Prevalence of texting thumb among medical students and its association with behavioural patterns during digital device usage: a cross-sectional study Muna A Salameh, Hadeel Odeh, Silvia D Boyajian, Enas A Amaireh, Ezzat Jaradat, et al. BMJ Open, 2026 Background Teenagers widely use digital devices for information sharing and other daily activities. Their heavy reliance on smartphones and tablets may contribute to repetitive-use injuries of the thumb. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of texting thumb (TT) among medical students and to identify the potential associations between TT and behavioural patterns during digital device use. Design, setting and participants This cross-sectional study employed an online, self-developed questionnaire to assess demographic and behavioural patterns associated with smartphone use. Data on thumb pain and its features were evaluated for diagnostic purposes. This study comprised medical students from six medical schools in Jordan. Data were collected from 482 medical students, excluding those who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Results The prevalence of TT was 34%, predominantly on the right side (53%) and at the thumb base (69%). The findings suggest that TT was significantly associated with specific behavioural patterns, including supporting the forearm (p=0.026, adjusted OR: 1.611; 95% CI 1.059 to 2.449), number of texting per day (p=0.005, adjusted OR: 1.319; 95% CI 1.086 to 1.603) and studying hours per day using a digital device (p=0.002, adjusted OR: 1.586; 95% CI 1.193 to 2.109). Also, students’ attitudes toward thumb pain were significantly associated with the TT (p=0.005, adjusted OR: 1.351; 95% CI 1.094 to 1.668). Conclusion Students’ attention to behavioural patterns is crucial when using digital devices. Supporting the forearm, limiting text message use, avoiding prolonged use of digital devices, never ignoring hand pain and resting the hand significantly reduce the risk of thumb overuse injury.
Prevalence of symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea among children and its impact on academic performance Silvia D. Boyajian, Muna A. Salameh, Kholoud Alzyoud, Enas A. Amaireh, Lujayn Badah, et al. Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 2025 Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in pediatrics that requires prompt recognition and management to minimize its negative impact on their health and development. Data on the prevalence of OSA among school-age minors in Jordan is scarce. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of OSA in children and adolescents and identify factors that make them more likely to have OSA and its impact on academic achievement. Methods This school‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to March 2023. A questionnaire including information on demographic variables, school performance, and a validated sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) scale for pediatrics was distributed to 1798 students in schools all over Amman. The prevalence of OSA (defined as SRBD score > 33%) was reported as a proportion along with its 95% confidence interval. Results Out of the 2000 questionnaires distributed, 1798 were analyzed. Among these, 1079 (60%) were from children aged 5 to 10 years, and 719 (40%) were from adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. The prevalence of high risk for OSA (HR-OSA) was higher among adolescents than in children (25.6% vs. 20.8%). Adolescents with unemployed fathers were more likely to be HR-OSA (33.70 vs 17.57%, p < 0.001). In contrast, paternal employment did not affect the prevalence of HR-OSA in children. Sleep talking, bruxism, and sweating during sleep were more common among children with positive SRBD. Nocturnal enuresis (NE) was associated with positive SRBD in children and adolescents. HR-OSA was associated with poor academic performance in both study groups. Conclusion HR-OSA is highly prevalent in Jordanian children and adolescents. HR-OSA can occur alongside other sleep disorders, and it significantly impairs the academic performance of affected individuals. This study found an association between high risk for OSA and other sleeping disorders (sleep talking, sleep bruxism, and sweat during sleeping) and nocturnal enuresis which needs to be confirmed in larger studies.
