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Figueroa-Rodríguez S, Sánchez-Mateo CC. Exploration of herbal medicine practices, perceptions and knowledge among Spanish community pharmacists: A cross-sectional survey study. CURRENTS IN PHARMACY TEACHING & LEARNING 2024; 16:102123. [PMID: 38852207 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2024.102123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Herbal medicine has seen remarkable growth in consumption over the past few years. Community pharmacists are health care professionals who have an important role in the dispensing and counselling of these products. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceptions, professional practices and knowledge about herbal medicine among community pharmacists in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). METHOD A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in community pharmacies in Tenerife using a questionnaire that included demographic data, perceptions, professional practices and knowledge of herbal medicine. Data from 610 community pharmacists was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software program. RESULTS Most of the responders had a positive attitude towards herbal medicine, considering its products useful (80.9%), safe (64.2%) and those sold in pharmacies of high quality and standardized (84.6%). They thought that these products should only be sold in pharmacies (78.0%) and that it was their responsibility to provide information about them (95.5%). However, only 32.1% believed they are well prepared to provide herbal pharmaceutical care services and 36.1% that there are reliable and easily accessible sources of information. Moreover, 60.7% considered lack of training a barrier to recommending herbal medicinal products, being interested in updating their knowledge on it (96.9%). CONCLUSION This study showed that community pharmacists have a positive perception of herbal medicines, considering them beneficial and safe. However, participants requested reliable sources of information, easy access, and more training to dispense, counsel, and safely label these products. Education and training programs in herbal medicine are needed to enhance their ability to provide herbal pharmaceutical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Figueroa-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Campus Anchieta, 4, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Candelaria C Sánchez-Mateo
- Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Campus Anchieta, 4, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
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Belachew EA, Shibe BS, Tefera AM, Wondm SA. Community pharmacy professionals' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward nutrition and lifestyle counseling in Gondar City, Ethiopia. SAGE Open Med 2024; 12:20503121241256569. [PMID: 38826823 PMCID: PMC11143820 DOI: 10.1177/20503121241256569] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Community pharmacy professionals play a vital role in health care, have a greater impact on public health programs, and play a critical role in patient counseling for both non-pharmacological and pharmacological management. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacy professionals toward nutrition and lifestyle counseling in Gondar City, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Northwestern Ethiopia from May to June 2021. Face-to-face structured interviews were performed to collect data using a specially created questionnaire. Descriptive, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA analyses were used. A significant difference was defined as a p-value of less than 0.05. Results This survey drew 100 community pharmacy professional from a pool of 105 participants, with a 95.2% response rate. More than a third of the participants (n = 43, 43%) defined medical nutrition therapy as the use of food to prevent disease, and almost half of the participants (n = 51, 51%) viewed therapeutic nutrition to be part of their job responsibilities. More than half (64%) believe that patients should be provided a combination of nutritional and pharmacological treatments in the majority of cases. The majority of participants (75%) gave patients counseling on drug-food interactions. Conclusion The majority of community pharmacy professionals said they knew a lot about medical nutrition therapy and were enthusiastic about nutrition evaluation and medical nutrition therapy, they see these tasks as part of their job, and they practiced dietary counseling that was limited to pregnancy and chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyayaw Ashete Belachew
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Biniam Siyum Shibe
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Aschalew Mulatu Tefera
- Pharmacognosy Unit, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Samuel Agegnew Wondm
- Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Koni AA, Qashoa H, Musa AA, Masri M, Hazem W, Taha S, Daifallah A, Al-Jabi SW, Abushanab AS, Zyoud SH. Knowledge and practice of community pharmacists regarding the safety of drugs during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from a developing country. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:189. [PMID: 38468217 PMCID: PMC10926555 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06393-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug use during pregnancy can cause unfavorable fetal and maternal outcomes. Information sharing is essential for pharmacists' role within intricate, modern healthcare systems. Community pharmacists (CPs) have demonstrated unsatisfactory knowledge across various pharmacological domains in most developing countries. This study aimed to explore the knowledge and practices of CPs regarding medications and herb safety during pregnancy. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in a developing country using a self-administered questionnaire. A sample of CPs working in the northern governorates of the West Bank was selected by convenience sampling. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, practices and knowledge. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 207 questionnaires were completed. Most respondents had only a bachelor's degree (89.9%) but did not participate in continuous professional development (CPD) (71.0%). Almost one-third of the CP workload involved dispensing drugs to pregnant women. The majority of the participants reported that they inquire about pregnancy status (59.9%), refer to scientific sources (82.6%), and contact a prescribing physician (51.2%) in cases of uncertainty. A higher knowledge score was associated with receiving a master's degree and CPD programs. Most CPs identified folic acid, paracetamol and amoxicillin as safe, while tetracycline, isotretinoin, enalapril, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen were among the drugs mostly reported as unsafe. Castor oil, Senna, St. John's wort and ginseng were the most frequently reported herbs as unsafe. CONCLUSIONS Despite the gaps in knowledge about herb pharmacology, CPs demonstrated acceptable knowledge and practice regarding drug safety during pregnancy. CPD is recommended for addressing gaps in knowledge and practice. Future research evaluating knowledge and practice may benefit from developing a specific, accurate, validated instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer A Koni
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Hematology and Oncology, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Hamzah Qashoa
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Abeer Abo Musa
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Maen Masri
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Walaa Hazem
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Sari Taha
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Aiman Daifallah
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Amani S Abushanab
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Sa'ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An- Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
- Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
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Xin RKW, Yee TW, Qin WZ, Kaiyee L, Mohammed AH, Blebil A, Dujaili J, Hassan BA, Lim A. Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding counselling on vitamins and dietary supplements in Malaysia: A study on complementary medicines. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL PHARMACY 2024; 13:100410. [PMID: 38389828 PMCID: PMC10882583 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The utilization of vitamins and dietary supplements (DSs) among consumers in Malaysia has seen a notable increase. However, there is limited research available on how pharmacists in Eastern countries manage the provision of these products. Objective This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in Malaysia regarding the provision of counselling services on vitamins and DSs. The findings will inform education strategies in this area. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted from February to April 2022 using a validated online-based questionnaire. The survey was distributed to community pharmacists across Malaysia through social media channels. t-test and ANOVA test were used for data analysis. Results Among the 260 participants, 73.5% were categorized as having average product knowledge. Key concerns included a lack of knowledge about the indications of new products and when to discontinue their use. Regarding dosing in specific patient groups, 33.5% of pharmacists only occasionally consulted references and primarily relied on product labels. Furthermore, 29% of pharmacists believed it was unnecessary to refer patients to doctors when they experienced ongoing symptoms while taking vitamins or DSs. Interestingly, 44.6% of pharmacists believed there was a correlation between the efficacy of vitamins and their price, often recommending more expensive brands despite similar content. Conclusion There is an opportunity to enhance the knowledge of pharmacists in Malaysia regarding vitamins and DSs. Education interventions should focus on areas such as dosing for specific patient groups, when to discontinue products, understanding new products, evidence-based efficacy of products for specific conditions, and providing a framework for appropriate referral to support pharmacists in their practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamund Koo Wei Xin
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tan Wai Yee
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wong Zi Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lau Kaiyee
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ali Haider Mohammed
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy, Al Rafidain University College, Baghdad 10001, Iraq
| | - Ali Blebil
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy, Al Rafidain University College, Baghdad 10001, Iraq
| | - Juman Dujaili
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
- Department of Pharmacy, Al Rafidain University College, Baghdad 10001, Iraq
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Angelina Lim
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia
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Naja F, Abbas N, Khaleel S, Zeb F, Osaili TAH, Obaid RS, Faris M, Radwan H, Ismail LC, Hassan H, Hashim M, AlZubaidi H. Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:107. [PMID: 38418995 PMCID: PMC10902973 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04391-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine, their potential role remains largely untapped. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine products among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates and explore the correlates of knowledge in the study sample. METHODS Using a stratified random sampling frame, a national survey of community pharmacists was conducted in the United Arab Emirates. In a face-to-face interaction, participants completed a multi-component questionnaire consisting of four sections: sociodemographic and general characteristics; knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine products and usage; attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine. Based on participants' answers, scores were calculated with higher scores indicating more positive knowledge, attitudes, and practices. RESULTS 373 community pharmacists participated in the study (response rate: 83%). For the knowledge questions, more than 50% of community pharmacists correctly answered the functions of complementary and alternative medicine, however lower percentages were noted for the side effects and drug interactions questions. Most community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, except for particular aspects such as efficacy, where 40% agreed that complementary and alternative medicine is only effective in treating minor complaints. As for practices, while more than 70% of participants counseled patients on complementary and alternative medicine use, only 47% reported the toxic effects when encountered. Multiple linear regressions showed that community pharmacists working in independent pharmacies, those with fewer years of experience, and those who did not receive complementary and alternative medicine education during their academic degree had lower knowledge scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study showed that community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates have good knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine functions and generally positive attitudes and practices, with few gaps identified in each. Together, these findings provide critical evidence for the development of targeted interventions to promote the role of community pharmacists towards safe and effective complementary and alternative medicine use in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Naja
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O.Box 110236, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nada Abbas
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sharfa Khaleel
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Falak Zeb
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tareq A H Osaili
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Reyad Shaker Obaid
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - MoezAlIslam Faris
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hadia Radwan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Leila Cheikh Ismail
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Haydar Hassan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mona Hashim
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamzah AlZubaidi
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- School of Medicine, Deakin Rural Health, Deakin University Faculty of Health, Warrnambool, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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Tahir AH, Tanveer M, Shahnaz G, Saqlain M, Ayub S, Ahmed A. Knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of healthcare professionals towards complementary and alternative medicine: a cross-sectional survey from twin cities of Pakistan. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:432. [PMID: 38041085 PMCID: PMC10690995 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04187-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The growing popularity and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products among the general public worldwide has been well documented. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions (KAP) of Pakistani healthcare professionals (HCP) toward CAM and to document their views on integrating CAM education with the curriculum of undergraduate health science programs. METHOD A cross-sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted for a duration of ten months among HCPs from Pakistan's twin cities: Islamabad and RawalpindiThe data were collected using a self-administered and validated (Cronbach's alpha: 0.71) questionnaire. This questionnaire consisted of five sections, namely; demographic, attitude, perception, integration and knowledge. RESULT The response rate was 91.20% (500/456). The participants included 160 physicians, 155 nurses,and 141 pharmacists. The majority of the respondents were females, 67.50%, and unmarried (60.50%).The majority of HCPs participating in this study agreed that CAM modalities may benefit conventional medicine system. Likewise, most HCPs perceived different CAM therapies aseffective treatment options. More than 50% HCPs suggested CAM elective courses in the curriculum of the health sciences program.Overall, 79.17% of the HCPs have poor knowledge of CAM. Physicians have the highest knowledge score 25.63%, followed by pharmacists 21.99%, and nurses 12.26%. Knowledge status was significantly associated with age, profession, and experience of practice (p = 0.001,0.001 & 0.019). CONCLUSION This study revealed that despite the overall positive attitude of HCPs toward CAM, the score of knowledge is low. Therefore, the survey recommends evidence-based guidelines for the rationale use of CAM and updated syllabi of undergraduate health programs which will assist the future HCPs in increasing professionals' knowledge toachieve better health outcomes for the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azhar Hussain Tahir
- District Headquarter Hospital, Khushab, 41000, Punjab, Pakistan.
