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Objectives: More than half of the world's population live in areas potentially at risk of acquiring dengue fever (DF). Evaluation of awareness and health beliefs regarding DF among the general population is important for devising disease control strategies. This study assessed knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive practices against DF in different dengue endemic districts of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods A Cross-sectional study was conducted in three dengue-endemic districts of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The community members residing in these areas were randomly selected by multistage stratified random sample method and interviewed individually using a structured validated questionnaire. Overall mean scores were calculated for knowledge, practices, and Health Belief Model (HBM) construct. Bivariate analysis using a chi-square test and multivariate regression analysis were performed to test the association between DF knowledge, practices, and predictors. Results: Around 61% (mean = 11.18) and 52% (mean = 5.17) individuals had adequate DF knowledge and practices, respectively. Multivariate regression showed perceived mosquito control benefits (OR=1.857, 95% CI=1.078-3.199, p=0.026) and perceived barriers (OR=0.532, 95% CI=0.305-0.926, p=0.026) as significant predictors for adequate dengue knowledge. For dengue preventive practices the only predictor was their perception of mosquito control benefit (OR=1.864, 95% CI=1.109-3.134, p=0.019). Conclusion: Overall, DF knowledge and practices were rather limited in selected dengue endemic districts of Jeddah. Adequate knowledge leads to satisfactory dengue preventive practices. Health beliefs remain significant predictors of both knowledge and dengue prevention practices. Findings suggest that HBM constructs can be integrated as ways of motivating for the adoption of preventive practices against DF.

In today’s competitive and media-influenced health care environment, resource utilization is driven by patient outcome. A key criterion to evaluate the quality of health care services is to assess patients’ satisfaction. The objectives of this study were to compare patients’ satisfaction in the first and last quarters after Primary Health Care Centers’ (PHCCs) integration with Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals in Jeddah, and to identify the factors contributing toward patient’s satisfaction in first and last quarters. This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting PHCCs in the first and last quarters. Randomly selected participants were interviewed using a validated closed-ended questionnaire, part of which also included modified Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ18) with its subscales and standard cutoffs. Chi-squared test and multinomial logistic regression analysis were run to find the factors associated with satisfaction. The overall satisfaction in our study participants was 66.3% in the first quarter as compared with 83% in the last quarter. The mean scores of most PSQ18 subscales in the first and last quarters after the integration showed significant difference. Multinomial logistic regression analysis of the first quarter after integration showed three to fourfold increase in satisfaction of individuals who perceive an improvement in registration counters’ load, cleanliness of centers, satisfaction with the staff’s behavior, and ease in referral as compared with non-satisfaction [OR 3.60 (p = 0.018); OR 4.33 (p = 0.001); OR 2.47 (p = 0.055); and OR 4.45 (p = 0.005), respectively]. However, in the last quarter those satisfied with the staff’s behavior (OR 2.48, p = 0.038), and dental facilities (OR 2.74, p = 0.043) had an odds ratio of ≥2. PHCCs integration with the hospitals is an effective strategy, which not only has improved functionality but has a significant effect on patient’s satisfaction. Treating patients served by PHCCs integrated with hospitals is thus recommended.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health problem in many developing countries including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Patient compliance with anti-tuberculosis treatment is a determining factor in controlling the spread of TB. This study compares the default rate and the perception of their treatment among TB patients being treated by means of a community mobile outreach approach, with those of patients being treated by means of a facility-based Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) in the Jeddah region of Saudi Arabia. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study of 200 TB patients who presented at the Madain Alfahd Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) Jeddah, between January 2018 and November 2018 was undertaken. In one group, randomly assigned patients were served by mobile outreach teams who administered oral anti-TB treatment under the DOTS regime. In the other group, the patients were treated by means of the traditional facility-based DOTS treatment. A questionnaire measuring patient attitudes and understanding of the disease and their treatment modes was completed by patients at the beginning of their treatment, and again after 3 months. The results were analysed by means of independent and Paired T Tests, along with chi square analysis. Results We found that the overall default rate among those patients served by our mobile outreach team was only 3%, compared with a 22% default rate among non-mobile team treated patients (p =

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health threat affecting people in many developing countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Maintaining a long-term treatment regimen has always been the cornerstone of successful treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients. In the Jeddah region, the National Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Program is now treating TB patients by means of a community mobile outreach team approach.The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the community mobile outreach approach in improving treatment outcomes (success rate) among local tuberculosis patients with those being treated with a facility-based directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS). Study design: Our study consisted of a two-sample, parallel design [1:1], statistician -blind randomized control trial with 200 newly diagnosed, TB patients as subjects. Setting/participants: The patients had all presented at the Madain Alfahd Primary Health Care Center, Jeddah. Between Nov 2017 and Nov 2018, a total of 221 TB patients were screened of whom 200 were randomly selected using randomly generated sequences. Intervention: Patients in the intervention sample group were treated by means of mobile outreach teams with oral anti-TB treatment under the DOTS, and control group patients were given the traditional facility-based DOTS treatment according to the WHO recommendations and national guidelines. Main outcome: The primary outcome was the level of overall treatment success rate. It was finally determined and compared in the two sample groups using chi-square analysis and relative risk assessment. Results: In the analysis stage, 97 patients were in the intervention group, while the control group consisted of 76. The overall response rate was 86.5% (173/200). We found that the percentage of overall treatment success rate among the patients served by the mobile outreach team was 97%, compared to 76% in the non-mobile team treated patients. The relative risk of treatment success rate among the intervention group was 1.27 (95% CI = 1.13–1.43) times greater than that amongst the control group. Log-rank test (log-rank statistics = 18.91; p