Antibiotic-resistant bacteria contaminating leafy vegetables in Saudi Arabia's eastern region.

BACKGROUND: Food-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria can cause infections that may critically impact human health. The objectives of this study were to determine the microbial contamination level of green leafy vegetables and their antibiotic resistance pattern. METHODS: Sixty-three samples of leafy vegetables were collected from Dammam Central Fruit and Vegetables Market from January to June 2023. The vegetables included lettuce (Lactuca sativa), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), and watercress (Nasturtium officinale). Samples were tested by standard microbiological techniques for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. RESULT: Eight types of bacteria belonging to six different genera were detected. Enterobacteriaceae family was represented by four genera: Klebsiella, Proteus, Morganella, and Enterobacter. The other two genera were Pseudomonas and Aeromonas. Enterobacter cloacae was the most abundant organism, followed by Pseudomonas putida and Aeromonas sobria. On the other hand, Morganella morganii, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Proteus mirabilis were the least abundant. The three vegetable types had different levels of bacterial contamination. All isolated organisms were sensitive to penicillin, cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, and fluoroquinolone. However, Klebsiella oxytoca, M. morganii, and K. pneumonia showed resistance to ampicillin. A. hydrophila, Morganella morganii, and E. cloacae showed resistance to amoxicillin. M. morganii and E. cloacae were found to be resistant to cefalotin. Moreover, A. hydrophila, M. morganii, and E. cloacae were resistant to cefoxitin. Again, A. hydrophila was found to be resistant to imipenem. Only M. morganii was resistant to Ciprofloxacin. Two isolates, P. mirabilis and M. morganii were resistant to tigecycline. Another two, M. morganii and P. mirabilis were resistant to Nitrofurantoin. Only M. morganii was found to be resistant to trimethoprim. CONCLUSION: This study aligns with the broad consensus in the literature about the significance of bacterial contamination in vegetables and the public health implications. The unique focus on antibiotic resistance patterns adds an essential dimension to the existing body of knowledge.

Impact of Inaccurate Clinical Coding on Financial Outcome: A Study in a local hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Coding in medical procedures is crucial for patients, and errors made by hospital administration during the coding process can have an impact on both the financial results and the course of therapy. The present study aims to assess the accuracy of diagnostic and procedural codes as recorded by the hospital's coders and to also evaluate their impact on the hospital's revenue. Methods: In a local hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional observational analysis was conducted on patients with a clinical coder. The percentage of precision and error following the re-coding of cases was calculated using a statistical analysis. Results: Primary diagnosis was incorrectly coded in 57 (26 per cent) records, and secondary diagnosis was incorrectly coded in 21 (9.9 per cent) records. Inaccurate medical labelling has been seen in emergency rooms, operating rooms, and gynaecology facilities. Discussion: The percentage of records with the most incorrect coding was found to be 16 (7.5 per cent) in the emergency room, 10 (4.7 per cent) in the surgical clinic, and 5 (2.3 per cent) in the gynaecology/OBS clinic. Six (2.8 per cent) records in the private clinic had inaccurate secondary diagnoses, followed by four (1.9 per cent) and two (1 per cent) records in nephrology. Conclusion: The percentage of inaccurate clinical codes in primary diagnoses reached (26.8 per cent) and the percentage of incorrect clinical codes in secondary diagnoses reached (9.9 per cent).

