1
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Abdel-Qader DH, Kassem AB, Al Mazrouei N. Disparities in drug safety practices in developing nations: focusing on underlying factors and implications for global health. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2024; 23:393-397. [PMID: 38436276 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2326488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Amira B Kassem
- Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Nadia Al Mazrouei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jarab AS, Abu Heshmeh SR, Al Meslamani AZ. Barriers to transforming community pharmacies into point-of-care testing sites in low- and middle-income countries. Int J Pharm Pract 2024:riae011. [PMID: 38558133 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anan S Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Shrouq R Abu Heshmeh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Al Meslamani AZ. How does sleep influence asthma through immunity? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024; 20:323-326. [PMID: 37962951 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2023.2284213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Adverse drug event reporting among women: uncovering disparities in underserved communities. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2024:1-3. [PMID: 38551021 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2337745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research quality of Care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Li N. Assessing the economic impact of digital endpoints on medication adherence. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024:1-3. [PMID: 38520281 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2024.2334893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Quality of Care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nannan Li
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Barriers to digital endpoints in data collection in low and middle-income countries. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024:1-3. [PMID: 38480011 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2024.2331047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research quality of care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Insights into the immunological links between dietary habits and asthma. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024; 20:245-248. [PMID: 37897370 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2023.2277864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Jarab AS. The economic impact of pharmacist intervention during pandemics. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024; 24:323-326. [PMID: 37993404 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2023.2287487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anan S Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Antiretroviral therapy response: exploring the potential influence of SARS-CoV-2. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38390721 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2024.2322984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jarab AS, Abu Heshmeh SR, Al Meslamani AZ. Examining the impact of biosimilar-to-biosimilar transition on effectiveness and safety. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38404241 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2324123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anan S Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Is the world crippled by antimicrobial resistance, or simply lacking information? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38381552 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2024.2322429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Policy solutions for medication non-adherence: what can governments do? Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024:1-5. [PMID: 38366855 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2024.2321242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research quality of care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Al Meslamani AZ. The long-term clinical impact of digital endpoints and biomarkers in data collection. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024:1-3. [PMID: 38362754 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2024.2320233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research quality of care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Why are outcome-based drug safety research studies scarce? Insights into operational challenges and potential solutions. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2024; 23:145-148. [PMID: 38214223 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2305368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Strategies for reducing chronic disease burden during pandemics. Curr Med Res Opin 2024; 40:193-197. [PMID: 38095584 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2023.2295410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ramadan A, Jarab AS, Al Meslamani AZ. Investigation of community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes of pharmacogenomics testing: implication for improved pharmacogenomic testing practice. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:8. [PMID: 38291455 PMCID: PMC10825993 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00574-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community pharmacists must be well-equipped to advance pharmacogenomics services. Nevertheless, limited data is available regarding pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics testing. The present study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics testing in the UAE. