RESUMO
Background: Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are immune-mediated responses triggered by exposure to a drug. DHRs are responsible for serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and are considered the fifth leading cause of death. This study aims to assess and evaluate the knowledge, practice, and attitudes of healthcare providers (HCPs) towards DHRs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Healthcare providers, including pharmacists, physicians, and nurses, were recruited using a convenience sampling method to complete the survey. The survey comprised three domains: knowledge (14 items), attitudes (5 items), and practices (6 items), utilizing a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Results: The survey was completed by 373 healthcare providers. The respondents were predominantly female (72.1 %) with a mean age of 33.8 ± 7.8 years. Of the respondents, 64 % were nurses, 25 % pharmacists, and 11.3 % physicians. Educational levels varied, with 53 % holding a bachelor's degree, 22 % an associate degree, and 25 % a master's degree or higher. The median knowledge score was 48. Female healthcare providers, those with advanced levels of education, and physicians had higher knowledge scores compared to male and nurse participants (p < 0.05). One-third of the respondents (33 %) were satisfied with their knowledge of DHRs, and 42 % believed HCPs should receive more advanced training in DHR management. Less than a quarter of HCPs reported inquiring about patients' histories of hypersensitivity reactions. Conclusions: The study revealed that healthcare workers had a relatively low level of knowledge about drug hypersensitivity reactions and lacked a consensus on DHR management. While displaying a positive attitude towards DHRs, they often did not translate this attitude into consistent clinical practice.
RESUMO
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease affecting joints with an increasing prevalence around the world and in the Middle East region. Research about the prevalence/incidence of OA in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries was limited with inconsistent findings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis for studies reporting the prevalence/incidence of OA among people living in the GCC countries. A comprehensive search was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to December 2020 to identify eligible studies examining the prevalence/incidence of OA in the GCC countries. Meta-analysis was conducted, and the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was utilized to evaluate methodological quality. Thirteen studies were included (12 studies reported prevalence and one study reported incidence), with a total of 24,625 participants with an estimated overall prevalence of 16.13% and incidence of 3.5% of OA in the GCC countries. The quality of the included studies was unsatisfactory (six studies), satisfactory (six studies), and good quality (one study). Common risk factors were being older adult, female, obese, and having lower scores for quality of life. This study shows a high prevalence of OA among individuals living in the GCC countries at approximately 16.13%. Only one study reported incidence of 3.5% of OA in this population. This prevalence rate needs to be confirmed in future research with a similar population and at the site of joint OA levels. Common risk factors should be interpreted with caution since only a few studies reported risk factors. Key Points ⢠The pooled prevalence of Osteoarthritis in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries was 16.13% based on 12 included studies.
