Region Of Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Research Articles

Health literacy as mediator between perception of illness and self-medication behaviour among outpatients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: implication to primary healthcare nursing

IntroductionPerception of illness (PI) and self-medication (SM) have been thoroughly explored in the existing literature. However, there is a lack of understanding about the mediating effect of health literacy on PI and SM in a non-homogenous population like Saudi Arabia. As such, primary healthcare nurses who have constant interaction with the outpatients have difficulty addressing self-medication. This study aimed to investigate health literacy as mediator between PI and SM among outpatients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional approach and was conducted at 10 major primary healthcare (PHC) clinics serving 30 million individuals in 13 different regions of KSA. The 424 outpatients who participated in this study were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection started in November 2022 and concluded in February 2023.ResultsThe mean of the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool, self-medication scale (SMS), and PI scores were 13.01 ± 3.32, 27.46 ± 7.01, and 45.56 ± 7.69, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the age and BRIEF scores (p = 0.039), and the level of education was significantly related to all variables, as were nationality and BRIEF scores (p = 0.001). Finally, occupation was significantly related to BRIEF and SMS scores (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). Completing college and being non-Saudi had positively significant effects on health literacy (p < 0.01). The structural equation model (SEM) found no effect of PI on health literacy or SM behaviour (p = 0.263 and 0.84, respectively), but health literacy did have an effect on SM behaviour (p<0.001).ConclusionHealth literacy is an important factor in self-medication behavior and that PI is not directly related to health literacy or self-medication behavior, but that health literacy does influence self-medication behavior. Therefore, primary healthcare givers should promote public health literacy alongside the control of other conditions as one of the most effective ways to decrease the prevalence of self-medication and the risks associated with it.

Assessing Medical Emergency E-referral Request Acceptance Patterns and Trends: A Comprehensive Analysis of Secondary Data From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Patient transfers in emergencies have been linked to reduced mortality rates and enhanced quality of care. The Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Centre (SMARC), an e-referral system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) since 2019, plays a crucial role in ensuring quality and continuity of care. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the e-referral system and identify potential areas for improvement in the management of emergency cases. Objective This study aims to examine e-referral patterns for emergency medical cases throughout all 13 administrative regions of KSA. Concurrently, it estimates the acceptance rate of medical emergency referrals and investigates associated factors among KSA hospitals. Methods This retrospective study utilized secondary data from the SMARC e-referral system, specifically focusing on medical emergency e-referral requests in the entire KSAduring 2021. Descriptive univariate analyses were conducted to characterize the referral requests, followed by bivariate analyses to explore associations between factors and referral acceptance. Adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses were then performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, controlling for potential confounding variables. Results A total of 29,660 medical emergency referral requests were initiated across all regions of KSA during the study time frame, and, of these,20,523 (69.19%)were accepted. The average age of patients with a medical emergency referral was 52 years old, and referral requests were higher among Saudis (13,781; 54.18%), males (13,781; 54.18%), and those from the Western region (10,560; 35.60%). Nearly 20,854 (70%) were due to the unavailability of specialized doctors or specialties in facilities. Based on multi-logistic regression, referral request acceptance was high in some factors as follows: compared to the Central region, requests from the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions had higher acceptance rates at 123%, 64%, 54%, and 46%, respectively. In addition, referral requests that were due to the unavailability of a specialized doctor or medical equipment had higher acceptance rates (19% and 16%), respectively, than those due to the unavailability of a specific specialty. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into regional variations, sociodemographic factors, and referral reasons within the medical emergency e-referral system in the KSA. By estimating the acceptance rate of medical emergency referrals and investigating associated factors, this analysis confirms the effectiveness of the e-referral system in facilitating access to quality care, particularly for marginalized patients. The study highlights the need for health policy improvements to ensure equitable resource allocation and reduce disparities in healthcare access.

