Background: Medical research is a systematic method to obtain new knowledge, reduce diagnosis problems, discover the latest or best treatment for a disease, and also used for disease prevention.Objective: The study aims to assess the challenges and barriers to conduct medical research among medical and dentistry students and determine the reasons that hinder the conduct of the study.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the research population consisted of medical and dental students affiliated with King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia in 2020. The study followed a descriptive approach based on quantitative analysis. The Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) program (V. 16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis.Results: A total of 327 students participated in this study, and the response rate was 100%. Among them, 61.5% were females. In this study majority (63.3%) had a moderate attitude toward conducting medical research and the average was 56.17. The majority (53.8%) had a reasonable behavior toward conducting medical research, and the average was 29.06. Lack of time, skills, funding, facilities, and limited access to medical journals and related databases were the significant barriers found. Most of the students had positive attitudes, except that they are not awarded on their research, do not attend the sessions, and do not speak their thoughts. A significant relationship between demographic characteristics (age, level, and Grade Percentage Average), attitudes & perceived barriers toward research was found (<0.05).Conclusion: The majority of the students demonstrated a positive attitude toward and moderate behavior of research. However, most are not awarded on their research, do not attend the sessions, and do not speak their thoughts. Intensive training and adequate support in research activities of medical and dental students at the undergraduate level may help reduce these challenges and barriers toward research.

Background: Paediatric rhinosinusitis is mostly different than that in adults. More frequently, children presented with cough, bad breath, crankiness, low energy, and swelling around the eyes, besides a thick yellow-green nasal or post-nasal discharge. About 5- 13% of childhood viral upper respiratory tract infections may advance to acute rhinosinusitis, with some of them developing a chronic condition. Aim: To assess prevalence and clinical presentation of sinusitis in the paediatric age group in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A retrospective record-based study was conducted in Abha Maternity and Children Hospital in Abha city, Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and January 2018. All medical records during the study period for children whose from to 15 years old attended the hospital and diagnosed as having sinusitis were included. Results: The study included 100 children with complete files whose ages ranged from less than 1 year to up to 13 years old with a mean age of 5.3 4.2 years. Nearly 51% of the children aged 4 years or less and male were 53 (53%). Past history for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) was positive among 30 children. Regarding clinical presentations of rhinosinusitis (RS) as reported by the children caregivers, fever was the most reported complaint (50%) followed by red eye (44%), ringing nose (42%), cough (41%) and headache (36%). Mucous culture was positive among 58 cases. The most isolated pathogens were streptococcus pneumoniae (45.6%), Haemophilis influenza (24.6%). Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that CRS is a common disease in children at different ages, especially, maxillary and frontal sinuses. In most of the cases, medical treatment is highly appreciated; though, surgical intervention may be needed in a small percentage.

Background: Myocardial infarction is caused by sudden closure of a coronary artery due to plaque rupture. Symptoms include chest pain, which travels from left arm to neck, dyspnea, sweating, nausea, vomiting, arrhythmia, anxiety, fatigue and weakness. Complications of acute myocardial infarction include papillary muscle rupture and mitral regurgitation, ventricular septal rupture, free-wall rupture, and right ventricular infarction. Adequate awareness of acute chest diseases improves medical consultation for suspected cases by general population.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting all population in Aseer region. The study was conducted during the period from December 2019 to March 2020. Data were collected using structured questionnaire included person’s socio-demographic data, Participants’ family history regarding heart attack, participants’ awareness regarding acute chest pain.Results: A total sample of 1287 respondents was included in the study. About 54% of the respondents aged 30 years or more and 65.3% were females. Only 9.2% of the participants correctly defined heart attack. Regarding symptoms, 59.9% of the participants reported left arm pain, 57.1% reported difficulty breathing and 29% told about burning sensation in middle of the chest. Totally, nearly one quarter of the participants had good awareness level regarding heart attack.Conclusions: In conclusion, the population awareness regarding heart attack and stroke is poor. Also, population with high risk were more knowledgeable. More effort should be paid to improve the public knowledge of stroke, more effective community-based education programs should be organized constantly with screening for population at high risk.

Aim of Study: To identify difficulties and barriers facing primary health care physicians in rural areas of Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) belonging to the Saudi Ministry of Health, in rural areas of Aseer Region. A total of 134 physicians participated in the study. A validated study questionnaire was adapted and used for data collection. Results: Female physicians constituted 43.3% of respondents, age of 58.2% was 30-35 years, (Mean±SD: 32.8 ± 7.0 years), 54.5% were married, the salary of 76.1% was <10,000 SR, and the place of residence of 43.3% was in urban areas. Only 34.3% had opportunities for on-the-job continuing medical education, 33.6% were satisfied with medical equipment and resources, and 50% were dissatisfied with their salary. Internet service was present for 83.6% of participants. The social life of 83.6% was negatively affected, and 16.4% were exposed to violence at the workplace. Most participants had a favorable attitude toward working in rural areas, mainly in the form of professional satisfaction, pursuing postgraduate academic studies, building confidence as a clinician and provision of opportunities to upgrade knowledge and skills. Participants were less satisfied regarding several social factors, such as internet connectivity, isolation from family and relatives; received support from rural people, difficult schooling for children, but were not satisfied regarding PHCC infrastructure, their residential facilities, or earning more money. Conclusion: Serving within the rural healthcare system provides young physicians with an opportunity to build up their experience and to increase their confidence as physicians. However, important difficulties that they face are mainly social and financial. Hence, creating a health policy to safeguard the serving physicians’ career and providing facilities to promote personal and social well-being needs to be considered. Key words: Primary healthcare, rural health, difficulties, barriers, Saudi Arabia