Introduction: Billions of people worldwide rely on self-medication, a key component of self-care endorsed by the World Health Organization. While self-medication, particularly with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, is generally considered safe, misuse—especially involving prescription medications—poses risks. This study explores the practice of self-medication among adult patients attending primary healthcare centers of NGHA in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2022 to January 2023, involving 387 participants from four primary healthcare centers. Non-probability convenience sampling was used, with data collected through a well-structured questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic factors, self-medication habits, and awareness levels. Results: The majority of participants were female (60.20%), aged 25–35 years (38.50%), and married (65.10%). Chronic diseases were reported by 28.30% of participants. Self-medication was prevalent among 82.30%, primarily for pain relief (55.50%). Painkillers were the most commonly used (65.60%). Factors influencing self-medication included long waiting times (51.10%) and reliance on previous prescriptions (44.10%). Participants generally exhibited good knowledge, though this varied by gender and education level. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of self-medication, particularly among females, with a focus on pain management and influenced by extended waiting times. While participants demonstrated overall good knowledge, there are specific areas, particularly related to medication details, that require improvement. The findings highlight the need for targeted public health education to address the potential risks associated with self-medication.

Background/Objectives: Rising antimicrobial resistance threatens Helicobacter pylori eradication worldwide, yet real-world data on microbiologically confirmed treatment outcomes from the Middle East remain scarce. This study aimed to determine the confirmed eradication failure rate among treatment-naïve patients, identify independent predictors of failure, and characterize gaps in post-treatment testing practices. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included treatment-naïve adults diagnosed with H. pylori infection at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh between January 2015 and August 2023. The primary outcome was microbiologically confirmed eradication failure, defined exclusively as a positive post-treatment test of cure (urea breath test, stool antigen, or endoscopic biopsy). Exploratory logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with treatment failure. Results: Of 850 patients, 196 (23.1%) had a documented post-treatment eradication test. The confirmed failure rate was 33.7% (66/196). In multivariate analysis, atrophic gastritis (aOR 3.22, 95% CI: 1.29–8.02; p = 0.012) and pregnancy (aOR 12.76, 95% CI: 1.79–91.06; p = 0.011) were independently associated with failure. No treatment regimen was significantly associated with eradication outcome. Conclusions: One in three tested patients failed first-line eradication, and over three-quarters of treated patients never received a confirmatory test of cure. These findings support transitioning to bismuth-based quadruple therapy in line with current guidelines and local resistance data, mandating routine post-treatment eradication testing, and establishing antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance.

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia that results in substantial visual impairment and imposes a significant functional and psychosocial burden on affected individuals. Despite evidence suggesting earlier onset and a potentially more aggressive disease course of keratoconus in Saudi populations, there is a significant lack of region-specific data evaluating vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in Riyadh. This cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, evaluated VRQoL in individuals with keratoconus using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Data were obtained from January to March 2025 through an online, structured, self-administered questionnaire. A total of 1007 participants were included, of whom 299 (29.7%) reported a diagnosis of keratoconus. The mean composite NEI-VFQ-25 score among participants with keratoconus was 61.0 ± 15.8, reflecting moderate impairment in VRQoL. Reduced VRQoL was significantly associated with eye-rubbing behavior, including both frequency (p = 0.027) and method (p = 0.026). The results highlight the importance of early detection and the relevance of eye-rubbing behavior in relation to reduced VRQoL, while supporting the need for longitudinal research to further clarify these associations.