Saudi Community Research Articles

Perception of the community toward the transition of pharmaceutical care services from ministry of health primary healthcare centers to community pharmacies

Introduction: There is a lack of research on the impact of the transition of pharmaceutical care service from Ministry of Health (MOH) primary healthcare centers (PHCs) to community pharmacies (Wasfaty service) in Saudi Arabia. This study explored the Saudi community’s perception toward the transition of pharmaceutical care service. Community needs and expectations from the Wasfaty service were assessed, and its experience, concerns, and limitations were evaluated.Methods: Qualitative, in-depth, semistructured interviews of Saudi community members who visited community pharmacies with electronic prescriptions from MOH PHCs were conducted. The data obtained from participants were thematically organized and analyzed using NVivo software.Results: Seven themes related to the new Wasfaty service were identified and divided into three categories: perception toward the transition in pharmaceutical care, experience with the Wasfaty service, and concerns about limitations of the Wasfaty service. The Saudi community was generally satisfied with the new Wasfaty service and highlighted its benefits compared to PHCs pharmacies. These include: easier access, time flexibility, lower crowds, better communication with pharmacists, better medication education, better medication availability, better control over dispensing, and easier refills. However, the community complained about the lack of privacy in community pharmacies, the lack of female pharmacists, and the low number of Saudi pharmacists. They also were concerned about the number and location of community pharmacies featuring the Wasfaty service, some technical issues, and the lack of labels on medications (i.e., receiving no instructions about medication storage).Conclusions: The Saudi community showed its need for the transition in pharmaceutical care services.

Assessing the diagnostic significance of pH studies in symptomatic patients within the Saudi community: a cohort investigation

Background: pH is a crucial physiological factor in diagnosing groups of diseases related to the gastrointestinal tract. This study delves into the critical role of pH measurement in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases among symptomatic patients in the Saudi community. The research aims to classify patients based on pH levels, ultimately examining the impact of these findings on patient management and outcomes. Methods: A cohort observational study was conducted; a simple random sample technique was approached. The study population included 130 participants aged between 18 and 70 years. Data were collected from June to July 2021 from a specialized gastroenterology medical Center in Riyadh, receiving patients from different regions of Saudi Arabia (Human Clinic). Results: The study involved 130 participants and examined sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and the association of symptoms and chronic diseases with pH DeMeester scores in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) diagnosis. The study includes 43.8% female and 56.2% male; 76.9% had chronic diseases; 63.8% reported having GERD; 36.9% had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); 13.1% were smokers; 84.6% were nonsmokers; 68.5% used GERD medications; 92.3% reported dyspepsia; and 37.7% had high pH scores, 41.5% had normal scores, and 20.8% had severe scores. Most associations between variables and pH scores were not statistically significant, indicating a complex relationship. Conclusion: The study showed a diverse participant profile with a high prevalence of chronic diseases, GERD, and IBS. Although the majority reported dyspepsia and used GERD medications, the associations between symptoms, chronic diseases, and pH DeMeester scores were not statistically significant, highlighting the complex nature of these relationships. Further research is needed to explore additional factors influencing pH scores and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Digital Media and the Crime Industry: Saudi Society

This study concentrates on digital media’s impact on criminal activities in the Saudi community. The theoretical framework is based on the cultivation theory. The study includes the thirteen regions of Saudi Arabia with a sample of 630 respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Based on the results, TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat are the most influential apps that contribute to the rapid spread of crime, particularly fraud, financial scamming, violating religious and public policy values, as well as deceiving minors. The study reveals that the promotion of crime through digital media is attributed to many factors, most notably digital media’s ability to transmit criminal images and patterns all over the world and achieve lucrative gains by stirring up the media entities’ desire to intensify the dissemination of digital media content. The study recommends the importance of international agreements in the field of combating crimes to determine the framework of international jurisdiction and international collaboration to protect communities against cross-border crimes. Adopting strict security measures to provide sound media content, implementing electronic protection policies and paying much more attention to the family circle are the first line of defence in facing the crimes of digital media content. KEYWORDS Crime confrontation, crime spread, international crimes, IT crimes, new media, social media