Predictors of hand hygiene attitudes among Saudi healthcare workers of the intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare-associated infections present a challenge to healthcare systems, particularly critical care units. Hand hygiene emerges as a crucial element in infection control, acting as a vital link between healthcare workers, patients, and pathogens. Positive attitudes, motivated by a genuine concern for patient safety, are recognized as major predictors of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. This study aims to assess the attitudes of ICU staff toward hand hygiene and identify factors that influence these attitudes. A cross-sectional survey of intensive care unit staff in seven large Saudi hospitals was conducted using an anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire to examine the attitudes of ICU personnel about hand hygiene and determine the factors that impact these attitudes. A regression analysis was used to determine the determinants of hand hygiene attitudes. Of the 600 respondents, 93% rated their hand hygiene knowledge as good, and 71% received hand hygiene training from their hospital. Most respondents (78%) had previously experienced healthcare-associated infections. The majority reported a favorable overall attitude toward hand hygiene (M = 4.15, SD = 0.85). Attitudes toward hand hygiene were significantly associated with perceived knowledge (ß = 0.32, p < 0.001), prior hand hygiene training (ß = 0.13, p < 0.05), and years of experience (ß = - 0.10, p < 0.05). Healthcare workers in the ICU have a generally positive attitude toward hand hygiene. Such attitudes were correlated with hand hygiene knowledge, prior training, and job experience. The study's findings can help to inform health promotion initiatives and campaigns aimed at achieving long-term improvements in hand hygiene behaviors.

The impact of study habits and personal factors on the academic achievement performances of medical students.

BACKGROUND: Academic achievement is essential for all students seeking a successful career. Studying habits and routines is crucial in achieving such an ultimate goal. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the association between study habits, personal factors, and academic achievement, aiming to identify factors that distinguish academically successful medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants consisted of 1st through 5th-year medical students, with a sample size of 336. The research team collected study data using an electronic questionnaire containing three sections: socio-demographic data, personal characteristics, and study habits. RESULTS: The study results indicated a statistically significant association between self-fulfillment as a motivation toward studying and academic achievement (p = 0.04). The results also showed a statistically significant correlation between recalling recently memorized information and academic achievement (p = 0.05). Furthermore, a statistically significant association between preferring the information to be presented in a graphical form rather than a written one and academic achievement was also found (p = 0.03). Students who were satisfied with their academic performance had 1.6 times greater chances of having a high-grade point average (OR = 1.6, p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the available literature, indicating a correlation between study habits and high academic performance. Further multicenter studies are warranted to differentiate between high-achieving students and their peers using qualitative, semi-structured interviews. Educating the students about healthy study habits and enhancing their learning skills would also be of value.

Physical activity policies in Saudi Arabia and Oman: a qualitative study using stakeholder interviews.

BACKGROUND: Countries in the Middle East have some of the lowest rates of physical activity and some of the highest rates of obesity in the world. Policies can influence population levels of physical activity. However, there is a dearth of research on physical activity policies in the Gulf region. This qualitative study analyses cross-sectoral barriers and facilitators for the development, implementation and evaluation of physical activity policies in Saudi Arabia and Oman, two of the largest countries in the region. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 senior policymakers from the Ministries of Health, Education, and Sport in Saudi Arabia and Oman, and were examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified seven themes related to physical activity policies in Saudi Arabia and Oman: leadership; existing policies; physical activity programs related to policies; private sector policies; challenges; data/monitoring; and future opportunities. Both countries have a central document that guides policy-makers in promoting physical activity, and the available policies in both countries are implemented via multiple programs and initiatives to increase physical activity. Compared with Oman, in Saudi Arabia, programs from the non-profit sector, represented by community groups, play a more significant role in promoting physical activity outside the government framework. The private sector has contributed to promoting physical activity in both countries, but interviewees stated that more financial support is required. Policy limitations differ between Saudi Arabia and Oman: intersectoral collaboration in Oman is limited and mainly based on individuals' own initiative, while the health transformation in Saudi Arabia tends to slow down policy implementation in relevant areas. Physical education in Saudi Arabia and Oman is similar; however, increased support and collaboration between government agencies and the private sector for out-of-school sports academies are needed. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses key gaps in analysing physical activity policies in Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Our study highlights the importance of increasing financial support, improving collaboration between governmental agencies and between them and the private sector and consolidating efforts to back physical activity policies and dismantle cross-sectoral barriers in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Educational institutions in Saudi Arabia and Oman play a crucial role in promoting physical activity from early childhood to young adults. Our insights assist policy-makers, public health officials and stakeholders in shaping effective physical activity-promoting policies, programs and interventions to prevent non-communicable diseases. Challenges identified in Saudi Arabia and Oman's policies will inform their future development.

