Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward glaucoma and its management among adult Saudi patients.

PURPOSE: To present the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) for glaucoma management and their determinants among adult Saudi patients. METHODS: The study was conducted between January and June 2017. Glaucoma patients from the ophthalmology clinic were interviewed. Demographics and disease-related information were noted. The questionnaire included four K questions, seven A questions, and six P squestions. The correct response of questions were summed for K, A, and P, and the percentile was calculated. K and P scores were graded as excellent (more than >75%), good (51%-75%), poor (26%-50%), and very poor (≤25%). If A score was >50%, it was termed as positive. RESULTS: We interviewed 263 adult glaucoma patients. Their mean age was 61.6 ± 14.2 years. The excellent grade of knowledge about glaucoma and its management was 63 (24% [95% confidence interval (CI) 18.8-29.1]). Poor grade of knowledge was 95 (36.1% [95% CI 30.3-41.9]). The attitude toward glaucoma and its management was positive in 89 (33.8% [95% CI 28.1-39.6]). The practice to manage glaucoma was of excellent grade in 10 (3.8% [95% CI 1.5-6.1]). The overall excellent grade of KAP glaucoma patients was 17.9% (13.2-22.5). Good practice for glaucoma management was associated with a history of glaucoma surgery (P < 0.001), longer duration of glaucoma (P = 0.02), and young age (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Low KAP about glaucoma disease and medication among Saudi glaucoma patients is a matter of concern. Strategies are needed to improve the KAP of glaucoma patients.

Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Paediatric Ear Infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A quantitative study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and care-seeking practices of parents towards childhood ear infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between April and June 2018. An online survey was sent to a random selection of parents who were ≥18 years old with children of ≤10 years old. Associations between parental knowledge, attitude, care-seeking practices, socioeconomic status, level of education and age were assessed using the chi square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 782 subjects participated in this study (response rate: 78.2%). Most respondents were knowledgeable (76.2%), had a positive attitude (78.9%) and had positive care-seeking practices (89.5%). There was a statistically significant difference on both bivariate and multivariate analyses (P <0.05) between parental care seeking practice and knowledge. Parents who sought modern approaches to treatment were found to be almost nine times more likely to have a good attitude towards ear infections than those who did not seek treatment (odds ratio = 8.907, 95% confidence interval = 2.655-34.928; P <0.001). A statistically significant relationship was found between good care-seeking practice and age, as well as socioeconomic status (P <0.05 each). CONCLUSION: This study showed that knowledge, attitude and practice regarding paediatric ear infections were positive in the majority of parents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Future studies should assess other factors that enhance the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding ear infections.

Intricate Evaluation of Association between Dental Caries and Obesity among the Children in Al-Kharj City (Saudi Arabia).

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries and obesity are two of the most prevalent health conditions affecting children. Relative decrease in corporeal movements, escalating inactive lifestyles, and changes in dietary factors are strongly linked with the increasing incidence of overweight and obesity. Furthermore, obesity increases the risk of chronic disease and dental caries that significantly affects the quality of life of young children. The present study intends to explore the relationship between dental caries and obesity in children in Al-Kharj city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present descriptive study was designed as a cross-sectional study in which a total of 386 children in the age range of 6 to 12 years from elementary schools of Al-Kharj city and pediatric dental clinics in Prince Sattam Dental College were included. RESULTS: Mean decayed filled teeth (DFT) score was found to be considerably higher among obese children. Also, incidence of dental caries in deciduous dentition was found to be notably higher among obese children. CONCLUSION: Obesity has a considerable outcome on prevalence of dental caries among primary schoolchildren in Al-Kharj city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The importance of obesity is limited not only to systemic disorders but also in relation to carious lesions. Hence, educating primary schoolchildren about caries and its related factors is very important. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: High intake of free sugar is a well-established risk factor for dental caries and also for obesity. Therefore, it is speculated that factors that decrease these risk factors have the potential to affect both conditions at the population level to control it competently.