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Alqahtani JS, Aldhahir AM, AlRabeeah SM, Alsenani LB, Alsharif HM, Alshehri AY, Alenazi MM, Alnasser M, Alqahtani AS, AlDraiwiesh IA, Alghamdi SM, Siraj RA, Alqahtani HS, Sreedharan JK, Alqahtani AS, Alzahrani EM. Future Acceptability of Respiratory Virus Infection Control Interventions in General Population to Prevent Respiratory Infections. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022; 58:medicina58070838. [PMID: 35888557 PMCID: PMC9318605 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In both pandemic and non-pandemic situations, nonpharmaceutical public health measures may offer easy, low-cost, and effective means of reducing the spread and impact of acute respiratory infections. It is unknown whether such measures would be acceptable to the Saudi community beyond the current pandemic. Materials and Methods: A validated survey was used to test community acceptance of the measures. Respondents were asked which infection control practices they planned to maintain and which they believed should be policies for the community as a whole after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. Results: The survey was completed by 2057 people (95% completion rate), 1486 (72%) of whom were female, 259 (12.5%) of whom were current smokers, and 72 (3.5%) of whom had chronic lung disease. The most prevalent age groups were 18−30 years (933; 45.4%) and 31−40 years (483; 23.5%), with 641 individuals over 40 years old. Of the responses, 93% indicated that they would continue washing their hands more often; 92% wanted both clinicians and patients to wear masks in hospitals; 86% would continue avoiding smoking in indoor and outdoor areas; 73% would continue wearing a face covering on public transportation; 70% indicated that they would continue wearing a face covering in indoor public places. Regarding the respiratory virus infection control measures, 85% (11/13) received significant support (≥70% acceptability level) for continuation as policies in the future. Wearing face coverings outdoors and social distancing outdoors received little support (45% and 66%, respectively). Of the respiratory virus infection control measures, 54% received less support from current smokers than non-smokers (acceptability level < 70%). People with chronic respiratory disease supported 77% of the measures being regarded as policies in the future. Conclusion: The Saudi community supports nonpharmacological respiratory infection control measures that reduce the likelihood of infection. Public health campaigns should target smokers to increase awareness of the importance of these measures in lowering infections. Based on the findings of this study, nonpharmacological treatments should be presented and included in future recommendations for both the public and patients diagnosed with chronic respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber S. Alqahtani
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.A.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Abdulelah M. Aldhahir
- Respiratory Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Saad M. AlRabeeah
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.A.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Lujain B. Alsenani
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Haifa M. Alsharif
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Amani Y. Alshehri
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Mayadah M. Alenazi
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Musallam Alnasser
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Ahmed S. Alqahtani
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Ibrahim A. AlDraiwiesh
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Saeed M. Alghamdi
- Clinical Technology Department, Respiratory Care Program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21961, Saudi Arabia;
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Rayan A. Siraj
- Respiratory Therapy Department, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hussain S. Alqahtani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Jithin K. Sreedharan
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Abdullah S. Alqahtani
- Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia; (L.B.A.); (H.M.A.); (A.Y.A.); (M.M.A.); (M.A.); (A.S.A.); (I.A.A.); (J.K.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Eidan M. Alzahrani
- Physical Therapy Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam 34313, Saudi Arabia;
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