The characteristics and distribution of emergency medical services in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Emergency medical services (EMS) play an essential role in treating and transporting patients to hospitals or between hospitals. EMS providers must be distributed wisely across all regions of the country to meet healthcare needs during normal times and disasters. No previous study has investigated the characteristics and distribution of the EMS workforce in Saudi Arabia.

Relationship between health literacy and body mass index among Arab women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) puts patients at higher risk for obesity and diabetes. Poor health literacy is also associated with these conditions. Notably, weight loss is associated with improved ovulation and pregnancy rates for women with PCOS.

Drug shortages in large hospitals in Riyadh: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Drug shortages are a serious and complex issue in any healthcare system. We conducted this study because the prevalence of drug shortages in Saudi Arabia is largely unknown, while there have been reports of shortages.

Objective: To explore the prevalence and characteristics of drug shortages as well as identify strategies to minimize their impact on patient care and safety in large hospitals.

The effect of metformin use on pregnancy rates among polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing fertilization: A retrospective-cohort study.

Background: Metformin is widely used with gonadotropins by women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during fertilization (IVF) to increase their chances of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of metformin in improving the rates of clinical pregnancy among women with PCOS undergoing IVF.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women with PCOS, aged 18-40 years, undergoing IVF during 2006-2012 at a University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ovulation induction by metformin among obese versus non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives: There is some evidence that the efficacy of metformin as an ovulation stimulation agent depends on the body mass index (BMI) of the treated anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to examine the likelihood of successful ovulation among obese (BMI ⩾30 kg/m) versus non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m) women with PCOS.

Methods: A total of 243 medical charts of women with PCOS who visited King Khaled University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2006 and 2012 were reviewed.

Shortage of psychotropic medications in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: Causes and solutions.

Patients with mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, who seek medical care in private psychiatric clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have recently expressed concerns to doctors about difficulty in filling psychotropic medications, such as Amitriptyline and Aripiprazole, at retail community pharmacies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a shortage of some commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in retail community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia, and if so, to explore the possible reasons behind the shortage of these medications. The availability of 28 commonly prescribed psychotropic medications was checked in multiple retail community pharmacies in 4 different regions of Saudi Arabia.

Examining the relationship between antihypertensive medication satisfaction and adherence in older patients.

Background: The relationship between medication adherence and treatment satisfaction has been consistently positive, however, this relationship has not been examined among older adults with hypertension.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between medication adherence and treatment satisfaction among a sample of older adults with hypertension.

Methods: This was a survey-based cross-sectional study in which seven community senior centers in the city of Memphis, Tennessee and its surrounding areas were visited.

Do depressed patients on adjunctive atypical antipsychotics demonstrate a better quality of life compared to those on antidepressants only? A comparative cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of the US population.

Background: The adjunctive use of some atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) has been popular for patients with treatment-resistant depression. However, little is known about the impact of these agents on patients' Health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the impact of the adjunctive AAPs use on HRQoL among users of antidepressants with self-reported depression.