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Gülpınar G, Pehlivanlı A, Babaar ZUD. Pharmacy practice and policy research in Türkiye: a systematic review of literature. J Pharm Policy Pract 2024; 17:2385939. [PMID: 39139388 PMCID: PMC11321099 DOI: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2385939] [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: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In recent decades, there has been an interest in clinical pharmacy practice in Türkiye with emerging studies in this area. Despite the recent emergence of diverse pharmacy practice studies in Türkiye, a comprehensive assessment of overall typology of studies and impact has not been conducted thus far. Objectives This systematic review aims to document and assess pharmaceutical policy and practice literature published within the last 5 years in Türkiye. The other aim is to summarise the expected impact of published studies on policy and practice research. Methods The systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines described in the PRISMA Statement. A comprehensive search approach, incorporating Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) queries and free-text terms was employed to locate pertinent literature related to pharmacy practice and policy in Türkiye. The search covered the period from January 1, 2019, to January 1, 2024, and involved electronic databases including PubMed, Medline Ovid, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, PlosOne, and BMC. Results In the final grouping, 73 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for this review. Among the quantitative studies, majority studies were cross-sectional survey studies. Through the rigorous thematic content analysis seven research domains were developed from the selected literature: drug utilisation and rational drug use, the emerging role of pharmacist, access to medicines and generic medicines, community pharmacy practice, pharmacovigilance/adverse drug reactions, and pharmacoeconomic studies. Conclusions The pharmacist role is evolving; however, several challenges remain in fully realising the potential of pharmacists. These include regulatory barriers, limited public awareness of pharmacists' expanded roles, workforce capacity issues, and the need for ongoing professional development and training. Research studies are needed in the areas of generic prescribing, medicine adherence, intervention studies in community and hospital pharmacy practice, and on pharmacoeconomics and pharmacovigilance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Gülpınar
- Department of Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Aysel Pehlivanlı
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Baskent University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Information Center, Baskent University Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Zaheer Ud-Din Babaar
- Medicines and Healthcare, Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
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Khadka S, Saleem M, Usman M, Hashmi FK, Tariq F, Zaheer W, Imon S, Inam A, Gupta RP, Aryal P. Qualitative exploration of perspectives of the pharmacists working in public-sector hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:45. [PMID: 36932458 PMCID: PMC10022563 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-023-00549-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic, a serious global health threat, has excruciating social and economic implications given its transmissibility, lack of therapy, and severity. In such a situation, pharmacists as frontline healthcare professionals hold a significant position to tackle. This study was designed to explore the perception and preparedness of pharmacists working in public sector hospitals amid such a pandemic in Pakistan. METHODS A total of 11 pharmacists were interviewed for this qualitative study design through a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. RESULTS The thematic content analysis yielded six major themes; understanding of COVID-19, perceptions towards COVID-19, preventive aspects, management aspects, changes to lifestyle, and psychological aspects. Though efficient preparedness and approach to fighting against such pandemics were reported, pharmacists were found susceptible to infection and psychological stress. They also expressed lockdown as an effective measure to prevent the disease from spreading but still were concerned about its economic and social impact. CONCLUSIONS Adequate planning and facilities from the national level should be made available for strengthening the hospital pharmacy service that helps improve the overall healthcare system of low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The provision of a protective facility, incentives, and occupational health surveillance packages are deemed necessary to boost the self-esteem and morale of hospital pharmacists that safeguard the early and effective management of such disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sitaram Khadka
- Level One Plus Hospital, Golan Heights, Syria. .,Shree Birendra Hospital, Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Mohammad Saleem
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Usman
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Furqan K Hashmi
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Tariq
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Warda Zaheer
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sabahat Imon
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aqsa Inam
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ravi Prasad Gupta
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Pallav Aryal
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Muhammad K, Saqlain M, Muhammad G, Hamdard A, Naveed M, Butt MH, Khan S, Ismael NS, Khan Z, Karatas Y. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAPs) of Community Pharmacists Regarding COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey in 2 Provinces of Pakistan. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 16:1864-1872. [PMID: 33588970 PMCID: PMC8129683 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with no therapy, and pharmacists being a part of the health care system have a vital role in the management of COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community pharmacists (CPs) regarding COVID-19. METHOD An online survey was conducted among 393 CPs in 2 provinces of Pakistan during the lockdown period. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha, 0.745) was used for data collection. All statistical analyses were analyzed by using SPSS, version 21 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). RESULTS Among 393 participants, 71.5% (n = 281) had good knowledge, 44% (n = 175) had a positive attitude, and 57.3% (n = 225) had good practices regarding COVID-19. Social media (45.29%, n = 178) were reported as the main source to seek information of COVID-19. Good knowledge, age ≥ 26 years, and a PhD degree level were the substantial determinants (P = < 0.05) of a good attitude. Similarly, a CP with experience of > 5 years, a PhD degree, good knowledge, and a good attitude has higher odds of having good practices as compared with reference categories (P = < 0.05). CONCLUSION In short, a majority of the CPs had good knowledge but had a poor attitude and practice toward the management of COVID-19. Standard-structured educational and counseling programs for CPs regarding COVID-19 are needed for effective management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khayal Muhammad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Muhammad Saqlain