Assessing oral health knowledge among public school children in Saudi Arabian subpopulation.

INTRODUCTION: Oral hygiene is paramount for maintaining optimal oral and physical health, especially among children who are particularly susceptible to dental caries and issues due to dietary habits and inadequate hygiene practices. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of oral health among public school children, analyse their oral hygiene habits, educate parents on the importance of oral health for their children, and implement an oral hygiene educational program in Al-Kharj City, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Four public elementary schools were selected for the study, with a sample size of 200 school-going children participating. A structured questionnaire was used to assess awareness and knowledge of oral health among the participants. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. Multiple regression analysis and correlation tests was employed to explore the relationships between the different variables measured in the study. RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant lack of awareness regarding oral health among school children. Oral hygiene habits were found to be inadequate in many participants. Overall, the findings highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at promoting regular dental visits, addressing dental fear, and fostering positive oral hygiene practices among school-going children to improve oral health outcomes in the studied population. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted a critical gap in oral health awareness among school children, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. While the oral hygiene educational program has been implemented and future data will shed light on its effectiveness, preliminary observations suggest that such programs could potentially improve oral health outcomes and overall engagement among students.

Impact of rs599839 Polymorphism on Coronary Artery Disease Risk in Saudi Diabetic Patients.

Background: Coronary artery diseases may be affected by several genetic and nongenetic factors. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs599839 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can affect the occurrence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Our aim was to investigate how T2DM and the rs599839 variant affected serum lipid levels and the degree of CAD patients' coronary artery stenosis. rs599839 polymorphism genotyping was done on Saudi patients with coronary angiography performed previously. Patients enrolled were divided into group A (360 DM patients), group B (225 DM patients with CAD), and group C (190 healthy volunteers as control). Results: Individuals with diabetes and CAD who possessed the GG genotype in rs599839 exhibited markedly reduced means of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG; 224.5, 116.2, and 221.4 versus 251.6, 131.3, and 261.7 mg/dl, p=0.003, 0.007, and 0.025, respectively) than AA genotype. The odds ratio and the confidence interval of 95% for G allele carriers of rs599839 were OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.82, and p=0.003, among diabetic patients with CAD. Conclusions: In patients with diabetic CAD, the locus 1p13.3 polymorphism rs599839 was found to be substantially correlated with serum lipid levels. Furthermore, among Saudi patients with diabetes, the G allele of rs599839 variant lowers the CAD risk.

Interlinking FinTech and eHealth: a qualitative study.

Introduction: This study investigates the integration of financial technology (FinTech) and electronic health (eHealth) to explore the opportunities, challenges, and implications arising from their interlinkage in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Utilizing qualitative semi-structured interviews with 26 participants-including physicians, patients, technical and administrative managers, and FinTech consultants-the research adopts an inductive approach to understand diverse perspectives. Results: Key findings reveal significant benefits such as improved efficiency in administrative processes, enhanced access to healthcare services, increased financial inclusion, better decision-making, improved patient experience, and the promotion of innovation and sustainability. However, barriers including regulatory challenges, data privacy and security concerns, interoperability issues, the digital divide, resistance to change, and cost implications were also identified. Conclusion: Overall, the integration of FinTech and eHealth holds substantial promise for advancing healthcare delivery in Saudi Arabia. Future implications include the expansion of telehealth services, an increase in startups, the integration of wearable health devices, blockchain-based systems, evolving regulatory frameworks, and heightened collaborations. Addressing the identified challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of this integration.

