Handwashing knowledge, attitudes, and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A non-representative cross-sectional study

Handwashing (HW) with water and soap is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of protecting oneself and others against the coronavirus. Here, the HW knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi adults were assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic using a cross-sectional study conducted between May 8 and June 8, 2020, during a partial lockdown period. A web-based validated questionnaire was distributed through different social media platforms, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, seven items related to knowledge, four items related to attitudes, and thirteen items related to the practice of HW were assessed. A total of 1323 (51% male and 49% female) adults from all regions of Saudi Arabia responded to the questionnaire. The overall mean (± SD) was 5.13 (± 1.18) for knowledge of HW and COVID-19, 2.79 (± 0.77) for attitude toward HW, and 7.8 (± 2.56) for HW practice. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with knowledge to be age and family income. Sex, educational level, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with negative and neutral attitude, whereas age, sex, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with practice. These results suggest that HW knowledge was strongly associated with positive attitudes toward HW and correct HW practice in Saudi adults during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The sudden transition to synchronized online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study exploring medical students' perspectives

BACKGROUND

The closure of educational activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unplanned shift from traditional learning to a setup that exclusively involves digital teaching and learning. Within this context, the present study aimed to explore undergraduate medical students' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of synchronized online learning at Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted using virtual focus group discussions synchronously with the help of a discussion guide consisting of seven open-ended questions. Overall, 60 medical students were recruited using a maximum variation sampling technique; these students then participated in eight focus group discussions. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for thematic contents using the standard (Mayring, Kiger. M. E. and Braun.V) content analysis framework.

RESULTS

A thematic content analysis yielded four core themes: (1) educational impact, (2) time management, (3) challenges encountered, and (4) preferences for the future. The online modality was well-received, and all participants agreed that online sessions were time saving and that their performance was improved due to enhanced utility of time; however, they indicated that they encountered some challenges, including methodological, content perception, technical, and behavioral challenges during sessions and online exams. Most of the preclinical students preferred online learning for the upcoming academic years.

CONCLUSION

Synchronized online classes were well-accepted by the medical students. This represents significant and promising potential for the future of medical education. The principles of the online learning model and learning outcomes should be rigorously and regularly evaluated to monitor its effectiveness.

Microbial and Fungal Phytases Can Affect Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Blood Profile of Broilers Fed Different Levels of Non-Phytic Phosphorous

Simple Summary

To reduce the environmental pollution is a must to preserve the health of the world. The environmental impact of poultry farming is receiving an increasing attention due to several emissions among these is phosphorus. This element is in general present in the commercial diets of broilers or laying hens in an amount exceeding the real needing of the animals, and, therefore, a great amount of phosphorus ends in the excreta. Thus, optimizing the amount of phosphorous in the diets of poultry could partially alleviate the environmental impact of these farms.

Abstract

A total of 420 day old chicks were divided into seven groups (5 replicates of 12 chicks/group) fed isoproteic and isoenergetic diets. The control group was fed diets containing 0.50%, 0.45% and 0.40% of non-phytic phosphorous (nPP) in starter (1–35), grower (37–56) and finisher (57–64 d) periods, respectively. The three intermediate nPP (IntnPP) groups were fed diets with 0.40%, 0.35% and 0.30% nPP according to the growth period and were submitted to three dietary treatments: unsupplemented; supplemented with 500 FTU/kg diet of an Aspergillus niger phytase (IntnPP_fp) and supplemented with 500 FTU/kg diet of an Escherichia coli phytase (IntnPP_bp). The three low nPP groups fed diets contained 0.30%, 0.25% and 0.20% nPP and were submitted to the same dietary treatments than IntnPP to obtain LnPP, LnPP_fp and LnPP_bp groups. IntnPP and LnPP groups had lower body weight gain and feed, crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake (p < 0.05) than the control. Feed conversion ratio of IntnPP was more favorable (p < 0.01) than the LnPP group. CP and ME conversion ratios worsened (p < 0.01) in IntnPP and LnPP groups in comparison to the control. The nPP conversion ratio improved (p < 0.01) from the control to the LnPP group. Fungal phytase reduced (p < 0.05) feed, CP, ME and nPP intake than the bacterial one. IntnPP and LnPP diets had a lower digestibility of CP (p < 0.01) and CF (p = 0.01) than the control. IntnPP and LnPP groups showed a higher (p < 0.05) economic efficiency than the control. Blood total protein was the lowest (p < 0.05) in the LnPP group, the control group showed the lowest (p < 0.05) level of albumin and IntnPP group had the lowest (p < 0.01) globulin level. The use of bacterial phytase increased (p < 0.01) total protein and globulin and decreased (p < 0.05) the plasma cholesterol in comparison to fungal phytase. Decreasing nPP levels in colored slow-growing broilers diet negatively affects growth performance and the use of phytase can partly alleviate these negative effects, but the efficiency of different enzyme sources (bacterial or fungal) was tied to the dietary nPP levels.

Rising incidence of obesity in Saudi residents. A threatening challenge for the surgeons

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is thought to correlate very strongly with individuals general lifestyles. This study was conducted to determine whether lifestyle patterns were potential risk factors for morbid obesity in Saudi residents.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Unaizah City, Qassim Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over a 1-year period from March 2013 to March 2014. The study included 646 residents from the general public of Unaizah who were selected by convenient sampling at a mall and a public sector university, regardless of age and gender, and were given questionnaires regarding the details of their lifestyle patterns. The studied variables included demographic details, dietary habits, physical activity, occupation, body mass index, and unhealthy behavioral habits. The data were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20.

RESULTS

The study population had a mean age of 30.13 ± 12.15 years and comprised 202 (31.3%) male and 444 (68.7%) female subjects. The study subjects were students (39.2%), general public included employed (35.3%), unemployed (23.8%), and others (1.7%). Overall, 79.4% comprised Saudi nationals and the majority (48.3%) had a university-level education. A reasonably high proportion of Saudi subjects were found to have sedentary habits and with physical activity levels far below the standard. Obesity was found in 42% of the study population with low physical activity levels and unhealthy dietary habits. Varying proportions of concomitant hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia were also observed in these subjects.

CONCLUSION

Sedentary habits, low physical activity levels in younger populations, and unhealthy dietary habits are major factors causing obesity in the general public as well as in children and adolescents attending school and university. Serious insight into this problem at the governmental level is needed to improve the overall activity level and avoidance of a sedentary lifestyle by projecting the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis B and C virus infection in Damietta Governorate, Egypt

Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections remain major public health problems in Egypt and data are needed on risk factors for infection. This study determined the prevalence of anti-HCV and HBV surface antigen seropositivity in Damietta Governorate, Egypt, and evaluated potential risk factors for infection and the impact of HBV vaccination on seroprevalence. A household, cross-sectional study was conducted of 2977 individuals. About 20% were vaccinated against HBV. Only 1.1% were infected with HBV and 9.3% with HCV; both infections coexisted in 12 people (0.4%) (all unvaccinated). The main risk factors for both HCV and HBV were exposure to dental procedures, surgery, stitches, schistosomiasis treatment and contact with infected person. HBV and HCV prevalences in Damietta were lower than the national rate, likely due to the routine compulsory HBV vaccination in those aged < 19 years. There is a need to educate the general population about HBV and HCV transmission routes and avoidance of risky behaviours.