Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Older Adults-Prevalence, Trends and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

(1) Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults are associated with drug-related problems, adverse health consequences, repeated hospital admissions and a higher risk of mortality. In Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries, studies of PIMs among large cohorts of older adults are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PIMs, trends and associated factors among outpatient older adults in Saudi Arabia.

Feasibility, and barriers to use escitalopram in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

The feasibility and barriars of escitalopram use in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are still debated. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy and barriars of escitalopram use in managing FGIDs in the Saudi population. We included 51 patients who received escitalopram for irritable bowel syndrome (n = 26), functional heartburn (n = 10), globus sensation (n = 10) or combined disorders (n = 5).

Burnout and Depressive Symptoms in Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The study objectives were to examine the prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals, analyze the association of depression and burnout among healthcare professionals, and explore the factors related to burnout.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted among healthcare professionals in a tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia's central region. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was used to measure burnout through emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

Drug-Induced Rhinitis: Narrative Review.

Objectives: Rhinitis, one of the most common inflammatory conditions of the nasal mucosa, is known to affect a large proportion of people worldwide. It is generally classified into allergic and non-allergic types and both are associated with several unpleasant symptoms. Several medications prescribed for different medical conditions can cause unpleasant rhinitis as an adverse effect, which is known as drug-induced non-allergic rhinitis.

Physicians' views on cardiovascular disease risk prevention services by pharmacists and potential for collaboration.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Early identification and management of modifiable CVD risk factors are highly effective in preventing disease onset and/or improving outcomes in CVD. As highly accessible primary health professionals, pharmacists can assume a role in screening and risk factor management in collaboration with physicians; however, such prevention services are not established practice in Saudi pharmacies.

Gene Therapy Knowledge and Attitude Among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and concerns toward gene therapy in Saudi Arabia. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey via convenience sampling during the period from December 2018 to March 2019. A total of 419 (358 pharmacists and 61 physicians) responded to our questionnaire.

Genetic Insights into the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Saudi People.

Background: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was isolated for the first time in Saudi Arabia from a patient suffering from atypical pneumonia. The Saudi Genome database was built by King Abdulaziz Medical City via the next-generation sequencing of 7000 candidates.

Method: A large list of point mutations were reported in the region of the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) gene.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards COVID-19 Among Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak has caused governments to put pandemic-related guidelines requiring compliance and understanding by healthcare professionals to mitigate its spread uncontrollably. We studied pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards the COVD-19 outbreak compared with other healthcare workers during the pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We surveyed pharmacists' socio-demographics (n=50) compared with other healthcare professionals (n=378) during lockdown starting in June 2020.

Relationship between different anti-rheumatic drug therapies and complementary and alternative medicine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an interview based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is highly prevalent. The relationship of these remedies with disease therapy are not fully studied. We aimed to explore the relationship between different anti-rheumatic drug therapy and CAM use in RA patients.

Prescribing errors among adult patients in a large tertiary care system in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Multiple studies have investigated medication errors in hospitals in Saudi Arabia; however, prevalence data on prescribing errors and associated factors remains uncertain.

Objective: Assess the prevalence, type, severity, and factors associated with prescribing errors.

Design: Retrospective database review.

Cardiovascular disease risk prevention services by pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: what do policymakers and opinion leaders think?

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an emerging contributor to national morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia. CVD risk prevention services are limited, particularly with an over-utilised public health sector and an under-utilised and under-resourced primary care sector. Globally, there is evidence that community pharmacists can play a key role in CVD prevention within primary care.

Description of pharmacists' reported interventions to prevent prescribing errors among in hospital inpatients: a cross sectional retrospective study.

Background: Prescribing errors (PEs) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality, both in community practice and in hospitals. Pharmacists have an essential role in minimizing and preventing PEs, thus, there is a need to document the nature of pharmacists' interventions to prevent PEs. The purpose of this study was to describe reported interventions conducted by pharmacists to prevent or minimize PEs in a tertiary care hospital.

Evaluating the frequency, consumers' motivation and perception of online medicinal, herbal, and health products purchase safety in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Purchasing medicinal products from the internet has become more popular in the last three decades. Understanding consumers' use and perception of the safety of medicinal products obtained online is essential. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the extent of medicines purchased from the internet in Saudi Arabia, types of products, sources of information, the satisfaction, the motivational factors, and estimate consumers' vigilance and tendency to report ADRs if occurred.