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Gul Muhammad
- Department of Medicine, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ataullah Hamdard
- Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Statistics, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Siraj Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Najlaa Saadi Ismael
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Philadelphia University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Zakir Khan
- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Tıbbi Farmakoloji Anabilim Dalı, Sarıçam, Adana, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Karatas
- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Tıbbi Farmakoloji Anabilim Dalı, Sarıçam, Adana, Turkey
- Balcalı Hospital, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
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Madi L, Alsaad D, Khawaja RA, Kassem WE, Hail MA. Knowledge and attitude regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among hospital pharmacists in Qatar. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20:2646. [PMID: 36793901 PMCID: PMC9891773 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2022.4.2646] [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: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gained global attention because of its high transmissibility and the devastating impact on both clinical and economic outcomes. Pharmacists are among the front-line healthcare workers who contributed widely to COVID-19 pandemic control. We aim to evaluate knowledge and attitude of hospital pharmacists in Qatar about COVID-19. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed over a 2-months period. The study included pharmacists who are working in 10 different hospitals under Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The survey was developed based on information available at World Health Organization (WHO) website, Qatar Ministry of Health, and COVID-19 guideline created by HMC. The study was approved by HMC's institutional review board (MRC-01-20-1009). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Results A total of 187 pharmacists were included (response rate 33%). The overall level of knowledge was not affected by the participants' demographics (p-value ≥0.05). Pharmacists provided more correct answers to questions related to general knowledge about COVID-19 compared to questions specificto treatment aspects of the disease. More than 50% of pharmacists were using national resources as main source of information related to COVID-19. Good health practices and attitudes regarding disease control was reported by pharmacists, including preventive measures implementation and self-isolation when needed. Around 80% of pharmacists are in favor of taking influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion Overall, hospital pharmacists' knowledge about COVID-19 is good in relation to the disease nature and transmission. Knowledge about treatment aspects including medications needs further enhancement. Providing continuing professional development activities regarding latest information about COVID-19 and its management, and serial newsletters updates, and encouraging journal club activities for recently published research can help improve hospital pharmacist knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lama Madi
- Department of Pharmacy, Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Doua Alsaad
- Department of Pharmacy, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Raja Al Khawaja
- Department of Pharmacy, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Wessam El Kassem
- Department of Pharmacy, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Moza Al Hail
- Department of Pharmacy, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
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Xin TY, Rajiah K, Maharajan MK. Emergency Preparedness for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Determinants Predicting the Community Pharmacists’ Preparedness and Perceived Response in Malaysia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148762. [PMID: 35886614 PMCID: PMC9315557 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Pandemic preparedness of healthcare providers helps to mitigate future threats such as spread and fatality rates, as well as the management of the disease. Pharmacists are key partners with public health agencies, and the role of community pharmacists is becoming increasingly recognised in this COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to explore the emergency preparedness of community pharmacists (CPs) for COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among community pharmacists using cluster sampling followed by convenient sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was formulated using references from the previous literature and the WHO preparedness checklist. Descriptive analysis was undertaken for the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics. All the data collected were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24 (SPSS V.24), (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) for analysis. Results: Most of the CPs had five or fewer years of practice experience, and they had all the mandatory information relating to the needs of their communities regarding the disease. The participants knew where to acquire these resources whenever needed. They were able to recognise the signs and symptoms of the disease. Most participants felt that they were confident to provide patient education and carry out their duties during these challenging times. There was a strong position correlation between preparedness and the perceived response of the participants. Conclusion: The community pharmacists in Malaysia are prepared enough for COVID-19 pandemic management and perceive that they can respond during any unprecedented situations, such as COVID-19. Community pharmacists were aware of the challenges that they need to face in their community regarding COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan Yu Xin
- Master in Pharmacy Practice, School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia;
| | - Kingston Rajiah
- GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM Deemed University, Hyderabad 502329, India
- Correspondence: (K.R.); (M.K.M.)
