Academic job satisfaction questionnaire: construction and validation in Saudi Arabia

Colleges and universities are becoming increasingly accountable for teaching outcomes in order to meet rigorous accreditation standards. Job satisfaction [JS] seems more difficult to measure in the academic field in view of the complexity of roles, duties and responsibilities. To compile and determine the psychometric properties of a proposed Academic Job Satisfaction Questionnaire [AJSQ] suitable for university faculty, and amenable to future upgrading. A 46-item five-option Likert-type draft questionnaire on JS was distributed for anonymous self-reporting by all the academic staff of five colleges in University of Dammam [n=340]. The outcome measures were [1] factor analysis of the questionnaire items, [2] intra-factor alpha-coefficient of Internal Consistency Reliability, [3] inter-factor correlations, [4] comparison of psychometric properties in separately analyzed main faculty subgroups. The response rate was 72.9 percent. Factor analysis extracted eight factors which conjointly explained 60.3 percent of the variance in JS. These factors, in descending order of eigenvalue, were labeled "Authority", "Supervision", "Policies and Facilities", "My Work Itself", "Interpersonal Relationships", "Commitment", "Salary" and "Workload". Cronbach's-alpha ranged from 0.90 in "Supervision" to 0.63 in "Salary" and "Workload". All inter-factor correlations were positive and significant, ranging from 0.65 to 0.23. The psychometric properties of the instrument in separately analyzed subgroups divided by sex, nationality, college and clinical duties produced fairly comparable findings. The AJSQ demonstrated good overall psychometric properties in terms of construct validity and internal consistency reliability in both the overall sample and its separately analyzed subgroups. To replicate these findings in larger multicenter samples of academic staff

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among a noring community

To evaluate the relation between snoring and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] in terms of relevant health parameters and questionnaire responses. Selective random sampling within a household survey in the cities of Al-Khobar and Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a 3 month period during the year 2000, was carried out. One hundred and fifty-two persons, aged 17-62 years, with a positive history of snoring as determined by the spouse or other members of the family were selected. The presence of OSA was determined using the Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS]. The predictors included age, gender and body mass index. Snoring was found to be more associated with OSA as suggested by ESS in the study sample. The severity of snoring and its pattern are more associated with apneic patients. Snoring is common and may be a serious medical problem. This study revealed that snoring is associated with symptoms suggesting OSA syndrome as detected by ESS. The family doctor and his team should be aware of the condition, using simple screening test such as ESS, improves the patient care, and finding of suspected cases

Acute and transient psychotic disorders: demographic and clinical attribute

The ICD-10's Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorders [ATPD] include all psychotic conditions of acute onset and short duration [less than one month], not attributable to organic or substance-related problems and not meeting the diagnostic criteria of a mood disorder. The present study aims to estimate the treated prevalence of ATPD among psychiatric in patients and to identify its distinguishing clinico-demographic features. Method: All consecutive ATPD patients admitted to the psychiatric ward of King Fahd Hospital at the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia over 14 years [1988-2002] constituted the study group. A control group of an equal size, matched for sex and age, was randomly drawn from all the other psychiatric patients admitted during the same period. The socio demographic and clinical features of the two groups were compared. ATPD was diagnosed in 148 [7.3 percent] of a total of 2024 patients, and in 14.1 percent of the 1047 patients presenting with psychotic symptoms. Compared to the matched control group, the ATPD patients were significantly more frequently Asian expatriates, unskilled workers recently immigrating, unaccompanied by their families, living with work-mates or employers. In the overwhelming majority [89.2 percent] of cases ATPD arose following identifiable stressful life events. In most cases the presenting symptoms completely disappeared within the first week of admission. Conclusions: The bulk of ATPD cases seem to be psychogenic reactions to upsetting psychosocial stressors in a background of inadequate social support. The diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive implications of these findings are discussed

Psychiatric Admission in a General Hospital. Patients Profile and Patterns of Service Utilization over a Decade

To analyze the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of admitted patients and the patterns of their service utilization over a decade from March 1988 to March 1998. Prospective data compilation using a structured questionnaire, hospital records and follow-up observations at King Fahd Hospital of the University in Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 1366 patients [683 of each sex] had 2217 admissions in 10 years. By the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition criteria, 19.5% had schizophrenia, 15.2% bipolar disorder, 9.9% depressive episodes, 8.6% acute and transient psychotic disorders, 7.7% adjustment disorders and 7.6% dissociative disorders. Males were more frequently admitted for schizophrenia and females for mood and anxiety disorders. Most non-Arab expatriates were diagnosed as acute and transient psychotic, stress-related or dissociative disorders. Re-hospitalizations constituted 28% of all admissions. The mean length of stay was 25 days per admission and 41 days per patient. The overall bed occupancy rate was 84.9%. A subgroup of 16.9% of patients, mostly with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, consumed 62.3% of the bed occupancy. Gender and immigration were the main determinants of variance in patient characteristics, nosological distribution and pattern of service use. More beds are needed. Psycho-educational programs should be intensified to reduce the social stigma and societal intolerance to mental patients. Active family involvement improves compliance and might reduce re-hospitalization rates. Heavy service consumers should be transferred to long-stay facilities