Assessing frequency and clinical outcomes of BRCA mutated ovarian cancer in Saudi women.

PURPOSE: BRCA gene mutations (BRCAm) have an impact on patients' characteristics and clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer (OC). The frequency and patterns of BRCAm vary among countries and ethnicities. There are limited data from Saudi Arabia (SA); thus, this study aims to determine the frequency, pattern, and impact on patient characteristics and outcomes of BRCAm OC compared to wild-type BRCA (BRCAw) in Saudi women. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated women diagnosed with non-mucinous OC, fallopian tube, or peritoneal carcinoma who had BRCA status tested in an accredited lab between January 2016 and December 2017. The associations between various parameters and BRCAm were estimated using logistic regression. Statistical analysis performed with SPSS (Version 27). RESULT: Sixty-one women with a median age of 52 at diagnosis were analyzed. Germline BRCA mutations were found in 41% of cases (25/61). The most common deleterious germline BRCA1 mutation was c.1140dupG (39%). Most women (72%) had no family history of cancers and 82% had advanced stage. Regardless of BRCA mutations, an optimal overall response rate (ORR) to first-line treatment has been achieved although most cases relapsed (84%) and the majority were platinum-sensitive relapse (85%). Higher ORR to subsequent lines and better survival were obtained in women with BRCA-mutation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BRCAm of OC was higher in Saudi women compared to regional and most of the international figures. The better clinical outcomes of BRCAm women agreed with the reported evidence. Further studies on BRCA mutations of OC and genetic counseling are highly recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial approved by the Institutional Review Board of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (RAC # 2171137) and conducted at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, PO Box 3354, Riyadh 11,211, Saudi Arabia.

Incidence of Medication Errors in King Fahad Hospital Madina Saudi Arabia

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of medication errors over a period of one year in King Fahad Hospital Madina Saudi Arabia. This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of one year from 2018 January to 2018 December using patient's records. King Fahad Hospital in Madina was selected for the study center. Data collected include the number and types of errors, severity, location of errors, errors by profession, and errors occurred in the medical wards. Statistical analysis was carried out using statistical package for social science version22. A total of twenty- six hundred and fifty-eight medication errors were reported during the study period. Among the reports 2567(96.5%) of the errors were due to near misses, followed by transcribing errors 1597(60%), ordering errors 928(34.9%), duplicative therapy 765(28.7%), wrong dose 454(%). The most common procedures involve medication errors were wrong documentation 442(16.6%), duration 168(6.3%) wrong quantity 162(6.4%). Majority of the medication errors were contributed by physicians (99.2%) and 0.7% of them were due to the pharmacist. In conclusion study findings reported that yet some kind of medication errors has been under reported and it was common in most hospital, further studies with intervention programs needed to control the incidence of medication errors in a Saudi hospital

Perceptions and Attitudes of Hospital' Prescribers towards Drug Information Sources and Prescribing Practices

Abstract Healthcare professionals use a variety of drug information sources to fulfill their clinical needs and medical practice. The aim of present study was to assess the sources of drug information among hospital' prescribers and evaluate their prescribing behavior in Saudi hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected hospital' prescribers using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate to the survey was 64.29%, with a ratio of 76.44% male and 23.56% female. The internet 137(60.89%) and textbooks 86(38.22%) were the prevalent sources for drug information used. Up-To-Date 107(47.56%), Medscape 105(46.67%) and FDA 74(32.88%) were the common electronic drug sources used. About 151(67.11%) of hospital' prescribers considered the pharmacist as a reliable drug information source. The most favored drug requests by hospital' prescribers from the pharmacists were drug alternatives 110(48.89%) followed by drug interactions 94(41.78%), side effects 78(34.67%) and indications 60(26.67%). Therapeutic efficacy 168(74.67%) and drug availability 73(32.44%) were the main factors contributed to the selection of drugs. This study shows some differences in hospital prescribers' perceptions of sources of drug information depending upon their background and clinical practice. Therefore, knowing appropriate drug information used by hospital' prescribers is fundamental for drug efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

