National assessment of public awareness and attitudes toward food-drug interactions: A study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Paper Details

Research Paper 05/12/2023
Views (671) Download (70)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

National assessment of public awareness and attitudes toward food-drug interactions: A study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Anas Alhur, Afrah Alhur, Sajwa Abdullah, Amjad Alharbi, Turki Alluhaibi, Renad Hashem, Abdulaziz Shuflut, Nada Altwirqi, Ola safhi, Abdulaziz Alabbasi, Abdulaziz Alghamdi, Halimah Hattany, Fatimah Sahli, Fares Alharbi, Rania Alenazi
Int. J. Biosci.23( 6), 52-60, December 2023.
Certificate: IJB 2023 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Food-drug interactions are an under-recognized risk factor that can significantly alter the efficacy and safety of medications. Understanding public awareness and attitudes towards these interactions is essential for effective healthcare delivery, especially in regions with unique dietary habits and cultural practices. This study aims to assess the current state of knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to food-drug interactions among the Saudi population, thereby identifying the gaps in public awareness and the implications for health education and policy. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), encompassing diverse demographics. The survey included questions related to the knowledge of food-drug interactions, personal beliefs, and reported practices when combining medications with certain foods or dietary patterns. Preliminary findings indicate a notable deficiency in the public understanding of food-drug interactions within the KSA. Many participants were unaware of common interactions, such as those involving grapefruit juice and certain medications. Healthcare professionals also reported a need for more training and resources to counsel patients on this topic effectively. The lack of awareness in the KSA population and among healthcare providers suggests a pressing need for targeted educational interventions. Cultural factors and the prevalent use of herbal medicines underscore the necessity for tailored communication strategies. This study highlights the urgency for enhanced public health initiatives and healthcare professional training to mitigate the risks associated with food-drug interactions in the KSA.

VIEWS 185

Abdelmola AO, Bahri A, Abuallut I, Refaei BA, Hakami WK, Abutaleb AK, Mahzari SM, Mashragi MA, Es’haq SA, Aldarbi KF. 2021. Prevalence, knowledge, and perception about the use of herbal medicines jazan-Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 10, 2386.

Agbabiaka TB, Wider B, Watson LK, Goodman C. 2017. Concurrent Use of Prescription Drugs and Herbal Medicinal Products in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Drugs Aging 34, 891–905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-017-0501-7

Ahern G. 2015. Clinician involvement in the teaching of anatomy to medical students. The Australasian Medical Journal 8, 247.

Al Akeel MM, Al Ghamdi WM, Al Habib S, Koshm M, Al Otaibi F. 2018. Herbal medicines: Saudi population knowledge, attitude, and practice at a glance. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 7, 865.

Al-Arifi M, Abu-Hashem H, Al-Meziny M, Said R, Aljadhey H. 2014. Emergency department visits and admissions due to drug related problems at Riyadh military hospital (RMH), Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal 22, 17–25.

Aldwihi, L.A., Khan, S.I., Alamri, F.F., AlRuthia, Y., Alqahtani F, Fantoukh OI, Assiri A, Almohammed OA. 2021. Patients’ behavior regarding dietary or herbal supplements before and during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. International journal of environmental research and public health 18, 5086.

Alghadir AH, Iqbal A, Iqbal ZA. 2022. Attitude, beliefs, and use of herbal remedies by patients in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia, in: Healthcare. MDPI, 907 p. 

Alsanad S, Aboushanab T, Khalil M, Alkhamees OA. 2018. A descriptive review of the prevalence and usage of traditional and complementary medicine among Saudi diabetic patients. Scientifica, 2018.

Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMO. 2013. Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? Cmaj 185, 309–316.

Elmaghraby DA, Alsalman GA, Alawadh LH, Al-Abdulqader SA, Alaithan MM, Alnuwaysir BI. 2023. Integrated traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorder: the pattern of use and the knowledge of safety among the Eastern Region Saudi population. BMC Complement Med Ther 23, 373. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04197-0

Enwerem NM, Okunji P. 2015. Knowledge, attitudes and awareness of food and drug interactions among nurses with different levels of experience. Int J Nurs 2, 1–9.

Pagano MP. 2010. Conflict of interest, bias, and manipulation: Reassessing prescriber education and the Learned Intermediary Doctrine. Communication Law Review 10.

Patel P. 2016. Improving collaboration between pharmacists and physicians. BU Well 1, 11.

Yadav YC, Pathak K, Pathak D. 2020. Review on preclinical and clinical evidence of food (Beverages, fruits and vegetables) and drug interactions: mechanism and safety. Current Drug Therapy 15, 12–27.

Zaidi SF, Saeed SA, Khan MA, Khan A, Hazazi Y, Otayn M, Rabah M, Daniyal M. 2022. Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia. BMC Complement Med Ther 22, 326. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03783-y