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Maria Tanveer
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Gul Shahnaz
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Saqlain
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Shagufta Ayub
- Leads College of Pharmacy, Lahore, 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Ali Ahmed
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Lam Ung CO, Kbar N, Aslani P, Smith L, Gelissen IC, Harnett JE. Pharmacy education in traditional and complementary medicines - A systematic review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2023; 19:1331-1353. [PMID: 37482480 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional and complementary medicines (T&CMs) are not typically covered in medical curricula despite 80% of the world's population using some form of herbal product as part of their healthcare. Concurrent use of T&CMs with conventional therapies is common, and both are primarily accessed in pharmacies. There is an expectation that pharmacists should be knowledgeable about T&CMs. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate what is currently known about pharmacists' T&CMs education and training to inform developments in pharmacy education. METHODS Eligible studies published between 01/01/2016 and 28/02/2023 were identified across six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, ScienceDirect and MEDLINE). Data were extracted from included studies and categorized into key themes and sub-themes and reported descriptively. FINDINGS Fifty-eight studies were identified, conducted across 30 countries, that included information about pharmacists' T&CMs education and training. Within the four main themes extracted, six subthemes were identified including: T&CMs education and training received; inadequate education and training opportunities; knowledge, and confidence towards T&CMs in the pharmacy setting; professional practice behaviour associated with T&CM; university education for pharmacy students; and continuing professional development for practicing pharmacists, including T&CM-drug interactions, interpreting T&CM research, T&CM-specific communication skills, T&CM use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and efficacy and safety of T&CM in specific conditions. CONCLUSION Overall pharmacists are receiving limited T&CM education in undergraduate and continuing professional training and report a lack of resources to inform the advice they provide to consumers. The findings of this review can inform developments in T&CMs curriculum and accreditation standards that support the training needs of pharmacists who play a role in fostering the safe and appropriate use of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Oi Lam Ung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau; The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nadin Kbar
- The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Parisa Aslani
- The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lorraine Smith
- The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ingrid C Gelissen
- The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joanna E Harnett
- The University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia.
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Dores AR, Peixoto M, Carvalho IP, Jesus Â, Moreira F, Marques A. The Pharmacy of the Future: Pharmacy Professionals' Perceptions and Contributions Regarding New Services in Community Pharmacies. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2580. [PMID: 37761777 PMCID: PMC10531482 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11182580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has revolutionized the provision of health services, often referred to as eHealth, benefiting community pharmacies that can offer new services in innovative formats, namely through telepharmacy. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of pharmacy professionals (i.e., pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) on the provision of new services. The study consisted of administering an online questionnaire to pharmacy professionals nationwide. The questionnaire was developed by the research team, based on focus group methodology, from which an inductive analysis led to the categories that made up the dimensions of the survey. Participants were 95 pharmacy professionals with a mean age of 33.69 years old (SD = 10.75). Almost 79% were women. The results show overall receptivity to the development of new services in community pharmacies. Suggestions for the development of the new services, conditions necessary for their implementation, potential obstacles, and strategies to promote adherence to the new services, among others, are identified. The knowledge thus acquired will help community pharmacies to develop innovative solutions in counselling, pharmacotherapy monitoring, and pharmacovigilance, for example, of herb/dietary supplement-drug adverse reactions and interactions. Based on this information, new services can become more accessible, namely through the use of ICTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artemisa R. Dores
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (A.M.)
| | - Miguel Peixoto
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (A.M.)
| | - Irene P. Carvalho
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângelo Jesus
- CISA, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (Â.J.); (F.M.)
| | - Fernando Moreira
- CISA, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (Â.J.); (F.M.)
| | - António Marques
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (A.M.)
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Zimmermann C, Jusufoska M, Tolic J, Abreu de Azevedo M, Tarr PE, Deml MJ. Pharmacists' approaches to vaccination consultations in Switzerland: a qualitative study comparing the roles of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and biomedicine. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e074883. [PMID: 37696631 PMCID: PMC10496653 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many community pharmacies in Switzerland provide complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches in addition to providing biomedical services, and a few pharmacies specialise in CAM. A common perception is that CAM providers are sceptical towards, or opposed to, vaccination. OBJECTIVES Key objectives of this study are to examine the potential roles of biomedically oriented and CAM-specialised pharmacists regarding vaccine counselling and to better understand the association between vaccine hesitancy and CAM. DESIGN We conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews. Transcripts were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Interview questions were related to: type of pharmaceutical care practised, views on CAM and biomedicine, perspectives on vaccination, descriptions of vaccination consultations in community pharmacies and views on vaccination rates. SETTING Qualitative interviews in three language regions of Switzerland (German, French and Italian). PARTICIPANTS We interviewed 18 pharmacists (N=11 biomedically oriented, N=7 CAM specialised). RESULTS Pharmacist participants expressed generally positive attitudes towards vaccination. Biomedically oriented pharmacists mainly advised customers to follow official vaccination recommendations but rarely counselled vaccine-hesitant customers. CAM-specialised pharmacists were not as enthusiastic advocates of the Swiss vaccination recommendations as the biomedically oriented pharmacists we interviewed. Rather, they considered that each customer should receive individualised, nuanced vaccination advice so that customers can reach their own decisions. CAM-specialised pharmacists described how mothers in particular preferred getting a second opinion when they felt insufficiently advised by biomedically oriented paediatricians. CONCLUSIONS Vaccination counselling in community pharmacies represents an additional option to customers who have unmet vaccination consultation needs and who seek reassurance from healthcare professionals (HCPs) other than physicians. By providing individualised vaccination counselling to vaccine-hesitant customers, CAM-specialised pharmacists are likely meeting specific needs of vaccine-hesitant customers. As such, research and implementation efforts should more systematically involve pharmacists as important actors in vaccination provision. CAM-specialised pharmacists particularly should not be neglected as they are important HCPs who counsel vaccine-hesitant customers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Zimmermann
- University Department of Medicine, Kantonsspital Baselland, Bruderholz, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Meliha Jusufoska
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Josipa Tolic
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marta Abreu de Azevedo
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael J Deml
- Institute of Sociological Research, Department of Sociology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Dores AR, Peixoto M, Castro M, Sá C, Carvalho IP, Martins A, Maia E, Praça I, Marques A. Knowledge and Beliefs about Herb/Supplement Consumption and Herb/Supplement-Drug Interactions among the General Population, including Healthcare Professionals and Pharmacists: A Systematic Review and Guidelines for a Smart Decision System. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15102298. [PMID: 37242184 DOI: 10.3390/nu15102298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased consumption of a variety of herbs/supplements has been raising serious health concerns. Owing to an inadequate understanding of herb/supplement-drug interactions, the simultaneous consumption of these products may result in deleterious effects and, in extreme cases, even fatal outcomes. This systematic review is aimed at understanding the knowledge and beliefs about the consumption of herbs/supplements and herb/drug-supplement interactions (HDIs). The study follows the PRISMA guidelines. Four online databases (Web of Science; PubMed; Cochrane; and EBSCOhost) were searched, and a total of 44 studies were included, encompassing 16,929 participants. Herb and supplement consumption is explained mostly by the reported benefits across multiple conditions and ease of use. Regarding HDIs, most people take both herbs/supplements and prescription drugs simultaneously. Only a small percentage of participants have knowledge about their interaction effects, and many reported adverse interactions or side effects. Nevertheless, the main reason for stopping the prescribed drug intake is the perceived lack of its effect, and not due to interactions. Therefore, it is important to increase the knowledge about supplement use so that further strategies can be elaborated to better detect or be alert for whenever a potentially dangerous reaction and/or interaction may occur. This paper raises awareness regarding the need for developing a decision support system and ends with some considerations about the development of a technological solution capable of detecting HDIs and, thereby, aiding in the improvement of pharmacy services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artemisa R Dores
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Peixoto
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Castro
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Sá
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Irene P Carvalho
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Martins
- Research Group on Intelligent Engineering and Computing for Advanced Innovation and Development (GECAD), School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP/IPP), 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Maia
- Research Group on Intelligent Engineering and Computing for Advanced Innovation and Development (GECAD), School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP/IPP), 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Praça
- Research Group on Intelligent Engineering and Computing for Advanced Innovation and Development (GECAD), School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP/IPP), 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - António Marques
- Laboratório de Reabilitação Psicossocial, Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESS-IPP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
