Factors affecting the internal brain drain of Saudi healthcare professionals

To investigate factors affecting the internal brain drain of healthcare professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire sent to all Saudi students enrolled in healthcare profession programs in North America. The data was collected between January and March 2008 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. Results were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. A total of 377 completed questionnaires were returned. Results revealed that 71% of respondents intended to return to work within the 2 major urban cities [Riyadh and Jeddah]. Respondents who completed their undergraduate studies in a large city were more likely to work in the same city [odds ratio [OR]=3.2; p=0.000; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0-5.2]. Furthermore, 51% of the students were willing to work in a rural area for a 50% or more increase in their salary. Finally, men were more willing to work in a rural area for a financial incentive [OR=2.3; p=0.006, 95% CI = 1.3-4.3]. This study suggests that realistic financial incentives would probably not suffice to attract Saudi healthcare providers to rural areas. The provision of medical schools in smaller cities and rural areas is predicted to be a more effective method for improving the current maldistribution of healthcare providers

Chemical ablation of the gall bladder: a comparative animal study

One of the major drawbacks of any nonsurgical treatment of gallbladder is the stone recurrence. Ablation of the gallbladder would overcome the risk. In the present research, three different chemicals were used for chemical ablation of the gallbladder in dogs and monkeys. The absolute alcohol was found to cause total necrosis of the gallbladder mucosa and obliteration of its lumen in 33.3% of dogs after 6 months and none for the monkeys. Methyl-tertiary-butyl ether and dextrose 50% are less potent in causing permanent mucosal destruction

Non-surgical ablation of the gall bladder: an animal study

Stone recurrence is one of the major drawbacks of any non-surgical treatment of gall bladder stones. Ablation of the gall bladder would alleviate this risk. In the present research we evaluated different chemical agents in respect to their ability to destroy completely the gall bladder mucosa of the rabbit with subsequent obliteration of its lumen. We found that absolute alcohol caused total necrosis of the mucosa after continuous contact for 10 minutes in all animals studied. This was followed by growth of granulation tissue from the wall into the gall bladder lumen. The lumen was totally obliterated in 50% of the animals studied after 8 weeks. Methyl-tertiary-butyl ether is less potent in causing mucosal destruction; 50% dextrose does not cause permanent damage to the mucosa