| | - Mari Kannan Maharajan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Selangor 43500, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (K.R.); (M.K.M.)
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Alorfi N, Ashour A. Evaluating Pharmacists’ Pharmacological Knowledge and Views Regarding Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Saudi Arabia. Clin Pharmacol 2022; 14:27-35. [PMID: 35411192 PMCID: PMC8994594 DOI: 10.2147/cpaa.s356413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been widely used and approved for the prevention of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for individuals aged 16 years and older in Saudi Arabia. The emergency use authorization of this vaccine is crucial to managing the pandemic in the Kingdom. This vaccination strategy requires proper usage, knowledge, and management by pharmacists and other health professionals. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using several previously validated questionnaires. Pharmacists working in different health sectors in Saudi Arabia in March–July 2021 participated via an online questionnaire. Comparative and descriptive analyses were used to analyze the data, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 145 pharmacists with a mean age of 35.2 years (SD ± 5.59) were included. The study sample showed adequate general knowledge of COVID-19 and its causative virus signs. Overall, the results showed good knowledge of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its pharmacological application among pharmacists in Saudi Arabia with significant chi square values (p< 0.0001). Conclusion Pharmacists have good knowledge and understanding of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; interestingly, the majority expressed a high level of awareness and agreed that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a valuable vaccine for COVID-19 management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser Alorfi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: Nasser Alorfi, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966500644261, Email
| | - Ahmed Ashour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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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
| | - 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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Expanded roles of community pharmacists in COVID-19: A scoping literature review. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2021; 62:649-657. [PMID: 35120863 PMCID: PMC8704729 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2021.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the world health care system adversely, but it has also brought out innovative roles for health care professionals to cater to growing health care needs. Community pharmacists provide community pharmacy services and can play a vital role in fighting the pandemic by taking on novel roles that complement their pre-existing roles. Objectives This study aimed to provide a scoping review of current and emerging literature about the novel roles adopted by community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Online databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were searched systematically using the keywords “COVID-19,” “pharmacist,” and “community.” Articles were selected based on availability of full text in English language, with time limit from December 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021; case reports, cross-sectional studies, literature reviews, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews were included, whereas commentary reviews and editorials were excluded from the search methodology. An independent review of the articles was conducted for inclusion based on relatability to study subject; those chosen were screened for references to find additional gray literature. Findings were arranged in themes, and the results were organized accordingly. Results Novel roles for community pharmacists were found in relation to maintenance of drug-supply chains, delivery of telepharmacy and telehealth services, provision of ambulatory pharmacy services, use of digital software to coordinate medication delivery for patients with chronic conditions, dispelling of misinformation, and roles in research and clinical trials. Roles in a post-COVID world regarding immunization of population and involvement in lifting lockdown strictures alongside other stakeholders were also explored. Conclusion Although COVID-19 has challenged the health care system, it has also provided an opportunity for development of novel and innovative roles that can ultimately have profound consequences for the health care system. Community pharmacists, despite facing multiple challenges in the community, should be facilitated to adapt with these new roles, which can be beneficial in achieving mass immunization and better health care in a post-COVID world.
