Usage Patterns of Cosmetic and Personal Care Products among Female Population in Saudi Arabia: Important Factors for Exposure and Risk Assessment

Reliable data regarding the usage patterns of personal care products (PCPs) are needed to determine the health risks posed by the ingredients of these products such as parabens, phthalates, and bisphenol A. There are no published data regarding the consumption patterns of PCPs in the Middle East in general and in Saudi Arabia in particular. To fill this gap, this study aimed to assess important factors such as the percentage of users and the frequency of use and co-use of twenty-three cosmetic and PCPs among the female population in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, this study aimed to assess the common cosmetic-related adverse events among the participants. The studied products included general hygiene, hair care, skin care, makeup, fragrances, and other products. The data were collected from 709 female participants of different age groups through a digital questionnaire. It was found that eighteen of the investigated products are consumed by at least 50% of the respondents. The frequency of use of PCPs varied over a wide range. Cosmetic-related adverse events were experienced by 16.1% of the participants. Use frequencies of many hygiene and makeup products were correlated with each other. This study provides, for the first time, baseline data on the usage patterns of a large number of widely consumed PCPs among female population pertaining to several sociodemographic strata. Such information is crucial for exposure and risk assessment and also needed for updating the current knowledge on usage of PCPs in Saudi Arabia.

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EXPLORING MEDICAL DEVICES: THE USE OF RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR LINK WITH TRAINING IN HOSPITALS

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s026646231800020x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 218-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Petra J. Porte ◽

Lisanne M. Verweij ◽

Martine C. de Bruijne ◽

Cees P.M. van der Vleuten ◽

Cordula Wagner

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Medical Device ◽

Medical Devices ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Practical Training ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

Wide Range ◽

Risk Assessment Tools

Objectives:The aim of this study was to explore the risk assessment tools and criteria used to assess the risk of medical devices in hospitals, and to explore the link between the risk of a medical device and how those risks impact or alter the training of staff.Methods:Within a broader questionnaire on implementation of a national guideline, we collected quantitative data regarding the types of risk assessment tools used in hospitals and the training of healthcare staff.Results:The response rate for the questionnaire was 81 percent; a total of sixty-five of eighty Dutch hospitals. All hospitals use a risk assessment tool and the biggest cluster (40 percent) use a tool developed internally. The criteria used to assess risk most often are: the function of the device (92 percent), the severity of adverse events (88 percent) and the frequency of use (77 percent). Forty-seven of fifty-six hospitals (84 percent) base their training on the risk associated with a medical device. For medium- and high-risk devices, the main method is practical training. As risk increases, the amount and type of training and examination increases.Conclusions:Dutch hospitals use a wide range of tools to assess the risk of medical devices. These tools are often based on the same criteria: the function of the device, the potential severity of adverse events, and the frequency of use. Furthermore, these tools are used to determine the amount and type of training required for staff. If the risk of a device is higher, then the training and examination is more extensive.

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