Medication errors associated with direct-acting oral anticoagulants: analysis of data from national pharmacovigilance and local incidents reporting databases.

Background: For more than a decade, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been approved in clinical practice for multiple indications such as stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This study aimed to explore the nature and contributory factors related to medication errors associated with DOACs in hospital settings.

Methods: Analysis of error reports using data from (a) Saudi Food and Drug Authority pharmacovigilance database and (b) local incidents reporting system from two tertiary care hospitals were included.

Assessment of Pharmacists' Knowledge and Practices towards Prescribed Medications for Dialysis Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The present study examined pharmacists' knowledge and practices towards prescribed medications for hemodialysis patients. The impact of a pharmacist's current positions and years of experience on practices and knowledge was also assessed.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to pharmacists working at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City-Central Region over a period of 4 months from July to October in 2015.

The development and validation of a multivariable model to predict the bleeding risk score for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation using direct oral anticoagulants in the Arab population.

Background: Frequently used models, such as the HAS-BLED, ATRIA, ORBIT, and GARFIELD-AF evaluate the risk of bleeding when using an anticoagulant, for example warfarin, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Limited studies are available reporting a model with a good discriminative ability to predict the bleeding risk score when using direct oral anticoagulants.

Methods: Patient data were collected from King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Fahad Cardiac Center, and Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Riyadh, from outpatients, inpatients, or primary care clinics.

Pattern of hydromorphone use in King Abdulaziz Medical City-Central Region (KAMC-CR).

Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid that acts mainly on the μ-opioid receptor. Hydromorphone has a fast onset of action, usually within 5 min, and its effectiveness peaks at approximately 20 min, which makes it favourable in the postoperative setting. It plays a role in the management of moderate to severe chronic pain.

Pharmacist-led Medication Counseling for Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Path to Better Adherence.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess the satisfaction of patients undergoing hemodialysis regarding counseling services provided by pharmacists. The secondary objectives were to compare the effect of years on dialysis and the presence of comorbidities on patient satisfaction.

Methods: A total of 138 patients were included in the study, and all demographic and clinical variables were retrieved from the dialysis unit records of King Abdulaziz Medical City over a period of 4 months from July to October 2015.

Assessment of patient-controlled analgesia versus intermittent opioid therapy to manage sickle-cell disease vaso-occlusive crisis in adult patients.

Background: Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is one of the acute complications of sickle-cell disease (SCD). Treatment mainly relies on hydration and pain control by analgesics. The specific aim of this study was to assess potential health outcomes within the first 72 h of admission between intermittent and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) by opioids among VOC patients.

Association between omeprazole use and infection among hospitalized patients: A case-control study of the Saudi population.

While few international studies have assessed the association between omeprazole use and the risk of infection (CDI), research into this is lacking in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region. The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to omeprazole is associated with the risk of infection in a sample of hospitalized Saudi patients. A retrospective matched case-control study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 1 August 2010 through 31 July 2015.

Assessment and comparison of CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores in patients with atrial fibrillation in Saudi Arabia.

Aims: No previous reports on the utilization of CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in Saudi Arabia have been identified in the literature. The main objectives of this study were to assess and compare the distribution of CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores and to identify the most common risk factors for stroke and bleeding among AF patients attending clinical pharmacists managed anticoagulation clinic.

Settings And Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted over 2 months period at clinical pharmacists managed anticoagulation clinic.

The outcome of pharmacist counseling at the time of hospital discharge: an observational nonrandomized study.

Background And Objectives: Adverse drug events (ADEs) may occur after discharge from acute care hospitalization because of limited instruction on medications at discharge. The right instructions given to patients may reduce the risk of ADEs. The objective of our study was to assess a program involving comprehensive medication counseling provided by pharmacists at the time of discharge from a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.