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Yi ZM, Song ZW, Li XY, Hu Y, Cheng YC, Wang GR, Zhao RS. The implementation of a FIP guidance for COVID-19: insights from a nationwide survey. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1479. [PMID: 34734031 PMCID: PMC8506715 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-4157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has established an interim guidance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for pharmacists worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify the implementation of FIP guidance in China and provide applicable strategies for further actions. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional survey on Chinese pharmacists was distributed electronically through groups of WeChat between 9 December 2020 and 18 December 2020. The 29-item questionnaire for the survey was designed based on the FIP guidance and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) framework. Results A total of 237 responses from 237 pharmacists (69.20% females) were received. Most pharmacists (81.86%) participated in work related to COVID-19. Respondents referred to other guidelines or consensus more than they did to FIP guidance. Most participants were qualified for the knowledge-based questions regarding COVID-19 (67.51%), had positive attitudes towards pharmacists’ roles and actions (61.18%), and were qualified in the practices of prevention measures, infection risk monitoring, and pharmacists’ advice (50.63%). Several factors were revealed as having impact on pharmacists’ KAP, such as the relevance of participating in work related to COVID-19, work entailments, and information source. Conclusions The FIP guidance has a certain degree of dissemination and implementation in China, which can be improved through effective actions directed towards impact factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Miao Yi
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zai-Wei Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Ya Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yin-Chu Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guan-Ru Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong-Sheng Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
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YILMAZ ZK, ŞENCAN N. An Examination of the Factors Affecting Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Impressions About the COVID-19 Pandemic. Turk J Pharm Sci 2021; 18:530-540. [PMID: 34708643 PMCID: PMC8562124 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2020.01212] [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: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related cases and deaths are ongoing throughout the world, but there is still no effective drug in its treatment, and the vaccine supply is not adequate for the global population. It is important that pharmacists have sufficient knowledge and awareness to prevent and control the disease. COVID-19 has been widely covered in the media, which has been a source widely used by healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and impressions of community pharmacists about COVID-19 and the factors affecting them. Materials and Methods The questions in this survey were formed using the guideline created by the World Health Organization, a guide composed by the Turkish COVID-19 Scholarly Commission, and data disclosed to the public on the website of the Ministry of Health. The questionnaire was designed with Google forms and then applied to community pharmacists all over Turkey by sharing the survey link. Results Analyses of 393 questionnaires showed that Ministry of Health/government statements, the internet (scientific sources), and the media were the preferred sources of information (96.7%, 89.6%, and 84%, respectively). “Ways to avoid COVID-19” was the most searched title (96.9%). It was determined that the names of the two drugs most frequently mentioned by the participants to be used in the treatment of COVID-19 in Turkey were hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin (57.5%; 50.1%, respectively). Participants who received information from the media gave less education to patients/customers on personal protection measures against COVID-19 (83.3%) and symptoms of COVID-19 (78.8%); however, their behavior regarding the training of pharmacy personnel was found to be the opposite. It has been determined that about half of the participants (46.6%) mostly trust the Ministry of Health regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Media and other sources influence the knowledge, behavior and impressions of pharmacists’. Having a high level of knowledge positively affects people’s behavior. It is important for pharmacists to have accurate information about COVID-19 and to transfer their knowledge to the community to provide patient education and to prevent/control the spread of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zekiye Kübra YILMAZ
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Nazlı ŞENCAN
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Management, İstanbul, Turkey
