Primary Health Care Centers In Riyadh Research Articles

Pattern of Hemoglobinopathies among Patients Attending PHC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Hemoglobinopathies pose a significant public health burden globally, with varying prevalence rates across different references. Understanding the pattern of hemoglobinopathies among patients attending primary healthcare centers (PHCs) is essential for guiding effective prevention and management strategies. Study Aim: To determine the pattern of hemoglobinopathies among patients attending PHCs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 320 participants attending PSMMC PHCs in Riyadh. Demographic data and HGB types were collected, and Chi-square tests were conducted to test associations between demographic variables and HGB types. Results: The majority of participants were aged between 18 to 30 years (40.6%), with a nearly equal distribution of females (52.8%) and males (47.2%). All participants were of Saudi nationality. The most prevalent HGB genotype was S/S (63.1%), followed by A/S (36.6%). Significant associations were found between age groups and HGB types (χ^2 = 28.233, p < 0.001), with the S/S genotype more prevalent among younger participants. Gender did not show a significant association with HGB types. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the prevalence and patterns of hemoglobinopathies among patients attending PHCs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The findings underscore the need for targeted screening and intervention programs tailored to specific age groups to effectively address hemoglobinopathies within the population.

Comparing the Prevalence of Sleep Disorders Among Underweight, Normal, Overweight, and Obese Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background Sleep disorders are prevalent worldwide and can have a negative impact on physical and psychological well-being. Numerous studies have explored the reciprocal connection between obesity and sleep disorders. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of sleep disorders among underweight, normal, overweight, and obese adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 378 adults visiting primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from August to November 2022. Data werecollected using a self-administered questionnaire that included a section for demographic data and the SLEEP-50 questionnaire in both English and Arabic languages. Results Most of the participants were aged between 25 and 34 years (37.6%), 79.1% were females and 59.5% were either overweight or obese.Most participants (78.3%) had at least one sleep disorder, with narcolepsy being the most frequent disorder (65.1%), and 23% had two combined sleep disorders. Obese and overweight patients were significantly more likely to have sleep disorders (p=0.011), and obese patients were more likely to have all sleep disorders (p=0.049). Conclusion The prevalence of sleep disorders, namely narcolepsy and insomnia, is high among adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, sleep disorders are significantly associated with obesity. Evaluation and management of sleep disorders in clinical settings among patient with overweight or obese is important to improve their quality of life and to prevent physical and psychological complications.

The influence of telemedicine in primary healthcare on diabetes mellitus control and treatment adherence in Riyadh region

Several studies have found that telemedicine has the potential to enhance the outcomes of patients with diabetes. This study aimed to determine the impact of telemedicine on the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional study among T2DM patients in selected primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 1, 2023, to August 20, 2023. We looked at how telemedicine affected HbA1c control, adherence, the number of diabetic complications, and polypharmacy using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. Among the 583 patients, 140 (24.05 %) received care via telemedicine, while 442 (75.95 %) received in-person care. Patients who utilized telemedicine had significantly better glycemic control than those who received in-person care only (AOR = 5.123, 95 % CI = 3.107–8.447). Telemedicine also showed positive effects on treatment adherence (AOR = 2.552, 95 % CI = 1.6284–4.2414). Telemedicine can effectively reduce diabetic complications (AOR = 0.277, 95 % CI = 0.134–0.571). Regarding polypharmacy, patients with telemedicine use were less likely to report polypharmacy (AOR = 0.559, 95 % CI = 0.361–0.866). Telemedicine is considered one of the factors that improve HbA1c management and might increase therapeutic adherence and reduce diabetic complications and polypharmacy.

