Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate a specific questionnaire for the ev... more Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate a specific questionnaire for the evaluation of celiac children and adolescents, the celiac disease DUX (CDDUX). Methods: The steps suggested by Reichenheim and Moraes (2007) were followed to obtain conceptual, item, semantic, operational, and measurement equivalences. Four pediatric gastroenterologists; a researcher with tool validation background; three English teachers; and 33 celiac patients, aged 8-18 years, and their caregivers participated in the study. The scores of celiac patients and those obtained from their caregivers were compared. Among the patients, the scores were compared in relation to gender and age. Results: All items were considered relevant to the construct and good semantic equivalence of the version was acquired. During measurement equivalence, the exploratory factor analysis showed appropriate weight of all items and good internal consistency, with Cronbach's ˛ of 0.81. Significant difference was found among the final scores of children and their caregivers. There was no difference among the final scores in relation to gender or age. Conclusion: The questionnaire was translated and adapted according to all the proposed steps, with all equivalences adequately met. It is a valid tool to access the QoL of celiac children and adolescents in the translated language.
Background: Preexisting diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for maternal and feta... more Background: Preexisting diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. Despite improvement in the access and quality of antenatal care recent population based studies demonstrating increased congenital abnormalities and perinatal mortality in diabetic mothers as compared to the background population. This systematic review was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of preconception care in improving maternal and fetal outcomes for women with preexisting diabetes mellitus. Methods: We searched the following databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, WEB OF SCIENCE, Cochrane Library, including the CENTRAL register of controlled trials and CINHAL up to December 2009, without language restriction, for any preconception care aiming at health promotion, glycemic control and screening and treatment of diabetes complications in women of reproductive age group with type I or type II diabetes. Study design were trials (randomized and non-randomized), cohort and case-control studies. Of the 1612 title scanned 44 full papers were retrieved of those 24 were included in this review. Twelve cohort studies at low and medium risk of bias, with 2502 women, were included in the meta-analysis. Results: Meta-analysis suggested that preconception care is effective in reducing congenital malformation, RR 0.25 (95% CI 0.15-0.42), NNT17 (95% CI 14-24), preterm delivery, RR 0.70 (95% CI 0.55-0.90), NNT = 8 (95% CI 5-23) and perinatal mortality RR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82), NNT = 32 (95% CI 19-109). Preconception care lowers HbA1c in the first trimester of pregnancy by an average of 2.43% (95% CI 2.27-2.58). Women who received preconception care booked earlier for antenatal care by an average of 1.32 weeks (95% CI 1.23-1.40). Conclusion: Preconception care is effective in reducing diabetes related congenital malformations, preterm delivery and maternal hyperglycemia in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Data collection and analysis We used a standardised form ... more Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Data collection and analysis We used a standardised form to assess trial eligibility. We assessed RCTs by randomisation method, allocation generation, concealment, blinding and follow up. We assessed non-RCTs for potential confounders and classified them as low, medium and high risk of bias. Main results We included 67 studies including randomised controlled trials and observational studies with a mixed risk of bias. A total number of participants is not included as the total would be made up of a heterogenous set of observations (participant people, observations on participants and countries (object of some studies)). The risk of bias for five RCTs and most cluster-RCTs was high. Observational studies were of mixed quality. Only case-control data were su iciently homogeneous to allow meta-analysis. The highest quality cluster-RCTs suggest respiratory virus spread can be prevented by hygienic measures, such as handwashing, especially around younger children. Benefit from reduced transmission from children to household members is broadly supported also in other study designs where the potential for confounding is greater. Nine case-control studies suggested implementing transmission barriers, isolation and hygienic measures are e ective at containing respiratory virus epidemics. Surgical masks or N95 respirators were the most consistent and comprehensive supportive measures. N95 respirators were non-inferior to simple surgical masks but more expensive, uncomfortable and irritating to skin. Adding virucidals or antiseptics to normal handwashing to decrease respiratory disease transmission remains uncertain. Global measures, such as screening at entry ports, led to a non-significant marginal delay in spread. There was limited evidence that social distancing was e ective, especially if related to the risk of exposure. Authors' conclusions Simple and low-cost interventions would be useful for reducing transmission of epidemic respiratory viruses. Routine long-term implementation of some measures assessed might be di icult without the threat of an epidemic.
