Willingness to Pay for Telemedicine Services Among Uninsured Individuals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the Willingness To Pay (WTP) of uninsured individuals in Saudi Arabia and the factors influencing their decisions regarding telemedicine services.

Patients And Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and convenience sampling to gather data from respondents aged 18 years or older who had visited healthcare facilities at least once in the past year and were uninsured. WTP was determined using the contingent valuation method, and a two-part regression model was applied to analyze the factors influencing WTP.

Assessment of knowledge of the new pregnancy and lactation labeling rule among pharmacists and physicians in Saudi Arabia.

Researchers in Saudi Arabia conducted this study to determine the level of familiarity that pharmacists and physicians possess with the pregnancy and lactation labeling rules established by the Food and Drug Administration. The present study included a cross-sectional survey conducted among pharmacists and physicians working in Saudi Arabia. The sample size was determined using the Rao sample size calculator.

Correction: Beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with herbal supplements usage among patients with chronic diseases-A cross-sectional insight from Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Evaluation of time to sputum smear conversion and its association with treatment outcomes among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients: a retrospective record-reviewing study.

This study examined the time to sputum smear and culture conversion and determinants of conversion, as well as variables associated with treatment outcomes among drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-PTB) cases. The electronic database and written medical records of patients were utilized to assess the sociodemographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment characteristics and outcomes of study participants. Among 736 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), the mean age was 36.

Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Chronic Diseases and Its Relationship with Multimorbidity: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia.

Objective: Chronic diseases hold the potential to worsen the overall health of patients by limiting their functional status, productivity, and capacity to live well, affecting their overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The purpose of the study was to assess the HRQoL of individuals with chronic diseases residing in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the current study also sought to ascertain the impact of multimorbidity and the duration of illness on HRQoL.

An analysis of the intention of female pharmacy students to work in community pharmacy settings in Saudi Arabia using the theory of planned behavior.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the intention of female Saudi pharmacy students to work in community pharmacies and the factors associated with this intention.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2022 and June 2022 and included female students from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia. The survey was created based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in Saudi Arabia: A single-center experience.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy-treated patients in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy. Patients were included in the study between January 2015 and December 2022.

Childhood Obesity May Be Linked to Feeding Habits and Screen Time.

Background Childhood obesity is an alarming health problem. Early feeding habits and factors are among the etiological factors contributing to obesity. Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between breastfeeding, alongside other relevant factors, and their potential role as preventative measures against obesity.

Beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with herbal supplements usage among patients with chronic diseases-A cross-sectional insight from Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Herbal supplements (HSs) are used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments. Individuals with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of having adverse events and drug interactions from the use of HSs.

Aim: This study determined the beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with HSs usage among patients with chronic diseases in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.

The influence of telemedicine in primary healthcare on diabetes mellitus control and treatment adherence in Riyadh region.

Several studies have found that telemedicine has the potential to enhance the outcomes of patients with diabetes. This study aimed to determine the impact of telemedicine on the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional study among T2DM patients in selected primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 1, 2023, to August 20, 2023.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Saudi Medical, Nursing, and Pharmacy Students and Interns Regarding Antidepressant Drugs and Drug-Induced Serotonin Syndrome.

Background and aim Antidepressant drugs are commonly used to treat depressive disorders and anxiety. However, they can cause side effects, including drug-induced serotonin syndrome, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. It is essential to understand the level of knowledge of healthcare professionals who are likely to prescribe and administer these medications.

Access and Disparities in the Use of Telemedicine Among Patients with Chronic Conditions in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: This study investigated the access to and disparities in telemedicine use among patients with chronic conditions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study of randomly selected primary healthcare centers was conducted to ensure that each of the 17 municipalities in Riyadh were represented. Three hundred and forty-two participants who completed the questionnaire were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire.

Prevalence of polypharmacy in heart failure patients: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It is a general term used to describe a group of disorders that affect the heart or blood vessels. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of polypharmacy in patients with heart failure.

Effectiveness and safety of edoxaban warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia type. Patients with AF are often administered anticoagulants to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke due to an irregular heartbeat. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of edoxaban warfarin in patients with nonvalvular AF by conducting an updated meta-analysis of real-world studies.

