The administration of corticosteroids may have possible hazards, ranging from minor adverse medication reactions to more serious considerations. We aimed to assess levels of public awareness concerning corticosteroid use, side effects, and predictors of its use. A cross-sectional study was conducted online throughout the period of May to July 2023. The present investigation utilized a previously developed questionnaire tool. The study encompassed a cohort of 732 individuals. Upon inquiry regarding the adverse effects of corticosteroid treatment, the participants predominantly reported weight gain, skin alterations, and fluid retention leading to breathing difficulties, constituting 44.4%, 30.3%, and 27.7% of the responses, respectively. The prevailing adverse effects observed in individuals using corticosteroids were weight gain, alterations in mood, and changes in skin characteristics, which accounted for 38.1%, 25.7%, and 21.8% of reported cases, respectively. Individuals within the age range of 41–50 years and those who are currently not working show a higher propensity for utilizing corticosteroids in comparison to other demographic groups (p < 0.05). The level of general public knowledge about corticosteroids and the side effects connected with them in Saudi Arabia was adequate. Demographic factors, such as age, gender, and education, have an impact on the use of corticosteroids.

Objectives: To establish the prevalence of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (NPSLE) symptoms in Saudi Arabia and the variables that are linked to it. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2021 among SLE patients in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Rheumatism Association exploited social media platforms to provide a self-administered online questionnaire to SLE patients. All data analyses were performed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Two hundred and eight SLE patients participated in the study (females 91.3% vs. males 8.7%). In addition, 13.5% of patients had a family history of SLE, and 26% had SLE for one to 3 years. The most common symptoms of NPSLE were alteration or loss of sensation (53.4%), followed by fear (52.4%), and headache (48.1%). The prevalence of patients with NPSLE was 40%. In a multivariate regression model, fear, altered sensations, cerebrovascular illness, sleep disruption, and diminished interest in routine activities were identified as independent risk variables for NPSLE Conclusion: Nearly half of SLE patients demonstrated NP manifestations, with significant symptoms including fear, alteration of sensation, cerebrovascular disease, sleep disturbance, and reduced interest in normal activities. To detect the pathophysiology of NPSLE, it is necessary to understand the relationship between neuropsychiatric morbidity and other relevant rheumatic disorders in the SLE population.

Objective The role of alcohol in inflammatory disease remains debated. This study explores the relationship between alcohol and disease activity in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Methods Patients attending a rheumatology clinic between 2010 and 2020 were prospectively followed. Information on demographics, alcohol use, smoking habits and disease outcome measures were collected from these patients. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate linear and binary logistic regressions, Mann-Whitney U tests and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) test. Results Of the 979 analysed patients, 62% had rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 26.7% had psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and 11.2% had ankylosing spondylitis. Mean DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score 28 - C-reactive protein) in RA and PsA at 1 year was 2.96±1.39, and 64.2% of patients were in remission (DAS28-CRP ≤2.6 or BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) ≤4). Both male gender and risky drinking (>15 units of weekly alcohol) were significantly associated with remission. Compared with women, men had an OR of 1.8 (1.1, 2.5) (p=0.034) for any alcohol consumption and 6.9 (4.7, 9.1) (p=0.001) for drinking at least 15 weekly drinks. When adjusted for gender, there was no association between alcohol and disease activity. Yet, when adjusted for alcohol consumption, gender still significantly influenced disease activity. Conclusion While it may appear that alcohol is linked to remission in inflammatory arthritis, when adjusted for gender, it is not. Men with inflammatory arthritis drink significantly more than women and have less severe disease activity.