The Public's trends toward Kidney Donation

Objective: To explore the perception of Saudi society about living kidney donation and to identify the trends towards the donation of a kidney. Methodology: This Quantitative cross-sessional community-based survey was carried-out from January to February 2020 among the Saudi population and included both natives and residents. We used convenience sampling technique. Perception about living kidney donation questionnaire was developed which included questions about knowledge regarding living kidney donation. Results: Out of 1295 participants, 567 (43.8%) were males and 728 (56.2%) females. The overall mean score of the public`s perception about living kidney donation was moderate (mean=5.90±1.18). There was a statistical difference (F=3.44, p<0.05) between age groups toward perception regarding living kidney donation, as older and female patients have a better perception of kidney donation than young adults and men. The trends of the Saudi community about kidney donation were moderate; most participants agreed to donate a kidney for humanitarian and religious purposes. Participants were aware that living kidney donation improves the quality of life of the recipient. Conclusion: Greater awareness about the center responsible for the organ transplantation can help willing donors to consent to future donation.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of using Antibiotics among the Community in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this study is to explore and evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of using antibiotics among the community in the Eastern Province, of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted, from February 2022 through March 2022, among people in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The study population was 753 of the Saudi community. The questionnaire used open-ended and multiple-choice questions. Out of 753 participants, only 254 (55.6%) think that antibiotics can treat a bacterial infection, whereas 163 (35.7%) and 82 (17.9%) think it treats viral and fungal infections respectively. 26 (5.7%) of the respondents think that they should be stopped when the antibiotics are finished, while 72 (15.8%) think that they should be stopped when the symptoms disappear. The most common side effect in the respondent's opinion was diarrhea 183 (40%), followed by 168 (36.76%) antibiotics resistance. The major reason for taking antibiotics without a prescription was found to be mild symptoms 28 (50.90%), adequate information 21 (38.18%), difficulty in taking appointments 17 (30.90%), long waiting hours during the hospital visits 15 (27.27%). 169 (36.9%) kept the leftover antibiotics for reuse. The most common antibiotics used for self-medication were found to be Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid 23 (41.8%), followed by Amoxicillin 9 (16.36%). Knowledge of antibiotic resistance was highest in the age group 20-30 (62.7%) (P < 0.05). People in Saudi Arabia show a high awareness of antibiotics' proper usage, and this returns to the great awareness campaign held by The Ministry of Health (MoH).

A Qualitative Study of the Knowledge, Experiences, Perceived Roles, Cultural Barriers, and Skills of Community Pharmacists Dealing with Saudi Patients with Asthma

Background: In Saudi Arabia, asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases. Previous studies have identified that asthma management can be influenced by patients’ cultural beliefs and levels of asthma education. Therefore, community pharmacists should have good knowledge of both asthma and Saudi cultural beliefs to be able to effectively educate Saudi patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore Saudi community pharmacists’ knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on providing care for Saudi patients with asthma. Materials and Methods: A qualitative method was employed to conduct semistructured interviews in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Community pharmacists were interviewed on the phone using an interview guide, and participants were recruited purposively. Verbatim transcripts of interviews were then thematically analyzed. Results: Analysis of 22 interviews resulted in five emergent themes: (1) lack of asthma knowledge among community pharmacists; (2) cultural and religious issues; (3) counseling issues; (4) patient medication issues and navigating the healthcare system; and (5) the need for asthma recourse and training. The findings indicate that community pharmacists have unsatisfactory levels of asthma knowledge and lack access to asthma guidelines in Saudi Arabia. It was also evident that the asthma management of Saudi patients was influenced by patients’ cultural and religious beliefs, which pharmacists needed to consider during patient counseling. Conclusions: Due to the lack of knowledge about asthma among our participants, there is an urgent need for asthma training. Furthermore, pharmacists should consider the impact of cultural issues on Saudi asthma patients to achieve better clinical outcomes.

