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Ahmad NS, Karuppiah K, Praveena SM, Ali NF, Ramdas M, Mohammad Yusof NAD. Cracking the code: uncovering the factors that drive COVID-19 standard operating procedures compliance among school management in Malaysia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:556. [PMID: 38177620 PMCID: PMC10766613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49968-4] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaysia's government's decision to reopen schools during the COVID-19 outbreak, especially for students taking important exams, has alarmed the public. However, the Ministry of Education has implemented a COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for educational institutions. The school management's ability to protect children from COVID-19 rests on their understanding, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 SOP compliance. This study investigated Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya school management's COVID-19 SOP compliance determinants. Multistage sampling was used to sample 740 school management from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Selangor. A self-administered questionnaire collected sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle data, knowledge, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 SOP compliance. The school management had good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 SOP. Monthly income, school location, smoking status, and physical activity differed significantly from KAP (p < 0.05). The correlation between KAP showed a significant relationship with the values (r = 0.348, p < 0.001) and (r = 0.358, p = 0.003). Nine independent variables strongly predicted SOPs compliance practice in multiple linear regression: knowledge, attitude, age, source of knowledge; Ministry of Health, physical activities, type of infectious disease exposed; Tuberculosis and Measles (p < 0.05). The data indicate that school management exhibits good knowledge, attitude, and compliance with SOPs during the pandemic. School management oversees SOPs, and to keep schools safe, management must analyse hazards and take action. Therefore, knowledge and attitude are expected to determine factors of practice toward COVID-19 SOP compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Sakinah Ahmad
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Karmegam Karuppiah
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Sarva Mangala Praveena
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nina Fatma Ali
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Murugadas Ramdas
- Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Nur Athirah Diyana Mohammad Yusof
- Engineering and Technology Department, Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Mudenda S, Daka V, Mufwambi W, Matafwali SK, Chabalenge B, Skosana P, Mfune RL, Kasanga M, Okonji OC, Mayoka G, Kampamba M, Hikaambo CN, Mukosha M, Kanaan MHG, Zikalala-Mabope LA, Sinkamba G, Okoro RN, Chulu M, Godman B, Fadare J. Student's perspectives, satisfaction and experiences with online and classroom learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings and implications on blended learning. SAGE Open Med 2023; 11:20503121231218904. [PMID: 38146495 PMCID: PMC10749517 DOI: 10.1177/20503121231218904] [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: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted classroom-based learning, necessitating the adoption of online learning in most universities. However, there has been a lack of information on university students' perspectives regarding online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the perspectives, satisfaction and experiences with online and classroom learning among human health students at the University of Zambia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 737 students at the University of Zambia from October 2022 to April 2023. Data were analysed using Stata version 16.1. Results Of the 737 participants, 51.6% were female and 56.5% agreed that blended learning should continue even after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 78.4% of the students believed that group discussions were more suitable in the classroom than online learning. Most students (67.1%) disagreed that they preferred online learning to classroom learning. Furthermore, 77.6% of the students disagreed that online learning gave more satisfaction than classroom learning. Conclusions This study found that most students recommended the continuation of blended learning after the pandemic. However, they believed that follow-up tutorials and assessments were better undertaken in physical classrooms than online learning. These findings are important in sensitising stakeholders in the education sector and governments to consider blended learning as a teaching strategy in the future. There is a need to develop and implement curricula that offer blended learning to students as well as ensure the students have the necessary facilities and equipment to support such learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steward Mudenda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Victor Daka
- Department of Public Health, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Webrod Mufwambi
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Scott Kaba Matafwali
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Billy Chabalenge
- Department of Medicines Control, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Phumzile Skosana
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ruth Lindizyani Mfune
- Department of Public Health, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Maisa Kasanga
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | | | - Godfrey Mayoka
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Martin Kampamba
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Moses Mukosha
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | | | - George Sinkamba
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Roland Nnaemeka Okoro
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Martha Chulu
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Joseph Fadare
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University College of Medicine, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
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Alrasheedy AA. Trends, Capacity Growth, and Current State of Community Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: Findings and Implications of a 16-Year Retrospective Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:2833-2847. [PMID: 38146313 PMCID: PMC10749569 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s443325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Community pharmacies provide access to medicines and pharmaceutical services. Consequently, adequate availability and sufficient workforce capacity must be ensured for effective healthcare delivery. This study assessed the community pharmacy sector in Saudi Arabia, including density, workforce capacity, and evolution from 2007 to 2022. Methods This retrospective study measured community pharmacy infrastructure and workforce capacity using international indicators and standardized measures, including community pharmacy and community pharmacist density per 10,000 people and ratio of community pharmacists per pharmacy. Several data sources and platforms were used to collect the data including the Ministry of Health, Saudi General Authority for Statistics, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Results The number of community pharmacies increased by 89.30%, from 5466 in 2007 to 10,347 in 2022, and density increased from 2.25 to 3.22. However, density varied by region, from 3.97 to 1.95. The number of community pharmacists increased by 98.02%, from 10,932 in 2007 to 21,648 in 2022, and community pharmacist density increased from 4.51 to 6.73. However, the ratio of community pharmacists per pharmacy remained unchanged (2.0 in 2007 and 2.1 in 2022). Female pharmacists were first issued licenses to practice in community pharmacies in 2016, and the proportion of female pharmacists to total increased from 0.29% (n=42) in 2016 to 10.95% (n=2370) in 2022. The nationalization policy for community pharmacies was implemented in 2020, and the proportion of Saudi pharmacists increased from 3.08% (n=581) in 2019 to 19.90% (n=4306) in 2022, while proportion of expatriate pharmacists decreased from 96.92% (n=18,292) to 80.10% (n=17,342). Conclusion The findings showed that the community pharmacy sector in Saudi Arabia recently experienced substantial growth comparable to high-income countries. However, further improvements are required in some regions to increase community pharmacy density. Moreover, the ratio of pharmacists per pharmacy should be improved to meet the healthcare system needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alian A Alrasheedy