Abstract In this chapter, we present an overview of the rapidly transforming community pharmacy s... more Abstract In this chapter, we present an overview of the rapidly transforming community pharmacy sector in Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 development plan. The key services provided by community pharmacists are also summarized together with evidence of their effectiveness, where available. Finally, we describe development and implementation of a pilot community pharmacy-based medication therapy management clinic and research study that is currently being carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinic.
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, May 1, 2022
Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant ... more Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant burden on the scientific and medical professions. The study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), stratified by category, and severe form of COVID-19, and to explore the influence of demographic characteristics and other known risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis based on COVID-19 data from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Data were collected for all patients admitted to three main hospitals in Riyadh region between March 1st and July 30, 2020. The effects of BMI, demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and comorbidities on infection severity were investigated. Results: A total of 950 patients were included in the study (70% male, 85% aged younger than 60 years old). A total of 55 (5.8%) patients were underweight, 263 (27.7%) were normal weight, 351 (37%) were overweight, 161 (17%) were obese class I, 76 (8%) were obese class II, and 44 (4.6%) were obese class III. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms among overweight patients. According to the findings of a bivariate logistic regression study, class III obesity was significantly associated with a more severe form of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.344-6.149). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal weight. This suggests that obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and influences disease presentation.
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:The object... more This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:The objective of this review is to systematically compare the efficacy and harms of interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation (CA) in adults with arrhythmias.
Background: Educational games make the learning process more enjoyable, fun, and create a competi... more Background: Educational games make the learning process more enjoyable, fun, and create a competitive classroom environment that can positively affect learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions of crossword puzzles (CWPs) as a learning tool in the pharmacotherapy cardiovascular module focusing on anticoagulants' therapeutics and assessing if students' preference of learning style influenced their perception. Methods: Clues for the puzzle were developed, validated, and piloted by course faculty. A free internet puzzle generator was used to create puzzles with 10 to 20 clues. Students were given 30 min to solve the puzzle following six hours of didactic lectures about the topic. An 8-item survey instrument and Pharmacists' Inventory of Learning Styles (PILS) questionnaire were administered to examine students' perceptions of the game and their learning style preference, respectively. Results: Two hundred sixty-seven students participated in the activity from both undergraduate programs (BPharm and PharmD) over three consecutive course offerings. Most students expressed favorable perceptions of the puzzle. Female and BPharm students had significantly more favorable perceptions than male and PharmD students on several perception items. The dominant preferred learning style (PLS) was converger (35.6%), followed by assimilator (25.3%), while 15.1% had mixed learning styles. The study did not find a significant association between PLS and students' perceptions toward the CWP. Conclusions: The CWP game presented an innovative, creative, and easy active learning tool to enhance information recall, retention, and class engagement while accommodating all learning style preferences.
Journal of The Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, Dec 1, 2021
Purpose Intern assessment during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are generally bas... more Purpose Intern assessment during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are generally based upon each individual preceptor’s perceptions without an objective measurement of intern understanding and performance. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a pre- and post-OSCE could be used to confirm that interns achieved the goals and objectives of the Ambulatory Care rotation. The aims of this study were to determine whether a pre-rotation OSCE can help pharmacy interns self-assess their clinical strengths and weaknesses and assess whether their knowledge and skills improved after completing a post-rotation OSCE. Methods Pharmacy interns undergoing APPE Ambulatory Care rotations from September 2018 to March 2020 participated in a pre- and post-rotation OSCE to assess their knowledge of various chronic disease states. Interns completed pre- and post-OSCE surveys to assess their perceptions about their knowledge and the OSCE experience. Results Pharmacy intern knowledge about diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation significantly improved post-OSCE compared to their pre-OSCE scores (p < 0.001). The mean post-OSCE scores for diabetes (p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (P = 0.046), anticoagulation (P = 0.006), and the overall mean post-OSCE scores (P = 0.005) were significantly higher compared to interns’ pre-OSCE scores. Students believed that the post-OSCE significantly highlighted their strengths and weaknesses in skills and knowledge compared to the pre-OSCE (P = 0.008). Conclusion Pre- and post-APPE OSCE assessments are important tools that can provide interns and preceptors with objective evaluations of student performance. OSCEs can either be used as an alternative to perception-based assessments or integrated into existing preceptor evaluations. Furthermore, OSCEs can help preceptors identify areas that require more emphasis in their rotations.