Prevalence, impact, and management perception of dysmenorrhea among university students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Dysmenorrhea is a common condition among females that is characterized by painful cramps before or during menstruation. It is considered as a common gynecological complaint that affects the quality of women's life. The study evaluated prevalence of dysmenorrhea, its impact, associated risk factors, and the management strategies adopted by female university students in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 562 female students aged 18-30 years at the university level. The results showed a high prevalence rate of dysmenorrhea (79.4%) among the students. The most common risk factors were family history (87.4%) and length of menstruation (79%). Half (50.2%) of the respondents were absent at the university at least 1 day every month. The most widely used medications by the respondents were ibuprofen (42%) and paracetamol (40%), whereas only 3% used mefenamic acid, despite that they experienced complete pain relief with mefenamic acid. High prevalence rate of dysmenorrhea associated with risk factors such as family history and length of menstruation, was found among university students. However, pain and associated symptoms affect the quality of life.

Antenatal care of mothers and morbidity and mortality disparities among preterm Saudi and non-Saudi infants less than or equal to 32 weeks' gestation.

BACKGROUND: Premature non-Saudi infants comprise a significant proportion of neonatal intensive care unit admissions in Saudi Arabia. Any differences in antenatal care of mothers and neonatal outcomes compared with premature Saudi infants are unreported. OBJECTIVE: Assess antenatal care of mothers and neonatal outcomes among premature Saudi and non-Saudi infants, and investigate possible reasons for disparities. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care center in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All neonates of gestational age ≤32 weeks and birthweight <1500 g admitted from 2015 to 2019 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antenatal care of mothers and rates of neonatal mortality and morbidity in premature Saudi and non-Saudi infants. SAMPLE SIZE: 755 premature infants, 437 (57.9%) Saudi, 318 (42.1%) non-Saudi. RESULTS: Saudi mothers received more antenatal steroids and were more likely to have gestational diabetes mellitus (P=.01 and .03, respectively). Non-Saudi mothers were more likely to have pregnancy-induced hypertension (P=.01). Non-Saudi infants had significantly higher rates of intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis compared with Saudi infants (P=.03, <.001, .04, .002, and <.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in mortality rate, early-onset sepsis, and late-onset sepsis between Saudi and non-Saudi infants (P=.81, .81, and .12, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities exist in the antenatal care of Saudi and non-Saudi women and in the neonatal morbidities of their premature infants. There was no difference in the neonatal mortality rate. More quality improvement initiatives are required to reduce differences in antenatal and neonatal outcomes. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, socioeconomic disparities not identified. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses type 8: Expanding genotype/phenotype diversity-first report from Saudi Arabia.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are the most common group of neurodegenerative diseases that presents in childhood and are characterized by seizures and progressive neurological deterioration, which results in dementia, ataxia, visual failure, and various forms of abnormal movement. The most common form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses is late infantile (LI-NCL), in association with the genes CLN2, CLN5, CLN6, and CLN8. We report the cases of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses type 8 in 3 patients from 2 unrelated families, which was confirmed by molecular testing in 2 of them. Multiple spontaneous abortions, early death, and early onset of motor disability were observed in our cases, reflecting a possible association of NCL 8 with other unrecognized neurodegenerative diseases. Our results expand the genotypic/phenotypic background of variant late Infantile-NCL in Arabic ethnicity.

