No abstract

Background: Dietary supplement use received wide attention and interest throughout the world, particularly in Gulf countries, because of advanced economic and industrial growth. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of dietary supplement use among medical students at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, an anonymous self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed among medical students at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. Out of the 381 medical students, 366 answered the questionnaire with a response rate of 96%. Analysis of data was done using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program, version 24. Statistical significance was considered at P values <0.05. Results: Regarding the prevalence of dietary supplement use, 36.3% (n=133) and 29.5% (n=108) of the respondents were previous and current users of dietary supplements, respectively. Multivitamins and vitamin D were the most prevalent dietary supplements used by the participants. The students reported that the internet was the main source of knowledge concerning dietary supplements. The significant predictors of dietary supplement use in the logistic regression analysis were: age >21 years (odds ratio (OR): 3.26; confidence interval (CI): 1.67-10.53), females sex (odds ratio (OR): 2.23; confidence interval (CI): 2.34-6.84), and being in the third academic year or more (odds ratio (OR): 2.58; confidence interval (CI): 1.82-5.37). The most reported reasons for utilizing dietary supplements were nutritional supplementation and health promotion. Nearly three-quarters of the students agreed that dietary supplementation is good for health and recommended others to use them after doctor recommendation. Conclusion: Dietary supplement use was remarkably high among medical students at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. Consumption of dietary supplements increased significantly among older students, females, and those in the third academic year or more. This study recommends other studies involving students from non-health domain colleges to detect if there is a difference in the prevalence of dietary supplement use within this population.

Objective: This study aimed to verify the relationships between voice, and behavior in children and adolescents with and without dysphonia based on parents' reports and perceptual voice analysis by Phoniatricans. Study Design: This is a case control study. Patients and Methods:The study involved 51 of dysphonic school-age children and adolescents and 62 vocally normal controls aged from 6-18 years. Participants were assessed with auditory perceptual voice analysis, clinical laryngoscopic examination (CLE). Parents of all participants completed the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6-18 years (CBCL).. Results: Children and adolescents with dysphonia scored higher on Internalizing, Externalizing, Anxiety/depression, Withdrawal/depression, Somatic complaints, Social problems, Attention problems, Rule-breaking, and Aggressive behavior. Children and adolescents with vocal problem scored lower on Activities, Social, School, and thought problems. Correlation analysis between dysphonia severity and CBCL scores demonstrated significant positive correlation in the following scales (Internalizing scale r=0.549; P=0.001, externalizing scale (r=0.370; P= 0.001 and total Behavior scales (r= 0.581; P=0.00), school scale score (r= 0.288; P=0.002), and total Competence indicators (r= 0.230; P= 0.014), withdrawal/depression, social problems, rule-breaking, and aggressive behavior . Conclusion:Vocal fold nodules may be a risk for behavior problems due to the higher scores on behavior problems scales in children and adolescents, especially internalization and externalization aspects and significant positive correlation found between dysphonia severity and CBCL scores. Early interventions of these problems are needed to prevent the persistence of such problems, and reduce its negative impact.

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that one of the authors' given names is not reflected correctly. Author name now is Alshimaa A. Mohamed Lotfy, it should be Alshimaa M. Mohamed Lotfy.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are common prevalent in patients with chronic disease, and Chronic illness are long-lasting conditions with persistent effects and complications. Depression and anxiety disorders are well known to have a negative but significant impact on the course, outcomes, long-term survival, and treatment efficacy of patients suffering from physical disease. Given the high prevalence and potential negative consequences of this type of comorbidity in elderly patients, there is an urgent need for this study to be conducted due to the scarcity of statistics on the topic among middle and older adults in the Al-Qassim region. On the other hand, early identification of people who are more likely to experience psychological distress is critical in prevention and management strategies. OBJECTIVES: To assess the severity of depression and anxiety, using validated self-report measures of middle-aged and older adults; and to determine the association between anxiety and depression levels and socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS: In February 2021 and for two months, a cross-sectional study of middle- aged and older adults from Al-Shifa hospital at Al-Qassim region was conducted with questionnaires on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and validated Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) anxiety and depression questionnaires. Two hundreds middle- aged and older adults participants of Al-Shifa Hospital participated in this study and agreed to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: 79% (n=158) of participants had minimal to mild depression and 21% (n=42) had moderate-to-severe depression; the average PHQ-9 score was 7.05 (M =7.05; SD=4.4), while 81.5% (n=163) of participants had minimal to mild anxiety and 18.5% (n=37) had moderate-to-severe anxiety; the average GAD score was 6.6 (M =6.6; SD =4.3). The significant predictors of moderate-to-severe depression in the logistic regression analysis were: male sex (odds ratio (OR):0.0.272; confidence interval (CI):0.101-0.730) and psychiatric disorders (odds ratio (OR):13.131; confidence interval (CI):2.975-57.949). The significant predictors of moderate-to-severe anxiety in the logistic regression analysis were psychiatric disorders (odds ratio (OR):13.080; confidence interval (CI):3.261-52.464). There was a strong significant positive correlation between PHQ-9 score and GAD score. CONCLUSION: The study group had higher prevalence of moderate and severe depression, which was significantly associated with female sex and psychiatric disorders; while the prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety was significantly associated with the presence of psychiatric disorders. Our findings reaffirm the importance of providing appropriate specialized interventions to promote the mental health of chronically ill elderly, with a focus on high-risk groups.