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, 51452, Saudi Arabia
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Ma S, Ge J, Qi Y, Du L, Han Y, Xie Z, Li X, Li H, Chen Z, Chen X, Tang X, Li J, Li J, Xiao Q, Wu Y, Gao Y, Li W, Liu L, Jia Y. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Attitudes of Medical Students: A Pre-Post-Like Study. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e555. [PMID: 38053415 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.213] [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] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assesses the difference in professional attitudes among medical students, both before and after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and identifies the determinants closely associated with it, while providing precise and scientific evidence for implementing precision education on such professional attitudes. METHODS A pre-post-like study was conducted among medical students in 31 provinces in mainland China, from March 23, to April 19, 2021. RESULTS The proportion of medical students whose professional attitudes were disturbed after the COVID-19 pandemic, was significantly lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 15.6216; P < 0.0001). Compared with the "undisturbed -undisturbed" group, the "undisturbed-disturbed" group showed that there was a 1.664-fold risk of professional attitudes disturbed as grade increased, 3.269-fold risk when others suggested they choose a medical career rather than their own desire, and 7.557-fold risk for students with COVID-19 in their family, relatives, or friends; while the "disturbed-undisturbed" group showed that students with internship experience for professional attitudes strengthened was 2.933-fold than those without internship experience. CONCLUSIONS The professional attitudes of medical students have been strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results provide evidence of the importance of education on professional attitudes among medical students during public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuli Ma
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jie Ge
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yanbo Qi
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Linlin Du
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yunfeng Han
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Zhiping Xie
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xingsan Li
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Hongjie Li
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Sanitary Analysis Center, Scientific Research Office, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiaowei Tang
- Sanitary Analysis Center, Scientific Research Office, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jiyuan Li
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jiping Li
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Qiong Xiao
- School of Nursing, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yu Wu
- School of Nursing, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Ying Gao
- School of mental health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Wenting Li
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Modern Educational Technology Center, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yuehui Jia
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
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Elnour AA, Abou Hajal A, Goaddar R, Elsharkawy N, Mousa S, Dabbagh N, Mohamad Al Qahtani M, Al Balooshi S, Othman Al Damook N, Sadeq A. Exploring the pharmacy students' perspectives on off-campus online learning experiences amid COVID-19 crises: A cross-sectional survey. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:1339-1350. [PMID: 37287508 PMCID: PMC10232921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pandemic of COVID-19 has placed many challenges for pharmacy students' learning experiences via the online e- system. There is paucity of studies that addresses this in colleges of pharmacies in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Objective We have explored the preparedness, attitudes, experiences, and barriers/facilitators, and delineated factors that may affect the pharmacy students' e-learning process amid the COVID-19 crises. Methods The current study was cross-sectional, and survey-based (anonymously self-administered) that utilized theoretical domains framework. The survey (multiple statements) was comprised of four domains (based on theoretical domain framework) that has elaborated on the preparedness, attitudes, experiences and barriers for the pharmacy students' e-learning (all years and interns). The validated (Cronbach Alfa 0.821) and piloted survey posted to the Google form and a link distributed to the pharmacy students. The survey was comprised of four domains (34 statements), distributed as five in preparedness, eleven in attitude, eleven in the experiences, and seven in the barriers/facilitators (theoretical domains framework). Outcome measure The primary outcome was the total sum of scores of individual statements and each individual four domain of the questionnaire (preparedness, attitude, experiences, and barriers/facilitators). Results Two hundred thirty respondents participated in the survey (230/400, response rate 57.5%), of which 193 were females (83.9%) versus 37 males (16.1%). The mean age (years) was 19.9 ± 1.9 (males 19.8 ± 1.6 and females 20.0 ± 1.9). The mean total score for preparedness Q1 to Q5 (domain maximum score 25); and for the attitude Q6 to Q16 (domain maximum score of 60) were 14.9 ± 3.8 (95% CI 14.4 - 15.4; P < 0.05), 29.5 ± 7.4 (95% CI 28.6 - 30.5; P < 0.05) respectively. While for the experiences Q17 to Q27 (domain maximum score 55); and for the barriers/facilitators Q28 to Q34 (domain maximum score 30) 40.1 ± 8.0 (95% CI 39.1 - 41.1; P < 0.0001), and 20.9 ± 4.9 (95% CI 20.3-21.5;P < 0.05) respectively. Conclusion Our pharmacy students support the use of e-learning in pharmacy education, and seems prepared for the future technology moves in education. The colleges of pharmacies need to conduct further research on versatile innovative models such as virtual learning/artificial intelligence that fits with their students' perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asim Ahmed Elnour
- Program of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University (AAU), Abu Dhabi campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Centre, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdalla Abou Hajal
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Centre, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University (AAU), Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | | | - Nour Dabbagh
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Sara Al Balooshi
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Adel Sadeq
- Program of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Wassef O, Elgendy S, Dawah AELM, Elawady M, Khedr E. Effect of a health education program about COVID-19 on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of paramedical students in Egypt: an interventional study. J Public Health Afr 2023; 14:2322. [PMID: 37441116 PMCID: PMC10334433 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2322] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In December 2019, an outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has been reported in China. Objective This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of Benha Health Technical Institute (BHTI) students and to evaluate the impact of a health education program about COVID-19 on their KAP. Methods This is an interventional study that recruited 398 students from BHTI and was conducted in 3 phases. Firstly, an assessment of students' KAP was done using a structured questionnaire concerning COVID-19. Secondly, an education program about COVID-19 was conducted. Lastly, the reassessment of KAP was carried out using the same questionnaire after one month. Results The median knowledge, attitude, and practice scores among the studied students in the pre-interventional stage were 12, 15, and 26 which had significantly increased to 15, 16, and 28 respectively after the intervention. The knowledge score of the participants was significantly affected by students' age and grade of education; the attitude score was affected by age, gender, and grade of education, while the practice score was only affected by participants' age. Conclusion The educational program significantly increased the KAP of BHTI students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Enjy Khedr
- Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, 13518 Benha, Qualybeia, Egypt. +20.1289239656.
