Background: Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a critical global and national health challenge, largely driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Understanding the public′s knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use is essential for informing effective interventions. This study aimed to assess the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to antibiotic use among adults in Saudi Arabia’s Western Region and to identify the demographic and behavioral determinants of these outcomes. Methods: A regional cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June 2025 using a 40-item self-administered online questionnaire. Adults aged ≥ 18 years residing in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia were recruited via social media using snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to examine associations, while multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify determinants of high knowledge and good practices, presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 891 participants were included; most were female (63.6%) and aged 18–30 years (56.2%). Moderate knowledge of antibiotic use was observed in 54.0% of participants, while 30.8% had high knowledge. In terms of attitude and practice, 55.6% demonstrated good performance and 42.8% average performance. High knowledge was significantly associated with the female gender (aOR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.34–2.70), age of 41–50 years (aOR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.42–3.48), and a postgraduate education (aOR = 15.37; 95% CI: 1.84–128.13). Good practices were associated with the female gender (aOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.66–3.24) and being married (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.43–2.77). A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.406, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Significant variability in public KAP regarding antibiotic use was identified. Female gender, older age, and higher education were key determinants of better KAP. These findings emphasize the need for targeted educational strategies focusing on high-risk groups to support rational antibiotic use and mitigate antimicrobial resistance.

Background/Objectives: Medication adherence is essential for effective healthcare, significantly influencing treatment success and overall health outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of how healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia manage and support medication adherence. This study aims to examine physicians’ and pharmacists’ approaches to managing medication adherence in Saudi Arabia by examining the methods used for adherence assessment, interventions to enhance adherence, and the challenges faced. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over nine months using a self-administered online questionnaire. The study targeted physicians and pharmacists actively working in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed through professional networks to ensure a broad and representative sample. Results: A total of 397 healthcare professionals met the inclusion criteria, comprising 81.1% pharmacists and 18.9% physicians. Direct patient inquiry was the most common assessment method, frequently or always used by 81.3% of physicians and 57.1% of pharmacists. Treatment response evaluation was similarly frequent (89.3% of physicians and 56.2% of pharmacists). Standardized tools, such as the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, were underutilized (14.7%). Adherence-enhancing interventions focused on patient education, and their use was reported by 89.3% of physicians and 74.2% of pharmacists as frequent or always. Written information was more commonly used by pharmacists (65.8%) than physicians (45.3%). Barriers included excessive workloads and short consultation times (59.9%), absence of effective systems for tracking adherence (51.9%), lack of reliable tools for assessing adherence (48.9%), and insufficient training in behavioral interventions (48.1%). Conclusions: This study reveals significant differences in medication adherence management practices between physicians and pharmacists in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their distinct roles. Key barriers, including excessive workload, limited consultation time, and inadequate tracking systems, hinder the adoption of evidence-based tools. Tailored interventions, enhanced interprofessional collaboration, and systemic support are essential to address these challenges and improve adherence management, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction affects approximately 29% of the population and has a profound impact on quality of life. It frequently follows upper respiratory tract infections and lacks effective pharmacological treatments. Vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator that increases intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate, is approved for heart failure and has potential neuro-modulatory effects relevant to olfactory processing. Objective: This pilot study investigates the efficacy of oral vericiguat in improving olfactory function in patients with persistent anosmia following upper respiratory tract infections. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 88 participants with post-infectious anosmia were assigned to receive either placebo (n = 44) or vericiguat (4 mg, twice daily; n = 44) for 12 months. Olfactory function was assessed monthly using the Sniffin’ Sticks test, measuring Threshold (T), Discrimination (D), and Identification (I) scores. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni corrections. Results: At baseline, all olfactory scores were similar between groups. In the vericiguat group, T scores increased from 3.84 ± 0.19 to 4.65 ± 0.20 (P = 0.003), D scores from 8.25 ± 0.65 to 9.20 ± 0.86 (P = 0.008), and I scores from 7.34 ± 0.72 to 8.62 ± 0.79 (P = 0.008). No significant changes were observed in the placebo group. Between-group differences became statistically significant for D at month 4 (P < 0.05), T at month 6 (P < 0.05), and I at month 7 (P < 0.05). However, the mean total TDI improvement in the vericiguat group (+ 3.19) did not reach the clinical threshold of 5.5 points. Conclusion: Vericiguat significantly improved olfactory threshold, discrimination, and identification scores compared to placebo. These findings highlight its potential as a pharmacological option for olfactory dysfunction, although the clinical magnitude of benefit remains below the established threshold. Further studies should explore mechanisms and broader clinical applications. Trial registration: DFM-IRB00012367–23-07-008.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction is a frequent symptom experienced by individuals recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and significantly impacts daily life activities. Recent studies suggest that reducing nasal calcium levels may help restore olfactory function. Glutamate diacetate (GLD) is a natural sequestering agent that binds calcium ions and may offer therapeutic benefits in managing post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of topical GLD treatment in reducing nasal calcium levels and improving olfactory function in individuals with chronic olfactory dysfunction following COVID-19. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 66 participants who were randomized into two groups: GLD (1% solution) and saline placebo (0.9% solution). Participants received nasal treatment three times daily for six months. Olfactory function was assessed using the Sniffin’ Sticks test, measuring threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I) scores. Nasal calcium levels were also measured. Statistical analysis included independent t -tests and change-from-baseline comparisons. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the GLD group across olfactory assessments. By month 6, threshold scores increased by 0.78 ± 0.15, discrimination scores by 0.72 ± 0.15, and identification scores by 1.80 ± 0.15, all exceeding gains in the saline group. Nasal calcium levels decreased significantly in the GLD group (7.36 ± 1.21 mM vs 2.49 ± 0.51 mM in saline), suggesting a contribution mechanism in olfactory improvement. Conclusion: GLD treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in olfactory function and a reduction in nasal calcium levels in individuals with post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. However, the observed changes did not reach the threshold for clinical significance. These findings suggest a potential role for GLD in olfactory recovery, but further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term efficacy and clinical relevance.

Background: Managing chronic conditions can overwhelm patients and reduce their confidence in self-management. Patient activation (PA) is a concept that reflects patients’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health and self-care. In Jordan, PA has not been explicitly studied, particularly among patients with chronic conditions. Therefore, this study explores PA and its determinants in individuals with chronic conditions in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of outpatients recruited from a tertiary hospital in Jordan. Participants completed a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, the Single Item Literacy Screener, and the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Bivariate and regression analyses were conducted to explore the factors associated with PAM scores. Results: Among a total of 666 participants, the mean PAM score was 57.1 ± 9.17, indicating a moderate activation level overall. Regression analysis revealed that being female (p = 0.14), adequate health literacy (p = 0.002), and post-secondary education (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with higher PAM scores, and older age (p = 0.004) and polypharmacy (p = 0.010) with lower scores. An additional regression model showed that the negative association between polypharmacy and PA scores did not differ by health literacy level, with no significant interaction between polypharmacy and health literacy (p = 0.555). Conclusions: This study showed that individuals with chronic illnesses in Jordan had moderate to high patient activation levels. Several sociodemographic and clinical factors were significantly associated with patient activation. Polypharmacy was independently associated with lower patient activation scores, regardless of health literacy levels. However, given the study’s exploratory nature, the results should be interpreted as preliminary evidence warranting further research.