Background: Community adherence to current control measures is one of the vital factors that determines the success of controlling the spread of COVID-19. This adherence depends on the knowledge and attitude of a community toward COVID-19 and their precautionary measures against the disease. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of the community from the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, toward COVID-19 and their precautionary measures against the disease. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study involved an online sample of participants from the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, who were recruited based on a nonprobability convenience sampling method from April to May 2020. The self-administered online questionnaire comprised four parts: the first included the demographic details of the participants; the second consisted of 11 closed-ended questions that assessed the participants’ knowledge of COVID-19; the third contained six closed-ended questions that assessed the participants’ overall attitude toward COVID-19; and the fourth comprised six closed-ended questions on the participants’ precautionary measures against COVID-19. The data were analyzed using Statistisoftware SPSS 21.0. Results: Altogether, 740 participants completed the online questionnaire. The mean knowledge score concerning COVID-19 was 8.08 ± 1.765. Graduate participants scored significantly higher for all knowledge items than those from other educational levels. Furthermore, the main source of COVID-19 information was the Ministry of Health website 661 (89.3%). The mean attitude score regarding COVID-19 was 9.74 ± 1.935, whereas the mean precautionary measures score was 10.09 ± 1.91. University-educated participants scored significantly higher for all knowledge items than those from other educational levels. Female participants had significantly higher precautionary measures scores than male participants. Conclusion: This study confirms that residents of the Aseer Region have high knowledge of, demonstrate a positive attitude toward, and use appropriate precautionary measures against COVID-19, which is associated with obtaining information about the virus from the Ministry of Health website.

Background: Mortality rates increase due to iron deposition in the cardiac muscles of thalassemia major (TM) patients. Iron overload cardiomyopathy could be treated with a combination therapy of an iron chelator and an L-type calcium channel blocker. We designed a randomized controlled study to assess the potential of amlodipine, alongside chelation, in reducing myocardial iron concentration in TM patients compared with a placebo. Objectives: This study aims to estimate the change in myocardial iron concentration (MIC) determined by magnetic resonance imaging after 6 months of treatment with amlodipine, as well as measuring the changes in the secondary outcomes (liver iron concentration (LIC), serum ferritin level (SF), and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)) of study participants. Methods: A single, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 40 β-Thalassemia major patients aged between 6 and 20 years old, who received either oral amlodipine 2.5–5 mg/day or a placebo, in addition to a Deferasirox chelation regimen in a 1:1 allocation ratio. Results: After 6 months, a significant reduction was noted in the MIC of patients receiving amlodipine (n=20), compared with the patients receiving the placebo (n=20). At baseline, the mean was 0.76±0.11 mg/g dry weight, while at 6 months, the mean was 0.51±0.07 mg/g dry weight (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant change in the myocardial T2* after 6 months; the amlodipine increased the myocardial T2* from 40.63±5.45 ms at baseline to 43.25±5.35 ms (p<0.001). However, amlodipine did not significantly affect the secondary outcomes by the end of the study. Conclusion: The addition of amlodipine to the standard chelation therapy in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients improves myocardial iron overload without increasing the adverse effects.

Background: The use of T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been promoted by recent studies as a noninvasive method for the detection of iron overload in thalassemia major patients. This study aims to estimate the iron load in the heart and liver of thalassemia major patients using T2* MRI and to determine its correlation with the left ventricle ejection fraction and serum ferritin level. Methods: Forty β-Thalassemia major patients were included in the study. We evaluated the serum ferritin level, echocardiography, cardiac T2*, myocardial iron concentration (MIC), liver iron concentration (LIC) and hepatic T2* in all patients. CMR T2* findings were categorized as normal cardiac T2* (T2* >20 ms) or abnormal cardiac T2* (T2* <20 ms). Results: The study found that 85% of patients had a normal cardiac T2* value. The median serum ferritin level was 2189. A significant inverse correlation was found between the serum ferritin level and the cardiac T2* (r=−0.381, =0.015); however, the correlations between serum ferritin and the hepatic T2* and liver iron concentration were statistically non-significant (P=0.539 and P=0.637, respectively). Additionally, the LVEF correlation was statistically non-significant with SF, hepatic T2* and cardiac T2*. Conclusion: Regardless of the serum ferritin level or left ventricle function, a cardiac T2* MRI should be done for all patients with β-Thalassemia major in order to estimate the myocardial iron concentration.

Background. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased adoption of telepharmacy, which has proven benefits. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of the community pharmacists of Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, towards telepharmacy services and evaluate their willingness to adopt telepharmacy in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered structured anonymous questionnaire on the community pharmacists of Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. It covers demographics, computer access and literacy, knowledge and perception, and willingness to practice telepharmacy. Results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, and mean. The comparison between the classes of the demographic variables and the scores was done via Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. Result. About half of the pharmacists in our study showed average knowledge about telepharmacy, the practical application of telepharmacy technology, and telepharmacy guidelines with a percentage of 53%, 52%, and 47%, respectively). Majority of the participants showed high perception towards telepharmacy in Saudi Arabia, while 93% of the pharmacists in Saudi Arabia agreed that the implementation of telepharmacy technology is appropriate due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Only a significant relation was found between gender and computer access, literacy, and perceptions towards telepharmacy with p values of 0.033 and 0.026, respectively. Conclusion. The majority of the community pharmacists exhibited a positive perception and are willing to practice the concept of telepharmacy despite having a below average knowledge of telepharmacy. A future study involving the entire kingdom of Saudi Arabia could help identify the gaps in the knowledge, perception, and willingness to practice telepharmacy on a broader scale and thus promote telepharmacy adoption in the entire kingdom.

Pain has an adverse effect on HRQoL and has social, psychological, and physical repercussions for ESRD patients. In the present study, we assessed chronic pain in ESRD patients on HD in terms of severity and interference with activity. We also assessed the impact it has on these patients, along with looking at the factors that were linked to QoL in this population. A multicenter, cross-sectional study carried out between April and July of 2023 in the hemodialysis units of Asir Central Hospital and Khamis Mushait General Hospital. Brief Pain Inventory and European Quality of Life scale 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) scale, including its European Quality of Life visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) component, were used to assess pain and QoL, respectively. A total of 97 participants were included in the final study. The average interference level of pain with daily functions was 22.5 ± 15.0 out of 70. The mean interference score was significantly higher among patients at rural areas (28.2 ± 16.3; P = 0.012), and those who undergone dialysis session for ≥ 4 times per week (31.6 ± 16.7; P = 0.026). The overall score of quality of life ranged from 20% to 92% with mean score of 36.5 ± 12.8%. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that patients with higher BMI, more frequent dialysis sessions per week, and higher level of pain interference with daily functions demonstrated lower QoL (B= - 2.36, - 1.46, and - 0.64, respectively. Pain has a significant negative impact on QoL in ESRD patients undergoing HD. Patients with higher BMI, more frequent dialysis sessions, and higher level of pain interference with daily functions are at higher risk of lower QoL. These findings provide valuable information for educators, physicians, and other healthcare providers working with patients undergoing HD.