Differences in eating habits, physical activity, and sleep patterns among high school students and their parents before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the eating and lifestyle habits among populations, especially among younger populations who are more prone to unhealthy dietary behaviours. However, current knowledge related to eating and lifestyle patterns, especially physical activity and sleep among different generations is limited. Our study sought to understand the eating habits, physical activity, and sleep behaviours among high school students compared to their parents in Saudi Arabia, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted in public high schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (n = 8 schools), spanning from September 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, distributed to all students and their parents (n = 516) in these schools. Results: During the pandemic, parents (46.4%) showed a heightened interest in health and nutrition compared to students (32.7%, p = 0.001). Food preferences changed for 58.1% of participants; 70.0% of parents and 36.7% of students opted for homemade food (p < 0.001). Unhealthy behaviours like eating out were more common in students. Weight varied by 74.0% during COVID-19, with more parents (41.4%) gaining weight than students (31.6%, p = 0.018). Physical activity dropped more for parents (42.1%) than students (23.9%), though 30.7 and 31.6% reported increases, respectively (p < 0.001). Regardless of the pandemic, students were more likely to sleep later compared to parents (58.0% vs. 41.4%; p < 0.001), while parents were more prone to waking up earlier compared to students (81.4% vs. 67.3%, p = 0.002). Discussion: The findings underscore the varied pandemic impact on eating habits and physical activity between students and parents. Tailored interventions are vital for promoting healthier choices during health crises.

Prescribing patterns and persistence of biological therapies for psoriasis management: a retrospective cohort study from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Biological therapies are effective for psoriasis, but patient responses vary, often requiring therapy switching or discontinuation. OBJECTIVES: To identify physicians' prescribing patterns of biological therapies at a referral tertiary center in Saudi Arabia and assess the probability of biologic persistence following treatment initiation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of biologic-naïve adult psoriasis patients who initiated therapy from October 2013 to July 2022 in Dammam. Descriptive statistics and a Kaplan-Meier analysis evaluated treatment persistence at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients received adalimumab (n = 89), etanercept (n = 17), risankizumab (n = 30), ustekinumab (n = 14), and ixekizumab (n = 1). At 6 months, all therapies demonstrated 100% persistence. At 12 months, persistence was highest for ustekinumab (100%) and lowest for etanercept (88.2%). At 24 months, ustekinumab maintained 100% persistence, followed by risankizumab (96.6%), adalimumab (94.3%), and etanercept (76.4%). At 36 months, risankizumab had the highest persistence (96.6%), followed by adalimumab (83.1%), ustekinumab (78%), and etanercept (70.6%). The most common reasons for discontinuation were lack of effectiveness and intolerability. CONCLUSION: This study shows changing psoriasis treatment patterns with new therapies. Risankizumab demonstrated high long-term persistence, while etanercept and ustekinumab showed declining persistence, suggesting evolving treatment considerations.

Acceptance of electronic referrals across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: results from a national e-health database.

Introduction: An effective referral system is necessary to ensure quality and an optimum continuum of care. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an e-referral system known as the Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Centre (SMARC), has been fully functioning since 2019. This study aims to explore the rate of medical e-referral request acceptance in the KSA, and to study the factors associated with acceptance. Methods: This period cross-sectional study utilised secondary collected data from the SMARC e-referral system. The data spans both 2020 and 2021 and covers the entirety of the KSA. Bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to compute adjusted Odds Ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of the total 632,763 referral requests across the 2 years, 469,073 requests (74.13%) were accepted. Absence of available machinery was a significant predictor for referral acceptance compared to other reasons. Acceptance was highest for children under 14 with 28,956 (75.48%) and 63,979 (75.48%) accepted referrals, respectively. Patients requiring critical care from all age groups also had the highest acceptance including 6,237 referrals for paediatric intensive care unit (83.54%) and 34,126 referrals for intensive care unit (79.65%). All lifesaving referrals, 42,087 referrals, were accepted (100.00%). Psychiatric patients were observed to have the highest proportion for accepted referrals with 8,170 requests (82.50%) followed by organ transplantations with 1,005 requests (80.92%). Sex was seen to be a significant predictor for referrals, where the odds of acceptances for females increased by 2% compared to their male counterparts (95% CI = 1.01-1.04). Also, proportion of acceptance was highest for the Eastern business unit compared to all other units. External referrals were 32% less likely to be accepted than internal referrals (95% CI = 0.67-0.69). Conclusion: The current findings indicate that the e-referral system is mostly able to cater to the health services of the most vulnerable of patients. However, there remains areas for health policy improvement, especially in terms of resource allocation.

