ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete's foot, is a fungal infection affecting the skin of the feet, primarily between the toes. Despite being a common condition, there may be gaps in knowledge and practices regarding its transmission, risk factors, and treatment options among the general population. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The study involved 2371 adult population in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed online through social media means. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). RESULTS: A significant portion (66.1%) of respondents reported not examining their feet regularly. The majority (80.7%) of the respondents reported regular use of nail scissors as the common practice. The results further revealed that the majority of respondents (71.7%) were not aware of tinea pedis. Similarly, a large proportion (77.3%) of respondents were unaware of the risk factors associated with tinea pedis. However, among those aware, the most recognized risk factor was diabetes mellitus (82.3%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (37.1%), and immunocompromised conditions like HIV (31.3%). There was a significant association (p = 0.001) between regular foot examination practices and awareness of tinea pedis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is low awareness regarding tinea pedis among the Saudi Arabian population. Only a small proportion demonstrated good knowledge of the condition and its symptoms. However, there is a relatively higher awareness of specific risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease. Hence, it is imperative to enhance education and awareness campaigns to address the gaps in understanding tinea pedis, its associated risk factors, and symptoms, particularly among individuals engaged in physical activities and those who regularly wear sports shoes.
ABSTRACT
Background and objective Cosmetic surgery is a field that primarily focuses on the preservation, rebuilding, or improvement of the physical appearance of an individual through surgical and therapeutic methods. This specialization encompasses various interventions, both surgical, such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation, and non-surgical, including procedures such as chemical peeling, Botox injections, and dermal fillers. This study aims to assess the acceptance of cosmetic surgeries and non-surgical cosmetic procedures and the reasons for non-acceptance in a population from Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in the general population of Jazan, Saudi Arabia, between July and August 2023. An online self-administered questionnaire was created using Google Forms and distributed through social media. The acceptance was measured using the Arabic translation of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS). Results The mean cosmetic surgery acceptance score was 62.1 ± 25.9, whereas the mean non-surgical procedure acceptance score was 63.7 ± 24.5. Engaged and widowed participants had a higher mean acceptance score for cosmetic surgery, whereas divorced participants had a higher mean acceptance score for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Higher age was associated with higher acceptance of cosmetic surgery (95% CI: 1-15), while having higher income was associated with lower acceptance (95% CI: -14 to -0.32). A higher level of parental education was associated with lower acceptance of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures (95% CI: -23 to -3.5). The perceived lack of a need for cosmetic procedures was the most commonly cited reason for not accepting these procedures, while religious beliefs were the second most common reason. Conclusion Non-surgical cosmetic procedures generally had higher acceptance than cosmetic surgeries. Age, sex, marital status, income level, familial influence, and prior experience all played significant roles in shaping these attitudes. The perceived lack of a need for the procedures and religious beliefs were common reasons for not accepting cosmetic procedures.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study factors that influence the desire to utilize breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and to investigate the barriers to reconstruction among women in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study at 2 surgical centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all breast cancer patients attending the surgery clinics for follow-up after mastectomy between January and March 2013. Ninety-one patients met the study inclusion criteria. The first part of the questionnaire covered the demographic and socioeconomic information regarding factors that might influence the desire to utilize breast reconstruction including possible barriers. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the significant predictors of the desire to undergo reconstruction. RESULTS: Overall, 16.5% of patients underwent breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Young age and high educational attainment were significantly associated with an increased desire to undergo reconstruction. The main barriers to reconstruction were the lack of adequate information on the procedure (63%), concerns on the complications of the procedure (68%), and concerns on the reconstruction interfering with the detection of recurrence (54%). CONCLUSION: Age and educational level were significant predictors of the desire to utilize breast reconstruction. Furthermore, modifiable barriers included the lack of knowledge and misconceptions on the procedure. Addressing these issues may increase the rate of breast reconstruction in Saudi Arabia.
