PURPOSE:The purpose of this study is to compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measured by the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), the Tono-Pen XL (TPXL), and a noncontact airpuff tonometer (NCT) in glaucoma patients and normal controls.METHODOLOGY:In the current study, two groups of individuals were recruited; the first group included glaucoma patients (glaucoma group) while the second one was a glaucoma-free group. The IOP was measured through GAT, NCT, and TPXL for the same participants by three different physicians in both groups. Measurements through the three devices were compared statistically. Correlations between different methods of assessment were also assessed.RESULTS:In the glaucoma group, the mean IOP measured was 16.0 ± 5.5 mmHg (range, 6–40 mmHg) with GAT 20.5 ± 6.9 mmHg (range, 10–52 mmHg) with the TPXL, and 20.2 ± 6.5 mmHg (range, 8–50 mmHg) with the NCT. In the control group, the mean IOP was 14.0 ± 2.7 mmHg (range, 9–19 mmHg) with GAT, 17.3 ± 3.8 mmHg (range 6–30 mmHg) with the TPXL, and 17.9 ± 3.9 mHg (range 10–27 mmHg) with the NCT.CONCLUSION:IOP measurements were approved among the three devices with relatively higher readings using both NTC and TPXL. All three methods are required to address different situations that present in the daily clinical and surgical practice.

Background & Objectives:Primary health care (PHC) physicians are foremost to confront childhood and adolescent obesity. Our objective was to evaluate PHC Physicians perspectives for managing overweight/obesity in children and adolescents.Methods:PHC services from eight public hospitals in Riyadh participated. A self-administered tool maintaining anonymity evaluated facilitators and barriers for managing overweight/obese children and adolescent patients. Physicians who ‘always’ recommended weight management for an overweight / obese patient during past year, by involving patient, parents, and others were classified as having positive and appropriate practice.Results:Of the 58 respondents, 51.7% had appropriate practices. Lack of patient motivation (82.2%), and parental involvement (70.7%) were the major barriers. Physicians with appropriate practices differed in perspectives from those with less appropriate practices by attending continued education forums (p<0.026), referring patients to sub-specialty (p< 0.041), clinical knowledge (p<0.039), convinced on interventions (p<0.017), low concern for precipitating eating disorders (p<0.019), comfortable in examining obese patients (p<0.020), and considered patient’s readiness for weight change (p< 0.007).Conclusion:Efforts are needed to equip PHC physicians in managing overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents.

No abstract

Background: Despite knowing the seriousness of obesity and its impact on health, its prevalence still growing in Saudi Arabia, which puts a considerable financial burden on governments and individuals resources Objective: to determine the prevalence of obesity among Saudi female in Riyadh city, Find out level of awareness among women regarding obesity and its problems. Methods: A cross-sectional study among Saudi female in Riyadh. Selfadministered pretested questionnaire was distributed in six major shopping malls in January, 2011. The administered questionnaire included the demographic data, anthropometric measurements, questions to assess the knowledge of participants about obesity. Results: Total of 174 female participants included in study, mean age was 22 years. 59 % of participants have collage level education, 50% high school education .For marital status , 63% of participant were married. Regarding the participants weight, 33.3% were overweight (BMI 25-30) and 28% were obese (above 30). Most of participants reported High caloric intake (96%) and Lack of physical activity (92%) as the main risk factor for obesity. For health consequences and complication of obesity, Most of participants reported hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and DM as the main health consequence for obesity with percentage of 79%, 70%, 73%, 70% respectively. While 30%, 26 % and 10% reported cancer, sleep apnea and Gynecological problems as health problem related to obesity (respectively). Conclusion: Obesity is a real public health problem among Saudi female that need control strategies through life style modification and medical intervention. Knowledge of the health consequences of obesity among Saudi female were high about cardiovascular risk but poor about cancer, Osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and Gynecological risk.