100 research outputs found
Are community pharmacists and nutritionists capable for obesity management in Pakistan? A cross-sectional study
Get PDFThe main objective of the study was to evaluate knowledge and
perceptions among community pharmacists and nutritionists/
dietitians regarding obesity management in Pakistan.
A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to a random
sample of sample of 277 community pharmacists and 146
nutritionists. The data were collected, computed and analyzed
using SPSS. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests (P ≤ 0.05)
were used to compare the knowledge scores of community
pharmacists and nutritionists regarding obesity management
by profession, length of experience, type of health-care facility,
gender, age and city.
Out of 423 respondents, 66.5 % agreed on the availability of
guidelines. Most of them considered obesity management
guidelines (75.5 %), computer programs/internet (66.6 %) and
patient experience (68.7 %) as the most frequently used sources
for information regarding obesity management. Orlistat (55.1 %)
and metformin (55.7 %) were considered the most effective antiobesity
drugs by most of the respondents. The median score for
overall knowledge of community pharmacists and nutritionists
regarding standard obesity management guidelines was 33
(range 24-48) and 34 (range 24-48), respectively. No significant
differences (P < 0.05) were found among the knowledge scores
of community pharmacists and nutritionists.
The results of the present study showed adequate knowledge
and positive perceptions among community pharmacists and
nutritionists regarding management of obesity in Pakistan.
The results of the study are quite encouraging and indicate
that opportunities exist for involving community pharmacist
in weight-management services with other healthcare
professional
Perceptions of pharmacists towards the importance of work-life balance: a descriptive cross-sectional study from Pakistan
No full textThe present study was designed to evaluate the pharmacist’s perceptions towards the impor-
tance of different factors responsible for work-life in Pakistan. A descriptive cross-sectional study design
was used. A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 382 pharmacists working at different settings.
After data collection, data were analyzed through descriptive analysis and non-parametric tests using
SPSS program version 16. The mean composite score for different factors responsible for work-life bal-
ance were; work place culture (6.34 ± 2.80), workload (6.01 ± 2.32), work-family conflict (4.89 ± 2.30),
family work conflict (3.04 ± 1.34), social support (8.93 ± 2.87) and job satisfaction (20.23 ± 7.08). The pre-
sent study concluded a clear long term vision is required to address the needs and constantly changing re-
quirements of pharmacy workforce in order to improve programs and policies for the acceptance of their
role as well as their retentionEl presente estudio fue diseñado para evaluar la percepción del farmacéutico hacia la importancia de
los diferentes factores responsables de la vida laboral en Pakistán. Se utilizó un diseño de estudio transversal des-
criptivo. Se distribuyó un cuestionario a una muestra de 382 farmacéuticos que trabajan en diferentes ámbitos.
Después de la recolección de datos, se analizaron a través del análisis descriptivo y pruebas no paramétricas
usando el programa SPSS versión 16. La puntuación media compuesta por diferentes factores responsables de la
conciliación de vida fueron; cultura del lugar de trabajo (6,34 ± 2,80), la carga de trabajo (6,01 ± 2,32), el con-
flicto trabajo-familia (4,89 ± 2,30), el conflicto trabajo familiar (3,04 ± 1,34), el apoyo social (8,93 ± 2,87) y la
satisfacción laboral (20,23 ± 7,08). El presente estudio concluyó que se requiere una visión clara a largo plazo
para hacer frente a las necesidades y requerimientos constantemente cambiantes de la mano de obra en farmacia
con el fin de mejorar los programas y políticas para la aceptación de su papel, así como su retenció
VALIDATION OF THE WHO SELF-REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE-20 (SRQ-20) ITEM IN PRIMARY & SECONDARY HEALTH CARE SETTINGS: FIRST STEP TOWARDS COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS (CMD) IMPROVEMENT IN PAKISTAN
No full textMadeeha Malik*, Junaid Khalid Cheema and Azhar Hussai
Prevalence of chronic diseases in private healthcare sector of South Africa: a threat to public health
Get PDFPurpose: To evaluate the prevalence of patients suffering from registered chronic disease list (CDL) conditions in a section of the South African private health sector from 2008 - 2012.
Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of the medicine claims database of a nationally (South African) representative Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) company data between 2008 and 2012. Statistical analysis was used to analyse the data. Descriptive analysis was performed to calculate the prevalence of CDL conditions for the entire population, and stratified by age and gender. However, MIXED linear modelling was used to determine changes in the average number of CDL conditions per patient, adjusted for age and gender from 2008 - 2012.
Results: An increase of 0.20 in chronic diseases was observed from 2008 - 2012 in patients having any CDL condition, with an average of 1.57 (1.57 - 1.58, 95 % CI) co-morbid CDL conditions in 2008 and 1.77 (1.77 - 1.78, 95 % CI) in 2012. This increase in average number of CDL conditions per patient between 2008 and 2012 was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but with no large practical significance (d < 0.8).
Conclusion: Prevalence of patients with CDL conditions along with risk of co-morbidity has been increasing with time in the private health sector of South Africa. Risk of increased co-morbidity with age and among different genders was prevalen
Fluoroquinolone prescribing patterns in the private healthcare sector of South Africa, 2005-2012
No full textIncreased prescribing of fluoroquinolones leading to resistance is an issue of concern at present
globally. The present study was designed to investigate prescribing patterns for fluoroquinolones in a
section of the South African private healthcare sector since 2005-2012 and is a retrospective analysis of the
medicine claims database of a nationally (South African) representative Pharmacy Benefit Management
(PBM) company data between 2005 and 2012. The target population consisted of a total of 3788438 patients
older than 18 years (male/female ratio 1.2:1) claiming at least one antibiotic prescription. Fluoroquinolones
were defined as all active substances available in South Africa at the time of the study, belonging
to the J01MA classification of the ATC index. Data obtained included the NAPPI (National Pharmaceutical
Product Index) code (a unique product identifier), the number of dosages dispensed and the number
of days’ supply. The data obtained were expressed in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. The average DDD
per prescription per patient per year was also determined to describe the trends over the study period. Descriptive
and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data using the SAS Version 9.3. All statistically
significant results were considered with a probability of p < 0.05. Fluoroquinolones represented 28% of all
antibiotic prescriptions (N=7069563) claimed during the study period. A mean of 1.45 ± 0.92 (95% CI 1.44
- 1.45) prescriptions were claimed per patient in 2005, 1.46 ± 0.92 (95 % CI 1.45-1.46) in 2006, 1.47 ± 0.93
(95 % CI 1.47-1.48) in 2007, 1.45 ± 0.90 (95 % CI 1.44-1.45) in 2008, 1.41 ± 0.85 (95 % CI 1.41-1.42) in
2009, 1.40 ± 0.833 (95 % CI 1.39-1.40) in 2010, 1.36 ± 0.74 (95 % CI 1.33-1.34) in 2011 compared to 1.31 ±
0.71 (95% CI 1.31-1.32) during 2012 (Cohen’s d=0.2). The association between number of prescriptions
and gender (p < 0.0001, Cramer’s V = 0.02) and age groups (p < 0.0001, Cramer’s V = 0.04) was statistically
but not practically significant. Ciprofloxacin [1.30 DID (2005), 1.42 DID (2006), 1.70 DID (2007), 1.63
DID (2008), 1.51 DID (2009), 1.48 DID (2010), 1.29 DID (2011) vs. 1.19 DID (2012)], levofloxacin [0.46 DID
(2005), 0.58 DID (2006), 0.82 DID (2007), 0.95 DID (2008), 1. 04 DID (2009), 0.97 DID (2010), 0.79 DID
(2011) vs. 0.67 DID (2012)] and moxifloxacin (0.51 DID (2005), 0.60 DID (2006), 0.80 DID (2007), 0.70 DID
(2008), 0.62 DID (2009), 0. 57 DID (2010), 0.51 DID (2011) vs. 0.44 DID (2012)] were most claimed. The
average DDD/prescription/patient/year for ciprofloxacin increased from 4.12 ± 3.21 (95% CI 4.10-4.13) in
2005 to 4.84 ± 2.27 (95% CI 4.83-4.86) in 2012 (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.2), vs. 5.47 ± 4.57 (5.43- .52) in
2005 to 7.52 ± 3.72 (7.48-7.56) during 2012 for levofloxacin (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.5), and 5.89 ± 5.45
(5.85-5.94) in 2005 to 5.90 ± 4.84 (5.84-5.96) in 2012 for moxifloxacin (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.002). The