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Alrasheedy AA, Aldawsari AH, Alqasir MI, Alsawyan OA, Alalwan OA, Alwaker SA, Almutairi MS, Godman B. Knowledge of Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia Regarding Human Monkeypox, Its Management, Prevention, and Vaccination: Findings and Implications. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040878. [PMID: 37112790 PMCID: PMC10143221 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Many cases of monkeypox have recently been reported in countries where this disease is not endemic, raising a global health concern. Consequently, healthcare professionals (HCPs), including pharmacists, need to be aware of the disease, its prevention, including the role of vaccines, and its management to reduce transmission. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among conveniently sampled community pharmacists in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 189 community pharmacists participated in the study, giving a response rate of 72.97%. From these, 86.77% were male, 51.32% were ≤30 years old, 36.51% were aged between 31-40 years, and 43.39% had 1-5 years of experience as community pharmacists. Their overall knowledge was 17.72 ± 5.56 out of a maximum of 28. The overall rate of correct answers for the knowledge statements was 63.29%, with 52.4% answering ≥50-<75% of the knowledge questions correctly and 31.2% answering ≥75% of the questions correctly. The knowledge subdomain related to diagnosis and clinical characteristics recorded the highest score, with the subdomain relating to causative pathogens and epidemiology recording a lower score. Overall, community pharmacists had moderate knowledge of monkeypox and its clinical management, prevention, and the role of vaccines, which is a concern for the future. Consequently, tailored, flexible, and timely educational interventions are needed to ensure that HCPs, including community pharmacists, are fully equipped with the latest evidence-based knowledge regarding this viral disease to reduce transmission and improve care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alian A Alrasheedy
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman H Aldawsari
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Munyib I Alqasir
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar A Alsawyan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama A Alalwan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alwaker
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Masaad S Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
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Anaam MS, Alsahali S. Gender Differences in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diseases 2023; 11:diseases11020063. [PMID: 37092445 PMCID: PMC10123700 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11020063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic, Saudi Arabia took preventative and precautionary measures to avoid its spread and to safeguard its citizens. In this study, we investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of both men and women toward COVID-19 as well as associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online, self-report questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. The overall percentage of correct answers for the knowledge statements was 80.2%, with a higher rate among the female respondents (82.4% vs. 78.5%, p = 0.005). Slightly more than half (i.e., 165: 51.6%) of the participants showed that they did not go to crowded places during the pandemic; however, more female respondents recorded that they avoided crowded places than male respondents (57.7% vs. 46.2%, p = 0.04). Most participants (i.e., 272: 85.0%) reported that they had worn a mask in recent days, and more than two-thirds (84.4%) said that they still follow the strategies recommended by government authorities to prevent the spread of the virus. Again, more female respondents reported this than males (89.9% vs. 79.5%; p = 0.01). Significant correlations (p < 001) were noted between knowledge and practices (r = 0.31), knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.37), and attitudes and practices (r = 0.29). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, occupation and education were independently associated with knowledge among both the male and female respondents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-7.2; aOR: 5.9; 95% CI: 2.2-15.9). Residence was independently associated with attitudes, but only among the male respondents (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.9), and COVID-19 was independently associated with practices among both the male and female respondents (aOR: 4.5; 95% CI: 1.4-14.2; aOR: 9.8; 95% CI: 1.2-81.2). There were significant gender differences in both knowledge and practices toward COVID-19, with the female respondents achieving better scores than the male respondents. Thus, we recommend that health education campaigns are tailored to specifically target males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Saif Anaam
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, P.O. Box 5888, Unaizah 51911, Saudi Arabia
- Al-Rowaad Medical College, Department of Pharmacy Practice, P.O. Box 8892, Sana'a 5696, Yemen
| | - Saud Alsahali
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, P.O. Box 5888, Unaizah 51911, Saudi Arabia
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Gesese AA, Thot TD. "Face mask utilization and associated factors among students: Mixed methods study". Interact J Med Res 2023; 12:e41365. [PMID: 37130014 DOI: 10.2196/41365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corona virus disease has gravely affected the world including students due to the high level of contracting an infection. OBJECTIVE Thus, this study assessed the magnitude of mask utilization and associated factors among students. METHODS a cross-sectional study using mixed methods was conducted among students in Gambella Teachers' Education and Health Science College, Gambella Region, Southwest Ethiopia from March 5 to March 30, 2021. Stratified random sampling technique was employed. Proportional allocation of samples was used to the randomly selected case teams, and a simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit the students. The data were collected by trained and experienced enumerators. Data were entered in to Epi Data version 3.1and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Logistic regression was executed. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to see the association and strength with the outcome variable. The qualitative data were transcribed, translated, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Then, the themes were used to triangulate the quantitative study. RESULTS The study included a total of 379 participants yielding a response rate of 95.5%. The majority of study participants were greater than 25 years of age with the mean age of 26.34 ±5.8 (SD). This study found that the magnitude of mask utilization among students was 87%. The odds of mask utilization among female students AOR=3.32 95 CI: (1.191, 9.248), younger age AOR=2.55,95 CI: (1.155,5.627), not all persons with COVID-19 develop severe cases AOR=3.38 95 CI: (1.36,8.41), who say yes has currently no effective cure AOR=6.28 95 CI:(1.36,28.99), proper washing with soap and water AOR=0.027,95 CI:(0.004,0.182), have started to stay home AOR=0.168, 95 CI: (0.054,0.52), COVID-19 is fatal AOR=0.236, 95 CI:(0.084,0.666), flu vaccine is sufficient for COVID-19 prevention AOR=3.874, 95 CI(1.540, 9.749), disinfect equipment and working area at least once a day AOR=0.222, 95, CI(0.086, 0.575) were associated with mask utilization. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the magnitude of mask utilization among students was relatively moderate in Ethiopia. Sex, age, not all persons with COVID-19 develop severe cases, currently, no effective cure, proper washing with soap and water, have started to stay home, COVID-19 is fatal, and the flu vaccine is sufficient to prevent COVID-19 were independently associated with mask utilization among students. Therefore, the college should aggressively encourage students to wear mask, monitor the implementation of COVID-19 prevention regulations along with the accessibility of masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abreha Addis Gesese
- Department of Clinical nursing, Gambella Teachers Education and Health Science College, Gambella town, Gambella, South West Ethiopia, Gambella,no, Gambella, ET
| | - Tut Duer Thot
- School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia, Harar, ET
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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the General Population in Yemen Regarding COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diseases 2023; 11:diseases11010017. [PMID: 36810531 PMCID: PMC9944951 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11010017] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following the World Health Organization declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, Yemen has taken preventive and precautionary measures against COVID-19 to control its spread. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the Yemeni public regarding COVID-19. METHODS A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted during the period from September 2021 to October 2021. RESULTS The mean total knowledge score was 9.50 ± 2.12. The majority of the participants (93.4%) were aware that to prevent infection by the COVID-19 virus, going to crowded places and gatherings should be avoided. Approximately two thirds of the participants (69.4%) believed COVID-19 is a health threat to their community. However, in terms of actual behavior, only 23.1% of the participants reported that they did not go to any crowded places during the pandemic, and only 23.8% had worn a mask in recent days. Moreover, only about half (49.9%) reported that they were following the strategies recommended by the authorities to prevent the spread of the virus. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the general public has good knowledge and positive attitudes regarding COVID-19, but that their practices are poor.
