scholarly journals MISUSE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY AMONG PHARMACY PROFESSIONALS IN SAUDI ARABIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (28) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
Dhafer ALSHAYBAN ◽  
Royes JOSEPH ◽  
Jisha LUCCA ◽  
Fatimah ALJISHI ◽  
Yara ALSADIQ
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Prescription Medication ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Pharmacy Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional

Prescription and non-prescription medication misuse or abuse is a global problem that has a negative impact on all human life aspects, including health, social, economic, and security status. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports, over 5% of adult people used drugs at least once in the year 2015, and 29.5 million of them were suffered from the consequences of inappropriate use of drugs. Information on the knowledge and perception among pharmacists regarding the misuse and abuse medications in Saudi Arabia are limited, and therefore, a study was conducted among pharmacy staff to assess their knowledge and awareness on drug misuse and abuse. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy professionals with more than three months of experience were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the participant's responses. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with the participant's responses. Ninety pharmacy professionals were responded. Overall, 69 (76.7%) participants agreed that misuse and abuse are two different terms. In addition, the study showed different responses for patients who suspected to be medication abusers. In conclusion, this study provides an initial picture of pharmacy staffs' knowledge and opinion regarding the misuse and abuse of medicines in Saudi Arabia. Participants' reactions toward such behaviors were different and not consistent. Therefore, there should be a clear policy to define the role of the pharmacy staff toward the misuse and abuse of medication in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Misuse and Abuse of Drugs: a Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Professionals in Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (28) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
Dhafer Alshayban ◽  
Royes Joseph ◽  
Jisha Lucca ◽  
Fatimah Aljishi ◽  
Yara Alsadiq
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Prescription Medication ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Pharmacy Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional

Prescription and non-prescription medication misuse or abuse is a global problem that has a negative impact on all human life aspects, including health, social, economic, and security status. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports, over 5% of adult people used drugs at least once in the year 2015, and 29.5 million of them were suffered from the consequences of inappropriate use of drugs. Information on the knowledge and perception among pharmacists regarding the misuse and abuse medications in Saudi Arabia are limited, and therefore, a study was conducted among pharmacy staff to assess their knowledge and awareness on drug misuse and abuse. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy professionals with more than three months of experience were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the participant’s responses. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with the participant's responses. Ninety pharmacy professionals were responded. Overall, 69 (76.7%) participants agreed that misuse and abuse are two different terms. In addition, the study showed different responses for patients who suspected to be medication abusers. In conclusion, this study provides an initial picture of pharmacy staffs’ knowledge and opinion regarding the misuse and abuse of medicines in Saudi Arabia. Participants’ reactions toward such behaviors were different and not consistent. Therefore, there should be a clear policy to define the role of the pharmacy staff toward the misuse and abuse of medication in Saudi Arabia

scholarly journals Prevalence and Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders among Secondary Schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6632
Author(s):  
Omar W. Althomali ◽  
Junaid Amin ◽  
Wael Alghamdi ◽  
Daria Hussain Shaik
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lower Back

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational health hazards and serious health concerns among teachers. About 39% to 95% of teachers suffer from musculoskeletal pain that can lead to a decline in their performance, frequent sick leaves and early retirement, and can have a negative impact on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for MSDs among secondary schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an electronic survey. A self-reported and validated Arabic version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used. Participants were recruited randomly through a two-stage sampling technique. A total of 251 respondents (57.8% males and 42.2% females) returned the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 87.3%. Female teachers (95.3%) suffered more than their male counterparts (81.4%). The most common site was the lower back (62.55%), followed by the shoulders (53.39%) and knees (41.04%). Most of the participants (72.7%) reported MSDs in multiple sites. Binomial logistic regression predicted that smoking is a significant risk factor for lower back disorders (p < 0.05). A high prevalence of MSDs can be due to a substantial lack of awareness and practice of ergonomics, which warrant the development of preventive strategies and educational programs.

