Lack of MERS Coronavirus Neutralizing Antibodies in Humans,Eastern Province,Saudi Arabia

We used a lentiviral vector bearing the viral spike protein to detect neutralizing antibodies against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in persons from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. None of the 268 samples tested displayed neutralizing activity, which suggests that MERS-CoV infections in humans are infrequent in this province.     

Selected Dietary Nutrients and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Males and Females in Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Study

During the last decade, the rapid economic development in Saudi Arabia resulted in an unbalanced dietary intake pattern within the general population. Consequently, metabolic syndrome was also documented to be highly prevalent in the Middle-East region. We aimed to examine the relationship between selected dietary nutrient intakes and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the general adult population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, 185 adult Saudis aged 19 to 60 years (87 males and 98 females (mean age 35.6 ± 13.2 and 37.6 ± 11.7 years, respectively)) were included. The criteria for metabolic syndrome were based on the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) criteria, and the dietary food intake was assessed by two 24-h dietary recall methods. The odd ratios (ORs) of metabolic syndrome risk across quartiles of selected dietary nutrients were significantly lower for carbohydrates and proteins, as well as for vitamins A, C, E and K, calcium, zinc and magnesium (p < 0.05 for all) in the female group with metabolic syndrome than those without. The pattern of daily dietary intake of selected nutrients among the general population of Saudi Arabia raises concern, and this dietary imbalance could increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, particularly in adult Saudi females.     

Access to Online Information by Adult Saudi Cancer Patients

Abstract

The proportion of Saudi cancer patients who utilize online information resources is unknown; therefore, this project was designed to characterize Internet utilization by this group. Saudi cancer patients who met defined eligibility criteria responded to a questionnaire to examine Internet utilization, barriers to access, and information needs. Of the 150 patients included, only 19 (13%) used the Internet to receive online information. From patients' perspectives, inability to use a computer (57%), limited English language proficiency (55%), and not knowing about online resources (44%) were the most frequent barriers. A multivariate analysis showed that owning a personal computer was the only variable that distinguished Internet users from nonusers. This study provides the only available data concerning access to Internet information by cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. The study showed that the access rate is unacceptably low due to several barriers. Prompted by the study results, pragmatic recommendations are provided.     

Community needs and preferences for community pharmacy immunization services

This study explored the Saudi community’s needs and preferences related to community immunization services. Community member’s expectations about the services were assessed, and their concerns, attitudes, and beliefs around the pharmacist’s role in providing immunization were examined.MethodQualitative in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample that comprised Saudi community members who visited Saudi community pharmacies. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then translated. Data obtained were then thematically organized and analyzed using NVivo (QSR International) Software.ResultA total of 20 interviews were conducted for this study. Seven themes emerged from the interviews and were grouped into three major categories relating to the community pharmacy immunization service: (1) community needs for the service; (2) community expectations of the service; and (3) community concerns, and beliefs around the service. Participants expressed their need for such services and acceptance of immunization performed by community pharmacists, with the expectation that it would improve their immunization uptake and community health in general. However, some participants expressed concerns about community pharmacists current level of ability and skill in providing immunization, the lack of a private area for conducting the service, the lack of female community pharmacists, and the cost of the immunization service. Some participants advocated for supervision of such services by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Saudization of community pharmacy staff.ConclusionThe research results clearly demonstrated the Saudi community’s need for community pharmacy immunization services, described their expectations, and highlighted their concerns relating to community pharmacy infrastructure and an appropriate level of training for community pharmacist-administered immunization.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of MERS-CoV in a Camel Abattoir,Saudi Arabia, 2016–2018

We detected Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA in 305/1,131 (27%) camels tested at an abattoir in Al Hasa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, during January 2016–March 2018. We characterized 48 full-length MERS-CoV genomes and noted the viruses clustered in MERS-CoV lineage 5 clade B.     

Burnout among nurses working in the primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia,a multicenter study

Background: Burnout is a common psychosocial phenomenon among nursing. It has been attributed to prolonged exposure to stress in the work place. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of burnout among nurses in the primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 nurses by using a self-administered questionnaire. Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was used to measure burnout. Results: Most participants were females (73.0%) and aged ≤35 years (52.0%). About 39% had high emotional exhaustion, 38% had high depersonalization and 85.5% had low personal accomplishment. About 89% (178) scored high at least on one subscale of burnout. Burnout was associated with age, educational level and sources of stress in the workplace. Conclusion: Level of burnout among nurses was high and was associated mainly with stressors in the workplace. Improving work environment and management of stress in the workplace should be a priority to minimize burnout among nurses.     

Heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) in maternal, cord blood and placenta of healthy women

Lead, cadmium and mercury were measured in placental tissue, umbilical cord and maternal blood samples of 1578 women who delivered at the Al-Kharj King Khalid Hospital between 2005 and 2006. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of heavy metal exposure in mothers and their newborns and to identify predictors of maternal exposure. Lead was detected in all cord and maternal blood and in 96% of placental tissues. Only in 0.89% and 0.83% of cord and maternal blood samples were the levels of lead above the CDC threshold limit of 10 μg/dl. Maternal blood lead was also higher (2.3%) than the German Reference value in women of 7 μg/dl. Approximately 9.3% of women had a placental lead above the 95th percentile in the range of 0.83-78 μg/g dry wt., a level of possible developmental toxicity. Cadmium was detected in 94.8% and 97.9% of cord and maternal blood samples respectively, though only five newborns had a cadmium level above the OSHA threshold limit of 5 μg/l. Comparing our results to the newly revised German Reference value for nonsmokers, 48.6% of mothers had blood cadmium levels >1.0 μg/l. We found as well that 25% of women had placental cadmium in the >75th percentile, in the range of 0.048-4.36 μg/g dry wt., which is likely to affect fetal growth and development. Of the maternal and cord blood samples, 11.2% and 13%, respectively, had mercury levels >5.8 μg/l, which is the EPA reference dose. Nearly 49% of women had mercury levels >2.0 μg/l, the German Reference value for those who consume fish ≤3 times a month. Around 50% of the mothers had placental mercury in the range of 0.031-13.0 μg/g dry wt. Regression analyses indicated that the levels of metals in the blood and placenta were influenced by several factors. This study provides informative baseline biomonitoring data and reveals a substantial exposure to heavy metals in non-occupationally exposed Saudi mothers and their newborns that might jeopardize the health of both. Additional research is also urgently needed to explore factors such as environment, diet, lifestyle and/or cultural habits contributing to maternal and fetal exposures. Preventive measures to eliminate or minimize the unnecessary risk of fetus exposure to heavy metals or other pollutants during pregnancy should be initiated once these factors are identified.     

Pharmacy practice research in Saudi Arabia; A bibliometrics analysis from (2000 to 2021)

BackgroundPharmacy is a growing profession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which has experienced tremendous changes in the past 20 years. Pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy have an attention ever since the emerging of PharmD programs throughout the Saudi universities. As a result, the number of affiliated faculty in the pharmacy practice departments has increased dramatically in the past 20 years and thus significant changes in research output were observed.ObjectivesThe main objective is to conduct a bibliometric analysis and evaluate the research output of pharmacy practice faculty in Saudi Universities from 2000 to 2021MethodsA systematic search was conducted using Scopus database to explore the research output from pharmacy practice affiliated faculty from 2000 to 2021. The following search terms AFFILORG (“Pharmacy Practice Department” OR “Department of Pharmacy practice” OR “Clinical Pharmacy Department” OR “Department of Clinical Pharmacy” OR “Department of Pharmacy Services”) AND AFFILCOUNTRY (“Saudi Arabia” OR “KSA” OR “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”) were used. Only original research papers were retrieved and analyzed using MS Excel (v16.0), MS Access (v16.0), Bibexcel (v2017), VOS viewer, and Biblioshiny.ResultsIn the past two decades, most publications with pharmacy practice departments affiliation were pharmacy practice research irrelevant (only 1075 out of 2809). King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University were the top performing institutes, and median of 5-year impact factor for journals was more than 3 for most of the top 10 institutes. 19% of the total retrieved articles were review publications were the rest majorly classified as cross-sectional studies.ConclusionThe research contribution of pharmacy practice departments in Saudi Arabia has been improving. Key recommendations are to promote more applied and interventional research, increase publications in top journals, and enhance national collaborations.     

Self-reported and the actual involvement of community pharmacy professionals in the management of acute childhood diarrhea in Jazan Province,Saudi Arabia: Simulated patient visits and survey study

BackgroundAcute childhood diarrhea is one of the most common causes of dehydration, and if severe, can potentially lead to death as well. The present study was aimed at evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of community pharmacy professionals towards the management of acute childhood diarrhea and comparing them with their actual practices in Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A).MethodsSimulated patient visits and a cross-sectional survey making use of a 27-item self-report questionnaire were conducted amongst a sample of 303 community pharmacy professionals (51.2 % male and 48.8 % female) with an age range of 25–56 years, between August 1 and December 1, 2021, in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Convenience sampling technique was used for the recruitment of the participants.ResultsSignificant positive correlations were seen between knowledge score (self-report survey) and practice score (simulated patient visit) regarding patients’ history taking (r = 0.65; p < 0.01), drug recommendations (r = 0.71; p < 0.01) and providing information regarding food and fluid intake (r = 0.44; p < 0.01). The alpha coefficients for all the items of the survey instrument were noted to be greater than (or) equal to the 0.70 threshold for almost all sections, hence indicating good reliability and internal consistency of the developed scale.ConclusionIn the present study, even though we observed improved participants’ performance during the self report survey, their performance level greatly dropped in actual practice. This warrants for a need for educational programs to improve their actual dispensing practices. The present study has also shown simulated patient visits to be a reliable, simple and a robust method of assessing the actual dispensing practices of community pharmacy professionals.