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Hijazi MA, Shatila H, Abu Qiyas S, Aboul-Ela M, El-Lakany A, Naja F. Complementary and alternative medicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Res Social Adm Pharm 2023; 19:502-509. [PMID: 36371308 PMCID: PMC9617642 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The challenges in COVID-19 treatment have driven patients to seek Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for the prevention and/or treatment of the disease. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the effective and safe use of CAM. OBJECTIVE Assess the beliefs, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists in Lebanon about existing evidence for the use of CAM for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. METHODS A national cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon (n = 310 respondents). Participants completed an online questionnaire addressing, in addition to the socio-demographic characteristics; the beliefs, practices, and knowledge of pharmacists regarding the existing evidence of CAM use for COVID-19 prevention and/or treatment. RESULTS Pharmacists (70%) received frequent inquiries about CAM for COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Only 25.5% of the pharmacists reported having enough time to get information about CAM and COVID-19. Almost all participants believed that pharmacists have a major role in the fight against COVID-19 (98%) and that they have enough information to counsel patients in that regard (75%). For practices, the majority of pharmacists reported counseling their patients on proper use (98%) and possible adverse reactions (93%) of CAM, but only 51% reported toxic or undesirable effects. Regarding knowledge, although most pharmacists answered correctly the questions on the role of CAM in preventing COVID-19, few knew about its role in treating the infection. Pharmacists who trust the WHO website as a credible source had a higher knowledge score (β = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.05-0.986). CONCLUSIONS The positive beliefs and practices of pharmacists towards CAM during the pandemic were coupled with a few gaps, especially in their knowledge about existing evidence for CAM use. Concerted efforts ought to be dedicated to supporting pharmacists in playing a more prominent role during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Ali Hijazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hibeh Shatila
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salma Abu Qiyas
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maha Aboul-Ela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdalla El-Lakany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Farah Naja
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates,Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences (RIHMS), University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates,Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences American, University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon,Corresponding author. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Jalil B, Naser AY, M Prieto J, Heinrich M. Herbal supplements in Jordan: a cross-sectional survey of pharmacists' perspectives and knowledge. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e057405. [PMID: 35896285 PMCID: PMC9335029 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pharmacists are ideal partners for engaging with the needs and expectations of patients. They can play a vital role by providing information and supplying herbal medicines. In some community settings, pharmacists are also the main first point of care. This study explored Jordanian community pharmacists' perspectives and knowledge of herbal medicines available in pharmacies. DESIGN A cross-sectional study using an online survey was developed, and it was distributed via social media platforms. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the mean knowledge scores between different demographic groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of herbal medicines knowledge. SETTING Jordanian community pharmacies. PARTICIPANTS 401 Jordanian community pharmacists. RESULTS Herbal supplements are sold in practically all pharmacies (98.5%). Slimming aids (14.7%), followed by sexual and sports enhancements (14%) and maintaining general health (12.1%) were most requested by Jordanian customers. While supplements for maintaining general health (12%), followed by slimming aids (11.4%) and skin conditions (9.3%) were most recommended by Jordanian pharmacists. 63.1% were not aware of potential herb-drug interactions, 95.6% did not receive complaints from customers about herbal medicines and 41.2% would not report adverse reactions to the national pharmacovigilance services. The mean knowledge score for knowledge of use, regulation, adverse reactions, and drug interactions was 3.7 (SD: 0.7), 3.5 (SD: 0.8), 3.6 (SD: 0.8), and 3.6 (SD: 0.8) (out of 5), respectively. ANOVA test showed that total pharmacists' knowledge scores significantly differed based on the length of time practising pharmacy (p<0.05). CONCLUSION This study highlights some key concerns relating to recommendations, awareness and reporting of herbal medicines among Jordanian community pharmacists. Pharmacists need enhanced education to provide objective and evidence-based information on the benefits-risks of herbal medicines. Future studies need to be carried out to confirm whether our findings are transferable to other Middle Eastern countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banaz Jalil
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29 - 39 Brunswick Sq, London, UK
| | - Abdallah Y Naser
- Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jose M Prieto
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29 - 39 Brunswick Sq, London, UK
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13
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Jairoun AA, Al Hemyari SS, Abdulla NM, Shahwan M, Jairoun M, Godman B, El-Dahiyat F, Kurdi A. Development and Validation of a Tool to Improve Community Pharmacists’ Surveillance Role in the Safe Dispensing of Herbal Supplements. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:916223. [PMID: 35860014 PMCID: PMC9289787 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.916223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There has been an appreciable increase in the use of herbal supplements, including immune boosters, during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns with falsified herbal supplements. Objectives: Developed a new questionnaire that can potentially help community pharmacists identify the extent of falsified herbal supplements. Methods: A 9-month cross sectional study was conducted among 500 community pharmacies across United Arab Emirates. A new 5-factor, 24-itmes scale was developed based on current labelling requirements across countries and piloted. This included seven items on identified uses and contraindication, seven items on hazard identification, four items on product identity, three items on packaging and product insert and three items on product handling and storage. The face and content validity of the scale was assessed via the content validity index (CVI). Its construct validity was tested using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) via principally component analysis (PCA). The model was subsequently confirmed through partial confirmatory factor analysis (PCFA). Its reliability was assessed via test-retest reliability, internal consistency, item internal consistency (IIC), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: The CVI of the finalized questionnaire was 0.843. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.891, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity indicated significance (p-value < 0.001). Confirmation of the subsequent 5-domains was achieved through PCFA using maximum likelihood analysis with oblimin rotation. The PCFA obtained values was 0.962 for NFI, 0.977 for CFI, and 0.987 for the Tucker Lewis Index. All values were greater than 0.95, and the RMSEA value was 0.03 (i.e., less than 0.06). Consequently, the model had a good fit. All domains demonstrated Cronbach’s alpha coefficients above 0.70, with 0.940 for the full instrument. Meanwhile, all items met the IIC correlation standard of ≥0.40. The instrument presented good ICC statistics of 0.940 (0.928–0.950) as well as statistical significance (p < 0.001). Community pharmacists with more than 10 experience years were more likely to identify falsified herbal supplements compared to those with 1–10 years experience (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study developed and validated a new instrument to identify safe herbal supplements, which should enhance the role of the community pharmacists in the safe and effective treatment of suitable patients with herbal supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun
- Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun, ; Moyad Shahwan,
| | - Sabaa Saleh Al Hemyari
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
- Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naseem Mohammed Abdulla
- Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- School of Health and Environmental Studies, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun, ; Moyad Shahwan,
| | - Maimona Jairoun
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Brian Godman
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako -Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Faris El-Dahiyat
- Clinical Pharmacy Program, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Center of Research and strategic studies, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Iraq
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
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Thin SM, Thet D, Li JY, Nakpun T, Nitadpakorn S, Phanudulkitti C, Sorofman BA, Watcharadamrongkun S, Kittisopee T. A systematic review of community pharmacist practices in complementary medicine. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20:2697. [PMID: 36733509 PMCID: PMC9851825 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2022.3.2697] [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: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The people who use complementary medicines (CMs) believe that these medicines are safe and harmless. They could easily access CMs like herbal or traditional medicines in community pharmacies. Therefore, community pharmacists are important professionals in advising the safe choices of CMs and providing evidence-based information for customers to decrease adverse effects of CMs. Objectives To systematically review knowledge, attitude, and practices of community pharmacists about CMs, and the factors associated with CM practices of dispensing, recommending and counseling patients, and answering the patients' queries. Method An electronic search was performed with four databases: PubMed, Scopus, SpringerLink and ScienceDirect, from 1990 to 19th May 2022. The inclusion criteria were studies 1) about knowledge, attitude, and/or practices of community pharmacists about CMs, 2) written in English, 3) conducted with quantitative methods, and 4) able to retrieve full text. Results Twenty-three studies were included in this systematic review. Some studies showed that less than half of the pharmacists asked or counselled about CMs to their patients and answered the patients' queries about CMs. Only 20% of the pharmacists did report CM side-effects. Training or education about CMs was a common factor associated with the CM practice of dispensing, recommending, counseling, and answering the patients' queries about CMs. CMs recommended most by community pharmacists were vitamins & minerals, food or dietary supplements, fish oil and probiotics. The most common dispensed CMs were vitamins & minerals, herbs, food or dietary supplements, fish oil and essential oils. Lacks of reliable information sources and scientific evidence were common barriers for the CM practices. Being less expensive than conventional medicines motivated the pharmacists to recommend and discuss about CMs. The community pharmacists that participated in included studies suggested strengthening CM trainings and highlight the pharmacist role in CM therapy. Conclusion A high percentage of community pharmacists did dispense CMs to their patients, while a low percentage of the pharmacists did report CM side effects. Pharmacists were most comfortable recommending and responding the patients' CM queries. Training or education about CMs associated with CM dispensing, recommending, discussing, and answering the patients' queries about CMs was recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Myat Thin
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Daylia Thet
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Jia Yu Li
- Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Tulakarn Nakpun
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhon Nayok, 26120, Thailand.
