Frequency of use of non-prescribed medication among population sample from Al Madina City and its impact on quality of care in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Self-medication can be defined as the practice of using drugs that have not been prescribed, recommended, or controlled by a certified health-care professional. This term can be used when discussing patients who use non-prescription medications to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, without consulting a medical practitioner and without any medical supervision. The objectives of this study are to identify patterns of self-medication in Saudi Arabia, to measure the association between gender and the use of non-prescribed medication, and to identify the type of medications involved, the dosages used, and patient's sources of knowledge regarding the types, and doses of medications. METHOD: Cross-section analytical observational study, conducted in Al Medina city, Saudi Arabia, over 6 months using a pretested self-administered questionnaire using a convenience sampling technique. RESULTS: With a response rate of 68.8%, it was found that 72.5% reported the use of non-prescribed medication and 24.3% reported a history of experiencing side effects from using non-prescribed medication with no significant difference between male and female. 81% were keen to read the medication instruction with higher response among females.Analgesics were the most common type of medication used with an 86.5% agreement with no statistical significant differences between male and females. CONCLUSION: The study found heavy use of non-prescribed medication among the Al Medina residents sampled. This suggests a need for specialist training programs that could be directed at pharmacists, to help them disseminate information on the safe use of OTC or non-prescribed medications.

Relating family satisfaction to the care provided in intensive care units: quality outcomes in Saudi accredited hospitals. / Relação da satisfação dos familiares com os cuidados prestados em unidades de terapia intensiva: desfechos de qualidade em hospitais sauditas acreditados.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the satisfaction levels of the family members of patients in intensive care units. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study. General intensive care units offer a variety of services to clinical and surgical patients. For the purpose of this study, a trained interviewer communicated with the families of patients, either before or after visiting hours. RESULTS: The study included 208 participants: 119 (57.2%) males and 89 (42.8%) females. Seventy-three (35.1%) of the patients attended a private hospital, and 135 (64.9%) attended a public hospital in the city of Al Madinah Al- Munawarah. All of the participants were either family members or friends of patients admitted to the intensive care units at the hospitals. The responses of both groups yielded low scores on the satisfaction index. However, a relatively high score was noted in response to questions 2, 6, and 10, which concerned the care that was extended by the hospital staff to their patients, the courteous attitude of intensive care unit staff members towards patients, and patients' satisfaction with the medical care provided, respectively. A very low score was obtained for item 11, which was related to the possibility for improvements to the medical care that the patients received. Overall, greater satisfaction with the services offered by the public intensive care units was reported compared to the satisfaction with the services offered by the private intensive care units. CONCLUSION: An overall low score on the satisfaction index was obtained, and further studies are recommended to assess the current situation and improve the satisfaction and quality of care provided by intensive care units.

OBJETIVO: Identificar os níveis de satisfação dos familiares de pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo analítico transversal. As unidades gerais de terapia intensiva oferecem uma variedade de serviços a pacientes clínicos e cirúrgicos. Para as finalidades deste estudo, um entrevistador treinado fez contato com familiares dos pacientes, antes ou após o horário de visita. RESULTADOS: O estudo incluiu 208 participantes, sendo 119 (57,2%) do sexo masculino. Dentre os pacientes, 73 (35,1%) se encontravam em um hospital particular e 135 (64,9%) em um hospital público na cidade de Al Madinah Al-Munawarah. Todos os participantes eram membros da família ou amigos de pacientes admitidos às unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais. As respostas de ambos os grupos proporcionaram escores baixos nos índices de satisfação. Observou-se, porém, um escore relativamente elevado nas respostas às questões 2, 6 e 10, concernentes, respectivamente, aos cuidados proporcionados pela equipe do hospital a seus pacientes, à atitude de cortesia dos membros da equipe das unidades de terapia intensiva para com os pacientes, e à satisfação dos pacientes com os cuidados médicos proporcionados. O escore foi muito baixo para o item 11, relacionado à possibilidade de melhorias nos cuidados médicos que os pacientes recebiam. Em geral foi relatada uma satisfação maior com os serviços oferecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais públicos, em comparação com a satisfação com os cuidados oferecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais privados. CONCLUSÃO: Em geral, foi obtido um escore baixo nos índices de satisfação, recomendando-se a realização de outros estudos para avaliar a situação atual, e melhorar a satisfação e a qualidade dos serviços fornecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva.

