Impact of Depression on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)-Associated Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal chronic disorder associated with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. One of the factors that could affect the pathogenesis of IBS is depression, a common psychological disorder that causes social and physical disability and affects productivity. A number of Saudi teachers were found to have depression, which was linked with multiple risk factors including chronic illnesses. However, there is limited data that exhibits the association between IBS and depression, specifically. Therefore, our study aims to determine the impact of depression on IBS-associated gastrointestinal symptoms in Makkah City schools, Saudi Arabia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used two validated scales and translated them into Arabic and then we distributed them to our targeted population. Our sample size was determined to be 383 but we succeeded in recruiting 477 participants in our study. Data were statistically analyzed using the statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Generally, participants who demonstrated mild levels of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scale corresponded significantly with minimal/mild and moderate levels of Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-IBS (GSRS-IBS) scores (n = 85 and 76, respectively; p ˂ 0.001), while participants who scored moderately on the PHQ-9 depression scale corresponded significantly with a severe level of GSRS-IBS scores (n = 29; p ˂ 0.001). Conclusion Our study found a significant association between different levels of depression and IBS among participants with a positive history of IBS. Further studies about the prevalence of IBS, depression, and the nature of their relationship are strongly recommended, in addition to the necessity of a suicide risk assessment for those with severe depression.

Parents' Awareness and Attitude Toward Pediatrics Eye Diseases in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The necessity of early detection and parents' knowledge of pediatric eye conditions and eye care is crucial, not only because of the severe complications it can carry, like blindness, but also due to the availability of preventive measures and the importance of vision in a child's growth and social life. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness of and attitudes toward children's eye diseases of parents in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. METHODS:  This descriptive, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from September to December 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was randomly distributed to fathers and mothers of children younger than 18 through social media platforms. RESULTS:  A total of 470 parents who met the study's inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. The results showed that 72.8% of the parents had poor awareness of pediatric eye diseases, 24.5% had good awareness, and 2.8% had excellent awareness. With regard to the symptoms that might prompt parents to take their children to an eye specialist, eye redness had the highest percentage (24.5%). It was also shown that 68.5% would allow their children to undergo eye surgery, if necessary, while most of those who refused to do so (11.3%) cited fear of the surgical outcome as the cause of their refusal. CONCLUSION:  Our study findings show inadequate parental knowledge about common pediatric eye diseases and eye care practices for children. Therefore, awareness and education programs targeting both parents are recommended to raise the parents' level of awareness of pediatric eye diseases and to improve their attitudes toward the same.

Assessing the Perceptions and Practices Toward Eye Injuries First Aid Among General Population in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim  The eye is a vital and extraordinarily perceptive part of the human body. A wide spectrum of possible outcomes from eye injuries, from temporary vision loss to permanent blindness. There is a lack of information about how to handle an eye injury. Education and raising awareness are the best way to prevent severe complications and eventual loss of vision. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and assess general population knowledge and first aid practices regarding eye injuries in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia, focusing on the importance of early management. Methodology A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered among residents of western Saudi Arabia using a validated questionnaire. One thousand two hundred seventy-nine adults of both genders were randomly chosen to represent the sample. In December 2022, we used a web-based survey to gather our data. Result This study analyzed data from 1279 responses on the online platform. Results showed that good knowledge was significantly higher among females than males, those without a history of eye injury than their peers with injuries, and those with higher educational levels than those with lower educational levels. Additionally, good knowledge was predicted by the female gender (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.1, p < 0.001). Conclusion The study found that public awareness of eye injury first aid was good in the western region. The role of physicians should be expanded and health education campaigns and social media are recommended to achieve the goal of reduction and limiting the most crucial damage to the most sensitive organ in the body.