Identification of the novel allele, HLA-DQB1*03:517, in a Saudi individual.

The novel allele, HLA-DQB1*03:517, differs by a single nucleotide substitution in exon 3 to HLA-DQB1*03:02:01:02.

Toothbrushing programme in Saudi Arabia 'TOPS': a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial in kindergartens, Riyadh.

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries among children is a major global health problem and is a particular public health challenge in Saudi Arabia. Dental caries cause pain, infection and negatively impact quality of life. As part of population oral health improvement efforts in Saudi Arabia, this project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a supervised toothbrushing programme in kindergartens. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a cluster randomised controlled trial. Enrolment began in September 2022, for two academic years (2022-2024) on 20 randomly selected kindergartens in Riyadh. The data collection phase will be completed in September 2024. Ten kindergartens are randomly allocated to supervised toothbrushing and 10 to treatment as usual, which is an annual oral health awareness visit. The primary endpoint will be the worsening of obvious decay experience as measured by decayed (into dentine), missing and filled teeth (d3mft) from baseline to the second year of follow-up. The secondary endpoint will be the increase in the number of teeth affected. A priori subgroups of the region of Riyadh, school type (public, private), child sex and presence/absence of prior decay at baseline, will be analysed. We require 244 evaluable endpoints using a power of 80% to meet the sample size requirement. In addition, questionnaires on behaviours, quality of life, process monitoring and cost analysis are being deployed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval for this study was given by the King Fahad Medical City Institutional Review Board in the Saudi Ministry of Health (22-083E/March 2022). The data analysis has been approved by the University of Glasgow Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences Research Ethical Committee (200220194/March 2023). The results of this study will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and in scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05512156.

Community experience and awareness regarding foreign body aspiration in Asir region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a serious preventable pediatric health problem and one of the main causes of accidental death in children. Although unusual in adults, it is often overlooked as a cause of airway obstruction with serious consequences. This study assessed awareness and previous FBA experiences in the Asir community, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using validated questionnaire, an annonymous online survey was conducted among 870 people aged 18 years and above. The questionnaire was used to collect data about the personal and sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, as well as their experiences with FBA, and participants' knowledge and perceived seriousness of FBA. The level of knowledge was deemed good if the score ranged between 60% and 100%, and bad if the score fell below 60%The level of knowledge was deemed good if the score ranged between 60% and 100%, and bad if the score fell below 60%. The majority of the participants (79.7%) were females, 48.1% were aged 18 to 30 years, 72.9% had university degree, 30.6% were students, 26.9% worked in the educational sector, 43.6% reported monthly income of <5000 Saudi Riyals and 19.8% of them identified themselves as healthcarepractitioners. Although the community experience with FBA was considerably high (70.6%) among the study participants, their awareness levels about FBA were deficient. Only 24.7% of the respondents had good knowledge of FBA. Older age, being a health practitioner, and perceiving FBA as a serious incident were significantly associated with good knowledge (P < .001). The findings of this study indicate an urgent need to raise community awareness of FBA. To reduce FBA morbidity and mortality, health education efforts in community and healthcare settings are required to educate people about the seriousness and importance of early diagnosis and management of the condition.

