Rational and responsible self-medication (SM) is an essential core element for better health outcomes. It is influenced mainly by the level and adequacy of knowledge, attitude, and appropriateness of practice (KAP) towards SM. The present study explored the level and adequacy of KAP among residents of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A convenient snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit the study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Six hundred and eleven participants completed the questionnaire. Residents with good knowledge, positive attitude, and proper practice were 43.7%, 33.1%, and 90.0%, respectively. The level of KAP was significantly influenced by the participant’s occupation, age, gender, nationality, marital status, presence of chronic disease, and COVID-19 infection status. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores observed were 5.11 (SD = 1.27), 22.28 (SD = 2.6) and 5.20 (SD = 1.29), respectively. Pearson correlation and scattered plot matrix analysis revealed a significant positive weak correlation among KAP, indicating that residents with good knowledge possess better attitude (r = 0.142, p < 0.001) and follow the proper practice (r = 0.256, p < 0.001) towards SM. Multivariate linear regression revealed a significant (p < 0.001) negative (β = −0.059) influence of occupation, family members working in the health sector (p = 0.046, β= −0.426), Body Mass Index (p = 0.019, β = −0.049), and physical activity (p = 0.018, β = −0.292) on the overall KAP score. Understanding the residents’ level of KAP towards SM would enable the health care system to identify the gap and develop a mechanism to educate the people and make them knowledgeable about SM and self-care.

To manage the COVID-19 outbreak, the WHO recommends adult and child vaccination. Vaccine skepticism has been a major worldwide health concern for decades, and the situation is worsening. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate parental willingness to vaccinate their children (aged 5 to 11 years) against COVID-19 and to describe its relationship with attitude, barriers, facilitators, and sources of knowledge regarding the vaccine. Methods: From February to March 2022, a community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken among the parents of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. We employed a convenient sampling procedure to gather the required sample. Using the Raosoft sample size calculator, a minimum sample size of 385 was determined based on a 95% confidence level, a 5% margin of error, and a 5% precision level. The data were analyzed using version 26 of SPSS. A p-value less than 0.05 was judged statistically significant. The Chi-square test and likelihood ratio were utilized to describe the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, driving factors, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy associated factors were identified using multivariate binary logistic regression. A total of 528 replies were received. The majority of respondents were mothers (77.7%), aged 26 to 40 years (67.8%), married (91.5%), Saudi nationals (96.2%), college graduates (70.6%), with a monthly family income of more than SAR 10,000 (46.4%), non-healthcare professionals (84.7%), employed in the government sector (33.7%), with three children (23.3%), and children aged 5 to 11 years (88.7%). A little more than half of the parents (55.7%) exhibited considerable vaccination hesitancy. About 16.28% of parents were willing to vaccinate their children as soon as possible, compared to 38.44% who had no interest whatsoever in vaccination. A greater proportion of mothers and unemployed parents were unwilling to vaccinate their children. Parents with a higher monthly income (above SAR 10,000), who worked as healthcare professionals, and whose children suffered from chronic conditions were significantly more ready to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Parents who were aware of anti-vaccination campaigns and who vaccinated their children with required childhood vaccines were also much more likely to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Most parents (66.9%) obtained information on COVID-19 via the Saudi Ministry of Health website, followed by social media (48.1%). The vaccine’s novelty and the dearth of reliable information about its safety (65%) and insufficient information about its effectiveness (36.2%) were the primary reasons for not vaccinating children against COVID-19, whereas preventing children from contracting COVID-19 (55.9%) and government mandate (38.8%) were the primary reasons for vaccinating children against COVID-19. Conclusions: There was significant parental hesitancy to immunize their children against COVID-19. To involve and educate parents, multi-component interventions must be developed and implemented.

Background and Objective: Insufficient vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) contributes to nosocomial outbreaks and avoidable deaths. This study assesses vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in primary healthcare facilities and identifies contributing factors in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023 among healthcare workers (HCWs) at various healthcare facilities providing primary care. The study utilized a questionnaire developed in accordance with World Health Organization` (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, covering sociodemographic and medical characteristics, vaccination profiles (19 items), and evidence of vaccination status. A multistage sampling technique was employed to obtain a representative sample, involving random selection of HCWs from various categories (physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, and paramedics) and clustering willing participants from each facility type. Results: Among the 591 healthcare workers (HCWs), 57.7% were male and 45.8% were aged 31– 40 years. Vaccination compliance rates varied, with the highest rates observed for the third COVID-19 dose (86.3%), hepatitis B (81.2%), and influenza (78.3%), while the lowest rate was for Tdap during pregnancy (27.7%). Immunization documentation was primarily evidenced through vaccine records (67.5%), lab tests (51.8%), and disease confirmation (36.9%). In this study 70.9% partially, 19.1% fully vaccinated, and 10% unvaccinated. Regarding immunization documentation, 57% was partial, 15.7% complete, and 27.2% incomplete. Significant predictors of being unvaccinated included male sex (p=0.001), Saudi nationality (p=0.030), and technician/paramedic profession (p< 0.001). Additionally, HCWs experiencing burnout were more likely to be unvaccinated (p=0.006). Multivariate analysis revealed that technicians/paramedics were 2.74 times more likely to be unvaccinated than physicians (AOR=2.743; 95% CI=1.140– 6.600; p=0.024). Conclusion: This study highlights significant gaps in vaccination coverage among HCWs, working at primary healthcare facilities with only 19.1% fully vaccinated. Factors such as male gender and burnout contribute to vaccine hesitancy. To address these gaps, future directions such as targeted educational interventions, burnout mitigation, mobile vaccination units, and awareness campaigns are recommended. Additionally, supportive measures to manage burnout are crucial for improving vaccination rates and protecting public health.