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Hesaraki M, Akbarizadeh M, Ahmadidarrehsima S, Moghadam MP, Izadpanah F. Knowledge, attitude, practice and clinical recommendations of health care workers towards COVID-19: a systematic review. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2021; 36:345-357. [PMID: 34469639 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, practice, and clinical recommendations of health care workers (HCWs) towards COVID-19. METHODS In this systematic review study, international databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus) were searched for the relevant studies published in English from the inception of databases until July 30, 2020. Hoy et al.'s tool was used to evaluate the quality of studies. All search steps, screening, selection of studies, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed separately by two researchers. RESULTS Out of 3460 articles searched, 28 articles conducted on 16,427 HCWs were included in the study. Most of the HCWs had good knowledge (72.2%), a positive attitude (70.9%), and good practice (78.8%) towards COVID-19. The most important clinical recommendation to improve knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) was to provide HCWs with a periodic training program regarding COVID-19. The most important source of information for HCWs on COVID-19 was social networks. CONCLUSIONS Despite HCWs' good knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), it is recommended to periodically review KAP and carry out further studies in different countries as well. It is also recommended to use social media to improve KAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Hesaraki
- Department of Pediatric, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | | | | | | | - Fatemeh Izadpanah
- Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Laboratory Control of Food & Drug Research Centre, Food & Drug Administration, Tehran, Iran
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12
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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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13
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Alzubi JA, Jain R, Singh A, Parwekar P, Gupta M. COBERT: COVID-19 Question Answering System Using BERT. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2021; 48:1-11. [PMID: 34178569 PMCID: PMC8220121 DOI: 10.1007/s13369-021-05810-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the current situation of worldwide pandemic COVID-19, which has infected 62.5 Million people and caused nearly 1.46 Million deaths worldwide as of Nov 2020. The profoundly powerful and quickly advancing circumstance with COVID-19 has made it hard to get precise, on-request latest data with respect to the virus. Especially, the frontline workers of the battle medical services experts, policymakers, clinical scientists, and so on will require expert specific methods to stay aware of this literature for getting scientific knowledge of the latest research findings. The risks are most certainly not trivial, as decisions made on fallacious, answers may endanger trust or general well being and security of the public. But, with thousands of research papers being dispensed on the topic, making it more difficult to keep track of the latest research. Taking these challenges into account we have proposed COBERT: a retriever-reader dual algorithmic system that answers the complex queries by searching a document of 59K corona virus-related literature made accessible through the Coronavirus Open Research Dataset Challenge (CORD-19). The retriever is composed of a TF-IDF vectorizer capturing the top 500 documents with optimal scores. The reader which is pre-trained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) on SQuAD 1.1 dev dataset built on top of the HuggingFace BERT transformers, refines the sentences from the filtered documents, which are then passed into ranker which compares the logits scores to produce a short answer, title of the paper and source article of extraction. The proposed DistilBERT version has outperformed previous pre-trained models obtaining an Exact Match(EM)/F1 score of 80.6/87.3 respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachna Jain
- Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
| | - Anubhav Singh
- Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
| | - Pritee Parwekar
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, NCR Campus, Ghaziabad, India
| | - Meenu Gupta
- Chandigarh University, Ajitgarh, Punjab India
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14
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Jarab AS, Al-Qerem W, Mukattash TL, Al-Hajjeh DM. Pharmacy and Pharm.D students' knowledge and information needs about COVID-19. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75:e13696. [PMID: 32891073 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates collaborative teamwork by all healthcare providers including pharmacists. Since Pharmacy and Pharm. D students represent the future pharmacists, it is necessary to ensure that they have a good awareness about COVID-19 or any other pandemic that could happen in the future. OBJECTIVE The study aim was to evaluate Pharmacy and Pharm.D students' knowledge and information needs about COVID-19. METHOD A cross-sectional web-based design survey was used to assess socio-demographics and knowledge about COVID-19 amongst Pharmacy and Pharm. D students. After being validated, the questionnaire was formatted into Google forms and distributed amongst undergraduate Pharmacy and Pharm. D students in accredited Universities in Jordan. RESULTS A total of 860 Pharmacy and Pharm.D students completed the questionnaire. Results revealed moderate students' knowledge about COVID-19 (mean knowledge score was 5.6 out of 10). Students had high correct response rates in questions asking about transmission method, treatment, zoonotic transmission and medications to be avoided. However, the students demonstrated low knowledge in questions asking about the incubation period and degree of contagion scores. Several factors were associated with students' level of knowledge including the field of study and academic year. Few students relied on their faculty as the main source of information about the infection and most of them relied on self-reading and social network. CONCLUSION The results of this study clearly demonstrate unsatisfactory level of knowledge and a lot of information needs about COVID-19 amongst Pharmacy and Pharm. D students. More efforts should be deployed to educate pharmacy students about COVID-19, with an emphasis on the need for more active role by the universities to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anan S Jarab
