Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39942535›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025

A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Management of Medication Adherence Among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia.

Wael Y Khawagi, Fahad H Baali, Norah M Alnefaie, Shatha A Albishi, Alla H Al-Swat, Dinan A Alshahrani, Ragad A Alshemaimri, Abdullah A Alshehri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wael Y KhawagiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-9489-1697
Fahad H BaaliDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0001-6889-515X
Norah M AlnefaieCollege of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Shatha A AlbishiCollege of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Alla H Al-SwatCollege of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Dinan A AlshahraniCollege of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Ragad A AlshemaimriCollege of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah A AlshehriDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-4785-4551

Funding

Taif University 202318
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesMedication adherence is essential for effective healthcare, significantly influencing treatment success and overall health outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of how healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia manage and support medication adherence. This study aims to examine physicians' and pharmacists' approaches to managing medication adherence in Saudi Arabia by examining the methods used for adherence assessment, interventions to enhance adherence, and the challenges faced.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted over nine months using a self-administered online questionnaire. The study targeted physicians and pharmacists actively working in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed through professional networks to ensure a broad and representative sample.

resultsA total of 397 healthcare professionals met the inclusion criteria, comprising 81.1% pharmacists and 18.9% physicians. Direct patient inquiry was the most common assessment method, frequently or always used by 81.3% of physicians and 57.1% of pharmacists. Treatment response evaluation was similarly frequent (89.3% of physicians and 56.2% of pharmacists). Standardized tools, such as the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, were underutilized (14.7%). Adherence-enhancing interventions focused on patient education, and their use was reported by 89.3% of physicians and 74.2% of pharmacists as frequent or always. Written information was more commonly used by pharmacists (65.8%) than physicians (45.3%). Barriers included excessive workloads and short consultation times (59.9%), absence of effective systems for tracking adherence (51.9%), lack of reliable tools for assessing adherence (48.9%), and insufficient training in behavioral interventions (48.1%).

conclusionsThis study reveals significant differences in medication adherence management practices between physicians and pharmacists in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their distinct roles. Key barriers, including excessive workload, limited consultation time, and inadequate tracking systems, hinder the adoption of evidence-based tools. Tailored interventions, enhanced interprofessional collaboration, and systemic support are essential to address these challenges and improve adherence management, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Indexed as

adherence assessment methodshealthcare professionalsmedication adherencepatient educationSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID39942535
PMCPMC11817170

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.