Self-medication (SM) is defined as the use of medication by the consumer to manage symptoms or disease without a prescription from a physician. SM is a widespread global practice, and it may offer temporary relief and reduce the burden on healthcare settings; Nonetheless, it has considerable implications and risks. The practice of SM and its patterns are varied from one population to another and are influenced by several factors. There is no previous review focused on SM in Arab countries; therefore, here, we highlighted and discussed SM regarding its prevalence, most used drugs, determinants, and implications to provide a comprehensive review on the current subject. The literature related to the current subject was obtained through an online search process. The eligible articles were reviewed and discussed under specific titles to cover our current subject. We found that SM was highly prevalent among Arab countries based on the available studies, regardless... Continue Reading

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological illness characterized by two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart, or a single seizure with a significant chance of recurrence. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a crucial enzyme in physiological functions.CA II deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the CA2 gene, is mainly characterized by osteoporosis. Recent research highlights the complex relationship between CA II and epilepsy; while CA II deficiency may provide resistance to seizures in animal models, it can also provoke seizures by disrupting brain pH regulation. This dual effect indicates CA II's critical role in maintaining normal brain function and its potential implications for seizure development in related genetic disorders. Herein we presented a rare case of 22 years old female who had a history of epilepsy, and recently she was diagnosed with CAII inherited deficiency which caused osteoporosis and consequently, multiple bone fractures. Case... Continue Reading

Acute stroke care has increased survival, and recovery following the acute admission requires coordinated rehabilitation and follow-up. Medical stability refers to the management of an acute physiological threat and the lack of an urgent requirement for acute intervention but not to a return of function nor to the conclusion of rehabilitation needs. This Opinion refers to a clinical example that has been anonymized to prompt discussion on transitions for people with stroke, including migrant workers and those with financial or administrative limitations. This Opinion does not assume a failure of care or lack of rehabilitation simply because there was a transfer/repatriation. The question is whether an appropriate and feasible rehabilitation pathway exists and is shared across settings. Early multidisciplinary assessment, functional needs to be documented, medication reconciliation, direct communication with receiving services, if possible, accessible patient and caregiver education and social and financial barriers to be assessed are recommended. These... Continue Reading

Background: Malnutrition is a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, yet recent data on its prevalence and determinants among women in Malawi are lacking. Identification of the risk factors of malnutrition is essential for developing targeted interventions to reduce its burden. Objective: To identify determinants of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Malawian women. Methodology: We performed a cross-sectional study of women aged 15-49 using data from the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. We performed the analysis with SPSS version 24. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to identify determinants of BMI categories, using normal weight as the reference group. The results were reported using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We found that 64.1% of women had a normal weight. Meanwhile, 16.7% were overweight, 13.2% were obese, and 5.8% were underweight. On performing the regression, we found that older age (45-49 years) and... Continue Reading

Background: Anemia remains a public health challenge among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa, including Malawi. Yet, recent data on its prevalence and determinants among women in Malawi are lacking. Identification of the risk factors of anemia is essential for developing targeted interventions to reduce its burden. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of anemia among Malawian women aged 15-49. Methodology: We performed a cross-sectional study of women aged 15-49 using data from the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. We performed the statistical analysis with SPSS 24. We used the multivariable binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with anemia classes (mild, moderate, and severe). The results were reported using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We found that 64.2% of women were non-anemic. Meanwhile, 20.1% had mild, 14.0% moderate, and 1.6% severe anemia. On performing the regression analysis, we... Continue Reading

Background: Health literacy (HL) is one of the important indicators of individual health and healthcare services. Poor HL leads to poor health outcomes and underuse of preventive healthcare. Preventive health services can improve health outcomes of individuals, as such services help in the early identification and management of diseases. Nonetheless, utilization of such health services remains suboptimal in several regions, and the role of HL in the utilization of preventive health services has not been investigated before. Aim: To assess the correlation between health literacy and the use of preventive health services in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on adults in the National Medical Care in Saudi Arabia via questionnaire between the period from-------to-----. The questionnaire investigated the demographics of the participants and their literacy regarding healthcare, disease prevention, health promotion, utilization of preventive health services, and health-related behaviors. Results: A total of 210... Continue Reading

Background: Retirement of individuals with disabilities has a potential impact on workers. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are designed to rehabilitate subjects with physical disabilities to adapt to their new conditions to return or find employment following a disabling injury. Aim: To identify the reintegration of disabled patients to their previous occupation following a VR program. Methods: This was a retrospective case series that was conducted at-------between the period from-------to-------. The study was conducted on individuals admitted to the medical rehabilitation center and who completed their rehabilitation program. The data of the patients were collected using a pre-designed data collection sheet. Results: A total of 12 cases were recruited; males were 66.7% of the total sample. Cerebral palsy was the main primary diagnosis of patients (33.3%). There was a significant difference between FIM score at admission and discharge (P=0.002). There were 66.7% reintegrated to their previous occupation. There were 75% employed... Continue Reading

Background: Relapse remains one of the most persistent challenges in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD), with regional readmission rates reaching approximately 30% within one year of discharge. Psychiatric nurses occupy a uniquely continuous position within inpatient rehabilitation settings, yet their lived experiences in relapse prevention remain almost entirely unexamined in the Saudi Arabian and wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) context. Objective: To explore and describe the lived experiences of psychiatric nurses in preventing relapse among patients with substance use disorders at a behavioral rehabilitation center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological design was employed. Semi-structured, individually conducted interviews using a 16-item guide spanning seven thematic domains were completed with 15 psychiatric nurses purposively sampled from a single behavioral rehabilitation center. Written participant responses were analyzed using the six-phase Thematic Analysis framework of Braun and Clarke. Results: Nine major themes emerged: (1) enacting relapse prevention as an... Continue Reading

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic relapsing conditions with high relapse rates and substantial burden. Inpatient rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) has been identified internationally as a determinant of treatment outcome, but evidence from Saudi Arabia is limited. This study examined the association between inpatient LOS and relapse, and identified demographic and clinical factors associated with relapse. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional correlational study using inpatient medical records and follow-up data at ReLib Behavioral Rehabilitation Center, Riyadh. Records of 125 adult patients (aged 18 years or above) admitted between January and December 2025 were reviewed. Patients were observed from discharge to a common census date of 30 June 2026 (median follow-up 306 days, IQR 164–424). Relapse was the primary outcome. Analyses comprised chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, the Mann–Whitney U test, and multivariable binary logistic regression with collinearity diagnostics. Sensitivity analyses restricted the cohort to patients with guaranteed minimum follow-up... Continue Reading

Background: Psychiatric comorbidity is common among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. Data from inpatient rehabilitation settings in Saudi Arabia remain limited. This study estimated the prevalence, patterns, and clinical correlates of psychiatric comorbidity among inpatients with SUDs. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional review of inpatient records at a behavioral rehabilitation center in Riyadh covering January–December 2025 was conducted. 147 admission episodes from 135 unique patients were identified; the primary analysis used each patient’s first admission (n = 135). Descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, Spearman correlations, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. Results: Psychiatric comorbidity was documented in 90 of 135 patients (66.7%; 95% confidence interval, 58.0%-74.5%). Among comorbid patients, psychotic disorders (30/90, 33.3%), depressive disorders (23/90, 25.6%), and anxiety disorders (17/90, 18.9%) were most frequent, and 58/90 (64.4%) presentations were recorded as substance-induced. No examined variable was independently associated with comorbidity (model p =... Continue Reading