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Introduction The environment, healthcare services, and public safety can all be directly impacted by improper drug storage and disposal practices. It is unknown whether parents store drugs at home in accordance with recommended storage guidelines, despite the fact that storage conditions are strictly regulated and monitored at every stage of the drug supply chain prior to drug dispensing. Therefore, it is crucial to dispose of medications properly and store them at home to avoid the consequences. Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drug storage safety measures used by parents to prevent unintentional drug poisoning in children. Methodology A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional, interview-based study on home medication storage, attitudes, and disposal practices between October 2023 and January 2024. We recruited parents who visited primary healthcare centers or pediatric clinics using a convenience sampling technique. Results All of the 353 returned questionnaires were valid for data entry and analysis. The mean age of the parents was 35.1 ± 11.9 years old and more than half of them 229 (64.9%) have bachelor's degrees. The majority of drugs (271, 88.6%) were stored in the fridge, followed by bedrooms (26.8%). The medication classes that were stored the most frequently were analgesics (92.2%) and antihistamines (62.1%). The majority of parents (214, 69.9%) kept medications above adult eye level, even though only 28% did not keep them in safe and secure locations like locked drawers or boxes. Eighty percent (80%) disposed of unwanted medicines by throwing them in the trash, and only 10 (2.8%) returned them to the pharmacy. Conclusions Drug storage at home encourages self-medication, which has a number of negative effects. Over time, there has been an increase in the use of medications due to a rise in people's health-seeking awareness and behavior on a global scale. Therefore, this study may be used as a guide by national policy-makers for pharmaceutical disposal and storage management. Moreover, it might help in raising public awareness of the importance of pharmacists in the society and the safe handling and storage of medications at home.
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Introduction A chronic diverse inflammatory disease, asthma affects millions of people worldwide. To control asthma, standardized care is essential. Children with asthma who receive appropriate care have lower emergency room (ER) visits and hospital stays as well as a higher quality of life than children who do not receive appropriate care. We aim to evaluate the predictive variables of hospitalization and ER visits in children with asthma. Methodology In 2022 and 2023, a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on children with asthma and their caregivers who were attending primary health care clinics in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. We used the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) to evaluate asthma control. A C-ACT score of less than 19 indicates uncontrolled childhood asthma. To investigate the relationships between the risk factors and the rate of ER visits and hospitalizations, we performed a multiple logistic descriptive analysis. Results In this study, 124 asthmatic children from primary health care centers matched the inclusion criteria. The majority of children had atopy, and their mean age was 10.8±3.4 years. Concerning the risk factors linked to ER visits and hospitalization, there is evidence that not following up with physicians, using more frequent and short-acting beta-agonists, exposure to smoke and household pets, and poor asthma control are linked to increased rates of both ER visits and hospitalizations. Conclusion Better asthma control in children and adolescents may be achieved by providing inexpensive asthma care services, more thorough parental and child education, and effective symptom management. These measures can help reduce exacerbations of asthma and the consequences that accompany them.
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Introduction Overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is still a national and international issue. Among the variables contributing to this crisis are an increase in patient numbers and the severity of sickness. One significant issue that has not yet been addressed and is burdening healthcare facilities is the use of EDs by parents of children who have mild illnesses. Developing successful interventions requires an understanding of the factors that lead to nonurgent visits to pediatric EDs (PEDs). Our objective was to assess the variables that could influence parental visits to PEDs. Methodology In the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, between September and November 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents who had previously visited a PED. The survey had 21 questions. Along with parental viewpoints and healthcare utilization, parents' evaluations of their child's emergency state were investigated. In addition to gathering and evaluating demographic data, the survey evaluated respondents' impressions of the severity of a disease or injury. Results A total of 776 participants were included in the study. The mean parental age was 32.1 ± 12.7 years, and approximately 32.1% of the participants' children were between the ages of 1 and 5. Nearly half of the children, 44.7%, visited the ED during the evening shift. The most common reasons for presenting were fever (50.5%) and upper respiratory tract symptoms (37.1%). Among these visits, parents perceived 48.5% as nonurgent and 30.2% as urgent. The majority of respondents (54.9%) had received advice before going to the ED. In most cases (47.9%), this was from a relative or a healthcare provider (16.7%). Conclusion This analysis identified some of the reasons parents bring their children to the ED for mild illnesses. The results emphasized the varied nature of the problem. Understanding the reasons for parental ED visits may help us better design targeted interventions to decrease unnecessary visits and lessen the burden on healthcare systems.
