ABSTRACT
Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia. it is pertinent to mention that in the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Hypertension and diabetes mellites are considered the major drivers of CKD. Research has documented worldwide the inappropriate dose adjustments in patients, ranging from 25% to 77%, of drugs requiring dose modifications. Pharmacists are pivotal members of the healthcare team, tasked with addressing issues pertaining to medications. This study aims to unveil pharmacist perspectives on renal dose adjustment in Saudi Arabia an important step in gauging their involvement in promoting healthy behaviours. Method: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 among pharmacists working in diverse healthcare settings, including clinical and hospital pharmacies, retail, and community pharmacies who had direct encounters with patients diagnosed with CKD. A validated questionnaire, the Renal Dose Adjustment-13 (RDQ-13) was used for this study. For comparing the knowledge, attitude, and perception scores of pharmacists statistical tests like One-Way ANOVA, and independent t-test; while for factors influencing the knowledge, attitude, and perception scores a multivariate linear regression was performed. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 379 pharmacists completed the questionnaire, the knowledge score of pharmacists was 22.06 ± 2.81, while the attitude score was 8.56 ± 2.62 and the practice score was 5.75 ± 2.25. The findings of multivariate linear regression analysis indicated a statistically significant positive association between knowledge score and pharmacist's age while for practice score the findings revealed a statistically negative association between working setting and designation of pharmacists. Conclusion: The pharmacist in Saudi Arabia exhibited a proficient knowledge score of drug dosage adjustment pertinent to renal function while the attitude and practice score was less as compared to the knowledge score.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this study was to assess the awareness among respondents in Aseer, Saudi Arabia, regarding the link between uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) and the potential development of heart failure (HF). Furthermore, we examined variations in the knowledge of essential information based on whether participants had a history of HF or HTN. METHODS: Employing a snowball sampling method, we conducted a prospective online cross-sectional survey targeting adults aged 18 years and above, encompassing both males and females. The survey participants were residents of the Aseer region with access to the internet. RESULTS: A total of 418 responses were included in the final analysis; 26.8% were aged 45-55 years, 53.8% were males, 69.1% held a university degree, 17.5% were healthcare workers (HCWs), and 26.8% reported having HTN. There was a statistically significant difference between respondents with and without HF regarding knowledge about uncontrolled HTN and its definition. Television and the internet were the most prominent sources of information, with 31.8% and 35.6%, respectively. Of the responders, 50% knew that uncontrolled HTN can lead to HF. Gender differences were significant, with 51.20% of females and 48.80% of males recognizing this link (p = 0.039). HCWs showed higher awareness compared to non-HCWs (70.81% vs. 29.19%, p < 0.001). HF awareness significantly impacted the respondent's knowledge (80.38%, p < 0.001). Those knowledgeable about uncontrolled HTN were more likely to be aware of this connection (60.29% vs. 25.84%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A large sector of the general population did not know that uncontrolled HTN may cause HF, especially those free from both conditions.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The knowledge that teachers have about epilepsy affects their attitudes and practices towards students with the disorder. This study aimed to explore teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward epilepsy in the Aseer region. METHODS: This online cross-sectional survey targeted teachers aged 18 years and above, encompassing both males and females residing in the Aseer region with internet access. Teachers included in this study were recruited using snowball and convenience non-random sampling methods. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 were employed, with a significance level of 0.05 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 62 teachers were included in this study: 62.90% were aged 35-49, 93.55% were females, 90.32% were married, 80.65% worked in the governmental sector, 51.61% earned between 5,000 and 10,000 SAR, and 93.55% held a university education. Regarding knowledge, 36.6% of the teachers studied had very bad knowledge, 29% had poor knowledge, 35.5% had intermediate knowledge, and 4.8% had good knowledge. While 1.9% had a detrimental attitude about epilepsy, 58.1% had an incorrect attitude, 30.6% had an approximate attitude, and 1.6% had a correct attitude. Concerning teacher practice, 4.8% of the studied sample had detrimental practice, 56.5% had inadequate practice, and 4.8% had average practice. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to improve teachers' knowledge about epilepsy. The positive attitudes observed provide a foundation for fostering inclusivity in educational settings. Strategies that address misconceptions and improve first aid preparedness can contribute to a more supportive environment for students with epilepsy.