Unmasking caries risk: a multi-regional study in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries are common and troublesome and may affect individuals' health conditions. It is crucial to comprehend the caries experience for prevention, management, and enhancing oral health. Techniques such as CAMBRA can help assess an individual's risk factors for caries lesions. This study aims to assess the caries risk in five distinct regions of Saudi Arabia, utilizing the CAMBRA methodology. METHODS: This multiregional cross-sectional study was conducted at university dental clinics across the five regions of Saudi Arabia, using a Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) tool. This study used binary logistic regression analysis, the Pearson Chi-square test, and descriptive analysis as statistical methods. RESULTS: A total of 551 respondents participated in the study, with 59.7% being male and 40.3% being female. The age group with the highest proportion was 20-29, making up 31.6% of the participants. All participants exhibited at least one caries lesion (100%), with white spots (66.4%) and enamel lesions (56.1%) being the most prevalent. The moderate-risk category encompassed the largest proportion of participants, accounting for 60% of the total. High caries risk had a significant association with age group (P < 0.001), education (P < 0.001), profession (P < 0.001), and socio-economic status (P < 0.001). Furthermore, only age and socio-economic status showed a significant relationship with high caries risk in the multiple logistic regression. CONCLUSION: The CAMBRA tool indicates a high prevalence of moderate risk across the five regions of Saudi Arabia, identifying age and socio-economic status as significant predictors of caries risk.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Parents of Children Younger than 12 Years in Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: The current study evaluates COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among parents of children younger than 12 in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional research design was used. A total of 1152 parents participated. About 26.5% of children were vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale mean score is 2.65 among participating parents. About 31.3% of participants were vaccine hesitant, 68.7% were not. High levels of hesitation are present in 70.8% of mother respondents and 57.6% of fathers (P = 0.001). About 72.7% of parents who received false information about COVID-19 vaccines had a high hesitancy level (P = 0.001). The odds ratio = 1.94 (P < 0.001) indicates that parents exposed to false information are more likely to have higher levels of hesitancy than others. There remains a significant number of parents who value the importance of vaccination and rely on accurate and reliable sources of information to make informed decisions.

Impact of a community pharmacy-based medication therapy management program on clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with uncontrolled diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.

This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of community pharmacy (CP)-based medication therapy management (MTM) program on clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. An open label, parallel-group randomised controlled trial was undertaken at a community pharmacy in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Patients with a diagnosis of uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c of ≥ 8%) meeting the eligibility criteria were randomised to receive either the MTM programme provided by pharmacists or standard care. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c over 6 months. Secondary outcomes included: changes in clinical parameters (blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, serum creatinine (SCr) and albumin-to- creatinine ratio (ACR)), types of drug-related problems (DRPs), health service utilization (HSU), adherence, diabetes distress and overall patient satisfaction with the service at 6-month. A sufficiently powered sample of 160 participants with a mean age was 50 years (SD ± 11.9) was recruited. The majority of the patients (68.1%) were male and had diabetes for more than eight years [IQR 3, 14]. After adjusting for baseline HbA1c, compared to the control group, the mean HbA1c level was 0.02% (p = 0.929) and 0.2% (p = 0.47) lower in the intervention arm at 3-month and 6-month respectively. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, within each arm, there was a significant improvement in HbA1c from baseline. Furthermore, the intervention arm demonstrated improvement in BP control (SBP lowered by 3.2 mmHg (p = 0.05) and DBP lowered by 3.8 mmHg (p = 0.008)). During the study period, none of the participants in the intervention group reported hospitalization or ER visits compared to 14 patients in the control group [OR 0.069 (95% CI 0.004, 1.3)]. Patient satisfaction as measured by Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist Services Questionnaire 2.0 (PSPSQ 2.0) was significantly higher among MTM program participants compared to standard care (p = 0.00001). Patients in the MTM program were eight times more likely to be adherent compared to the patients in the standard care [OR 7.89 (95% CI 3.6, 17.4)]. MTM program metrics showed that per patient, the pharmacists spent a median of 35 [IQR 30, 44.5] minutes at the initial visit and 20 [IQR 10, 25] minutes during the 6-month visit. The number of DRPs had significantly dropped in the intervention arm at 3 and 6-month (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, CP-based MTM program can improve health outcomes and prevent hospitalisations in patients with diabetes. These findings support the implementation of CP-based MTM services for patients with diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Moving the needle on implementing fall prevention programs in Saudi Arabia: assessing knowledge and perceptions of fall risk among community-dwelling older women.

