A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Self-Prescribed Aspirin Use for Prevention of Adverse Ischemic Vascular Events Among Moderate-Risk Individuals: A Single Center Study.

Introduction Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence against the use of aspirin for primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the arguably unwarranted use of aspirin has increased over the years, which may or may not be based on any specific medical advice, and merely self-prescribed. Aim This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unwarranted aspirin use among moderate-risk individuals for the primary prevention of adverse vascular events in Saudi Arabia. Patient and method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients who presented to the emergency room (ER) due to suspected cardiac diseases. The data were collected from the patients who visited ER in King Fahad Hospital, Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Participants were asked about their socio-demographic characteristics, aspirin use habits, and their comorbidities. Results Of the 100 patients, 35% were aged more than 60 years old. The overall use of aspirin was 78%. The prevalence of aspirin use was significantly more common among the older age group (53.8%), those with associated chronic diseases, such as diabetes (59%) and hypertension (75.6%) and those with a previous history of hospitalization due to stroke or a cardiac event (66.7%). Conclusion The use of aspirin among patients who are at moderate risk of cardiovascular events was widely prevalent, but their unwarranted use was low. Older patients with chronic diseases who believed in its great benefit and tended to ignore its complications are the most common users of aspirin. More research is recommended to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with unwarranted use of aspirin in patients with CVD in our region.

Acceptance, Knowledge, and Attitude of Parents Toward the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus associated with conditions such as skin warts and cervical cancer. Although many individuals clear the infection, some face persistent risks. Cervical cancer, which is linked to certain types of HPV, is a major health concern both globally and in Saudi Arabia, with preventive measures including HPV vaccination. However, parental knowledge and attitudes toward vaccinating their children vary. Therefore, this research aims to assess parental acceptance and understanding of the HPV vaccine in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire during 2022-2023. The data were cleaned in Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The study assessed parents' knowledge and acceptance of HPV vaccination. Results A total of 380 participants were included in this study, the majority of whom were female, married, well-educated, and residents of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Awareness about the HPV vaccine was modest, with only 46.6% of participants having heard of it. Most parents reported that their doctors did not mention the vaccine (62.9%), and 67.1% stated that their children had not received it. Factors influencing acceptance included support from the Ministry of Health and belief in the vaccine's effectiveness. Concerns about side effects and vaccine effectiveness were the main barriers to vaccination. Sociodemographic factors, including gender, age, education, employment, and number of children, significantly influenced both knowledge and acceptance. Notably, awareness of HPV was strongly associated with acceptance. Conclusions Our study revealed limited knowledge and vaccine acceptance among parents in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic factors, including gender, age, education, employment, and number of children, significantly influenced both knowledge and acceptance. Thus, sociodemographic factors played a significant role in shaping these attitudes, emphasizing the need for targeted awareness campaigns and improved communication between healthcare providers and parents to enhance vaccine uptake.

Exercise During Pregnancy: Knowledge and Beliefs Among Females in Saudi Arabia.

Background Exercise during pregnancy helps to promote health benefits for both the mother and fetus. One of the concerns among Saudi pregnant women is physical inactivity. The objective of this study was to assess females' knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward exercise during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. Also, we investigated the most common barriers to exercising during pregnancy. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study that included all Saudi females aged 18 years and above and excluded non-Saudi females and those aged less than 18 years. A self-administered survey was distributed on social media platforms. The collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 1207 participants were enrolled in the study. In regards to general knowledge and awareness levels, 1002 (83%) participants had a high level of knowledge and awareness, and 205 (17%) had a low level of knowledge and awareness. Exercise during pregnancy is essential was agreed on by 853 (70.7%) participants. The most reported sources of information on prenatal exercise were found to be websites, as reported by 56.7% of the participants. About 42.4% of the participants were sometimes exercising during pregnancy. The most common type of antenatal exercise was found to be walking, as mentioned by 83.5% of the participants. The most commonly reported barrier to practicing antenatal exercises was found to be fatigue, as reported by 53.9% of the participants, and lack of time. Age was found to be significantly associated with the level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care. A statistically significant association was found between marital status and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care with married participants tending to be having a higher level of knowledge and awareness compared to other groups. Occupation and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care were found to be significantly associated. Conclusion We found good general knowledge and awareness levels regarding exercise during pregnancy. Beliefs toward exercise during pregnancy were below average. Future studies on how to promote regular exercise during pregnancy are recommended.

Perceived awareness of sleep paralysis phenomenon (old hag syndrome) and its most common risk factors among people from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess prevalence and perception of sleep paralysis and its relationship with socioeconomic determinants, and risk factors in a cross-sectional sample of Saudi general population from Al-Ahsa city. METHODS: A cross-sectional sampling survey was conducted during 2020 to 2021. The targets were aged above 18 and belonged to Al-Ahsa. Patients were sent self-reported anonymous questionnaires to complete. RESULTS: A total of 524 participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, were analyzed. Among 85.7% of participants aged 55 years and over, compared to 65.8% of those who were aged under 35, 379 (72.3%) respondents were females. Moreover, 438 (83.6%) participants were university graduates, 271 (51.7%) were students and 40.8% had psychological disorders including anxiety (25.2%) and depression (5.7%). Family history of sleep paralysis was reported by 369 (70.4%) participants. A total of 97.5% study participants were aware of sleep paralysis. CONCLUSION: Sleep paralysis is a common occurrence in people residing in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A considerable number of the society held wrong beliefs regarding sleep paralysis. Therefore, raising public of identity of sleep paralysis is crucial. We recommend applying the study in other cities within Saudi Arabia to identify common risk factors and perceptions among the society.