Owing to COVID-19 the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates mandated educational institutions to shift to remote learning. In this study the perspectives on remote learning, of both students and faculty, from the Science major, in a public university in Dubai have been explored. A qualitative research was conducted through focus group discussions using a semi-structured interview guide. All discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was carried out following coding and analyzing content using NVivo 12. Recurrent, emerging and diverging views were identified and represented under themes. Participants believed that altered human interaction was a major consideration in remote learning. Assessments were modified to reduce cheating however increasing students’ accountability and prudent use of questions was suggested as a more effective strategy. Challenges associated with technology, changes to the learning environment, wellbeing and institutional policies were highlighted. Advantages of remote learning included more inclusivity, flexibility, availability of recorded sessions and time efficiency. Also, remote learning had compelled faculty to enhance their technological skills. Including class participation as a graded component of courses, clear institutional guidelines on assessments, use of recordings and methods of communication were recommended. It was evident that students’ stances for learning were based on courses and disciplines, with a preference for synchronous lessons. Culture influenced interaction, assessments, acceptability, and accessibility of remote education. The views from this research will contribute to improving the adoption and outcomes of digital education in higher education in the field of science, while considering the sociocultural influences of the region.

Background: Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); brain cancer ranks 10th among the cancers, with 2.9% of the primary cancers originating from the nervous system. The epidemiology of brain cancers has not been explored. The unique population dynamics of UAE make it a fertile ground for analyzing the epidemiology of brain cancer. In this study, we aim to look at the frequency patterns and distribution of malignant primary brain tumors in the UAE. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out using data obtained from the Tawam Hospital Cancer Registry for the years 1984-2017. The sample size included 756 diagnosed cases of malignant primary brain tumors in the UAE. Using SPSS and Excel software, frequencies, mean ages, histological type frequencies, average annual crude incidence rates and average annual age adjusted incidence rates were analyzed. Results: The expatriate population had higher percentage of brain tumors (72%) than the locals. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.48 years (± 21.14 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.69. Diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors were the most commonly diagnosed tumors overall. Older adults had more cases of lymphoma while embryonal and ependymal tumors were most commonly seen in younger age groups. The overall average annual crude incidence rate for 2013-2016 for all primary brain tumors was 0.56 per 100,000 population. Conclusion: This is the first cancer registry study in the UAE that describes histological types of primary brain tumors based on the WHO 2016 classification of brain tumors and highlights their incidence rates. Through this study, several patterns of incidence trends for brain tumors in the UAE, according to histological types, sex and age groups have been recognized. Comparative studies would help identify the influence of potential changes in lifestyle, environmental or occupational risk factors on primary brain tumors.

<strong>Background:</strong> Protection of workers against work-related injuries and illnesses is a growing public health concern. The increasing number of expatriate workers in Dubai has highlighted the need for greater emphasis on occupational health and safety, particularly since unintentional injuries were reported to be the second most common cause of death in the United Arab Emirates. <strong>Objectives:</strong> This cross-sectional study explores safety practices and health perceptions of workers in the automotive repair industry, in the light of the Health Belief Model. <strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> The study included 35 automotive repair industry workers, selected by convenience sampling from an automotive workshop in Dubai. Primary data was collected though a structured interview and walk-through survey. <strong>Results</strong>: Only 10% of the workers had received occupational health and safety training from employers. Though the highest perceived hazardous exposure was to carbon monoxide fumes (62.9%), but the majority did not consider the severity of this exposure high enough to be of concern. This discrepancy in perceived vulnerability despite perceived exposure reflects the lack of awareness on severity of exposure to physical and chemical hazards in the car repair shop. A significant relation was seen between cumulative perceptions to exposure to hazards and marital status of the workers, with married workers perceiving greater exposure to hazards at the workplace. Protective equipment was considered important by 83% of the participants but only 54.5% reported using them. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> There is a dire need for targeted occupational health awareness training and enforcement of safety regulations to ensure the safety of workers in the automotive repair industry.

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Background Following the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, many governments, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), imposed restrictions on movement to slow the spread of the virus. In such conditions, it is imperative that we ensure that healthcare remains accessible and safe. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on healthcare-seeking behavior, this cross-sectional study aimed to describe the patterns of healthcare utilization among adults in the UAE during the pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study used snowball sampling to recruit participants from the UAE to complete a well-structured online questionnaire between December 2020 – March 2021. The questionnaire included closed-ended items covering demographic characteristics, medical history, and healthcare utilization during the pandemic, Results A total of 3371 participants completed the online questionnaire. A total of 66.7% of participants reported some level of worry over maintaining healthcare during the pandemic. In terms of seeking care for COVID-19 symptoms, 43% preferred seeking care in the emergency room, while 25.1% preferred the use of telemedicine services. The results showed a drop in healthcare utilization during the lockdown period (12.95%) compared to after the lockdown period (53.1%) among the respondents. Only 33.5% of healthcare services used during the pandemic were related to COVID-19. Females (p < 0.000), Emirati nationals (p < 0.05), and those with health insurance (p < 0.000) were more likely to utilize health services. Whereas those over the age of 31 (p < 0.05) were less likely to utilize health services during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who reported chronic medical conditions were more than twice as likely to utilize health services as those without chronic medical condition. Conclusions Overall, this study found a decrease in healthcare seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many participants expressing some level of worry about seeking healthcare during that period. Telemedicine appears to have potential as an alternative during such crises. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of this reduction in healthcare utilization. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on healthcare utilization can help identify any gaps in healthcare systems and inform strategies for improving healthcare access and delivery in post-pandemic times.