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11
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Mallhi TH, Ahmad N, Salman M, Tanveer N, Shah S, Butt MH, Alatawi AD, Alotaibi NH, Rahman HU, Alzarea AI, Alanazi AS, Alzahrani MS, Alshehri S, Aljabri A, Khan YH. Estimation of Psychological Impairment and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Large Regional Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14282. [PMID: 36361173 PMCID: PMC9656215 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures have substantially affected educational processes around the globe, resulting in psychological distress among students. The mental health of students in higher education is of paramount importance, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this vulnerable population into renewed focus. In this context, the evaluation of students' mental health at educational institutes has gained invaluable popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to ascertain the psychological health and coping strategies among students from a higher education institute in Saudi Arabia. METHODS An online study instrument was used to assess anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), post-traumatic stress disorder-PTSD (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R) and coping strategies (Brief-COPE). The severity of the psychological distress was classified as per the scoring criteria and correlated with demographics using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS Of 1074 students (age 21.1 ± 2.1 years), 12.9% and 9.7% had severe anxiety and depression, respectively. The mean anxiety and depression scores were 7.50 ± 5.51 and 9.31 ± 6.72, respectively. About one-third (32%) of students reported suicidal ideation, with 8.4% students having such thoughts nearly every day. The average PTSD score was 21.64 ± 17.63, where avoidance scored higher (8.10 ± 6.94) than intrusion and hyperarousal. There was no association of anxiety, depression and PTSD score with the demographics of the study participants. Religious/spiritual coping (5.43 ± 2.15) was the most adoptive coping mechanism, followed by acceptance (5.15 ± 2.10). Male students were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with active copings, instrumental support, planning, humor, acceptance and religious coping. Substance use was the least adopted coping strategy but practiced by a considerable number of students. CONCLUSIONS The long-lasting pandemic situation, onerous protective measures and uncertainties in educational procedures have resulted in a high prevalence of psychological ailments among university students, as indicated in this study. These findings accentuate the urgent need for telepsychiatry and appropriate population-specific mental health services to assess the extent of psychological impairment and to leverage positive coping behaviors among students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Salman
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Nida Tanveer
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Shahid Shah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hammad Butt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ahmed D. Alatawi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasser Hadal Alotaibi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hidayat Ur Rahman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdullah Salah Alanazi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Saeed Alzahrani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameer Alshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Aljabri
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yusra Habib Khan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Salama A, Altaif K. Challenges to Online Pharmacy Classes during COVID 19 Pandemic: cross sectional study in Jordan. PHARMACIA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/pharmacia.69.e86842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Covid 19 pandemic has had a strong influence on all aspects of life . One of these influence is education. The academic authorities in Jordan as in elsewhere across the world have shifted their method of teaching to online class. After four semester of online teaching it’s important for both teaching staff and students of pharmacy faculties to assess the trends and the preference of students to different methods of online teaching. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the COVID19 pandemic on online education for pharmacy students in Jordan’s faculties of pharmacy.
Methods: We emailed a survey to the majority of students in Jordan’s pharmacy faculties during january and february 2022.
Results: We received 230 responses, with 87.2 percent of respondents being female and the majority of the students being pharmacy students. Among the 230 respondents, 75% said they liked combining online and face-to-face training, while 13% said they preferred face-to-face instruction and only 12% said they favored online learning. The major challenges in online teaching during the pandemic are issues with in-person communication (87 percent), student assessment (65 percent) and use of technology tools (35 percent).
Conclusion: Due to the fact that the survey was conducted during the fourth semester with the COVID 19 pandemic, and most students have gained confidence in using online technology and the university IT support, one can conclude that pharmacy students have a high level of confidence in the effectiveness of online pharmacy education.
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Exploring the knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness: A prescriptive insight by the community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273209. [PMID: 36006935 PMCID: PMC9409571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter many of the factors that cause threats and high-risk outcomes. Their preparedness and awareness may also help health practitioners and governments to improve disaster response planning. Objectives This aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method A cross-sectional study was conducted over the ten months among licensed community pharmacists who had three months’ professional experience or more. Face-to-face interviews were carried out and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors influencing aboucine preparedness and readiness. SPSS Version 24 was used to analyze the data collected. Results A total of 500 community pharmacists participated in the study. The average knowledge score was 25.6% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [21.7%, 29.4%]. Better knowledge scores were observed in the male gender (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.05–3.72), participants aged ≥ 31 years old (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.16–7.6), postgraduates (OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.6–7.3), participants from independent Pharmacies (OR 6.5; 95% CI 4.04–10.4 3), chief pharmacists (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.86–5.07), participants with 16 years and more experience years (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.063–5.522) and participants who graduated from regional/international universities (OR 5.92; 95% CI 2.65–13.2). Better attitude and practice about disaster medicine preparedness were observed in postgraduates (OR 2.54; 95% CI 1.26–pharmacists from independent pharmacies (OR 1.35; 95% CI 2.43–2,.66), and chief pharmacists (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.17–1.35). Conclusions It’s essential to provide a continuing education program using different educational strategies urgently needed to improve community pharmacy competencies (e.g. knowledge attitudes, and perceptions) to improve the skills and practices regarding disaster medicine preparedness and readiness.