Predictors influencing dental clinic utilization in primary health care: A retrospective analysis of 233,069 patient records in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

AimThis study aims to identify and address the predictors that promote or prevent the utilization of dental services in primary health care (PHC) centers located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an ultimate goal to increase the uptake of oral health care (OHC) services. MethodologyRegistration data from 99 PHC centers was used. For each patient visiting a PHC center, information on the number of dental visits was captured. Continuous data was summarized as means, medians, and ranges, and categorical data as frequencies (%). The strength of association was reported as an incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p-value. Further analysis was conducted to illustrate the association between dental care visits and factors found independently significant in the final multivariate model using Karl Pearson correlation coefficient and t-test. All tests were two-sided and a p-value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe comorbidity profile of patients shows that 11,751(5%) were diabetic, while hypertension amounted to 10,712(4.6%). A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between dental care visits and both age (r = −0.025, p < 0.001) and BMI (r = −0.013, p < 0.001). Mean dental care visits were significantly higher in patients without hypertension compared with those with hypertension (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was an approximate 4% increase in dental care visits among females compared to males, although this difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionThe study identified three predictors contributing to the low utilization of dental services in PHC centers in Riyadh. These include an inverse association between both age and body mass index (BMI) and the utilization of OHC. Additionally, the mean dental care visits were significantly higher for patients without hypertension in comparison to hypertensive patients.

Patient Waiting Time at Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundPatient waiting time can adversely affect health services utilization and continuity of care, impacting patient satisfaction. In Saudi Arabia, there is limited information about the average waiting time at primary healthcare centers. Therefore, this study quantifies patient waiting time for services offered in Ministry of Health primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study utilizing secondary data from the Health Information System at primary healthcare centers in Riyadh was conducted in December 2020. Ten primary healthcare centers were selected. All patients visiting the selected centers during the study period were included, except those who needed emergency care or came for services without seeing the physician. Data regarding patient waiting time in minutes for different stages of primary healthcare services were collected.ResultsThe median total waiting time was 23 min. The median waiting time for pre-consultation and consultation were 6.00 and 6.78 min, respectively. The waiting time for pharmacies in rural primary healthcare centers was 22.1 min, while there was no recorded information regarding pharmacy waiting time in urban primary healthcare centers. The total waiting time at urban primary healthcare centers was longer than at rural primary healthcare centers, with a significant difference between both groups (t = − 15.5, P < 0.001). Patient age, marital status, educational level, occupation, and weekdays were significant factors influencing waiting time (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study reveals positive outcomes regarding the average waiting time in primary healthcare centers in the Riyadh region. Further primary research is recommended.

Visual Cue to Reduce False No-Show Registration in Riyadh Primary Healthcare: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Preliminary field visits to the Saudi Ministry of Health’s primary healthcare centers (PHCs) confirmed a proportion of prior reported no-show appointments to be false due to staff registering patient arrivals inappropriately. We sought to investigate whether visual cue reminders would prime the staff to register patients properly. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2019 involving 35 PHCs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Visual posters were installed in the intervention PHCs wherever patient arrivals were registered. The primary outcome was patient no-show appointments. Staff who registered appointment arrivals were observed and interviewed. Multilevel logistic regression analyzed the change in no-shows across an intervention group and a control group. Results: The intervention group had lower odds ratio (OR) of no-shows than the control group, although not significantly (OR 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50–1.31). The period during Ramadan saw fewer no-shows than pre-Ramadan (OR 1.60, 95% CI = 1.55–1.66). Compared to family medicine appointments, no-shows were higher for the smoking cessation clinic (OR 3.95, 95% CI = 3.43–4.54), dental appointments (OR 2.14, 95% CI = 1.97–2.32), and vaccine appointments (OR 1.31, 95% CI = 1.27–1.35). Qualitative analysis shows that PHCs’ appointment processing was arbitrary without a unified structure. Conclusion: The reduction in no-show rates using visual cues was not significant. However, certain confounders, if not addressed prior to intervention implementation, can lead to cognitive overload and burnout, inviting unwanted behavior. Further implications are discussed.