| | - Sujin Nitadpakorn
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Thammasat University, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | | | - Bernard A Sorofman
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, 115 South Grand Avenue, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
| | - Suntaree Watcharadamrongkun
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Tanattha Kittisopee
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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Motoo Y, Yukawa K, Hisamura K, Arai I. Pharmacists’ perspectives on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in Japan with special reference to Kampo medicines: an internet survey with preliminary interviews. J Pharm Health Care Sci 2022; 8:7. [PMID: 35227321 PMCID: PMC8887184 DOI: 10.1186/s40780-022-00238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pharmacists guide patients in their use of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM). The present study aimed to evaluate the opinions of Japanese pharmacists regarding TCIM, and to evaluate the usability of the evidence-based Japanese Integrative Medicine (eJIM) website from the pharmacists’ point of view. Methods We conducted a two-stage, mixed-method study using interviews and an internet-based survey. In-person interviews were conducted with 20 pharmacists working in hospitals, dispensing pharmacies, or retail pharmacies. We analyzed their perspectives on TCIM and the usability of the eJIM. Based on the interviews, questionnaires for an internet survey conducted in February 2019 were developed. Results In the interviews, 55% of pharmacists acknowledged TCIM as a supportive measure for modern medicine, and 45% responded that TCIM was efficacious. However, pharmacists’ evaluation levels of Kampo medicine were high, whereas pharmacists’ attitudes towards dietary supplements were primarily negative. There have been various proposals to improve the eJIM, such as highlighting important information and providing more specific information on TCIM in Japan. An internet survey of 365 pharmacists showed that 67.4% were consulted by patients regarding TCIM. Of these TCIM, pharmacists’ evaluation levels of Kampo medicines were high. Only 5% of the respondents had visited the eJIM website prior to the survey, and the overall usability score of each web page was high. Conclusions Kampo medicines and dietary supplements are common TCIMs that pharmacists use or advise on in Japan. Pharmacists’ evaluation levels of Kampo medicine were high, whereas pharmacists’ attitudes towards dietary supplements were generally negative.
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Al-Jabi SW, Khader M, Hamarsha I, Atallh D, Bani-Odeh S, Daraghmeh A, Bani-Mater S, Zyoud SH. Complementary and alternative medicine use among pediatrics in Palestine: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:503. [PMID: 34758756 PMCID: PMC8582129 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02985-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing in children worldwide, so there is a need to evaluate CAM's use among pediatrics in Palestine. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CAM use among a sample of Palestinian children, investigate the factors that affect the use of CAMs, identify the types of CAM used, and assess the purposes of using them. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive study of parents who had children aged 6 years and below was carried out. A convenient sample of about 420 participants was collected; from Primary care to Motherhood and Childhood Centers in Nablus city in Palestine. Parents who agreed to participate were asked to answer a survey that consists mainly of closed-ended questions. The analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS The use of CAM was detected in all interviewers 420 (100%). The most common treatment used was herbal therapy (n = 400, 95.2%), and anise was the most common herbal therapy used (n = 334; 79.5%). A total of 371 (88.3%) of the respondents used CAM for digestive system problems. The main reason for using CAM was making the child more comfortable (n = 365; 86.9%). Parents who are 30 years or older were significantly using more CAM than younger parents (P = 0.001). In addition, regarding the number of children in the family, parents who have five children or more used more CAM subtypes significantly more than parents with less than this number (P = 0.025). Moreover, parents living in a refugee camp used more CAM than parents who lived in urban or rural areas (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Parents of children use CAM frequently. All parents used CAM, and physicians were not mainly among the sources of CAM information, and almost all parents were unaware of the side effects of CAM. Future research is necessary to direct pediatricians in formulating recommendations for children on CAM modalities, including possible risks and benefits and interactions with conventional medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah W. Al-Jabi
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Mariam Khader
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Islam Hamarsha
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Dina Atallh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sereen Bani-Odeh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Areen Daraghmeh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Shaima Bani-Mater
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
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Altamimi M, Hamdan M, Badrasawi M, Allahham S. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements among a Group of Palestinian Pharmacists. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2021; 21:613-620. [PMID: 34888082 PMCID: PMC8631217 DOI: 10.18295/squmj.4.2021.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The use of dietary supplements (DS) has increased, but due to a lack of related regulations, the prescription of DS depends on pharmacists' knowledge. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to DS among community-based pharmacists. METHODS This study followed a cross-sectional design targeting community pharmacists in West Bank, Palestine between September and December 2019. Selected participants filled a self-administered questionnaire regarding their KAP related to DS. The questionnaire contained 15 items: five questions on knowledge, seven on practices and three on attitudes. RESULTS At a 90% response rate, 56.2% of the representative sample was female. The participants' experience was distributed almost equally across the categories of 0-5, 5-10 and over 10 years. Additionally, a majority of the participants were the responsible pharmacist and/or the pharmacy owner. Overall, the participants showed a moderate level of knowledge about DS with a mean score of 3.68 ± 1.1 out of 5; the correct answers ranged from 3.6% to 75.3% of the surveyed participants. The practices with the highest frequencies were as follows: taking DS sometimes (79.9%), taking supplements from well-known brands (56.2%), giving supplements to any patient (55.7%), selling supplements according to the participants' knowledge (74.2%) and providing advice about supplements (73.2%). The questions about the pharmacists' attitudes towards DS market regulation revealed that more than half (52%) of the participants believed that it was suitable. The association between knowledge score and practices was highly significant (P <0.001). CONCLUSION The study revealed that participants had moderate knowledge about DS. Additionally, knowledge and practices were highly connected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - May Hamdan
- Department of Healthy and Therapeutic Nutrition, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine
| | | | - Saad Allahham
- Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Medeiros NT, Catrib AMF, Barros NFD, Sá FED, Silva GPFD, Lourinho LA, Coutinho BD, Macena RHM, Costa PFTFD, Abdon APV. Complementary and Integrative Medicine in academic health education. Complement Ther Med 2021; 63:102785. [PMID: 34688869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze academic education in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) according to university students from the health area. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 1399 students from six public and private Brazilian universities, with online and in-person collection of socioeconomic, demographic, educational and academic data, carried out in 2019. The bivariate analysis was applied for the outcome "presence of CIM in academic health education", using the SPSS Statistic program, version 23.0™. RESULTS The prevalence of the presence of CIM in academic health education was 52.3%, being 31.1% in the compulsory and 8% in the non-compulsory curricular education, 2.0% in scientific research and 4.7% in university extension activities. There was an association of the outcome with knowledge of the national CIM policy (OR = 5.258; p = 0.000), of which knowledge can be indicated and used in one's professional area (OR = 4.836; p = 0.000), interest and/or use of CIM by the teachers/tutors of the course (OR = 3.955; p = 0.000), stimulus by the university to carry out scientific research (OR = 3.277; p = 0.000) and university extension projects with CIM (OR = 3.686; p = 0.000). CONCLUSION Academic education using CIM in health area courses is not very prevalent in teaching, research and university extension in Brazil, but when present in the curricular and non-curricular educational processes, it shows a significant association with knowledge, skills and their use by university students. The creation of a National Educational Planning in CIM is a vital imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Teixeira Medeiros
- Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Physical Therapy Course, Universidade Federal do Piauí/Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFPI/UFDPar), Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil.
