Prevalence, factors associated and management of needle phobia among the general population in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the prevalence of needle phobia among Saudi and Egyptian adult populations. In addition, underlying causes and strategies that can be utilized to address needle fear were investigated. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted in Saudi Arabia and Egypt between 1 May and 30 June 2023. Participants aged 18 years and above and living in Saudi Arabia and Egypt were eligible to complete the survey. Participants were invited to participate in this study through social media platforms (Facebook, X, Snapchat, and Instagram). A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. A 21-item questionnaire consisting of four sections including a Likert scale score was used to answer the research objectives. Numeric data were presented as mean ± SD. For categorical variables, percentages were used. Comparison between groups were made by Student's t-test or Mann Whitney test according to data distribution. Chi squared tests for categorical values were conducted. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with needle phobia. RESULTS: A total of 4065 participants were involved in this study (Saudi Arabia: 2628 and Egypt: 1437). Around one-third of the study participants (36.5%) confirmed that they have needle phobia. Most of the study participants (81.1%) reported that they have had needle phobia since they were under 18 years of age. Pain, general anxiety, and fear of making a mistake during the procedure were the most commonly reported contributors for fear of needles during or before a medical procedure. Around 15.8% of the study participants reported that they have tried to get rid of phobia from needles. Non-surgical alternatives (such as oral medications and patches) and using smaller/thinner needles were the most commonly reported interventions that reduced fear of needles. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that females, those who are aged (41-50 years), widowed, those with bachelor's degrees and higher education, and those unemployed were more likely to have needle phobia compared to others. CONCLUSION: Our study highlighted the high prevalence of needle fear within an adult population in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Females, those who are aged (41-50 years), those widowed, those with higher education degrees, those unemployed, those working in the health sector and people with low income were more likely to have needle phobia compared to others.

Awareness About the Benefits of Post-bariatric Surgery in Diabetic Patients in Makkah Almukarramah, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: To measure awareness about the benefits of post-bariatric surgery, which is a shortening of the gut in order to lose weight in diabetic patients in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among diabetic patients aged 18-65 from February to July 2023. An online questionnaire via Google Forms was distributed and used to assess the participants' awareness of the benefits of post-bariatric surgery for diabetic patients. RESULTS: Overall, 388 participants (56.40% female, 43.60% male) were surveyed. Most participants (91.5%) showed awareness of gastric sleeve surgery, while a significant proportion (85.8%) recognized obesity as a disease. A majority of participants (80.90%) showed awareness of the association between obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, only 46.10% of participants showed awareness of eligibility criteria associated with bariatric surgery. The majority recognized the effectiveness of bariatric surgery for weight loss but did not consider it the first choice, emphasizing a preference for non-surgical weight loss strategies. CONCLUSION: Participants demonstrated good knowledge about obesity and its implications for health. They also demonstrated good knowledge about bariatric surgery as an effective weight reduction method but expressed a preference for non-surgical methods, which reflects their awareness of the complications of bariatric surgery. However, the results showed a lack of awareness of postoperative indications and lifestyle changes, thus highlighting the need for comprehensive patient education and counseling.

Knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and human papilloma virus vaccine among Saudi women of childbearing age: A community-based cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To examine the knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine among Saudi women of childbearing age. Methods: An anonymous, survey-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to March 2023. Results: Overall, 422 participants were included in the current study. Most participants were within the age group of 15-25 years old (42.9%), single (47.9%), and educated with a bachelor's degree (70%). Out of a total of 14 points, the average knowledge score for all participants was 7.3 ± 2.31 (range: 2-14). More than three-quarters of the surveyed participants correctly identified the following risk factors for cervical cancer: multiple sexual partners (78.2%), having weakened immunity (82.7%), infection with HPV (82.9%), and positive family history of cervical cancer (88.9%). Concerning HPV vaccine, 153 (36.3%) participants heard about HPV vaccine and only 20 (4.4%) of them were vaccinated. Only 128 (30.3%) participants stated correctly that 9-13 years old is the best age to start HPV vaccine, whereas 51 (12.1%) participants correctly stated the number of HPV vaccine doses to be three over six months. Overall, 167 (39.6%) participants declined to receive the HPV vaccine. The three most frequently reported reasons included not hearing about HPV vaccine (35.3%), fear from HPV-related side effects (30.5%), and apprehension from HPV vaccine injection (16.2%). Among several socio-demographic characteristics, occupation was statistically significantly associated with knowledge score (p < 0.001), with students in health specialties tended to have the highest knowledge score compared with others. Conclusion: Most participants displayed good knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, but not about HPV vaccine. Very alarmingly, less than 5% of the participants received HPV vaccine and close to 40% of them declined to receive the HPV vaccine. Mechanisms to increase public awareness about HPV vaccine and its acceptance by women are recommended.