Perception of the Saudi Population on Abortion Decisions in Congenital Fetal Anomalies.

Introduction Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies is well reported in the literature and accepted by the western and other non-Muslim communities, but Muslim communities' perception is poorly reported and rarely mentioned. This study aims to evaluate the perception of the Saudi community on abortion decisions as a management option in congenital fetal anomalies. Methods This is an observational, descriptive cross-sectional study, where participants of Saudi nationality, living in Jeddah, and consenting to participate in the research filled up a self-administrated, structured, close-ended, validatedquestionnaire. The level of agreement was measured on a Likert scale. Results A total of 574 participants were included in the study;43.3% were female. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 years (SD = 10.6). Undergraduate students were 58.9%, single participants were 56.3%, and participants without children were 61.3%. The prevalence of abortion was 17.9%. The overall agreement on accepting abortion as an option was 61%. Gender (p<0.001), knowledge level (p=0.003), and religion (p=0.01) were the most important factors that influenced people's perception of abortion. Other factors like participants' age (p=0.09), level of education (p=0.48), marital status (p=0.16), having children (p=0.48), and gender of the fetus (p=0.2) were not significant factors in their decision to choose abortion. Conclusion Overall, Saudis were more inclined to accept abortion in case of a confirmed congenital anomaly, yet females were more acceptingof the idea than males.

Community pharmacists' views and experiences toward over-the-counter medicines misuse and abuse in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study.

Background: Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to identify and address the issue of misuse and abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. To date, no study has explored the Saudi community pharmacists' views and experiences regarding aspects of OTC medicines' misuse and abuse. Objective: To explore the views and experiences of the Saudi community pharmacists towards OTC medicines misuse and abuse. Furthermore, we aimed to identify frequently misused and abused medicines, the reasons and contributing factors, the role of pharmacists, and potential risk-mitigating strategies. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenient sample of sixteen community pharmacists recruited from community pharmacies across the AL-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were conducted using a pilot-tested interview guide in the Arabic language. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated from Arabic into English, and then thematically analysed. Results: Analysis of interviews generated five main themes, including the commonly misused and abused OTC medicines, reasons and factors contributing to misuse and abuse of OTC medicines, pharmacists' interventions to manage misuse and abuse, challenges and barriers to pharmacists' interventions in misuse and abuse issues; and potential strategies to reduce the risk of OTC medicines misuse and abuse and improve pharmacists' practice. Sedative antihistamines, cough products containing dextromethorphan, codeine-based analgesics, and non-codeine-based analgesics were commonly misused and abused OTC medicines. Managing ongoing medical conditions was the main reason for misusing OTC analgesics while recreational use and inducing sleep were the common reasons for abuse. Several factors contributing to misuse and abuse were reported, including unprofessional advice sought from other people, lack of awareness about medicines, and commercial advertisement of OTC products. Community pharmacists identified misuse and abuse among customers by judging their behaviours and attitudes and using structured questioning techniques. Counselling customers on the appropriate use of medicines, providing safe alternatives, and refusing to sell products were among the commonly used actions of pharmacists to address misuse/abuse. Pharmacists proposed several strategies to reduce the risk of OTC medicines misuse/abuse but believed that rescheduling OTC medicines with abuse potential to prescription-only medicine was the best option. Conclusion: Community pharmacists believed that the misuse and abuse of OTC medicines amongst pharmacy customers was common. A multidimensional strategy consisting of upskilling community pharmacists, a comprehensive review of OTC medicines sale regulations, and patient education to limit the risks of OTC medicines misuse/abuse is required.

Abstract #1324617: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Distress Among Diabetic Patients in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Little is known about diabetes-related distress (DD), its prevalence and risk factors in the Saudi community. This study aims to assess prevalence of DD and identify its risk factors in diabetic patients.

A cross-sectional assessment of knowledge, awareness of risk factors, and perceptions of thyroid disease (TD) among adults living in Saudi Arabia - A community based study.

