Evaluating the quality of multiple-choice question pilot database: A global educator-created tool for concept-based pharmacology learning.

The Core Concepts of Pharmacology (CCP) initiative is developing educational resources to transform pharmacology education into a concept-based approach. This study evaluated the quality of global educator-created MCQs in generating items for the pharmacology concept inventory (PCI) instrument and developed as a resource for learning pharmacology fundamental concepts. A panel of 22 global pharmacology experts recruited from the CCP initiative research team participated in the MCQ pilot database design and evaluation.

Developing an international concept-based curriculum for pharmacology education: The promise of core concepts and concept inventories.

Over recent years, studies have shown that science and health profession graduates demonstrate gaps in their fundamental pharmacology knowledge and ability to apply pharmacology concepts in practice. This article reviews the current challenges faced by pharmacology educators, including the exponential growth in discipline knowledge and competition for curricular time. We then argue that pharmacology education should focus on essential concepts that enable students to develop beyond 'know' towards 'know how to'.

Perception, willingness, and practices of telemedicine in patients with chronic diseases: implication of digital health in patients' perspective at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia.

Background: Technology-based healthcare services have important implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, as well as providing access to high-quality care that both the patient and the healthcare practitioner can benefit from. To access medical information, patients have also searched for methods of technology-based healthcare services like telemedicine (TM). However, little is known regarding the perceptions, willingness, and practices of TM among Ethiopian patients, especially in the study setting.

Extent of cardiovascular medications dispensing practice without a prescription: Self-reported and simulated patient-based study at community pharmacies in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Critical actions are required for the proper administration of medications to patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, there has been an increase in irrational use of cardiovascular drugs. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of non-prescription cardiovascular medicine dispensing practices at community drug retail outlets (CDROs) in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.

Incidence and patterns of adverse drug reactions among adult patients hospitalized in the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital: A prospective observational follow-up study.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have continued to be a public health challenge with significant clinical and healthcare costs. However, little is known regarding the incidence of ADR in Ethiopia, particularly in the study setting. Thus, this study aimed to assess the incidence and patterns of ADRs in patients admitted to the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital (UoGCSH).

Rate of glycaemic control and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with insulin-based therapy at selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the level of glycaemic control and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with insulin-based therapy.

Designs: Institutional-based multicentre cross-sectional study design was employed to conduct this study.

Settings: The diabetes follow-up clinics of selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Misunderstanding of dosing regimen instructions among patients with chronic diseases receiving polypharmacy at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital.

Background: Misunderstanding dosage instructions in terms of dose, frequency, duration, or any other instruction with patients on polypharmacy is a common problem that leads to the irrational use of medications. This study aimed to assess the level of misunderstanding of dosing instructions among patients with chronic diseases receiving polypharmacy at the chronic outpatient pharmacy of the University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital (UoGCSH).

Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2021 at the UoGCSH chronic outpatient pharmacy in Northwest Ethiopia.

Medication regimen complexity and its impact on medication adherence and asthma control among patients with asthma in Ethiopian referral hospitals.

Background: Various studies have found that medication adherence is generally low among patients with asthma, and that the complexity of the regimen may be a potential factor. However, there is no information on the complexity of the regimen and its relationship to adherence and asthma outcomes in Ethiopian asthma patients. Therefore, this study assessed how complex medication regimens affected medication adherence and asthma control in patients with asthma.

Prevalence and determinants of insomnia among patients living with asthma in Northwest Ethiopian University specialised hospitals: Multicentre cross-sectional study.

Objective: The study was aimed to determine the prevalence and contributing factors of insomnia among patients with bronchial asthma.

Design: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was used.

Setting: This study was carried out from January to March 2022 in three university comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Hypoglycemic events and glycemic control effects between NPH and premixed insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A real-world experience at a comprehensive specialized hospital in Ethiopia.

Background: Though initiation of insulin results in a significant change in glycemic levels, treating patients without significant hypoglycemic events remains difficult in diabetes patients initiated with different insulin-based regimens. This study assessed the association of hypoglycemic incidence and glycemic control between NPH and premixed insulin regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study in patients with T2DM who were treated with insulin-based therapy from 2015 to 2020 at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized hospital.

Medication adherence and its impact on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with comorbidity: A multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Medication nonadherence in patients with chronic diseases, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with comorbidity, has continued to be the cause of treatment failure. The current study assessed medication adherence and its impact on glycemic control in T2DM patients with comorbidity.