Factors associated with patients bypassing primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the reasons for bypassing primary healthcare centers in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study used a descriptive, questionnaire-based, and cross-sectional design with a non-probability convenience sampling. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire, which included questions on sociodemographic data, satisfaction with services, knowledge of services, and reasons for bypassing primary healthcare centers. Results: The study included 588 participants, of which 264 (44.9%) were males, and 64.1% were aged between 18 and 24 years. Majority of the participants visited a PHC center at least once (94.9%), but also experienced a failed treatment (42.8%) or a lack of medications or diagnostic services in PHC (61.1%). The most common reason for bypassing PHC was the unavailability of diagnostic measures (38%), followed by the need for more experienced staff (33%). The study also found significant associations between gender, employment status, age and the reasons for bypassing PHC. Conclusion: Although there is considerable reported utilization of PHC center services, there was a high rate of bypassing PHC facilities for various reasons. The main factors influencing bypassing behavior were the availability of diagnostic measures, drugs, and experienced staff. Therefore, improving the quality and accessibility of PHC services is essential to reduce the bypassing rate and enhance the utilization of PHC in the study area.

Risk Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults Attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh City 2015.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is expected to rise in Saudi Arabia as the prevalence of CVD risk factors rises. Effective primary CVD prevention necessitates risk assessment to categorize patients and select the most appropriate intervention for each category. To estimate the prevalence of CVD at primary healthcare (PHC) in Riyadh cityand to categorize the at-risk population as a slow, intermediate, or high risk of CVD. A cross-sectional study was carried out at seven PHC centers in Riyadh. Seven hundred participants (half of whom were males and the other half females) were selected at random from PHCs visitors, and data was collected using a structured questionnaire, as well as required measurements and laboratory investigations. The World Health Organization risk prediction charts were used to calculate CVD risk. Participants were assigned to one of three CVD risk categories (low, intermediate, high). Obesity was found to be the most common risk factor found in this study (53.2%). Overweight (31.2%), with females having higher BMI levels. The study found that 83.4% of participants had low CVD risk, 12.9% had intermediate risk, and 3.7% had high CVD risk category. Age, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol level, smoking, and prior diagnosis of diabetes were all statistically significant predictors of moderate and high CVD risk. CVD risk factors were discovered to be common among study participants. It requires healthcare decision-makers to engage in community-based interventions to decrease the risk of CVD.

The Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease and Related Factors Among Adult Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objective In this study, we aimed todetermine the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) and its related factors among adult patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional studybased on a pre-designed, validated questionnaire (the McMonnies questionnaire)at primary healthcare centers in Riyadh in January-May 2019. Participants were classified into two groups: those with and without a diagnosis of DED. Factors related to the diagnosis were derived using univariate analysis. A backward stepwise logistic regression model was used to further explore predictors of DED and included all variables that were significant in the univariate analysis. Results A total of 276 patients participated in this study. About half (53.3%) were males, and 47.8%were aged 25-45 years. While more than two-thirds of the participants (70.3%) had some symptoms indicative of DED, only 42% were diagnosed with DED. A higher prevalence of DED was found in females. About half (47.5%) had been prescribed eye drops or other treatments for dry eyes. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the incidence of DED and living in southern Riyadh (p=0.017). Additionally, all age groups were significantly associated with DED, and a higher prevalence was reported in those older than 45 years. Backward stepwise logistic regression revealed that using dry eye drops was among the most significant predictors of DED [odds ratio (OR): 339, 95% confidence interval (CI): 73.2-1577.3, p<0.001]. Conclusion Based on our findings, DED was more common among women and with advancing age. DED was associated with the presence of dry eye symptoms, arthritis, usage of dry eye drops, and living in southern Riyadh. There is a need to design and implement health awareness programs to prevent such medical issues among the population.

