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Noof A Alabdulqader,1– 3 Sami Al-Nasser,2,3 Nazish Masud2,3 1Department of Medicine, Ministry of Health, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riaydh, Saudi Arabia; 3King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Noof A Alabdulqader, Tel +966554993690, Email 413231001@ksau-hs.edu.saIntroduction: Evidence is lacking to identify what encourages students to conduct research and publish. This study aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators of research and publications from Master of Medical Education student research projects as 15– 20% have published their research while 75– 80% did not.Methods: This study used qualitative in-depth interviews with 17 graduates from the previous 13 batches of the Master of Medical Education program, Saudi Arabia. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants by face to face and Zoom, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were conducted in English, and the recordings were transcribed verbatim. Next, the interview text was read multiple times to familiarize with the data for thematic analysis, where the text was coded inductively. Themes were generated by identifying patterns in the data and merging similar codes. The data were interpreted within the themes and supported with the most relevant quotations.Results: We identified four distinct but interrelated themes and the first theme, the importance and advantages of conducting research and its publication, explains the participants need to conduct research and publish it to survive and progress in the academic environment. In the second theme, positive experiences of conducting research and its publication, we identify what participants’ positive experiences of the research process entail. In the third theme, challenges to conducting research and its publication, we explore the participants’ opinions on the barriers to their efforts to undertake and publish their research. In the last theme, facilitators for conducting research and its publication, we summarize various facilitating factors that participants described as necessary to complete the research process successfully to peer-reviewed publication.Conclusion: Masters’ student researchers, especially those with demanding projects, need to be supported by providing them with critical supervision, an enabling environment, technical support, and guidance at each step of the research process.Keywords: medical education research, research and publishing, barriers and facilitators, Saudi Arabia

Background Globally, less than 10% of graduating medical students select pathology as a future career. Many factors were reported from different settings to influence the choice of pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that determine medical students’ preferences in choosing pathology as a future career. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed students from three governmental medical schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire that contained demographic questions and items that addressed perceived factors that affect the choice of pathology was distributed to medical students. Collected data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). A chi-square test was used to determine the association between independent variables and interest in pathology. Results Out of the 400 questionnaires distributed, 338 students completed the survey with a response rate of 84.5%. Overall, surgery (24%) and internal medicine (20%) were the most favored, specialties with only 5% of the students selecting pathology as their first choice. Patient-doctor interaction (72.2%) was perceived as the most important factor in not choosing pathology as a future career. Taking an elective course, younger age groups, and year in medical school were all significantly associated (p

Ali Al Qarni,1– 3 Sami Al-Nasser,4,5 Abdullah Alzahem,4– 6 Tarig Awad Mohamed4,5 1Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 2King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 3King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riaydh, Saudi Arabia; 5King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Dental Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ali Al QarniEndocrinology and metabolism, Department Of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Po Box 2477, Al Ahsa, Zip, 31982, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 500133678Email qarniaa@ngha.med.saBackground: Quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) are a global health priority. Accordingly, QIPS education in medical education became mandatory. Despite that, information about QIPS education in postgraduate training in Saudi Arabia is limited. This study aimed to explore the educational aspects of QIPS in the internal medicine residency training program at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.Methods: This was a qualitative study employing the constructivist grounded theory approach. The sample size was determined using the theoretical saturation point, and we utilized a purposeful sampling technique. A semi-structured interview was used for data collection and was conducted between September 6 and October 20, 2020.Results: Twenty-two internal medicine trainee residents were required to serve the study purpose. The emerged themes were organized under awareness, education, barriers and opportunities and improvement priorities. Awareness of participants about the QIPS concept, importance, and value of education was found. The participants did not recognize specific dedicated QIPS education components under the structured training program. However, they recognized participation in patient safety-oriented activities but not in quality improvement activities. Consultants’ observations and written exams were perceived as the assessment tools. Barriers including time limitation and opportunities including participation in quality improvement projects were identified. Participants suggested making QIPS education mandatory under the training program as an improvement priority.Conclusion: This study highlighted the awareness of internal medicine residents of the QIPS concept, importance, and value of QIPS education. However, we found crucial gaps related to education including lack of a dedicated QIPS component under the training program. There is a need for multicenter studies to measure the magnitude of our findings for improvement of QIPS education in residency training in Saudi Arabia. This is the first study about QIPS education in residency training in Saudi Arabia up to our best knowledge.Keywords: quality improvement and patient safety, QIPS, internal medicine residency training program, QIPS curriculum