The incidence of thyroid diseases has tripled in the last three decades, and the prevalence is rising rapidly irrespective of gender and genetics. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge, awareness of risk factors, and perceptions of thyroid disease among the Saudi Community in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, online web-based, survey type study was conducted between November 2021 to January 2022 among residents living in Saudi Arabia. Individuals aged ≥ 18 years who expressed a willingness to complete the survey were included. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were carried out to determine the factors associated with knowledge of thyroid using SPSS version 26.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, U.S.). Among the participants, the majority of them were females than males (77.5 vs. 22.5%). A total of 78.2% (n = 566) of them were aware of the thyroid. Nearly 44% (n = 312) of respondents are aware that a lump in the neck or swelling is a sign of thyroid disease, followed by pain in the neck 24.6% (n = 178), and difficulty in swallowing 23.8% (n = 172). The mean knowledge score of the thyroid was 4.1 (SD = 3.09), while the score of the mean perception was 33.02 (SD = 6.41). The mean knowledge scores were significantly associated with having previous knowledge of thyroid disease (t = 5.08; p = 0.0001). The gender of the participant and the presence of chronic diseases were found to have no impact on the knowledge score of the thyroid disease (t = -1.18; p = 0.235; t = 1.005; p = 0.315). Additionally, the perceptions score was not significantly associated with the demographics of the participants (p = 0.05). In this study, Saudi adults reported varying levels of knowledge and perceptions of thyroid disease. Having previous knowledge of the thyroid was significantly associated with the knowledge score. It is necessary to educate people about this rising disease.

Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness, Antibiotics Prescription Errors and Dispensing Patterns by Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundAntibiotic overuse and misuse have greatly facilitated the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that took a strategic approach, beginning with the prohibition of over-the-counter antibiotic dispensing, followed by the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and various educational and awareness governmental activities and plans. However, the status of antibiotic prescriptions and dispensing in Saudi community pharmacies is still unclear. As a result, this study investigates community pharmacists' antibiotic dispensing practices and their knowledge of their role in fighting AMR, in addition to the status of antibiotic prescribing errors by physicians. MethodThis is an online-based survey study of 671 participants distributed among community pharmacists of large pharmacy chains throughout the Saudi Arabia. ResultA number of 671 community pharmacists were participated in total, with a response rate of 96.57% (648 responses). The majority of community pharmacists (67%) had a long experience (>5 years) in this field. An antibiotic prescribing error was prevalent, with a mean of 3.32 per month in each pharmacy. Dentists (36.7%) and general practitioners (28.7%) were the most prescribers associated with antibiotic prescription errors. Most community pharmacists had a generally good practice of dispensing antibiotics, accounting for 71.5% of daily antibiotic dispensing. However, more than one-third of those pharmacists (35.2%) agreed on dispensing topical antibiotics without a prescription, based on their evaluation of the case presented in the pharmacy, as the majority of community pharmacists demonstrated a significant understanding of AMR. ConclusionThe current study demonstrated that there is a good antibiotic dispensing practice in the community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia, in addition to a substantial understanding of the community pharmacist’s vital role in fighting AMR. This study could inform decision-makers on antibiotic usage in Saudi community pharmacies to improve the current inappropriate antibiotic use and dispensing situation and, thus, control AMR spread in Saudi Arabia.

Weight stigma and self-esteem in the Saudi Community: Statistics on obesity and its associated illnesses, short running header

Background: Weight stigma refers to negative attitudes and beliefs that undervalue people based on their weight status. In our study, we aimed to assess weight-associated stigma and self-esteem among people in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design and asked a convenience sample of 308 persons from the Saudi community to fill out an electronically designed questionnaire. Along with the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the questionnaire encompassed some sociodemographic data, biometric measures like weight and height, and medical history. Piloting, validity, and reliability testing of the questionnaire were done, and we used the tools without amendment. Results: More than two-fifths of the study sample were obese, whereas about one-third of them were overweight. The study revealed a significant negative correlation between the BMI of the participants and both their mean WSSQ and RSE scales. However, we detected a positive significant correlation between the mean RSE scale and the mean WSSQ. Conclusion: The mean WSSQ was a significant independent predictor of the participants’ mean RSE scale. Female, older, and smoking participants had significantly higher weight stigma feelings compared to others, while married participants had lower self-esteem feelings compared to single participants.