Medication Adherence Among Multimorbid Patients With Polypharmacy and Its Relation to Social Support at National Guard Primary Health Care Centers, Riyadh.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of nonadherence to medication in multimorbid patients with polypharmacy and its relationship to social support in primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional, convenience-sample, non-randomized study in three primary healthcare centers managed by National Guard Health Affairs. The participants included 417 adult patients - (a) with two or more chronic illnesses and (b) who were taking two or more medications. The primary outcome variable was the prevalence of medication nonadherence in multimorbid patients with polypharmacy as measured by the modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). The second main variable was the impact of functional social support, as measured by the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ), on medication adherence. The level of medication adherence was low for 194 (46.5%) of the 417 patients, medium for 127 (30.5%), and high for 96 (23%). There were 256 (61.4%) male participants and 161 (38.6%) females, and their mean age was 59.15 (SD ± 11.186) years. Additionally, 171 (41%) participants used two or three medications, 127 (30.5%) used four or five medications, and 119 (28.5%) used more than five medications; 178 (42.7%) of the patients had two comorbidities, 136 (32.9%) had three comorbidities, 69 (16.5%) had four comorbidities, and 31 (7.5%) had five comorbidities. Some social support data from the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ) was missing for 58 (13.9%) of the participants. Among the rest of the sample, reported levels of social support levels were high for 246 (59%) patients, medium for 101 (24.2%), and low for 12 (2.9%) patients. None of the differences between social support and medication adherence were statistically significant. However, 61 (24.8%) patients reported both high social support and high medication adherence; 173 (48.2%) had low social support and low medication adherence (p = 0.470). We found that medication nonadherence in multimorbid patients with polypharmacy was high (46.5%). Although there were no statistically significant relationships between social support and medication adherence, certain patient characteristics were associated with low medication adherence - age over 60 years, male gender, and number of medications.

Prevalence of Dementia and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Geriatric Patients Visiting Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Dementia is a major cause of morbidity and dependence. The number of elderly individuals living with dementia worldwide is expected to rise up to 131 million by 2050. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is estimated to be one of the highest prevalence regions. However, there are limited numbers of studies in the region, especially on the primary care level. This study aims to determine the prevalence of dementia and identify the most important modifiable risk factors in our sample. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used utilizing the non-probability convenience sampling technique. A questionnaire including demographic data, the Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) to screen for depression, and the Arabic version of the eight-item Alzheimer's Dementia (AD8) to screen for dementia, were administered to participants recruited from six primary healthcare centers in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Results: This study found the prevalence of dementia to be 16% and 11% assuming cutoff points of 3 and 4, respectively, using the Arabic version of AD8, with depression and dyslipidemia as important modifiable risk factors for dementia in our sample. Conclusion: Primary healthcare professionals should be aware of the important modifiable risk factors such as dyslipidemia and depression in the population to be able to develop strategies for early detection and slowing down the progression of dementia. Further research to identify other modifiable risk factors in the population is recommended.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunization among people visiting primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Influenza infection continues to be a hazard to the Saudi population, resulting in high death rates and illness prevalence; it also places a substantial financial burden on the government. The government takes several strategies and approaches through the Ministry of Health has shown great success in curbing the disease. Vaccination is considered the most appropriate control measure; unfortunately, most Saudi residents, particularly in the city of Riyadh, do not consider vaccination a safe health practice. As a result, many have not participated in the influenza vaccine immunisation programme. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunisation among clients visiting primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the study investigated the relationship between participants' demographics and their KAPs regarding influenza vaccination. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was conducted among 611 individuals who visited four of Riyadh's primary healthcare centers: Alsylimania, Alwady, Alyasmin, and Alsahafah. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess the KAPs of participants, with questions regarding seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunisation. The scores of participants' knowledge showed that the majority had good knowledge regarding seasonal flu (64.5%) and the flu vaccine (73.3%). Furthermore, only 52% of participants had a positive attitude score towards the seasonal influenza vaccination. Despite that, significant knowledge gaps and mistaken beliefs regarding certain aspects of influenza were noted in participants, resulting in negative attitudes and perceptions as well as a reduced likelihood of being vaccinated. In this study, 43.7% of participants (267 out of 611) had ever received a flu vaccine. Participants with a history of previous vaccination had a significantly higher level of knowledge and more positive attitudes, which resulted in increased vaccination coverage. Therefore, educational strategies to improve knowledge regarding influenza in Riyadh are recommended.

The leadership styles of primary healthcare center managers and center performance outcomes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A correlational study.