Deeper insight into ferroptosis: association with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and brain tumors and their possible treatment by nanomaterials induced ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis is an emerging and novel type of iron-dependent programmed cell death which is mainly caused by the excessive deposition of free intracellular iron in the brain cells. This deposited free iron exerts a ferroptosis pathway, resulting in lipid peroxidation (LiPr). There are mainly three ferroptosis pathways viz.

Application of Response Surface Methodology to Improve the Tableting Properties of Poorly Compactable and High-Drug-Loading Canagliflozin Using Nano-Sized Colloidal Silica.

Designing a robust direct compression (DC) formulation for an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with poor flow and compaction properties at a high API load is challenging. This study tackled two challenges: the unfavorable flow characteristics and tableting problems associated with a high-drug-loading canagliflozin (CNG), facilitating high-speed DC tableting. This was accomplished through a single-step dry coating process using hydrophilic nano-sized colloidal silica.

Continuity of care in primary healthcare settings among patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Maintaining continuity of care is one of the most critical components of providing great care in primary health care. This study aimed to explore continuity of care and its predictors in primary healthcare settings among patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Method: Face-to-face cross-sectional interviews were conducted with patients with chronic diseases who had at least four visits to primary care facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between November 1, 2022 and March 3, 2023.

Economic costs of obesity: a systematic review.

Introduction: Obesity is a growing public health problem leading to substantial economic impact. This study aimed to summarize the economic impact of obesity and to critically analyze the methods used in the cost-of-illness (COI) studies on obesity.

Methods: We conducted systematic search in PubMed and Scopus from September 1, 2016, to July 22, 2022.

The Efficacy of Intercostal Nerve Block in the Management of Postoperative Pain After Costal Cartilage Harvest for Craniofacial Reconstruction Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Autologous costal cartilage harvest is a common procedure in craniofacial reconstruction due to its stability, dependability, and diversity. However, such a procedure is associated with severe donor-site pain postoperatively. Therefore, we aim through this study to compare the efficacy of intercostal nerve block in the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing costal cartilage harvest for craniofacial reconstruction.

Evaluation of Outreach of Community Pharmacists in Public Health Services in Al-Jouf Region of Saudi Arabia: Findings and Implications.

Background: Diversifying the conventional role of community pharmacists from dispensing to involvement in public health services could help in optimized patient care and ultimately good health practices. The current study aimed to ascertain the involvement of community pharmacists, barriers to involvement, their preparedness towards the provision of public health services in the future, and effective strategies to improve their existing role, especially in remote areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia (KSA), between January to April 2023.

Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy among community pharmacists.

Telepharmacy is a practical part of telemedicine that refers to providing pharmaceutical services within the scope of the pharmacist's obligations while maintaining a temporal and spatial distance between patients, users of health services, and healthcare professionals. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2022 to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and readiness for telepharmacy. The survey was filled out by 404 respondents.

Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Running Anticoagulation Clinic in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the effectiveness of warfarin in extended anticoagulation, its narrow therapeutic index requires frequent dose adjustments and careful patient monitoring. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of clinical pharmacists' intervention in warfarin therapy management in terms of International Normalized Ratio (INR) control, reduction of bleeding, and hospitalization in a tertiary care hospital. An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted on 96 patients taking warfarin therapy in a clinical pharmacist-led anticoagulation clinic.

COVID-19 and severity of liver diseases: Possible crosstalk and clinical implications.

COVID-19-infected individuals and those who recovered from the infection have been demonstrated to have elevated liver enzymes or abnormal liver biochemistries, particularly with preexisting liver diseases, liver metabolic disorders, viral hepatitis, and other hepatic comorbidities. However, possible crosstalk and intricate interplay between COVID-19 and liver disease severity are still elusive, and the available data are murky and confined. Similarly, the syndemic of other blood-borne infectious diseases, chemical-induced liver injuries, and chronic hepatic diseases continued to take lives while showing signs of worsening due to the COVID-19 crisis.