Knowledge About and the Use of Oral Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Among Patients With Rheumatic Disorders in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: The aims were to evaluate rheumatic disorder patients' knowledge of the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), dosage (from where the knowledge is acquired), contraindications (in pregnancy), and drug interactions (such as drug-related disorders), to improve their knowledge about taking NSAIDs in Saudi Arabia.

Study design: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: The study was conducted among patients with rheumatic disorder (RD) in Saudi Arabia who were invited to join by completing an online questionnaire, from August to November 2022.

Methodology: Patients with RD who were 16 years and older, received oral NSAIDs, and agreed to participate were included in the study. The data was collected using an Internet-based questionnaire. The Internet-based questionnaire was designed using the Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States) online survey platform. A consent form accompanied the questionnaire in a cover letter briefly describing the investigation.

Results: A total of 756 participants answered the questionnaire and participated in the final analysis. Most of the participants (75.93%) were female. The type of NSAID used by the participants was Ibuprofen. The majority (83.41%) reported that they responded to the medication. When asked about the primary source of information about the correct dose of these medications, more than two-thirds (69.32%) reported that physicians are the main source of information. The majority of the participants (83.39%) denied using NSAIDs during pregnancy. Half of the participants (49.22%) said they had discussed these medications' harmful effects with their doctors or pharmacists. The female participants were more knowledgeable about NSAIDs and their side effects than the males.

Conclusion: The patient's knowledge related to the use of oral NSAIDs was not that satisfactory. There is an urgent need to educate the public regarding the appropriate use of NSAIDs by healthcare providers, particularly in relation to their proper use, potential side effects, and risks associated with long-term use.