study concluded that the number of patients receiving fluoroquinolones generally decreased in the private
healthcare sector during the study period. Gender and age were found as weak predictors of fluoroquinolones
use. The ATC classification and the DDD unit of measurement have provided a platform to
compare drug use at various healthcare levels in different settings and geographic locations
The foreign policy of King Abdulaziz (1927-1953) : a study in the international relations of an emerging state
Get PDFKing Abdulaziz stood out as a major figure in Saudi domestics and foreign policy. He laid the foundation for Saudi foreign policy and international relations. Available
studies on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy either concentrated on earlier periods or dealt with part of his era. This study deals with the whole period of King Abdulaziz, approaches his foreign policy as a case study of a newly-emerging state and assesses the problems associated with this case.
The study is organised as follows: chapter one discusses the rise of King Abdulaziz and the Saudi achievement of a sense of statehood. Chapter two explores the problems which confront newly-emerging states in the formulation and
implementation of their foreign policy. Chapter three discusses the genesis of Saudi foreign policy structure. Chapter four focuses on Saudi Arabia's policy towards the
affairs of the Arabian Peninsula. Chapter five examines the policy of King Abdulaziz towards the Arab World. Chapter six adresses the King's policy in the area of Islamic
affairs. Chapter seven analyzes the King's relations with Britain after the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927. Chapter eight deals with Saudi policy towards the U. S.
The study hopes to provide a better understanding of the process of Saudi foreign policy making under King Abdulaziz. A major finding of this study is throwing light
on the problems experienced by Saudi Arabia as a newly-emerging state while making and implementing its foreign policy, particularly, in relation to a number of
specific and general factors underlying the making and execution of this foreign policy. In this sense the study hopes to make a modest contribution to the available
literature on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy
Knowledge and Perceptions of Prescribers Regarding Hepatitis B & C Management: A Cross-sectional Study from Pakistan
No full textFunctional Health Literacy among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan
No full text
A Study Evaluating Rational Drug Use In Malaria Management Among Public And Private Healthcare Facilities At Two Pakistan Cities
Get PDFMalaria continues to be a major public health issue in Pakistan, due to socioeconomic and epidemiological reasons. The thesis aimed to assess current scenario related to rational drug use, knowledge, perceptions and adherence of prescribers with standard treatment guidelines for malaria in public and private healthcare facilities in two cities of Pakistan; Islamabad (national capital) and Rawalpindi (twin city). A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods were used for data collection. The perceptions’ of malaria control program officials, prescribers and hospital pharmacists regarding factors affecting rational treatment practices for malaria were explored by conducting semi-structured interviews. Simple random sampling technique was used to draw the sample of public and private tertiary (n = 20), secondary (n = 10), primary (n = 20) healthcare facilities and community pharmacies from Islamabad (n = 118) and Rawalpindi (n=120) respectively. Besides that, a sample of 360 prescribers was selected randomly from the two cities (n = 180 each city). Prescribing practices were evaluated by assessing prescriptions for malaria using WHO prescribing indicator form while a structured questionnaire was used to assess the perceptions and knowledge of prescribers regarding standard treatment guidelines. United State Agency for International Development (USAID) stock out form and questionnaire were use to review drug availability and process of drug management respectively. Simulated visits were also performed to observe disease case management of malaria at community pharmacies
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