Objectives:To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of emergency presentation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia.Methods:This is a retrospective, descriptive hospital-based study. All cases with CRC that presented to the main referral hospitals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2015 were retrieved. The relevant hospitals are: King Salman Military Hospital, King Khalid Hospital, and King Fahad Hospital.Results:Seventy-three patients were included in the study. Twenty-two patients presented emergency constituting 30.6% of the total. Emergency CRC presentation was more common in elderly patients (81.8%), but a greater proportion of young patients was also affected (40% versus 29% in elderly patients). The disease is more common in females (37%) than males (26.7%) and intestinal obstruction was the sole form of presentation. Patients presenting emergency had more right-sided (61.9%) than left-sided tumors (30.2%). Advanced presentation with metastasis was noted in 40% of the patients presenting acutely.Conclusion:Emergency CRC presentation is common in the Tabuk region. Patients tend to present at an advanced stage, which necessitates an endeavor to detect the disease in its early stages, possibly through initiation of health education programs and suitable screening projects.

Competency-based medical education has emerged recently as a novel model of medical training driven by its ability to reconcile the desired attributes in future physicians and address the overarching and demanding issues of the discipline in this century. The rising concerns of social accountability, patient safety, and cost effectiveness of medical education programs have contributed significantly to the popularity of this paradigm worldwide. This is translated in turn to the evolution of national competency frameworks for medical graduates that are increasingly implemented in different jurisdictions to standardize and ensure equivalent outcomes of medical curricula and readiness of their graduates to better serve their communities. Medical education in Sudan is deeply rooted in the history of the nation and the continent and is tinged with remarkable success and achievements. It is challenged nowadays with unprecedented expansion in basic medical education which may hinder the quality of medical schools’ programs and their graduates. This article explores the feasibility of one such framework in Sudan: the “SudanMeds” to ensure minimum standards and comparability of medical schools’ curricula and their outcomes across the Country. The framework would also arm the regulatory bodies with a tool for accreditation and recognition of basic medical education programs in Sudan and reflect quality assurance in their settings. Once this approach is deemed feasible, the contribution of all stakeholders from the highest top to the bottom – the government, the regulatory bodies, the public and civil organizations, and the medical schools’ community – is required to allow for creation, implementation, and follow-up of the “SudanMeds” framework. Keywords: Sudan, competency-based medical education, national competency frameworks, medical schools, basic medical education