Background: Recent data from large samples of healthy adolescents show that the rates of hypertension and prehypertension in adolescents are greater than expected and are increasing. Children with elevated blood pressure can develop target organ damage. This work aimed to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and to describe some related characteristics of cases in adolescent preparatory and secondary school girls of Riyadh city, KSA. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among a cluster sample of adolescent preparatory and secondary school girls of Riyadh city, KSA during the academic year 2016-2017. Data collected via a predesigned and pretested questionnaire to collect the relevant data. Results: In the studied adolescent girls, 6 (3.8%) were hypertensive; previously diagnosed and on treatment, 0.6% were ex-smoker and 1.9% were smokers. Two girls (1.2%) had renal disease, 2.4% had bronchial asthma, one girl (0.6%) had hypothyroidism and 0.6% had depression. Half of the cases aged 18 years, 33.3% aged 17 years and 16.7% aged 19 years (Mean (±SD) age of cases was 15.3 (± 2.8)). Conclusion: in adolescent preparatory and secondary school girls of Riyadh city, KSA, 3.8% were hypertensive. So health-care providers should recognize the increased risk of prehypertension and hypertension and should seek to identify and manage the modifiable risk factors in those adolescent girls.

Background: Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) are used by young adults to enhance physical performance and appearance. There are many medical problems associated with Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Aim of the work: this study aimed to estimate knowledge, attitudes and practices about the hazards of PEDs among young adults (18-28 years old) in Qassim University. Method: this was a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study carried out among male students at Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 2014-2015. A self-administered questionnaire was completed from 134 male students in three colleges, one medical and two non-medicals. Results: prevalence of use in the medical students were 66.7 who were previously used AS and the half (33.3%) in non-medical students, but the current use among medical student was 16.7%, less than non-medical (83.3%). Regarding the source of using PEDs , the highest percentage in the medical students from friends, and the doctors in non-medical students. The prevalence of knowledge of medical students who know about side effect of using PEDs was 62,1 % more than non-medical (37,9 %). The majority of medical student recognized liver disease (61,9%), infertility (60%), gynecomastia (65%), shrinking testicle (62.5%) and hormonal disturbance (37.1%) compared to non-medical who knew about liver disease (38.1%), infertility (40%), gynecomastia (35%), shrinking testicle (37,5%) and hormonal disturbance(26,9%). Medical students showed positive attitude towards the use of PEDs (31.8%) which showed less than non-medical students (68.2%). As (61.1%) of non-medical believed the PEDs were responsible for improvement their performance conversely, 38.9% of medical students believed in that improvement. Conclusion, the non-medical students knew about the benefits of using PEDs for performance enhancement (47%) more than medical students (24%), thus non-medical students believed of enhancing their performance by PEDs more than the medical students. The medical and nonmedical students who used PEDs had exposed to their side effects therefore, we should pay more attention to educate those about them more.

Background: Amblyopia is a serious visual impairment resulting from abnormal visual stimulation during early childhood. Early detection of childhood visual abnormalities will reduce adult visual impairment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of Amblyopia among primary Health Care (PHC) physicians and Family Medicine Residents (FMA) in Qassim Region. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 197 PHC physicians and residents from FMA. Data were collected through an online questionnaire with variables on physicians’ knowledge about amblyopia based on the Canadian Pediatric Society Recommendations for Vision Screening at Infant and Well Child Visits. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The respondent’s average age was 35 (SD ± 8.00). Males were 103(52.3%); the majority were Saudi 120 (60.9%). Most of them, 189 (96%) knew the definition of amblyopia. But the majority of physicians, 138 (70%) had not seen or diagnosed any case of amblyopia before . The overall knowledge of the family medicine residents and PHC physicians regarding amblyopia’s prevalence rate, causes, examination, and treatment was good at 178 (90.4%). However, their knowledge of referral criteria for amblyopia cases still needed more updating. No statistical relationship was identified between the participant’s demographic characteristics and their level of knowledge. Conclusions: This study highlighted a good knowledge level regarding amblyopia among primary health care physicians and family medicine residents. However, strategies to improve vision screening are necessary. Early intervention is crucial to prevent treatable causes of vision loss in children. Keywords: Amblyopia; vision screening; Primary health Care; Qassim; Saudi Arabia