Hepatitis C Infection in Hemodialysis Patients, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the world and evaluation of the epidemiology of HCV infection was made possible by the development of a serological assay to detect antibodies to epitopes of HCV. Hemodialysis (HD) is considered to be one of the main risk factors of HCV transmission. The prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy (MDT) was found to be one of the highest among different risk groups and there is wide variation in the prevalence of HCV infection among different dialysis units and countries. Therefore, the prevalence of anti-HCV was studied in patients undergoing MDT. The current study is a cross section one, where a sample of 361 HD patients were selected randomly from HD centres in three governmental hospitals in Makkah city and they were subjected to assessment for the prevalence of anti-HCV by using questionnaires in addition to clinical measurements. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients was 49.9% according to clinical measurements and questionnaires. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients in Makkah city (49.9%) was comparable to that reported from other parts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and it is almost similar to the already reported positivity rate of (43.2%) from the eastern region of KSA and southern regions of KSA (45.5%). However, Strict adherence to universal precautions as recommended by the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC), meticulous regular disinfection of HD machines, Strict isolation of HCV-positive patients, dedicated dialysis machines and nursing staff at new dialysis set-up could possibly be the reasons of relatively low anti-HCV positivity at the current study than that reported by Shaheen et al., from four centres in the western region of KSA, (72.3%) and that by Huraib et al., in their multi-centre study in KSA, (68%) as well as the mean national rate. On the other hand, the use of more sensitive third generation enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, long duration on HD, multiple blood transfusions, patients with dialysis treatment in multi-centres, factors related to infrastructure, environment and operational system might be responsible for the high prevalence of anti-HCV found in this study than that reported by Saeed et al., from Riyadh and those observed in the central region of KSA. Although routes of transmission are still unclear, early detection of all infected patients is mandatory for HCV prophylaxis in HD patients. Furthermore, an intensive educational program for staff members, HD patients and proper evaluation of the HD situation are needed. Thus, observation of appropriate preventive measures by all HD-centres is paramount.

Refractive error and abnormal stereopsis association with road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabian truck drivers

Abstract PURPOSE: To investigate the visual functions of truck drivers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the region of Qassim and Dammam and to see if is there any association between these visual functions and self-reported road traffic accidents (RTA). METHODS: It is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. LogMAR visual acuity, refractive error, color vision, stereopsis, and confrontation visual fields were measured in 300 truck drivers in the Qassim and Dammam regions of KSA. Driving-related history and incidence of RTA from the past 3 years, systemic history, and general eye compliance history were collected through a self-reporting questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 300 truck drivers examined, 54 (18.4%) subjects have a refractive error, 14 (4.7%) subjects have color vision deficiency, 37 (12.2%) subjects have abnormal stereo acuity, and none of them have confrontation visual field defect. RTA was reported in 25 (8.3%) subjects. The current study has found RTA is significantly associated with refractive error (P = 0.01) and abnormal stereopsis (P &lt; 0.01). Systemic history revealed that 11% of the subjects had diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The current study is the first to report on the visual functions of KSA truck drivers. Hence, the current study has found a significant association between visual functions and RTA among truck drivers, we recommend a comprehensive examination need to be part of issuing driver’s licenses in KSA. More studies with larger samples from different regions of KSA are needed to extrapolate these findings.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Vitamin D Deficiency in High Altitude Region in Saudi Arabia: Three-Year Retrospective Study.

Vitamin D has many functions in the human body, and its deficiency is associated with skeletal and non-skeletal diseases. Vitamin D deficiency (blood level of 25 (OH) vitamin D < 20 ng/mL) has been reported worldwide, including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Its prevalence and associated factors vary according to KSA region. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in the Taif region of KSA. This retrospective study included patients who attended outpatient clinics at the Alameen General Hospital from 2019 to 2021. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected using a hospital software system. The study included 2153 patients and vitamin D deficiency was diagnosed in 900 (41.8%) of whom were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. It was more common in males (P=0.021), younger age (<0.001), and in patients without comorbidities. There was a positive correlation between 25 (OH) vitamin D levels and blood cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels. In the binary logistic regression analysis, age was the most significant predictor (P<0.001), followed by the absence of thyroid disease (P=0.012) and asthma (P=0.030). Vitamin D deficiency is common in the Saudi population despite sunny weather in KSA. It is more prevalent among males, younger individuals, and those without comorbidities such as thyroid diseases and asthma.

Caffeine addiction and determinants of caffeine consumption among health care providers: a descriptive national study.

