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Adepoju VA, Oladimeji O, Sokoya OD. Health-Seeking Behavior Regarding Coughs in Urban Slums in Lagos, Nigeria. MEDICINES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:38. [PMID: 37505059 PMCID: PMC10383840 DOI: 10.3390/medicines10070038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TB is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with slum residents being disproportionately affected. This study aimed to assess health-seeking behavior among adult residents of slum communities presenting with coughs in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted across six urban slums in Nigeria as part of community outreaches to mark World TB Day. A structured, pretested questionnaire was used to capture relevant sociodemographic details and questions regarding symptoms of coughs and related symptoms as well as care-seeking behavior. Data were explored, analyzed, and presented using descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 632 respondents participated in this study. The majority were 25-34 years old (24.7%), male (65.8%), Christian (55.7%), married (73.7%), with secondary education (37.8%), with 3-4 persons per household (41%) and with 1-2 persons per room (44.5%). In total, 26.6% had had a cough for two weeks or more and were considered as presumptive TB patients. Overall, 37.2% of respondents with a cough visited patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) as the first port of call. Good health-seeking behavior was exhibited by only 36.2% of respondents. In total, 38.9% delayed seeking care from a health facility (government or private) more than one month after the onset of symptoms. None of the factors included in the multivariate analysis showed a significant association with good health-seeking behavior (i.e., visiting government or private hospitals/clinics). CONCLUSIONS The poor health-seeking behavior, delay in seeking TB care and preference for PPMVs emphasizes the need for National tuberculosis programs (NTPs) to further engage these informal providers in TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in urban slum communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Abiola Adepoju
- Department of HIV and Infectious Diseases, Jhpiego–An Affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, Abuja 900108, Nigeria
| | - Olanrewaju Oladimeji
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5099, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Olusola Daniel Sokoya
- Lagos State Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Program, Lagos 100001, Nigeria
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Hatem G, Itani R, Ajrouche R, Abbas N, Farah R, Goossens M, Awada S. Knowledge, perception and acceptance of generic drugs in the general Lebanese population: A cross-sectional survey among adults. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ACCESS 2023; 7:27550834221147789. [PMID: 36685148 PMCID: PMC9850132 DOI: 10.1177/27550834221147789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Many governments encouraged generic use to enhance health equality and minimise health expenditure. The lack of knowledge and acceptance of generic medicines are the main barriers to their use. Objectives This study aimed to assess population knowledge and perception towards generic drugs, identify their primary sources of information and examine which variables are independently related to their acceptance. Design An observational cross-sectional study was performed targeting the Lebanese adult population. Methods Overall, 385 patients participated in the study. Data were collected using a uniform survey from six public healthcare centres. Results The participants reported a distrust towards generic drugs; they either said that they were not as effective as the brand (36.9%), were of less quality than the brand (38.5%) or had more side effects than the brand (38.4%). Around 52% said they would never buy a generic drug, and two-thirds (68.6%) preferred using a brand drug over a generic one. After adjusting for socio-demographics, a high income (odds ratio (OR) = 3.7), knowing that brands and generics have the same active ingredients (OR = 2.28) and that brands and generics were equally effective (OR = 6.46) were the strongest independent predictors for the willingness to buy generic drugs. Conclusion A lack of knowledge and misperceptions about generic drugs limited the use of generic drugs, and therefore must be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Hatem
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon,Faculty of Medicine, University of
Porto, Porto, Portugal,Georges Hatem, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto,
Portugal.