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a validated, online, self-administered survey, was randomly distributed to community pharmacists across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). RESULTS The participants demonstrated poor knowledge about pharmacogenomic testing (median score < 8). Having 10-29 (Adjusted odds ration [AOR]: 0.038; 95% CI: 0.01-0.146, p = 0.001) and 30-49 (AOR: 0.097; 95% CI: 0.04-0.237, p = 0.001) patients per day was associated with poorer knowledge. Also, receiving 10-29 (AOR: 0.046; 95% CI: 0.005-0.401, p = 0.005), 30-49 (AOR: 0.025; 95% CI: 0.003-0.211, p = 0.001), and > 50 (AOR: 0.049; 95% CI: 0.005-0.458, p = 0.008) prescriptions decreased the odds of having good knowledge. Around half (43.9%) of the participants did not show a positive attitude toward pharmacogenomic testing (median score < 11). Having 30-49 patients per day (AOR: 5.351; 95% CI: 2.414-11.860, p = 0.001) increased the odds of good knowledge while receiving 10-29 (AOR: 0.133; 95% CI: 0.056-0.315, p = 0.001) and 30-49 (AOR: 0.111; 95% CI: 0.049-0.252, p = 0.001) prescriptions a day were associated with decreased odds of positive attitude toward the pharmacogenomics testing. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate a lack of knowledge and less-than-ideal attitudes among community pharmacists regarding pharmacogenomics testing. Enhanced efforts focused on educational initiatives and training activities related to pharmacogenomics testing is needed. Additionally, reducing workload can facilitate better knowledge acquisition and help mitigate unfavorable attitudes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azza Ramadan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Anan S Jarab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jarab AS, Abu Heshmeh SR, Al Meslamani AZ. Biosimilars as antivirals: opportunities and challenges. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2024:1-3. [PMID: 38288681 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2024.2313064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anan S Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
| | | | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Short and long-term economic implications of biosimilars. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024. [PMID: 38231118 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2307353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Biosimilars are gaining popularity due to their ability to offer comparable therapeutic benefits at potentially lower costs. AREAS COVERED This article analyses studies that compare the cost savings of biosimilars with biologics. It also explores market competition dynamics and the impact of policies in countries. The focus is on the advantages of biosimilars in oncology and rheumatological treatments while considering broader economic implications for the pharmaceutical industry such as market displacement, pricing strategies and their influence on innovation and healthcare sustainability. EXPERT OPINION The introduction of biosimilars marks a shift in healthcare economics by offering cost reductions and long-term potential for economic balance. However, I also recognize challenges related to research methodologies and regulatory inconsistencies across countries. To fully capitalize on their potential, future research and development in the field of biosimilars must emphasize harmonized approaches and comprehensive studies that ensure both cost containment in healthcare and wider access, to high quality treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Quality of Care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Why are digital health policies crucial? J Med Econ 2024; 27:167-169. [PMID: 38174851 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2024.2302254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Challenges in health economics research: insights from real-world examples. J Med Econ 2024; 27:215-218. [PMID: 38270556 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2024.2310466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Decoding treatment efficacy: uncovering response and failure dynamics to biologics in asthma. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:25-29. [PMID: 38174421 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2302583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asthma is a global health problem, with alarming prevalence and mortality rates. Biologic therapies, particularly monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab, have emerged as promising alternatives, targeting specific immune pathways. This article assesses the efficacy of these biologics in asthma management and attempts to reveal factors associated with their response and failure dynamics. AREA COVERED This article explores the efficacy of biologics in asthma, biomarkers, and the relationship between asthma phenotypes (including eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic (neutrophilic) types) and biologic treatments; particularly their effectiveness for each subtype. EXPERT OPINION Personalized asthma management that incorporates molecular insights as well as individual variations is of outmost necessity. An emphasis is put on immunological profiling, understanding comorbidities and considering individual patient factors when managing asthma. Cutting-edge phenotyping tools including omic technologies play a crucial role in improving asthma management precision. Variability in patient responses to biologic treatments such as non-responders, partial responders and super responders poses a formidable challenge to effective asthma care management strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Quality of Care Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abou Hajal A, Al Meslamani AZ. Insights into artificial intelligence utilisation in drug discovery. J Med Econ 2024; 27:304-308. [PMID: 38385328 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2024.2315864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Abou Hajal