Relação da satisfação dos familiares com os cuidados prestados em unidades de terapia intensiva: desfechos de qualidade em hospitais sauditas acreditados / Relating family satisfaction to the care provided in intensive care units: quality outcomes in Saudi accredited hospitals

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar os níveis de satisfação dos familiares de pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Este foi um estudo analítico transversal. As unidades gerais de terapia intensiva oferecem uma variedade de serviços a pacientes clínicos e cirúrgicos. Para as finalidades deste estudo, um entrevistador treinado fez contato com familiares dos pacientes, antes ou após o horário de visita. Resultados: O estudo incluiu 208 participantes, sendo 119 (57,2%) do sexo masculino. Dentre os pacientes, 73 (35,1%) se encontravam em um hospital particular e 135 (64,9%) em um hospital público na cidade de Al Madinah Al-Munawarah. Todos os participantes eram membros da família ou amigos de pacientes admitidos às unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais. As respostas de ambos os grupos proporcionaram escores baixos nos índices de satisfação. Observou-se, porém, um escore relativamente elevado nas respostas às questões 2, 6 e 10, concernentes, respectivamente, aos cuidados proporcionados pela equipe do hospital a seus pacientes, à atitude de cortesia dos membros da equipe das unidades de terapia intensiva para com os pacientes, e à satisfação dos pacientes com os cuidados médicos proporcionados. O escore foi muito baixo para o item 11, relacionado à possibilidade de melhorias nos cuidados médicos que os pacientes recebiam. Em geral foi relatada uma satisfação maior com os serviços oferecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais públicos, em comparação com a satisfação com os cuidados oferecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva dos hospitais privados. Conclusão: Em geral, foi obtido um escore baixo nos índices de satisfação, recomendando-se a realização de outros estudos para avaliar a situação atual, e melhorar a satisfação e a qualidade dos serviços fornecidos pelas unidades de terapia intensiva.

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aims to identify the satisfaction levels of the family members of patients in intensive care units. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study. General intensive care units offer a variety of services to clinical and surgical patients. For the purpose of this study, a trained interviewer communicated with the families of patients, either before or after visiting hours. Results: The study included 208 participants: 119 (57.2%) males and 89 (42.8%) females. Seventy-three (35.1%) of the patients attended a private hospital, and 135 (64.9%) attended a public hospital in the city of Al Madinah Al- Munawarah. All of the participants were either family members or friends of patients admitted to the intensive care units at the hospitals. The responses of both groups yielded low scores on the satisfaction index. However, a relatively high score was noted in response to questions 2, 6, and 10, which concerned the care that was extended by the hospital staff to their patients, the courteous attitude of intensive care unit staff members towards patients, and patients' satisfaction with the medical care provided, respectively. A very low score was obtained for item 11, which was related to the possibility for improvements to the medical care that the patients received. Overall, greater satisfaction with the services offered by the public intensive care units was reported compared to the satisfaction with the services offered by the private intensive care units. Conclusion: An overall low score on the satisfaction index was obtained, and further studies are recommended to assess the current situation and improve the satisfaction and quality of care provided by intensive care units.

Agreement and disagreement on health care quality concepts among academic health professionals: the Saudi case.

A systematic and rigorous implementation of quality improvement processes is likely to improve the well-being of staff members and heighten their job satisfaction. Assessing professionals' perceptions of health care quality should lead to the betterment of health care services. In Saudi Arabia, no previous studies examine how university health professionals view health care quality concepts. A cross-sectional analytical study employing a self-administered questionnaire with 43 statements assessing quality perceptions of academic health care professionals was used. Despite the agreement of health professionals on numerous quality concepts addressed in this study, there was insufficient agreement on 10 core quality concepts, 3 of which were the following: "quality focuses on customers" (50%), "quality is tangible and therefore measurable" (29.3%), and "quality is data-driven" (62%). Hence, providing health professionals with relevant training likely will generate a better understanding of quality concepts and optimize their performance.

Assessment of knowledge of dental staff at a saudi arabian university regarding the prophylaxis for infective endocarditis.

UNLABELLED: The use of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of infective endocarditis following dental procedures has long been debated and there is still confusion regarding its efficacy. As a result, the prophylactic treatment varies considerably amongst different countries across the world and amongst different dental practitioners. AIM: To evaluate the knowledge of dental staff regarding the guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis. METHODS: This was a cross sectional analytical study which included all staff members. A self administered questionnaire was used and responses were "graded" according to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. RESULTS: The response rate was 87% (N=39) and 97% reported to use the AHA guidelines; 66% reported their knowledge was based on previous training and scientific journals. Of those cardiac conditions and dental procedures which required prophylaxis; 47% and 65% chose the correct option, respectively. Penicillin was prescribed as the drug of choice by the majority of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Although almost all staff reported the use of the AHA guidelines, many were not following them. The study emphasizes the need for continuous education and evaluation of this critical aspect of dentistry.