Obstacles to E-volunteering in the Fields of Professional Practice of Social Work in the Saudi Community: A Field Study

Obstacles to E-volunteering in the Fields of Professional Practice of Social Work in the Saudi Community: A Field Study

Attitudes and Practice of Health Care Providers Toward Cancer Screening: A Cross-sectional Multicenter Study, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundScreening is a cancer prevention measure for groups who are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is a medical test for groups who are symptomatic. The occupational privilege of health care providers (HCPs) is expected to play a positive role in cancer screening practices. Therefore, this study aimed to assess perceptions and personal attitudes of HCPs regarding their decision to screen for cancer in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.DesignA cross-sectional multicenter survey study was conducted. A well-designed and validated questionnaire was distributed to the HCPs at three tertiary hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.ResultsOut of 900 health care providers who received the questionnaire, 372 completed it. Two-thirds, 247 (66.4%) of them were nurses and the rest were physicians and the mean age was 34.1 ± 7.1 years. Regardless of gender, profession, or age, the overall rate of belief in the importance of regular cancer screening was high; 91.4%. The number of participants who did not screen for colonoscopy was significantly higher than those who screened. The number of females in the age group of between 45 and 54 years who screened with mammography was significantly higher than non-screened. In a similar way, male HCPs above 54 years who got themselves screened for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) were significantly higher than those who did not.ConclusionsFindings of the current research and existing evidence specifically for the Saudi community indicated a need to raise awareness, emphasizing the role of HCPs in motivating themselves, their families, and their patients to implement various cancer screening programs.

Correlates of eating disorder pathology in Saudi Arabia: BMI and body dissatisfaction

BackgroundSaudi Arabia is undergoing rapid sociocultural changes, which may have led to an increase of body mass index and eating disorder pathology. The aim of this study is to investigate whether body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, having lived abroad, cultural orientation, perceived stress, media use, and socioeconomic status are correlates of eating disorder pathology with body mass index as a covariate. Additional aims are to investigate if cultural orientation is associated with symptomatology and if stress is a covariate in the association between eating disorder pathology and Western orientation.MethodSelf-report measures were administered in a convenience Saudi community sample (N = 1225) between April 2017 and May 2018. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses with eating disorder pathology as dependent variable were performed to establish the associations among the variables.ResultsAfter adjusting for the effect of BMI, only body dissatisfaction and eating disorder pathology were moderately associated. Eating disorder pathology and body dissatisfaction were more severe among Saudi citizens with a higher BMI.DiscussionSeveral explanations for the lack of associations of westernization, self-esteem, and stress with eating disorder pathology are reviewed and discussed. The majority of this convenience sample existed of young unmarried Saudi females of high socioeconomic status. Of the total sample, 35% displayed eating disorder pathology which may be a reflection of the high rates of excess weight.

