Implementation of Universal Pan-Cancer Germline Genetic Testing in an Arab Population: The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer Genetics Study.

PURPOSE: Germline genetic testing (GGT) significantly affects cancer care. While universal testing has been studied in Western societies, less is known about adoption elsewhere. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 3,319 unselected, pan-cancer Jordanian patients diagnosed between April 2021 and September 2022 received GGT. Pathogenic germline variant (PGV) frequency among patients who were in-criteria (IC) or out-of-criteria (OOC; 2020 National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria) and changes in clinical management in response to GGT results were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Fisher's exact test with significance level P < .05. RESULTS: The cohort was predominantly female (69.9%), with a mean age of 53.7 years at testing, and 53.1% were IC. While patients who were IC were more likely than patients who were OOC to have a PGV (15.8% v 9.6%; P < .0001), 149 (34.8%) patients with PGVs were OOC. Clinical management recommendations in response to GGT, including changes to treatment and/or follow-up, were made for 57.3% (161 of 281) of patients with high- or moderate-risk PGVs, including 26.1% (42 of 161) of patients who were OOC. CONCLUSION: Universal GGT of patients with newly diagnosed cancer was successfully implemented in Jordan and led to identification of actionable PGVs that would have been missed with guidelines-based testing.

Perceptions of undergraduate medical students on artificial intelligence in medicine: mixed-methods survey study from Palestine.

BACKGROUND: The current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine continue to attract the attention of medical students. This study aimed to identify undergraduate medical students' attitudes toward AI in medicine, explore present AI-related training opportunities, investigate the need for AI inclusion in medical curricula, and determine preferred methods for teaching AI curricula. METHODS: This study uses a mixed-method cross-sectional design, including a quantitative study and a qualitative study, targeting Palestinian undergraduate medical students in the academic year 2022-2023. In the quantitative part, we recruited a convenience sample of undergraduate medical students from universities in Palestine from June 15, 2022, to May 30, 2023. We collected data by using an online, well-structured, and self-administered questionnaire with 49 items. In the qualitative part, 15 undergraduate medical students were interviewed by trained researchers. Descriptive statistics and an inductive content analysis approach were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. RESULTS: From a total of 371 invitations sent, 362 responses were received (response rate = 97.5%), and 349 were included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 20.38 ± 1.97, with 40.11% (140) in their second year of medical school. Most participants (268, 76.79%) did not receive formal education on AI before or during medical study. About two-thirds of students strongly agreed or agreed that AI would become common in the future (67.9%, 237) and would revolutionize medical fields (68.7%, 240). Participants stated that they had not previously acquired training in the use of AI in medicine during formal medical education (260, 74.5%), confirming a dire need to include AI training in medical curricula (247, 70.8%). Most participants (264, 75.7%) think that learning opportunities for AI in medicine have not been adequate; therefore, it is very important to study more about employing AI in medicine (228, 65.3%). Male students (3.15 ± 0.87) had higher perception scores than female students (2.81 ± 0.86) (p < 0.001). The main themes that resulted from the qualitative analysis of the interview questions were an absence of AI learning opportunities, the necessity of including AI in medical curricula, optimism towards the future of AI in medicine, and expected challenges related to AI in medical fields. CONCLUSION: Medical students lack access to educational opportunities for AI in medicine; therefore, AI should be included in formal medical curricula in Palestine.