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Al Meslamani AZ. How climate change influences pathogen transmission. Pathog Glob Health 2023:1-3. [PMID: 37978989 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2023.2285185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ramadan A, Kharaba Z, Ghemrawi R, Elnour AA, Hussain N, Kouhgard P, Al-Damook N, Abou Hait S, Al Ghanem L, Atassi R, Chkh Sobeh R, Z. Al Meslamani A. Assessment of Knowledge and attitude towards Stroke among the UAE population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. F1000Res 2023; 12:322. [PMID: 37854872 PMCID: PMC10579853 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.129873.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite significant advancements in healthcare, the burden of stroke continues to rise in the developed world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Association between COVID-19 infection and stroke is well established. Factors identified for the delay in presentation and management include a lack of awareness regarding stroke. We aimed to assess the general public knowledge and attitudes on stroke and stroke risk factors in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and January 2022 among adults≥ 18 years old. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and stroke knowledge and attitudes. Knowledge and attitude scores were calculated based on the number of correct responses. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to knowledge and attitude towards stroke. Results: Of the 500 respondents, 69.4% were females, 53.4% were aged between 18 and 25, and nearly half were students (48.4%). The mean knowledge score was 13.66 (range 2-24). Hypertension (69%), smoking (63.2%), stress (56.4%) obesity/overweight (54.4%), and heart disease (53.6%) were identified as risk factors. Overall, the knowledge of signs/symptoms was suboptimal. The mean attitude score was 4.41 (range, 1-6); 70.2% would call an ambulance if someone were having a stroke. A monthly income of 11,000-50,000 AED and being a student were associated with positive knowledge. Being a non-health worker and lacking access to electronic media sources were associated with worse attitudes. Conclusion: Overall, we identified poor knowledge and suboptimal attitudes toward stroke. These findings reflect the need for effective public health approaches to improve stroke awareness, knowledge, and attitudes for effective prevention in the community. Presently, this is of utmost necessity, given the increased occurrence of stroke and its severity among COVID-19 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azza Ramadan
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zelal Kharaba
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Program of Clinical Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhbai, United Arab Emirates
- Honorary Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Rose Ghemrawi
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Asim Ahmed Elnour
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Program of Clinical Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhbai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nadia Hussain
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Parisa Kouhgard
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nosayba Al-Damook
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shymaa Abou Hait
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lena Al Ghanem
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rawan Atassi
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ranem Chkh Sobeh
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Program of Clinical Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhbai, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Abdel-Qader DH. The Abuse and Misuse of Over-the-Counter Medicines During COVID-19. Hosp Pharm 2023; 58:437-440. [PMID: 37711408 PMCID: PMC9988622 DOI: 10.1177/00185787231158777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The abuse and misuse of OTC medicines is a common problem in community pharmacies and is expected to escalate during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited research on the patterns, causes, and consequences of these incidents during the pandemic. This article aims to provide evidence-based insights into the potential impact of COVID-19 on the abuse and misuse of OTC medicines, and suggest strategies for reducing these occurrences for pharmacy practitioners and healthcare managers.
Collapse
|
27
|
Al Meslamani AZ. What hinders individualized therapy plans for asthma patients? Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:1933-1936. [PMID: 38038661 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2291078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Jarab AS, Abdel-Qader DH, Mohamed Ibrahim O, Al Mazrouei N. Adoption of electronic patient medication records in community pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional survey. HEALTH INF MANAG J 2023:18333583231190744. [PMID: 37551925 DOI: 10.1177/18333583231190744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to accurate and relevant patient health information is crucial for community pharmacists to deliver high-quality care. The use of electronic patient medication records (e-PMR) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently limited to hospital settings, and community pharmacists do not have access to patient records. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the perceptions of community pharmacists regarding the potential benefits, barriers, and concerns associated with the implementation of the e-PMR system in community pharmacies in the UAE. METHOD A validated questionnaire was administered to a sample of licensed community pharmacists using proportionate random sampling. The survey was structured and consisted of 40 questions in four sections: characteristics of community pharmacists and pharmacies; perceived usefulness of e-PMR; perceived barriers; and concerns about the use of e-PMR. RESULTS In total, 552 pharmacists filled out the questionnaire (82.1% response rate). The majority of participants somewhat or strongly agreed that e-PMR would reduce drug abuse (71.6%), dispensing errors (64.4%) and prescribing errors (69.0%), and believed that e-PMR would enhance pharmacists' ability to perform medication reviews (76.0%). Pharmacists in charge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-3.6), facing difficulty tracking the medical history of patients (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 2.8-3.9) and working in pharmacies providing telepharmacy services (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 2.7-3.8) were more likely to consider e-PMR useful. IMPLICATIONS The implementation of the e-PMR system in community pharmacies has potential benefits for patient safety and medication therapy management in the UAE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anan S Jarab
- Al Ain University, UAE
- Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Will SARS-CoV-2 impact the incidence and nature of other respiratory infections? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2023; 19:1431-1434. [PMID: 37740687 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2023.2263646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Bostanudin MF. Antibody-drug conjugates in oncology: insights into Current challenges. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023; 23:1035-1038. [PMID: 37883244 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2276288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad F Bostanudin
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income countries: current practices and its global implications. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:1281-1286. [PMID: 37804134 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2268835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibiotic consumption rates are high in both high and low-income countries, but addressing antibiotic practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is crucial to combatting antibiotic resistance (AR). AREA COVERED This editorial examines the current landscape of antibiotic practices in LMICs, investigate the factors driving such trends including lack of resource equity and shared global responsibility, and explore (AR) global implications, with particular emphasis placed on swift measures to combat its spread. EXPERT OPINION LMICs face three key obstacles that exacerbate AR: inadequate WASH services, climate factors, and misuse of antibiotics. A lack of sanitation and clean water promotes infections, while poor hygiene exacerbates resistant pathogen spread. Global strategies should go beyond simply educating LMICs about antibiotic misuse; they must also understand its repercussions, such as prolonged illnesses and drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. Addressing this challenge requires multifaceted strategies, including improving WASH services, acknowledging climate impacts, and tightening regulations. Prioritizing WASH requires significant funding, community participation, technology solutions, and partnerships with NGOs. Utilizing social media influencers can boost AR awareness. Antibiotic regulation reforms, manufacturing quality, and seeking antibiotic alternatives are vital. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs and AI's potential in managing resistant infections are notable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anan S Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohammad A Ghattas
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abdel-Qader DH, Abdel-Qader H, Silverthorne J, Kongkaew C, Meslamani AZA, Hayajneh W, Alwahadneh AM, Hamadi S, Abu-Qatouseh L, Awad R, Al Nsour M, Alhariri A, Shnewer K, Da'ssan M, Obeidat NM, Nusair KE, Jalamdeh MS, Hawari F, Asad M, AbuRuz S. Real-World Effectiveness of Four Types of COVID-19 Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11050985. [PMID: 37243089 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a scarcity of evidence regarding the real-world effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. This was the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of four types of vaccines against asymptomatic and symptomatic infection, and COVID-19 outcomes among the general population. METHODS This was a matched comparison group quasi-experimental study conducted in Jordan between 1 January and 29 August 2021. In the first part of the study, 1200 fully vaccinated individuals were matched with 1200 unvaccinated control participants. In order to measure vaccine effectiveness, the infection rates of both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were calculated. The second part of the study included measuring specific anti-SARS CoV-2 immune cells and antibodies. RESULTS BNT162b2 (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) showed a significantly higher effectiveness against asymptomatic COVID-19 infection (91.7%) and hospitalization (99.5%) than BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm, Beijing, China) (88.4% and 98.7%, respectively) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK) (84.3%, and 98.9%, respectively). The effectiveness rates of the Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute, Moscow, Russia) vaccine against asymptomatic, symptomatic, and hospitalization were 100%, 100%, and 66.7%, respectively. The highest median anti-spike (S) IgG values were seen in individuals who received BNT162b2 (2.9 AU/mL) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (2.8 AU/mL) vaccines. The levels of anti-S IgG were significantly decreased after 7 months of vaccination with BNT162b2 and BBIBP-CorV. There were significant decreases in the median number of neutralizing antibodies one month and seven months after receiving BNT162b2 (from 88.5 to 75.2 4 Bioequivalent Allergen Unit per milliliter/mL), BBIBP-CorV (from 69.5 to 51.5 BAU/mL), and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (from 69.2 to 58.BAU/mL) vaccines. The highest percentage of T cells specific to COVID-19 vaccine was found in individuals who received BNT162b2 (88.5%). CONCLUSION All four vaccines evaluated in this study showed effectiveness against asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and death. Furthermore, BNT162b2, BBIBP-CorV, and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 induced high levels of immunology markers within one month of vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derar H Abdel-Qader
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
- Al Rashid Hospital Center, Amman 11623, Jordan
| | | | - Jennifer Silverthorne
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Chuenjid Kongkaew
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 64141, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wail Hayajneh
- School of Medicine, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
- School of Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 3030, Jordan
| | | | - Salim Hamadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
| | - Luay Abu-Qatouseh
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
| | - Riad Awad
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
| | - Mohannad Al Nsour
- Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman 11195, Jordan
