Knowledge and awareness levels of diabetes mellitus risk factors among nondiabetic visitors of primary health care centers: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: People with a high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are primarily due to lifestyle factors and can be reduced by implementing awareness programs. Therefore, this study evaluates the diabetic awareness level, risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors among nondiabetic participants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 538 nondiabetic participants based on American Diabetic Association (ADA) parameters via face-to-face interview. The sample was collected from five different primary health care centers from November 2019 to February 2020. The target population was nondiabetic with age ≥18 years and participants with other serious chronic illnesses, pregnant women, or unable to communicate effectively were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 538 participants without diabetes data were analyzed, of which 363 (67.5%) were males. Good, moderate, and insufficient knowledge of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus awareness was 34.6%, 52.4%, and 13.0%, respectively. The knowledge level in females' participants was significantly less than the males (OR=2.4; p=0.0005). About 44% had diabetic risk, and the prevalence of diabetes risk was significantly high in males (OR=1.7), obesity (OR=2.9), overweight (OR=2.3), and high blood pressure (OR= 2.2) (all p < 0.05). The risk of diabetes was increased in those participants who consumed more bakery items (p < 0.05). The diabetes risk score was negatively associated with diabetes awareness levels (r= -0.29, p= 0.063). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of diabetes in the general population can be prevented by proactive public health awareness campaigns, particularly among elderly age group, with lower educational level, physically inactive, and obese.

Accuracy of Various Iron Parameters in the Prediction of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Healthy Women of Child Bearing Age, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is still considered the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide and the most significant negative consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This study elucidates if IDA among healthy women of child bearing age could be predicted by various iron parameters, using serum ferritin as a gold standard. METHODS: Between January and June 2009 at primary care clinics of a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia, 112 anemic (Hemoglobin = 120 g/l) subjects participated in the study. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), serum ferritin, and hemoglobin electrophoresis were obtained from all participants. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of various iron parameters. RESULTS: With respect to the serum ferritin, the best predictive cut-off value of MCV, MCH and RDW at the most optimal were 76 fl (ROC curve=0.768), 24 Pg (ROC curve=0.72) and 16.1% (ROC curve=0.711), respectively. MCHC was not significant in predicting the iron deficiency in these patients. CONCLUSION: IDA can be predicted among women of child bearing age using complete blood count test. MCV, MCH and RDW are the iron parameters of complete blood count test, which is a cost effective, easily accessible and could be useful tool in areas with limited resources and a high prevalence of the disease.

Patient attitudes towards medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

CONTEXT: A key element of medical education is patients' willingness to and cooperation in involving a medical student in their care. OBJECTIVE: To assess patients' attitudes and their associated factors toward involving medical students in their care. METHODS: This study was conducted over a period of two months in two hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Six hundred patients were approached to participate in outpatient and inpatient settings of four medical specialty services. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. RESULTS: There were 492 respondents (82%), of whom 50% were males, 74% were married, and 51% were outpatients. Sixty percent identified medical students on the team of doctors that had treated them. Eighty-one percent of respondents felt that students' general appearance and manner were important to their willingness to have them participate in their care, and 64% would not object to the presence of medical students during physical examinations. Most (63%) preferred to be informed about students' involvement beforehand. Fifty-five percent believed that they had the right to refuse medical students, with women, married and less educated individuals and those seen in particular departments more likely to believe so. The preferred role for students also varied with gender, marital status and department. CONCLUSION: This study finds that most Saudi patients view medical students' involvement in their care positively. They prefer to be told in advance about students' presence, asked for their permission, and have students' involvement restricted to certain times.