Prescribing errors and associated factors in discharge prescriptions in the emergency department: A prospective cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Evidence regarding the prevalence of medication prescribing errors (PEs) and potential factors that increase PEs among patients treated in the emergency department (ED) are limited. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and nature of PEs in discharge prescriptions in the ED and identify potential risk factors associated with PEs.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cross-sectional study in an ambulatory ED in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Improving the understanding of originator and biosimilar biologics among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

The loss of patentability of many originator biologics has led to the rapid introduction of biosimilar agents. The anticipated economic benefit of introducing such agent has been accompanied by vagueness surrounding their biotechnology, approval requirements, positioning in treatment paradigms and potential for adverse events. The Second Symposium on Biologics and Biosimilars "Beyond Clinical Practice" was held on 24th-26th January 2020 aiming at improving the understanding of these new agents in a diverse interactive conference and to guide stakeholders how to introduce biosimilars into clinical practice.

Pharmacovigilance in healthcare education: students' knowledge, attitude and perception: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Medication safety and pharmacovigilance (PV) remains as an important discipline worldwide. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge of PV and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among students in the healthcare field. Thus, this study is aimed to measure knowledge, attitude, and perceptions and compares it between healthcare students (i.

Humanistic and economic burden of depression and anxiety among adults with migraine: A systematic review.

Background: Depression and anxiety are well-recognized comorbid health conditions among adults with migraine due to their humanistic and economic burden. This review was conducted to systematically assess the humanistic and economic burden of comorbid depression and/or anxiety disorder among adults with migraine.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and CINAHL via EBSCO, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews via OVID.

Health consumer engagement in developing novel preventive health community pharmacy roles in cardiovascular disease in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative analysis.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of key leading causes of mortality worldwide. Both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors contribute to the development of CVD. Modifiable risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise are increasing in prevalence in Saudi Arabia but may be mitigated using pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

Cytotoxic Evaluation and Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Two Furano-Sesquiterpenoids from Resin.

resin (Myrrh) has been used in traditional Arabic medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases. Two furano-sesquiterpenoids, 2-methoxyfuranodiene (CM1) and 2-acetoxyfuranodiene (CM2), were isolated from the chloroform fraction of the ethanolic extract of Arabic resin. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated using human liver carcinoma, breast cancer cells (HepG2 and MCF-7, respectively) and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cell lines.

Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aim: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is unexplored among Saudi rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and types of CAM used among patients with RA and factors associated with their use.

Experimental Procedure: A cross-sectional study was conducted at rheumatology clinics in two tertiary hospitals located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Adherence to Statin Therapy and Attainment of LDL Cholesterol Goal Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Dyslipidemia.

Background: Statins are widely utilized antidyslipidemics with a proven track record of safety and efficacy. However, the efficacy of these therapeutic agents hinges on patients' adherence to their prescribed statins.

Objective: The primary objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between adherence to prescribed statins and its impact on the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level, and to explore the factors that influence patient adherence to statins among patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Psychotropic Medication Prescribing for Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities in Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the UK.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder. In the UK, risperidone is the only psychotropic medication approved for the management of the behavioural symptoms that may accompany autism. This is a population-based study aimed to provide an evaluation of the changing trend in the incidence and prevalence of ASD and to analyse the pattern of psychotropic medication prescribing in the UK.

Polypharmacy and comorbidities among ambulatory cancer patients: A cross-sectional retrospective study.

Introduction: Polypharmacy is prevalent among cancer patients; however, its relationship with comorbidities as well as its other potential factors has not been well studied among this segment of the patient population. Although several studies have described the prevalence of polypharmacy in cancer patients, its prevalence among Middle Eastern cancer patients is largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy among ambulatory cancer patients as well as its association with comorbidities.

Meningococcal Vaccine for Hajj Pilgrims: Compliance, Predictors, and Barriers.

Background: Major intercontinental outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease associated with the Hajj occurred in 1987, 2000, and 2001. Mandatory meningococcal vaccination for all pilgrims against serogroups A and C and, subsequently, A, C, W, and Y controlled the epidemics. Overseas pilgrims show excellent adherence to the policy; however, vaccine uptake among domestic pilgrims is suboptimal.