Do we have a Dorsal Venous Arch on the Dorsum of the Hand? Amjad T. Shatarat, Islam A. Altarawneh, Amneh F. Alnsour, Malak S. Alessa, Sallam Atallah Jaafreh, et al. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 2025 Aim: The dorsal venous arch is a well-known used anatomical term, however, looking over many anatomical texts it gives that there is no complete consensus on the naming of the dorsal veins on hand as an arch or a network of veins. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to revisit the superficial veins on the dorsum of the hand to identify the dorsal venous arch of the hand. The presence of a dorsal venous arch on the dorsum of the hand has been a subject of debate among anatomists and clinicians. The aim of the present study is to investigate the existence and anatomical characteristics of a dorsal venous arch in the hand. The study will involve a comprehensive review of existing literature, anatomical dissections, and imaging techniques to examine the venous network on the dorsum of the hand. The primary objective is to determine whether a consistent and well-defined dorsal venous arch can be identified. In addition, the present study aims to explore potential variations in the anatomy of the dorsal venous arch, including its location, and connections to other venous structures. The findings from this research will contribute to a better understanding of hand anatomy, potentially aiding in clinical procedures such as venous access, reconstructive surgeries, and micro vascular procedures. Materials and Methods: Using the infrared vein illuminator, 804 hands of students and staff members of the Hashemite University in Jordan were initially examined. Only 540 hands were included in the final analysis. The possible horizontal connections between the superficial veins of the dorsum of the hand were described as anatomical patterns. Results: Four different patterns were recognized; 75% of the studied veins were not connected at all, 12% showed a connection between only two veins, and 12% of the hands showed no specified pattern. A connection between all superficial veins of the dorsum of the hand and the digital veins of the thumb and little finger was found in a negligible percentage of < 1%. Conclusion: Different anatomical patterns were given away in this study indicating that there is an interruption in the formation of a venous arch on the dorsum of the hand in the majority of the population’s hands tested in this study. In conclusion, this study has revealed that there is a lack of a consistent and well-formed dorsal venous arch on the dorsum of the hand in the majority of individuals tested. The findings indicate that there are various anatomical patterns and interruptions in the formation of this venous arch. These results highlight the variability and complexity of hand anatomy, suggesting that clinicians should be aware of these variations when performing procedures such as venous access or reconstructive surgeries. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors contributing to these anatomical differences and their potential implications for clinical practice.
Prevalence and profile of low back pain and its associated factors among undergraduate medical students: A Jordanian cross-sectional study Muna A Salameh, Hadeel Odeh, Ala’a M Shurrab, Hala A Alserhan, Jwan I Sallam, et al. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2025 Background Worldwide, medical students frequently have low back pain (LBP); the rigorous study schedules and training requirements of their program place them at increased risk. Objectives To determine the prevalence and profile of LBP among medical students in Jordan, and to examine its associations with demographics, physical activity, and sleep quality. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 252 undergraduate medical students (63% female, aged 18–24 years, with a mean height of 1.7 ± 0.1 m and a mean weight of 66.1 ± 13.1 kg). Participants were recruited from public and private medical schools (February-April 2025). Data on LBP were collected (12-month prevalence, duration, impact, and associated symptoms). Widely validated instruments were used; the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for assessing musculoskeletal symptoms, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for evaluating physical activity levels, and the Sleep Quality Scale provides a measure of subjective sleep quality. Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS; chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify the associations between variables. Results The 12-month prevalence of LBP was 69%, higher in females (72.3%) (p = 0.18). Basic-level students reported a significantly higher prevalence (76.1%) (p = 0.04). Among those with LBP, 48.3% reported activity limitations, and 79.3% reported poor sleep quality. Logistic regression identified academic level (OR = 0.489, p = 0.03) and poor sleep (OR = 2.207, p = 0.01) as predictors. Conclusion LBP is common among Jordanian medical students and is significantly associated with academic level and poor sleep. Promoting awareness of posture, exercise, and healthy sleep habits may help reduce the burden of LBP in this population.
Evaluating the Severity of COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Jordan Silvia D. Boyajian, Ensaf Y. Almomani, Muna A. Salameh, Dima Hamarsheh, Sara AlNsour, et al. Pulmonary Medicine, 2025 Introduction COVID‐19 has infected many patients globally, primarily impacting the respiratory system and causing symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. Various factors influence the severity of the infection, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being one of them. Aims The aim was to investigate the correlation between the severity of OSA and the severity of COVID‐19 infection, as indicated by hospitalization, ICU admission, and the duration of recovery from the disease. Methodology A retrospective cohort study on OSA patients who follow‐up at a tertiary referral hospital sleep clinic and were infected with COVID‐19. COVID‐19 infection information, such as severity, duration, and vaccination, was collected via phone calls. OSA severity was assessed using the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI). Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 136 confirmed OSA and COVID‐19‐positive patients were included in the study. The majority were elderly and obese. Then, 29% of patients had mild, 30% had moderate, and 41% had severe OSA. The severity of OSA was significantly correlated with the COVID‐19 type of treatment and recovery duration ( p value = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively. Severe OSA correlated with higher BMI values. Notably, the type of COVID‐19 vaccine, number of doses, and whether the COVID‐19 infection occurred before or after vaccination did not affect the severity of OSA. Conclusion The severity of OSA and COVID‐19 infection were correlated. The management of OSA severity and the control over other comorbidities may lower the chance of severe COVID‐19 infection among OSA patients.
