COVID-19 pandemic related excessive electronic media exposure and mental health in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 and the emergence of novel mutated viral variants, families all over the world are experiencing wide-ranging stressors that threaten not only their financial well-being but also their physical and mental health. The present study assessed the association between excessive electronic media exposure of pandemic-related news and mental health of the residents of Ha'il Province, Saudi Arabia. The present study also assessed the prevalence of perceived stress, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, and loneliness due to COVID-19-related restrictions in the same population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 490 residents of Ha'il Province participated in a cross-sectional online survey during a two-month period (March to April 2021). A validated 38-item self-report survey was used to collect the data. RESULTS: Significant associations were reported between excessive electronic media exposure and the prevalence of perceived stress (χ2=140.56; p<.001), generalized anxiety (χ2=74.55; p<.001), depression (χ2=71.58; p<.001), COVID-19-related fear (χ2=24.54; p<.001), and loneliness (χ2=11.46; p<.001). It was also found that participants without depressive symptoms were 0.28 times less likely to have been exposed to excessive electronic media exposure (AOR: 0.28; C.I. 0.16-0.48; p<.001). Similarly, participants with no stress/mild stress were 0.32 times less likely to have been exposed to excessive electronic media exposure (AOR: 0.32; C.I. 0.19-0.52; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest an urgent need for educational resilience programs (online and in-person) for susceptible individuals (females, unemployed, urban residents, etc.). Such programs would help them to develop skills to cope with the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patients with chronic illnesses during the lockdown

COVID-19 pandemic has a tremendous impression on every persons' life worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patients having chronic illnesses. This study involved recruiting 460 participants during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19 disease (May 2020). Individuals who declared chronic disease (s) were ascertained as (cases), and those who didn't report any chronic disease were ascertained as (controls). The psychological influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on patients with chronic illness was then identified through comparing means and relative risk of the case and control groups using several psychiatric measures "Lockdown is necessary for the prevention of disease spread," the great majority of the study population agreed (mean 8.35). Cases (mean=8.48) were more frequently supporting lockdown than controls (mean=8.27).About 99/161(61%), 70/161(43%), 81/161(50%), and 73/161(45%) of the cases (patients with chronic diseases) claimed that COVID-19 prevented them from seeing their doctors, from continuing their medical treatment, increased their chronic illness, produced new symptoms, respectively. The pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has a more frequent psychologic influence on patients with chronic diseases than others. Besides the psychological effects, COVID-19 associated circumstances affected patients with chronic illnesses by several means, particularly during the complete lockdown.

Association between socio-demographical characteristics, comorbidities and anxiety burden during COVID-19 lockdown in Saudi Arabia

Background: During COVID-19, the majority of the globe nations have experienced horrible difficult times during the COVID -19 outbreak. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the association between socio-demographical characteristics, comorbidities and anxiety burden during COVID-19 lockdown in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: In the present descriptive survey, 422 persons (living in the City of Ha'il, Northern Saudi Arabia) were recruited. Both Saudi and non-Saudi persons were included during the COVID-19 lockdown (May 2020). The study was designed to assess the Psychological influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on the community of northern Saudi Arabia. Results: Approximately, 84% of the study population was found with some sorts of anxiety. About 206/257(80%) of the males have claimed some sorts of the anxiety of whom 118/206(57%) were found with anxiety level >= 5. About 150/165(91%) of the females have claimed some sorts of the anxiety of whom 102/150(68%) were found with anxiety level >= 5. The risk of anxiety associated with female gender and the relative risk (RR) the 95% confidence interval (95% CI);RR (95% CI) = 0.4581(0.2666 to 0.7873), P = 0.0047, z-statistic = 2.826. Higher levels of anxiety (level >= 5) were detected in 178/336(53%) Saudi and 42/86(49%) of the non- Saudi participants. The risk of anxiety associated with Saudi participant, RR (95% CI) = 0.8702 (0.5149 to 1.4707), P = 0.6036, z statistic = 0.519. Conclusion: Sociodemographic characteristics (especially, gender, job status, and age) are important factors affecting the community during an epidemic crisis, and should be considered by health policymakers. Especial psychologic support is deemed important for patients with chronic comorbidities, particularly hypertensive patients and those with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Evaluation of knowledge and awareness regarding covid-19 disease among medical and dental students in saudi arabia

Objective: To evaluate the levels of information regarding the current emerging outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among medical and dental students at universities in Saudi Arabia through an online questionnaire. Methods: A detailed structured questionnaire was prepared, containing demographic profiles and questions related to knowledge and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was emailed to 240 subjects, out of these, 209 responded to all the questions. Results: The majority of the respondents were aware of the current and past epidemics of the coronavirus diseases, and they heard about SARS or MERS (89.5%) and the COVID-19 pandemic (94.7%). Internet was the main source of information (63.1%) followed by professors and physicians (24.2%), print media (6.1%), television (4%), and family or friends (2.5%). The majority of respondents received information about COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health (85.6%) and 44.5% of respondents participated in the COVID-19 symposium or conference. Respondents of the college of Medicine were more aware (96.1%) about COVID-19 than respondents of the college of Dentistry (86.2%;p=0.02). Conclusion: The study finds a high level of COVID-19 awareness among medical and dental students at KSA universities. However, there is a need to study in a community-level assessment regarding knowledge about COVID-19. © 2020, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. All rights reserved.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in hail region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a medical condition occurring in critically ill patients characterized by extensive inflammation in the lungs and associated with several complications. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the common risk factors associated with ARDS in Hail Region, Northern Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study investigated retrospectively 68 patients with ARDS clinical presentations during the period from January 2015 to January 2016 in King Khalid Hospital, Hail, Saudi Arabia. Result(s): Out of 68 patients with ARDS clinical presentations, ARDS was verified in 38/68 (55.9%). Out of 38 ARDS patients, 21/38(55.3%) were males and 17/38 (44.7%) of the 68 studied patients, pneumonia, trauma, H1N1 infection and fibrosis were identified in 50(73.5%), 3(4.4%), 13(19.1%) and 12 (17.6%), respectively. Out of the 38 ARDS patients, 29/38 (76.3%) died. Conclusion(s): ARDS is common in Hail Region and a common cause of patients to be admitted to specialized intensive care units. Inhalation injuries associated with pneumonia, H1N1 infection and fibrosis were an independent risk factor for ARDS. The mortality rate observed in the study patients was high and associated with ARDS diagnosis. Copyright All © 2013 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research.