Journal of The Saudi Heart Association, Jul 1, 2016
Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-ou... more Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-out (TRO) Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) can provide an evaluation of the coronary arteries, aorta,Pulmonary arteries, and chest structures in one scan. The aim of our work was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of TRO versus cardiac CTA in patients with ACP, In addition to compare the image quality, contrast material and radiation doses of TRO with standard CTA.We hypothesized that TRO CTA has a comparable diagnostic yield to standard coronary CTA, in addition to its ability to add extra diagnostic information. Prospective analysis of 134 TRO CTA data, to assess the presence of coronary artery disease(CAD), Aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and other chest pathology. Then retrospectively to compare the results with 132 standard CTA. Normal coronaries or non-significant CAD was seen in 97 (72.9%) patients, 19 (14.2%) had moderate or significant CAD, two (1.5%) had aortic dissection, three (2.2%) had a pulmonary embolism, 61% had other findings. The image quality score and noise were comparable between the standard and TRO CTA (2.8 AE 0.6 vs 2.96 AE 0.6, P = 0.28) and (30.5 AE 10.6 vs 28.4 AE 1, P = 0.1) respectively. The effective radiation dose was significantly lower in the standard compared to the TRO CTA using prospective (4.4 AE 1.7 vs. 5.1 AE 0.5 mSv = 0.008) and (11.9 vs. 18.3 AE 5 msv, P = 0.0001) for retrospective gating protocols. The contrast dose was lower with standard protocol (83 AE 5 vs 102 AE 9 ml. p = 0.001). TRO CTA is a valid tool for diagnosis of CAD and can provide accurate detection of non-coronary pathology, but it was associated with higher radiation and contrast doses compared to the standard CTA.
Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-ou... more Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-out (TRO) Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) can provide an evaluation of the coronary arteries, aorta,Pulmonary arteries, and chest structures in one scan. The aim of our work was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of TRO versus cardiac CTA in patients with ACP, In addition to compare the image quality, contrast material and radiation doses of TRO with standard CTA.We hypothesized that TRO CTA has a comparable diagnostic yield to standard coronary CTA, in addition to its ability to add extra diagnostic information. Prospective analysis of 134 TRO CTA data, to assess the presence of coronary artery disease(CAD), Aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and other chest pathology. Then retrospectively to compare the results with 132 standard CTA. Normal coronaries or non-significant CAD was seen in 97 (72.9%) patients, 19 (14.2%) had moderate or significant CAD, two (1.5%) had aortic dissection, three (2.2%) had a pulmonary embolism, 61% had other findings. The image quality score and noise were comparable between the standard and TRO CTA (2.8 AE 0.6 vs 2.96 AE 0.6, P = 0.28) and (30.5 AE 10.6 vs 28.4 AE 1, P = 0.1) respectively. The effective radiation dose was significantly lower in the standard compared to the TRO CTA using prospective (4.4 AE 1.7 vs. 5.1 AE 0.5 mSv = 0.008) and (11.9 vs. 18.3 AE 5 msv, P = 0.0001) for retrospective gating protocols. The contrast dose was lower with standard protocol (83 AE 5 vs 102 AE 9 ml. p = 0.001). TRO CTA is a valid tool for diagnosis of CAD and can provide accurate detection of non-coronary pathology, but it was associated with higher radiation and contrast doses compared to the standard CTA.
This study aims to assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to a... more This study aims to assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to analyze the relationship between the PIMs and frailty among inpatient older adults aged 65 and above in Saudi Arabia. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was utilized during the period between April 2021 and April 2022 of all patients aged 65 years and above admitted in a public tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Data on the number of medications and the use of PIMs were assessed using Beers’ criteria while the frailty status was assessed using the “FRAIL Scale”. Of the 358 patient files that were reviewed, 52.2% were males, 60.9% were aged 65–74 years, and 82% were married. The prevalence of robust, prefrail, and frail patients was 5%, 36.9%, and 58.1%, respectively. According to the 2019 Beers criteria, a total of 45.8% (n = 164) participants identified as using PIMs. Compared to the non-PIMs group, the PIMs group demonstrated significant differences in the number of medication...