| | | | | | | | - Nathir M Obeidat
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | | | | | | | - Mohammad Asad
- Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman 11195, Jordan
| | - Salah AbuRuz
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Advancing towards a worldwide healthcare system in the post-COVID-19 era: benefits and barriers to international collaboration in healthcare. J Med Econ 2023; 26:679-681. [PMID: 37102312 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2207423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed serious shortcomings in healthcare systems around the world. Shortages of staff, equipment and access to healthcare have created major obstacles for facilities when managing public health emergencies. The pandemic has resulted in a decrease in healthcare revenue, layoffs and furloughs of staff members, as well as decreased funding for public health programs. Global variations in response to the pandemic have resulted in varying death rates and economic damage, underscoring the necessity for a coordinated global health response. This editorial examines both the advantages and drawbacks of international healthcare collaboration when responding to pandemics, with an aim of building a comprehensive global healthcare system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Sammani N. Assessment of changes in the epidemiology and prognosis of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections one year after recovery from COVID-19. Respir Investig 2023; 61:445-453. [PMID: 37121115 PMCID: PMC10121141 DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given its pathophysiology and evidence on its long-term effects, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have altered the incidence, types, and severity of other respiratory infections (RIs). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of COVID-19 on non-SARS-CoV-2 RIs in COVID-19 survivors. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered, online survey from February 2022 to April 2022 in the United Arab Emirates. Participants included adults diagnosed with COVID-19 before February 2021. Those who did not undergo nasopharyngeal swab tests for contraction of other RIs after recovering from COVID-19 were excluded. RESULTS Of the 384 participants, 24.5% were aged 18-24 years, and 55.5% were women. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2. Among the participants, 34.4% experienced at least one non-SARS-CoV-2 RI after recovering from COVID-19, of which 25.8% reported that the RI lasted longer than those previously, 27.3% sought physician advice, 31.8% reported increased coughing as a symptom of the non-SARS-CoV-2 RI, and 38.6% reported increased sputum. Based on patient responses, the degree of COVID-19 severity was significantly associated with non-SARS-CoV-2 RIs (p = 0.003), and depression was found to be a significant predictor of changes in shortness of breath symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.46). CONCLUSIONS The participants of this study reported changes in the duration and severity of non-SARS-CoV-2 RIs after recovering from COVID-19. Further research is needed to confirm these findings, which suggest a need for swift action to protect the public against RIs, particularly seasonal pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Nour Sammani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Asthma, an increasingly prevalent chronic respiratory condition, incurs significant economic costs worldwide. Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Machine Learning (ML), has been widely recognized as transformative when applied to asthma care. This commentary investigates how AI and ML may improve clinical outcomes while alleviating some of the costs associated with asthma care. AI's powerful analytical abilities could usher in an unprecedented era of preventive measures, particularly by identifying at-risk populations and anticipating environmental triggers. ML shows promise for enhancing real-time monitoring, early detection, and tailored treatment strategies in paediatric asthma, potentially reducing hospitalizations and emergency care costs. Emerging AI-powered wearable technologies are catalysing a revolutionary shift in patient monitoring, providing proactive interventions. Although optimistic, this commentary highlights a gap in empirical studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of AI in asthma care and stresses the need for larger datasets to accurately represent the economic benefits of AI solutions. Additionally, this paper emphasizes the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and algorithmic bias, which are vital for the successful and equitable integration of AI into healthcare settings. This editorial underscores the urgent necessity of conducting thorough analyses to assess all economic implications, facilitate optimized resource allocation, and foster a nuanced understanding of AI/ML technologies in asthma management that may reduce costs to healthcare systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Underreporting of Adverse Drug Events: a Look into the Extent, Causes, and Potential Solutions. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2023; 22:351-354. [PMID: 37300402 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2224558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Technical and regulatory challenges of digital health implementation in developing countries. J Med Econ 2023; 26:1057-1060. [PMID: 37594521 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2249757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Jarab AS, Abu Heshmeh SR, Al Meslamani AZ. Artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy: an overview of innovations. J Med Econ 2023; 26:1261-1265. [PMID: 37772743 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2265245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anan S Jarab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan
| | - Shrouq R Abu Heshmeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Applications of AI in pharmacy practice: a look at hospital and community settings. J Med Econ 2023; 26:1081-1084. [PMID: 37594444 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2249758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Al Meslamani AZ. Beyond implementation: the long-term economic impact of AI in healthcare. J Med Econ 2023; 26:1566-1569. [PMID: 37975706 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2285186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abdel-Qader DH, Al Meslamani AZ, Albassam A, Al Mazrouei N, El-Shara AA, El Sharu H, Ebaed SBM, Ibrahim OM. Assessment of A new Strategy to Prevent Prescribing Errors Involving COVID-19 Patients in Community Pharmacies. Hosp Pharm 2022; 57:654-665. [PMID: 36081535 PMCID: PMC9445540 DOI: 10.1177/00185787211073506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Background: Because COVID-19 patients are vulnerable to prescribing errors (PEs) and adverse drug events, designing and implementing a new approach to prevent prescribing errors (PEs) involving COVID-19 patients has become a priority in pharmacotherapy research. Objectives: To investigate whether using WhatsApp to deliver prescribing error (PE)-related clinical scenarios to community pharmacists could enhance their ability to detect PEs and conduct successful pharmaceutical interventions (PIs). Methods: In this study, 110 community pharmacies were recruited from different regions across Jordan and equally allocated to 2 groups. Over the course of 4 weeks, WhatsApp was used to send PEs-related clinical case scenarios to the active group. The second group was controlled with no clinical scenarios. After completion of the 4-week phase, pharmacists from both groups were asked to document PEs in COVID-19 patients and their interventions using a data-collection form. Results: The incidence of PEs in COVID-19 patients documented in the active group (18.54%) was higher than that reported in the control group (3.09%) (P = .001). Of the 6598 and 968 PIs conducted by participants working in the active and control group pharmacies, 6013 (91.13%) and 651 (67.25%) were accepted, respectively. The proportions of wrong drug (contraindication), wrong drug (unnecessary drug prescribed/no proof of its benefits), and omission of a drug between the active and control groups were 15.30% versus 7.21% (P = .001), 11.85% versus 6.29% (P = .03), and 17.78% versus 10.50% (0.01), respectively. Additionally, the proportions of lethal, serious, and significant errors were 0.74% versus 0.35% (P = .04), 10.52% versus 2.57% (0.002), and 47.88% versus 9.57% (0.001), respectively. Addition of drug therapy interventions (AOR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.21-0.84) and errors with significant clinical seriousness (AOR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.64). Conclusions PEs involving COVID-19 patients in community settings are common and clinically significant. The intervention assessed in this study could be promising for designing a feasible and time-efficient interventional tool to encourage pharmacists' involvement in identifying and correcting PEs in light of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | | | - Husam El Sharu
- Indiana University Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ibrahim OM, Meslamani AZA, Ibrahim R, Kaloush R, Mazrouei NA. The impact of telepharmacy on hypertension management in the United Arab Emirates. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20:2734. [PMID: 36793920 PMCID: PMC9891772 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2022.4.2734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To assess the effectiveness of telepharmacy services delivered by community pharmacies in hypertension management and examine its influence on pharmacists' ability to identify drug-related problems (DRPs). Methods This was a 2-arm, randomised, clinical trial conducted among 16 community pharmacies and 239 patients with uncontrolled HTN in the U.A.E over a period of 12 months. The first arm (n=119) received telepharmacy services and the second arm (n=120) received traditional pharmaceutical services. Both arms were followed up to 12 months. Pharmacists self-reported the study outcomes, which primarily were the changes in SBP and DBP from baseline to 12-month meeting. Blood pressure readings were taken at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Other outcomes were the mean knowledge, medication adherence and DRP incidence and types. The frequency and nature of pharmacist interventions in both groups were also reported. Results The mean SBP and DBP differences were statistically significant across the study groups at 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up and 3-, 6-, 9-, 12- month follow-up, respectively. In detail, the mean SBP was reduced from 145.9 mm Hg in the intervention group (IG) and 146.7 mm Hg in the control group (CG) to 124.5, 123.2, 123.5, and 124.9 mm Hg at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the IG and 135.9, 133.8, 133.7, and 132.4 mm Hg at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the CG. The mean DBP was reduced from 84.3 mm Hg in IG and 85.1 mm Hg in CG to 77.6, 76.2, 76.1, and 77.8 mm Hg at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the IG and 82.3, 81.5, 81.5, and 81.9 mm Hg at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the CG. Medication adherence and knowledge of participants in the IG towards hypertension were significantly improved. The DRP incidence and DRPs per patient identified by pharmacists in the intervention and control groups were 2.1% versus 1.0% (p=0.002) and 0.6 versus 0.3 (p=0.001), respectively. The total numbers of pharmacist interventions in the IG and CG were 331 and 196, respectively. The proportions of pharmacist interventions related to patient education, cessation of drug therapy, adjustment of drug dose, and addition of drug therapy across the IG and CG were 27.5% versus 20.9%, 15.4% versus 18.9%, 14.5% versus 14.8%, and 13.9% versus 9.7%, respectively (all with p<0.05). Conclusion Telepharmacy may have a sustained effect for up to 12 months on blood pressure of patients with hypertension. This intervention also improves pharmacists' ability to identify and prevent drug-related problems in community setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama Mohamed Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ,
| | - Rana Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| | - Rawan Kaloush
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Philadelphia University, Amman, Jordan.