| | | | - Nelson Filice de Barros
- Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (DSC/FCM/Unicamp), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Elpídio de Sá
- Physical Therapy Course, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Lidia Andrade Lourinho
- Post-doctorate in Public Health, Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Qasrawi H, Assi S, Ghanim N, Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW. A Descriptive Study of Pain Relief Practices Among Student-Athletes in Palestine: Focus on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and Complementary Medicine and Alternative Medicine Use. J Community Health 2021; 46:684-692. [PMID: 33067717 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00935-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Many athletes suffering from musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction will use some types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, awareness, and behaviors related to NSAIDs and CAM use in Palestinian student-athletes. This was a cross-sectional study that involved 227 students from the Faculty of Sports at An-Najah National University. A self-administered questionnaire was designed in Arabic; it had six sections and a number of open-ended and closed-ended questions. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the results. Descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies, percentages) were used to describe the results including demographic characteristics. Overall, 79.3% of the student-athletes had used NSAIDs in the past and 89.0% had used CAM. The CAM methods used by participants were: herbals (57.3%), supplements (32.2%), cupping (11.9%), acupuncture (2.2%), massage (51.5%), yoga (4.0%), praying (18.1%) and ice packs (20.7%). The herbs commonly used by participants were: sage (20.7%), Menthol (21.1%), Aniseed (10.6%), Chamomile (4.0%), Cinnamon (1.3%), Turmeric (4.0%), Ginger (35.7%), and a mixture of herbs (18.5%); Regarding the perceived advantages of CAM use, 82.2% thought that CAM is beneficial for their health, 79.7% thought CAM is safe, 71.3% used it because of the successful experience of others, and 60.9% used it because it's more available than medical therapy. Among NSAIDs users, 17.2% reported recent use of over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs, and 33.9% of users used prescribed NSAIDs within the last three months for sport-related reasons. When asked to report any side-effect of NSAIDs they knew, only 22.6% were able to list at least one side-effect. This study shows a high prevalence of NSAIDs and CAM use among student-athletes in Palestine with a low level of knowledge and awareness of their side-effects. Therefore, education strategies that focus on enhancing and improving student-athletes' knowledge of the proper use and the possible side-effects of NSAIDs and CAM are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala Qasrawi
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Siham Assi
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Nesma Ghanim
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Sa'ed H Zyoud
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
- Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
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Quzmar Y, Istiatieh Z, Nabulsi H, Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW. The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from Palestine. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:108. [PMID: 33794888 PMCID: PMC8017862 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing worldwide. To the best of knowledge, there is a lack of studies that assess CAM use by Palestinian women during pregnancy. This research aims to determine the prevalence of Palestinian women's use of CAM during pregnancy, the most frequently used CAM products during the pregnancy period, the main sources that encourage the use of CAM among pregnant women, and the causes of CAM use. METHODS A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Palestine using a questionnaire from April 2018 to March 2019. The samples were selected by convenience sampling, including currently pregnant or previously pregnant women in the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) clinic at Rafedia Hospital and in primary health care clinics in Nablus city-Palestine. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic variables, health status, types and frequency of CAM used, patients' sources of information, causes of their usage, attitudes, and beliefs. RESULTS Four hundred currently or previously pregnant women participated. Three hundred fifty-five (91.5%) used at least one method of CAM during pregnancy. Most women used at least one method of biologically-based therapies during pregnancy (87.7%). One hundred and one pregnant women (26.7%) utilised at least one type of herb during pregnancy. The most-reported herb used by 12.3% of participants was anise. Of the mind-body therapies, prayer was the most commonly used method during pregnancy (8.3%). Two hundred and sixty-one (65.3%) participants used CAM because they believed CAM was not harmful to them or their babies during pregnancy. Participants gained most of their information about CAM from their families (43.8%) and friends (24.3%). Approximately two-thirds of participants (64.0%) thought that obstetricians should be able to advise on commonly used CAM. CONCLUSIONS During pregnancy, CAM products are commonly used, and it is important to determine what types are being used by women in Palestine. These findings supplement the body of knowledge on the use of CAM by pregnant women. Pregnancy care providers need to be aware to the familiar types of CAM that women use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Quzmar
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Zeina Istiatieh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Hala Nabulsi
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Samah W. Al-Jabi
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
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Tahir M, Upadhyay DK, Iqbal MZ, Rajan S, Iqbal MS, Albassam AA. Knowledge of the Use of Herbal Medicines among Community Pharmacists and Reporting Their Adverse Drug Reactions. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2021; 12:436-443. [PMID: 33679090 PMCID: PMC7909068 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_263_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Community pharmacist’s knowledge about the uses of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reactions reporting can contribute in better therapeutic outcomes and patient safety. Objectives: To evaluate community pharmacists’ knowledge about the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reactions reporting in Kedah state, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 103 pharmacists from 74 different community pharmacies to assess their knowledge about the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting by using a pre-validate knowledge questionnaire consisting of 12 questions related to it. The pharmacists’ responses were measured at a 3-point Likert scale (Poor=1, Moderate=2, and Good=3) and data was entered in SPSS version 22. The minimum and maximum possible scores for knowledge questionnaires were 12 and 36 respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed by using One Way ANOVA and Paired t-test whereas Chi-square and Fisher exact test were used for qualitative data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all the analyses. Results: About 92% of the pharmacist had good knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting with a mean knowledge score of 32.88±3.16. One-way ANOVA determined a significant difference of employment setting (p<0.043) and years of experience (<0.008) with mean knowledge scores of Pharmacists. Pharmacists’ knowledge was significantly associated with their years of experience with the Chi-square test. Conclusion: Pharmacists exhibit good knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting. However, with an increasing trend of herbal medicine use and its adverse drug reaction reporting it recalls the empowerment of experienced pharmacists with training programs in this area for better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Tahir
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Dinesh Kumar Upadhyay
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zahid Iqbal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Sawri Rajan
- Head of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Shahid Iqbal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A Albassam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-kharj, Saudi Arabia
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22
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Hijazi MA, Shatila H, Omeich Z, El-Lakany A, Ela MA, Naja F. The role of pharmacists in complementary and alternative medicine in Lebanon: users' perspectives. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:81. [PMID: 33691698 PMCID: PMC7944898 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Customers’ expectations and satisfaction are critical to ensure a more effective role of the community pharmacists in promoting the safe use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions and practices of customers buying their CAM products from pharmacies and explore their satisfaction with CAM-related services offered by the community pharmacists in Lebanon. Methods A national cross-sectional study was conducted among users of CAM (age > =18 years) who obtained their CAM from community pharmacies in Lebanon (n = 832). Within the proximity of the pharmacy, subjects were invited to complete a multi-component questionnaire. The latter consisted of four sections related to CAM: general beliefs, perception of pharmacists’ role, practices, satisfaction with services offered by the pharmacists. In addition, the questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Results The majority of participants agreed to an active role of the pharmacists’ in guiding CAM use, however over half of the participants (61.3%) did not agree that the pharmacist is more knowledgeable in this field than other healthcare providers. As for practices, one in two surveyed customers (47%) did not always give feedback to their pharmacists about the outcomes after using CAM, 20% did not often ask the pharmacists about the safe and effective mode of use of the products and 28.1% did not discuss their medical history. For services offered by the pharmacist, the majority of participants reported receiving good education about the CAM product (87.1%), its side effects (87.1%) and mode of use (93.4%), while significant proportions of participants reported that pharmacists were not asking questions about their medical history before dispensing CAM products (22%) nor were they providing information on CAM-drug interactions (30%). Conclusions The results of this study highlighted important gaps between the perceptions of customers and the services they received from the pharmacists about CAM use. These findings could be used by concerned stakeholders, including public health authorities and educational bodies, to develop evidence-based interventions aimed at promoting the role of pharmacists in ensuring a safe and effective CAM use Lebanon. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03256-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Ali Hijazi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box: 11 5020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hibeh Shatila
- Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Zeina Omeich
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box: 11 5020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdalla El-Lakany
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box: 11 5020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maha Aboul Ela
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box: 11 5020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Farah Naja
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. .,Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Jaber D, Ghannam RA, Rashed W, Shehadeh M, Zyoud SH. Use of complementary and alternative therapies by patients with eye diseases: a hospital-based cross-sectional study from Palestine. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:3. [PMID: 33397355 PMCID: PMC7784325 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03188-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generally, complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) are accepted methods of treatment by patients with various types of conditions. Their use is becoming especially prevalent among patients with eye problems even in developed countries. Thus, we aimed to determine the pattern of use of CAT in this patient population, to identify the patient characteristics associated with the use of CAT, and to assess the types of CAT used. METHODS A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Palestine at An-Najah National University Hospital between the time periods of October 2019 to May 2020, using questionnaire-based face to face interviews. Data were collected through convenience sampling. Patients responded to the questionnaire, which was focused on information adapted from previous research in this area, covering socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, types of CAT, source of information, and side effects on CAT use. RESULTS A total of 86 patients were interviewed for our study. Over two thirds, 67% reported using CAT for the specific purpose of improving their eye condition, and about one third (29.1%) received more than one therapy. The most common therapies reported were duea' (i.e. supplication) (47.1%) and herbal therapies (24.1%). It was shown that patients with bilateral involvement of their eyes were almost twice more likely to describe using CAT than patients with unilateral eye pathology (p = 0.006). Also, patients who underwent surgery as their route of treatment were significantly less likely to use CAT (p = 0.043). Most of our study participants mentioned a non-physician source as their source of information regarding CAT with family members being the most frequently mentioned (30.2%) followed by the internet (25.6%) and friends (19.8%). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of CAT use among patients with eye disease is somewhat high in our study population. Because CAT may trigger adverse reactions, influence the progression of the disease, and interfere with conventional treatment, the ophthalmologist should frequently be asked patients with such diagnostics regarding the use of these therapies. Further work is required to analyze the mechanisms of action and to establish realistic guidelines for the use of these modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dania Jaber
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Rafat Abu Ghannam
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Waleed Rashed
