Practitioners In Riyadh Research Articles

Assessment of General and Sports Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Habits, and Nutrient Intake of Physical Activity Practitioners and Athletes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Physical performance and overall health are crucial in the athletic population, and their improvement relies on specific dietary guidelines and practices. Athletes and physical activity practitioners who participate in physical activity for specific health reasons need nutritional knowledge to improve physical performance. This study aimed to understand nutrient intake and nutritional knowledge among physical activity practitioners and athletes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study sampled 263 individuals divided into two groups: athletes (n = 121) and practitioners (n = 142). Their nutritional knowledge and dietary intake were measured with validated questionnaires: the Arabic Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire and the Saudi Food Frequency Questionnaire. The majority of the sample (77.2%) had poor nutritional knowledge. Highest scoring domains for the dietary intake were protein from meat, fish, chicken (65.6%), vegetarian protein (62.4%), grains (51.0%), and the lowest were vegetables (41.1%), dairy (36.3%), and fruits (27.9%). In conclusion, athletes and practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have poor nutritional knowledge and dietary intake and may benefit from nutritional education and training to improve their knowledge, dietary intake, and performance.

Sustainable Resilience in Healthcare Delivery: A Comparative Study on Safety Awareness in Hospital-Based and Pre-Hospital EMS in Times of Crisis

This research initiates a comprehensive evaluation of safety awareness among emergency medical service (EMS) practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an area experiencing substantial academic and regulatory transformation. By employing the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, the study explores safety awareness across various EMS domains, unveiling a significant consistency that is unaffected by the work environment, professional tenure, or gender. Importantly, there are no significant disparities in safety awareness between hospital-based EMS practitioners and their pre-hospital counterparts, regardless of their tenure or gender. The findings highlight a homogenous safety awareness landscape among Riyadh’s EMS practitioners, suggesting strategies to sustain and strengthen patient safety culture irrespective of workspace, experience, or gender. This research not only presents these key findings but also advocates for sustainable resilience in healthcare delivery. It emphasizes the need for continued efforts to instill a culture of safety, underpinned by regular training and the adoption of swift response strategies, ensuring a sustainable approach to patient safety in times of crisis.

The Knowledge and Practices of the Absolute and Relative Dental Implant Contraindications of General Dental Practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Objectives General dental practitioners (GDPs) are faced with increasing numbers of patients requesting dental implants (DI) to replace missing teeth. Being the first dental professional consulting with the patient, being knowledgeable about DI contraindications (DIC) would support the development of appropriate treatment plans. This study aimed to investigate the GDPs level of knowledge of a number of DICs. The study was done in Riyadh, KSA. Materials and Methods A structured electronic questionnaire was distributed to GDPs who consented to participate. Participants were asked whether certain systemic and local conditions were considered DIC, and whether such DIC were considered absolute or relative. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, or one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression were used for the statistical analysis (p ≤ 0.05) to assess the association between the sample characteristics and knowledge of DICs. Results Less than half (42%) of the respondents scored 25 to 50%, and only 2% scored 75 to 100%. The highest proportion of correct responses was related to questions regarding old age (74.09%), glycemic categories (68.52%), active chemotherapy (64.07%), and intravenous bisphosphonates (49.86%). The responses were significantly associated with the years of experience, place of graduation, and highest qualification in DI. Based on the linear regression analysis, higher years of practice were associated with less knowledge of DIC (inverse relationship), graduates of Saudi governmental universities scored higher than the other groups of graduates, and holders of a master's degree in DI scored higher compared to holders of other qualifications. In addition, respondents who received lectures and/or laboratory training as part of their undergraduate curriculum had higher scores than the group who did not. Conclusion The level of DIC-related knowledge of the GDPs in Riyadh is generally good but incomplete; it is significantly influenced by the GDPs' years of practice, place of graduation, qualifications, and receiving didactic and laboratory training in the undergraduate programs. More emphasis on DI and DIC is required to improve treatment planning and patient referral.

The Use of Dental Photography in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Dental photography has always been an important aspect of the practice. The basic goal of digital dental photography is to capture the clinical symptoms of the oral cavity as accurately as possible. Secondary applications include dento-legal documentation, teaching, communication, portfolios, and marketing as a spin-off. This study aimed to assess the practice of photography documentation among dental students and dental practitioners in Riyadh using a cross-sectional observational study. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered survey distributed online. The sample included dental students (5th and 6th year), dental interns, postgraduate residents, and specialists. Frequency distribution and Chi-square tests were performed to compare the participant's responses. Results: A total of 218 dental practitioners were completed a structured, self-administered online questionnaire. The majority of the participants were dental interns and specialists, and more than 70% had 10 years or less of experience. Eighty-six percentage study participants reported using photography in their practices. Mobile phones were the most commonly used devices among dental practitioners. Conclusions: The results of the current study showed that the majority of dental practitioners believed that photography is essential in modern dental practice. However, to implement photography in dental practice, clarification of the general guidelines and the need for obtaining written consent must be explained to the patient. Furthermore, there is a need to incorporate photography within the dental curriculum.

Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Ergonomics among Dental Practitioners in Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia.

Aim:The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and practice of ergonomics among dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methodology:A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among dental practitioners through Google Forms. Link of the questionnaire was sent through social media and e-mail. The questionnaire was focused on the awareness of ergonomics and practice of ergonomics during dental practice.Results:About 97.9% of participants are aware of different operating positions. About 71.7% of participants rate their operating procedure chair positions as good. 52.5% admit they feel numb fingers while working. Many questions were statistically significant according to educational qualification and type of practice (P < 0.050.Conclusion:Majority of the study population were aware of proper chair positions, correct operating procedures and were practicing four-handed dentistry, maintained proper back support while working, and even performed stretching exercises during clinical working hours.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding Deep Margin Elevation (DME) among dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To evaluate Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) regarding deep margin elevation (DME) among dental practitioners in Riyadh city.Materials and Methodology:A cross-sectional study that comprised a total number of 535 dental practitioners: 255 (47.7%) were males and 280 (52.3%) females. A self-constructed 21 close-ended self-administered questionnaire was utilized in the study. The data were entered and analyzed by Chi-square test and descriptive analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.Results:Although the majority of the respondents have heard about DME, only 30.4% have utilized this technique in their clinical practice by having general practitioners and specialists utilize this technique more often than consultants. Among the participants, 65.4% of them have agreed that adhesion by bonding to deep cervical dentin is predictable and related to the success of the final restoration.Conclusion:The knowledge level of DME among the study participants was adequate. The findings of this study revealed that the total number of dentists who utilize the technique in restoring large subgingival defects of posterior teeth with proximal caries is very minimal. Thus, it is recommended that dental practitioners have this technique introduced in their dental clinics as an alternative to surgical crown lengthening. Although years of experience and dentist rank may influence the clinical decision, in-depth factorial analysis with a greater sample size is necessary.

Knowledge and Use of Caries Detection Methods among Dental Students and Dental Practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Aim Accurate detection and diagnosis of dental caries is an integral part of achieving adequate comprehensive dental care. Furthermore, the high prevalence of caries and generally poor oral health in Saudi Arabia is a public health concern. In addition to necessary preventive programs and awareness initiatives, understanding diagnostic practices plays an important role in garnering broad background knowledge regarding the routine diagnostic means utilized by our targeted respondents. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the methods of caries detection among dental students and dental practitioners in Riyadh using a cross-sectional observational study design. Methods The sample comprised 496 dental students, interns, postgraduate residents, general dental practitioners, specialists, and consultants from the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. A survey was designed to assess caries detection methods, risk assessment practices, and knowledge of advanced diagnostic methods. The responses were correlated with demographic and educational variables. Regression models were used to predict associations. Results 42.3% and 32.7% use sharp explorers in diagnosing caries always and most of the time, respectively. When conducting caries risk assessment practices, 64.4% was very likely to review the patient's medical history and lifestyle. In terms of knowledge of advanced diagnostic methods, 47.8% know “much” to “very much” about FOTI. The knowledge of advanced caries diagnostic methods and practices of advanced diagnostic methods were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.388, P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis indicated that higher experience (10+ years) was associated with higher knowledge regarding advanced caries diagnostic methods (β = 0.27, P=0.009). The mean rank for risk assessment practices was significantly lower in GPs compared to consultants (P < 0.05). Conclusions The use of traditional and invasive methods of caries detection is prevalent among our respondents, while the usage of advanced diagnostic methods is for the most part low. Therefore, we advocate for more minimally invasive approaches and as such encourage the practice and availability of advanced diagnostic methods.

Knowledge on and Attitude toward Silver Diamine Fluoride among Saudi Dental Practitioners in Riyadh Public Hospitals.