scholarly journals Mental Health of COVID-19 Patients—A Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4758
Author(s):  
Hasan Saeed Alamri ◽  
Wesam F. Mousa ◽  
Abdullah Algarni ◽  
Shehata F. Megahid ◽  
Ali Al Bshabshe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Background: This study aims to investigate the mental health of COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out targeting confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Due to travel and time constraints as well as the accessibility of patients, cases were included from East Jeddah Hospital, King Abdulaziz Hospital, and the Oncology Center in Jeddah. The data were collected using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed COVID-19 cases, personal data, medical history, smoking, traveling abroad, and work-related conditions. Additionally, data regarding contact level with COVID-19 cases were considered. The mental health statuses of the patients were assessed using a validated Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. The study included 261 COVID-19 patients whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years. Results: The survey findings revealed that 13% of COVID-19 patients had a borderline level of anxiety, 26.8% were considered anxiety cases, while 60.2% were normal. The findings also revealed that 29.9% had a borderline level of depression, 18.4% were considered depression cases, while 51.7% were normal. Conclusions: This study concluded that COVID-19 patients experience anxiety and depression, and as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread, the results of the study are particularly useful in developing a strategy to psychologically support COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions towards the Misuse and Abuse of Pregabalin: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1281
Author(s):  
Sultan M. Alshahrani ◽  
Khalid Orayj ◽  
Ali M. Alqahtani ◽  
Mubarak A. Algahtany
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
First Line ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Pregabalin is a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain and for chronic pain. It has abuse potential. This study was conducted to assess community pharmacists’ perceptions towards pregabalin abuse and misuse in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, and identify predictors and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire following a self-administrative study was conducted across community pharmacies in the Aseer region (Abha, Khamis Mushait, Mahayel, Sarat Abeeda, Ahad-Rufaida, and Bishah). A total of 206 respondents from community pharmacists participated in the study. Over the last six months, 136 respondents (66.0%) suspected pregabalin abuse in community pharmacies; male dominance in pregabalin abusers was also recorded (n = 165, 80.1%). Additionally, 40 (19.4%) respondents stated that a prescription was not issued for pregabalin demands. Over half (61.7%) of community pharmacists recorded an increased change in pregabalin abuse compared to the previous year. This is the first study to explore pharmacists’ perceptions in the community of the Aseer region towards customers’ misuse and abuse of pregabalin. Further monitoring and regulations on the prescribing and procurement of pregabalin are needed to avoid abuse.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional study on the awareness, susceptibility and use of heated tobacco products among adolescents in Guatemala City, Guatemala

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e039792
Author(s):  
Anna Gottschlich ◽  
Sophia Mus ◽  
Jose Carlos Monzon ◽  
James F Thrasher ◽  
Joaquin Barnoya
Keyword(s):  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Tobacco Prevention ◽  
Guatemala City ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Past

ObjectivesHeated tobacco products (HTPs) are increasingly marketed worldwide, yet limited research on HTPs has been conducted in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) or among adolescents. Guatemala is one of the few LMICs where HTPs are available. This study examined prevalence and correlates of HTP awareness, susceptibility and use among adolescents in Guatemala.Design, setting and participantsA cross-sectional survey on HTP awareness, susceptibility and use was conducted among 2870 students between the ages of 13 and 17 in private schools in Guatemala City, Guatemala.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was susceptibility to future use of HTP among school-aged current and never smokers in Guatemala. We also explored awareness and use of HTPs. Multivariate binomial regression models were used to explore associations between these outcomes and both sociodemographic factors and established smoking correlates.ResultsOf all students (n=2870), about half were aware of HTPs (52.4%) and susceptible to future or continued use (52.4%). Whereas 8.4% of students had tried HTPs in the lifetime (but not in the last month), only 2.9% used HTPs in the past month. Independent correlates of HTP susceptibility and ever-use included: use of other tobacco products (current smoking: adjusted OR (AOR)=10.53 and 6.63, respectively; current e-cigarette use: AOR=21.87 and 10.40, respectively), moderate alcohol consumption (AOR=1.49 and 1.19, respectively), marijuana use in the past 30 days (AOR=3.49 and 2.29, respectively) and having friends who use HTPs (AOR=1.83 and 7.28, respectively).ConclusionsAmong this sample of adolescents in Guatemala City, where tobacco control is weak, the prevalence of HTP use was low but susceptibility to future use was high. Tobacco prevention and intervention strategies for cigarettes and e-cigarettes should now also include HTPs, which tend to be used by similar adolescent populations (ie, those who use other substances or are exposed to tobacco through family and friends).

