No abstract

BackgroundTelemedicine has become increasingly important during recent years. Investigating the acceptability of telemedicine among patients is an important first step in adapting and maintaining the use of telemedicine and gaining the advantages of technologies in daily practice. ObjectiveTo measure the acceptability of telemedicine among the patients of primary health care centers (PHCC) using the Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ) at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized a validated questionnaire in phone call interviews with patients of PHCC clinics. All patients who had a telemedicine visit at PHCC within the past month of data collection were eligible for inclusion. The SUTAQ tool was used to measure the acceptability of telemedicine technology. ResultsOut of 365 people selected for participation, 73.9% responded. The study found that the median age was 40 years old with an interquartile range of 30-52. The majority of participants were female (61.1%) and married (86.7%). The median total SUTAQ score was 4.3, out of a maximum score of 6. The medians for SUTAQ subscales were as follows: the perceived benefits score was 5.4, the privacy and discomfort score was 2.1, the health care personnel concerns score was 3, the satisfaction score was 5.7, and the kit as substitution score was 4.3. Patients who had not previously experienced telemedicine visits showed a higher score in "health care personnel concerns" (P-value=0.009), while first-time patients had a higher score in "kit as substitution" (P-value=0.006). ConclusionThis study provided positive evidence that telemedicine is an acceptable service among PHCC patients. However, PHCC providers should prioritize patient education and awareness about telemedicine to improve utilization. Addressing privacy, discomfort, and personnel concerns could increase patient satisfaction. Future studies investigating telemedicine utilization can help in understanding its impact on clinical outcome.

BackgroundMany physiological, psychological, and environmental stressors can be experienced by pilots throughout their careers, which may affect their mental and psychological health and their performance consequently. Stressing factors of aviation and commercial operations can result in pilots' burnout, which is a description of the response to chronic emotional exhaustion and loss of motivation. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout and compare the effects of different coping strategies on burnout levels among commercial pilots in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2023 MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional survey utilizing an online form of a validated questionnaire administered to pilots of Saudi commercial airlines in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study targeted on-duty Saudi commercial pilots, excluding retired and in-training pilots, with an estimated population of around 2000. A sample size of 311 was determined using an equation considering a 5% margin of error, 95% confidence level, and a 60.3% burnout prevalence rate. Non-probability snowball sampling method was used to achieve sample size. ResultsA total of 321 pilots were included, mostly Saudis. The participants had a median age of 47, and the majority were married with one to two children. BMI classifications showed high percentages of overweight and obese individuals. The study found that most pilots experienced medium levels of burnout (70.1%). Nationality, marital status, and shorter sleeping duration were significantly associated with higher burnout levels. Common challenges included long duties (79.4%), irregular working hours (72.3%), and time away from home (55.5%). Coping strategies included rest and sleep (81%), exercise (59.2%), and relaxation behaviors (50.5%). Stressors such as long duties, irregular working hours, and work conflicts were significantly associated with higher burnout levels. However, no significant associations were found between coping strategies and burnout levels. ConclusionThe study found that most pilots experienced medium levels of burnout. In addition, common challenges included long duties, irregular working hours, and time away from home. The study emphasizes the need to address work-related stressors, implement interventions, and support pilots' mental health. Promoting healthy coping strategies and understanding individual resilience is important. Further research and organizational efforts are required to mitigate burnout and enhance the quality of life for aviation professionals, benefiting both individuals and the industry.

Conclusions: in our cohort of renal transplant patient both acute T cell medicated rejection and acute tubular necrosis were predominant pathological findings in renal allograft dysfunction. BK nephropathy and calcineurin nephrotoxicity might suggest heavy immunosuppression in some patients.