AimThis study assessed the knowledge on and attitude toward silver diamine fluoride among Saudi dental practitioners in Riyadh public hospitals.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was done, data were collected between July and October 2019 using a validated, and the published questionnaire was analyzed. A sample size of 278 public hospital dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was used. Participants who agreed to the study completed a 3-section questionnaire of Likert scale comprising multiple questions regarding demographic data, knowledge on silver diamine fluoride, potential, and actual use of SDF in dental practitioner’s own professional life. Finally, respondents were asked about the future usage of SDF.ResultsA total of 278 Saudi dentists in Riyadh public hospitals completed the survey. The mean knowledge of SDF among participants was averagely 3.1. About half of the participants (50.4%) agreed that SDF could be used to arrest cavitated lesions. The majority of respondents showed a positive attitude toward SDF by accepting it as a good alternative treatment for individuals with behavioral problems or medical issues (>50%). The most frequently reported barrier to the use of SDF was black discoloration (55.39%). A high number of respondents have not experienced the application of SDF, in their practice (>60%), or dental school (65.5%). However, 57.9% expect an increase in the future use of SDF. The correlation between knowledge and attitude among different dental specialties was statistically significant (P<0.05). The restorative specialty was observed to have the highest mean of knowledge (3.26), while advanced education general dentistry had the highest mean (3.67) of attitude toward SDF.ConclusionThe aim of the study was achieved as the knowledge on, and attitude toward silver diamine fluoride among Saudi dental practitioners in Riyadh public hospitals was assessed. The response was average, with means of 3.1 and 3.3 for knowledge and attitude, respectively, among the participants.

Caries-related treatment decisions of general dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: For decades, caries management strategies followed G. V. Black's concept, which has been considered an invasive approach since the development of operative care. Several studies showed a wide variation in restorative treatment decisions even among dentists within the same country. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate treatment decisions for carious lesions in relation to the patients' caries risk among general practitioners. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered paper-based questionnaire was conducted among general dental practitioners in Riyadh city. The demographic characteristics of the practitioners were obtained. The questionnaire included five clinical scenarios aided by photographs; each scenario involved either a high- or a low-caries risk condition, and the scenarios were presented alternately. The recall interval was recorded. Occlusal and proximal caries thresholds were also explored. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted, and values of P ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 340 participants were included in the analysis. The treatment decisions of the general dental practitioners for the International Caries Detection and Assessment System code 2 scenarios were mostly preventive. Proximal carious lesions extending to the dentinoenamel junction were the principal indication for operative treatment. Most participants preferred to recall patients after 6 months. Conclusion: There was vast discordance between knowledge and practice in restorative treatment decisions for occlusal carious lesions. The general dentists tended to opt for restorative treatment in high-risk patients three times more often than in low-risk patients. Clinical Significance: A low level of clinical implementation of evidence-based information was observed in this study regarding occlusal caries.

Social Media Utilization among Dental Practitioner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective:To assess the dental practitioners' use of social media, concerning demographic and social variables and the impact of social media use on dental practice.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional analytical study of dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered 30-items questionnaire was distributed to 438 dentists, which included eight questions related to background and demographic information and 22 questions related to the use of social media within the dental practice. Data were entered and analyzed usingSPSSsoftware. Data analysis included frequency distributions and chi-square tests to assess the association of social media use with demographic and social variables and its impact on dental practice. Significant level was considered ifpwas less than 0.05.Results:Of participating, 338 dentists, 52% were using social media in their practice. Twitter was the most commonly used (35%). Education was the primary purpose of using social media (43%), while entertainment was the least (8%). Approximately 62% and 68% are using social media for marketing of their dental practice and broadcasting treatment outcome, respectively. Social media was observed to be used significantly higher among Non-Saudi, general and private dentists. Participating dentists who used social media in their practice significantly recommended using social media to other dentists.Conclusion:In general, non-Saudis, general practitioners and dentists practicing in private clinics are significantly using more social media during their practice. The majority of dental practitioners indicated that social media has improved their dental practice and become an indicator of successful practice.

Assessment of Consistency between Claims and References Referred to in Pharmaceutical Advertising Brochures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Drug advertisement brochures (DABs) contain claims that are often supplemented by references in medical literature. Several studies have evaluated the DABs as they are commonly distributed by drug companies to practicing physicians. The objective of this study is to assess the consistency between the claims and references referred to in the DABs in Saudi Arabia. DABs were collected from medical practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Authors developed a protocol to be followed for quality assessment of the DABs. The vast majority of cited scientific papers were indexed in PubMed. Consequently, each reference was categorized as: justifiable, false, exaggerated or ambiguous. A total of 89 DABs were collected; 48 (53.9%) brochures were excluded from further analysis and the remaining 41 brochures (46.1%) contained 240 references with an approximate average of 5.9 references per DAB. A total of 201 cited papers were traced (83.8%). The majority of references (93.0%) supported the claims for which they were cited. However, 1.5%, 4.0% and 1.5% of claims were deemed inaccurate/false, exaggerated, and ambiguous, respectively. This study supports that the majority of the claims made in the DABs of pharmaceutical companies in Saudi Arabia were unreferenced. However, most of the evidence presented to substantiate claims made was considered true.