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tareq L Mukattash
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Dua'a M Al-Hajjeh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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15
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Hossain MA, Rashid MUB, Khan MAS, Sayeed S, Kader MA, Hawlader MDH. Healthcare Workers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Personal Protective Equipment for the Prevention of COVID-19. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:229-238. [PMID: 33564239 PMCID: PMC7866910 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s293717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and proper practice of personal protective equipment by healthcare workers are necessary to get protection from COVID-19 infection. But this area is yet to be explored. Hence, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) among healthcare workers, along with a survey of the possible determinants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS For this cross-sectional study, online and offline surveys were conducted among a sample of 393 healthcare workers from five different districts of Bangladesh. A validated self-administered questionnaire comprising five sections (socio-demography, work-related information, knowledge, attitude, and practice) was used for data collection. Multivariate stepwise forward logistic regression was applied to find significant factors associated with good attitude, and practice using SPSS version 25. RESULTS The average age of the 393 participants was 28.9±5.2 years with a male-female ratio of one. Of them, 99.5% (n=391) had good knowledge, 88.8% (n=349) had positive attitude and 51.7% (n=203) had good practice regarding PPE. Results revealed that being a physician and living at home were significantly associated with a positive attitude. While being a non-physician, having lower education, working in private hospitals, and using office transport were associated with good practice regarding PPE. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrated that the healthcare workers had an overall good knowledge and a positive attitude but a poor practice regarding PPE. This study also highlighted the factors influencing KAP towards PPE that must be addressed in future education, awareness, and counseling programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Utba Bin Rashid
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division (NCSD), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - Sabrina Sayeed
- Eminence Associates for Social Development, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abdul Kader
- International Organization for Migration, Cox’s Bazar, 4700, Bangladesh
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16
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Zeenny RM, Ramia E, Akiki Y, Hallit S, Salameh P. Assessing knowledge, attitude, practice, and preparedness of hospital pharmacists in Lebanon towards COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. J Pharm Policy Pract 2020; 13:54. [PMID: 32959004 PMCID: PMC7498300 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-020-00266-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lebanese government has taken the proactive anticipatory measure to minimize the infection rates. Despite the pivotal role of the pharmacists working in hospital settings, hospital pharmacists have not been engaged in the emergency preparedness for hospitals. The primary objective of this survey is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of hospital pharmacists in Lebanon towards COVID-19 pandemic and explore the level of health emergency preparedness of Lebanese hospitals in response to this outbreak. Methods A standardized English-based, anonymous and online questionnaire was diffused via social media platforms to all Lebanese hospital pharmacists. The questionnaire consisted of 78 questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge-based, attitude-based, practice questions, and pandemic preparedness. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to summarize data. Results A total of 81 questionnaires were completed; the participants were able to know > 90% of the knowledge-based questions regarding COVID-19. Most of the respondents were concerned about getting infected and their families due to their professional exposure. Similarly, around 67% were following the safety recommendations. Most of the participants agreed that they are facing shortages, rising prices, and delays in supply of masks and sanitizers. In terms of COVID-19 readiness, about 50% of hospitals have taken practical steps. Conclusions Our findings revealed an appropriate level of knowledge and good practice towards COVID-19, among the respondents from Lebanese hospitals. National organizations may benefit in utilizing the expertise of the hospital pharmacists to be able to minimize/avoid future waves of COVID-19 if it emerges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rony M Zeenny
- Pharmacy Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elsy Ramia
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Youssef Akiki
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon
| | - Souheil Hallit
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon.,INSPECT-LB, Institut National de Santé Publique, Épidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon.,INSPECT-LB, Institut National de Santé Publique, Épidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban, Beirut, Lebanon.,Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon
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