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychostimulant compound with a long history of worldwide consumption. Consuming low to moderate doses of caffeine is generally safe and quite beneficial; however, several clinical studies show that high doses could be toxic. Additionally, caffeine users can become dependent on the drug and find themselves unable to reduce consumption despite impending and recurrent health problems associated with continued use. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence, determinants, and positive and negative effects of caffeine consumption among governmental health care providers (HCPs) who were caffeine users. It aims to determine the frequency of caffeine dependence and addiction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in January 2020. This cross-sectional study recruited 600 randomly selected HCPs from all regions of KSA, who fulfilled the selection criteria through a self-administrated, online-validated questionnaire composed of three main parts using the DSM-IV to diagnose dependence and probable addiction. The majority of the studied HCPs were females (67.8%), nonsmokers (82.0%), and Saudis (80.5%), with a mean age of 35 years. According to the DSM-IV, the prevalence of caffeine consumption was 94.3%. Caffeine dependence was reported in 270 (47.7%), while 345 (60.9%) were diagnosed as addicts. The most commonly consumed caffeine-containing substances were coffee and its variants/types (70%), tea (59%), and chocolate (52%), with each person spending about 220 SR per week on them. The main reported adverse effects, in descending order, were sleep disturbances, stomach problems, and cardiac symptoms. The most positive effects reported of caffeine consumption were feeling active, alert, confident, and happy. These findings were significantly affected by sex, occupation, and general health. Caffeine use, dependence, and addiction are common among government HCPs in KSA. Caffeine has both positive and negative effects on this population and further research is necessary to better understand the long-term consequences of caffeine consumption.

Assessment of Drought Severity and Their Spatio-Temporal Variations in the Hyper Arid Regions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Case Study from Al-Lith and Khafji Watersheds

The goal of this study is to calculate meteorological drought using the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for the Al-Lith and Khafji basins of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 2001 to 2020. The in situ (rain gauges, RGs) and Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data are used in the current study. The meteorological drought is monitored across the AL-Lith and Khafji watersheds. The climate of the Khafji watershed is like the climate of Al-Lith to some extent. Still, due to complex terrain, Al-Lith receives relatively high precipitation and has a higher average temperature than the Khafji watershed. Results show that the total drought periods observed are 166 and 139 months based on SPEI and SPI on a multiple time scale (1, 3, 6, and 12 months) in the Al-Lith watershed, respectively. While, based on SPEI and SPI, the Khafji watershed experienced a drought of 129 and 72 months, respectively. This finding indicates that the SPEI-calculated drought is more severe and persistent in both watersheds than the SPI-calculated drought. Additionally, the correlation coefficient (CC) between SPI and SPEI is investigated; a very low correlation is observed at a smaller scale. CC values of 0.86 and 0.93 for Al-Lith and 0.61 and 0.79 for the Khafji watershed are observed between SPEI-1/SPI-1 and SPEI-3/SPI-3. However, the correlation is significant at high temporal scales, i.e., 6 and 12 months, with CC values of 0.95 and 0.98 for Al-Lith and 0.86 to 0.94 for the Khafji watershed. Overall, the study compared the performance of IMERG with RGs to monitor meteorological drought, and IMERG performed well across both watersheds during the study period. Therefore, the current study recommends the application of IMERG for drought monitoring across data-scarce regions of KSA. Furthermore, SPEI estimates a more severe and long-lasting drought than SPI because of the temperature factor it considers.

Antibodies Against Hepatitis C Virus (Anti-HCV) among Hemodialysis Patients in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the world and evaluation of the epidemiology of HCV infection was made possible by the development of a serological assay to detect antibodies to epitopes of HCV. Hemodialysis (HD) is considered to be one of the main risk factors of HCV transmission. The prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy (MDT) was found to be one of the highest among different risk groups and there is wide variation in the prevalence of HCV infection among different dialysis units and countries. Therefore, the prevalence of anti-HCV was studied in patients undergoing MDT. The current study is a cross section one, where a sample of 361 HD patients were selected randomly from HD centers in three governmental hospitals in Makkah city and they were subjected to assessment for the prevalence of anti-HCV by using questionnaires in addition to clinical measurements. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients was 49.9% according to clinical measurements and questionnaires. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients in Makkah city (49.9%) was comparable to that reported from other parts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and it is almost similar to the already reported positivity rate of (43.2%) from the eastern region of KSA and southern regions of KSA (45.5%). However, strict adherence to universal precautions as recommended by the Center for Diseases Control (CDC), meticulous regular disinfection of HD machines, strict isolation of HCV-positive patients, dedicated dialysis machines and nursing staff at new dialysis set-up could possibly be the reasons of relatively low anti-HCV positivity at the current study than that reported by Shaheen et al [34], from four centers in the western region of KSA, (72.3%) and that by Huraib et al [29] in their multi-center study in KSA, (68%) as well as the mean national rate. On the other hand, the use of more sensitive third generation enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, long duration on HD, multiple blood transfusions, patients with dialysis treatment in multi-centers, factors related to infrastructure, environment and operational system might be responsible for the high prevalence of anti-HCV found in this study than that reported by Saeed, et al from Riyadh and those observed in the central region of KSA. Although routes of transmission are still unclear, early detection of all infected patients is mandatory for HCV prophylaxis in HD patients. Furthermore, an intensive educational program for staff members, HD patients and proper evaluation of the HD situation are needed. Thus, observation of appropriate preventive measures by all HD-centers is paramount.