Cardiovascular disease risk screening by pharmacists: a behavior change wheel guided qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: In common with many developed countries, Saudi Arabia is currently experiencing an increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden. However, systematic screening programs for early identification and minimization of CVD risk within community or general clinical settings are limited. Globally, research suggests that pharmacists can play an effective role in identifying, assessing, managing and referring people at risk of CVD in the community as well as in the hospital setting. This role is not yet developed in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of hospital and community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia about potential roles in CVD risk screening. The purpose of the study was to propose potential interventions to facilitate the development of pharmacist delivered models for CVD risk prevention and management services in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with a purposive convenience sample of hospital and community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Data collection continued until saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 50 pharmacists (26 hospital and 24 community pharmacists) participated in this study. Twenty hospital and eight community pharmacists were interviewed individually, while the remaining participants contributed to three focus groups discussions. Currently, it appears that CVD risk prevention services are rarely provided, and when offered involved provision of discrete elements only such as blood pressure measurement, rather than a consolidated evidence based approach to risk assessment. Participating pharmacists did not appear to have a clear understanding of how to assess CVD risk. Four key themes were identified: pharmacists' perception about their current roles in CVD, proposed future clinical and service roles, impeding factors and enabling factors. Subthemes were mainly related to determinants likely to influence future CVD services. These subthemes included public perception of pharmacists' roles, pharmacist-physician collaboration, legislative restrictions, systemic issues, sociocultural barriers, organizational pharmacy issues, lack of professional motivation, government and organizational support and professional pharmacy support frameworks. These influencing factors need to be addressed at micro, meso and macro systems level in order to facilitate development of new pharmacist delivered cognitive services in Saudi Arabia. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia are willing to expand their role and offer pharmacy-based services, but influencing determinants have to be addressed at the individual, professional and health system levels. Further work is needed to clarify and develop practical and appropriate protocols for pharmacist CVD prevention and management services within the Saudi public and health care system. Such work should be guided by implementation science frameworks rather than embarking on conventional research trial pipelines where public benefit of generated evidence is delayed or limited.

Dermatoses due to Arabic cultural and traditional practices.

A number of social and cultural practices are prevalent in the Middle-East celebrating various occasions or to treat health conditions. These often result in dermatoses that are unfamiliar and confusing to dermatologists outside this region. This paper reviews skin manifestations emanating from traditional and ritual practices in Arab countries, particularly those from Saudi Arabia.

Epilepsy stigma in Saudi Arabia: The roles of mind-body dualism, supernatural beliefs, and religiosity.

INTRODUCTION: The stigma of epilepsy continues to negatively impact people with epilepsy (PWE) in many Arab Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia. Socioreligious, cultural, and philosophical ideas prevalent in the region may contribute to the underpinnings of stigma toward PWE, but this has not been sufficiently studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study recruited a convenience sample of people without epilepsy from clinic waiting rooms and through social media. Participants completed a questionnaire with questions about demographics, mind-body dualism (MBD), supernatural beliefs (SB), attitudes toward epilepsy (ATE), and religiosity. RESULTS: A total of 210 participants were recruited. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference in the mean total ATE scores, indicating better ATE with higher education (p < 0.001). Despite the relatively high level of education and a high proportion of participants with medical training, only slightly more than half rejected the possibility that demonic possession may be a cause of epilepsy. Attitudes toward epilepsy were correlated with MDB and SB but not with religiosity. Mind-body dualism and religiosity correlated significantly with negative attitudes toward PWE (p < 0.05). A linear regression model using ATE as the dependent variable and MDB, SB, and educational level as independent variables significantly predicted ATE (F = 15.6, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.24), although SB dropped out as a predictor of ATE in that model. Another regression used SB as the dependent variable, and MBD, religiosity, and educational level as independent variables were also significant with all three variables predicting SB (F = 64.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mind-body dualism was related to the cognitive process leading to supernatural misconceptions about epilepsy and negative attitudes toward PWE in Saudi Arabia. Although misconceptions that supernatural possession was the cause of epilepsy (justifying treatment by religious healing) and was likely derived from prevalent religious beliefs of the region, religiosity was not associated with negative attitudes toward PWE. The merits and efficacy of an intervention focused on reducing the negative effects of MBD and SB on ATE warrants further investigation.

Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts and Motives Among University Students in 12 Muslim-Majority Countries.