Background Many studies are available in the literature about e-health in Saudi Arabia, however, data is limited to a few organizations and does not necessarily reflect the current and potential use of e-health for health care organizations in the country. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services and significant predictors of their practice. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 440 medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, during October/November 2019, using a previously validated questionnaire, to assess: (1) knowledge in three domains; e-health definition (13 statements), fields of application of e-health (8 statements), methods of using e-health (7 statements), (2) attitude toward using e-health (8 statements) and (3) reported practice of e-health in medical training (5 statements). A scoring system was used to calculate the total and percentage score of knowledge, attitude, and practice for each student. Multiple regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of e-health practice. Significance was considered at p Results Of 440 medical students, the majority were females (55.7%) and from families whose monthly income was more than 10,000SR (82.8%). Overall knowledge about e-health was unsatisfactory (percentage mean score, PMS = 71.6%), with only 43.6% of students reporting a satisfactory level. However, this level was satisfactory for fields of application (Percentage mean score-PMS = 76.6%) and unsatisfactory for the definition of e-health (PMS = 70.7%) and methods of its use (PMS = 65.7%) domains. The overall attitude towards e-health use was positive (PMS = 82.3%), with nearly three-quarters of students (73.4%) reporting a positive attitude. Generally, a good level of practice of e-health was reported by students (PMS = 84.3%), with more than three-quarters of students (78.4%) reporting good practice. Adjusting for age, gender, stream, educational grade, and family monthly income, good practice was significantly predicted with higher knowledge (t = 2.22, p = 0.03) and attitude (t = 2.11, p = 0.04) scores. Conclusion This study provides basic information regarding medical students’ level of awareness of internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services. More resources should be directed to elevate medical students’ knowledge and to motivate them to practice e-health using the available tools.

COVID-19 has ruthlessly invaded the world causing a global disaster in many aspects and fields, particularly the field of medical and health education. Clinical Nutrition Internship Program, at KAMC-Al-Ahsa, has been affected by the precautionary measures in facing the pandemic of COVID-19. These measures may have their own impact on the performance of interns. Consequently, this study aims to determine the degree of such an impact of COVID-19 pandemic on interns’ performance, and also to explore any possible reasons behind it. Therefore, we have proposed our research objectives as follows: 1-mesuring the significance of the impact of COVID-19 on the clinical nutrition interns’ performances. 2- Identifying the reasons caused by COVID-19 that might explain any possible differences in the performance of clinical nutrition interns compared to the previous batch. Method: A t test was used for the comparison between the scores of all interns’ performance for two batches (during COVID-19 and the year before) as a causal comparative study by using the Clinical Nutrition Evaluation form to achieve our first objective. In addition, and to achieve the second objective, one to one interviews were conducted with all interns who have been doing their internship during COVID-19 to investigate and explore any challenges that might negatively influence their performance. Results: Our findings showed that there was a significant difference in the total mean scores of interns’ performance before and after COVID-19 (57.45 ± 1.761, 56.13 ± 1.058 respectively), with p-value 0.007 < 0.05, and a significant deference in Domain 1 (knowledge of work and working abilities) mean scores (27.75 ± 0.967, 26.43 ± 1.121 respectively) with p-value < 0.001 < 0.05 which means there was a significant impact on the clinical nutrition interns’ performances caused by COVID-19 compared to the year before. However, the differences in Domain 2 (Quality and quantity of work) and Domain 3 (General performance) were not significant. The one to one interviews were also conducted, and the data was prepared, organized, transcribed and reviewed by the research team. Coding then took place by labeling and organizing our data to categorize all emerged themes and understand the relationship between them. Coverage, communication, attention, belonging, stress and anxiety, teamwork and quality of work were the main themes that can explain the reasons behind the difference in interns’ performance before and during COVID-19. Recommendations: according the results, we recommend Increase the training hours in the hospital, the practical training and lowering theoretical training, facilitate the communication with the patients and other health professionals with lowering the physical contact, conduct more scientific meetings, workshops and seminars with the interns, provide more assignments and case scenarios for the interns to be done at home, provide additional courses for the interns to enhance their abilities in communication skills, stress management, time management and professionalism.

Background Previous studies described the levels of awareness of patients and health care providers on e-health in general and on e-health for a certain condition/disease. However, none of these studies was conducted in Saudi Arabia. The aims of this study were 1)To determine the levels of knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students on e-health, and 2) To identify the predictors of e-health practice among medical students. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 440 medical students at the college of medicine, King Saud bin-Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, during October/November 2018, using a previously validated questionnaire, to assess: (1) knowledge in three domains; e-health definition (13 statements), fields of application of e-health (8 statements), methods of using e-health (7 statements), (2) attitude toward using e-health (8 statements) and (3) reported practice of e-health in medical training (5 statements). A scoring system was used to calculate the total and percentage score of knowledge, attitude and practice for each student. Multiple regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of e-health practice. Significance was considered at p

This article examines differences and similarities in adolescent tobacco use among Member States of the Health Ministers' Council for the Gulf Cooperation Council (HMC/GCC) using Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data.Nationally representative samples of students in grades associated with ages 13-15 in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Schools were selected proportional to enrollment size, classes were randomly selected within participating schools, and all students in selected classes were eligible to participate.GYTS results confirmed that boys are significantly more likely than girls to smoke cigarettes or use shisha (water pipe). Students had higher rates of tobacco use than adults in Bahrain, Oman, and United Arab Emirates. For boys and girls, shisha use was higher than cigarette smoking in almost all countries. Susceptibility to initiate smoking among never smokers was higher than current cigarette smoking in all countries. Exposure to secondhand smoke in public places was greater than 30%, direct protobacco advertising exposure was greater than 70% on billboards and in newspapers, and more than 10% of students were influenced by indirect advertising. Finally, less than half of the students were taught in school about the dangers of tobacco use in the past year.For boys and girls, high prevalence of cigarette smoking, high prevalence of shisha use, and high susceptibility of never smokers to initiate smoking in the next year are troubling indicators for the future of chronic disease and tobacco-related mortality in the Member States of the HMC/GCC.