Background: Viral epidemics or pandemics of acute respiratory infections like influenza or severe... more Background: Viral epidemics or pandemics of acute respiratory infections like influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome pose a worldwide threat. Antiviral drugs and vaccinations may be insufficient to prevent catastrophe. Objectives: To systematically review the effectiveness of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coro... more BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and represents a major public health threat that aggressively promotes increased morbidity and mortality. Changes in public behavior were more common during the pandemic to protect against the infection. Suboptimal behavioral practices for a specific disease would increase the susceptibility of the public to infection. This study aimed to determine changes in behaviors of the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire survey to determine the extent of public behavioral changes in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected with a self-reported survey, and analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 (SPSS). A chi-square test was performed to determine the association among variables. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Re...
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant ... more Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant burden on the scientific and medical professions. The study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), stratified by category, and severe form of COVID-19, and to explore the influence of demographic characteristics and other known risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis based on COVID-19 data from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Data were collected for all patients admitted to three main hospitals in Riyadh region between March 1st and July 30, 2020. The effects of BMI, demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and comorbidities on infection severity were investigated. Results: A total of 950 patients were included in the study (70% male, 85% aged younger than 60 years old). A total of 55 (5.8%) patients were underweight, 263 (27.7%) were normal weight, 351 (37%) were overweight, 161 (17%) were obese class I, 76 (8%) were obese class II, and 44 (4.6%) were obese class III. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms among overweight patients. According to the findings of a bivariate logistic regression study, class III obesity was significantly associated with a more severe form of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.344-6.149). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal weight. This suggests that obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and influences disease presentation.
Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate a specific questionnaire for the ev... more Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate a specific questionnaire for the evaluation of celiac children and adolescents, the celiac disease DUX (CDDUX). Methods: The steps suggested by Reichenheim and Moraes (2007) were followed to obtain conceptual, item, semantic, operational, and measurement equivalences. Four pediatric gastroenterologists; a researcher with tool validation background; three English teachers; and 33 celiac patients, aged 8-18 years, and their caregivers participated in the study. The scores of celiac patients and those obtained from their caregivers were compared. Among the patients, the scores were compared in relation to gender and age. Results: All items were considered relevant to the construct and good semantic equivalence of the version was acquired. During measurement equivalence, the exploratory factor analysis showed appropriate weight of all items and good internal consistency, with Cronbach's ˛ of 0.81. Significant difference was found among the final scores of children and their caregivers. There was no difference among the final scores in relation to gender or age. Conclusion: The questionnaire was translated and adapted according to all the proposed steps, with all equivalences adequately met. It is a valid tool to access the QoL of celiac children and adolescents in the translated language.
