Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40236345›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Over-the-Counter Prescription of Topical Eye Medications Among the General Population of Saudi Arabia.

Seham Al Hemaidi, Amjad Alharthi, Mohammed AlFehaid, Hussam Almalki, Yazeed A Hamzi, Abdulaziz Alnemari, Njood M Alhajri, Aljohrah M Al Hunaif, Deena A Almaghrebi, Jehad Alabdulminaim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

10 authors.

Seham Al HemaidiOphthalmology and Surgery, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, SAU.
Amjad AlharthiCollege of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, SAU.
Mohammed AlFehaidCollege of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, SAU.
Hussam AlmalkiCollege of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Yazeed A HamziCollege of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, SAU.
Abdulaziz AlnemariCollege of Medicine, Medicine and Surgery, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Njood M AlhajriOphthalmology, King Fahd University Hospital, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU.
Aljohrah M Al HunaifCollege of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU.
Deena A AlmaghrebiFamily Medicine, King Fahd University Hospital, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU.
Jehad AlabdulminaimOphthalmology, Zulfi General Hospital, Zulfi, SAU.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSelf-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) topical eye medications is prevalent and poses potential risks such as adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, and improper treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of OTC topical eye medications. MATERIALS AND

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online Arabic questionnaire. A mixture of convenience and snowball sampling methods was employed to recruit participants. The target population included Saudi residents aged 18 and older. A total of 601 participants, comprising 324 males (53.9%) and 277 females (46.1%), were included. The questionnaire was retested for reliability before distribution. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests used to assess relationships between variables.

resultsThe study found that 124 participants (91.9%) who used OTC eye drops once reported no adverse effects, while 11 participants (8.1%) experienced side effects. Among those who used OTC eye drops more frequently, 215 participants (98.6%) reported no adverse events, while three participants (1.4%) experienced adverse effects. A statistically significant relationship was found between the frequency of OTC eye drop use and the occurrence of side effects (p=0.005). Awareness of the risks associated with OTC eye drop misuse was generally low.

conclusionThe findings highlight the need for targeted public health initiatives in Saudi Arabia to educate individuals about the safe and appropriate use of OTC topical eye medications and the potential risks of misuse.

Indexed as

attitudeeye medicationsover the countersaudi arabiatopical knowledge

Identifiers

PMID40236345
PMCPMC11999231

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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.