E-cigarette use among university students in Palestine: Prevalence, knowledge, and determinant factors.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicated accelerated rates of e-cigarette use, especially among youth in various Middle Eastern countries, including Palestine. Nevertheless, little is known about knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding this topic in Palestine. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use among Palestinian university students, along with their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about e-cigarette use. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study, utilizing an online self-administered questionnaire, was conducted on Palestinian students from five universities between 17/04/2023 and 04/11/2023. RESULTS: A total of 1002 Palestinian university students completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of e-cigarette use among students was 18.1%. The mean knowledge score about e-cigarettes was significantly lower among the users of e-cigarettes compared to non-users. E-cigarette use was significantly associated with the participants' smoking status. Among e-cigarette users, 43.6% were also current traditional cigarette users, and 66.9% were current waterpipe users. E-cigarette use was significantly associated with having a friend who is a smoker and/ or a smoking mother. Binary logistic regression revealed a significant positive effect between the participant's smoking status, the mother's smoking status, knowledge about e-cigarettes, and the use of e-cigarettes (p-value < 0.05). Among e-cigarette users, 18.8% used them in indoor places at the university, and 25% reported using them daily in the past month. Affordability of e-cigarettes was the most reported reason for their use (47.5%). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that e-cigarette use is prevalent and rapidly rising among university students in Palestine. This is worrisome as it is significantly associated with insufficient knowledge about the adverse health effects of E-cigarette use, and its addictive nature. These findings focus on the importance of improving the students' knowledge about e-cigarette use by implementing educational campaigns and considering age regulations on e-cigarette availability and use.

War on healthcare services in Gaza.

This article looks at the October 2023 war on Gaza in the context of the effects of wars on healthcare systems. I will begin with a brief historical overview of the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict to clarify the special status of the Gaza Strip and the hostilities since October 7, 2023. This will be followed by a description of the major distinguishing characteristic of this war, namely, the systematic assault on the healthcare system. Finally, I will attempt to explain the conduct of this war using a necropolitical lens.

Meaning-focused coping as a cultural process: A mixed quantitative and PhotoVoice study of adolescents with Arab backgrounds overcoming stigma and harassment.

Poor mental health among U.S. adolescents has reach epidemic proportions, with those from the Middle East and North African region exhibiting increased risk for distress and suicide ideation. This mixed-methods study analyzes quantitative data from first- and second-generation Arab adolescents (n = 171) and qualitative data from a participatory study conducted with 11 adolescents of the same population to understand the role of cultural resources in coping. Drawing on the Intersectional Theory of Cultural Repertoires in Health, we show that: 1) cultural resources underlie meaning-making throughout coping; 2) coping strategies are inseparable from the influence of peer and familial relationships, as dictated through the social norms and other cultural resources; 3) collectively held repertoires of coping can promote belonging, affirm identity, and protect against discrimination; and 4) the outcomes of coping strategies, and the culturally informed meaning individuals make of these outcomes, influence their future coping behaviors.

Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementia among medical students in Palestine: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Dementia, a major global health concern, is an acquired disorder that causes a progressive decline in cognitive abilities, affecting learning and memory, language, executive function, complex attention, perceptual-motor skills, and social cognition. Our study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding dementia and Alzheimer's disease among medical students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 medical students in Palestine from August 2023 to November 2023. The assessment of knowledge and attitude toward dementia was measured using the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the mean between the groups with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: The overall mean score of the student's knowledge of dementia measured by the ADKS was 18.91 (±3.32 SD) out of 30. The mean score of the student's attitude toward dementia measured by the DAS was 91.68 (±3.32 SD). Clinical students had higher ADKS scores than pre-clinical students (p-value < 0.001). No significant differences in the knowledge and attitudes toward dementia were found between males and females. The medical students' knowledge and attitude scores were positively correlated (ρ = 0.227, p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: Palestinian medical student's knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and dementia is insufficient, with students in the clinical phase showing better understanding than pre-clinical students. The findings highlight a necessity for enhancing the dementia curriculum and conducting further studies to evaluate training's impact on students' knowledge and attitudes.

Factors associated with physical inactivity among Palestinians with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated in resource-limited settings.

This study determined the prevalence and the associated factors with meeting the recommended amount of physical activity among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients receiving care in resource-limited settings of the West Bank of Palestine. Physical activity was assessed using the World Health Organization's Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Associations were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Of the 302 patients included, 117 (38.7%) met the recommended amount of physical activity. Being younger than 58 years [aOR = 2.1 (95% CI 1.0-4.3], were employed [aOR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.1-4.9)], had high income [aOR = 3.9 (95% CI 1.3-11.9)], had thought that physical activity was crucial for T2DM patients [aOR = 32.7 (95% CI 3.9-275.5)], did not have comorbidities [aOR = 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.4)], had normal weight [aOR = 2.8 (95% CI 1.3-6.0)], and those who were overweight [aOR = 2.6 (95% CI 1.1-6.0)] were more likely to meet the recommended amount of physical activity compared to the patients who were 58 years or older, had low income, did not think that physical activity was crucial for T2DM patients, had comorbidities, and were obese, respectively. There is a need to increase physical activity among T2DM patients in resource limited settings.

