Patient Perceptions and Satisfaction With Virtual Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Virtual clinics played an important role for many patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted this cross-sectional study to evaluate patient perceptions and their satisfaction with virtual clinics during and after COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods An online questionnaire-based survey with questions in both Arabic and English was conducted among patients who attended outpatient clinics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 2021 to September 2021. Demographic variables, the clinic type, and the level of satisfaction with the remote appointments were recorded. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.  Results A total of 1274 participants filled out the survey. Of them, 831 (65.23%) were females, and 749 (58.79%) were aged 18 to 30 years old. Of the sample studied, 411 (32.26%) had appointments with their healthcare provider remotely since the beginning of the pandemic; 311 (75.67%) were satisfied or highly satisfied with the remote appointments; and 198 (48.18%) participants desired to continue using virtual services post-COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression analysis showed that females were more satisfied with virtual clinics than males (OR= 1.18, 95% CI (1.01, 1.40), p=0.04). The age group of 18 to 30 was more satisfied than other age groups (OR= 53.23, 95% CI (2.01, 1347.18), p=0.02). Conclusion The majority of the participants who used virtual clinics were satisfied with the service. Nearly half of the participants wanted to continue using virtual services even after the COVID-19 pandemic was over. More effort should be made to increase patient awareness and knowledge about virtual clinics.

The silent epidemic of common oral diseases among the Arab population: An emerging health problem.

Oral diseases are often ignored in public health policy within the Arab world, despite being a prevalent public health problem exerting a significant continuous increasing socioeconomic cost. This review paper explored the current status of the common oral diseases (dental caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer, and oro-facial trauma) in the Arab world through a literature search of the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases between 1998 and 2021. The literature available revealed sufficient evidence to support that oral diseases are highly prevalent in Arab nations. Collective, multi-sectorial action to reduce and eliminate oral diseases among the Arab population has become an urgent need.

Influence of full mouth rehabilitation on oral health-related quality of life among disabled children.

The efficacy of full mouth rehabilitation (FMR) on oral health-related quality of life of physically disabled children was assessed. This prospective study was performed at Dental Department of Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, and King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during May 2012 to September 2014. A total of 186 physically disabled children aged 11-14 years were assigned to a test group (n = 97) or a control group (n = 89). FMR was applied for test group children at baseline and 3 months' visits, whereas those in the control group did not receive FMR. Both group children received dental kits and oral hygiene instructions. Children were asked to complete the Child Perceptions Questionnaire, whereas Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire and Family Distress Domain questionnaire were completed by the parents/caregivers at baseline and 6 months' visits. Children in both groups showed positive trends in oral symptoms at 6 months compared with those at baseline. However, when they were compared to control, significant improvement in oral symptoms was observed in the test group at 6 months' visit (p < .05). Also when they were compared to control, significant improvements were observed in the functional limitation, emotional, and social well-being subscales of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire and on the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire scales at the end of the study (p < .05). Compared to the parents/caregivers of the control children, the parents/caregivers of the test-group children reported insignificant but positive trends in Family Distress Domain at the end of the study (p < .05). FMR in children reduced oral-related problems subsequently to a better oral health-related quality of life.

Evaluation of adjunctive systemic doxycycline with non-surgical periodontal therapy within type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of systemic doxycycline on clinical and microbiological parameters of diabetic subjects with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: This 9-month multi-center, randomized, parallel, single-blinded study was conducted from different hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between April 2010 and December 2010. A total of 76 diabetic subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomized into 2 groups: control group (CG) received only scaling and root planing (SRP), and the treatment group (TG) receiving systemic doxycycline during the reevaluation visit 45 days after the completion of SRP. Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival index, plaque index, and bleeding on probing were collected at baseline, 45 days after SRP, and one, 3, and 6 months  after the use of systemic doxycycline. Microbiological analysis comprised the detection of Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: Sixty-eight (33 CG and 35 TG) subjects completed the study. Greater reduction in the population of Tf, Pg, and Pi were observed in TG compared with CG in the first month after the administration of systemic doxycycline. The TG showed a significant improvement in gingival index scores compared with the CG (p<0.05) by the end of the first and 6 months after the administration of doxycycline. CONCLUSION: Adjunct systemic doxycycline can be associated with a reduction of Tf, Pg, and Pi in the first month after the administration of doxycycline with an improvement in the GI. 

Determinants of periodontopathogens in microbiological monitoring of diabetic patients with periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and analyze the frequency of periodontopathogens in microbiological monitoring of diabetic patients with periodontitis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 352 diabetic patients with periodontitis who were registered at Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, King Abdul Aziz Medical City, Naval Base Hospital, and Sultan Bin Adulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from July 2004 to August 2008. Microbiological analysis comprised the detection of Bacteroides forsythus (Bf), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 54.4 +/- 0.67 (range: 21-80 years). There were 214 (61%) males and 138 (39%) females. Among the study population, 36 (10%) had type 1, and 316 (90%) patients had type 2 diabetes. The results showed that 55.6% of patients had Bf, 51.7% had Aa, 63.7% had Pg, and 6.1% had Pi. The frequencies of periodontopathogens were higher in males than females in all age groups. The risk of periodontopathogens Bf were found higher level in 41-50 age group, Aa in 51-60, Pg in 51-60, and Pi in 31-40 age groups. CONCLUSION: This study found that the frequencies of periodontal pathogens Bf, Aa, and Pg were higher than Pi in diabetic patients with periodontitis.