Psychological Impact Among Physical Therapists during COVID-19 in Western KSA

Background: COVID-19 pandemic exposed health care providers such as physiotherapists to psychological disorders as depression and anxiety. Purpose: the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological impact among physical therapists during COVID-19 in western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Researchers performed a cross sectional survey-based study targeting physiotherapists in western KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic by using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire composed of three parts personal, occupational, and psychological. One hundred and ten Physical therapists replied who were working at 18 public and health hospitals of the Western region of KSA providing direct care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and percentage were utilized in presenting the subjects characteristics and collected data. Chi-square statistics was utilized to examine psychological injury with subject characteristics. The level of significance was set at p &lt; 0.05 for all tests through the statistical package (SPSS) version 25. Result: One hundred and ten physiotherapists [(60%) females and (40%) males] participated in this study. The results showed that male physiotherapists (63.69%) had higher frequency of psychological disorders in comparison with female physiotherapists (40.9%). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a bad effect on psychological aspect of physiotherapists in western KSA. Key Words: COVID-19 pandemic, Psychological impact, Physiotherapists in western KSA

Epidemiology and Cutaneous Manifestations of Psoriasis in Saudi Arabia: A Narrative Review.

BackgroundPsoriasis is an inflammatory immune-mediated illness with an unknown cause. It is a painful, disfiguring, and disabling condition without a complete cure and has enormous negative effects on patients’ quality of life. Ethnicity, genetics, and environmental variables all have a role in determining the disease’s prevalence. Currently, the large-scale epidemiological studies on cutaneous manifestations of psoriasis in Saudi Arabia are limited.AimTo evaluate the prevalence of different forms of psoriasis and cutaneous manifestations, pattern, and associated clinical presentation of psoriasis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).MethodologyA thorough search of studies on cutaneous manifestations of psoriasis in KSA was conducted from July first 2021 to September 30 2021 using the key phrases “psoriasis,” “cutaneous manifestations of psoriasis in KSA,” “psoriasis clinical presentation in Saudi Arabia,” and “psoriasis skin lesions in Saudi Arabia” at four medical search stations PubMed, Scopus, Google, and Research Gate.ResultsPsoriasis was found to be present in up to 5.33% of the population. More men than women were affected and the age of onset was under 30 years. It was more prevalent in the northern region of KSA. A family history was confirmed in many cases. Plaque psoriasis was the most prevalent kind of psoriasis, followed by guttate psoriasis. Other types of psoriasis, such as pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, follicular psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and congenital psoriasis, were also found in Saudi patients. There was no evidence of life-threatening psoriasis among Saudis.ConclusionThe major findings of this narrative review revealed plaque-type psoriasis was the most frequent among Saudis followed by guttate psoriasis. Further epidemiological research is needed to better understand the type of cutaneous psoriasis, its impact on the quality of life, and the current therapeutic options which would help advance the national health policy.

Evaluation of hematological parameters in dyspepsia patients infected with Helicobacter pylori: A retrospective study from the Central Region of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To evaluate the hematological parameters in dyspepsia patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection from Al Qassim province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods:This retrospective study was carried out in Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Hospital, Al Qassim, KSA. The data of dyspepsia and epigastric pain patients were derived from the hospital based registration system between 2020-2021. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the correlation between the onset of H. pylori infection and anemia.Results:Among 810 enrolled patients, there were 202 (24.9%) patients with H. pylori infection and 144 (17.8%) with anemia. The prevalence of anemia in the H. pylori (+) group was not statistically higher than the H. pylori (-) group after adjusting age, red blood cell count, serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, platelet count, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p>0.05). The level of hemoglobin was almost identical in both the H. pylori (+) group and the H. pylori (-) group (p>0.05).Conclusion:The findings show that H. pylori infection may not be related to anemia in dyspepsia patients from the Central region of KSA.