Purpose: To evaluate physicians’ knowledge of the ABCDE (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) approach components. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 using an online questionnaire in order to collect data about the knowledge of the ABCDE approach’s components among physicians in different specialties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: The number of participants were 165 in total and the median knowledge score for all participants was 15.0, with an associated interquartile range (IQR) of 10.0 to 20.0. Intensive Care Medicine had the highest median knowledge score of 19.0 (IQR: 12.0– 21.0), followed by Internal Medicine at 17.0 (IQR: 13.0– 20.0). Conversely, Cardiology and Anesthesiology showed lower scores, with medians of 8.0 (IQR: 4.0– 10.0) and 7.5 (IQR: 4.0– 13.5), respectively (p = 0.011). Senior Registrars demonstrated the highest median knowledge score of 20.0 (IQR: 14.0– 22.0), while Fellows had the lowest at 8.5 (IQR: 7.0– 13.0) (p < 0.001). Practicing for 10 to 15 years and more than 15 years having medians of 20.0 (IQR: 16.0– 23.0) and 19.0 (IQR: 17.0– 22.0), respectively. However, participants with less experience, working for less than 5 years, had a median score of 12.0 (IQR: 8.5– 16.5) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Knowledge scores of physicians representing various medical specialties found diverse levels regarding the ABCDE approach. Knowledge scores were significantly influenced by the primary area of practice, level of experience, and duration worked in the profession, highlighting the need for tailored training and education across different specialties and career stages. On the other hand, future studies should concentrate on finding new factors that influence practice adherence to the ABCDE approach and tying theoretical knowledge to clinical practice.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant burden in Saudi Arabia. Improving the attitudes, awareness, and knowledge of healthcare providers toward advance directives and/or advanced care planning (ACP) can increase the use of advance directives. This study aims to investigate healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning advance directives for COPD patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was employed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers towards ACP for COPD patients in Riyadh between June and December 2024. The questionnaire was adapted from previous research. Multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the factors associated with good knowledge and positive attitude. Results: A total of 268 participants were included in the analysis. The total mean of knowledge score was 6.96 ± 2.22 out of 12. A total of 161 participants (60.1%) had a poor knowledge score, and 107 participants (39.9%) had a good knowledge score. The total mean of attitude score was 16.23 ± 23.21 out of 26. A total of 148 participants (55.2%) had a poor attitude score and 120 participants (44.8%) had positive attitude. Participants with over 15 years of experience exhibited significantly higher odds of good knowledge (OR = 6.76, 95% CI = 1.03−44.21, p = 0.04). Participants who lived in the Western region had significantly lower odds of good knowledge (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14–0.71, p = 0.005). Nurses and respiratory therapists had significantly lower odds of having positive attitude (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.09−0.42, p = 0.0001 and OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.16–0.75, p = 0.007, respectively). Participants who lived in the Western region had significantly lower odds of having positive attitude (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.19–0.95, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge of ACP for COPD patients. This was accompanied by a moderately positive attitude towards this practice. Future studies should examine effective educational and professional interventions to enhance ACP practices.

Background: Gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) are common conditions for elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. While gout is a well-known and widely recognized condition, AH may be less familiar to healthcare professionals. This study aimed to estimate and determine the knowledge and treatment of AH versus gout among physicians in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A standardized, online validated questionnaire was used to collect data from physicians in Saudi Arabia. The tool comprised two parts: a 3-item section on demographics and a 37-item section assessing knowledge (18 items) and practice (19 items) related to the management of AH and gout. Convenience sampling was employed for participant recruitment. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The questionnaire was validated by three experts in rheumatology and clinical pharmacy, with a KR-20 of 0.87. Results: Of the 744 participants, 53.9% were female, and 59.1% were aged 24–34. A total of 58.7% had attended continuing medical education (CME) on AH or gout during the last three years. The mean practice score was significantly higher among residents compared to physicians without specialty training (mean difference = −1.43632, 95 %CI: −2.4575–−0.4151, p < 0.001) and consultants compared to physicians without specialty training (mean difference = −3.2769, 95% CI: −4.7918–−1.7620, p < 0.001). Male physicians scored higher than female physicians (1.73 ± 1.08 vs. 1.46 ± 1.09, p = 0.001). Consultants and orthopedic specialists demonstrated the highest knowledge levels (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of physicians for managing AH or gout were unsatisfactory. Younger female general practitioners were more likely to exhibit poor knowledge and practice in managing AH or gout cases. Despite advanced diagnostic tools and treatment processes, physicians have many misconceptions. Hence, continuous medical education focusing on AH or gout is vital to address these misconceptions.