Primary Healthcare Center's Healthcare Providers' Perception and Practice Toward Pediatric Cow's Milk Allergy in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) typically first manifests in the first year of life, and it is the most challenging food allergy to detect since the clinical symptoms can vary significantly in both types and severity. This study is carried out to evaluate the level of knowledge and practice of healthcare providers (HCPs) in the Qassim Region regarding CMA. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among HCPs in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among HCPs using face-to-face interviews compromising four governorates of Qassim such as Buraydah, Unaizah, AlRass, and Albukairyah. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic characteristics and questions to assess the knowledge and practice of HCPs regarding CMA. RESULTS: Among 124 HCPs, 29% were aged between 25 and 30 years, 50.8% were males and 49.2% were females. Over three-quarters (77.4%) were categorized as having poor knowledge levels, while poor practice was also prevalent (83.1%). Factors associated with increased knowledge and practice were being non-Saudi, being a consultant/specialist, and having more than 10 years of experience. There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The knowledge and practice of HCPs regarding CMA were insufficient. Non-Saudi consultants/specialists with more years of experience tend to be more knowledgeable and have better skills in managing the disease. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish the level of knowledge and practices toward CMA.

Healthcare Providers' Perception and Practice Toward Anaphylaxis in Children in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Anaphylaxis is described as a severe allergic reaction, and prompt assistance is required by the patient to avoid any complications. The healthcare provider's knowledge plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of these cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge among the primary healthcare providers working in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia regarding the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the four different governments of the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. The calculated sample size for the study was 119 primary healthcare providers. A self-administered questionnaire was devised to collect data regarding the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis patients. RESULTS: Thirty-six (28.8%) out of 119 physicians were 25-30 years old, followed by 33 (26.4%) who were more than 40 years old; 53 (42.4%) and 47 (36.7%) had less than five and more than 10 years of experience, respectively. Age and experience were found to be significantly associated with knowledge about the diagnostic criterion (p=0.003 and p=0.000, respectively), while experience was significantly associated with the correct identification of signs and symptoms (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis patients among primary healthcare providers was poor. Physicians are required to be educated to increase their level of knowledge to promptly diagnose and treat anaphylaxis cases.

Relationship Between Asthma and Headache Attacks in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Headaches are a common complaint among asthma patients. However, there is no study to assess the relationship between asthma and headaches or to assess the prevalence of headaches among asthma patients in Saudi Arabia. We aim to study the relationship between asthma and headaches and also to assess the prevalence of headaches among asthma patients. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 528 asthmatic patients. Participants were selected through non-probability sampling from the system of four hospitals (King Fahad Specialist Hospital, King Saud Hospital, Buraidah Central Hospital, and Qassim University Hospital). The duration of our study was one year from 11 September 2022 to 14 May 2023. Data collection was performed by using a pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed through IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) by using the chi-square test to assess the relationship between the qualitative variables and independent t-test and ANOVA for comparing the quantitative variables with a significant level set at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-eight asthmatics were studied for demographics, asthma management, and headaches. Most of the patients were male, married, and university-educated. Sixty-one percent had uncontrolled asthma, and 47.3 percent of individuals had headaches, mostly migraines. Uncontrolled asthma was linked to greater headache prevalence. Gender, educational level, and headache type did not affect headache prevalence in demographic and asthma control subgroups. Co-occurring asthma and migraines may benefit from asthma control and treatment. CONCLUSION:  The research emphasizes the significant frequency of uncontrolled asthma and headaches among asthmatic patients. The association between asthma control and headache prevalence was statistically significant, highlighting the necessity for appropriate management and treatment techniques for both disorders. These findings have significant implications for health care providers and politicians seeking to improve the quality of life for those with asthma and co-occurring headaches.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Preterm Birth Among Pregnant Women in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are regarded as a unique group due to the distinct immunological condition that pregnancy produces, which makes pregnant women more susceptible to respiratory infections like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its consequences. During pregnancy, many viral infections have been recognized to increase the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes such as preterm delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on preterm birth in pregnant women in the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS:  This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between December 2019 to October 2021. The target subjects were pregnant women with live singleton gestations who underwent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 infection during their delivery hospitalization. Data gathered included patient demographic information, clinical characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Data were analyzed using R version 4.1.1 (R Core Team (2021); R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). RESULTS:  A total of 381 pregnant women were included. The median maternal age of women was 31.0 years (IQR: 27.0, 35.0) and the median BMI value was 30.5 kg/m2 (IQR: 26.9, 34.8). The most common comorbidities were diabetes (7.1%) and asthma (4.5%). A known history of preterm birth was prevalent among 2.9%. Of the participants, 13.6% had a prenatal COVID-19 infection, of whom 57.7% had their infections resolved. The prevalence of positive PCR testing was 13.6%. Preterm birth occurred in 46 women (12.1%, 95%CI 9.1-15.9). Preterm birth was significantly associated with having a maternal age of ≥35 years, having high frequencies of parity, and having a past history of preterm birth, as well as having a history of hypertension and diabetes. Preterm birth was not significantly associated with having a confirmed COVID-19 infection at delivery. CONCLUSION: It was shown that preterm birth is evident among women with COVID-19 infection. Preterm birth is significantly associated with old age, multiparity, and a history of preterm delivery. Preterm birth is not significantly associated with having a confirmed COVID-19 infection at delivery. More research regarding infection-related adverse effects is advised and should be highlighted.