ABSTRACT
Introduction Gout, a chronic inflammatory joint disease, is increasingly prevalent worldwide, mainly affecting men, young females, and post-menopausal women. This study aims to investigate gout epidemiology in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, addressing the dearth of localized data on prevalence, risk factors, and management practices. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, covering 116 patients from March 2016 to November 2017. Data encompassed demographics, clinical presentations, and biochemical markers relevant to gout. Results Among 116 patients, 41 (35.3%) were diagnosed with gout, with males exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence than females (43.9% vs. 24%). Significant associations were found between gout prevalence and residency, occupational status, education level, clinical presentations (podagra, arthralgia/arthritis), and biochemical markers. Conclusion This study enriches global knowledge by providing localized insights into gout's epidemiology and highlighting demographic influences and clinical presentations specific to the Saudi context. The findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches in gout management, considering regional variations in prevalence, risk factors, and clinical manifestations.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Side effects emerging after COVID-19 vaccines may adversely impact public confidence in vaccines. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines as a part of the COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Tracking (CoVaST) study. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study was carried out to collect data from healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. The study was initiated between June and December 2021. A validated questionnaire was used in this study consisting of four categories, including demographic characteristics and medical anamnesis of the participants, COVID-19-associated anamnesis, and side effects of vaccine uptake. RESULTS: The study included 1039 participants, of which 70.2% were females, and their median age was 34. About 82.9% and 52.3% of the participants reported a minimum of both one local and systemic side effect, respectively. Females, young participants (≤34 years old), and non-obese participants had more potential to disclose post-vaccination side effects than their counterparts. Heterologous schedules and viral vector-based vaccines were linked with a greater rate of systemic side effects, whereas homologous vaccination schedules and mRNA-based vaccines were linked with a greater rate of local side effects. CONCLUSION: Future studies on COVID-19 vaccines should focus on the role of BMI, previous infection, and vaccination schedule in terms of vaccine safety and reactogenicity.
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Background Fever is one of the most common pediatric conditions usually managed by parents and the cause of nearly all pediatrician visits. However, many parents find the management of childhood fever and febrile diseases challenging owing to a lack of understanding of the nature, effects, and therapies of fever management. Objectives This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of paracetamol and ibuprofen administration among caregivers of the pediatric age group. Design Observational cross-sectional survey. Setting Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods Data were collected between April 2018 and April 2019 using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of 40 questions. Sample Size Overall, 493 caregivers were interviewed. Results Paracetamol was reported as the most common antipyretic used by the caregivers (54%) to control fever. Ibuprofen was the least preferred drug (18.5%). The majority of the participants (51.7%) admitted administering antipyretics at a body temperature of 38-38.5°C. A total of 90.7% of the participants measured children's temperature using a thermometer before administering antipyretics. Dosage was determined according to each child's age (40.4%), weight (32%), or illness severity (27.6%). However, 36.7% and 51.5% of the participants were unsure of the correct dosage of paracetamol and ibuprofen, respectively. Regarding the maximum frequency of paracetamol use, only 3.7% of the participants answered correctly. Most parents (70.4%) believed that a paracetamol/ibuprofen prescription was not necessary. Overall, 97% of the sample demonstrated inadequate knowledge about antipyretic administration. Conclusions Most caregivers had inadequate knowledge regarding factors that influence paracetamol and ibuprofen dosage and frequency of administration. This low level of knowledge increases the risk of improper drug intake, which can result in serious side effects, thereby indicating the need for the development of educational route programs to provide parents with appropriate education and information on fever and fever management.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to explore the community's perceptions and knowledge of and attitudes toward Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and Primary Healthcare Providers (PHPs) and the PHCs' services in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and to discover some of the reasons behind not attending the PHCs as the first choice to address a medical issue. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Dammam and Al-Khobar cities, Saudi Arabia. 382 Saudi subjects were surveyed. Data was collected via a digital mobile-based survey and entered by the data collectors. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Only 54% of the study population agreed to attend the PHCs as their first choice to address a medical issue. 72.3% of the respondents deemed the Emergency Department (ED) as a more important healthcare provider than a PHC. CONCLUSION: Acceptable perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes about PHCs and its services were noticed among the Saudi community in general. Public awareness campaigns are recommended to optimize full utilization of the PHCs' services.