The prevalence and severity of upper gastrointestinal complications among patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study from Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Many old people have at least one chronic disease. As a result, multiple drugs should be used. Gastrointestinal complications may occur because of the harmful effects of these chronic drugs on the stomach. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal complications in patients taking chronic medications, the severity of these symptoms, and whether they take any gastro-protective drugs or not. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study through face-to-face questionnaires from internal outpatient clinics at a specialized hospital. Patients with chronic diseases who were taking at least one chronic medication were included in the study. Data Collection Form was used to gather information. The Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ) was used to evaluate the severity of the upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients with chronic diseases and using multiple medications were included. Among them, 53.8% were females and 56% were married, 58.5% were unemployed, 70% were not smokers, the mean age was 54.7 ± 17.5 years. The most common comorbid diseases among the patients were diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis, with percentages of 44.3%, 38%, and 27.3%, respectively. The mean number of chronic medications used was 3.36 ± 1.6 with a range of 1 to 9. The most commonly used was aspirin with a percentage of 50%, followed by atorvastatin, bisoprolol, and insulin with percentages of 29.5%, 25%, and 20.3%, respectively. Among the 400 participants, 362 (90.5%) suffered from upper gastrointestinal side effects like indigestion (65.8%), heartburn (78.3%), nausea (48.8%), and regurgitation (52.0%). Based on SF-LDQ scoring, of the 400 respondents, 235(58.8%), 109(27.3%) and 18(4.5%) suffered from mild, moderate and severe dyspepsia, respectively. A high percentage 325 (81.3%) of participants were prescribed gastro-protective medications. Proton pump inhibitors were the most prescribed group in 209 (52.3%) patients. Dyspepsia was significantly associated with older age (p-value = 0.001), being educated (p-value = 0.031), not being single (p-value < 0.001), having health insurance (p-value = 0.021), being a smoker (p-value = 0.003), and using ≥ 5 medications (p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Upper gastrointestinal complications among patients with chronic diseases were very common. Fortunately, the symptoms were mild in most cases. The risk increased with age and using a higher number of medications. It is important to review patients' medications and avoid overuse of them, in addition to use gastro-protective agents when needed.

Assessment of the Arabic patient-centered online information about orthodontic pain: A quality and readability assessment.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the quality and readability of Arabic online information about orthodontic pain. With the increasing reliance on the internet for health information, especially among Arabic speakers, it's critical to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of available content. Our methodology involved a systematic search using the Arabic term for (Orthodontic Pain) in Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This search yielded 193,856 results, from which 74 websites were selected based on predefined criteria, excluding duplicates, scientific papers, and non-Arabic content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For quality assessment, we used the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and the Health on the Net (HON) code. Readability was evaluated using the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) scores. RESULTS: Results indicated that none of the websites received the HONcode seal. The DISCERN assessment showed median total scores of 14.96 (± 5.65), with low overall quality ratings. In JAMA benchmarks, currency was the most achieved aspect, observed in 45 websites (60.81%), but none met all four criteria simultaneously. Readability scores suggested that the content was generally understandable, with a median FKGL score of 6.98 and a median SMOG score of 3.98, indicating middle school-level readability. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a significant gap in the quality of Arabic online resources on orthodontic pain, highlighting the need for improved standards and reliability. Most websites failed to meet established quality criteria, underscoring the necessity for more accurate and trustworthy health information for Arabic-speaking patients.

Epidemiology of primary brain tumor among adolescents and adults in Palestine: a retrospective study from 2018 to 2023.