| | - Rana Itani
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Roula Ajrouche
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Nour Abbas
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Rita Farah
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | | | - Sanaa Awada
- Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
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Hajj A, Zeenny RM, Sacre H, Akel M, Haddad C, Salameh P. Pharmacy education and workforce: strategic recommendations based on expert consensus in Lebanon. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:1. [PMID: 36593528 PMCID: PMC9807099 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00510-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmacy in Lebanon has been taught for years, and the profession has known the golden ages in previous years. However, with the recent graduation of hundreds of pharmacists, without prior workforce planning, the oversupply of non-specialized pharmacists caused a mismatch with the needs of the market. The context of severe socioeconomic and sanitary crises has further exacerbated the situation, with hundreds of pharmacists leaving the country. A group of pharmacy experts joined to suggest strategic solutions to face such challenges, suggesting a clear strategy for education and the workforce, overarched by educational and professional values and based on six main pillars: (1) implement a national competency framework (including the core and specialized competency frameworks) to be used as a basis for licensure (colloquium); (2) implement a national pharmacy program accreditation, encompassing standards related to competencies adoption and assessment, curricula, teaching methods, research and innovation, instructors' and preceptors' skills, and experiential training; (3) organize training for students and early-career pharmacists; (4) optimize continuing education and implement continuous professional development, fostering innovation and specialization among working pharmacists; (5) develop and implement a pharmacy workforce strategy based on pharmacy intelligence, job market, and academic capacities; (6) develop and implement a legal framework for the above-mentioned pillars in collaboration with ministries and parliamentary commissions. Under the auspices of the relevant authorities, mainly the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the suggested strategy should be discussed and implemented for a better future for the pharmacy profession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Hajj
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.42271.320000 0001 2149 479XLaboratoire de Pharmacologie, Pharmacie Clinique et Contrôle de Qualité Des Médicament, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada ,grid.411081.d0000 0000 9471 1794Oncology Division, CHU de Québec Université Laval Research Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Rony M. Zeenny
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411654.30000 0004 0581 3406Department of Pharmacy, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hala Sacre
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Akel
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.444421.30000 0004 0417 6142School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Chadia Haddad
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.512933.f0000 0004 0451 7867Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon ,grid.444428.a0000 0004 0508 3124School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411323.60000 0001 2324 5973School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique Et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411323.60000 0001 2324 5973School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon ,grid.411324.10000 0001 2324 3572Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon ,grid.413056.50000 0004 0383 4764Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Abu-Farha R, Alzoubi KH, Alkhawaldeh R, Awwad O, Mukattash T, Alefishat E. Public satisfaction with community pharmacists roles as healthcare providers: a cross-sectional study from Jordan. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jphsr/rmac058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
In recent years, the responsibilities of community pharmacists have changed significantly. This study aimed to assess Jordanian public satisfaction with community pharmacists’ role as healthcare providers and to evaluate factors affecting their satisfaction level.
Methods
This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among the Jordanian public using a convenience sampling approach between May 2022 and June 2022. A link to the self-administered questionnaire was distributed via different social media platforms to be filled by participants willing to participate to evaluate their views and satisfaction of community pharmacists’ role as healthcare providers.
Key findings
In this study, 710 participants agreed to participate in this study. The participants had a median age of 36.0 years and 62.3% of them were female. The most frequent reason for visiting any community pharmacy was purchasing prescription medications (83.1%). The location of the pharmacy was the most selected factor influencing the choice of a particular community pharmacy by the study participants (89.3%). Results showed that respondents had an acceptable satisfaction score about pharmacists’ behaviours and roles (median score of 32.0 out of 40.0). More than 80% of the participants were satisfied with the language used by the pharmacist in discussing drug-related matters (84.9%), with the privacy maintained by the pharmacist while dealing with them (83.1%), with pharmacists’ professionalism in dealing with patients (82.3%), and with the positive relationship between pharmacists and patients (81.0%). Respondents with a higher level of education showed more satisfaction towards pharmacists’ services compared to those with lower levels of education (Beta = 0.088, P = 0.031).