scholarly journals Practice and Barriers towards Provision of Health Promotion Services among Community Pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega Mekonnen ◽  
Seyfe Asrade Atnafe
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Involvement

Background. Health promotion is now becoming an integral part of community pharmacy practice worldwide. Objectives. This study was intended to determine the level of involvement of community pharmacists in providing health promotion service and to identify the barriers to the practice. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 community pharmacists working in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Data on sociodemographic factors, practice, and barriers to health promotion service were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. The majority of respondents were B.Pharm holders (n=27, 56.3%). Almost all respondents (n=45, 95.8%) were willing and claimed to be well involved in health promotion services. The top 5 services were related to drug misuse, asthma, diabetes, family planning, and cardiovascular diseases. However, involvement in some types of health promotion services significantly differed based on sex, educational level, and pharmacy ownership of respondents. The main barrier reported was lack of training. Conclusion. The community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, are engaged in health promotion activities. However lack of training has limited their level of involvement and practice differences were noted based on sex, educational level, and pharmacy ownership status of the respondents.

scholarly journals LEVETIRACETAM USE, AVAILABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE OF TOXICITY AMONG EPILEPTIC PATIENTS AND THEIR CARE GIVERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN KING SALMAN ARMED FORCES HOSPITAL TABUK SAUDI ARABIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Olayan Alatawi ◽  
Faisal Alzahrani ◽  
Nasrin S Saiyed
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Side Effect ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Epileptic Patients ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Levetiracetam (Keppra®) is a well-known second-generation anti-epileptic drug (AED). The study was aimed to addresses Levetiracetam use, availability and knowledge of toxicity among epileptic patients and their care givers in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital Tabuk Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital (KSAFH) in Tabuk city in Saudi Arabia. The study participants were epileptic patients and their care givers, selected from different outpatient departments using a convenient sampling technique. Data was collected using an Arabic self-reported questionnaire consisted of open-ended and closed-ended questions to facilitate study participants. Altogether, 381 persons answered the full questionnaire. The data were entered into SPSS version 26.0 for Windows, cleaned and managed before analysis. Results: Participants age ranged from 18 to 63 years, with a mean 29.6 years and standard deviation 5.8 years. 47.0% (n= 179) were male and 53.0% (n= 202) female. Six out of ten participants lived in the urban area (67.7%). Majority of the participants had knowledge about seizures (96.9%). About 31.0% of the participants and/or patients had seizures (epilepsy) since more than 20 years. Nearly 28.0% participants and/or patients had family history of seizures (epilepsy). Majority of the participants had Levetiracetam at home and aware of the correct usage of it. However, about 11% of the participants felt that Levetiracetam is used to help sleep. Eight out of ten of the participants reported “Sleepiness” as the side effect of Levetiracetam (79.3%). Half of the participants reported “Headache” as the side effect of Levetiracetam. About 94.0% of the participants knew that someone could take enough Levetiracetam to harm themselves. Conclusion: The study population used Levetiracetam, they demonstrated basic awareness of Levetiracetam use including the potential consequences of overdosing. Participants' knowledge regarding the toxicity of Levetiracetam is adequate. Special awareness programs for parents of children with epilepsy may be needed to reduce the knowledge gaps in the management of epilepsy and to ensure compliance and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitude of dental professionals toward COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 277-284
Author(s):  
Darshan Devang Divakar ◽  
Shruti Basavaraj Nimbeni ◽  
Abdulaziz A. Al-Kheraif ◽  
Aftab Ahmed Khan ◽  
Sachin Naik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Dental Professionals