BACKGROUNDS: Primary brain tumors (PBTs) are uncommon, but they significantly increase the risk of disability and death. There is a deficiency of data concerning the epidemiology and anatomical distribution of PBTs among adults in Palestine. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study in which data were collected from the clinical reports of Palestinian patients diagnosed with PBTs at Al-Makassed Hospital during the period (2018-2023). RESULTS: In Palestinian adolescents and adults, the incidence rate of PBTs was 3.92 per 100,000 person-years. Glioblastoma (18.8%) was the most common type identified, and it was more common in males. Non-malignant tumors were more common than malignant tumors (2.41 vs. 1.52 per 100,000). The mortality rate from PBTs was 4.8%. The most common initial symptom was headaches, and it occurred more with non-malignant tumors (57.28% vs. 42.72%, p-value < 0.001). Cerebral meninges (26.3%) were the most common location for primary brain tumors (p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study of primary brain tumor epidemiology in Palestine. The overall incidence of PBTs in Palestinian adolescents and adults was 3.96 per 100,000, which was lower than the incidence rate of primary brain tumors worldwide. More studies on the epidemiology and distribution of PBTs in Palestine are recommended.

Ethnic disparities in complete and partial molar pregnancy incidence: a retrospective analysis of arab and jewish women in single medical center.

BACKGROUND: Molar pregnancies, encompassing complete and partial moles, represent a rare and enigmatic gestational disorder with potential ethnic variations in incidence. This study aimed to investigate relations of ethnicity with risks of complete and partial molar pregnancies within an Israeli population while accounting for age differences. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of data recorded during 2007-2021 in an academic medical center in Israel. The study population comprised 167 women diagnosed with complete or partial moles, for whom data were obtained through histological examination and P57 immunostaining. Maternal age and ethnicity were extracted from electronic medical records. Incidence rates were calculated per 10,000 live births, and a nested case-control study compared demographic characteristics and molar pregnancy incidences between Arab and Jewish women. Statistical analyses included age-adjusted comparisons, relative risk calculations and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall risk of molar pregnancy was 22 per 10,000 live births (95% confidence interval [CI] 18-25). Among Arab women, the overall risk was 21 (95% CI 17-25), and for PM and CM: 14 (95% CI 11-17) and 7 (95% CI 5-10), respectively. Among Jewish women, the overall risk was 23 (95% CI 18-29), and for PM and CM: 12 (95% CI 8-17) and 11 (95% CI 7-16), respectively. Among Arab women compared to Jewish women, the proportion of all the partial moles was higher: (65.3% vs. 51.6%, p = 0.05). The incidence of partial mole was higher among Arab than Jewish women, aged 35-39 years (26 vs. 8 per 10,000, p = 0.041), and did not differ in other age groups. After adjusting for age, the relative risk of partial moles was lower among Jews than Arabs (0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.0, p = 0.053). For Arab compared to Jewish women, the mean age at molar pregnancies was younger: 31.0 vs. 35.1 years. However, other factors did not differ significantly between Arab and Jewish women with molar pregnancies. In multivariate analysis, Jewish ethnicity was significantly associated with a higher risk of complete molar pregnancies (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.09-4.41, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: This study highlights ethnic differences in molar pregnancy risk within the Israeli population. Jewish ethnicity was associated with a higher risk of complete molar pregnancies, while Arab women had a significantly higher risk of partial moles. These findings underscore the need to consider ethnicity when studying gestational disorders. Further research should seek to elucidate the underlying factors contributing to these differences.

[JEWISH MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM THE BRITISH MANDATE OF PALESTINE/ERETZ ISRAEL - THEIR FINAL MD EXAMINATION IN BERLIN DURING THE THIRD REICH].

INTRODUCTION: Two Jewish medical students who were forced to discontinue their study upon the raise of the Nazi regime, returned/ immigrated to Palestine and did their internship in Palestine. A third student, although faced with many procedural limitations, was able to continue most of his studies in Berlin including passing the MD examination. The first two students returned, after some years, to Berlin to sit for the Doctor examination which enabled them to gain a permanent medical license in Palestine. We describe the different backgrounds of the 3 students which enabled them to do the examination at Berlin's medical faculty during the Nazi regime. The follow up of the three, revealed glorious medical career during the British mandate and during the first years of the new state of Israel. The Dissertations were signed and supported by three leading Professors of the Berlin's Faculty. Two of them were found to have a National-Socialistic background.

