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The administration of corticosteroids may have possible hazards, ranging from minor adverse medication reactions to more serious considerations. We aimed to assess levels of public awareness concerning corticosteroid use, side effects, and predictors of its use. A cross-sectional study was conducted online throughout the period of May to July 2023. The present investigation utilized a previously developed questionnaire tool. The study encompassed a cohort of 732 individuals. Upon inquiry regarding the adverse effects of corticosteroid treatment, the participants predominantly reported weight gain, skin alterations, and fluid retention leading to breathing difficulties, constituting 44.4%, 30.3%, and 27.7% of the responses, respectively. The prevailing adverse effects observed in individuals using corticosteroids were weight gain, alterations in mood, and changes in skin characteristics, which accounted for 38.1%, 25.7%, and 21.8% of reported cases, respectively. Individuals within the age range of 41-50 years and those who are currently not working show a higher propensity for utilizing corticosteroids in comparison to other demographic groups (p < 0.05). The level of general public knowledge about corticosteroids and the side effects connected with them in Saudi Arabia was adequate. Demographic factors, such as age, gender, and education, have an impact on the use of corticosteroids.
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OBJECTIVES: In the event of cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used to maintain the heart and lungs functional simultaneously. The do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order prohibits CPR and is therefore legally required. Despite this, a DNR remains a delicate and contentious issue that places physicians in morally ambiguous situations. This study aimed to assess Saudi citizens' understanding of DNR orders, prior exposure to them, and preferences for DNR conversations. METHODS: This was an online cross-sectional study that was conducted between January and April 2023 and aimed to assess the knowledge regarding DNR orders among Saudi populations. This study adapted a previously developed questionnaire tool by Al Ahmadi et al., which examined the knowledge and attitude toward do-not-resuscitate among patients and their relatives visiting outpatient clinics. Binary logistic regression analysis was the mean knowledge score for the study participants. RESULTS: A total of 920 participants were involved in this study. Almost half of the study participants (49.6%) reported that they had heard of DNR before. The most commonly reported source of their information on DNR was healthcare providers (58.2%). The mean knowledge score of the study participants was 1.9 (1.3) out of 6, which is equal to 31.7% of the total maximum score. This demonstrates the weak level of knowledge about DNR among the general public. Females, divorced, and those who had a post-graduate level of education were more likely to be knowledgeable of DNR compared to others (p < 0.05). Around one-quarter of the study participants showed agreement with DNR. More than half of them (59.5%) believe that physicians should be involved in DNR decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Saudi Arabia's general community has limited knowledge of DNR. It is recommended that healthcare professionals increase patients' and caregivers' understanding of this concept. This will improve the planning and the provision of end-of-life care.
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Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a key pathogen causing several gastrointestinal diseases. Fortunately, H. pylori infection is treatable, which can lower its comorbidities. However, data assessing physicians' awareness of H. pylori is lacking in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To assess the knowledge and awareness of physicians of different specialties who practice in Saudi Arabia about H. pylori infection. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between May and September 2022 on physicians across all regions in Saudi Arabia using a validated online questionnaire covering their knowledge and awareness of H. pylori infection. An independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Games-Howell as a post hoc test were used to analyze the data. A General Linear Model was also employed to determine significant predictors among the variables reliant on H. pylori awareness. Results: The results showed that the mean awareness score of 474 physicians was 76.99± 6.9, indicating that participants had sufficient knowledge about H. pylori infection. In general, the internal medicine specialists (28.3%) had better awareness of H. pylori infection than the other specialties. Moreover, the university hospital sector performed the best, scoring 80.68±13.3, and the southern region had the highest-ranked physicians with a score of 81.56 ±13.7 in terms of H. pylori awareness. Furthermore, the general linear model revealed a statistical significance (p<0.05) for the following demographic aspects concerning H. pylori awareness: the physicians' age group of 30-39 years, duration of experience of 11-15 years, the hospital sectors of Nation Guards (NGH) and Security Forces (SFH), and the southern and central regions of practice in Saudi Arabia. Conclusion: Physicians in Saudi Arabia have relatively sufficient awareness of H. pylori; however, they are highly influenced by age, years of experience, the hospital sector involved, and the region where the physicians practice.
