|
Knowledge
and Management of Ocular Chemical
Injury among Family Physicians and
Emergency Medicine Physicians in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Turki Fehaid
Algethami 1, Hanan Mustafa Makhdom
2, Raghad Mohammed Ghaban 3, Alwaleed
Khalid Bardisi4, Amenah Salman Tashkandi
5,
Alhassan Abdulnasser Mawlan Ahmed
6, Alhassan Yousef Alturkestansi
7
1- Ophthalmology Resident, King
Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and
Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology,
College of Medicine, Taibah University,
Medina, Saudi Arabia
3- Emergency Medicine Resident,
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4- Emergency Medicine Resident,
King Abdulaziz Medical City –
National Guard Hospital, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
5- Preventive Medicine Resident,
AL-Madinah Health Cluster, Medina,
Saudi Arabia
6- Emergency Medicine Resident,
King Faisal Specialized Hospital
and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
7- Orthopedic Resident, King Fahad
Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence:
Turki Fehaid Algethami
Ophthalmology Resident, King Khaled
Eye Specialist Hospital and Research
Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Email: algethamit23@gmail.com
Received: August 2025. Accepted:
September 2025; Published: October
2025.Citation: Turki Fehaid Algethami
et al. Knowledge and Management
of Ocular Chemical Injury among
Family Physicians and Emergency
Medicine Physicians in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. World Family Medicine.
October 2025; 23(7): 66 - 79
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2025.805257907
|
Abstract
Background:
A chemical injury is the outcome
of exposure of the eyes to
a chemical substance that
exceeds the protective mechanisms
of the eyes. An ocular involvement
constitutes a third of burn
patients. The majority of
them are due to chemical exposure.
The high prevalence of chemical
injuries and such injuries
being a true emergency, they
require proper evaluation
and management.
Method:
An observational descriptive
cross-sectional institutional–based
study was conducted from May
2023 to July 2023. A total
of 355 participants were included
in this study from PHC centers
and hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
Data was collected using data
collecting sheets and self-administered
questionnaires. The data was
entered and analyzed using
SPSS version 23.
Results: In our study,
knowledge regarding signs
of severe injury was assessed.
Only 53 and 51 emergency medicine
and family medicine physicians,
respectively, answered correctly
about the most common early
symptoms of chemical injury
(P=0.011). However, there
was a significant difference
(P= 0.001) regarding the most
important sign that indicates
the urgency of treatment as
52 respondents recognized
the warning sign; 28 of them
were emergency medicine doctors.
Regarding the practice of
emergency, no significant
difference was found between
the respondents of the two
specialties. The level of
knowledge regarding ocular
chemical injury showed that
ER consultant (19.05%), ER
specialist (19.25%), family
medicine consultant (26.45%),
family medicine specialist
(18.75%), R1 ER (21.45%),
R1 family medicine (16.65%),
R2 ER (25%), R2 family medicine
(15.20%), R3 ER (36.65%),
R3 family medicine (25%) R4
ER (30.80%), and R4 family
medicine (21.05%) respectively,
have different levels of knowledge.
The highest level of knowledge
was R3 ER residents while
the lowest level was R2 family
medicine residents. While
the level of practiceregarding
ocular chemical injury showed
that ER consultant (35.70%),
ER specialist (37.17%), family
medicine consultant (37.27%),
family medicine specialist
(25.53%), R1 ER (28.58%),
R1 family medicine (28.90%),
R2 ER (33.98%), R2 family
medicine (28.98%), R3 ER (31.10%),
R3 family medicine (29.63%)
R4 ER (34.63%), R4 family
medicine (36.83%) respectively,
know the correct practice
towards ocular chemical injury.
The highest percentage was
family consultants while the
lowest percentage was family
medicine specialists.
Conclusion:
The study reveals a lack of
knowledge and practice in
family and emergency medicine
physicians regarding ophthalmic
chemical injuries, suggesting
the need for guidelines and
training to minimize complications
and improve outcomes.
Key
words: ocular injury,
chemical, family physician,
knowledge, ER physician, Saudi
Arabia
|
|