Background: Preexisting diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for maternal and feta... more Background: Preexisting diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. Despite improvement in the access and quality of antenatal care recent population based studies demonstrating increased congenital abnormalities and perinatal mortality in diabetic mothers as compared to the background population. This systematic review was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of preconception care in improving maternal and fetal outcomes for women with preexisting diabetes mellitus. Methods: We searched the following databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, WEB OF SCIENCE, Cochrane Library, including the CENTRAL register of controlled trials and CINHAL up to December 2009, without language restriction, for any preconception care aiming at health promotion, glycemic control and screening and treatment of diabetes complications in women of reproductive age group with type I or type II diabetes. Study design were trials (randomized and non-randomized), cohort and case-control studies. Of the 1612 title scanned 44 full papers were retrieved of those 24 were included in this review. Twelve cohort studies at low and medium risk of bias, with 2502 women, were included in the meta-analysis. Results: Meta-analysis suggested that preconception care is effective in reducing congenital malformation, RR 0.25 (95% CI 0.15-0.42), NNT17 (95% CI 14-24), preterm delivery, RR 0.70 (95% CI 0.55-0.90), NNT = 8 (95% CI 5-23) and perinatal mortality RR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82), NNT = 32 (95% CI 19-109). Preconception care lowers HbA1c in the first trimester of pregnancy by an average of 2.43% (95% CI 2.27-2.58). Women who received preconception care booked earlier for antenatal care by an average of 1.32 weeks (95% CI 1.23-1.40). Conclusion: Preconception care is effective in reducing diabetes related congenital malformations, preterm delivery and maternal hyperglycemia in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Data collection and analysis We used a standardised form ... more Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Data collection and analysis We used a standardised form to assess trial eligibility. We assessed RCTs by randomisation method, allocation generation, concealment, blinding and follow up. We assessed non-RCTs for potential confounders and classified them as low, medium and high risk of bias. Main results We included 67 studies including randomised controlled trials and observational studies with a mixed risk of bias. A total number of participants is not included as the total would be made up of a heterogenous set of observations (participant people, observations on participants and countries (object of some studies)). The risk of bias for five RCTs and most cluster-RCTs was high. Observational studies were of mixed quality. Only case-control data were su iciently homogeneous to allow meta-analysis. The highest quality cluster-RCTs suggest respiratory virus spread can be prevented by hygienic measures, such as handwashing, especially around younger children. Benefit from reduced transmission from children to household members is broadly supported also in other study designs where the potential for confounding is greater. Nine case-control studies suggested implementing transmission barriers, isolation and hygienic measures are e ective at containing respiratory virus epidemics. Surgical masks or N95 respirators were the most consistent and comprehensive supportive measures. N95 respirators were non-inferior to simple surgical masks but more expensive, uncomfortable and irritating to skin. Adding virucidals or antiseptics to normal handwashing to decrease respiratory disease transmission remains uncertain. Global measures, such as screening at entry ports, led to a non-significant marginal delay in spread. There was limited evidence that social distancing was e ective, especially if related to the risk of exposure. Authors' conclusions Simple and low-cost interventions would be useful for reducing transmission of epidemic respiratory viruses. Routine long-term implementation of some measures assessed might be di icult without the threat of an epidemic.
Abstract In this chapter, we present an overview of the rapidly transforming community pharmacy s... more Abstract In this chapter, we present an overview of the rapidly transforming community pharmacy sector in Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 development plan. The key services provided by community pharmacists are also summarized together with evidence of their effectiveness, where available. Finally, we describe development and implementation of a pilot community pharmacy-based medication therapy management clinic and research study that is currently being carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinic.
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, May 1, 2022
Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant ... more Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant burden on the scientific and medical professions. The study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), stratified by category, and severe form of COVID-19, and to explore the influence of demographic characteristics and other known risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis based on COVID-19 data from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Data were collected for all patients admitted to three main hospitals in Riyadh region between March 1st and July 30, 2020. The effects of BMI, demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and comorbidities on infection severity were investigated. Results: A total of 950 patients were included in the study (70% male, 85% aged younger than 60 years old). A total of 55 (5.8%) patients were underweight, 263 (27.7%) were normal weight, 351 (37%) were overweight, 161 (17%) were obese class I, 76 (8%) were obese class II, and 44 (4.6%) were obese class III. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms among overweight patients. According to the findings of a bivariate logistic regression study, class III obesity was significantly associated with a more severe form of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.344-6.149). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal weight. This suggests that obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and influences disease presentation.
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:The object... more This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:The objective of this review is to systematically compare the efficacy and harms of interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation (CA) in adults with arrhythmias.
