Problematic Smartphone Use: Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Health Sciences Students in Saudi Arabia.

Excessive smartphone use leads to several physical and psychological disorders, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the associated factors of problematic smartphone use (PSU) among health sciences students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the 2019 academic year, a cross-sectional analytic study randomly recruited 408 health sciences students (67.5% were females), with a mean age of 20.5 ± 1.42. Data on sociodemographic and health profiles, smartphone usage patterns, and overuse symptoms were collected for each participant. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale were used to assess PSU and anxiety levels. PSU was detected in 66.9% of the study participants. The prevalence is high among both females and males (69.5 and 61.7%, respectively). PSU was found to be associated with more years of use and frequent smartphone upgrading (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.97) and (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.65), respectively (p = 0.021 and 0.021, respectively). Participants with moderate and severe anxiety levels were found to be more likely to have PSU (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.05) and (aOR = 5.97, 95% CI: 2.41, 14.78), respectively. (p = 0.010 and < 0.001, respectively). PSU is an emerging problem among health sciences students in Saudi Arabia with a high prevalence in both genders. Longer years of use, more frequent smartphone upgrades, and higher anxiety levels are associated with PSU among health sciences students. Special health education and psychological support programs are recommended to guide and support future healthcare providers against the consequences of PSU.

Mental Well-Being and Self-Efficacy of Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: To assess mental well-being (MW), self-efficacy (SE), and their predictors among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study recruited 1046 HCWs by cluster random sampling technique. Socio-demographic, health, and occupational characteristics were collected for all participants. The WHO five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were used to assess MW and SE of the participants, respectively. The binary logistic regression model was fit to the dependent (outcomes), namely mental well-being and self-efficacy, and independent other variables (predictors). RESULTS: Out of all participants (n=1046), 27.2% had negative MW scores, and 36.6% had low SE scores. The mean scores of both MW and SE were in the normal levels (16.7±5.90 and 31.5±6.63 out of 25 and 40, respectively). Younger and older ages, irregular exercise, nursing professions, history of anxiety and/or depression, lesser years of experience, and longer daily working hours were found to be the main predictors of negative MW and low SE, among study participants. CONCLUSION: Mental well-being (MW) and self-efficacy (SE) of the HCWs in Saudi Arabia are satisfactory but attention should be paid towards supporting the vulnerable groups for promoting the resilience of HCWs during the battle against the current pandemic.

Fear of COVID-19 and Stress-Relieving Practices Among Social Media Users, Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its associated consequences can trigger feelings of fear, concern, and anxiety among the population, leading to unfavorable consequences on mental health. This study aimed to assess fear of COVID-19 and stress-relieving practices among social media users in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 532 adults inhabiting the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia over a period of one month, from June 15 to July 15, 2020. A predesigned, self-administered questionnaire, including assessments of fear of COVID-19 and stress-relieving practices, was used for data collection. Results The mean Fear of COVID-19 Scale score was 17.3±5.21 out of 35. Individuals aged 30-49 years and married individuals had higher mean scores (18.4±5.20 and 18.4±5.29, respectively) compared to other groups (p<0.05). Additionally, individuals with histories of anxiety and depression, individuals suffering from chronic diseases, and those who did not exercise regularly had higher levels of fear compared to other groups (p<0.05). Practicing religious and spiritual rituals was the most commonly adopted stress-relieving practice among study participants (68.6%). Conclusion Adults in Saudi Arabia have considerable levels of fear of COVID-19. Special attention is recommended for highly susceptible groups. Additionally, mental health education programs are recommended for the promotion of the community's psychological resilience in such a global crisis. Spiritual aspects should be included in such mental health education programs.

SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN NAG HAMMADY CITY, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFECTION AND ANEMIA AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH, QENA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

The highest prevalence of schistosomiasis is usually found in school-age children and youth, where it represents the main cause of iron deficiency anemia. Study was done on 859 patients; their age from 5-18 years old at Nag Hammady at the period from July 2013 to July 2014 all of them had subjective history of contact or swimming in water canals. Urine was examined for urinary schistosomiasis by concentration and positive cases were subjected to urine analysis by Nucleopore filtration technique, S. haematobium was 30.96%, while stool samples were macroscopically examined mainly for enterobiasis and gravid segments and then were microscopically examined as stained direct smear and by sedimentation and Kato-Katz techniques. The intestinal parasites other than intestinal schistosomiasis were not encountered and the pure S. mansoni was 0.69% of examined patients. The overall pure schistosomiasis was 31.66%. Iron deficiency anemia was 27.7% in non-infected cases and in schistosomiasis patients iron deficiency anemia were found in 43.38% with statistically significant (P value=0.001).