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Mohammad Shehadeh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Ophthalmology, An-Najah National University Hospital, 44839 Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
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Shawahna R, Abdelfattah B, Shafei M, Ruzzeh S. Therapeutic monitoring of antiepileptic drugs: Recommendations to improve care of patients with epilepsy in the Palestinian practice. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 111:107215. [PMID: 32575011 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can play a major role in optimizing pharmacotherapy of epilepsy. This study was conducted to explore views and opinions of clinicians who care for patients with epilepsy (PWE) in Palestine and to develop consensus-based recommendations with regard to importance, justification, technical, and analytical issues of TDM of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). METHODS The study was conducted in three phases: (1) the published literature was thoroughly searched for an initial list of items relevant to TDM of AEDs, (2) the list was supplemented by items provided by key experts (n = 8) through semi-structured in-depth interviews, (3) views and opinions of clinicians (n = 20) on TDM of AEDs were explored, and (4) a two-round Delphi technique was followed among a panel of experts (n = 27) to develop consensus-based recommendations to guide TDM of AEDs in Palestine. RESULTS Consensus was achieved on items related to importance (8 items) of TDM of AEDs, clinical justifications of TDM of AEDs (19 items), guidelines for optimal TDM of AEDs (11 items), TDM of some AEDs (21 items), TDM practice (24 items), and some technical and analytical issues in TDM of AEDs (13 items). CONCLUSION Consensus-based recommendations that might be used in guiding TDM of AEDs in Palestine were developed. Future studies are still needed to investigate if these consensus-based recommendations can improve healthcare of PWE in Palestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramzi Shawahna
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Basel Abdelfattah
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mohammad Shafei
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Saad Ruzzeh
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Alshahrani A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of community pharmacists towards providing counseling on vitamins, and nutritional supplements in Saudi Arabia. AIMS Public Health 2020; 7:697-712. [PMID: 32968687 PMCID: PMC7505785 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2020054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pharmacists play an important role in the healthcare system and have a greater impact on the outcome of public health programs. Patients who seek nutrition and vitamin advice presume the role of community pharmacists including the recommendation of effective vitamin and nutritional products. Objective To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of community pharmacists towards providing counseling on vitamins and nutritional supplements in Saudi Arabia. Setting All community pharmacies in all cities in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study methodology. The study was conducted between September 2019 and April 2020. Google survey was used to collect the samples from community pharmacists across Saudi Arabia. Main outcome measure Main outcome measure knowledge, attitudes, and practice of community pharmacists towards providing counseling on vitamins and nutritional supplements. Results A total of 1199 questionnaires were distributed electronically. Only 1041 were obtained to representing an 86.8% success rate. A significant majority of the respondents in this study were males (98.7%) and aged between 23–34 years (80.7%). Most of the community pharmacists in this study were non-Saudi residents 96.4%. Only 24.0% had certification from the Saudi National Board. Daily, the majority of the pharmacists attended to an estimated 100–200 patients 62.3% with only 22.7% attending to more than 200 customers per day. Most of the community pharmacists 86.4% have received a form of training on vitamins and nutritional supplements. Most of the community pharmacists counsel their patients about the side effects of vitamins and nutritional supplements. Conclusion Community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia have adequate knowledge and a positive attitude about vitamins and nutritional supplements. Our findings indicate that training courses are needed to improve pharmacists' communication skills to play more roles in counseling and enhancing their practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alshahrani
- Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy college, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
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Medhat M, Sabry N, Ashoush N. Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists towards nutrition counseling. Int J Clin Pharm 2020; 42:1456-1468. [PMID: 32860597 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01106-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization considers health promotion a top health service priority. Nutrition, weight management and physical activity are necessary health promotion strategies to improve overall quality of life and decrease the personal and societal consequences or poor health. Community pharmacists are in the best position to implement health promotion strategies due to their excellent accessibility and the lack of a requirement to make an appointment to interact with them. Enabling people to change their lifestyle and control their health through nutrition education and counseling is a great opportunity for community pharmacists to promote health. Nutrition counseling as a part of clinical nutrition therapy aims to provide dietary advice and to assist the selection of appropriate over-the-counter supplements. Objective To investigate the community pharmacist role in nutrition counseling and identify the barriers and strategies to improve nutrition counseling in Egypt. Setting Community pharmacies in Egypt. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey. A specially developed and validated questionnaire was used to collect data via face-to-face structured interviews. Primary outcomes Pharmacists' knowledge about, attitudes towards and practice of nutrition counseling. Results A total of 368 community pharmacists participated in this study, with a response rate of 73.6%. A total of 255 (69.3%) of the participants considered medical nutrition therapy a part of a pharmacist's duties. Only 146 (39.7%) of the participants believed that dietary supplements positively impact public health. According to 321 (87.2%) of the participants, the lack of pharmacists' expertise in nutrition counseling was the main barrier to nutrition counseling. Conclusions The majority of the participating community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards their role in nutritional assessment and medical nutrition therapy. There is a need to improve the nutritional knowledge of community pharmacists in Egypt. The current practice of community pharmacists in nutrition counseling is limited to adults. Obesity, diabetes and hypertension were the main medical conditions of the patients who received nutrition counseling from the community pharmacists. Inadequate knowledge in nutrition and the unavailability of educational materials were the main barriers to nutrition counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Medhat
- National Nutrition Institute, Cairo, Egypt
| | - N Sabry
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - N Ashoush
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
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Shawahna R. Agreement of Palestinian nursing students with recommendations to eliminate epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy: A cross-sectional study. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 109:107126. [PMID: 32438121 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to assess the degree of agreement of Palestinian nursing students with recommendations and key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy and people with epilepsy (PWE). METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students. The study tool was a questionnaire with 24 items which collected the sociodemographic and academic characteristics of the participants (6 items) and agreements with 18 recommendations and key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma. RESULTS A total of 342 nursing students completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 68.4%. The participants agreed with the 6 recommendations to inform media, improve awareness, and educate the general public on epilepsy (agreement rates: 87.7% to 92.4%), 4 recommendations to coordinate efforts to improve awareness and educate the general public on epilepsy and PWE (agreement rates: 89.8% to 93.0%), and 8 key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma (agreement rates: 70.2% to 93.9%). In general, female students tended to express significantly higher levels of agreement with the recommendations and key messages (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION Results of the present study highlighted the importance of involving nurses and future nurses in eliminating/reducing epilepsy stigma and changing perception of the general public about epilepsy and PWE. Further studies are to be conducted to investigate if these recommendations and messages can eliminate or significantly reduce epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy and PWE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramzi Shawahna
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
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Salah AO, Salameh AD, Bitar MA, Zyoud SH, Alkaiyat AS, Al-Jabi SW. Complementary and alternative medicine use in coronary heart disease patients: a cross-sectional study from Palestine. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20:231. [PMID: 32689988 PMCID: PMC7372840 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03028-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This study examined the use of CAM among patients with CHD, the reasons and factors influencing their use, the types of CAM used, and the relationship between patient's demographics and the use of CAM. METHODS In order to determine the prevalence and usage of CAM among Palestinian patients with CHD, a cross-sectional descriptive study was performed from three different hospitals. Using a convenient sampling method, a questionnaire was completed in a face-to-face interview with the patients. Descriptive statistics were used for socio-demographic, and clinical variables. Siahpush scale was used to examine the attitude of CHD patients toward CAM use. RESULTS Of the 150 patients that were interviewed, 128 (85.3%) of the patients completed the questionnaire. The majority of CAM users reported CAM use for health problems other than CHD, while a total of 59 (45.9%) patients have used CAM for their heart problems. On the other hand, it was found that the place of residency and pattern of CHD were significantly associated with CAM use (p = 0.039 and 0.044, respectively). In addition, religious practices were found to be the most common form of CAM used by patients, while body and traditional alternative methods were the least being used. A significant association between the attitudes of patients with CHD and their use of CAM was found (patients' attitudes towards alternative medicine and natural remedies were p = 0.011 and 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSIONS CAM use among our respondents is common. Despite a lack of evidence-based research supporting its potential benefits and side effects. Understanding the factors that affect CAM use by CHD patients offers healthcare workers and policymakers an opportunity to better understand CAM use and ultimately improve patient-physician interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelraouf O. Salah
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Ahmad D. Salameh
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Mohanad A. Bitar
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Abdulsalam S. Alkaiyat
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Public Health Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University Hospital, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Samah W. Al-Jabi
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
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Development of Key Performance Indicators for Capturing Impact of Pharmaceutical Care in Palestinian Integrative Healthcare Facilities: A Delphi Consensus Study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:7527543. [PMID: 32714418 PMCID: PMC7334769 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7527543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background The current study was performed to develop a consensus-based core inventory of key performance indicators (KPIs) to be used in capturing the impact of pharmaceutical care in healthcare facilities that employ integrative medicine paradigm in Palestine. Methods A panel of healthcare professionals and risk/quality assurance managers was composed employing a judgmental sampling technique. The study tool was a questionnaire. Views and opinions of the panelists on the roles of pharmacists in caring for patients admitted to or visiting healthcare facilities that employ integrative medicine were collected using 11 statements. An initial inventory of activities and services that potentially can be used as KPIs was compiled from the literature and interviews with key contact experts in the domain. Three iterative Delphi rounds were conducted among the panelists (n = 50) to achieve formal consensus on the KPIs that should be used. The consensus-based KPIs were ordered by the scores of the panelists. Results A total of 8 consensus-based KPIs were developed. The KPIs related to the number of problems related to medications and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that were resolved by pharmacists and CAM practitioners (p < 0.0001), number of patients for whom reconciliations were documented (p < 0.0001), number of patients receiving direct, comprehensive, and/or collaborative care (p < 0.0001), and number of patients for whom pharmacists and CAM practitioners were involved in implementing a therapeutic plan (p < 0.05) were rated significantly higher than the KPI (#8) related to the participation in multi-healthcare provider discussions/deliberations. Conclusions Consensus-based KPIs that can be used in capturing the impact of evidence-based CAM and pharmaceutical care of patients in healthcare facilities that employ integrative medicine paradigm were developed. Future studies are still needed to investigate if implementing these KPIs might promote evidence-based CAM and pharmaceutical care in healthcare facilities that employ the integrative medicine paradigm.
