The needs and gaps in pharmacogenomics knowledge and education among healthcare professionals in Malaysia: A multisite Delphi study.

Lack of pharmacogenomics knowledge among healthcare professionals is the most significant cited barrier to implementing pharmacogenomics in clinical settings. Despite the growth in research initiatives and awareness of pharmacogenomics, healthcare professionals continue to report a lack of knowledge and confidence in practicing pharmacogenomics. This study aims to assess the current pharmacogenomics knowledge gaps and learning needs of healthcare professionals in Malaysia.

Assessing feasibility of conducting medication review with follow-up among older adults at community pharmacy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: Medication review with follow-up is essential for optimising medication utilisation among the older adult population in primary healthcare.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing medication reviews with follow-up for older adults in community pharmacies and examined potential outcomes on medication use.

Method: A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted with 4 cluster-randomised community pharmacies to assess the feasibility of the intervention.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding counselling on vitamins and dietary supplements in Malaysia: A study on complementary medicines.

Background: The utilization of vitamins and dietary supplements (DSs) among consumers in Malaysia has seen a notable increase. However, there is limited research available on how pharmacists in Eastern countries manage the provision of these products.

Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in Malaysia regarding the provision of counselling services on vitamins and DSs.

Evaluating knowledge, habits, and beliefs regarding dietary supplements as a protective measure against COVID-19 in Malaysia and Iraq: A postsecond wave cross-sectional analysis.

Background And Aims: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought to the forefront various public health approaches, including the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) as a protective measure. With misinformation regarding the virus and the associated benefits of DS prevalent, this study aimed to understand knowledge, habits, and beliefs related to DS usage as a protective measure during the pandemic in Malaysia and Iraq, two countries with deep-rooted traditions in herbal and supplement usage.

Methods: A cross-sectional research study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 using a validated online survey.

Effectiveness of pharmacogenomics educational interventions on healthcare professionals and health professions students: A systematic review.

Background: The field of pharmacogenomics is rapidly advancing, but its adoption and implementation remain slow and lacking. Lack of pharmacogenomics knowledge among healthcare professionals is the most frequently cited barrier to adopting and implementing pharmacogenomics in clinical settings.

Objectives: This study aimed to critically evaluate and determine the effectiveness of educational interventions in improving pharmacogenomics knowledge and practice.

Medication use problems and factors affecting older adults in primary healthcare.

Background: As the largest demographic group utilizing primary healthcare facilities, older adults often face the challenge of managing multiple chronic illnesses, leading to numerous medications.

Objective: The present study aims to assess medication use problems among older adults and explore the factors affecting them in primary healthcare settings.

Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted to establish a baseline understanding of the perspectives and challenges faced by older adults, with regards to medication use.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Stewardship through objective structured clinical examination in pharmacy education.

Objectives: To describe the implementation and assess whether an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a viable assessment tool for testing Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) principles.

Methods: A three-station OSCE set in a hospital and community pharmacy was designed and mapped to the World Health Organisation's AMS intervention practical guide. This OSCE comprised 39 unique cases and was implemented across two campuses (Malaysia and Australia) at one institute.

Implementation of a hepatitis-themed virtual escape room in pharmacy education: A pilot study.

As we enter a world of blended learning in higher education, an increased need for adaptation of teaching strategies to enhance engagement has been recognised to amplify learning outcomes online. Gamification has been identified as a creative tool to engage the current cohort of learners who are also characteristically tech-savvy. To this end, escape room games have gained considerable traction in medical and pharmacy education to promote learning, critical thinking and teamwork.

Helping older adults with their medication use problems: A qualitative study on perspectives and challenges of primary health care providers.

Background: Primary care providers help older adults with medication use problems in Malaysia and globally. They help older adults with medication management, appropriate use, and administration; however, their perspectives and challenges regarding medication use problems in older adults have not been adequately explored.

Methods: The study used a qualitative methodology comprising 30 in-depth interviews among general practitioners and pharmacists in Penang, Malaysia, in public and private primary care settings.

Medication Use Questionnaire for Older Adults in Malaysia: Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Reliability.

Objectives: This study aimed to translate the Medication Use Questionnaire into a Malay version, adapt it to Malaysia's culture, and verify its reliability among Malaysia's older adults.

Methods: Methodological approaches were used to translate, validate, and modify the questionnaire. The subjects were older adults aged ≥ 60 years in primary care settings in Penang, Malaysia.

Clinical pharmacists' intervention on pain management in cancer patients (PharmaCAP trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Evidence-based services to support cancer patients with pain via clinical pharmacy services are currently lacking. Therefore, there is a need to undertake a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to explore the effectiveness of clinical pharmacists (CPs)' input into the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in providing better therapeutic outcomes for cancer pain management.

Objectives: The main aim of this pilot RCT is to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of integrating CPs into the MDT for cancer pain management on the clinical outcomes of cancer patients experiencing pain.

Parental health beliefs, intention, and strategies about covid-19 vaccine for their children: A cross-sectional analysis from five Arab countries in the Middle East.