BACKGROUND:Leadership is a wide concept that is rapidly developing. Diverse theories suggest different styles of leadership, with strong relationships between the different styles and their outcomes. The transformational style emphasizes motivating employees and encouraging them to find new ways of dealing with issues. The transactional (TL) style promotes ideas of rewards and punishments. The Laissez–faire style is characterized by relaxation and the tendency to leave things to happen with minimal interference.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a descriptive cross-sectional study design conducted in Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The leadership styles were assessed using a Multi-Factor Leadership Questionnaire, which identifies the different styles of leadership. SPSS v 26.0 was used for data analysis. t-test employed to compare leadership style between raters and managers. Logistics regression model used to determine the influence of leadership styles of managers. Pearson correlation coefficient determined the linear relationship between leadership styles and its domains.RESULTS:A total of 130 respondents (65 managers vs. 65 raters) took part. “Raters” refer to any persons other than the manager, such as a secretary, nurse, doctor. The “manager” is when the person rates himself. The global transformation mean score was 3.55, for TL it was 3.42 and for passive avoidant, the mean score was 0.93. The passive avoidant (t = 2.005; P = 0.047) and management by exception (passive) (MBEP) mean scores of raters were statistically significantly higher than managers. In the binary regression model, MBEP was the independent significant predictor of manager.CONCLUSION:The perceived leadership style of Primary Healthcare Center managers was transformational but with TL. Transformational leadership was positively correlated with TL leadership but negatively correlated with passive avoidant (The Laissez–faire style). The outcome of this study demonstrated that intellectual stimulation, idealized attributes, and inspirational motivation are perhaps better than contingent reward, active management.

Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern at Primary Health Centers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

PTB Reports,2021,7,3,102-106.DOI:10.5530/PTB.2021.7.17Published:December 2021Type:Research ArticleAuthors:Zainab Albahooth, Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Samia Zaben Almurshadi, Hind Nasser Altamimi, and Abdulaziz Hussain Alhussain Author(s) affiliations:Zainab Albahooth, Primary Healthcare Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Care Department, Health Affairs in Riyadh City, Ministry of Heath, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clin Pharm, BCPS, BCNSP, DiBA, CDE, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacists, TPN Clinical Pharmacist, Freelancer Business Planner, Content Editor and Data Analyst, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Samia Zaben Almurshadi, Primary Health Care Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Care Department, Health Affairs in Riyadh City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Hind Nasser Altamimi, Primary Health Care Quality Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Care Department, Health Affairs in Riyadh City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Abdulaziz Hussain Alhussain, Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Care Department, Health Affairs in Riyadh City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Abstract:Objectives: This study aims to identify antibiotic prescribing patterns in Riyadh’s Primary health care centers (PHCs). Methods: The study was a one-month cross-sectional medication prescription survey conducted at 25 PHCs in Riyadh. Results: A total of 18031 prescriptions were recorded in all 25 PHCs during the study period. Antibiotics were present in 3,879 (21.51%) of all prescriptions. The percentage of antibiotics prescribed varied from one primary care center to another; the highest documented percentage was 38.01 %. In comparison, the lowest proportion was discovered to be 10.56% of total antibiotics prescribed, with 3,131 (80.67 %) being bactericidal and 748 (19.3 %) being bacteriostatic. Capsules were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic dosage form 1,240 (32%), Amoxicillin was the antibiotic most frequently prescribed 1628 (42%), followed by a combination of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate 797 (20.5%). Of the total prescriptions, 2931 (75.6%) were written with generic names, while 948 (24.4%) were written with brand (trade) names. Amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic with a generic name (52.7%), while Amoxicillin/Clavulanate was the most usually prescribed antibiotic with the brand name “Augmentin” (69.4%). The frequency of antibiotics prescribed to patients who did not have a documented indication for Amoxicillin was 270. (6.9%). Conclusion: Antibiotics were prescribed in one-third of PHC prescriptions. Antimicrobial stewardship programs and training for healthcare professionals are needed at PHCs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Keywords:Antibiotic, Pattern, Prescribing, Primary Health Centers, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.View:PDF (384.73 KB) PDF PDF Images Figure 1: The percentage of prescriptions containing antibiotics at PHCs.