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Patients’ familiarity with, trust in and willingness to pay for traditional Chinese medicine in Chinese community health care centres. Eur J Integr Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2020.101118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Shawahna R, Hattab S, Al-Shafei R, Tab’ouni M. Prevalence and factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Palestinian medical students. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:244. [PMID: 32429889 PMCID: PMC7236464 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02658-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-existence of depression and anxiety can be associated with severe detrimental consequences to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the affected populations. This study was conducted to determine prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among Palestinian medical students and to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors of the students with depressive and anxiety symptoms. METHODS This study was conducted in a cross-sectional observational design using a questionnaire in the period between September 2018 and April 2019 in a major university in the West Bank of Palestine. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The questionnaire also collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the students. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested using the test re-test method. A total of 425 medical students were invited to participate in the study. RESULTS Of those invited, 286 students completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 67.3%. More than half (56.6%) of the students had minimal depression, 20.3% had mild depression, 14.0% had moderate depression, 9.1% had severe depression, 23.4% had no anxiety, 29.7% had mild to moderate anxiety, 25.5% had moderate to severe anxiety, and 21.3% had severe anxiety. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that academic stage (p-value < 0.01), Grade Point Average (p-value < 0.01), mental health status (p-value < 0.001), ever attempted suicide (p-value < 0.05), and religious commitment (p-value < 0.01) were predictors of BDI-II scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that academic stage (p-value < 0.05) and mental health status (p-value < 0.001) were predictors of BAI scores. CONCLUSIONS Depressive and anxiety symptoms were prevalent among Palestinian medical students in a major university in the West Bank of Palestine. Interventions might be designed to improve self-rated mental health of medical students in their academic years, ameliorate study conditions, and provision of counseling services to improve spirituality might be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among medical students in Palestine. Future studies are still needed to investigate if these interventions could be useful in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among Palestinian medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramzi Shawahna
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, New Campus, Building 19, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine ,grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Suhaib Hattab
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, New Campus, Building 19, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Rami Al-Shafei
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mahmoud Tab’ouni
- grid.11942.3f0000 0004 0631 5695Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Shawahna R, Abdelhaq I. Exploring perceived benefits, motives, barriers, and recommendations for prescribing yoga exercises as a nonpharmacological intervention for patients with epilepsy: A qualitative study from Palestine. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 106:107041. [PMID: 32247178 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Yoga is believed to play a role in stabilizing the electroencephalogram and the autonomic nervous system, thus might help control seizures in people with epilepsy (PWE). This qualitative study was conducted to explore experiences of Palestinian PWE with regard to benefits, motives, barriers, and recommendations of prescribing yoga exercises as a nonpharmacological intervention. METHODS Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit PWE who practiced yoga. Semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 18) were conducted with the study participants. The interpretive description method was used to qualitatively analyze the data collected during the interviews. RESULTS Following the thematic analysis adopted for this study, four major themes emerged. These themes were as follows: perceived benefits of yoga, motives to practice yoga, barriers to practice yoga, and recommendations on effective yoga practice for PWE. The perceived benefits included improvements in management of seizures, psychological, physical, and social well-being. People with epilepsy were motivated by the health benefits of yoga. Barriers of adherence to practice included personal and logistic factors. The interviewees recommended tailoring yoga sessions to the needs of PWE. CONCLUSION This explorative qualitative study reported perceived benefits, motives, barriers, and recommendations of yoga as a nonpharmacological intervention for PWE. People with epilepsy used yoga as a beneficial nonpharmacological intervention to improve their health and reduce the negative effects of epilepsy on their physical and psychosocial well-being. Future studies are needed to investigate the health benefits of yoga when sessions are tailored to the needs of PWE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramzi Shawahna
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Imad Abdelhaq
- Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Teachers' Training, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Shawahna R, Jaber M. Crossword puzzles improve learning of Palestinian nursing students about pharmacology of epilepsy: Results of a randomized controlled study. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 106:107024. [PMID: 32193093 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to investigate if crossword puzzles as active learning tools can improve the knowledge retention of nursing students in pharmacology of epilepsy and improve their performance in writing the correct spelling of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). METHODS The present study was a randomized controlled prospective parallel study in which a control group design with pretests and posttests were used among nursing students. Students were randomly allocated to either control group (n = 114) who received routine learning or intervention group (n = 110) who received crossword puzzles. Both control and intervention groups had to complete multiple-choice question (MCQs) and spelling pretests and posttests. RESULTS Scores of the MCQs and spelling pretests were not statistically different (p-value > 0.05) for participants in all achievement categories in both control and intervention groups. In the intervention group, scores in the first and second MCQs and spelling posttests were significantly higher than their corresponding scores in the pretest scores for participants from the all achievement categories (p-value < 0.05) and scores of the first and second MCQs and spelling posttests were not significantly different (p-value > 0.05). Data analyses showed that there were significant normalized changes between scores of students in across all achievement categories. CONCLUSION Findings of this study suggested that crossword puzzles were effective in improving the learning of nursing students about the pharmacology of epilepsy and writing correct spelling of AEDs. Educators should consider using crossword puzzles as active learning tools to improve knowledge of nursing students about the pharmacology of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramzi Shawahna
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Mohammad Jaber
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; An-Najah National University Hospital, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Aljofan M, Alkhamaiseh S. Prevalence and Factors Influencing Use of Herbal Medicines During Pregnancy in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2020; 20:e71-e76. [PMID: 32190372 PMCID: PMC7065689 DOI: 10.18295/squmj.2020.20.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The increasing prevalence of herbal medicine use is a global public health concern. Critically, many women continue to use herbal medicines during pregnancy despite potential maternofetal risks. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2017. An Arabic-language 33-item survey assessing herbal medicine use was designed and distributed to 879 random women attending outpatient clinics at governmental and private hospitals in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Only women who were pregnant or had been pregnant in the previous 10 years were included. Results The mean age of the participants was 29.5 years, with 49% under 30 years old. Overall, 33% of the respondents claimed to have used herbal medicines during pregnancy. The most common reasons for doing so were to improve lactation (73%), improve the course of the pregnancy (56%) and facilitate labour (49%). Women who worked full-time and those with high school diplomas or above were significantly more likely to use herbal medicines during pregnancy (P <0.001 each). Conclusion To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to determine the prevalence and associated factors of herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Hail. The results showed a high prevalence of herbal medicine use among pregnant women in the region. Healthcare providers should therefore ensure that patients disclose the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy to avoid treatment complications or adverse herb-drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Aljofan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Suhaib Alkhamaiseh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jerash University, Jordan
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Prevalence of use and reported side effects of herbal medicine among adults in Saudi Arabia. Complement Ther Med 2019; 48:102255. [PMID: 31987234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the availability of well characterized and scientifically proven medicines, many people prefer the use of the less known herbal therapies that have no-scientific or evidence-based values as their first line of treatment. While this represents a growing worldwide issue, it is commonly practiced in developing countries including Saudi Arabia. Hence, the aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of herbal medicine use, the most reported side effects and influencing factors in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN A community based cross sectional survey study. SETTINGS Participants were recruited by convenience sampling method from local malls and family recreation sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of herbal medicine use and the associated risks. RESULTS Out of the 1300 surveyed individuals, 1226 respondents (94 %) used herbal medicines for therapeutic purposes with the majority of the respondents using them based on traditional beliefs 699 (57 %) or family recommendations 417 (34 %). Young respondents <35 year olds who live in urban cities, showed a significantly better knowledge about herbal medicines use and the associated risks than their counterparts (p < 0.001). Despite the high percentage of reported side effects (46 %), more than half of the respondents 702 (54 %) use herbal medicines as their first line of therapy. However, the most reported reasons for the use of herbal medicine are the belief that they are safer, more effective and cheaper to buy than the standard medicines. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence use of non-scientifically proven herbal medicine and a low level of knowledge about their risks amongst participants.