Background: Educational games make the learning process more enjoyable, fun, and create a competi... more Background: Educational games make the learning process more enjoyable, fun, and create a competitive classroom environment that can positively affect learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions of crossword puzzles (CWPs) as a learning tool in the pharmacotherapy cardiovascular module focusing on anticoagulants' therapeutics and assessing if students' preference of learning style influenced their perception. Methods: Clues for the puzzle were developed, validated, and piloted by course faculty. A free internet puzzle generator was used to create puzzles with 10 to 20 clues. Students were given 30 min to solve the puzzle following six hours of didactic lectures about the topic. An 8-item survey instrument and Pharmacists' Inventory of Learning Styles (PILS) questionnaire were administered to examine students' perceptions of the game and their learning style preference, respectively. Results: Two hundred sixty-seven students participated in the activity from both undergraduate programs (BPharm and PharmD) over three consecutive course offerings. Most students expressed favorable perceptions of the puzzle. Female and BPharm students had significantly more favorable perceptions than male and PharmD students on several perception items. The dominant preferred learning style (PLS) was converger (35.6%), followed by assimilator (25.3%), while 15.1% had mixed learning styles. The study did not find a significant association between PLS and students' perceptions toward the CWP. Conclusions: The CWP game presented an innovative, creative, and easy active learning tool to enhance information recall, retention, and class engagement while accommodating all learning style preferences.
Journal of The Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, Dec 1, 2021
Purpose Intern assessment during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are generally bas... more Purpose Intern assessment during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are generally based upon each individual preceptor’s perceptions without an objective measurement of intern understanding and performance. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a pre- and post-OSCE could be used to confirm that interns achieved the goals and objectives of the Ambulatory Care rotation. The aims of this study were to determine whether a pre-rotation OSCE can help pharmacy interns self-assess their clinical strengths and weaknesses and assess whether their knowledge and skills improved after completing a post-rotation OSCE. Methods Pharmacy interns undergoing APPE Ambulatory Care rotations from September 2018 to March 2020 participated in a pre- and post-rotation OSCE to assess their knowledge of various chronic disease states. Interns completed pre- and post-OSCE surveys to assess their perceptions about their knowledge and the OSCE experience. Results Pharmacy intern knowledge about diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation significantly improved post-OSCE compared to their pre-OSCE scores (p < 0.001). The mean post-OSCE scores for diabetes (p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (P = 0.046), anticoagulation (P = 0.006), and the overall mean post-OSCE scores (P = 0.005) were significantly higher compared to interns’ pre-OSCE scores. Students believed that the post-OSCE significantly highlighted their strengths and weaknesses in skills and knowledge compared to the pre-OSCE (P = 0.008). Conclusion Pre- and post-APPE OSCE assessments are important tools that can provide interns and preceptors with objective evaluations of student performance. OSCEs can either be used as an alternative to perception-based assessments or integrated into existing preceptor evaluations. Furthermore, OSCEs can help preceptors identify areas that require more emphasis in their rotations.
Journal of The Saudi Heart Association, Jul 1, 2016
Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-ou... more Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-out (TRO) Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) can provide an evaluation of the coronary arteries, aorta,Pulmonary arteries, and chest structures in one scan. The aim of our work was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of TRO versus cardiac CTA in patients with ACP, In addition to compare the image quality, contrast material and radiation doses of TRO with standard CTA.We hypothesized that TRO CTA has a comparable diagnostic yield to standard coronary CTA, in addition to its ability to add extra diagnostic information. Prospective analysis of 134 TRO CTA data, to assess the presence of coronary artery disease(CAD), Aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and other chest pathology. Then retrospectively to compare the results with 132 standard CTA. Normal coronaries or non-significant CAD was seen in 97 (72.9%) patients, 19 (14.2%) had moderate or significant CAD, two (1.5%) had aortic dissection, three (2.2%) had a pulmonary embolism, 61% had other findings. The image quality score and noise were comparable between the standard and TRO CTA (2.8 AE 0.6 vs 2.96 AE 0.6, P = 0.28) and (30.5 AE 10.6 vs 28.4 AE 1, P = 0.1) respectively. The effective radiation dose was significantly lower in the standard compared to the TRO CTA using prospective (4.4 AE 1.7 vs. 5.1 AE 0.5 mSv = 0.008) and (11.9 vs. 18.3 AE 5 msv, P = 0.0001) for retrospective gating protocols. The contrast dose was lower with standard protocol (83 AE 5 vs 102 AE 9 ml. p = 0.001). TRO CTA is a valid tool for diagnosis of CAD and can provide accurate detection of non-coronary pathology, but it was associated with higher radiation and contrast doses compared to the standard CTA.
Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-ou... more Acute chest pain (ACP) in emergency department represents a health care challenge. Triple-rule-out (TRO) Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) can provide an evaluation of the coronary arteries, aorta,Pulmonary arteries, and chest structures in one scan. The aim of our work was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of TRO versus cardiac CTA in patients with ACP, In addition to compare the image quality, contrast material and radiation doses of TRO with standard CTA.We hypothesized that TRO CTA has a comparable diagnostic yield to standard coronary CTA, in addition to its ability to add extra diagnostic information. Prospective analysis of 134 TRO CTA data, to assess the presence of coronary artery disease(CAD), Aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and other chest pathology. Then retrospectively to compare the results with 132 standard CTA. Normal coronaries or non-significant CAD was seen in 97 (72.9%) patients, 19 (14.2%) had moderate or significant CAD, two (1.5%) had aortic dissection, three (2.2%) had a pulmonary embolism, 61% had other findings. The image quality score and noise were comparable between the standard and TRO CTA (2.8 AE 0.6 vs 2.96 AE 0.6, P = 0.28) and (30.5 AE 10.6 vs 28.4 AE 1, P = 0.1) respectively. The effective radiation dose was significantly lower in the standard compared to the TRO CTA using prospective (4.4 AE 1.7 vs. 5.1 AE 0.5 mSv = 0.008) and (11.9 vs. 18.3 AE 5 msv, P = 0.0001) for retrospective gating protocols. The contrast dose was lower with standard protocol (83 AE 5 vs 102 AE 9 ml. p = 0.001). TRO CTA is a valid tool for diagnosis of CAD and can provide accurate detection of non-coronary pathology, but it was associated with higher radiation and contrast doses compared to the standard CTA.
This study aims to assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to a... more This study aims to assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to analyze the relationship between the PIMs and frailty among inpatient older adults aged 65 and above in Saudi Arabia. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was utilized during the period between April 2021 and April 2022 of all patients aged 65 years and above admitted in a public tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Data on the number of medications and the use of PIMs were assessed using Beers’ criteria while the frailty status was assessed using the “FRAIL Scale”. Of the 358 patient files that were reviewed, 52.2% were males, 60.9% were aged 65–74 years, and 82% were married. The prevalence of robust, prefrail, and frail patients was 5%, 36.9%, and 58.1%, respectively. According to the 2019 Beers criteria, a total of 45.8% (n = 164) participants identified as using PIMs. Compared to the non-PIMs group, the PIMs group demonstrated significant differences in the number of medication...
Background: Viral epidemics or pandemics of acute respiratory infections like influenza or severe... more Background: Viral epidemics or pandemics of acute respiratory infections like influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome pose a worldwide threat. Antiviral drugs and vaccinations may be insufficient to prevent catastrophe. Objectives: To systematically review the effectiveness of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coro... more BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and represents a major public health threat that aggressively promotes increased morbidity and mortality. Changes in public behavior were more common during the pandemic to protect against the infection. Suboptimal behavioral practices for a specific disease would increase the susceptibility of the public to infection. This study aimed to determine changes in behaviors of the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire survey to determine the extent of public behavioral changes in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected with a self-reported survey, and analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 (SPSS). A chi-square test was performed to determine the association among variables. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Re...
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant ... more Background: The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant burden on the scientific and medical professions. The study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), stratified by category, and severe form of COVID-19, and to explore the influence of demographic characteristics and other known risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis based on COVID-19 data from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Data were collected for all patients admitted to three main hospitals in Riyadh region between March 1st and July 30, 2020. The effects of BMI, demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and comorbidities on infection severity were investigated. Results: A total of 950 patients were included in the study (70% male, 85% aged younger than 60 years old). A total of 55 (5.8%) patients were underweight, 263 (27.7%) were normal weight, 351 (37%) were overweight, 161 (17%) were obese class I, 76 (8%) were obese class II, and 44 (4.6%) were obese class III. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms among overweight patients. According to the findings of a bivariate logistic regression study, class III obesity was significantly associated with a more severe form of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.344-6.149). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal weight. This suggests that obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and influences disease presentation.
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Papers by Ghada Bawazeer