A Comparison of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Characteristics Among Israeli Arabs and Jews: Analysis of Two Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving apocrine gland-bearing regions. There is an under-representation of non-Caucasians in epidemiologic studies of HS. The characteristics of HS in Israeli Arabs have not yet been studied. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the demographic and clinical profile of HS in the Israeli Arab population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in two cohorts of patients with HS in Israel. The patients were derived from the database of a large health management organization (n=4191, 639 Arabs; population-based) and a major tertiary medical center (n=372, 49 Arabs). Demographic and clinical data were compared between ethnic groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of HS in Israeli Arabs was found to be 0.5%, fivefold higher than in Jews. Arab patients were younger (35.3 vs. 40.5 years, P < 0.001) and mostly male (52% vs. 35.7%, P < 0.001), with lower rates of co-morbidities, including smoking (40.8% vs. 55.7%, P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia, and depression as well as a higher rate of dissecting cellulitis (10.2% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.008). HS was more severe in Arabs, but of shorter duration, with mainly axillary involvement (79.6% vs. 57.9%, P = 0.004). Treatment with hormones was more common in Jews, and with biologic agents in Arabs. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a different phenotype of HS in Arabs, warranting further study.

Postpartum depression symptoms: prevalence, risk factors, and childbirth experiences in Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide mothers are suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) which impairs mothers' well-being, children, and families, and leads to adverse outcomes for mothers and their growing newborns. Low and middle-income countries have a higher prevalence of PPD and limited studies about it. This study assessed the percentage of Palestinian mothers experiencing PPD nationally, identified mothers at a higher risk of PPD, and studied the correlation between PPD and mistreatment during childbirth. METHODS: The study is based on a secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional study in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). A total of 745 telephone-based interviews with mothers were done within 2-4 weeks post-childbirth. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used as a screening tool for PPD. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used for analyzing the data. RESULTS: In the context of descriptive epidemiology, we observed that 12.6% of the selected Palestinian mothers experienced PPD, with a higher occurrence of PPD among mothers living in the Gaza Strip, a politically and economically unstable region in Palestine, compared to mothers living in the West Bank (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOD: 2.2, Confidence Interval (CI): 1.4-3.44). Older mothers were two times more likely to develop PPD compared to young mothers (AOR: 2.03, CI: 1.070-3.84). Mothers who experienced disrespectful behaviors represented by any abuse, negligence, abandonment, ineffective communication, or poor pain management in childbirth settings were more likely to report PPD than those who were not exposed to the disrespect. CONCLUSION: A notable percentage of Palestinian mothers were identified as experiencing PPD, especially among mothers who experienced mistreatment in childbirth settings. It is essential to support healthcare providers to improve their practices and attitudes to eliminate mistreatment and abusive behaviors of mothers during childbirth.

Divine resilience: Unveiling the impact of religious coping mechanisms on pain endurance in arab older adults battling chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain diminishes the quality of life for many Older Adults individuals. Identifying effective coping methods to enhance pain resilience is imperative as populations age. Older Adults commonly use religious faith and spiritual practices to endure pain, yet little research has explored their impact on pain tolerance. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined relationships between positive/negative religious coping styles and pain endurance in 200 Arab elders with chronic pain. Participants completed the Brief Arab Religious Coping Scale, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, WHOQOL-BREF, and demographic/medical history questionnaires. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis demonstrated significant positive associations between positive religious reappraisal and active spiritual coping with higher self-reported pain endurance (p<.05). Negative religious coping styles lacked meaningful relationships with pain tolerance. Multiple regression confirmed the unique effects of reappraisal and spiritual practice on improving pain resilience, controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes align with perspectives highlighting multidimensional neurocognitive, emotional, and psychosocial pain relief from religious coping. Findings underscore integrating positive faith-based resources in biopsychosocial paradigms for Older Adult's pain management. Additional research should investigate causal pathways and contextual factors influencing religious coping effects on diverse Older Adult subgroups.

Marriage and motherhood: Insights on a crucial life course process from the perspective of female arab-palestinian undergraduate students.