Assessment of knowledge and practice of mammography and breast self-examination among the general female population in Asir region of KSA.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and an increasing burden in terms of incidence, morbidity and mortality. It accounts for about 28.7% of all new cancers in women. In 2015, the Saudi cancer registry shows that breast cancer was graded first among women and it accounts for 16.7% of all cancers reported among Saudi nationals. This study was designed to assess breast cancer screening knowledge and practices among women in the Asir region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study recruiting 1,021 female participants was performed. The variables included breast cancer knowledge, socio-demographic features, breast self-examination knowledge and practice. Descriptive statistics was used to compare and analyze the collected data while chi-square test was used to check the statistical significance among the selected variables. Saudi married women from Asir region were the participants of this cross-sectional study. Our findings suggested that participants had a satisfactory level of knowledge about breast self-examination andmammograms at a rate of > 90% and 44.76% respectively. Over 90% of participants had good breast self-exam knowledge,however, only 6.37% was always performed breast self-examination. Similarly, nearly 40% of participants performed mammograms, while 40.5% were unaware. Leaflets and doctors were the primary sources of information for participants regarding the information of breast cancer screening. Breast self-examination is a crucial approach to the timely detection of breast cancer and is subsequently critical for effective treatment. From the findings of this study we concluded that most women in the Asir region have a good awareness of breast cancer screening methods. However, either screening of self-examination or mammogram for breast cancer was not carried out thoroughly and regularly. This means that we must continue to emphasize the importance of primary health care in the earliest stages of breast cancer.

Public Attitudes Toward Pediatric Routine Immunization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Society.

BackgroundRoutine vaccines are essential for the well-being of children. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some restrictions have been applied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), causing parental concern about visiting healthcare facilities.ObjectivesTo examine the attitudes and factors that influence parents’ decisions regarding their children's vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 1,704 caregivers from KSA participated. An implemented Arabic questionnaire directed to the caregivers of children at the age of routine immunizations was filled. It included questions on parent demographics, child data, the decision regarding the vaccines, cause-related questions, and the preferred means to receive the vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsA total of 1,360 participants were included. The majority were from the middle region of KSA. Thirty-nine point five percent (39.5%) of participants chose not to administer the scheduled vaccines to their children, and the main reason was the fear of COVID-19 infection. The main sources of information that encouraged administering the vaccines were the advice of physicians, Saudi Ministry of Health (SMOH) services, 937, and the Sehha application. The majority of the participants chose home immunization visits as the preferred means of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.8%). The study showed that approximately 60% of the respondents believed that routine childhood immunizations had no role in spreading the COVID-19 infection, and 59% believed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, routine childhood vaccines have to be administrated on time.ConclusionThe study indicated the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the compliance of Saudi society toward routine pediatric immunization.

Advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic era among physicians in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess the awareness about telemedicine among physicians and determine their opinions about telemedicine in the post-pandemic era.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at government hospitals (King Faisal Medical Complex [KFMC]-King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital [KASH]) in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from May-August 2020. Taif is a small city in the western region of KSA with a population of 689,000 and 2 main hospitals (KFMC & KASH) which also serve rural areas close to Taif city. A total of 36 physicians practiced telemedicine, only 25 physicians accepted to participate in this study.Results:Thirty-six percent of the responders believed that telemedicine could improve the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention and 44% believed that the quality of care was enhanced using telemedicine. Difficulty in reaching the correct diagnosis due to the lack of physical examination was one of the disadvantages that faced the participants.Conclusion:Telemedicine should be part of medical services but should not completely replace physicians’ personal interaction. Telemedicine could be continued for stable remotely residing patients even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Countrywide Survey in Saudi Arabia Regarding the Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Professionals about Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as a pandemic. The updated knowledge and a positive attitude of health care professionals (HCPs) towards fighting any pandemic is the key to success. Thus, the present study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of HCPs towards COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A cross-sectional study was conducted across the KSA, covering its five geographical regions with a non-probability quota sample. Twenty-nine, close-ended questions evaluating the knowledge and attitude domain were included in the questionnaire. It was developed with the help of Qualtrics software and circulated among the HCPs through the electronic mode. We analyzed data from about 1040 HCPs using the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) v.21. All variables were presented in number and percentages. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of independent variables for inadequate knowledge and attitude. Considering the “good” level of the respective domain, the HCPs have displayed better knowledge (48.2%) over attitude (33.8%). Female (aOR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.09; p = 0.004), Diploma degree (aOR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.64–3.83; p < 0.001), 7–10 years’ experience (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.01–2.15; p = 0.045) were at higher risk of having inadequate knowledge compared to their contemporaries. Among the sources, the Ministry of Health (MOH) website was the most popular source of information (76%). The knowledge and attitude of HCPs regarding COVID-19 was similar across all the regions of KSA. However, the continuing education program is warranted to fill the potential gap in knowledge for HCPs in higher-risk groups.

