RESUMO
Background and objective Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution (0.03%) is used for the treatment of ocular hypertension. However, one of the side effects of this prescription is that it causes overgrowth of eyelashes, causing hypertrichosis. Therefore, the Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution was rebranded to be used for cosmetic purposes. This study aims to assess the awareness and practices of female university students regarding the use of Careprost (Bimatoprost, Latisse, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) for cosmetic purposes. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female students at Bisha University, including those from medical and non-medical colleges, spanning from November 2022 to February 2023. All participants who completed the study questionnaire were considered for analysis, but those who had missing answers were excluded from the study. The total number of participants was 305, representing an 81.2% response rate out of the 376 surveys distributed. Results A total of 305 students completed the survey, with approximately 132 (54.5%) from the medical college and 173 (65.3%) from the non-medical college. Approximately 32 (24.2%) of participants from the medical college and 51 (29.4%) from the non-medical college understood that Bimatoprost drops can be used for the elongation of eyelashes. More than half of the participants were not aware of the side effects of Careprost (0.03%), including 65 (49.2%) medical students and 108 (62.7%) non-medical students. In total, 42 (13.77%) of the participants believed that Careprost (0.03%) could be administered without a prescription. Among the participants, 75 (24.59%) reported that they had previously used Careprost (0.03%) eye drops. Additionally, more than one-fourth of the participants (83, 27.2%) thought that Careprost (0.03%) could be used for eyelash elongation. Conclusions This study revealed that female university students had a poor level of awareness and practices about the cosmetic uses of Careprost (0.03%) eye drops for eyelashes. A better awareness level was noted regarding the side effects of Careprost drops, which may have contributed to a low utilization rate among female students.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, which includes the hair follicle, hair shaft and sebaceous gland. The only treatment that has an effect on all the main aetiological causes of acne is isotretinoin. However, it may have a variety of negative side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dermatologists regarding ocular effects following isotretinoin prescribing in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted in August 2022 to investigate dermatologists' knowledge and attitude regarding isotretinoin-related ocular side effects in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods. RESULTS: A total of 48 dermatologists were included in this survey. The age distribution ranged from 25 to over 60 years. Sixteen (37.5%) were aged 31-40 years, 29 (60.4%) were male and 20 (41.7%) were specialists. All dermatologists reported that it can cause dry eye, 32 (66.7%) reported that it can cause contact lens intolerance, 10 (20.8%) reported that it can cause a decrease in dark adaptation and two (4.2%) thought that it can cause ectopia lentis and retinoblastoma. Regarding attitude, 43 (87.5%) thought that a course of isotretinoin is not recommended if the patient has recently undergone refractive surgery, 30 (62.5%) always inform patients about ocular side effects, 31 (72.9%) do not consider referring patients for ophthalmic examinations before initiating isotretinoin, 12 (25.0%) always prescribe lubricant eye drops, 15 (31.3%) always ask patients about recent refractive surgery, 17 (35.4%) always warn patients about avoiding refractive surgery during isotretinoin use and 19 (39.6%) always inform patients concerning discomfort with contact lenses. CONCLUSIONS: The survey reveals that dermatologists in Aseer, Saudi Arabia, generally have good knowledge of isotretinoin related to some ocular side effects, especially dry eye and contact lens intolerance. However, there is some variation in their practices with regard to patient education, referrals for ophthalmic examinations, the use of lubricant eye drops and refractive surgery during isotretinoin treatment. Thus, dermatologists should receive educational training on the safety profile of isotretinoin while managing acne vulgaris.
RESUMO
The widespread misconception that tonsillectomy leads to a decrease in immunity may lead to fear and avoidance of the operation. This can result in a deterioration of the situation, such as sleep-related breathing issues, frequent infections, and an increase in complications. The current research was conducted to assess the awareness and perception with respect to the impact of tonsillectomy on the immune system and to assess the awareness and perception of the relationship between autoimmune diseases and tonsillectomy. This 6-month descriptive cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted among individuals who were 18 years and above living in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. Out of the 800 study subjects, 104 (13%) had undergone tonsillectomy. Statistically significant associations were found between age group, education, income, and occupation among those who had undergone tonsillectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ages 18-30 years and 31-40 years (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.18-4.71, and OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.53-3.97) and education levels of high school, bachelors, and above (OR: 8.30, 95% CI: 3.05-22.58 and OR: 10.89, 95% CI: 4.23-28.05) were found to be associated with tonsillectomy status of the subjects. On the contrary, income levels of 5000-9000 and >9000 (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.36-1.17 and OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.42-1.42) and male gender (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.52-1.19) were found to be associated with non-tonsillectomy status of subjects. Almost 36% of study subjects thought that tonsillectomy affects immunity. Only 18% of study subjects thought that there is a relationship between tonsillectomy and autoimmune diseases. About one-third of the respondents had received this information from community members and social media. A small number of study subjects relied on public awareness programs. Therefore, social media can play a vital role in the community to remove misconceptions regarding tonsillectomy and its effect on immunity and autoimmune disease. Further educational interventional studies are required to see the correction to the public perception of tonsillectomy and its effect on immunity and autoimmune diseases.
