Objectives:To determine the optimal cutoff value for neck circumference (NC) that define overweight/obesity and assess its predictive potential for cardiometabolic risks (CMR) among Saudi subjects.Methods:A cross sectional study of 785 adults recruited from a public health awareness campaign in Medina, Saudi Arabia during June 2015. Waist circumference (WC), NC, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and random blood glucose (RBG) were assessed, and the presence of CMR were collected by a questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the associations of NC with other anthropometric indices and CMR. The optimal cutoff value for NC to identify overweight/obesity was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:There were significant correlations between NC and BMI, weight, WC, age, RBG, and BP. The area under the curve for NC and WC in the ROC analysis was 0.86 for men and 0.77 for women, and NC ≥39.25 cm for men and ≥34.75 cm for women were the best cutoff levels for identifying subjects with central obesity with an 89% sensitivity and a 71% specificity for men and an 80% sensitivity and a 65% specificity for women. These cutoff levels for NC were associated with a significantly increased risk for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.Conclusion:Neck circumference is positively correlated with BMI and WC, and can be used to identify overweight/obesity and predict CMR in Saudi individuals.

Background: Although organ transplantation is considered as the only preferable treatment for end-stage organ disease, there are not many organ donors among Saudis.Objectives: To assess knowledge and attitude of Saudis in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, towards organ donation and to determine factors intervene with willingness of family to donate a member's organ. Methods:A cross-sectional study, data were collected through a valid structured interview questionnaire from 290 participants during organ donation campaign in May 2015. The questionnaire included socio-demographic data and data about participants' awareness and knowledge on organ donation. Data were analyzed and compared by participants' sex using appropriate statistical tests. Results:Of the interviewed 385 Saudis, 290 agreed to participate in the study with a response rate of 76.3%. The mean age of the participants was 27.2 ± 8.8 years. The study revealed 74.1% of the participants were willing to donate their organs with no significant differences between males and females, although only 2.7% of them reported to have a donation card. Religion, money, and age of the recipient appeared to have no role in their willing of organ donation. However, lack of awareness (21.7%), family refusal (20.6%) and fear of unknown (19.7%) were the most important barriers of organ donation. Conclusions:The study showed a considerable number of participants were willing to donate their organs that religion and financial reasons were not factors. More organ donation campaigns are needed to maximize public positive beliefs.

Background:With an increasing burden of accidents in young age group and particularly among school children, the need of introducing BLS and First response training to the school teachers have become essential. Evidence shows that spontaneous response of the teachers in emergencies is less than 30% and knowledge of basic principles of first Aid is deficient in more than 19% of them. Objective: This study aims to assess existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards first aid among schoolteachers and members of school's management committee in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia in order to identify the gaps regarding this critical public health problem. Methods: A cross sectional study has been conducted during OctoberDecember 2013, over a sample of 341 school instructors by using non probability quota sampling technique where one third were Saudi male & two third of the sample were female instructors in governmental schools in Al-Madinah . Results: Out of the total responders, 67.3% were less than 40 years old, while 88 % were ever married and 85.7% were of high education. It was found that 93.3% had more than two years of service.It was shown that 30.18% of the participants had encountered with an emergency condition during their service and 29% of them applied the first aid themselves.Overall knowledge of participants was found to be maximal for managing bleeding wounds (76.3%). While minimal knowledge was reported for CPR only by (7.4%) of participants. Regarding attitude of participants, a vast majority (92%) identified need of proper first aid training program in schools. Conclusion:The study showed that our schoolteachers had low level of knowledge about first aid for the emergencies occurring in school. Most of them preferred to call others for help.Copy Right, IJAR, 2016,. All rights reserved.