Healthcare professionals’ views and perceptions of analgesic and antipyretic use in paediatric patients in four major Saudi hospitals

BackgroundAntipyretics and analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are medications commonly used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and elsewhere to manage fever and pain in the paediatric age group.Research work investigating misuse of these medications in paediatric populations and pertinent healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions as a major determinant of the severity of these errors is scarce. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of HCPs about analgesic and antipyretic use in paediatric patients at four major hospitals in Jeddah, KSA. The study also sought to explore factors believed by HCPs to be associated with occurrence of medication errors and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to analgesic and antipyretic use. MethodsA cross-sectional survey employing a pre-piloted online questionnaire with an information sheet was delivered to HCPs in four hospitals in the western region of KSA. The questionnaire comprised a mix of a tick list and open and closed questions with Likert scales for attitudinal statements, and it also comprised items including demographics, healthcare professions and the respondents' work experience, HCPs’ views and perceptions relating to occurrence of ADRs and medication errors in children who attended the hospital in the preceding three months and the severity and outcomes of the ADRs. ResultsTwo-hundred seventy-four HCPs were approached, and 200 agreed to participate, yielding a response rate of 73%, including physicians (50%), nurses (24.5%), and pharmacists (16.5%).The majority of HCPs reported that ADRs could be minimized with appropriate actions. They believed that their lack of experience may have contributed to ADRs. Most HCPs (81%) reported that parental knowledge was a key factor contributing to the decreased occurrence of ADRs in children. They also believed that other factors contributed to the occurrence of ADRs, such as lack of reconciliation (65%), parents’ anxiety leading to overmedication (69%) and the easy availability of these medications at home (77%).Twenty-nine respondents (n = 29, 14.5%) reported medication errors related to the use of analgesics or antipyretics. Specifically, they reported that possible contributing factors included poor communication of information (69.5%); interruptions (67.5%) and work pressure (66.0%). ConclusionHCPs reported that ADRs and medication errors related to using analgesics and antipyretics in paediatric patients are not uncommon. In their opinion, several factors were associated with occurrence of these events, including parental knowledge about medications and insufficient training of HCPs.

Diversity of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: studies on the phenotypic and DNA barcodes

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), is the most deleterious pests of palms worldwide, including date palms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). An understanding of RPW diversity is crucial for designing management strategies of this pest. In this study, collections of RPW from date palm plantations were made in six known RPW-infected regions of KSA. The main objectives of the study were to characterize the RPW diversity in KSA using pronotal markings and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The results showed that based on pronotal markings, 18 different color morphs of RPWs were found, while based on the COI gene, it could be separated into three main haplotypes. Pronotal marking and COI gene diversity revealed that the Riyadh and Eastern Regions were the major RPW diversity hotspots and the primary sources for subsequent RPW introductions into other regions of KSA.

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of anopheline (Anophelinae: Culicidae) mosquitoes of the Oriental and Afrotropical Zoogeographic zones in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a diverse fauna due to its peculiar position bordering the Afrotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic zoogeographic zones. The present study reports the phylogenetics of five mosquito species belonging to five series of Anopheles (Cellia) . We collected mosquito larvae from eastern, western and southwestern regions of KSA. The sampled mosquitoes were morphologically identified using the pictorial keys of mosquitoes and characterized by using single and multi-locus analysis of -internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region and cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI). Based on the morphological and molecular data, five species were recognized, like An. stephensi (Neocellia) (Oriental), An. arabiensis (Pyretophorus) (Afrotropical), An. dthali (Myzomyia) (Oriental and Palaearctic), An. cinereus (Paramyzomyia) and An. rhodesiensis rupicola (Neomyzomyia) (Oriental and Palaearctic). The phylogenetic analysis showed that An. stephensi is a monophyletic species with different ecotypes found in different geographic regions. Comprehensive phylogenetics and population genetics studies are crucial for a better understanding of the role of these five mosquito species in malarial transmission across various zoogeographic zones of different ecological and demographic characteristics.

