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This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of Burnout Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms among medical students in Oman. Then, it explored whether the three-dimensional aspects of Burnout Syndrome (High Emotional Exhaustion, High Cynicism and Low Academic Efficacy) would predict the presence of Depressive Symptoms in a logistic regression model. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of medical students of Sultan Qaboos University. 662 students participated in the study with a response rate of 98%. The prevalence of Burnout Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms were; 7.4% and 24.5% respectively. Preclinical students reported high levels of both Burnout Syndrome (Odds Ratio-OR 2.83, 95% Confidence Interval CI 1.45-5.54) and Depressive Symptoms (OR 2. 72, 95% CI 1.07-6.89). The three-dimensional aspects of Burnout Syndrome(High Emotional Exhaustion, High Cynicism, low Professional efficacy) were statistically significant predictors of the presence of Depressive Symptoms; OR 3.52 (95% CI: 2.21-5.60), OR 3.33 (95% CI:2.10-5.28) and OR 2.07(95%CI:1.32-3.24) respectively. This study indicates that Burnout Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms are common among medical students, particularly in preclinical grade. Furthermore, the presence of high occupational burnout elevates the risk of depression.

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spurred a global health crisis. The safety and supply of blood during this pandemic has been a concern of blood banks and transfusion services as it is expected to adversely affect blood system activities. We aim to assess the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) during the first months of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A survey was designed to address blood supply, transfusion demand, and donor management during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Medical directors of different blood banks were invited to participate. Results: A total of 16 centers participated with representation from 15/22 countries in the region. 75% were from national blood banks. Most centres had a decrease in the blood supply, ranging from 26-50%. Representatives from 14 countries (93.3%) believed that public fear has contributed to a decrease in donations. Most centres (n=12, 87.5%) had a reduction in transfusion demand, while those who did not, reported heavy involvement in treating patients with underlying haemoglobinopathies and haematological malignancies. Half of the centres activated their contingency plans. Four centres had to alter the blood donor eligibility criteria to meet demands. All centres implemented donor deferral criteria in relation to SARS-CoV-2, but were variable in measures to mitigate the risk of donor and staff exposure. Conclusion: Blood services in the region faced variable degrees of blood shortages. We summarize lessons learnt during this pandemic for the blood banks to consider to plan, assess, and respond proportionately to future similar pandemics.

Colorectal and stomach cancers are the top ranking cancers in Oman. Most of the patients are diagnosed at advanced disease stages. The aim of this study is to explore the knowledge of risk factors, symptoms and the time needed to seek medical care for stomach cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) among Omani participants attending 28 local health centres (LHCs) in the governorate of Muscat, the capital city of Oman. The Bowel Cancer/CRC Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire (translated into Arabic) was used to collect data from Omani adult participants (aged 18 years and above) who attended the LHCs during the study period. There was a total of 405 participants in the study out of the 500 who were invited (response rate = 81%). The most recognised risk factors were excessive drinking of alcohol (73.1%) and smoking (70.6%); the least recognised were doing less exercise (37.3%), eating food which was high in salt (26.8%) and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (24.9%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that young participants recognised more risk factors than older participants; highly educated participants recognised more risk factors than the less-educated and married participants recognised more risk factors than single participants. Participants with a high level of education were more likely to identify signs and symptoms of stomach cancer and CRC than less-educated participants. Multinomial logistic regression showed women were more likely than men to report barriers to seeking medical help (fear, difficulty in arranging transport, worried what the doctor might find). Also, participants with less education were more likely to report barriers than the highly educated (worried about wasting the doctor's time, difficulty in arranging transport, did not feel confident talking about symptoms, embarrassed, scared, worried what doctor might find). The majority of participants (93.6%) were not aware of any CRC screening programme or had undergone any screening (98.3) for CRC. Only 52.6% of participants would have a colonoscopy if the doctors advised; the main reasons for refusal were embarrassment (40.0%), lack of trust in the doctors (33.3%) and religious or culture beliefs (21.3%). Around 39% of participants would prefer to have their colonoscopy examination abroad. There is an urgent need to increase the public's awareness of stomach cancer and CRC in Oman, particularly with evidence emerging of an increase in the incidence. School curriculums could include sessions on cancer education and the information be reiterated to students periodically. A strategy to establish a CRC screening programme in Oman might be paramount as the incidence of CRC increased.

Our study shows an association between alloimmunization and the age of the patients and number of units transfused. Transfusion support of this group of patients necessitates the availability of needed expertise and blood bank facilities.