Background COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers (HCWs) is a threat to any healthcare system. Vaccine hesitancy can increase infection risk among HCWs and patients, while also impacting the patients’ decision to accept the vaccine. Our study assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods Using purposive sampling, UAE HCWs registered in the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) email database were invited to complete an online questionnaire, between November 2020 and February 2021, to understand COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, and trust in sources of information. Simple logistic regression was used to assess the associations between demographic factors with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Results Of the 2832 HCWs who participated in the study, 1963 (69.9%) were aged between 25 and 44 years and 1748 (61.7%) were females. Overall, 2525 (89.2%) of the HCW population said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. HCWs who were 55+ years of age, male, and physicians/surgeons were more likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.5–6.2, p = 0.002; OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3–2.4, p < 0.001; and OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9; p = 0.01, respectively). The most reliable sources for COVID-19 vaccine information were the UAE government (91.6%), healthcare providers (86.8%), health officials (86.3%), and the World Health Organization (WHO; 81.1%). Conclusions COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was high among the UAE HCW population. Several factors were identified as significant determinants of vaccine acceptance. UAE healthcare authorities can utilize these findings to develop public health messaging campaigns for HCWs to best address COVID-19 vaccine concerns — particularly when the government is vaccinating its general population.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the habits, practices, attitudes and knowledge about cigarette smoking among high school boys aged 15-19 years in the United Arab Emirates, and to provide a basis for comparisons with international data. The World Health Organisation questionnaire was used, together with a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling technique; 1,700 subjects aged 15 years and above were randomly selected. A total of 1,486 individuals (87.4%) from among the populations of Al-Ain City, Abu-Dhabi and Dubai Emirates participated in the study. The prevalence of smoking among the studied group was 19%; 28.2% admitted that they had smoked before but had now given up, and the remaining 52.9% denied having ever smoked. Among 18-year-olds (or older) 30.3% smoked. In 70.8% of cases a friend was reported as having been the first source of their cigarette. Fifty-four percent of smokers started between the age of 10 and 15 years. The families of 15.7% of those studied approved of their smoking, while 78.3% did not: 6% did not have an opinion. Nearly two-thirds of the smokers (66.5%) wanted to stop smoking, while the remaining third (33.5%) did not. Differences in parental education (specifically that of the father) were found to have a significant effect on attitudes towards smoking. Contrary to expectations, the highest prevalence of smoking was found among sons of university graduates, and the lowest among sons of illiterate fathers (12.6% and 24.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in respect to family income and smoking. Among the ex-smokers, religion (40%) and health (26%) were important reasons for giving up smoking. Of the smokers, 33% claimed that stress is the most important factor which makes people smoke. The source of the student's information regarding smoking hazards was lowest from doctors (17-19%), and highest from the media (35%). All student groups were equally aware that smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and ischaemic heart diseases, but among the smokers only 28.9% were very concerned about the harmful effects of cigarettes. At the time of their graduation (18 years or older), one-third of the students were already regular smokers, a figure liable to increase as they start university or work.

Background Prediction models are essential for informing screening, assessing prognosis, and examining options for treatment. This study aimed to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection severity in the Abu Dhabi population. Methods This is a mixed retrospective cohort study and case–control study to explore the associated factors of receiving treatment in the community, being hospitalized, or requiring complex hospital care among patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Of 641 patients included, 266 were hospitalized; 135 were hospitalized and either died or required complex care, i.e., required ICU admission, intubation, or oxygen and 131 did not develop severe disease requiring complex care. The third group (“controls”) were 375 patients who were not hospitalized. Logistic regression analyses were used to study predictors of disease severity. Results Among hospitalized patients older age and low oxygen saturation at admission were the consistent and strongest predictors of an adverse outcome. Risk factors for the death in addition to age and low oxygen saturation were elevated white blood count and low reported physical activity. Chronic kidney disease and diabetes were also associated with more severe disease in logistic regression. The mortality rate among those with less than 30 min per week of physical activity was 4.9%, while the mortality rate was 0.35% for those with physical activity > 30 min at least once a week. The interval from the onset of symptoms to admission and mortality was found to have a significant inverse relationship, with worse survival for shorter intervals. Conclusion Oxygen saturation is an important measure that should be introduced at screening sites and used in the risk assessment of patients with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, an older age was a consistent factor in all adverse outcomes, and other factors, such as low physical activity, elevated WBC, CKD, and DM, were also identified as risk factors.

Teaching ethical hacking techniques is fundamental to security education and allows students to better understand the ways in which computer and network systems fail. This paper discusses the implementation of comprehensive offensive hands-on lab exercises about four common Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. Moreover, the paper discusses the implementation of a defense technique against the DoS attacks using Snort tool, as an intrusion detection system. The impact of offering the exercises on the student performance in terms of achieving the course outcomes is also discussed. Although a significant improvement in the student performance has been observed, a major ethical concern has been identified when teaching ethical hacking techniques. As a consequence, the paper lists a number of steps that should be taken by schools and educators to reduce the liability of teaching ethical hacking techniques in information security curriculum.

This study reports on findings of a survey of smoking behavior and attitudes of approximately 1500 public secondary school boys in three major cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the most rapidly developing societies in the world. Using an adaptation of the World Health Organizations Smoking Questionnaire and a multi-stage cluster sample of public schools and classes, the survey determined that 18.9 percent were current smokers and another 28.2 percent had smoking experience but were not active at the time of the study. The majority of smokers were not UAE nationals and had begun smoking between the ages of ten to fifteen. Almost 60 percent of current smokers reported modest consumption of one to six cigarettes daily and nearly two-thirds reported a desire to stop their smoking. Smokers also were much more likely to come from families in which other family members smoked. Implications of findings for prevention programs point to a broad public and school-based effort for the UAE.