The prevalence of primary headache disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional population-based study

BackgroundThe large geographical gaps in our knowledge of the prevalence and burden of headache disorders include most of Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Following a nationwide population-based study in Pakistan, we present here a similar study from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Both were conducted as projects within the Global Campaign against Headache The two purposes of this study were to inform national health policy and contribute to global knowledge of headache disorders.MethodsWe surveyed Arabic-speaking adults aged 18–65 years in all 13 regions of KSA. While previous Global Campaign studies have engaged participants by calling at randomly selected households, the culture of KSA made this unacceptable. Participants were, instead, contacted by cell-phone (since cell-phone coverage exceeded 100% in KSA), using random-digit dialling. Trained interviewers used a culturally adapted version of the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire, with diagnostic enquiry based on ICHD-II. We estimated 1-year prevalences of the headache disorders of public-health importance (migraine, tension-type headache [TTH] and probable medication-overuse headache [pMOH]) and examined their associations with demographic variables.ResultsA total of 2316 participants (mean age of 32.2 ± 10.7 years; 62.3% male; 37.7% female) were included (participation proportion 86.5%). Gender and age distributions imperfectly matched those of the national population, requiring adjustments for these to prevalence estimates. Observed 1-year prevalence of all headache was 77.2%, reducing to 65.8% when adjusted. For headache types, adjusted 1-year prevalences were migraine 25.0%, TTH 34.1%, pMOH 2.0% and other headache on ≥15 days/month 2.3%. Adjusted 1-day prevalence of any headache was 11.5%. Migraine and pMOH were associated with female gender (ORs: 1.7 and 4.7; p < 0.0001). Migraine was negatively associated with age > 45 years (OR: 0.4; p = 0.0143) while pMOH was most prevalent in those aged 46–55 years (OR: 2.7; p = 0.0415). TTH reportedly became more common with increasing level of education.ConclusionPrevalences of migraine and TTH in KSA are considerably higher than global averages (which may be underestimated), and not very different from those in Pakistan. There is more pMOH in KSA than in Pakistan, reflecting, probably, its higher-income status and greater urbanisation (facilitating access to medication).

HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIBODIES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN MAKKAH CITY, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the world and evaluation of the epidemiology of HCV infection was made possible by the development of a serological assay to detect antibodies to epitopes of HCV. Hemodialysis (HD) is considered to be one of the main risk factors of HCV transmission. The prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy (MDT) was found to be one of the highest among different risk groups and there is wide variation in the prevalence of HCV infection among different dialysis units and countries. Therefore, the prevalence of anti-HCV was studied in patients undergoing MDT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study is a cross section one, where a sample of 361 HD patients were selected randomly from HD centers in three governmental hospitals in Makkah city and they were subjected to assessment for the prevalence of anti-HCV by using questionnaires in addition to clinical measurements. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-HCVamong HD patients was 49.9% according to clinical measurements and questionnaires CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients in Makkah city (49.9%) was comparable to that reported from other parts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and it is almost similar to the already reported positivity rate of (43.2%) from the eastern region of KSA [1] and southern regions of KSA (45.5%). [2, 3] However, Strict adherence to universal precautions as recommended by the Center for Diseases Control (CDC), meticulous regular disinfection of HD machines, Strict isolation of HCV-positive patients, dedicated dialysis machines and nursing staff at new dialysis set-up could possibly be the reasons of relatively low anti-HCV positivity at the current study than that reported by Shaheen, et al [3, 4] , from four centers in the western region of KSA, (72.3%) and that by Huraib, et al [5] [6] in their multi-center study in KSA, (68%) as well as the mean national rate.[3, 7] On the other hand, the use of more sensitive third generation enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, long duration on HD, multiple blood transfusions, patients with dialysis treatment in multi-centers, factors related to infrastructure, environment and operational system might be responsible for the high prevalence of anti-HCV found in this study than that reported earlier by Saeed, et al [8] from Riyadh and those observed in the central region of KSA.[9]Although routes of transmission are still unclear, early detection of all infected patients is mandatory for HCV prophylaxis in HD patients. Furthermore, an intensive educational program for staff members, HD patients and proper evaluation of the HD situation are needed. Thus, observation of appropriate preventive measures by all HDcenters is paramount