RESUMO
To assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals [HCPs] toward systems used in describing the safety of medications use during pregnancy. A cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted in 4 tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between March and May 2012. The targeted HCPs were physicians and pharmacists. The survey was validated and contained 4 main sections. Descriptive statistics were used to report responses to the survey's questions. A total of 393 HCPs responded to the survey, with a response rate of 97%. Half of the respondents were physicians. Of the participants, 60% were males. Most respondents [66%] stated that they have prescribed/dispensed a drug that may cause teratogenicity. Moreover, 87% of the respondents [48% pharmacists and 39% physicians] were aware of the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] pregnancy category, and most [72%] found it helpful. Only 11% of the participants strongly agree to use the European Medicine Agency [EMA] system for pregnancy category system as their main reference. In general, HCPs in Saudi Arabian hospitals have good knowledge of and attitudes toward pregnancy category systems, with more familiarity with the FDA system. The FDA system is preferred over the EMA system
RESUMO
To assess knowledge regarding adherence and safety of oral contraceptive pills [OCP] in Saudi women. We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study in an outpatient pharmacy at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from April to September 2011. Participants were healthy women aged >/= 18 years with an OCP prescription for contraception. We used a validated questionnaire to assess their knowledge regarding adherence and safety of OCPs. Four hundred and sixty women participated. Most [79%] knew to take an extra pill if they missed one in less than 12 hours, but only 6.5% knew they also had to use extra protection for the next 7 days if it was more than 12 hours. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that years of contraceptive use and educational level are predictive factors of better knowledge regarding adherence. Few were aware of the action if they experienced diarrhea for more than 12 hours [10%] or vomiting within 2 hours [13.5%] of taking an OCP. Only 30% knew of the adverse effects of smoking while on OCPs. Weight gain [51%] was the most commonly reported side effect. Most Saudi women taking OCPs have limited knowledge of its correct use regarding missing pills, vomiting and diarrhea, and poor awareness of the effects of smoking while using OCPs.