An analysis of the intention of female pharmacy students to work in community pharmacy settings in Saudi Arabia using the theory of planned behavior.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the intention of female Saudi pharmacy students to work in community pharmacies and the factors associated with this intention. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2022 and June 2022 and included female students from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia. The survey was created based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. It included items that measure student intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding working in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. The study also included items that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, pharmacy program degrees, training, and job preferences of students. Results: A total of 407 participants completed the survey. The average age was 21.8 (±1.6) years, and most participants were Saudi nationals (97.79 %). The intention of participants to work in community pharmacies after graduation was low (mean = 3.2 ± 1.8; range: 1-7). Slightly positive attitudes toward working in a community pharmacy after graduation were revealed as participants showed an overall attitude mean of 4.5 ± 1.6 (range: 1-7). Furthermore, the participants perceived a low social pressure toward working in a community pharmacy after graduation (mean of 3.3 ± 1.9; range: 1-7). The intention of female pharmacy students to work in community pharmacies was significantly predicted by attitudes (p-value < 0.0001), perceived behavioral control (p-value = 0.0017), nationality (p-value = 0.0151), residence in the Saudi Arabian region (p-value = 0.0013), monthly income (p-value = 0.0231), pharmacy degree program (p-value = 0.0035), training received in community pharmacies (p-value = 0.0145), had a relative working in a community pharmacy (p-value = 0.0257), and preference to work in community pharmacies after graduation (p-value = 0.0001). Conclusion: Female pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia had a low intention to work in community pharmacies, a positive attitude toward working in community pharmacies, and perceived no social pressure to work in them. A positive attitude and behavioral perception of control toward working in community pharmacies were demonstrated among pharmacy students who study at a university outside Riyadh, undertaking a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, have a monthly income higher than 5000 Saudi riyals (USD 1,333.3), previously received training in community pharmacies, having a relative working in a community pharmacy, prefer to work in community pharmacies after graduation.

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.

Antibiotics for preventing infection at the surgical site: Single dose vs. multiple doses.

Background: Surgical site infections are common and expensive infections that can cause fatalities or poor patient outcomes. To prevent these infections, antibiotic prophylaxis is used. However, excessive antibiotic use is related to higher costs and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Objectives: The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of a single dosage versus several doses of antibiotics in preventing the development of surgical site infections. Methods: PubMed was used to find clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of a single dosage versus several doses of antibiotics in avoiding the development of surgical site infections. The study included trials that were published between 1984 and 2022. Seventy-four clinical trials were included in the analysis. Odds ratios were used to compare groups with 95% confidence intervals. The data were displayed using OR to generate a forest plot. Review Manager (RevMan version 5.4) was used to do the meta-analysis. Results: Regarding clean operations, there were 389 surgical site infections out of 5,634 patients in a single dose group (6.90%) and 349 surgical site infections out of 5,621 patients in multiple doses group (6.21%) (OR = 1.11, lower CI = 0.95, upper CI = 1.30). Regarding clean-contaminated operations, there were 137 surgical site infections out of 2,715 patients in a single dose group (5.05%) and 137 surgical site infections out of 2,355 patients in multiple doses group (5.82%) (OR = 0.87, lower CI = 0.68, upper CI = 1.11). Regarding contaminated operations, there were 302 surgical site infections out of 3,262 patients in a single dose group (9.26%) and 276 surgical site infections out of 3,212 patients in multiple doses group (8.59%) (OR = 1.11, lower CI = 0.84, upper CI = 1.47). In general, there were 828 surgical site infections out of 11,611 patients in a single dose group (7.13%) and 762 surgical site infections out of 11,188 patients in multiple doses group (6.81%) (OR = 1.05, lower CI = 0.93, upper CI = 1.20). The difference between groups was not significant. Conclusion: The present study showed that using a single-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis was equally effective as using multiple doses of antibiotics in decreasing surgical site infections.

Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy among community pharmacists.

