prevalence and association of stress with sleep quality among medical students

Introduction: Medical students tend to reduce their sleep, in an effort to adjust and cope with their work-load and stressful environment. This study estimated the prevalence of and the relationship between poor sleep quality and stress among medical students

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a stratified random sample of male and female medical students in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the stress level by using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Results: A high prevalence of poor sleep quality [76%] and stress [53%] were found, with a statistically significant association [p < 0.001]. Logistic regression indicated that students who are not suffering from stress are less likely to have poor sleep quality [OR = 0.28, p < 0.001], and the risk of having poor sleep quality is almost four times higher in students whose cumulative grade point average [GPA] is less than 4.25 [OR = 3.83, p = 0.01]

Conclusion: The study documents a statistically significant association between stress and poor sleep quality. A recommendation for the management of medical college is to establish academic counseling centers focusing in promoting good sleep hygiene and strengthening students' study skills and coping with their stressful environment

Is the Saudi public aware of Middle East respiratory syndrome?

To limit the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV] in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health tried to raise public awareness using different public campaigns. We aimed to measure public awareness of MERS in Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2014 using a newly designed Arabic questionnaire that was distributed and completed online

We analyzed the response of 1149 respondents across Saudi Arabia. We found that 97% of the participants were aware of MERS. In addition, 72% realized that coughing and sneezing could spread the infection. Furthermore, 83% thought that some patients with MERS could be cured. Moreover, 62% knew that no vaccine can prevent the disease. However, only 36% realized that taking antibiotics will not stop the infection, and only 41% recognized that no medication has yet been manufactured to treat it. Regarding protection measures, 74% used hand sanitizers, 43% avoided crowded places, and 11% wore masks in public places. Moreover, only 47% knew that bats and camels are the primary source of the virus. As anticipated, this level of awareness varied between the different categories of the studied population. Female, married, older, and more educated participants were significantly more knowledgeable about the disease Public awareness of MERS is generally sufficient. However, some false beliefs about treatment were fairly common. In addition, almost half of the population remains unaware that bats and camels are the most likely sources of the virus

Glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus

To determine the frequency of use of HbA1c level as an indicator for type 2 diabetes control and to identify the Glycaemia control among type 2 diabetic patients. A retrospective study. Dair Health Center. Medical records of all diabetic patients were reviewed for having a test result of HBA1c and for the average level of this test from first of January till the end of December 2004. The time of record review was from first of April 2005 till the end of May 2005. Among 383 type 2 diabetic patients treated at Dair Health Center during 2004, only 178 cases [46.5%] had HBA1c test. Out of these, twenty cases [11.2%] had an HBA1c level of 7% and below. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean of HBA1c for males and females. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean of HBA1c and the type of treatment. HBA1c was underused as an indicator for diabetic control in Dair health center. Furthermore, more stress on strict Glycemic control needs to be emphasized