Background: The issue around vaccination of children has brought divergent opinions among the populations across the globe and among the Arab population. There has been a low response rate to the calls for vaccination of children and this is reflective of the sentiments which parents may have towards their children being vaccinated. This study aims to explore the parents' health beliefs, intentions, and strategies towards the COVID-19 vaccine for their children among Arab population.

Using COM-B model in identifying facilitators, barriers and needs of community pharmacists in implementing weight management services in Malaysia: a qualitative study.

Background: Previous qualitative studies exploring the experiences of community pharmacists (CP) in implementing weight management services (WMS) often lack a theoretical underpinning. This study applied the capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour (COM-B) model to factors associated with WMS implementation among CPs to develop and recommend better intervention strategies.

Methods: A qualitative study design was used by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with CPs.

Medication use problems among older adults at a primary care: A narrative of literature review.

Appropriate medication use is one of the most significant challenges among the older population. Although medication use problems are well documented at the secondary and tertiary health care level, the evidence at the primary care level of OECD region is limited. A narrative review of existing literature was conducted through a nonsystematic search for original articles through electronic search databases, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar from 2001 to 2021, and a combination of citation references.

A Prospective Study of Medication Surveillance of a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Purpose: Several studies have shown that polypharmacy is the main cause of drug interactions, and the prevalence and the level of the severity varied with the duration of stay in the hospital, sex and race of the patients. The aims of this investigation were to identify the drug-drug interactions in hospitalized pediatric patients associated with polypharmacy, and to categorize the drug interactions in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions according to their level of severity.

Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective analytical study was performed at a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan for the duration of 4 months, which included prescription orders for 300 patients.

Exploring the quality of life of cosmetic users: A cross-sectional analysis from eight Arab countries in the Middle East.

Background: The use of cosmetic products is growing in dominance in the Arab population, making it essential to measure its effects on users. The production of cosmetics has been largely driven by consumerism and a bid to keep abreast with the latest trends in the beauty industry with less attention on how the users' quality of life (QoL) is affected.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the effect of cosmetic products on users' quality of life in eight Arab countries.

Impact of pharmacist services on economic, clinical, and humanistic outcome (ECHO) of South Asian patients: a systematic review.

Background: Pharmacists in high-income countries routinely provide efficient pharmacy or pharmaceutical care services that are known to improve clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes (ECHO) of patients. However, pharmacy services in low- and middle-income countries, mainly South Asia, are still evolving and limited to providing traditional pharmacy services such as dispensing prescription medicines. This systematic review aims to assess and evaluate the impact of pharmacists' services on the ECHO of patients in South Asian countries.

Knowledge, Consumption Pattern, and Adverse Effects of Energy Drinks among Asian Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from Malaysia.

Background: The frequent expansion of the energy drinks (EDs) market has caused an extensive increase in the consumption of EDs, especially among younger populations. However, the lack of knowledge on EDs and their perceived beneficial effects could lead to excessive EDs consumption, which is strongly associated with serious side effects. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceived beneficial effects of EDs consumers and determine the consumption patterns and side effects experienced by different EDs consumers among the Malaysian population.

Lockdown Fatigue and University Students: Exploring the Factors That Play Significant Roles in the Level of Lockdown Fatigue Among University Students in the Era of COVID-19.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the educational sector has undergone a series of changes which have affected both learners and students alike. As a result, the distortion of the students' daily routine, isolation, social distancing and potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus changed almost all of the aspects of student life which has led to exhaustion of students, with both psychological and emotional challenges. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the factors that have a significant impact on the level of lockdown fatigue among university students in the era of COVID-19.

Exploring the eHealth literacy and mobile health application utilisation amongst Malaysian pharmacy students.

Introduction: Pharmacy students should be eHealth literate by being skilful in searching, evaluating and applying online health information. Mobile health applications should be utilised when making clinical decisions to achieve optimal patient care with the ever-changing pharmacy practice. This study aims to explore the eHealth literacy and mobile health application utilisation amongst pharmacy undergraduates.

Pharmacist Involvement in Cancer Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This review aimed to critically evaluate the impact of pharmacist involvement in managing pain in cancer patients. Databases (including MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL) were searched with a broad search strategy for studies involving pharmacists and cancer pain management until February 10, 2021. The quality of studies and evidence were assessed using standardized tools and GRADE, respectively.

Exploring the level of lockdown fatigue and effect of personal resilience and coping behaviours on university students during the covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional analysis from Iraq.

Governments worldwide have imposed lockdowns in their countries to restrict unnecessary movement and curb the spread and transmission of the Covid-19 as a mitigation measure. The education sector has also implemented rapid changes, and this has transformed the operational procedures for both students and lecturers. As the pandemic has progressed, its emotional and psychological toll is equally bearing on students, leading to lockdown fatigue.

Knowledge and Attitude of Pharmacy Students Regarding Geriatric Care: Questionnaire-Based Analysis in Malaysia.

Introduction: There is a predicted growth of up to 17% in an older adult of Malaysian above 60 years of age by 2040. This will increase the workload of almost every healthcare provider to ensure optimal geriatric care.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess pharmacy students' knowledge and attitudes towards geriatric pharmacy education and older patients to determine their preparation in delivering appropriate medical care to the geriatric population.