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Mwai J, Mutai J, Kaduka L, Abdi M, Ahmed I, Ndemwa P, Nyole D, Omogi J. Association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge and practice of COVID-19 measures among households in Mombasa and Kilifi County, Kenya. Int Health 2022; 15:318-325. [PMID: 35901267 PMCID: PMC9384618 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a severe acute respiratory disease. The Kenyan Ministry of Health (MoH) put in place measures that included mandatory face masking, hand and cough hygiene and social and physical distancing to reduce disease transmission and increase prevention efforts. The primary objective of this study was to determine how sociodemographic characteristics affect knowledge and practice of the above measures. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess water, sanitation and hygiene practices for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties, Kenya. Data collection was accomplished through a mobile data collection tool. Principal component analysis was used to create a wealth index using data on asset ownership and housing characteristics. Bloom cut-off points of 80-100%, 60-79% and ≤59% were used to determine knowledge and practice. RESULTS Of the 612 households, 339 (55.4%) were from Kilifi County and 273 (44.6%) were from Mombasa County. A total of 431 (70.4%) were female and the mean age of the household members was 38.2±14.8 y.Almost all (99.2%) respondents were aware of COVID-19, with 60% knowing prevention, symptoms and persons at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Females had the highest knowledge of COVID-19 and were likely to practice prevention and control measures, unlike males. Age was significant (p<0.05) with knowledge and practice. CONCLUSIONS The sociodemographic characteristics of populations play a key role in behavioural aspects as far as prevention and control of COVID-19 are concerned. There is a need for partnerships between the MoH and county governments to put in place a multisectoral community approach to advance feasible behavioural interventions among targeted populations towards combating the spread of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mwai
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | - J Mutai
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | - L Kaduka
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | - M Abdi
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | - I Ahmed
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | - P Ndemwa
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
| | | | - J Omogi
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
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Courtney J, Titus-Lay E, Malhotra A, Nehira J, Mohamed I, Mente W, Le U, Buckley L, Feng X, Vinall R. COVID-19-Driven Improvements and Innovations in Pharmacy Education: A Scoping Review. PHARMACY 2022; 10:pharmacy10030060. [PMID: 35736775 PMCID: PMC9227261 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy10030060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to many colleges of pharmacy having to make major changes relating to their infrastructure and delivery of their curriculum within a very short time frame, including the transition of many components to an online setting. This scoping review sought to summarize what is known about the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy education and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies which were put in place. PubMed, Web of Science, OVID Medline, and MedEdPortal were searched to identify pharmacy education-related articles published since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For article inclusion, the following criteria had to be met: described original research, related directly to PharmD or PharmBS education, related to the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy education, and was available in English. Out of a total of 813 articles, 50 primary research articles were selected for inclusion. Our review of these identified four domains relating to the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy education and/or effectiveness of adaptation strategies: (1) lab-based courses and activities (including interprofessional education activities), (2) experiential education, (3) didactic education, and (4) student well-being. The key research findings are summarized and discussed. While the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly brought many challenges to pharmacy education, it has also led to key improvements and innovations.
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16
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Ahmed HM. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among male medical students, Egypt. J Egypt Public Health Assoc 2022; 97:8. [PMID: 35175444 PMCID: PMC8853074 DOI: 10.1186/s42506-022-00103-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures is essential for disease control especially given the lack of effective treatment at the time of data collection. Medical students' adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures is highly important because they are at a higher risk of infection as they spend considerable time at hospitals for training. In addition, they will be responsible for disease fighting in the future. This study aimed to identify the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among the studied male students of Al-Azhar Faculty of Medicine, Egypt. METHODS An online survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 537 male medical students of Al-Azhar University at the Cairo branch between March 2 and April 15, 2021, using an Arabic questionnaire constructed by Google form with link sharing to students' groups on WhatsApp and face book applications. RESULTS A total of 537 students voluntarily submitted their responses. Most of these students were aged between 18 and 20 years (62.4%), rural residents (62.9%), having family income of 5000 LE or less/month (64.2%), studying at the first, second, and sixth years (79.2%). The prevalence of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among studied students was 28.1% without significant difference in the students' adherence status regarding age, residence, family income, studying year, or academic score. Wearing a face mask outside the house was practiced by 58% of students, avoiding hugging or kissing others (41.3%), and keeping a distance from others (20.7%). CONCLUSION Students showed a low level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among students. Also, there is no significant difference between students' adherence status in relation to their socio-economic or academic variables. This unhealthy behavior increases the risk of infection among students. Also, students become a source of infection for their vulnerable contacts. More studies are needed to identify the real cause of this low level of adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haytham Mahmoud Ahmed
- grid.411303.40000 0001 2155 6022Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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17
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Ether SA, Emon FA, Roknuzzaman ASM, Rakibuzzaman M, Rahman FI, Islam MR. A cross-sectional study of COVID-19-related knowledge, risk perceptions, and preventive practices among pharmacy students in Bangladesh. SAGE Open Med 2022; 10:20503121211073014. [PMID: 35070313 PMCID: PMC8777339 DOI: 10.1177/20503121211073014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is a threat to public health that impacts the life of frontline pharmacists as they are more susceptible to getting infected by the coronavirus. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, risk perceptions, and preventive practices associated with coronavirus disease 2019 among pharmacy students of Bangladesh to evaluate their preparedness as future frontline workers against the ongoing pandemic. METHODS An online-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacy undergraduate students of Bangladesh during the early months of the pandemic in April 2020. Respondents voluntarily submitted an online questionnaire regarding sociodemographics, knowledge, risk perceptions, and preventive practices related to coronavirus disease 2019. RESULTS A total of 418 participants submitted their responses, and we included 395 responses for final analysis. The mean age of the participants was 20.65 years. The study revealed that out of 395 pharmacy students, 68 (17.2%) had high levels of knowledge, 210 (53.2%) possessed high risk perceptions regarding coronavirus disease 2019, and 165 (41.7%) were adopting high levels of preventive practices. Average scores for knowledge, risk perceptions, and preventive practices were 5.7, 8.4, and 8.2 out of 10. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses showed that having high knowledge levels was associated with high risk perceptions regarding coronavirus disease 2019. Similarly, higher risk perceptions were associated with having high knowledge and preventive measures, while higher preventive measures were associated with female gender, low monthly family income, and having high risk perceptions. CONCLUSION We found moderate knowledge, risk perceptions, and preventive practices related to coronavirus disease 2019 among the undergraduate pharmacy students. We recommend awareness-building discussions or seminars focusing on pharmacy students. In addition, the upgradation of the existing curriculum may help future pharmacists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Afruz Ether
- Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil
International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Faisal Abdullah Emon
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and
Pharmacology, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - ASM Roknuzzaman
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rakibuzzaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil
International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahad Imtiaz Rahman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and
Pharmacology, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rabiul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Haque M, Godman B, Chowdhury K, Etando A, Kumar S, Lugova H, Shahwan M, Škrbic R, Jairoun A. The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of healthcare professionals, especially in low- and middle-income countries. ADVANCES IN HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/aihb.aihb_60_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Koni A, Taha S, Daifallah A, Koni M, Abutaha S, Sabateen A, Zyoud SH. A cross-sectional evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceived challenges among Palestinian pharmacists regarding COVID-19. SAGE Open Med 2022; 10:20503121211069278. [PMID: 35070309 PMCID: PMC8771730 DOI: 10.1177/20503121211069278] [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: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceived challenges regarding coronavirus disease 2019 among pharmacists in Palestine. METHODS An online method was used to collect the data. Three hundred sixty-four pharmacists participated in the study from all areas in the Palestinian territories. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: sociodemographics; knowledge, attitudes, practices regarding coronavirus disease 2019; and barriers that prevent the implementation of infection control measures. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program Version 21 was used to analyze the data. Variables were expressed as frequencies, percentages, mean, and median. The chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's test were applied, along with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The median age of the participants was 29 years old, and most of them were female (70.9%). The analysis found that 76.4% of pharmacists had good knowledge regarding coronavirus disease 2019, and 52.7% had good practices. The median attitude score recorded by the participants was 32 points [Q1-Q3: 30-34] out of 35. Notably, the level of concern regarding coronavirus disease 2019 was significantly associated with all three tools of measurement; knowledge (p = 0.001), attitudes (p = 0.001), and practices (p = 0.001). It also appears that more years of experience had higher odds (3-5 years of experience: odds ratio, 2.560; 95% confidence interval, 1.413-4.639; p = 0.002, more than 5 years: odds ratio, 2.931; 95% confidence interval, 1.188-7.232; p = 0.020) of good practice. CONCLUSION Although an acceptable level of knowledge was found, it might be considered inadequate. Moreover, there is a lack of appropriate adherence to safety measures from pharmacists. Therefore, we recommend the responsible authorities generate an organized training program to expand pharmacists' knowledge and experience regarding coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer Koni
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Hematology and Oncology Department, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
- Amer Koni, Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Hematology and Oncology Department, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus 44839, Palestine.
| | - Sari Taha
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Aiman Daifallah
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mouath Koni
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Shatha Abutaha
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Ali Sabateen
- Infectious Diseases Unit, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
- Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
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20
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Haque M, Godman B, Sharma P, Chowdhury K, Kumar S, Bhatt R, Hirani T, Duseja S, Lutfor A, Etando A, Škrbić R, Shahwan M, Jairoun A. A pilot study regarding the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare education in India and the implications. ADVANCES IN HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/aihb.aihb_34_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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21
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Etando A, Amu AA, Haque M, Schellack N, Kurdi A, Alrasheedy AA, Timoney A, Mwita JC, Rwegerera GM, Patrick O, Niba LL, Boahen-Boaten BB, Tabi FB, Amu OY, Acolatse J, Incoom R, Sefah IA, Guantai AN, Opanga S, Chikowe I, Khuluza F, Kibuule D, Kalemeera F, Hango E, Lates J, Fadare J, Ogunleye OO, Saleem Z, Oosthuizen F, Cordier W, Matlala M, Meyer JC, Schellack G, Massele A, Malande OO, Kalungia AC, Sichone J, Banda SS, Zaranyika T, Campbell S, Godman B. Challenges and Innovations Brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic Regarding Medical and Pharmacy Education Especially in Africa and Implications for the Future. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1722. [PMID: 34946448 PMCID: PMC8701006 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9121722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple measures introduced early to restrict COVID-19 have dramatically impacted the teaching of medical and pharmacy students, exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic. In addition, the costs and reliability of the Internet across Africa pose challenges alongside undertaking clinical teaching and practical programmes. Consequently, there is a need to understand the many challenges and how these were addressed, given increasingly complex patients, to provide future direction. METHOD An exploratory study was conducted among senior-level medical and pharmacy educators across Africa, addressing four key questions, including the challenges resulting from the pandemic and how these were dealt with. RESULTS Staff and student members faced multiple challenges initially, including adapting to online learning. In addition, concerns with the lack of equipment (especially among disadvantaged students), the costs of Internet bundles, and how to conduct practicals and clinical teaching. Multiple activities were undertaken to address these challenges. These included training sessions, developing innovative approaches to teaching, and seeking ways to reduce Internet costs. Robust approaches to practicals, clinical teaching, and assessments have been developed. CONCLUSIONS Appreciable difficulties to teaching arising from the pandemic are being addressed across Africa. Research is ongoing to improve education and assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayukafangha Etando
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Adefolarin A Amu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Mainul Haque
- Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai, Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Natalie Schellack
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Prinshof Campus, University of Pretoria, Arcadia 0083, South Africa
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, P.O. Box 178, Erbil 44001, Iraq
| | - Alian A Alrasheedy
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angela Timoney
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Chair SIGN Council, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Edinburgh EH12 9EB, UK
| | - Julius C Mwita
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Okwen Patrick
- Effective Basic Services (eBASE) Africa, Ndamukong Street, Bamenda, Cameroon
- Adelaide University, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Loveline Lum Niba
- Effective Basic Services (eBASE) Africa, Ndamukong Street, Bamenda, Cameroon
- Department of Public Health, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon
| | - Baffour Boaten Boahen-Boaten
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Felicity Besong Tabi
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Olufunke Y Amu
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Joseph Acolatse
- Pharmacy Directorate, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Robert Incoom
- Pharmacy Directorate, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Israel Abebrese Sefah
- Pharmacy Practice Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Anastasia Nkatha Guantai
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202 KNH, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - Sylvia Opanga
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202 KNH, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - Ibrahim Chikowe
