Public awareness about the smoking cessation program by the Ministry of Health: a cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Each year, tobacco kills more than 8 million people. More than 7 million of these deaths are due to direct tobacco use, while 1.2 million are caused by non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has increased its efforts toward combating tobacco consumption in Saudi Arabia. This study objective is to measure the publics&amp;apos; knowledge in Saudi Arabia about the various smoking cessation resources and services offered by the MOH. Methods: A link to a cross-sectional online survey was distributed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, residents on social media platforms in January 2022 (n = 415). Survey questions were adapted from the Global Tobacco Surveillance System. The data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences software (v22.0). Results: A total of (n = 319) responses were analyzed. Current tobacco smokers represented 60% of them. The smokers were composed of 75% of males and 25% of females who consumed tobacco. Despite a large number of the respondent being smokers, there were inadequate levels of knowledge about the various smoking cessation services offered by the MOH (40.9% of the respondents acknowledged the services provided, and 53.5% were neutral regarding these services). Conclusion: Despite the MOH&amp;apos;s efforts to provide numerous smoking cessation services, there remains a lack of knowledge amongst the population of Riyadh. This can slow the MOH efforts toward decreasing smoking rates amongst the population in Saudi Arabia; more efforts are needed to raise awareness of these services in Saudi Arabia.</jats:p

Additional file 1: Figure S5. of Efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitors for stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Forest plot for ICU mortality. Data from 11 trials (n = 1487 patients) were included, analyzed using the random effects model. The risk of death during the ICU stay was similar in both groups. Figure S6. Forest plot for ICU length of stay. Data from 11 trials (n = 744 patients) were included, analyzed using the random effects model. The duration of ICU stay was similar in both groups. Figure S7. Sensitivity analysis for clinically important bleeding, excluding trials published as abstracts, shows similar results to the primary analysis. Figure S8. Funnel plot for clinically important bleeding outcome. Visual inspection does not show publication bias and the result for the Egger test was –0.69 (95 % CI –2.44, 0.84; P = 0.28). Figure S9. Funnel plot for pneumonia outcome. Visual inspection does not show publication bias. Figure S10. Funnel plot for ICU mortality outcome. Visual inspection does not show publication bias. (DOCX 1123 kb

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population