Telepharmacy is a practical part of telemedicine that refers to providing pharmaceutical services within the scope of the pharmacist's obligations while maintaining a temporal and spatial distance between patients, users of health services, and healthcare professionals. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2022 to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and readiness for telepharmacy. The survey was filled out by 404 respondents. The majority of respondents were male (59.90%) and the age of more than half of them was between 30 and 39 years old (54.46%). Most participants worked in urban areas (83.66%), and 42.57% had less than five years of experience in a pharmacy. Most participants agreed that telepharmacy is available in Saudi Arabia (82.67%). Approximately 70% of pharmacists felt that telepharmacy promotes patient medication adherence, and 77.72% agreed that telepharmacy increases patient access to pharmaceuticals in rural areas. More than 72% of pharmacists said they would work on telepharmacy initiatives in rural areas for free, and 74.26% said they would work outside of usual working hours if necessary. In the future, this research could aid in adopting full-fledged telepharmacy pharmaceutical care services in Saudi Arabia. It could also help academic initiatives by allowing telepharmacy practice models to be included as a topic course in the curriculum to prepare future pharmacists to deliver telepharmacy services.

Association between intention to leave work and quality of work-life of Saudi pharmacists.

Background/Aim: Pharmacists are one of the most essential healthcare professionals, with substantial clinical knowledge and skills in the use of medications. Pharmacists provide patient care services and contribute to the enhancement of health outcomes, which increases their workload. This study was conducted to determine the association between intention to leave work and quality of work life (QWL) of pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire provided as a paper-based survey using two scales (the Work-related Quality of Life [QoL] and Intention to Leave scales). In addition, this was combined with demographics to determine the relationship between intention to leave work and quality of work-life. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests. Results: A total of 284 (76.5%), out of the 371 surveys distributed, were completed and returned. The average age and annual income of the respondents were 33.4 ± 6.5 years and 196,401 ± 82,306.7 SAR, respectively and 61.2% and 38.9% were male and female, respectively, whereas 62.9% were married and 53.2% reported having children. The multiple linear regression analysis conducted showed a significant negative relationship between QWL and the intention to leave work (ß = -0.131; 95% CI, -0.185 to -0.076). Conclusion: We found a significant association between the QWL and intention to leave. This indicates that a greater intention to leave was associated with a low or lousy QWL among Saudi pharmacists.

Comparison of the post-marketing safety profile between influenza and COVID-19 vaccines: An analysis of the vaccine adverse event reporting system.

The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic can be partially managed by vaccines; however, the public must be informed about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to avoid hesitancy. Therefore, it is important to know the safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccine by comparison to that of a well-known vaccine, such as the influenza vaccine. Hence, this retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate and compare the number of adverse effects (AEs) reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, identify the most common AEs of each vaccine, and compare the frequency and outcomes of using COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the U.S. population. Surveillance reports from 1st December 2020 to 8th October 2021 of both vaccines were retrieved from the U.S. VAERS. A total of 544,025 and 15,871 reports of post-COVID-19 and - influenza vaccine AEs were reported to the VAERS, respectively. Females reported > 58% and nearly 70% of influenza - and COVID-19 vaccine-associated AEs, respectively. The estimated incidence rates of AEs associated with COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the U.S. were 1.36 and 0.12 per 1,000 persons, respectively. The incidence of AEs was higher among COVID-19 vaccine recipients than that among influenza vaccine recipients. COVID-19 vaccine recipients have a two-fold higher risk of mortality and life-threatening events than influenza vaccine recipients. However, most of the reported AEs were similar between the two vaccines in terms of symptoms.