Are Patients Aware of Their Rights? A Cross-Sectional Study of Visitors to Three Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objectivePatients’ rights are an essential aspect of human rights. Thus, in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) established a Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBR) and introduced it to the public about 30 years ago. This study aims to assess levels of awareness of PBR and to identify their information sources among visitors to primary healthcare centers (PHCCs).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 358 visitors, aged 17 to 78, to three PHCCs at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between April and December 2017 using a self-administered questionnaire. The initial sample (convenience sampling) was refined to match the proportion of participants with the relative size of populations served by the centers. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the relationships between participants’ demographic data and levels of awareness of patients' rights.ResultsMost participants (72.2%) were moderately aware of their rights, but the majority (65.3%) were unaware of the existence of the PBR. Healthcare providers were the main information source for patients’ rights, although participants with the highest awareness scores obtained information from social media. Level of awareness was significantly associated with education, income, and regular hospital follow-ups.ConclusionsThe study results should motivate healthcare providers, stakeholders, and health organizations in Saudi Arabia to raise and maintain public awareness of patients’ rights and to implement them.

Perception of Parents Towards COVID-19 Vaccine for Children in Saudi Population.

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease that is caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). With the rapid spread of this pandemic, vaccination has been a breakthrough solution. At the time of conducting the study, COVID-19 vaccines were only approved for adults 18 years and older. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the parents’ likelihood of vaccinating their children once the recommendation for pediatric vaccination is established.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study in which a self-administered survey was distributed to all parents visiting National Guard primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaires were distributed to parents attending primary care clinics. Data collected in the questionnaire include demographics (gender, marital status, educational level, and age), questions assessing parental perception towards the COVID-19 vaccine, and willingness to offer the vaccine to their children.ResultsA total of 333 respondents completed the survey with a response rate of 83.3%. Half of the participants were males and the other half were females with the majority (45.6%) aged between 31 and 40 years old. In terms of parental acceptability of vaccinating their children against COVID-19, 53.7% of the parents were willing to vaccinate their children as opposed to 27% who were reluctant to do so. Of those who refused, 97.5% and 96.6% cited lack of information and evidence, respectively, as the most common reasons for not accepting COVID-19 vaccine. We have found that age of the parents, especially those 31-40 years old, age of their children, especially 4-12 years old, and previous acceptance of the seasonal influenza vaccine were significantly associated with higher parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast, gender, marital status and educational level were not statistically significant factors.ConclusionAs COVID-19 spread globally and made people's lives in danger, vaccination became a highly important measure to halt the spread of the disease. Parents are now given the choice of protecting their beloved children from COVID-19 infection and its possible complications. Based on our findings, we noticed that majority of parents are going to vaccinate their children. In addition, some certain age groups of parents and children were significantly associated with decreased vaccine hesitancy to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Patient satisfaction with virtual clinic during Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in primary healthcare, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND:The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. Since that time, medical services in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the situation by delivering medical care via virtual clinics. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess patients' level of satisfaction with virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had experienced virtual clinics in primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An online validated questionnaire was sent to all participants who had at least one virtual visit between March 2020 to July 2020. The data sought included demographics, level of satisfaction and questions related to their experience with virtual clinics. Computed frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, and median, mean, and standard deviation for continuous variables. Satisfaction scores were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test.RESULTS:A total of 439 patients completed the questionnaire (response rate 97.5%); 54% were male. The participants were divided into three age groups: 18–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years. Overall level of patients' satisfaction with virtual clinic was 68.1%. Factors statistically significantly associated with satisfaction included gender, age group and level of education (post-graduate and middle school) and being well-informed on the use of telemedicine. Specific age groups that were significant were 18–39 and 40–59 years; 50.2% of the males found telemedicine very convenient, compared to only 36.1% females. Family medicine clinics were the most commonly visited virtual clinics, whereas obstetrics and gynecology clinics were the least attended virtual clinics. The inability to meet the health-care professional face-to-face was reported by 53.8% as the most important disadvantage.CONCLUSION:This study shows a high level of satisfaction with virtual clinics in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic despite the service being relatively new in healthcare service in the country. Our study demonstrated that satisfaction was linked to age, gender, education and the type of clinic used.