There is a scarcity of research on suicidal phenomena in the Muslim world. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the self-reported prevalence of suicidal thoughts, attempts and motives in 12 Muslim countries. A total of 8417 (54.4% women) university students were surveyed by means of a self-report questionnaire. Overall, 22% of the participants reported suicidal ideation and 8.6% reported attempting suicide. The odds of suicidal thoughts were elevated in Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, while reduced ORs were recorded in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Malaysia. While odds of suicide attempts were high in Azerbaijan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia reduced odds ratios (OR) were detected in Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Tunisia. Taking drugs and using a sharp instrument were the two most frequently used methods to attempt suicide. Only 32.7% of attempts required medical attention. Escape motives were endorsed more than social motives by participants who attempted suicide. Suicidal behaviors were more frequent in women than in men. Compered to men, fewer attempts by women required medical attention. Moreover, our results show that making suicide illegal does not reduce the frequency of suicidal behavior. Results from this comparative study show that suicidal thoughts and attempts are frequent events in young adults in countries where religious scripture explicitly prohibit suicide and the frequencies of nonfatal suicidal behavior show large variation in nations adhering to the same religion.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in children and adolescents: An international cross-cultural study.

PURPOSE: We compared various clinical characteristics of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) between young patients from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, three nations with significantly different socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. This international cross-cultural comparative study may advance our knowledge and understanding of PNES in children and adolescents across the cultures and borders. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we investigated all patients 16 years of age or younger, with PNES admitted to the epilepsy monitoring units at one center in Iran, one center in Saudi Arabia, and one center in Canada. Age, gender, age at seizure onset, seizure semiology, seizure frequency, factors potentially predisposing to PNES, and video-electroencephalography (EEG) recording of all patients were registered routinely and compared between the nations. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were studied (22 from Iran, 14 from Saudi Arabia, and 15 from Canada). Age at the diagnosis was 13.4 ±â€¯2.2 years (range: 8-16 years), and age at the onset of seizures was 12.3 ±â€¯2.7 years (range: 5-16 years). Demographic and clinical characteristics of and associated factors in the patients among the three nations were not significantly different. Twenty-six (51%) patients were taking antiepileptic drugs at the time of diagnosis; the difference was not statistically significant between the nations (13 patients in Iran, 6 in Saudi Arabia, and 7 patients in Canada; P = 0.5). CONCLUSION: Young patients with PNES across borders and between cultures share more similarities than differences with regard to their demographic and clinical characteristics.

Churg-Strauss vasculitis presenting with steroid-responsive left ventricular cardiac mass.

A 35-year-old black Saudi man, with a known case of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis since childhood, presented with joint pain and swelling, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea and lower extremity oedema. On examination, we found jugular venous distension, bilateral basal crepitation, wheezing and diffuse synovitis. Investigations were notable for peripheral blood eosinophilia, pericardial effusion and elongated structure in the left ventricular outflow tract on echocardiography, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and right upper lobe infiltrate on high-resolution CT scan. Pulmonary infiltrate biopsy confirmed eosinophilic vasculitis. Intracardiac mass resolved shortly after pulse steroids indicating an inflammatory mass.

The clinical characteristics of Kleine-Levin syndrome according to ethnicity and geographic location.

PURPOSE: Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare, relapsing-remitting, debilitating sleep disorder. Examining KLS characteristics in different ethnic populations may help elucidate the genetic basis of the disorder. No studies have examined KLS in Arabs. Therefore, we compared the clinical characteristics of Saudi Arabian KLS patients to those in other published cohorts to determine whether Arab patients have a distinct phenotype. METHODS: This study included all patients who were diagnosed with KLS at our center between June 2003 and July 2016 (P = 12; Six familial cases). All participants completed the Stanford KLS questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; eating attitudes were assessed with the Eating Attitudes Test-26. We compared the clinical characteristics of our patients to those in other published cohorts. RESULTS: Saudi Arabian patients with KLS had similar features to those in patients from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, with only minor differences in sleep duration during disease episodes (2-3 h shorter). However, between episodes, Saudi Arabian KLS patients reported worse sleep, greater daytime sleepiness and higher levels of baseline depression, which may be related to KLS or to local cultural practices. Ankylosing spondylitis was present in five of the six familial patients. CONCLUSION: Saudi Arabian patients with KLS exhibited similar clinical characteristics during episodes compared to patients with KLS of different ethnicities. However, a new and interesting finding is that KLS patients may have inter-episode behavioral and pathophysiological changes, which may suggest that KLS is not necessarily a static disorder.