- Pharmacy Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Felix Khuluza
- Pharmacy Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Dan Kibuule
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10000, Namibia
| | - Francis Kalemeera
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10000, Namibia
| | - Ester Hango
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10000, Namibia
| | - Jennie Lates
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10000, Namibia
| | - Joseph Fadare
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti 362001, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti 362001, Nigeria
| | - Olayinka O Ogunleye
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos 21266, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos 101233, Nigeria
| | - Zikria Saleem
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Frasia Oosthuizen
- Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
| | - Werner Cordier
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Prinshof Campus, University of Pretoria, Arcadia 0083, South Africa
| | - Moliehi Matlala
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Johanna C Meyer
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | | | - Amos Massele
- Hurbert Kairuki Memorial University, 70 Chwaku Road Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Oliver Ombeva Malande
- Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya
- East Africa Centre for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI), Namela House, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - James Sichone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Sekelani S Banda
- Department of Medical Education Development, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Trust Zaranyika
- Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Stephen Campbell
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Brian Godman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 20550, United Arab Emirates
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22
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Jia Y, Ma S, Bai L, Xiao Q, Wu Y, Gao Y, Han Y, Xie Z, Tang X, Ge J. Health Literacy and Disparities in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding COVID-19 Among College Students During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China: A Cross-Sectional Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:4477-4488. [PMID: 34754254 PMCID: PMC8572096 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s319331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 of Chinese college students during the COVID-19 outbreak and identify the determinants considerably associated with KAP. Methods An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in February 2020 in China to recruit participants on the Wen-Juan-Xing online platform. A self-made questionnaire was used to assess the KAP towards COVID-19. Results The average scores of COVID-19-related KAP among college students were 32.16 ± 4.09, 16.84 ± 3.18 and 15.36 ± 1.83, respectively. The average correct response rate of COVID-19-related knowledge was 84.62%. 94.59% of the respondents believed China could control and conquer the pandemic; 98.92% of the respondents wore a mask when they went out. The multiple linear regression showed that the female students had higher scores of COVID-19-related knowledge than male students (β = 0.79, P = 0.01), and the students from 985 or 211 universities (β = -2.22, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation was found between the scores of COVID-19-related KAP among students. Conclusion The college students had a good KAP towards the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study was able to access the COVID-19-related KAP among college students during the pandemic and identify their weaknesses in pandemic prevention. Consequently, the results of this study provide theoretical basis for implementing precision health education among college students and reference for campuses to conduct scientific prevention and control during a pandemic. Results also provide beneficial experience to curb similar major public health emergencies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehui Jia
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuli Ma
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lianjie Bai
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Xiao
- School of Nursing, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wu
- School of Nursing, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Gao
- School of Mental Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunfeng Han
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiping Xie
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Tang
- Sanitary Analysis Center, Scientific Research Office, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Ge
- School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
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Alsharqi OZ, Qattan AMN, Alshareef N, Chirwa GC, Al-Hanawi MK. Inequalities in Knowledge About COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health 2021; 9:743520. [PMID: 34722449 PMCID: PMC8554190 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.743520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: As the world is still being ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first line of prevention lies in understanding the causative and preventive factors of the disease. However, given varied socioeconomic circumstances, there may be some inequality in the level of proper knowledge of COVID-19. Despite a proliferation of studies on COVID-19, the extent and prevalence of inequalities in knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia are not known. Most related studies have only focused on understanding the determinants of COVID-19 knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge regarding COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Data were extracted from an online cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire conducted on the knowledge about COVID-19 from 3,388 participants. Frequencies and graphs were used to identify the level and distribution of inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Concentration curves and concentration indices were further used to assess and quantify the income- and education-related inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Results: The level of COVID-19 knowledge was high among the surveyed sample, although the extent of knowledge varied. The findings further suggest the existence of socioeconomic inequality in obtaining proper knowledge about COVID-19, indicating that inequality in comprehensive knowledge is disproportionately concentrated among the wealthy (concentration index = 0.016; P < 0.001) and highly educated individuals (concentration index = 0.003; P = 0.029) in Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: There is inequality in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the more socioeconomically privileged population of Saudi Arabia. Given that COVID-19 cases ebb and flow in different waves, it is important that proper policies be put in place that will help in improving knowledge among the lower income and less educated individuals, leading to behavior that can help reduce transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Zayyan Alsharqi
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameerah M N Qattan
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noor Alshareef
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Comparison of Different Waves during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Descriptive Study in Thailand. Adv Prev Med 2021; 2021:5807056. [PMID: 34659835 PMCID: PMC8519693 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5807056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. An outbreak is called an epidemic when there is a sudden increase in cases. Many countries have experienced a two-wave pattern in the reported cases of COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 in Thailand was a cluster event distributed over multiple locations. This study aims to compare the characteristics of different waves during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2021 (17 months) to determine the number of COVID-19 screenings and confirmed cases and deaths as well as sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, nationality, and source population at risk factors. The categorical data were compared using a chi-square test. Results Three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred within 17 months in Thailand, and the number of cases increased by over 100,000 due to source population at risk factors such as close contact with a previously confirmed patient, community risk, cluster communities, and active and community surveillance. The chi-square test revealed significant differences between the three waves (p < 0.01). Conclusion Significant differences between pandemic phases or waves may be due to weak social distancing policies and the lack of public health interventions. A COVID-19 vaccination plan is needed for people at risk of suffering severe symptoms and the general population in outbreak areas to increase immunity.