| | - Nadia Al Mazrouei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Mahmood A, Haneef R, Al Meslamani AZ, Bostanudin MF, Sohail M, Sarfraz M, Arafat M. Papain-Decorated Mucopenetrating SEDDS: A Tentative Approach to Combat Absorption Issues of Acyclovir via the Oral Route. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081584. [PMID: 36015210 PMCID: PMC9412565 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to enhance the oral bioavailability of Acyclovir (ACV) based on the papain-functionalized self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). The optimum control SEDDS formulation comprised of kolliphore (40%), transcutol (30%), propylene glycol (20%) and oleoyl chloride (10%). However, in the targeted SEDDS formulation, oleoyl chloride was replaced with oleoyl chloride-papain (OC-PAP) conjugate that was synthesized via an amide bond formation between the acyl halide groups of oleoyl chloride and the amino group of papain. Prior to adding in the SEDDS formulation, the newly synthesized conjugate was evaluated quantitatively by a Bradford assay that demonstrated 45 µg of papain contents per mg of the conjugate. Moreover, the conjugate formation was qualitatively confirmed through FTIR analysis and thin layer chromatography. ACV (a BCS class III drug) was incorporated into the SEDDS formulations after being hydrophobically ion paired with sodium deoxycholate, thereby making it lipophilic. The drug-loaded formulations were emulsified in the 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and evaluated in vitro with respect to drug release and rabbit mucosal permeation studies. Both the formulations illustrated a very comparable drug release over a period of 4 h, afterwards, the OC-PAP-based formulation demonstrated a more sustaining effect. The extent of mucus diffusion evaluated via the silicon tube method demonstrated a 4.92-fold and a 1.46-fold higher penetration of the drug, a 3.21-fold and a 1.56-fold higher permeation through the rabbit intestinal mucus layer, and a 22.94-fold and a 2.27-fold higher retention of the drug over the intact mucosa of rabbit intestine, illustrated by OC-PAP-based nanoemulsions compared to the drug-free solution and controlled nanoemulsion, respectively. According to these in vitro results, papain-functionalized SEDDS is a promising approach for the oral delivery of ACV and many other drugs with oral bioavailability issues, however, in vivo studies in this respect have to be employed before making a comprehensive conclusion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arshad Mahmood
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (A.Z.A.M.); (M.F.B.)
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC), Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (M.S.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rabbia Haneef
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; (R.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (A.Z.A.M.); (M.F.B.)
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC), Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohammad F. Bostanudin
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (A.Z.A.M.); (M.F.B.)
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC), Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Muhammad Sohail
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; (R.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Muhammad Sarfraz
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC), Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (M.S.); (M.A.)
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain P.O. Box 64141, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mosab Arafat
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC), Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112612, United Arab Emirates; (M.S.); (M.A.)
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain P.O. Box 64141, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mazrouei NA, Meslamani AZA, Alajeel R, Alghadban G, Ansari N, Kaabi MA, Sadeq A, Ibrahim R, Ibrahim OM. The patterns of herbal medicine use in the United Arab Emirates; A national study. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20:2698. [PMID: 36733511 PMCID: PMC9851812 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2022.3.2698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To examine the pattern, nature, and attitude towards herbal medicines usage in the UAE. Methods A cross-sectional national questionnaire was distributed over five weeks in 7 emirates of UAE: The questioner was constructed using an online platform and delivered randomly to 448 adults in the UAE. The data collection technique adopted for this study was a convenient sampling. SPSS version 24 was used for statistical analysis. Results Among participants, 98.7% used herbal medicines (HMs), and respondents who aged between 18 and 24 years were more likely to use HMs. Participant were mainly female (70.3%), with fair health status (55%), and participant with chronic disease were significantly less likely to use HM (10.9%). The majority of herbal medicine users believed herbal medicine were harmless, because they were derivatives of natural products. The findings of this study reported that many participants use HMs to enhance immunity (26.8%), and for relaxation (23.5%). Conclusion Despites the risk of adverse-effects, many participants in this study are regular users for HMs and have perception that 89 may cure or prevent COVID-19. Therefore, awareness-raising campaigns that target HM users are essential to mitigate any unwanted consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Al Mazrouei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- College of Pharmacy, AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ,
| | - Rand Alajeel
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| | - Ghaid Alghadban
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah.United Arab Emirates.