Professionals' Attitude Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse in Saudi Arabia.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) requires specialized knowledge and training that includes forensic interview skills. The aim of this study was to determine variations in professionals' attitudes toward CSA by measuring three aspects of forensic attitudes (sensitivity, specificity, and skepticism) and evaluating disagreements concerning the assessment of CSA cases in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, web-based study, in which the Child Forensic Attitude Scale was used to measure professionals' attitudes, was conducted. Professionals who dealt with suspected cases of CSA as part of their jobs or were in professions that necessitated involvement with such cases, were selected as participants. Of 327 participants, 53% were aged ≤40 years, and 54% were men. In addition, 24% were doctors/nurses, 20% were therapists/psychiatrists, 24% were social workers, 17% were educators, 9% were law enforcement professionals, and 5% were medical examiners. Attitude subscale scores differed significantly according to participants' sex, specialty, and training. Women, healthcare professionals, and those who had participated in more than five training courses were more concerned about the underreporting of abuse (high sensitivity) relative to other professionals. In comparison, men, medical examiners, law enforcement officers, and undertrained professionals tended to underreport suspected sexual abuse cases (high specificity). High specificity in attitudes toward suspected cases of CSA could affect professionals' judgment and contribute to low reporting rates. Certain strategies, including increasing self-awareness of personal bias, specific CSA recognition courses, and team approaches to case assessment and management, should be implemented to control the influence of subjective factors.

Self-stigma by people diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression and anxiety: Cross-sectional survey design.

AIM: This study investigated self-attitudes towards schizophrenia, depression and anxiety. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 564 people with a schizophrenia, depression and anxiety who are currently being treated at a psychiatric clinic in Amman, Jordan. RESULTS: The research found that stigma towards schizophrenia, depression and anxiety was based around three factors: preconceived stereotypes, personal responsibility/blame and the perceived inability of a patient to recover. Schizophrenia, in particular, was linked more strongly to negative stereotypes and an inability to recover and less associated to personal responsibility/blame in comparison to depression and anxiety. DISCUSSION: Three identical stigma factors emerged for each diagnosis which reflected themes identified in previous literature. People with schizophrenia are seen as more dangerous and less likely to recover than those suffering from other mental illness. Anxiety was seen most favourably by the self; it was associated with less negative stereotypes and seen as more likely to cure. Interestingly, anxiety and depression were seen almost identically. CONCLUSION: The self-perception of mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, depression and anxiety, have important implications for the planning of anti-stigma and awareness raising programmes. By gaining a thorough understanding of these perceptions and the rationale behind them, it may be possible to develop effective, tailor-made interventions.

Cultural differences in attention: Eye movement evidence from a comparative visual search task.