Recall Practice among Dental Practitioners in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The study aims to assess recall practice among dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A 24-item questionnaire was used to collect information about the general practice, knowledge of dental recall, and factors affecting dental recall from general dental practitioners in Riyadh. The questionnaire elicited data on personal information (8 items), practice information (3 items), knowledge about the dental recall (3 items), recall practice (6 items), and patient factors that might influence recall (4 items). A five-point Likert scale showed the level of agreement in cases that required recall visits, reasons for patients not returning for recall, and techniques to encourage return for recall. A total of 315 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate = 46.3%). The mean age of participants was 32.4 years old and 52.4% of participants were male. Eighty-four percent of respondents reported that they routinely perform regular recall with their patients. Recall practice was significantly associated with practitioner experience, country of graduation, and workplace. Practitioners who graduated from Saudi universities were found to be less likely to practice regular recall visits compared to others (p <0.01). On the other hand, practitioners who are working in university hospitals are more likely to practice dental recall compared to those who are working only in dental clinics (p = 0.02). A low percentage of dentists advocated and practiced regular recall visits in their private practice. Efforts should be undertaken to educate the practitioners on the importance of regular recall visits in their healthcare settings. Scheduling appropriate recall visits is an essential component for achieving successful treatment outcomes. This study highlights the poor recall practice among dentists and the need to raise the awareness of the importance of recall visits.

Management of dental implant complications among general dental practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Despite increasing success rates, dental implants remain susceptible to multiple inflammatory and noninflammatory complications. Given the increased usage of dental implants in Saudi Arabia, it is reasonable to assume that a general practitioner (GP) will come across a case of peri-implantitis in his/her routine practice. Aim of the Study: The primary aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of general dental practitioners in Riyadh, using a radiographic- and clinical visual-based questionnaire in the management of implant complications. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a Google form questionnaire that was distributed to the GP database of the Saudi Dental Society. The questionnaire comprised of three parts. The first part of the questionnaire included the demographic data of the respondents, the second part contained visual radiographic and clinical pictures that were aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of the participants toward the commonly occurring peri-implant complications and their management, the third part tested the attitudes of the participants toward the management of these complications. Statistical Analysis: The frequencies of the submitted data were measured using the mode and median for the nominal and ordinal variables, respectively. The Chi-square test was used to test the significance of differences while a logistic regression model was developed to assess the impact of variables such as age, year of graduation, and the extent of knowledge. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS V.22. Results: Two hundred and four responses were collected, 190 (93.1%) consented on participating in the study. The majority of the respondents were graduates before the year 2012 (47.5%). Most of the respondents (71.6%) had received a dental implantology didactic course during their undergraduate studies. There was no significant difference in the answers of the dentists who were given didactic courses in their undergraduate studies or not (P > 0.05). Most of the participants were able to identify problems related to the anatomical structures and implant-supported prosthesis, but not the surgical components of the implant itself. Conclusion: Dentists who participated in dental implantology workshops had a higher tendency to answer correctly compared to dentists who were given didactic courses in their undergraduate studies in issues associated with hands-on training. This shows that hands-on training in the undergraduate studies would result in a better understanding of dental implants, its complications, and management.

Perception of Healthcare Practitioners of the Importance of Routine Oral-Cancer Screening

