(1) Background: Food allergy (FA) is an immune-mediated hypersensitivity to foods, significantly contributing to childhood morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and influencing factors of parent-reported FAs among children in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a validated parental questionnaire distributed across all regions of Saudi Arabia. Data from 2130 participants were collected and analyzed using SPSS v. 26 and Prism software v. 10.3.0. (3) Results: Parent-reported FA prevalence was 15.2%. Egg was the most common allergen (6.2%), followed by tree nuts (4.1%), peanuts (4.0%), milk (3.8%), and sesame (3.2%). Significant geographical variations were observed, with the western region having the highest burden (p < 0.001). Older children had higher rates of shellfish and fish allergies. Parental allergies and co-existing asthma/drug allergies were positively associated with childhood FAs. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights a substantial burden of parent-reported FAs in Saudi Arabia, with regional variations in food allergen distribution. Parental allergies and co-existing allergic conditions may influence FA risk.

The level of patient satisfaction and, ultimately, the assessment of the quality of care are greatly influenced by physicians' capacity to leave a positive impression on patients during provider-patient interactions. The way doctors dress affects how people view their care. There have been few studies on the impact of doctors' attire on patient confidence and trust. The objective of this study is to assess patients' preferences concerning specific cultural attire and its influence on patients' trust, compliance, and perceptions of the quality of care in the emergency department. A cross-sectional study was performed using the survey methodology for patients in emergency departments. Participants completed a written survey after reviewing doctors' portraits in different dress styles. Respondents were asked questions about the importance of the health service providers' attire in the emergency department on the patient's perception. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 (SPSS; IBM Inc., Armonk, New York) was used to perform the analysis after the data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington). The categorical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test to explore for relationships between the results and various variables. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 395 patients; two responses were excluded for lack of completeness of the answers in it: 33.8%) were males (66.2%) were females (56.7%) were married (73.8%) completed university education (44.8%) were employed and (74.5%) with excellent health conditions. The questionnaire was devoted to the local setting, with pictures of the health care provider (male and female), in different types of doctor's attire included. Respondents overwhelmingly prefer male emergency physicians to dress in medical scrub (50%, p=.0001) and prefer female emergency physicians to dress in a medical scrub with a white coat (68.7%, p=.0001). First impressions based on a physician's appearance serve as the foundation for assumptions about trust, confidence, and competency, particularly in circumstances when patients or family members do not already have a relationship with the provider.

Background/Objectives: A food allergy (FA) is an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to specific food. FA reactions vary from mild to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Despite the effectiveness of epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs), barriers such as lack of knowledge, limited access, and fear of needles hinder their use. This study explores EAI possession among children with parent-reported food allergies in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from October 2023 to February 2024 included 296 parents of children with reported food allergies under the age of 18. Data were collected through a validated self-administered questionnaire. Results: Among 2102 respondents, 296 (14.1%) reported having a child with a food allergy. Most respondents were female (70%), with asthma being the most common comorbidity (26%). Common allergens included eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, and sesame. Only 23.3% of children had an EAI. Higher EAI possession was associated with parental education, maternal allergy history, and access to specialist care. Conclusions: EAI possession among Saudi children with food allergies is suboptimal. Targeted educational interventions, increased access to allergists, and comprehensive management plans are essential to improve preparedness for anaphylaxis.

Background: Food allergy (FA) is an increasing public health concern with significant implications for child health and quality of life. Early introduction of allergenic foods has been shown to reduce the risk of food allergy development; however, maternal awareness and adherence to these recommendations remain inconsistent. This study aimed to assess maternal awareness and practices regarding the timing of allergenic food introduction among mothers residing in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and March 2024 involving parents of children aged younger than 48 monthsin the Makkah region. Data were collected via a self-administered electronic questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. Results: A total of 391 parents participated. Parent-reported food allergy was identified in 11.3% of children, while 14.6% had eczema. Early introduction (<12 months) was more common for egg (43.3%) and wheat (71.1%) compared to peanut (28.9%), tree nuts (30.9%), sesame (30.9%), and seafood (28.9%). A considerable proportion of children had not been introduced to key allergenic foods even after 36 months, particularly peanuts (45.3%) and sesame (42.2%). Children with eczema were significantly more likely to have early introduction of egg (p = 0.035), tree nuts (p = 0.046), and seafood (p = 0.031). Similarly, children with a family history of food allergy had higher early introduction rates of tree nuts (55.3% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.043) and seafood (62.3% vs. 49.1%, p = 0.019). Only 25.8% of mothers were aware that early introduction might prevent food allergies, and just 22% reported receiving professional advice to introduce allergenic foods early. Conclusions: Maternal awareness regarding the timely introduction of allergenic foods in Makkah remains limited, with delayed introduction persisting beyond 36 months for several high-risk allergens. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions and improved counseling by healthcare providers.

Background: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) impacts patient morbidity and mortality, with prevalence rates ranging from 0.76% to 4.01% of hospital admissions. This study investigated DAMA within the emergency department (ED) of a Saudi Arabian hospital, aiming to understand its prevalence and associated factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January to December 2022 at a tertiary center. Demographic and clinical data on DAMA cases, including age, gender, nationality, marital status, admission details, diagnosis category, priority level, and reasons for DAMA, were extracted from the electronic hospital database. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used for analysis. Results: Of the 515 identified DAMA cases, 309 were analyzed after exclusions. The majority of patients were female (52.1%), Saudi nationals (82.5%), and married (38.8%). The most frequent discharge diagnoses involved cardiology (18.1%), obstetrics and gynecology (17.8%), and neurology (14.2%). Common reasons for DAMA were refusal of the physician's plan (40.1%), refusal of admission (21.7%), and long waiting times (13.9%). Significant associations were found between reasons for DAMA and priority levels. Conclusion: The study highlights the multifaceted nature of DAMA in the ED, which is driven by systemic, cultural, and individual factors. Addressing these issues through improved communication, policy adjustments, and patient education could help reduce DAMA incidence. Future research should aim to overcome this study's limitations, such as its retrospective design's low depth of insight, and limited generalizability, given its single-institution scope.