Dispensing Practices for Weight Management Products in Eastern Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Community Pharmacists

Due to changing lifestyles and socioeconomic status, obesity prevalence has been rising in Saudi Arabia, and community pharmacists often counsel patients about its management. The study aimed to evaluate practices of community pharmacists involved in dispensing products for weight control in four cities located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving community pharmacists in Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar, and Al-Ahsa, using a Likert format questionnaire. Only those who consented to participate were handed the questionnaire. A total of 100 complete responses were analyzed. The median value for packs sold per month for tea containing products Al-Diafa Slimming Tea, Jamue Tea, and Green Tea was ≥6 while the same for orlistat and apple cider vinegar were ≤4. Moreover, >50% of pharmacists mentioned that orlistat and apple cider vinegar were effective while ≥35% mentioned that metformin and Jamue tea were effective. Furthermore, ≥25% mentioned that green tea and Al-Diafa slimming tea were effective. Excluding orlistat, >50% of pharmacists did not know about adverse effects for other products. The rate of dispensing of several weight loss products was significant for participants’ background characteristics, such as time duration of consultation, gender, and age of patients, and pharmacist work experience (p < 0.05). The tea products and orlistat were the most frequently sold products, and community pharmacists appeared most knowledgeable about the effectiveness and adverse effect of orlistat. The pharmacists seemed to be aware about the effectiveness of other weight loss products; however, their knowledge about their potential adverse effects was unsatisfactory.

Awareness of Physicians and Clinical Pharmacists About ACC/AHA Guidelines for Dyslipidemia Management: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although genetics could contribute to the incidence of CVD, they are mostly acquired conditions. Management of precipitating factors such as hyperlipidemia can prevent CVD. Therefore, clinical guidelines have been used as a tool to improve patient outcomes and minimize practice variation.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess health-care providers’ (physicians and clinical pharmacists) awareness about the latest edition of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines of dyslipidemia management.

Materials and Methods:

To meet the study objective, a self-administered questionnaire was designed based on the recommendations of the latest edition of the ACC/AHA guidelines for dyslipidemia management. After validation, the questionnaire was distributed to physicians and clinical pharmacists in Al-Ahsa province of Saudi Arabia.

Results:

Validation of the questionnaire was carried on 10 participants (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.816). Seventy-seven participants completed the questionnaire (acceptance rate = 51.33%). The majority of participants knew about the release of the ACC/AHA 2013 guidelines for dyslipidemia (77% of the physicians and 48% of the clinical pharmacist). Inadequate knowledge of the major changes in the dyslipidemia management was observed in both study groups with no significant difference between them (the median score for physicians and pharmacists was 4 out of 10 with a range of 1–9, Z = −0.15, P = 0.88).

Conclusion:

Inadequate level of knowledge about practice-changing recommendations of the recent ACC/AHA guidelines for dyslipidemia management was observed among the study participants. This level of knowledge could result in clinical malpractice and worsen management outcomes. Thus, efforts should be in place to raise awareness about the evidence-based management of dyslipidemia and monitor compliance to guidelines and their implementation outcomes.