Conclusions
This study demonstrated an acceptable general satisfaction of community pharmacists while conducting their job, yet their role still mainly involves dispensing prescriptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Abu-Farha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University , Amman , Jordan
| | - Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah , Sharjah , United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan
| | - Rama Alkhawaldeh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University , Amman , Jordan
| | - Oriana Awwad
- Department Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan
| | - Tareq Mukattash
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan
| | - Eman Alefishat
- Department Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University of Science and Technology , Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology , Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
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Zhang Y, Lee EWJ, Teo WP. Health-seeking behavior and its associated technology utilization among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: Qualitative study (Preprint). JMIR Aging 2022; 6:e43709. [PMID: 36996003 DOI: 10.2196/43709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding older people's health-seeking behavior (HSB) is crucial to uncovering their health needs and priorities, as well as developing appropriate policies to address these needs and avert their disease progression. Technologies play an active role in our daily lives, and they have been incorporated into health activities to support the aging population and facilitate their HSB. However, prior research in HSB has mainly focused on behaviors during illness, and there is limited research on how technologies have been utilized in older people's health-seeking activities. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the HSB and associated technology utilization among the older population, ultimately proposing implications for practice to address their unmet health needs. METHODS This paper presented partial data from a larger qualitative study, which has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and employed a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 2022 and July 2022, either on Zoom or face-to-face. Inclusion criteria included being aged 50 and above, long-term residing in Singapore, and being able to speak English or Mandarin. The interviews were manually transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was performed with the individual as the unit of analysis to understand group phenomena. RESULTS Fifteen interviews were conducted to reach thematic saturation. We identified five main consequences of HSB, which were aligned with Poortaghi et al.'s model. Regarding technology utilization in health-seeking, four themes were extracted: 1) the most widely used digital technologies are the mobile health apps and wearable devices with associated wellness programs launched by the government and local companies, and they have the potential to enhance health communication, promote health maintenance, and increase access to health services; 2) information communication technologies and social media, though not primarily designed for health purposes, play a significant role in easing the process of seeking health information and managing symptoms; 3) while the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some alterations to older adults' well-being, it has catalyzed the adoption of telehealth as a complement to access healthcare services; and 4) older adults have different considerations when selecting technologies to facilitate their health-seeking and fulfill their health needs. Four archetypes were also proposed based on our findings and the insights gained from our participants' observations in their social networks. These findings led to several implications for practice regarding health communication and promotion, health education, technology design and improvement, telemonitoring service implementation, and solutions to address the needs of each proposed archetype. CONCLUSIONS Unlike the commonly held belief that older adults resist technologies and lack technological proficiency, our findings showed that technologies could play a promising role in facilitating older adults' health-seeking. Our findings have implications for the design and implementation of health services and policies. CLINICALTRIAL
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichi Zhang
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edmund W J Lee
- Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei-Peng Teo
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Mukattash TL, Jarab AS, Al-Qerem W, Abu Farha RK, Itani R, Karout S, Mukattash IL. Coronavirus disease patients' views and experiences of pharmaceutical care services in Lebanon. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE 2022; 30:82-85. [PMID: 34791258 PMCID: PMC8767875 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riab071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the experiences and views of domiciliary coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients towards pharmaceutical care services provided during their infection. METHODS This was a single-centred observational study conducted among home-treated COVID-19 patients (n = 500), who were tested positive for COVID-19 in a medical centre in Lebanon. KEY FINDINGS Out of the 500 home-treated COVID-19 patients invited to participate in the study, 279 patients completed the questionnaire. Although the participants had a good view of pharmacists caring for COVID-19 patients (mean view score: 17.79/25), their treatment experiences were unsatisfactory (mean experience score: 1.51/4). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 patients reported minimal involvement of pharmacists in their treatment. Therefore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare authorities should intervene in restructuring, guiding and reviewing unrealized new pharmaceutical services to COVID-19 outpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tareq L Mukattash
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Anan S Jarab
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Rana K Abu Farha
- Department of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Rania Itani
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samar Karout
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ibrahim L Mukattash
- Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
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Fathelrahman AI. Medical Devices-Related Counseling Practices Among Community Pharmacists: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia. INTEGRATED PHARMACY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 10:113-125. [PMID: 34532279 PMCID: PMC8439968 DOI: 10.2147/iprp.s310027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The current study was conducted to assess medical devices-related counseling practices among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists from Saudi Arabia using a convenience sampling technique. An online questionnaire based on Google forms was used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using SPSS statistics 22. Student t-test, one way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation statistics were used where applicable. Results with a p-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results One thousand and six community pharmacists responded to the survey. Males’ rating of their ability to operate medical devices was significantly higher than females (overall average score of 3.8 versus 3.5, p=0.033). As years of experience increased there were slight but significant increases in the overall scores on ability to operate medical devices (p=0.002) and confidence to counsel patients about the devices (p=0.032). Those who got a board certification used devices for self-treatment significantly more than their counterparts (on average 6.9 devices versus 5.2, p=0.003). Those who received clinical training reported higher rates of ability to use/operate devices (p=0.011), confidence to counsel patients on devices (p=0.001), and counseling practice (p=0.044) than those who did not receive clinical training. Conclusion The present study revealed good to very good self-reported medical devices-related counseling practices. There is a need for more future rigorous research to evaluate pharmacists' actual practice in this area. Pharmacy educators and CPD programs should pay attention to updating pharmacists’ knowledge and skills and improve their contribution to medical devices supportive services.
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