| | - Neda Ansari
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| | | | - Adel Sadeq
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Rana Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates.
| | - Osama Mohamed Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah. United Arab Emirates, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Al Meslamani AZ, Al-Dulaymi R, El Sharu H, Alwarawrah Z, Ibrahim OM, Al Mazrouei N. The Patterns and Determinants of Telemedicine Use during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Nationwide Study. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2022; 62:1778-1785. [PMID: 35710898 PMCID: PMC9142173 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Although telemedicine services have been adopted on a large scale in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a little is known about the public experience. Objectives This study aimed to investigate consumers’ patterns, nature, and predictors of telemedicine utilization and consumers’ attitude toward this technology. Methods A quantitative, self-administered questionnaire was developed, validated, and delivered randomly to adults living across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between January 2021 and January 2022. The questionnaire included questions about categories of telemedicine used, purpose of use, challenges encountered during the use of telemedicine, and reasons for not using telemedicine technology. We adopted a proportionate random sampling technique to recruit participants by 3 ways: social media, phone calls, and face to face. Results The final dataset included 1584 participants, of which 496 (31.3%) used telemedicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The most common reasons for not using telemedicine during COVID-19 was having no idea that telemedicine exists (38.3%, 417 of 1088) or having no idea how to use it (33.5%, 365 of 1088). Telemedicine users reported that that telepharmacy (89.7%), teleconsultation (78.2%), and telediagnosis (23.0%) were the most frequently used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 crisis. Of the 496 telemedicine users, 469 (94.6%) reported using telemedicine for seeking a pharmacist advice about medication instructions, 422 (85.1%) for ordering nonprescription drugs, and 401 (80.8%) for seeking a physician advice. Those with high activity on social media were less likely to be associated with telemedicine users versus nonusers. Discussion Although telepharmacy has been increasingly used by consumers, more attention is needed to fix its limitations and improve patient safety. Conclusion This study shows a positive attitude and a general acceptance of telemedicine services among the UAE population. Some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were significantly associated with the use of telemedicine during the pandemic.
Collapse
|
49
|
Abdel-Qader DH, Hazza Alkhatatbeh I, Hayajneh W, Annab H, Al Meslamani AZ, Elmusa RA. IgA nephropathy in a pediatric patient after receiving the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine 2022; 40:2528-2530. [PMID: 35339305 PMCID: PMC8942577 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wail Hayajneh
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University, USA
| | - Hassan Annab
- Nephrology Department, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Reem A Elmusa
- Department of Pediatrics, Jordan University Hospital, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Kharaba Z, Moutraji SA, Khawaldeh RAA, Alfoteih Y, Meslamani AZA. What has changed in the pharmaceutical care after COVID-19: Pharmacists' perspective. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20:2656. [PMID: 35919794 PMCID: PMC9296094 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2022.2.2656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the roles of hospital and community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to assess how COVID-19 has affected their roles concerning medication dispensing and review, patient education, and telepharmacy services. Methods This was a face-to-face questionnaire-based study. A convenient sampling technique was used to collect responses from 428 licensed community and hospital pharmacists across the UAE. The study tool is a structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned and analysed through SPSS Version 26. Results In terms of medication dispensing practice, 314 (73.4%) and 210 (49.1%) of pharmacists reported an increase in the dispensing of over the counter (OTC) medicines and antibiotics after COVID-19, respectively. Of the pharmacists included in the study, 380 (88.8%) and 328 (76.6%) reported an elevation in the engagement in patient education and medication review after COVID-19, respectively. On the other hand, 247 (57.7%) and 179 (41.8%) of pharmacists reported that the frequency of their pharmaceutical interventions and physicians' acceptance of those interventions increased after COVID-19, which was significantly associated (p=0.01) with pharmacists' ability to intervene on the dosage regimen of COVID-19 patient. Conclusion Pharmaceutical care in the UAE has evolved after COVID-19, particularly in the aspects of medications dispensing, telepharmacy, and patient-centered services..
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zelal Kharaba
- Department of Clinical Sciences, AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Sedq A Moutraji
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu-Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Rama A Al Khawaldeh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu-Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Yassen Alfoteih
- Department of Dental Surgery, City University College of Ajman, Ajman, UAE.
| | - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
- Department of Clinical Sciences, AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| |
Collapse
|