Objectives. (1) To examine the association between serious psychological distress (SPD) and emergency room (ER) use in the past 12 months among adults with multimorbidity in the United States (US) and (2) to investigate the association between SPD and the reasons for ER use. Methods. The current study used a cross-sectional design with retrospective data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between SPD and ER use among adults with multimorbidity. Among ER users, adjusted logistic regression models were conducted to examine the association between SPD and the reasons for the ER use. Results. After controlling for other variables, adults with multimorbidity and SPD were more likely to use ER than those with multimorbidity and no SPD (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.26, 2.04). Among ER users, there were no significant associations between SPD and the reasons for ER use after controlling for other variables. Conclusion. Adults with multimorbidity and SPD were more likely to use ER as compared to those with multimorbidity and no SPD. Among adults with multimorbidity, routine screening for SPD may be needed to reduce the ER use.

Background: Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) occur when two or more drugs are administered concomitantly, changing the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of a drug’s characteristics. Despite the advances in health technology, DDIs remain a concern to patient safety. This study aimed to (1) assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of hospital and community pharmacists toward DDIs in Saudi Arabia and (2) examine factors associated with their practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire targeting hospital and community pharmacists working in Saudi Arabia. The study questionnaire consisted of five sections: demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice toward DDIs, as well as pharmacy characteristics. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of participants as count and percentage. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between practice variables and other independent variables. Results: A total of 131 pharmacists participated in the study. The majority were males (81.7%), aged 26–35 years (64.9%), and worked in community pharmacies (81.7%). Nearly half of the participants reported optimal practice regarding checking drug interactions before dispensing any drug. Factors associated with the practice of checking DDIs were found to be gender, perceived workload, perceived knowledge, and attitude variables. Regarding the practice of asking patients about their prescription and OTC drugs, there were statistically significant differences between hospital and community pharmacists. Conclusions: Our findings on both community and hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia reveal that pharmacists’ attitudes and perceived knowledge might influence the practice of pharmacists toward DDIs.

Diphenhydramine, either alone or in combination with pain relievers, is one of the widely used over-the-counter sleep aids. However, few studies have evaluated the use of diphenhydramine-containing products, such as Panadol Night, in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of Panadol Night use and to identify factors associated with its use in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years or older in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire from 05 March 2022 to 20 March 2022. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between Panadol Night use in the past month and independent variables. A total of 1244 adults participated in the survey. Approximately, 42.3% reported that they have used Panadol Night in their lifetime; 12.1% used Panadol Night in the past month. The majority of the Panadol Night users (62.4%) reported that their use was based on their family/friends’ recommendations, while 23.6% used Panadol Night based on healthcare providers’ recommendations. The multivariable logistic regression models showed that gender, health related fields, perceived safety and effectiveness of Panadol Night, a history of insomnia, trouble sleeping due to pain, and sleep quality were significantly associated with the use of Panadol Night in the past month. Our findings indicated that adults’ perceptions of the effectiveness and safety of Panadol Night were significantly associated with its use. Also, adults in non-health related fields were more likely to use Panadol Night compared to those in health related fields. This suggests the need for raising awareness about the appropriate use of Panadol Night. Community pharmacists can play an essential role in educating patients during the time of purchase.

Aim: To identify knowledge gaps in heart failure (HF) research among women, especially postmenopausal women. Materials & methods: We retrieved HF articles from PubMed. Natural language processing a... Lay abstract There is evidence that heart failure (HF) affects men and women differently. This means that researchers should consider gender when studying HF. However, women, especially postmenopau...

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use for weight loss and to identify factors associated with their use among overweight and obese adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among overweight and obese adults aged 18 years and older residing in the Eastern Province. Data were collected in December 2024 using an online, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence of GLP-1 RA use, while chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between GLP-1 RA use and relevant independent variables. Results: A total of 1264 participants were included. The lifetime prevalence of GLP-1 RA use was 18.2%, with 14.2% reporting current use. Injectable semaglutide (Ozempic) was the most commonly used medication (73.9%). Most individuals reported initiating treatment based on a doctor’s recommendation (70.4%), although 36.5% began use based on personal decision. Multivariable logistic regression identified several factors significantly associated with GLP-1 RA use, including obesity status, diabetes, prior weight-loss attempts, having family members or friends who use GLP-1 RAs, and studying or working in a health-related field. Conclusions: GLP-1 RA use is substantial among overweight and obese adults in the Eastern Province. In addition to medical conditions, social influences and involvement in health-related fields appear to shape use. These findings emphasize the need for awareness initiatives promoting appropriate GLP-1 RA use and stricter adherence to prescription guidelines.