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Najla A Barnawi,1,2 Hazza Al-Otaibi,1,3 Abdulaziz I Alkhudairy,4 Mohammed A Alajlan,4 Renad A Alajlan,5 Saeed M Alay,6 Saad Mohammed Alqahtani,7 Ibraheem A Bushnak,1 Mostafa A Abolfotouh1 1King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC)/King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences/Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5College of Medicine, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6College of Pharmacy, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mostafa A Abolfotouh, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/ King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh/ Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, POB 22490, Riyadh, 11426, Saudi Arabia, Email mabolfotouh@gmail.comBackground: This study aimed to determine the rate of telemedicine (TM) use and the levels of awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills of TM among primary healthcare (PHC) providers.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 104 PHC providers were subjected to a validated AKAS scale via Survey Monkey. The tool consists of 4 parameters that users can respond to using a 4-point Likert scale to assess their awareness (12 statements), knowledge (11 statements), attitude (11 statements), and skills (13 statements) on TM. Total and percentage mean scores (PMS) were calculated for each parameter. Participants were categorized in each parameter into three categories: low (≤ 49% score), average (50– 70% score), and high (≥ 71% score) levels. The association of AKAS levels with personal characteristics and TM use was investigated. The significance was set at p< 0.05.Results: One-half of participants (51%) reported current use of TM, and two-thirds (63.5%) reported a high level of AKAS, with a PMS of 72.9± 14.7, 95% CI: 70.1– 75.7. There were significant associations between the following: years of experience and levels of knowledge (&KHgr;2LT = 6.77, p= 0.009) and skills (&KHgr;2LT = 4.85, p = 0.028), respectively; and total household income and levels of skills (&KHgr;2LT = 6.91, p= 0.009). The rate of TM use was significantly associated with awareness levels (&KHgr;2LT = 6.14, p = 0.013). Lack of training ranked as the first barrier (45.5%), followed by connection problems and tools’ unavailability (35.1% each). The participants recommended providing TM training (41.1%) and stabilization of connection and networking signals (30.1%).Conclusion: Despite their high level of TM awareness, the rate of TM use by PHC providers is less than satisfactory. Establishing standardized TM training and supporting the network signals are recommended. A large-scale study on the impact of TM integration with PHC services is necessary.Keywords: telehealth, telecommunication, e-medicine, e-health integration, universal health coverage, Saudi, PHCs

Abdullah Alakeel,1 Afaf Al Sheikh,2,3 Ali A Alraddadi,4– 6 Khalid Mohammed Alattas,7 Maha Aldayel,8 Mohammed Abdulaziz Alajlan,9 Mohammed Al-Haddab,1 Mohammad Almohideb,3,10 Mohamed Fatani,11 Issam R Hamadah,12 Ruaa Alharithy,13,14 Yousef Binamer,15,16 Kim Papp,17 Ahmed Elaraby18 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Dermatology, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Dermatology, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5King Abdullah International Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7King Fahad Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 8Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 9Dermatology Section MSD, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 10King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 11Hera General Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 12King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 13Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 14Princess Nourah University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 15Department of Dermatology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 16Department of Dermatology, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 17Probity Medical Research Inc. and K. Papp Clinical Research Inc., Waterloo, ON, Canada; 18Bachelor of pharmacy, Cairo University, Giza, EgyptCorrespondence: Issam R Hamadah, Email ihamadah@kfshrc.edu.sa; issamhamadah@gmail.comBackground: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-term, pruritic, recurrent, systemic, inflammatory skin disorder. In the Middle East region, the burden of AD is understudied, and there is a dearth of AD guideline documents for practitioners.Methods: An expert panel meeting, encompassing 12 dermatologists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), was congregated to develop evidence- and experience-based consensus recommendations for AD management, especially in adults in KSA. They completed a questionnaire with seven clinical statements, and a consensus was defined when the responses of ≥ 75% of participants coincided.Results: The expert recommendations were as follows: American Association of Dermatology guidelines are to be followed for defining AD; Eczema Area and Severity Index or SCORing atopic dermatitis index may be used to quantify the disease severity; Dermatology Life Quality Index may be used to determine the impact of AD on patients’ quality of life; Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool may be used to assess long-term disease control in AD patients; and the European guidelines are to be followed for the management of AD. In AD patients who are inadequately controlled with topical or systemic therapies, the preferred systemic agent for use either alone or in combination with topical treatments is dupilumab, cyclosporine, methotrexate, phototherapy, or other available systemic treatments that may include mycophenolate mofetil or oral corticosteroids.Conclusion: These expert recommendations assist physicians by providing a reference framework for optimal care of adult AD patients.Keywords: atopic dermatitis, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Eczema Area and Severity Index, SCORing atopic dermatitis

Purpose: There is limited information about the diagnosis and treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This Delphi consensus study was conducted to develop recommendations for the management of HS in the KSA. Methods: The expert panel including 12 dermatologists with extensive experience treating HS patients provided nine consensus statements and recommendations on diagnosis and assessment, management, comorbidities and multidisciplinary approach, and education. The experts also developed clinical questions pertaining to the management of HS and rolled out as a survey to 119 dermatologists practising in the KSA. Results: The topics covered included: referring physicians' awareness of HS; referral criteria for HS; definition of moderate-to-severe HS; treatment goals; definition of treatment success; treatment and biologic initiation; comorbidities and multidisciplinary approach; patient education and awareness of HS. Full consensus (100%) from the expert dermatologists was received on all the topics except referring physicians' awareness of HS, definition of treatment success, and treatment and biologic initiation. The survey results resonated with the expert opinion. Conclusion: As HS is a chronic disease with negative impact on quality-of-life, timely diagnosis and treatment, early identification of comorbid conditions and a multidisciplinary care approach are crucial for effective management of HS.

Introduction: Psoriasis (PsO) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease that results in severe outcomes that impact the patient's quality of life and work productivity. We investigated the effectiveness of secukinumab in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) over a 12-month period., Methods: This was a longitudinal, retrospective study of the medical records of 81 patients with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis who had been treated with secukinumab for at least 12 weeks., Results: The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area (BSA) percentage, and Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) among patients with PsO and PsO-PsA showed a statistically significant decrease from baseline over 12 months by approximately 9.86, 19.3%, and 9.7, respectively (p values < 0.001 for each). Moreover, there was a statistically significant decrease in the overall Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis score (DAPSA) by approximately 22.35 from baseline over 12 months of treatment (p < 0.001). Considering the patients who started secukinumab 12 months or more prior to the study cutoff date, the 12-month retention rate was 85%., Conclusion: In a Saudi real-world setting, secukinumab proved to be an efficient medication with high efficacy and retention rates., (© 2024. The Author(s).)