPSS® Statistics Version 21.0. Results The patients included 145 males (61.7%) and 90 females (38.3%). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.933 for the questionnaire. In the subscale associated with the quality of the medical information patients received, three independent variables were associated with higher patient satisfaction: planned patients' hospital stay (p<0.001), patients' health improvement (p<0.001), and patients' overall life satisfaction (p<0.001). In the subscale associated with patients' relationship with medical staff and the daily routine of the medical ward, four independent variables were significant: male gender (p=0.007), patients, if the hospital stay was planned (p=0.009), improvement of patients' health (p<0.001), and patients' overall life satisfaction (p=0.006). Conclusion Patients' satisfaction level was "very good" with the medical information subscale and "excellent" with the relationship subscale. We found that although patients were satisfied with some aspects of their health care, other aspects required more attention; hence, the resolution of patients' unmet health care and informational needs should be prioritized by stakeholders to improve patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the patients should be informed about what they can expect during their upcoming hospital stay, their overall life satisfaction should be considered, and patients with issues related to their life satisfaction should be appointed a social worker.

Effect of Peer-Assisted Learning on Enhancing Clinical Research Skills Among Medical Students: Students' and Tutors' Perceptions

PURPOSE

Research methodology is an essential part of evidence-based medicine. Many educational programs include clinical research methodology within their curriculum. Moreover, students' preferences for learning methods are different than before, as they now prefer alternative methods, such as peer teaching. Peer-assisted learning enhances students' tutoring skills. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of peer teaching on enhancing clinical research skills.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Peer-assisted learning was evaluated during a four-week online research methodology course designed for medical students at King Abdulaziz University. A total of 121 students' and 38 tutors' attitudes and perceptions of peer teaching were evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire. The effectiveness of peer teaching was assessed using pre- and post-course knowledge tests. Chi-square was used to assess the association of qualitative data, and Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon rank test were used as nonparametric tests for the variables that were not normally distributed.

RESULTS

The post-course knowledge score was significantly higher than the pre-test score. Students had a positive perception of peer-assisted learning. Over 90% of the students preferred peer-assisted learning to traditional teaching. Similarly, the tutors had significantly positive perceptions of peer-assisted teaching. Younger students who had higher post-test mean knowledge scores had a good perception of peer teaching.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates students' and tutors' positive perceptions of peer-assisted learning as well as the effectiveness of peer learning. Medical schools should pay more attention to students and prepare them for peer-teacher roles.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Among the Public in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

Background

Obstruction of the Eustachian tube is a common condition that is unpleasant and might lead to various middle ear disorders.

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) among the public in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Jeddah during August 2018 by distributing an electronic survey form to participants from different districts of the city. All male and female residents of Jeddah aged 10 years and above had the chance to participate in this study.

Results

A total of 2372 participants (female, 1535/2372, 64.71%; male, 837/2372, 35.28%; mean age 31.31 years, SD 11.85 years) agreed to contribute to our study. Upon analysis of their answers to the questionnaire, the overall prevalence of ETD in our sample was found to be 42.49% (1008/2372). The prevalence was higher among participants who reported a previous diagnosis of ETD and hearing loss (1897/2372, 80.00% and 1902/2372, 80.21%, respectively). Additionally, participants with a family history of hearing loss had a significantly higher prevalence (1136/2372, 47.92%) of ETD than those with no family history of hearing loss. Our analysis also showed that females were at a greater risk of developing ETD than males (P=.01).

Conclusions

As per our prevalence data, ETD is a common disease in Jeddah, pointing to the need for more attention, awareness, and research.

Parental perceptions of dental health and need for treatment in children with epilepsy: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in childhood. However, there have been limited studies on its impact on the oral health of affected children. Our study aimed to assess the oral health of children with epilepsy in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as perceived by their mothers.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in three hospitals. We included children 2–18 years old with physician-confirmed epilepsy diagnosis. We assessed parental perception of dental status and need for dental care using a standardized questionnaire that was completed by the mothers. To adjust for potential confounding variables, we used univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

We included 96 children with epilepsy in our study. Their mean age was 6.4±3.4 years. In 55.2% (n=53), dental status was rated as bad, and in 84.4% (n=81) a need for dental care was expressed. Cerebral palsy (OR 5.06, 95% CI 1.28–19.99; P=0.021), motor disability (OR 6.41, 95% CI 1.12–36.73; P=0.037), referral from a pediatric neurology clinic to a dentist (OR 10.755, 95% CI 3.290–35.151; P<0.001), and irregular brushing of teeth (OR 5.397, 95% CI 1.536–18.961; P=0.009) were significantly associated with increased risk of perceived bad dental status. Perception of the child as being overweight (OR 0.117, 95% CI 0.034–0.400; P=0.001) was significantly associated with decreased risk of perceived bad dental status. Motor disability (OR 5.73, 95% CI 1.64–20.04; P=0.006) was significantly associated with increased parental expression of need for dental care.

Conclusion

In most children with epilepsy, perceived dental status was bad and there was a high expressed need for dental care. Interventions to improve the dental health of children with epilepsy should focus on those with cerebral palsy and motor disability.