Perceptions among Muslims regarding fasting, medication use and provider engagement during Ramadan in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Muslims with chronic diseases tend to fast during Ramadan, although Islam allows them not to fast. Therefore, understanding their perceptions and how they manage their health, especially as a minority population, is very important. OBJECTIVE: To examine Muslims' (1) perceptions of fasting exemptions, (2) medication usage behaviour, (3) perceptions of relationships with healthcare providers and (4) factors impacting health management during Ramadan. METHOD: This was a qualitative study employing four focus groups (two groups of women and two groups of men). Adult Muslims (aged 18 years or more) with chronic diseases were invited to participate. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their fasting ability, medication usage behaviours, healthcare access and collaboration with providers during Ramadan. Trained researchers conducted the focus groups interviews in both English and Arabic. Each focus group was recorded, and three investigators independently transcribed the data and extracted themes and categories. Coding terminology issues were resolved through discussion. RESULTS: Twenty-five Muslims with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, renal failure and anaemia) participated. The most prominent themes/subthemes were as follows: (1) fasting exemption (e.g., uncontrolled medical conditions), (2) fasting nonexemption (e.g., controlled medical conditions), (3) nonoral medication use during Ramadan, (4) healthcare provider involvement during Ramadan, and (5) factors impacting health management during Ramadan. CONCLUSION: Muslim patients perceive fasting as an important religious practice, so they tend to self-modify their medication-taking behaviours. Educating pharmacists and other healthcare providers about Muslim culture, especially their strong desire to fast, may lead to Muslims better managing their medications and viewing pharmacists and other healthcare providers as knowledgeable healthcare providers.

Correction: Beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with herbal supplements usage among patients with chronic diseases-A cross-sectional insight from Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295116.].

Beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with herbal supplements usage among patients with chronic diseases-A cross-sectional insight from Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Herbal supplements (HSs) are used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments. Individuals with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of having adverse events and drug interactions from the use of HSs. AIM: This study determined the beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with HSs usage among patients with chronic diseases in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic diseases between February and June 2019. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at various out-patient clinics in different hospitals. Patients diagnosed with chronic diseases were included in the study. Data were analyzed by descriptive, comparative, and inferential statistics using SAS ver. 9.4. RESULTS: The study participants were consisted of 533 patients, with mean age 53.6 ±12.9 years. The most prevalent chronic diseases were diabetes mellitus (67.7%), followed by hypertension (54.8%), and hyperlipidemia (53.8%). Among the studied participants, 336 (63%) had used at least one HS, whereby the most commonly used HSs were ginger (74.7%), mint (72%), and cumin (66.7%). Almost 78% of HSs users did not consult any healthcare provider about their use. HSs use varied significantly between female and male participants (p<0.05), whereby 61.5% of female participants used HSs in comparison to the male participants (38.5%). Gender (AOR 0.328; 95% CI 0.139-0.772; p = 0.0107), number of chronic diseases (AOR 1.585; 95% CI 1.084-2.318; p = 0.0312), and hyperlipidemia (AOR 2.818; 95% CI 1.507-5.269; p = 0.0.0012) were the pure factors of HSs use among the studied patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that HSs usage was high among patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. Concurrent usage of HSs with drugs should be well-discussed with healthcare providers to avoid potential adverse events or drug interactions especially among patients with chronic diseases.

Willingness to Pay for Telemedicine Services Among Uninsured Individuals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the Willingness To Pay (WTP) of uninsured individuals in Saudi Arabia and the factors influencing their decisions regarding telemedicine services. Patients and Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and convenience sampling to gather data from respondents aged 18 years or older who had visited healthcare facilities at least once in the past year and were uninsured. WTP was determined using the contingent valuation method, and a two-part regression model was applied to analyze the factors influencing WTP. Results: The study included 4232 participants and discovered that approximately 17.41% were willing to pay for telemedicine services. Those aged 60 and older, employed in the government or private sector, in higher socioeconomic quintiles, and experiencing chronic health issues showed a positive association with their WTP value. Conversely, individuals aged between 30 and 44 years, married, and unemployed exhibited a negative association with a lower WTP value. Conclusion: The findings indicate that most respondents hesitated to pay for telemedicine services, with a significant influence from sociodemographic characteristics, underscoring the need to promote telemedicine use among underserved populations and address health disparities.