Stress ulcer prophylaxis in non-critically ill patients: A cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia

Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) use is quite prevalent in the Saudi healthcare system in the general wards as reported by several studies. We aimed to assess the knowledge of physicians and their attitudes toward SUP prescription in non-critically ill patients in Saudi Arabia and identify factors associated with inappropriate SUP use. An electronic cross-sectional survey was administered to physicians registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The questionnaire consisted of queries related to demographic information, SUP prescription patterns and frequency, preferred medications, and attitudes toward SUP. A total of 210 respondents completed the survey. Approximately half (48.1%) of the respondents reported prescribing SUP to non-critically ill patients, and 42.8% of respondents thought that their SUP use was supported by evidence. A fear of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and safety perceptions were major factors in SUP use. Clinical experience, medical rank, belief in evidence-based use of SUP, and fear of GI bleeding were all significantly correlated with SUP use (P <.05). Notably, 79% of respondents reported that they did not receive a pharmacist recommendation to stop therapy, and 38% said they would continue SUP upon discharge. This study presented the perspective of physicians regarding the main reasons for their use of SUP, along with factors significantly associated with this practice. Our findings indicate that there are opportunities to improve physician knowledge and empower interprofessional support to reduce inappropriate SUP use.