Introduction: In recent times, both the incidence of and death rate from oral cancers (OC) have decreased significantly due to preventive measures, early detection techniques and enhanced knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. Oral cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the world with approximately 389,000 new cases per year. In Saudi Arabia, it is the 3rd most diagnosed malignancy. A direct relationship between tobacco use and oral cancer has been established. The Saudi smoker population has been observed to consume over 80 million cigarettes annually. Smoking among the Saudi general population has reached 52.3%, which makes Saudi smokers high-risk patients of oral cancer. As tumors of the oral cavity arise on an accessible and partially visible epithelial surface, they should, in principle, be diagnosed early. However, many of these tumors are diagnosed only when they are at an advanced TNM stage, typically in late terminal stages. Purpose: This survey study determines the efficiency, effectiveness and awareness of dental practitioners in Riyadh of oral cancer, incorporation of routine screening for oral cancer in daily dental practice. With the increased rates of OC diagnosis in late stages, this study was designed to evaluate the healthcare practitioner’s knowledge towards OC and its causes in addition to preventive routine screening of OC. Materials and Methods: A survey of randomly selected dental practitioners in public and private clinics was used. Practitioners outside Riyadh city and students were excluded. Results were analyzed using SPSS version-19 software. Chi-square tests (Pearson) were used for analytical statistical figures and probability values; descriptive figures such as graphs were also used. Results: A total number of dentists contacted were 713 of which 500 responded. Around 50% of the respondents missed out on examining patients’ for oral mucosal surfaces fully, especially the ventral and lateral surfaces of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Conclusion: Based on the results it was concluded that most dentists practicing in Riyadh fail to examine the patients routinely. Thus, it is advised that educating programs and awareness campaigns are to be implemented immediately, along with the facilitation of referral between dental departments and clinics.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening among Female General Practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer has been ranked as the 1st cancer in women in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Screening, early detection and proper treatment of Breast Cancer was associated with more chances of better prognosis and long-term survival. The role general practitioner’s role is to provide professional knowledge, skills and support for patients as well as their caregiver about screening and prevention. This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge of Breast Cancer risk factors, beliefs, diagnosis and practice of Breast Self Examination, Clinical Breast Examination and mammography among female General Practitioners who are currently working in primary health care center in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among female physicians, currently working as General Practitioners in Primary Health Care centers were invited. Descriptive statistics: mean, standard deviation, frequencies, percentage were calculated. Results: The majority (90%) of the respondents believed that Breast Cancer is a major health problem and 96% were aware of the importance of mammography as a screening method. But only 19% of the studied physicians requested mammogram as screening tool for women aged 40 years or more. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that knowledge about breast cancer screening was satisfactory and highlighted the need for the provision of continuing medical education programs to improve the general practitioners' practice on cancer screening tools.

Dental and medical practitioners’ awareness and attitude toward evidence based practice in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A comparative study

ObjectiveTo determine and compare different levels of awareness and attitude toward Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) among dental and medical practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MethodologyA cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 300 practitioners (150 dentists and 150 medical practitioners) working at different academic, governmental, and private sectors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed practitioner’s attitude toward EBP in terms of application and usage; awareness and usage of bibliographic database; history of training in EBP; perception of their understanding of technical terms used in scientific research and opinion with respect to barriers for the use of EBP and Evidence-Based Dentistry in Saudi Arabia. ResultsOf those who were invited to participate, 76.7% returned fully completed questionnaires. Physicians and dentists had an overall favorable attitude toward EBP, with 85% showing interest in the current promotion for this process and 97% agreeing that it improves patients’ care. However, 55% believe that it poses extra demands on already overloaded clinicians. No significant differences were found between dentists and physicians with respect to all attitude items. Significantly fewer dentists indicated understanding the terms: number needed to treat (P=0.001), odds ratio (P=0.007), meta-analysis (P=0.02) and confidence intervals (P=0.04). Less than half of dentists and physicians received formal training in search strategies (43.8%), critical appraisal (34.4%) and other EBP skills (40.6%), while only 38.8% (significantly lower among dentists; P=0.009) reported using Evidence-Based Practice guidelines. Significantly more physicians reported having accessibility to Medline through their office computer (P=0.003). ConclusionEBP has not been used to its maximum, despite excellent attitude toward its usage among both physicians and dentists. More efforts should be put into strengthening the skills and use of EBP among all medical practitioners, particularly among dentists, working in Saudi Arabia.

Aesthetic dental practices by dental and prosthodontic practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThe level of aesthetic requirement in clinical practice has increased over the past decade, and this has made it necessary for dentists to constantly update themselves to meet the existing demand in this field. AimThe goal of this study was to assess the practice of aesthetic dentistry at the clinics by general practitioners (GPs) and prosthodontists. Materials and methodsSelf-administered questionnaires were distributed to general practitioners and prosthodontists working in private dental clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed. ResultsOne hundred and thirty-eight questionnaires out of the original two hundred and fifty were completed (55.2%). More prosthodontists were found to be using CAD/CAMs for making ceramic crowns, Ceramic veneers, electronic shade guides and aesthetic posts as compared to GPs. On the other hand, more percentage of GPs (66.1%) (p<0.05) was found to be using all ceramic crowns as compared to prosthodontists (58.9%). ConclusionsWith recent advancements in aesthetic dentistry, many new options are available to enhance the level of aesthetics and enabling more conservative cavity preparations. It is therefore necessary that the clinicians constantly update their skill and knowledge and also incorporate these procedures into their regular clinical practice.