Since the introduction of the first edition of International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual(ICSD-1)in 1990,national and international meetings were held to openly discuss the ongoing developments of sleep disorders and a new International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual(ICSD-2)was published in 2005.Compared with ICSD-1,the classification of ICSD-2 was developed in a manner compatible with new International Classification of Diseases(ICD-9 and ICD-10)and formed a coordinated system of International Classification of Diseases.The updated version was characterized by the significant improvements of its logicality and clinical practicability,and was more consistent with the International Classification of Disease.The contents of ICSD-2 were introduced in this article.

Brief introduction to second edition of International Classification of Sleep Disorders:Diagnostic and Coding Manual

COVID-19 pandemic led many countries to implement lockdown measures. Italy declared lockdown from 9th March to 3rd May 2020, and universities shifted to online classes. Home confinement could preve...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17461391.2020.1842910

COVID-19 lockdown: Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in Italian medicine students.

Risks of caffeine residues in the environment: Necessity for a targeted ecopharmacovigilance program.

Occurrence of caffeine in the freshwater environment: Implications for ecopharmacovigilance.

Sleep education for healthcare providers: Addressing deficient sleep in Australia and New Zealand.

Limited information is available regarding sleep medicine education worldwide. Nevertheless, medical education has been blamed for the under-recognition of sleep disorders among physicians. This study was designed to assess the knowledge of Saudi undergraduate medical students about sleep and sleep disorders and the prevalence of education on sleep medicine in medical schools as well as to identify the obstacles to providing such education. We surveyed medical schools that were established more than 10 years ago, asking fourth- and fifth-year medical students (men and women) to participate. Seven medical schools were selected. To assess knowledge on sleep and sleep disorders, we used the Assessment of Sleep Knowledge in Medical Education (ASKME) Survey, which is a validated 30-item questionnaire. The participants were separated into two groups: those who scored ≥60% and those who scored <60%. To assess the number of teaching hours dedicated to sleep medicine in the undergraduate curricula, the organizers of the major courses on sleep disorders were contacted to obtain the curricula for those courses and to determine the obstacles to education. A total of 348 students completed the survey (54.9% male). Among the participants, 27.7% had a specific interest in sleep medicine. More than 80% of the study sample had rated their knowledge in sleep medicine as below average. Only 4.6% of the respondents correctly answered ≥60% of the questions. There was no difference in the scores of the respondents with regard to university, gender, grade-point average (GPA) or student academic levels. Only five universities provided data on sleep medicine education. The time spent teaching sleep medicine in the surveyed medical schools ranged from 0-8 hours with a mean of 2.6 ±2.6 hours. Identified obstacles included the following: (1) sleep medicine has a lower priority in the curriculum (53%) and (2) time constraints do not allow the incorporation of sleep medicine topics in the curriculum (47%). Medical students in the surveyed institutions possess poor knowledge regarding sleep medicine, which reflects the weak level of education in this field of medicine. To improve the recognition of sleep disorders among practicing physicians, medical schools must provide adequate sleep medicine education.

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Sleep medicine education and knowledge among medical students in selected Saudi Medical Schools

Background Drug safety has major implications for patients’ lives. However, this concept is still considered new to some healthcare professionals. Objective This study aims to investigate the knowledge and awareness of Saudi healthcare professionals to pharmacovigilance (PV). Setting Governmental and private hospitals at three main cities in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam). Methods A cross-sectional survey among healthcare professionals (pharmacists, physicians, and nurses) within 12 Saudi hospitals was conducted between November and December 2012. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions assessing the knowledge, awareness, and attitude of healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards science and the concept of PV. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.3). Main outcome measure Knowledge, attitude and practice of HCPs toward pharmacovigilance. Results Three-hundred and thirty-two healthcare professionals completed the survey (response rate 72 %), 110 (34 %) physicians, 106 (33 %) pharmacists, and 104 (32 %) nurses. More than half of the participants (55 %) did not know the correct definition of PV. Two-thirds of the respondents, 207 (65.5 %), had knowledge of the aim of post-marketing surveillance, yet only 113 (36.9 %) were aware that the National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Center is the official body for monitoring adverse drug reaction in Saudi Arabia. In addition, 34.7 % agreed that lack of time could be a major barrier for reporting. The majority of the respondents (78.4 %) believed that reporting was a professional obligation and hospitals should have a drug safety department. Conclusions There was a limited knowledge of pharmacovigilance that could have affected reporting incidence. Educational intervention and a practical training program need to be applied by the drug regulatory body as well as health authorities to enhance the pharmacovigilance and drug safety culture in Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge and attitude of health-care professionals in hospitals towards pharmacovigilance in Saudi Arabia

Obesity and overweight are prevalent in Saudi Arabia (24.95% & 31.80%). Also, childhood obesity in the country is a challenge, with 6% - 10% of preschool and school-age children. The burden of being overweight and obese is disastrous. Therefore, the Saudi Diabetes Scientific Society constituted a team to develop a guideline. The team reviewed the local Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Obesity in Saudi Arabia; and conducted a rigorous review of relevant evidence-based scientific literature. After a thorough assessment, a consensus was reached to use the Australian guideline as the main guideline to be adapted and localized to be suitable for the Saudi people. To avoid duplication of efforts, the team adopted the grading of evidence used by the Australian guideline. The updated version was presented in a workshop, and the recommendation of the participants was included. The final draft was distributed for review, and comments were included. This document presents the result of such an effort as a local guideline. 

Khaled K. Alamri

Papers

Sleep medicine education and knowledge among medical students in selected Saudi Medical Schools

Knowledge and attitude of health-care professionals in hospitals towards pharmacovigilance in Saudi Arabia

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults in Saudi Arabia