Understanding of Final Year Medical, Pharmacy and Nursing Students in Pakistan towards Antibiotic Use, Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship: Findings and Implications.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a leading public health threat, which is exacerbated by the high and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate knowledge regarding antibiotic use, AMR and the readiness to implement antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) among final year medical, pharmacy and nursing students in Pakistan. This reflects the high and increasing rates of AMR in the country, and students as future healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Patients' Knowledge and Practice on Disposal of Medicines Kept in Households in South Africa: Findings and Implications.

Objective: The disposal of unwanted, unused, or expired medicines is a concern. Currently, there is little knowledge regarding their disposal among patients in South Africa. Consequently, there is a need to address this.

A National Survey of Dispensing Practice and Customer Knowledge on Antibiotic Use in Vietnam and the Implications.

Misconceptions and pressures have increased the sales of antibiotics without a prescription across countries. There are concerns with such practices in Vietnam given rising antimicrobial resistance rates. A national survey was conducted among 360 private drugstores located in nine provinces in Vietnam.

Health-Care Professionals' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Disposal of Medicines in Primary Health-Care Facilities in South Africa: Impact and Implications.

Objective: Professional nurses, pharmacists, and medical practitioners are responsible for disposing of medicines within health-care facilities. South African regulations stipulate that medicines should not be disposed of through sewage systems because of the potential impact on patients and the environment. Consequently, our objective was to determine knowledge and practices among health-care professionals (HCPs) in South Africa and the information they provide to patients regarding the safe disposal of unused/expired/damaged medicines to provide future guidance with identified concerns.

Adverse events following immunization reporting and impact on immunization services in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya: a prospective mixed-methods study.

Introduction: adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) are thought to contribute to cases of vaccine hesitancy, yet little data exists describing the state of reporting and management of AEFIs. This study investigated the occurrence and influence of AEFIs on vaccine hesitancy in an informal settlement of Nairobi.

Methods: this was a prospective mixed-methods study involving 7 focus group discussions, 8 key informant interviews and 457 face-to-face interviews with caregivers.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Public Healthcare Facilities in South Africa: A Baseline for Future Direction.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem worldwide, including South Africa, where an AMR National Strategy Framework was implemented to instigate antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) and improve antimicrobial prescribing across sectors. To address the need to assess progress, a sequential mixed methodology with an explanatory research design was employed. In Phase 1, a self-administered questionnaire was completed by healthcare professionals (HCPs) from 26 public sector healthcare facilities across South Africa to assess compliance with the Framework.

Increasing hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthcare workers - global lessons for South Africa.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of contracting hepatitis B (HB), a severe blood-borne vaccine-preventable disease, caused by HB virus (HBV) infection. Low HB vaccine (HepB) coverage has resulted in suboptimal protection and high HBV infection rates in South African HCWs. Studies from Africa have identified cost; unavailability/lack of access to HepB; and lack of awareness/knowledge of HB and HepB, as barriers to HCW uptake.

Medicine shortages and challenges with the procurement process among public sector hospitals in South Africa; findings and implications.

Background: Medicine shortages are a complex global challenge affecting all countries. This includes South Africa where ongoing medicine shortages are a concern among public sector hospitals as South Africa strives for universal access to healthcare. The objectives of this research were to highlight challenges in the current pharmaceutical procurement process for public sector hospitals.

A comparison of five international clinical trial registers with the South African register for access to information and usability.

Introduction: in November, 2005, the South African (SA) National Department of Health (NDoH) mandated that, as from the 1 December, 2005, all new clinical trials to be conducted in the country must be registered on the South African National Clinical Trials Register (SANCTR). The objective was to compare access to the information contained in and the usability of the SANCTR with five other international on-line clinical trials registers.

Methods: Access to SANCTR was determined through the use of three search engines using the keywords "South African Clinical Trials.

Impact of a pharmacist-driven pharmacovigilance system in a secondary hospital in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Background And Aims: Under-reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by health-care professionals (HCPs) is a worldwide problem. Spontaneous reporting in hospitals is scarce and several obstacles have been identified for this. Improved hospital-based reports could make important contributions to future care.

Knowledge, attitudes and perspective on adverse drug reaction reporting in a public sector hospital in South Africa: baseline analysis.

Objective: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can cause significant harm in patients; however, ADRs are under-reported in many countries, including South Africa, where evidence of a pharmacovigilance (PV) system to monitor and manage ADRs is a requirement for compliance with norms and standards for quality healthcare delivery. We conducted an analysis amongst health care professionals (HCPs) at Sebokeng Hospital to assess the situation there and make recommendations.

Methods: Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire, targeting all medical practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacist assistants in the hospital.