BACKGROUND: Saudi Arabia, like many nations globally, is experiencing a demographic shift towards an aging population. With this demographic shift, falls and the fear of falling (FOF) emerge as serious public health concerns among community-dwelling older adults. Addressing misconceptions and enhancing awareness regarding fall risks among older adults holds significant importance, offering insights for informing targeted interventions and enhancing well-being. This study aimed to examine knowledge and perceptions of fall risk among community-dwelling older women in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 Saudi older women, with a mean age (SD) of 63.98 (4.90) years. Participants completed questionnaires assessing fall history, fall knowledge, fall perception, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the Barthel Index. Fall knowledge and perception were assessed using previously constructed statements translated into Arabic and carried out in interviewer-administered forms. RESULTS: Nearly half of the participants reported experiencing at least one fall in the previous 12 months. Despite good knowledge of falls, some gaps were identified, particularly regarding the awareness of social isolation as a consequence of falls. Participants demonstrated positive perceptions towards fall prevention programs but also highlighted misconceptions regarding aging and falls. FOF was prevalent, with higher levels identified among participants without a history of falls. CONCLUSION: Multidimensional strategies are needed to address falls and FOF among community-dwelling older women in Saudi Arabia. Leveraging existing knowledge and perceptions towards fall prevention and implementing evidence-based interventions can reduce the burden of falls and enhance health outcomes in older adults. Future research should focus on diverse samples and evaluate the feasibility of implementing fall prevention interventions within Saudi Arabia's healthcare systems.

Patient satisfaction following treatment with micro-focused ultrasound with visualization: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There has been increased public interest in noninvasive skin tightening procedures that produce the best possible cosmetic outcomes. Micro-focused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) is a secure, efficient method of treating skin laxity approved by the FDA. Few studies have assessed patient satisfaction following MFU-V. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2022 and 2023. After obtaining the author's permission, a previously examined and published questionnaire was used to contact all participants (n = 98) who had received MFU-V therapy in a private clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2020 via phone interview. RESULTS: All 98 patients undergoing MFU-V were female. About two-thirds indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the results. Those receiving treatment around the eye and submentum reported lower satisfaction levels than those receiving therapy in other regions. The number of treatment locations and satisfaction were positively correlated. Patients treated by consultants rather than laser experts reported much higher satisfaction levels. Satisfaction and the amount of time for improvement to occur following treatment were correlated statistically. Pain and tingling were the most frequent adverse effects the respondents reported, followed by skin redness and swelling; however, adverse effects were not connected with satisfaction. Cost (78.6%) was cited as the main deterrent to seeking treatment again. CONCLUSION: MFU-V, an FDA-approved procedure, has proven effective and safe for treating facial and neck skin laxity. When patients are carefully selected and physicians properly trained, higher satisfaction is achieved.

Predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities in Saudi Arabia: An observational study.

To examine predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities, a cross-sectional design was used. Participants were primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Caregivers completed a demographic form about the child and the family, and the Arabic version of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Profile 29 (PROMIS-29 v2.0). Descriptive statistics were used to report on demographic data, 1-sample Z tests to compare PROMIS domain scores with the general population, and multiple linear regression analyses to identify predictors of each domain. Participants were 111 primary caregivers, mostly mothers (65.8%). Caregivers reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference, and lower levels of physical function and social participation compared to the general population, P < .05. The regression models for predicting the HRQoL accounted for 12.3% of the variance in the physical function domain (P = .016), 13.9% in the anxiety domain (P = .009), 24.7% in the ability to engage in social activities and roles (P < .001), and 11.4% in the pain interference domain (P = .02). In these models, the severity of the child's disability and/or the child's age were common significant predictors. Specifically, child's age was the only significant predictor in 2 domains, the anxiety domain (ß = -.29, P < .01) and ability to participate in social activities and roles domain (ß = .42, P < .05). The severity of the child's disability was the only significant predictor in the physical function domain (ß = -.52, P < .01). Both the severity of the child's disability and the child's age were significant predictors in the pain interference model (ß = .40, P < .05), and (ß = -.23, P < .05), respectively. However, the models did not significantly predict depression, fatigue, or sleep disturbance, P > .05. HRQoL is a complex construct and is influenced by multiple child and family factors. Implications of the study emphasize the importance of regular HRQoL screening for caregivers, the development of efficient referral systems for support services, and the exploration of respite care options.