Determinants of Post-COVID-19 Conditions among SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Large numbers of people infected with COVID-19 developed acute symptoms. Post-COVID-19 conditions have been reported after recovery or discharge from the hospital. However, little is known about the prevalence and possible risk factors of post-COVID-19 conditions in the Saudi community. Here, we describe the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions among the general population of Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, nationwide study using an online survey in Saudi Arabia from 1 September 2021 to 28 February 2022. The survey was distributed using social media platforms, such as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the questionnaire adapted from published studies. Result: The study enrolled 7520 individuals who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Most patients in our study were symptomatic and their acute symptoms may persist for more than six days. On the other hand, long-term complications may develop and continue for an extended period (post-COVID-19 conditions). Most of these complications are respiratory, neurological, psychological, or skin related. The proportion of long-term complications reported in this study is 36% among SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. In addition, being female, old age, number of chronic complications, long-term medication, length of stay in hospital and intensive care unit, and duration of acute symptoms may be significant predictors of post-COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusion: In conclusion, the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions among the Saudi population was high, which urges further investigation into the risk factors associated with post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation Among Medical Students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Organ donation is an integral part of medical ethics worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. Although the Saudi community has a positive attitude toward the concept of organ donation and transplantation, several factors prevent people from agreeing to donate organs and tissues. This study aimed to explore and evaluate the knowledge and attitudes medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia have toward organ donation and transplantation. A cross-sectional study among 722 medical students in the Eastern Province. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: sociodemographic questions, organ donation and transplantation knowledge questions, and questions on attitudes toward organ donation and reasons for consenting or refusing to donate. Both men and women had positive attitudes toward organ donation. The level of knowledge of organ donation and related procedures did not differ significantly among men (13.07%) and women (13.60%) (P < .027). The motives for donation were the desire to help others (88.8%) (P=.02) and sympathy (59.8%). The main source of information on organ donation for respondents was television, followed by the internet and relatives and/or friends. While medical students are generally supportive of organ donation and transplantation, they may lack basic knowledge on organ donation. Due to lack of basic knowledge, they become hesitant to make the decision to donate. It is recommended that additional organ donation modules be included in the student curriculum to increase the knowledge of future health care providers. Most of the participants would not change their attitudes toward organ donation based on the Saudi government initiatives to register for the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation organ donation program.

An insight into the prevalence rates of obesity and its related risk factors among the Saudi community in the Hai'l Region.

Obesity/overweight is a major preventable cause of morbidity responsible for various health disorders. Thus, the present investigation aimed to estimate the prevalence rates of obesity and its related risk factors among the Saudi community in the Hai'l Region. In this study, 2,438 participants were randomly recruited in the Hai'l region during a cross-sectional survey. Participants were included based on their body mass index (BMI). Only those with BMI >25 weight (kg)/height (m)2 were included. The overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 61% and 39%. The prevalence rates of males' overweight, obesity, and morbid obesity were 69%, 19%, and 12%, respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight, obesity and morbid obesity among females were 50%, 28%, and 22%, respectively. Overweight, obesity, and morbid obesity are prevalent in Hai'l region, Northern Saudi Arabia. Overweight/obesity is more prevalent among women, rural inhabitants, less educated people, and adults aged 26-40 years. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are significantly obesity-associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia.

Quality of Life in Outpatient Primary Hypothyroidism in Riyadh

Objective: To estimate the Primary Hypothyroidism and to study its effects on the Quality of Life of those patients. Study design: It was a Cross-Sectional Study done using random sampling. Sample size: 463 patients Duration and location of the study: It was done between December 2018 and December 2019 in outpatient clinics of a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh. Study tool: The quality of life of these patients was assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) Health Survey 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire with a score less than 50% was considered to be ‘Poor quality’. Results: The response rate of participants was 92.6% and the prevalence of Primary Hypothyroidism was observed to be 47.8%. They experienced a poor mental health with an average score (35.1 ± 1.6). Factors such as illiteracy (35.0 ±1.0), primary level of education (29.4 ± 3.6), housewife (43.49 ± 38.19) and the retired patients (20.31 ± 37.88) had a poor Physical function (P=0.001). However, the patients without primary hypothyroidism had better quality of life with physical, social and mental functional scores (P=0.001). The statistically significant poor quality of life observed due to poor education, income level and marital status exposed the need for the guidelines and management of this morbidity in the Saudi community. Keywords: Primary Hypothyroidism, SF-36, Quality of Life, Cross-Sectional study

Weight Stigma and Self-Esteem in the Saudi Community: Statistics on Obesity and Its Associated Illnesses

Weight Stigma and Self-Esteem in the Saudi Community: Statistics on Obesity and Its Associated Illnesses