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Marupuru S, Axon DR, Slack MK. How do pharmacists use and recommend vitamins, minerals, herbals and other dietary supplements? Altern Ther Health Med 2019; 19:229. [PMID: 31438941 PMCID: PMC6704661 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2637-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including vitamins, minerals, herbals, and other dietary supplements, is widespread in the United States (ranging from 24% in Hispanics to 50% in American Indians). Pharmacists are an accessible source for healthcare information, but little is known about their use of CAM products and to whom they would recommend these products. Methods A cross-sectional survey was sent via email to pharmacists licensed in one state in the United States in 2015. The survey included items about their use of 10 vitamins and minerals, and 21 herbal or other dietary supplements, as well as reasons for use, conditions used to treat, if they would recommend the product to patients, family, or friends, their perception of CAM safety and effectiveness, and four demographic questions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and a chi-square test was used to determine differences between pharmacists’ use of vitamins/minerals and herbals/other dietary supplements. The a priori alpha level was 0.05. Results A total of 639 pharmacists completed the survey. Female pharmacists used vitamins/minerals (p = 0.031) and herbals/others (p = 0.039) more than male pharmacists. Older pharmacists used herbals/others more than younger pharmacists (p < 0.001). Fifty-nine percent thought the dietary supplements in the survey were safe while 32% reported they were effective. Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported use of any vitamin or mineral product versus 42% who reported use of any herbal or other dietary supplement. Commonly used products included: multivitamins (91%), vitamin C (71%), fish oil (65%), probiotics (53%), and fiber (53%). The most commonly reported reason for use was general health and wellness (17–90%). Pharmacists most commonly recommend fiber/psyllium (94%) and calcium (90%) to patients, family, and friends. Conclusions Pharmacists in this survey selectively used vitamins, minerals, herbals and other dietary supplements, and recommended some of the more commonly used products to patients, family and friends. This is valuable information given that pharmacists are frontline healthcare professionals who may be asked to provide advice about these products. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2637-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Samara AM, Barabra ER, Quzaih HN, Zyoud SH. Use and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine among medical students: a cross sectional study from Palestine. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 19:78. [PMID: 30940118 PMCID: PMC6444598 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2492-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Teaching Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in medical schools is becoming prevalent worldwide. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate medical students' knowledge and attitude toward CAM. Therefore, this study was designed to assess CAM knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among Palestinian medical students. METHODS This study was developed in a cross-sectional design. It targeted medical students at An-Najah National University, between January and April of 2018. We gathered the data from students using a questionnaire printed as a hard copy. Medical students of both sexes in their 4th, 5th, or 6th year of studies were included in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of 3 sections: demographic characteristics and detailed practices of the participants, their attitude and held beliefs towards CAM, and their knowledge on CAM. Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test were used to test if there were differences between knowledge about CAM and the characteristics of the participants. RESULTS Of the 300 medical students who were offered the questionnaire, 251 students (43.8% male and 56.2% female) were included in the final analysis. Out of a maximum of 8 points, the mean knowledge score of the participants was 2.0 ± 1.6. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a statistically significant difference in overall knowledge score among students of different year groups, with students at lower levels obtaining higher scores (P < 0.001). Additionally, the highest knowledge scores were found in students with low income, and students who came from the Palestinian refugee camps (P < 0.001). Students frequently recommended CAM modalities, with herbal medicine being the most recognized and used CAM modality and Ayurvedic medicine being the least recognized and recommended one. Social media was the most popular source of information about CAM, cited by 72.9% of the participants. Participants generally had a good attitude towards CAM but held varying beliefs about it. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, a knowledge gap regarding CAM was found among medical students in our sample, despite their good attitude towards the subject. Also, there was a general acceptance to include materials on CAM within the curriculum of medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad M. Samara
- 0000 0004 0631 5695grid.11942.3fDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Ethar R. Barabra
- 0000 0004 0631 5695grid.11942.3fDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Hala N. Quzaih
- 0000 0004 0631 5695grid.11942.3fDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- 0000 0004 0631 5695grid.11942.3fPoison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- 0000 0004 0631 5695grid.11942.3fDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
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Hijazi MA, Shatila H, El-Lakany A, Aboul Ela M, Kharroubi S, Alameddine M, Naja F. Beliefs, practices and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine: national cross-sectional study in Lebanon. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e025074. [PMID: 30852542 PMCID: PMC6429928 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to provide patients with evidence-based information in order to ensure effective and safe use of Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products. OBJECTIVE Assess beliefs, practices and knowledge related to CAM products among community pharmacists in Lebanon. DESIGN, METHODS AND SETTING Using stratified random sampling, a nationally representative survey was conducted among community pharmacists in Lebanon. Through face-to-face interviews, pharmacists completed a multicomponent questionnaire consisting of four sections: (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) beliefs related to regulation of CAM products, role of media in promoting their safe use, availability of resources and continuing education; (3) practices including selling CAM products, providing advice for patients and reporting adverse effects and (4) knowledge about specific CAM products, their uses, side effects and interactions. RESULTS A total of 341 pharmacists agreed to participate (response rate: 86%). Only pharmacists with complete data were included in this study (n=310). Pharmacists agreed that CAM products are effective (63.8%) and that they should be exclusively sold in pharmacies (80.3%), but disagreed that commercially marketed CAM products are well regulated (63.5%) and that media plays a positive role in educating users about these products (55.8%). As for practices, 64.5% of pharmacists were always or often advising patients on safe use; however, 74.2% of participants rarely or never reported adverse effects. Regarding knowledge, although the majority of pharmacists were aware of the uses of CAM products, fewer knew about their side effects and their interactions with drugs. After adjustment for covariates, receiving education/training on CAM products during university was the sole predictor of higher knowledge score (ß=0.68, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.07). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed positive beliefs of pharmacists in Lebanon towards CAM products and indicated important gaps in their practice and knowledge. Deliberate efforts to enhance the education of pharmacists are warranted to ensure the safe integration and use of CAM products in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Ali Hijazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hibeh Shatila
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdalla El-Lakany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maha Aboul Ela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samer Kharroubi
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Alameddine
- Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Strategy & Institutional Excellence, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences College of Medicine, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah Naja
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Salman Popattia A, Winch S, La Caze A. Ethical responsibilities of pharmacists when selling complementary medicines: a systematic review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE 2018; 26:93-103. [DOI: 10.1111/ijpp.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
The widespread sale of complementary medicines in community pharmacy raises important questions regarding the responsibilities of pharmacists when selling complementary medicines. This study reviews the academic literature that explores a pharmacist’s responsibilities when selling complementary medicines.
Methods
International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Embase, PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO and Philosopher’s index databases were searched for articles written in English and published between 1995 and 2017. Empirical studies discussing pharmacists’ practices or perceptions, consumers’ expectations and normative studies discussing ethical perspectives or proposing ethical frameworks related to pharmacists’ responsibilities in selling complementary medicines were included in the review.
Key findings
Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies discussing the responsibilities of pharmacists selling complementary medicines had an empirical focus. Pharmacists and consumers identified counselling and ensuring safe use of complementary medicines as the primary responsibilities of pharmacists. No formal ethical framework is explicitly employed to describe the responsibilities of pharmacists selling complementary medicines. To the degree any ethical framework is employed, a number of papers implicitly rely on principlism. The studies discussing the ethical perspectives of selling complementary medicines mainly describe the ethical conflict between a pharmacist’s business and health professional role. No attempt is made to provide guidance on appropriate ways to resolve the conflict.
Conclusion
There is a lack of explicit normative advice in the existing literature regarding the responsibilities of pharmacists selling complementary medicines. This review identifies the need to develop a detailed practice-specific ethical framework to guide pharmacists regarding their responsibilities when selling complementary medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Winch
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adam La Caze
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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