Prevalence of text neck syndrome, its impact on neck dysfunction, and its associated factors among medical students: A cross-sectional study Muna A. Salameh, Silvia D. Boyajian, Enas A. Amaireh, Baraah Jamal, Hala Alrfooh, et al. Work, 2024 BACKGROUND: Students increasingly rely on digital devices, leading to text neck syndrome, a common overuse syndrome caused by repetitive forward neck flexion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of text neck syndrome among medical students and the resulting neck dysfunction and to investigate the possible associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used an online self-developed questionnaire among medical students. Students’ characteristics and data about smartphone usage were evaluated for diagnosis. Individuals with at least 3 of the 6 text neck syndrome symptoms and a history of more than four hours a day spent on a smartphone were diagnosed with text neck syndrome. Neck dysfunction was measured using the neck disability index. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study found that 31.7% of students with text neck syndrome have mild neck disabilities, with a higher proportion of females (40%). The characteristics that have a significant relation to text neck syndrome include being female (p < 0.0001), overweight (p = 0.025), being right-handed (p = 0.001), using four digital devices or more (p = 0.002), having low levels of physical activity (P = 0.018), and spending more than three hours a day sitting down (P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: More than a quarter of medical students had text neck syndrome, and most of them had a mild neck disability. Text Neck Syndrome was linked to an increased number of gadgets used, low exercise, and more time spent in a sitting position.
Immunoglobulins response of COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 vaccine recipients, and random individuals Mohammad Al-Tamimi, Amjed A. Tarifi, Arwa Qaqish, Manal M. Abbas, Hadeel Albalawi, et al. Plos One, 2023 Background The development of specific immunoglobulins to COVID-19 after natural infection or vaccination has been proposed. The efficacy and dynamics of this response are not clear yet. Aim This study aims to analyze the immunoglobulins response among COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 vaccine recipients and random individuals. Methods A total of 665 participants including 233 COVID-19 patients, 288 COVID-19 vaccine recipients, and 144 random individuals were investigated for anti-COVID-19 immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM). Results Among COVID-19 patients, 22.7% had detectable IgA antibodies with a mean of 27.3±57.1 ng/ml, 29.6% had IgM antibodies with a mean of 188.4±666.0 BAU/ml, while 59.2% had IgG antibodies with a mean of 101.7±139.7 BAU/ml. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients had positive IgG in 99.3% with a mean of 515.5±1143.5 BAU/ml while 85.7% of Sinopharm vaccine recipients had positive IgG with a mean of 170.0±230.0 BAU/ml. Regarding random individuals, 54.9% had positive IgG with a mean of 164.3±214 BAU/ml. The peak IgM response in COVID-19 patients was detected early at 15–22 days, followed by IgG peak at 16–30 days, and IgA peak at 0–60 days. IgM antibodies disappeared at 61–90 days, while IgG and IgA antibodies decreased slowly after the peak and remained detectable up to 300 days. The frequency of IgG positivity among patients was significantly affected by increased age, admission department (inpatient or outpatient), symptoms, need for oxygen therapy, and increased duration between positive COVID-19 RT PCR test and serum sampling (p˂0.05). Positive correlations were noted between different types of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA) among patients. Conclusions Natural infection and COIVD-19 vaccines provide IgG-mediated immunity. The class, positivity, mean, efficacy, and duration of immunoglobulins response are affected by the mechanism of immunity and host related variables. Random community individuals had detectable COVID-19 IgG at ~55%, far from reaching herd immunity levels.
