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INTRODUCTION: Given the growing popularity of contact lenses among female students in Saudi Arabia for various reasons including vision correction as well as aesthetic and therapeutic purposes, it is essential to understand the knowledge about them, their uses, and how to handle them, given their significance in healthcare. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was utilized in this research, employing data from a sample of 413 female students at the University of Bisha. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and were ensured anonymity. RESULTS: The study results showed that 52.9% (n=218) had a good knowledge level while 47.1% (n=195) had poor knowledge about contact lenses use. The results established a statistically significant association between region, faculty, and study year (p<0.005) with p-values of 0.002, 0.001, and 0.005, respectively, and level of knowledge about contact lens use. There was no statistically significant association between the age of the participants and the level of knowledge about contact lens use. CONCLUSION: Although there was a generally good level of awareness about contact lens use among female students, there is still insufficiency in knowledge with regard to particular aspects such as cleaning the contact lenses and contact lens cover. The study finds the need for more ocular educational sessions with ophthalmologists to increase awareness about contact lenses.
RESUMO
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly found global functional pathology with no detectable structural changes. It affects the quality of life and often coexists with psychiatric and somatic issues. We reviewed all articles published between 1990 and April 2023. The databases used for the data search were Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PubMed/MEDLINE. Ovid search engine was also used to broaden the search strategy. Predefined keywords, including "Irritable bowel syndrome" (MeSH) OR "IBS" (all fields), along with "Saudi Arabia" and "Middle East," were used to avoid data loss and ambiguity. Any cross-sectional study that reported the prevalence of IBS in any gender, age, and group of the Saudi population was included. Data extraction was independently performed in duplicate to mitigate bias and data loss. Statistical analysis of proportion was conducted by using Miller (Freeman-Tukey double arcsine - exact inverse). Out of 350 records identified, only 38 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. The total number of study participants was 26,567, on the basis of the predefined inclusion criteria of the study. StatsDirect software was used for the statistical analysis of the study parameters. Based on all 38 identified studies, the calculated pooled prevalence was 20.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 17.8% to 23.7% by applying random effects (DerSimonian-Laird method). IBS was identified in 21% (95% CI = 16.7% to 25.7%) of the general population, 22% (95% CI = 17.6% to 26.7%) of students, and 18.3% (95% CI = 13.3% to 23.9%) of healthcare workers. The pooled prevalence of IBS among the Saudi population was 20.7%. The pathophysiology of IBS is complexed and significantly affected by genetics, diet, cultural characteristics, age, anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep disorders. This study fills a gap in understanding IBS prevalence in Saudi Arabia, contributing valuable data to this region.
