ABSTRACT
Background: A supportive educational climate in which learners are educated and monitored is a significant determinant of the medical trainees' performance and progress and eventually contributes to better patient care. Therefore, residents' training programs need to be assessed and incorporated according to the views and expectations of the candidates. The objectives of this research are to compare and evaluate the learning environment of Family Medicine (FM) programs in Jeddah and make practical recommendations for improvement of the learning environment. Methods: A descriptive causal-comparative study was designed at FM programs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during January, and February 2021, including all residents from R1 to R4. A Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) questionnaire was used in this study. The overall score and the three domains were calculated. Results: Two hundred and eighty-three questionnaires were distributed, and 262 were completed and collected, making a response rate of 92.6%. Females represented were 150 (57.3%), and males were 112 (42.7%). The study shows that 78 (29.8%) of the residents reported that the learning environment was excellent, and 154 (58.8%) described it as a more positive than the negative environment, whereas 29 (11.1%) described it as having a lot of problems. Out of 160 maximum scores, the highest total score (127) was observed among residents at the National Guard program, whereas the lowest score (108) was in the FM joint program, P < 0.001. Conclusion: Evaluation of the training programs is an essential component of quality assurance procedures. The satisfaction of the FM residents at different programs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is better than reported previously, but however, further improvement is warranted. Juniors and residents of the National Guard program were more satisfied than their peers. We recommend low score items should have special consideration from high authorities and ongoing evaluation of the FM training program for further improvement of the learning environment.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Medical malpractice is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, negatively affecting healthcare systems, communities, and providers. Although physicians value legal knowledge, their understanding of medical law is limited. Integrating medical law and ethics into medical school curriculums can develop a practitioner's decision-making skills, critical thinking abilities, and ethical judgment. The Saudi Board of Emergency Medicine (SBEM) is a residency training program governed by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), which aims to improve healthcare quality and patient safety in Saudi Arabia. This study explored stakeholders' perceptions regarding implementing a legal and bioethical education module in the SBEM curriculum. Methods: Nineteen participants (seven program directors and 12 trainees) from the different training centers around the kingdom (from Riyadh, Jeddah, and eastern province) have been included in the study. Thirty minutes to one-hour face-to-face and virtual (zoom-based) structured interviews have been done. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Then, data have been analyzed using a grounded theory constant comparative approach to develop categories, central themes, and a descriptive model. Results: Four themes have emerged from the data, including planning and executing the current bioethical and legal educational activities in the SBEM, the current teaching methods and guiding resources for the bioethical and legal subjects, the assessment methods used to evaluate the trainees' comprehension of bioethical and legal topics and the opinions regarding integrating bioethical and legal education module with the current curriculum of the SBEM. Conclusion: The study found that the current educational initiatives for legal and bioethical topics in SBEM are insufficient. There are no clear learning objectives, study guides, or combined practices for trainees to develop safe approaches when faced with ethical and legal challenges. A comprehensive protocol with required competencies and dedicated educators may help trainees understand Islamic ethics and jurisprudence principles for delivering culturally sensitive and patient-centered care. Further studies and needs assessments are recommended.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Excessive media use can affect diet of adolescents, but relevant data in Saudi Arabia are lacking. The present study aimed to explore the association between media use, dietary intake, and diet quality among adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included data of 631 adolescents (ages 11-18 years) who were randomly recruited from 16 schools located in two main cities in the Western region of Saudi Arabia (Madinah and Jeddah). Envelopes including a questionnaire were sent home to collect sociodemographic data. Students then completed the short-form food frequency questionnaire to assess diet quality. Data on media use, anthropometrics, and 24-h dietary recalls were also collected. RESULTS: A high proportion of adolescents (86.2%) exceeded media use recommendations of ≤2 h per day. Significantly higher proportions of younger adolescents, males, and non-Saudis reported media use within the recommendation compared to their peers. Media use predicted lower diet quality score (B = -0.67 [95% CI: -1.09 to -0.28]) and lower intake of calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C (B = -104 [95% CI: -203 to -5.24], B = -2.13 [95% CI: -4.15 to -0.11], B = -23.5 [95% CI: -41.3 to -5.65], B = -24.0 [95% CI: -45.1 to -2.96], respectively). CONCLUSION: Interventions to limit media use are urgently needed for adolescents in Saudi Arabia to improve diet quality and overall nutritional health. IMPACT: Excessive media use can affect diet of adolescents, but relevant data are lacking in Saudi Arabia. The majority of adolescents exceed the recommendations for media use. Media use was negatively associated with diet quality and intake of calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C. This study will inform public health entities and policy makers to draw evidence-based, culturally tailored recommendations and develop nutrition interventions to enhance diet quality and nutritional status of adolescents. Findings of this study highlight the urgency to develop intervention programs and policies that aim to limit media use among adolescents.
