Influence of knowledge and beliefs on consumption of performance enhancing agents in north-western Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of performance enhancing agents (PEAs) has a wide range of negative health consequences, but knowledge of these consequences among gym users of PEAs in Saudi Arabia is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: Identify the knowledge, awareness, beliefs and attitudes of gym users about negative health consequences of using PEAs, and the relationship between these factors and use of these agents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Five gyms in Madinah city, Saudi Arabia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to recruit gym users. An electronic self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Level of knowledge about the negative health consequences of PEAs among gym users. RESULTS: About 70% of 316 participants had used one or more of PEAs over the last six months. Of those, about 68.4% used protein powder supplements and 48.1% used energy drinks. Participants who believed that protein powder supplements (c2=52.3, P < .01) and energy drinks (c2=35.2, P < .01) had health hazards used these agents less often than others during the six months preceding data collection. Participants who had less knowledge about the negative health consequences were more likely to use protein powder supplement (t=2.38, P=.018). On the other hand, those who were more knowledgeable about the negative health consequences of insulin, were more likely to use insulin (t=2.45, P=.015). CONCLUSION: Misuse of PEAs is widespread among gym users in Saudi Arabia. Improving the level of knowledge and awareness of possible serious health consequences would hopefully lead to reduced PEA consumption. LIMITATIONS: The temporal sequence of cause and effect could not be determined in a cross sectional study. Convenience sampling in a single city limited the generalizability of the findings to all regions of Saudi Arabia.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Taxi Drivers.

In the United States (U.S.), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major leading cause of death. Despite the high mortality rate related to CVD, little is known about CVD risk factors among urban taxi drivers in the U.S. A cross-sectional design was used to identify the predictors of high cardiovascular risk factors among taxi drivers. Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 130 taxi drivers. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the data. The sample was male (94 %), age mean (45 ± 10.75) years, married (54 %), born outside of the USA (55 %), had some college or below (61.5 %), night drivers (50.8 %), and driving on average 9.7 years and 41 h/week. About 79 % of them were eligible for CVD prevention, and 35.4 % had high CVD risk factors (4-9 risk factors). A CVD high-risk profile had a significant relationship with the subjects who were ≥55 years old; had hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia; were drinking alcohol ≥2 times/week; and had insufficient physical activity. Subjects who worked as a taxi driver for more than 10 years (OR 4.37; 95 % CI 1.82, 10.50) and had mental exertion from cab driving >5 out of 10 (OR 2.63; 95 % CI 1.05, 6.57) were more likely to have a CVD high-risk profile. As a conclusion, system-level or worksite interventions include offering healthy food at taxi dispatching locations, creating a work culture of frequent walking breaks, and interventions focusing on smoking, physical activity, and weight management. Improving health insurance coverage for this group of workers is recommended.

Knowledge and beliefs about smoking and goals for smoking cessation in hospitalized men with cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVES: To describe perceptions of smoking in men hospitalized with cardiovascular disease (CVD). BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor and associated with the high prevalence of CVD in Jordan. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional with a convenience sample. A structured interview was conducted in 112 men who were hospitalized with CVD. RESULTS: The study showed that 91% of men hospitalized with CVD smoked daily. The majority (83%) had attempted to quit smoking in the past without help from others, and intended to quit in the future using the same previously unsuccessful method. They were unaware of the hazards of smoking such as stroke; or the long term health benefits of quitting smoking. Logistic regressions showed that men were more confident in quitting smoking if they had a high income (OR: 7.7; 95% CI: 2.7, 22.3), longer hospitalizations (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.3), or were hospitalized in acute cardiac settings (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 12.7), and admitted with a diagnosis of MI or angina (OR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 8.3). CONCLUSION: Assessment of smoking status with smoking cessation counseling is paramount in hospitalized men with CVD who smoke.