title: Exploring medication use by blind patients in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the characteristics of medication use and challenges experienced by the blind patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional descriptive study included blind persons living in Saudi Arabia who were at least 18 years of age. Participants were recruited through a number of nongovernmental blind associations (in the central, western, eastern regions), universities, social networks, and specialized websites for the blind. A questionnaire was designed and administered via face-to-face meetings with participants and made available online through Google Docs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 121 respondents of which 26 were excluded based on their ability to visually identify their medications or being <18 years old. The majority of the respondents were 18-29 years old (68%), 49% were male and 51% were female. Around 57% had a college degree while 27% had a high school degree. Diagnosis with a chronic disease was reported by 71 participants (79%, 5 missing). The most common diseases were diabetes and asthma (22%) followed by hypertension (17%). Most blind patients (75%) believed that physicians were the most reliable source of medication information. The medication information and services provided by pharmacists were viewed as inadequate by 46%. The most common challenges encountered by blind patients were linked to drug identification (75%), dose recognition (82%), and identification of expiration date (92%). A large number of patients had to rely on persons with normal vision for dispensing and administering the medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists can no longer ignore the medication use problems encountered by the blind people. This study may serve as an initial step for planning improvements in pharmaceutical services provided to blind patients. The government, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists must work in collaboration to address the special needs of the blind.
authors: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Basma Y
authors: BY
authors: Kentab
authors: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Kholuod Z
authors: KZ
authors: Al-Rowiali
authors: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rehab A
authors: RA
authors: Al-Harbi
authors: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Nouf H
authors: NH
authors: Al-Shammari
authors: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Wiam M
authors: WM
authors: Balhareth
authors: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Huda F
authors: HF
authors: Al-Yazeed
keywords: Blind; Challenges; Medication use; Saudi Arabia