Healthcare Professionals’ Perception Toward Pain Killers Misuse Among General Population In KSA: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Medication misuse and abuse, particularly of painkillers, pose significant public health challenges worldwide, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in identifying and addressing these issues. This systematic review aimed to explore healthcare professionals' perceptions regarding painkiller misuse among the general population in KSA.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases and gray literature sources to identify qualitative and quantitative studies investigating healthcare professionals' perceptions of painkiller misuse in KSA. Two independent reviewers screened articles for relevance and assessed full-text articles for eligibility. Data extraction was performed using a predefined form, and included studies were synthesized narratively.

Results: Out of 117 identified studies, five met the inclusion criteria. These studies employed diverse methodologies, including cross-sectional surveys, qualitative interviews, and questionnaire surveys, to investigate healthcare professionals' perceptions of medication misuse and abuse in KSA. Findings revealed significant suspicions of pregabalin abuse among community pharmacists, commonly misused over-the-counter medicines, high prevalence[1] of suspected inappropriate use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, ethical concerns regarding dispensing controlled drugs, and alarming rates of self-medication with analgesics among medical students and interns.

Conclusion: This review highlights the multifaceted nature of medication misuse and abuse among healthcare professionals in KSA. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive strategies, including enhanced monitoring, regulatory measures, educational programs, and increased awareness. However, the limited number of included studies underscores the need for further research in this area to inform effective interventions and policies.