Lifestyle counseling in primary care is a critical intervention for addressing chronic disease risk factors and promoting health behavior change. This review evaluated the effectiveness of lifestyle counseling and propose strategies to simplify its implementation in family medicine practices. A structured narrative synthesis approach was used, integrating evidence from diverse study designs and settings. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Psychological Information databases for studies published in English language were included. Thematic analyzed was performed under three domains: Why? What? and How? Findings showed that lifestyle counseling significantly improves patient outcomes, including reduced stress, enhanced treatment adherence, and better chronic disease management. Counseling also addresses psychosocial factors, promotes self-efficacy, and decreases health-risk behaviors. Practical solutions include brief interventions, shared decision-making, and leveraging self-monitoring tools. Systemic barriers, such as time constraints and inadequate physician training, limit widespread adoption. To overcome these challenges, healthcare providers can apply evidence-based frameworks, prioritize patient-centered care, and utilize standardized training. This review highlights the importance of integrating lifestyle counseling into routine primary care to address non-communicable diseases and improve patient outcomes. Future research should explore long-term outcomes, cultural adaptations, and cost-effectiveness to refine implementation strategies. By addressing these gaps, healthcare providers can enhance patient adherence and improve health outcomes, ultimately contributing to better population health. By making counseling a routine part of primary care, could results in reduced chronic disease burden and improve population health.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) standards have a unique role in controlling infection transmission. In Saudi Arabia, every healthcare facility is required to establish an IPC program to identify and reduce the risk of infection acquisition and transmission. This study aimed to estimate adherence to IPC measures after the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Najran City during the period of May to August 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was given to HCWs consisting of three parts: demographic data, profile of healthcare facility and healthcare professional regarding infection control, and questionnaire to assess the adherence of HCWs regarding infection control measures. The study recruited 580 HCWs, of whom 57.6% were males, and 46.6% were aged between 31 and 40 years. The overall mean adherence score was 103.2±9.71 out of 150 points. Accordingly, 88.4% were classified as having moderate adherence, 10.2% were good, and only 1.4% were classified as having poor adherence. Some of the factors associated with increased adherence to IPC measures, include being female, being a nurse, being a practitioner, working in the hospital emergency department, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit at a healthcare facility. There was satisfactory adherence among HCWs regarding infection prevention and control measures. Being a female, a nurse, a practitioner, working in a hospital emergency department, being a staff of a non-MOH (Ministry of Health) hospital, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit were identified as significant predictors of increased adherence. IPC measures can be optimized by setting up institutional IPC teams, necessary PPE, and periodic provision of IPC training.

Introduction: One of the main causes of illness, mortality, and rising medical costs is antimicrobial resistance, which is a global healthcare concern. Objectives: This study explores the practice of physicians toward the effective implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians working at primary care setting in Najran city, Saudi Arabia, between May and August 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the physicians composed of three parts: socio-demographic data, a questionnaire about physicians’ practice in the efficacy of ASP, and a questionnaire about physicians’ practice regarding prescribing antibiotics. Results: Of the 128 physicians who participated in the study, 60.2% were males, and 43.8% were aged between 36 and 45 years. Among the practices in implementing the ASP effectively, controlling the source of infection domain received the highest score (mean score: 4.83). Every practice domain mean score was greater than 3, indicating that study participants possessed a moderate level of ASP practice and implementation skills. The overall mean practice score in the effective implementation of ASP was 154.9 ± 25.5 out of 185 points, with good, moderate, and poor practices constituting 67.2%, 28.1%, and 4.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The physicians showed a moderate level of practice for the effective implementation of ASPs in Najran city. The factors significantly associated with increased practice score include older age, male gender, Saudi nationality, handling five or fewer infection cases daily, and infection-initiated antibiotic prescribing treatment managed per day. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance physicians’ adherence to ASP guidelines and promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing practices, ultimately contributing to global efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance and improving patient outcomes.