Despite changes in women's status in recent decades in Arab-Palestinian society in Israel, marriage and motherhood still play a central role. Moreover, although the increase in the integration rates of young Arab-Palestinian women into the higher education system, as girls belonging to a minority group with traditional structures, they are expected to prioritize family and community expectations over personal aspirations. This study focuses on art projects of female Arab-Palestinian college students in Israel, which serve as a prism for detecting cultural perceptions of pathways to entering adulthood among this population today. These topics are central themes in the projects in question. Working on these projects forced the students to profoundly contemplate their life stage - being engaged or newly married and young mothers. The aim of the study was to decode the artworks in order to explore the students' feelings and thoughts on a topic rarely considered through the eyes of the young women themselves. The study provides a nuanced examination of the social processes that young educated Arab-Palestinian women experience in the current family structure. By analysing the projects using visual tools from semiotics and art history, along with verbal texts provided by the students, we assert that these projects serve as a crucial avenue for students' self-expression regarding topics seldom addressed. Even though the projects cannot be understood as critical of traditional gender expectations, we did find some interesting voices of unease regarding them. The move from their parents' home to their new one is widely described as difficult, where sadness and concern about the future are highly noticeable. In addition to accepting the stages of marriage and motherhood with joy and excitement, they also express fear and hesitation. This tension between fulfilling their expected roles and being unsure and hesitant about them exists in the projects. We claim that even if implicit and careful, these signs are important to recognize. However, it seems that higher education has failed to significantly undermine patriarchal and gender expectations.

The mental health impact of the October 7th terror attack on Jews and Arabs in Israel: A nationwide prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: On October 7, 2023, Israeli citizens came under an unprecedented terrorist attack that impacted the entire country. Recent research has begun to document the mental health impact of the attack but has yet to address the question of whether the attack had a differential impact across ethnic communities. In this nationwide prospective cohort study, we aimed to determine possible differences in psychopathology between Jews and Arabs in the post-October 7th attack. Specifically, we aimed to understand the role ethnicity may play in changes in probable PTSD, depression, and anxiety diagnoses from pre- to post-attack. METHODS: The sample comprised 656 participants (332 female, 50.7%) aged 18-85 (M = 41.01, SD = 13.72). Of this cohort, 557 participants (84.9%) were Jews, and 99 (15.1%) were Arabs, reflecting their national proportionality. Validated self-report questionnaires were completed to assess PTSD, depression, and anxiety at two time points: August 20 to 30th, 2023 (T1; 6-7 weeks before the attack) and November 9-19, 2023 (T2; 5-6 weeks after the attack). RESULTS: At T2, Arab Israeli participants reported significantly higher prevalences of probable PTSD, depression, and anxiety diagnoses than Jewish Israeli participants. A series of hierarchical logistic regressions revealed that, compared with Jews, Arab participants presented with higher prevalence of probable PTSD (OR = 2.53 95% CI = 1.46-4.37, p < 0.0001), depression (OR = 1.68 95% CI = 1.35-3.01, p < 0.0001) and anxiety (OR = 6.42 95% CI = 3.95-10.52, p < 0.0001), controlling for prevalences of probable diagnoses at T1 as well as for trauma-related variables. DISCUSSION: Citizens belonging to the Arab ethnic minority in Israel were found to be at higher risk for psychopathology in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack compared with their Jewish majority counterparts. Thus, it becomes critical to employ culturally sensitive assessments and interventions following the attack to prevent the development of chronic symptoms and disorders.

Isn't it time for health professionals to shift their focus from preaching politics to promoting peace?

The magnitude of suffering on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides of the current war is beyond comprehension. Political agendas, misinformation and bias related to the conflict are being seen far too frequently in healthcare and medical academia. We believe it is time for healthcare professionals to redirect our attention away from politics and use our medical training to advocate for peace, care, and the welfare of all people, regardless of which side of the conflict they fall into. Politics in the workplace, particularly when disseminated information is divisive and, at times, based on opinion rather than fact, risks significant harm to patients, their families, and healthcare staff, as well as to institutional reputation. If we genuinely care for the well-being of patients and staff, we must lead by example and prevent healthcare systems and medical journals from being hijacked by politics.