Search

Background: Herbal supplements (HSs) are used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments. Individuals with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of having adverse events and drug interactions from the use of HSs. Aim: This study determined the beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with HSs usage among patients with chronic diseases in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic diseases between February and June 2019. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at various out-patient clinics in different hospitals. Patients diagnosed with chronic diseases were included in the study. Data were analyzed by descriptive, comparative, and inferential statistics using SAS ver. 9.4. Results: The study participants were consisted of 533 patients, with mean age 53.6 ±12.9 years. The most prevalent chronic diseases were diabetes mellitus (67.7%), followed by hypertension (54.8%), and hyperlipidemia (53.8%). Among the studied participants, 336 (63%) had used at least one HS, whereby the most commonly used HSs were ginger (74.7%), mint (72%), and cumin (66.7%). Almost 78% of HSs users did not consult any healthcare provider about their use. HSs use varied significantly between female and male participants (p<0.05), whereby 61.5% of female participants used HSs in comparison to the male participants (38.5%). Gender (AOR 0.328; 95% CI 0.139–0.772; p = 0.0107), number of chronic diseases (AOR 1.585; 95% CI 1.084–2.318; p = 0.0312), and hyperlipidemia (AOR 2.818; 95% CI 1.507–5.269; p = 0.0.0012) were the pure factors of HSs use among the studied patients. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that HSs usage was high among patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. Concurrent usage of HSs with drugs should be well-discussed with healthcare providers to avoid potential adverse events or drug interactions especially among patients with chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the access to and disparities in telemedicine use among patients with chronic conditions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study of randomly selected primary healthcare centers was conducted to ensure that each of the 17 municipalities in Riyadh were represented. Three hundred and forty-two participants who completed the questionnaire were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. The relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and telemedicine utilization was evaluated using the chi-square test and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model.Results: Among the 342 participants, the study revealed that 25.73% of the patients utilized telemedicine. Older participants had lower odds of telemedicine use than did those aged ≤ 30 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.112, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.045– 0.279 for 50– 59 years; AOR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.076– 0.474 for 60– 69 years; AOR = 0.223, 95% CI = 0.092– 0.542 for ≥ 70 years]. Female sex (AOR = 2.519, 95% CI = 1.44– 4.408), having a higher education level (AOR = 3.434, 95% CI = 1.037– 7.041 for secondary education and AOR = 5.87, 95% CI = 2.761– 8.235 for higher education), and living in urban areas (AOR = 2.721, 95% CI = 1.184– 6.256) were associated with higher odds of telemedicine use. Among socioeconomic factors, employed participants had higher odds of telemedicine use (AOR = 4.336, 95% CI = 2.3– 8.174). Furthermore, compared to those with the highest socioeconomic status (SES) index, those with the lowest SES were less likely to use telemedicine than those with the highest SES index (AOR = 0.193, 95% CI = 0.055– 0.683 for the lower bottom (poorest).Conclusion: This study highlights a significant disparity in the utilization of telemedicine services across different populations, primarily due to demographic and socioeconomic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]