Individual differences in visual attention have been linked to thinking style: analytic thinking (common in individualistic cultures) is thought to promote attention to detail and focus on the most important part of a scene, whereas holistic thinking (common in collectivist cultures) promotes attention to the global structure of a scene and the relationship between its parts. However, this theory is primarily based on relatively simple judgement tasks. We compared groups from Great Britain (an individualist culture) and Saudi Arabia (a collectivist culture) on a more complex comparative visual search task, using simple natural scenes. A higher overall number of fixations for Saudi participants, along with longer search times, indicated less efficient search behaviour than British participants. Furthermore, intra-group comparisons of scan-path for Saudi participants revealed less similarity than within the British group. Together, these findings suggest that there is a positive relationship between an analytic cognitive style and controlled attention.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Saudi Arabian Soldier Stationed in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a common parasitic disease seen in many parts of the world, especially in areas where current U.S. and international forces are deployed. Approximately 350 million people are thought to be at risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with an annual incidence of 1.5 million cases. Over 90% of cutaneous infections with Leishmania occur in the Middle East, Brazil, and Peru. Outbreaks of CL may occur in military personnel deployed to endemic areas. Since the incubation period for symptomatic CL ranges from weeks to months, symptoms may not appear until well after returning to the United States. As operations continue to expand globally, the exposure and concern for leishmaniasis persists for military physicians. We describe localized CL in a previously healthy male in an effort to help medical personnel identify leishmaniasis on the basis of cutaneous lesions alone, as well as increase diagnostic suspicion when treating patients in nonendemic areas. RESULTS: A previously healthy 30-year-old Saudi Arabian male presented to the emergency department with a 1-month history of four well-demarcated nonhealing, painless ulcers on his left ear, hand, and foot. Symptoms began shortly after arriving in the United States. He had been treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, oral clindamycin, mupirocin ointment, and vancomycin for suspected infection without improvement of lesions. Upon presentation to dermatology, physical examination revealed a firm erythematous plaque with central ulceration on his left ear. Two shallow indurated ulcers were also found on his left fourth dorsal finger and left dorsal foot. Biopsy of the foot revealed granulomatous inflammation with predominantly lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and multinucleated giant cells. Parasitized histiocytes were identified on hematoxylin and eosin stain and focally on Giemsa stain. Polymerase chain was consistent with a diagnosis of leishmaniasis and outpatient treatment was initiated with fluconazole 200 mg daily for 6 weeks. At 2-week follow-up, lesions were noted to be stabilized. DISCUSSION: CL has a wide variety of presentations. The classic lesion appears as a papule that will enlarge, often developing into a nodule or plaque-like lesion with central ulceration. The lesion may be covered with an eschar or by fibrinous material. This presentation can mimic many disease processes resulting in an extensive differential diagnosis that includes bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, cutaneous malignancy, and insect bites. The clinical course, treatment options, response to therapy, and prognosis are all highly variable and dependent on the causative species. Local therapy options, oral systemic agents, and parenteral agents have all shown varying results in the treatment of leishmaniasis. The difficulty with standardizing treatment options for CL stems from the lack of well-controlled studies and the lack of standardized outcome measures. This deficiency in comparative studies of treatment hinders consensual recommendations. However, the choice of the correct therapy often depends on the experience of the clinician, burden of disease, preferences of patients, and cost-effectiveness considerations for the patient and/or the health care system.

Solitude, Religious and Cultural Uniqueness in a Foreign Environment: Adjustments as an Arab Student.

Arab-Muslims have extremely religious-centered and restrictive cultural practices. Living in a foreign country where Islam is a minority religion and culture is categorically different entails a great deal of adjustment. This study explored how Arab-Muslim International Students live and cope in a non-Arab, non-Muslim country. The authors used phenomenological approach with Colaizzi's method of analysis to (1) explore the lived experience of the Arab students' academic and social life and (2) come up with recommendations that can be supported by universities in Philippines and other countries with Arab students. Emergent themes include Hybrid vision and empowerment from education beyond borders "Tatallo at wa kudurat," Stigma in the Arab world "Hallah," Islam as way of life "Al Islam: Manhaj Hayyat," and Future of the Arab-Muslim students "Wahaa." The major concepts that emerged from the lived experience of these students focused on the practical reasons for quality education, challenges along the way, culture shock, the stigma, and misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims. They experienced discrimination, the impact of stereotyping and misconceptions about the Arab-Muslims. Their tenacity of the Islam faith has become a coping mechanism and kept them enormously strong. They also strived to show the real meaning of being Muslim, and finally, looking forward to how they can become the oasis in the desert. The Arab-Muslim International Students experience difficult adjustments in a foreign country to acquire high quality education, while holding on to their Islam faith and keeping their culture intact.