Nurses’ intention to report child abuse in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundChild abuse is a prevalent problem with short and long-term consequences. While most countries have enacted child abuse reporting laws, the Saudi healthcare system has not paid sufficient attention to nurses’ role in the reporting of child abuse. ObjectiveThis study aimed to 1) identify the factors associated with nurses’ intention to report child abuse by testing a hypothetical model; 2) examine the patterns underlying their intention to report child abuse; and 3) investigate the differences in reporting based on clinical practice areas. Participants and SettingA convenience sample of 248 nurses recruited from emergency and pediatric inpatient units and primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was used. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, data were collected using the Child Abuse Report Intention Scale and another self-report measure in February 2019. ResultsMost nurses had not reported even one case of child abuse during their clinical practice. Knowledge about child abuse (β = .210, P = 0.000), subjective norms (β = .218, P = 0.001), and organizational support in guideline implementation (β = .138 P = 0.038) were significantly associated with the intention to report child abuse. Nurses reported a stronger intention to report child sexual abuse than other types of abuse. Clinical practice areas were significantly associated with nurses’ intention to report child abuse. ConclusionsNurses’ professional preparation for child abuse reporting is inadequate. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing their knowledge about child abuse and reporting laws, promoting social support, and creating an empowering clinical environment.

Comparison of Digital Retinal Images and Information Tele-Transferred Through the Hala System to Manual Image Transfer of Diabetic Patients from Primary Health Care Centers in Riyadh.

Background: Diabetes is a significant problem in Saudi Arabia, and telemedicine in the form of tele-screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) is recommended. Introduction: A comparison of the quality of images and information transferred through the Hala system of the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, with images transferred in a survey at Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Methods: A review of health records was undertaken in 2017-2018. Digital retinal images of diabetics were tele-transferred from a diabetes center to the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) for review by medical retina specialists (Group I). Similarly, images of diabetic patients that were transferred from seven primary health clinics to KKESH during a survey were used as images for research (Group II). Additional information reviewed for completeness included patient demographics, risk factors of DR, and previous eye surgery. Results: There were 40 images of 40 patients transferred through the Hala system. There were 120 randomly selected images from survey files. There were significantly more poor images from the Hala system (12.5%) than the research survey system (2.4%). There was no significant difference in the severity of DR between groups. The median Rasch score for the images was -0.58 (interquartile range [IQR] -5.6, 2.6) in Group I and 19.7 (IQR 18.3, 19.7) in Group II. The image reader perceived that the quality of digital retinal images was significantly better in images transferred from the research survey compared with those transferred through the Hala DR tele-transfer system. (Mann-Whitney p < 0.001). Conclusions: Digital image capture and supplementary risk factor information require improvement to enhance DR screening using the Hala system.

Awareness, knowledge, and practices related to diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients in primary healthcare centers at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Context:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication for diabetes mellitus (DM), with around 35% of diabetic patients developing some form of DR.Aims:This study assessed the awareness toward DR, practice of regular eye examination, and DM control among diabetic patients.Settings and Design:This was a cross-sectional study among diabetics at two primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who were selected by convenience sampling.Methods and Materials:The questionnaire contained sections for demography, knowledge, attitude, and practice toward DR, and compliance to DM treatment. The association of awareness about retinopathy with demographics was compared.Statistical Analysis Used:The association of awareness about retinopathy and education level with demographics and compliance with treatment were compared using Chi-square test.Results:In total, 280 diabetic patients were included, 187 (67%) were males, mean age was 58.9 ± 10.1 years, and median duration of diabetes was 10 years. There was good awareness about DR, diabetes was well controlled in 170 (61%) patients, but less than half (45%) had their eyes checked within 1 year. Patients with education level of high school and above had higher awareness than those with no formal education (P < 0.001). Also, those with income level >10,000 SR had higher awareness than those with income ≤5,000 SR (P < 0.05).Conclusion:There was high awareness among the diabetic patients regarding DR but annual check-up was done in less than half of the patients. Improvement is required for scheduling annual eye examinations for the early detection of DR.