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening global pandemic. The dental profession is considered a high-risk group in the transmission of the responsible virus. Objective To assess the knowledge and attitude among dental professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of dental graduates, interns, postgraduates, and dental faculty from May to July 2020. A standardized questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge and attitude of 650 participants. The questionnaire comprised 14 questions to assess general knowledge about COVID-19, 11 questions regarding knowledge about prevention of COVID-19 in dental practice, and 10 questions regarding the attitude toward preventing COVID-19. Results Among the study population, only 376 (57.8%) knew the causative virus for COVID-19. Only 425 (65.3%) knew about rinsing the mouth with an antimicrobial solution or 1% hydrogen peroxide before the dental procedure. Regarding the hand hygiene guidelines, 357 (54.9%) had knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 377 (58.0%) about World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At the time of our survey, 72% of the participants showed sufficient knowledge, while 28% had low or insufficient knowledge about COVID-19. Conclusion While there was a lack of knowledge among dental professionals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about COVID-19, there was an excellent positive attitude toward preventing disease. Greater awareness is needed to control the spread of this disease.

scholarly journals Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Perception among the Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1627
Author(s):  
Adil Abalkhail ◽  
Ilias Mahmud ◽  
Fahad A. Alhumaydhi ◽  
Thamer Alslamah ◽  
Ameen S. S. Alwashmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Hand hygiene is among the most important factors of infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers are the primary source of hospital-acquired infection. We assessed the current state of hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practice among the healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, we used the hand hygiene knowledge and perception questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Knowledge and perceptions were classified into good (80–100%), moderate (60–79%), and poor (<60% score). The majority of the healthcare workers had moderate knowledge (57.8%) and perception (73.4%) of hand hygiene. Males were less likely to have moderate/good knowledge compared to females (OR: 0.52, p < 0.05). Private healthcare workers were less likely (OR: 0.33, p < 0.01) to have moderate/good perceptions compared to the government healthcare workers. Healthcare workers who received training on hand hygiene were more likely to have good/moderate perception (OR: 3.2, p < 0.05) and to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs (OR: 3.8, p < 0.05) than the ones without such training. Physicians are more likely (OR: 4.9, p < 0.05) to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs than technicians. Our research highlighted gaps in hand hygiene knowledge, perception and practice among healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia and the importance of training in this regard.

scholarly journals Perception and attitude of healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia with regard to Covid-19 pandemic and potential associated predictors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa A. Abolfotouh ◽  
Adel F. Almutairi ◽  
Ala'a A. BaniMustafa ◽  
Mohamed A. Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Movement Restriction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Concern ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background . Healthcare workers (HCWs) face considerable mental and physical stress caring for patients with Covid-19. They are at higher risk of acquiring and transmitting this virus. Perception and attitude of HCWs in Saudi Arabia regarding Covid-19 were evaluated in comparison with MERS outbreak. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, HCWs at three tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia were surveyed via email, by a concern scale about Covid-19 pandemic during 15-30 April, 2020. Concerns of disease severity, governmental efforts to contain it and disease outcomes were assessed using 32 concern-statements in five distinct domains. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of high concern scores. Results. A total of 844 HCW responded to the survey. Their average age was 40.4±9.5 years, 40.3% were nurses, 58.2% had direct patient contact, and 77.3% were living with family members and/or others. The majority of participants (72.1%) had an overall concern score of 55 or less out of a maximum score of 96 points. Three-fourth of respondents felt at risk of contracting Covid-19 infection at work, 69.1% felt threatened if a colleague contracted Covid-19, 69.9% felt obliged to care for patients infected with Covid-19 while 27.7% did not feel safe at work using the standard precautions. Nearly all HCWs believed that the government should isolate patients with Covid-19 in specialized hospitals (92.9%), agreed with travel restriction to/from areas affected by Covid-19 (94.7%) and felt safe government implemented curfew and movement restriction periods (93.6%). Predictors of high concern scores were; HCWs of Saudi nationality (p<0.001), younger age (p=0.003), undergraduate education (p=0.044), living with others (p=0.003) working in the western region (p=0.003) and direct contact with patients (p=0.018). In comparison with MERS outbreak, HCWs reported significantly higher mean scores about Covid-19 pandemic for overall concern (45.9 versus 40.3, p<0.001). Conclusions. The current study highlights the high concern among HCWs about Covid-19 and identifies the predictors of those with highest concern levels. To minimize the potential negative impact of those concerns on the performance of HCWs during pandemics, measures are necessary to enhance their protection and to minimize the psychological effect of the perceived risk of infection.

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