Methods: An institutional-based multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients with comorbidity at the selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Time to doubling of serum creatinine in patients with diabetes in Ethiopian University Hospital: Retrospective follow-up study.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease is one of the long-term microvascular complications of diabetes. Doubling of serum creatinine is an important biomarker and predictor of diabetic kidney disease for patients with diabetes. This study aimed to determine the time in which the serum creatinine level is doubled measured from the baseline in patients with diabetes in Ethiopian University Hospital.

Adherence to Inhaled Corticosteroid Therapy and Its Clinical Impact on Asthma Control in Adults Living with Asthma in Northwestern Ethiopian Hospitals.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the backbone of and primary choice for long-term asthma control therapy; however, the level of adherence to this regimen has not yet been investigated, particularly in the study area of Northwest Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the level of adherence to ICS treatment and its impact on adults living with asthma in Northwestern Ethiopian hospitals.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter institution-based survey was conducted in asthma patients treated with ICS-based regimens in public hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study on Perceptions and Roles of Community Pharmacists in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disorders in Northwest Ethiopia.

Introduction: Community pharmacy professionals are among the initial healthcare providers and could play crucial roles in preventing and managing cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to assess perceptions and involvements of community pharmacy professionals in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disorders in Gondar city and nearby rural towns, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A multi-centered cross-sectional survey was conducted on community pharmacy professionals in Gondar city and the nearby rural towns from June to July 2021.

Renal outcomes of diabetic patients treated with combination therapy of ACE inhibitors plus either thiazide diuretics or calcium channel blockers: comparative retrospective cohort study in Northwestern Ethiopia.

Objective: The study determined the comparative renal functions on patients with diabetes treated with ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) plus either thiazide diuretics or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in Northwestern Ethiopia.

Design: Retrospective cohort study design was employed to collect the data from medical records of patients with diabetes followed for 1-5 years (N=404).

Setting: The medical records of patients in chronic diabetic follow-up clinics of the hospital.

A cross sectional study on beliefs and roles of community pharmacy professionals in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome in an Ethiopian setting.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of cardiovascular risk factors, and its prevalence is becoming alarmingly high in Ethiopia. Studies uncovered as community pharmacy professionals (CPPs) have not yet well integrated into public health programs and priorities. In low income setting like Ethiopia, evidence regarding the roles CPPs in preventing and management of MetS is dearth.

Evaluations of knowledge, skills and practices of insulin storage and injection handling techniques of diabetic patients in Ethiopian primary hospitals.

Background: Insulin is an effective therapeutic agent in the management of diabetes, but also sensitive to the external environment. Consequently, diabetic patients' adherence to insulin delivery recommendations is critical for better effectiveness. Patients' lack of knowledge, skill and irrational practices towards appropriate insulin delivery techniques may end up in therapeutic failure and increase costs of therapy.

Pharmacist-led smoking cessation services in Ethiopia: Knowledge and skills gap analysis.

Introduction: The present study's objectives were: 1) assess the knowledge and attitude of pharmacists and pharmacy students regarding smoking/smoking cessation, and 2) document the extent of community pharmacists' involvement in the provision of smoking cessation services in Ethiopia.

Methods: This study used cross-sectional and direct observation methods. A series of questionnaires were administered to final-year pharmacy students and practising pharmacists.

Glycemic control among diabetic patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ethiopia recorded the highest numbers of people with diabetes in Africa. It is not uncommon for diabetic patients to have poor glycemic control leading to a number of complications. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the level of glycemic control among diabetic patients in Ethiopia by combining the studies from the existing literature.

Assessment of community pharmacy professionals' knowledge and counseling skills achievement towards headache management: a cross-sectional and simulated-client based mixed study.

Background: Headache is one of the most common disabling medical condition affecting over 40% of adults globally. Many patients with headache prefer to alleviate their symptom with a range of over-the-counter analgesics that are available in community medicine retail outlets (CMROs). However, data regarding how community pharmacists respond to headache presentation and their analgesic dispensing behaviors in Ethiopia is scarce.

Prevalence and correlates of herbal medicine use among type 2 diabetic patients in Teaching Hospital in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients are increasingly using herbal remedies due to the fact that sticking to the therapeutic regimens is becoming awkward. However, studies towards herbal medicine use by diabetic patients is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of herbal medicine use with different sociodemographic variables among type 2 diabetes patients visiting the diabetic follow-up clinic of University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital (UOGCSH), Ethiopia.

Comprehensive knowledge and uptake of cervical cancer screening is low among women living with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: In Ethiopia, cervical cancer is ranked as the second most common type of cancer in women and it is about 8 times more common in HIV infected women. However, data on knowledge of HIV infected women regarding cervical cancer and acceptability of screening is scarce in Ethiopia. Hence, the present study was aimed at assessing the level of knowledge of about cervical cancer and uptake of screening among HIV infected women in Gondar, northwest Ethiopia.