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Algahtani FD, Alzain MA, Haouas N, Angawi K, Alsaif B, Kadri A, Dkhil MA, Snoussi M, Zrieq R. Coping during COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Community: Religious Attitudes, Practices and Associated Factors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168651. [PMID: 34444400 PMCID: PMC8393345 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many societies’ life aspects and activities including social and Islamic practices; more attention should be given to investigate the interaction between Islamic worships and the spread of the disease. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire to assess the preventive Islamic attitudes and practices during the COVID-19 lockdown period from the Saudi publics’ perspectives. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal and logistic regression tests were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that most participants had positive Islamic attitudes and practices. However, elders and males were less obeyed to preventive measures during performing worship (p < 0.05). While younger, females and not married were less obeyed when dealing with COVID-19 related death (p < 0.05). Even though, elders were less likely to have poor social and Islamic practices concerning adherence to preventive measures during the pandemic (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.176–0.816) than younger. Furthermore, males, Saudi participants, lower education level, lower Islamic attitudes scores were more likely to have poor social and Islamic practices concerning adherence to preventive measures during the pandemic (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.126–2.421; OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.067–2.322; OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.721–5.563; and OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.309–2.753, respectively), than their corresponding targeted counterparts. Thus, despite the high preventative perceptions of Islamic attitudes and practices of the Saudi community, our study highlighted some risk groups with less preventative practices. Thus, targeted health education interventions are highly recommended for these risk groups to enhance the commitment to government instructions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad D. Algahtani
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia; (F.D.A.); (M.A.A.); (B.A.)
- Molecular Diagnostic and Personalised Therapeutics Unit, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Ali Alzain
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia; (F.D.A.); (M.A.A.); (B.A.)
| | - Najoua Haouas
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Parasitology-Mycology LP3M (Code LR12ES08), Department of Clinical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia;
| | - Khadijah Angawi
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Bandar Alsaif
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia; (F.D.A.); (M.A.A.); (B.A.)
| | - Adel Kadri
- College of Science and Arts in Baljurashi, Albaha University, Albaha 1988, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamed A. Dkhil
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11795, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mejdi Snoussi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Rafat Zrieq
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi Arabia; (F.D.A.); (M.A.A.); (B.A.)
- Correspondence:
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26
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Knowledge, attitude and practices of community pharmacists regarding COVID-19: A paper-based survey in Vietnam. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255420. [PMID: 34324597 PMCID: PMC8321352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To survey the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Vietnamese pharmacists regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This cross-sectional, paper-based study was conducted from June to August 2020. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84) was used to interview 1,023 pharmacists in nine provinces of Vietnam. Analysis of covariance was employed to identify factors associated with the knowledge of pharmacists. The best model was chosen by using the Bayesian Model Averaging method in R software version 4.0.4. Results The mean knowledge score was 12.02 ± 1.64 (range: 6–15), which indicated that 93.4% of pharmacists had good knowledge of COVID-19. There was no difference in the average score between males and females (p > 0.05). The multivariate linear regression model revealed that the knowledge was significantly associated with pharmacists’ age, education level, and residence (p < 0.001). About attitude and practices, pharmacists daily sought and updated information on the COVID-19 pandemic through mass media and the internet (social network and online newspapers). Nearly 48% of them conceded that they communicated with customers when at least one person did not wear a face mask at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. At medicine outlets, many measures were applied to protect pharmacists and customers, such as equipping pharmacists with face masks and hand sanitizers (95.0%), using glass shields (83.0%), and maintaining at least one-meter distance between two people (85.2%). Conclusion The pharmacists’ knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, symptoms, and prevention was good. Many useful measures against the spread of this perilous virus were applied in medicine outlets. However, pharmacists should restrict forgetting to wear face masks in communication with medicine purchasers. The government and health agencies should have practical remedies to reduce the significant differences in the COVID-19 knowledge of pharmacists among provinces and education-level groups.
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Godman B, Mahlaba K, Helberg E, Kurdi A, Meyer J. Health-Care professionals' knowledge and practice regarding disposal of medicines in primary health-care facilities in South Africa: Impact and implications. J Res Pharm Pract 2021; 10:185-190. [PMID: 35769839 PMCID: PMC9235368 DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_84_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Professional nurses, pharmacists, and medical practitioners are responsible for disposing of medicines within health-care facilities. South African regulations stipulate that medicines should not be disposed of through sewage systems because of the potential impact on patients and the environment. Consequently, our objective was to determine knowledge and practices among health-care professionals (HCPs) in South Africa and the information they provide to patients regarding the safe disposal of unused/expired/damaged medicines to provide future guidance with identified concerns. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 165 HCPs at 16 primary health-care clinics in two subdistricts of the city of Tshwane in Gauteng Province through self-administered questionnaires. Findings: Only 23.5% of HCPs stated that they participated in destroying medicines within their facilities. More than half (65.1%) also reported that they always counsel patients regarding the safe storage of their medicines in their homes, with 27.9% indicating they counsel patients on the safe disposal of their medicines during consultations. More than half (65.1%) also reported that patients never asked about the disposal of medicines. Of concern is that incineration (31.9%), flushing down the toilet (20.6%), and flushing down the sink (9.9%) were regarded by HCPs as correct disposal methods, while 9.6% stated that they did not know the correct methods. In addition, 71.1% reported never receiving training regarding the safe disposal of medicine. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to educate HCPs regarding appropriate medicine waste disposal in South Africa. This can start with including this topic in the curriculum of HCPs, including pharmacists, and continuing post qualification.
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