Use and effectiveness of PCSK-9 inhibitors in heart diseases: A review.

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type-9 (PCSK-9) inhibitors have recently used in the management of different cardiac complications. Several clinical trials demonstrated their effectiveness in patients with hypercholesterolemia. However, the effectiveness of these medications in patients with heart diseases is still controversial.

Evaluating the use of virtual simulation training to support pharmacy students' competency development in conducting dispensing tasks.

Background: The incorporation of digital health technologies in undergraduate teaching, such as the MyDispense program, provides a simulated opportunity to support students' competency development in dispensing tasks.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of using MyDispense, an online pharmacy simulation platform, on pharmacy students' self-reported reaction, learning, and accuracy in performing dispensing tasks.

Methodology: 16 MyDispense cases simulating real-practice scenarios from prescription dispensing and verification to patient counseling were created for 55 professional year 1 pharmacy students as part of a professional skills course.

Role of pharmacists in the care of adult asthma patients: A scoping review.

Background: Asthma is a common long-term condition that affects people of all ages. Evidence suggests that a significant proportion of asthma patients in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) do not receive appropriate diagnosis, monitoring and/or treatment. When inadequately treated, asthma can negatively affect quality of life and may lead to hospitalisation and death.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination-Related Education in Pharmacy Programs in the Middle East.

Objective: Pharmacists play pivotal roles in improving vaccination rates. However, absence of vaccination-related undergraduate education impedes their ability for these roles. The study aims were to scope vaccination-related education in pharmacy colleges in the Middle East (ME) and to describe potential facilitators and barriers to vaccination administration education using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Prescribing patterns of antihypertensive medications: A systematic review of literature between 2010 and 2020.

Background: Hypertension has affected over 1.13 billion people worldwide in 2015 and it's one of the most preventable risk-factors for morbidity and mortality. Antihypertensives significantly reduce cardiovascular risks.

A Qualitative Exploration of Health Profession Students' Experiences of Resilience and Burnout Using the Coping Reservoir Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

: The Coping Reservoir Model is a useful theoretical and analytical framework through which to examine student resilience and burnout. This model conceptualizes wellbeing as a reservoir which is filled or drained through students' adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms. This dynamic process has the capacity to foster resilience and reduce burnout or the inverse.

Experiences of burnout, anxiety, and empathy among health profession students in Qatar University during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of burnout and anxiety is constantly increasing among health profession students worldwide. This study evaluates the prevalence of burnout and its relationship to anxiety and empathy during the COVID-19 pandemic among health profession students in the main governmental institution in Doha, Qatar using validated instruments.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of health profession students using validated instruments was employed.

Cost savings and cost avoidance with the inpatient clinical pharmacist interventions in a tertiary cancer care hospital.

Background: The economic benefit of the clinical pharmacist's role in ensuring the optimum use of medicines is potentially considerable, particularly when it comes to cancer management. We sought to evaluate the overall economic impact of clinical pharmacist interventions in the main cancer setting in Qatar.

Methods: The total economic benefit of the clinical pharmacy interventions were analyzed from the public hospital perspective.

Effectiveness of a structured pharmacist-delivered intervention for patients post-acute coronary syndromes on all-cause hospitalizations and cardiac-related hospital readmissions: a prospective quasi-experimental study.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Qatar and globally.

Aim: The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured clinical pharmacist-delivered intervention on all-cause hospitalizations and cardiac-related readmissions in patients with ACS.

Method: A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted at Heart Hospital in Qatar.

Evaluation of Health Literacy Levels and Associated Factors Among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Heart Failure in Qatar.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of inadequate health literacy and its associated risk factors among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and/or heart failure (HF) in Qatar.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among patients with ACS and/or HF attending the national Heart Hospital in Qatar. Health literacy was assessed using the abbreviated version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) and the Three-item Brief Health Literacy Screen (3-item BHLS).

Reducing health provider stereotypes through undergraduate interprofessional education.

Objective: Stereotypes among health professionals can jeopardize the delivery of collaborative healthcare and the achievement of positive patient outcomes. However, interprofessional education (IPE) can promote early clarification of roles, and understanding and mutual respect among trainees from different health disciplines. We studied the effects of IPE activities on the views and attitudes of pharmacy students toward nurse- and physician-trainees.

Adherence as a Predictor of Glycemic Control Among Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study Using Real-world Evidence.

Purpose: Metabolic control among adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is generally poor. Nonadherence is a contributor to this poor glycemic control, leading to adverse outcomes. The findings of studies reporting the association between adherence and glycemic control are conflicting.

Community pharmacists' participation in adult vaccination: A cross-sectional survey based on the theoretical domains framework.

Objectives: This study aims to assess Qatar community pharmacists' practices in advocating and promoting adult vaccination and to characterize and quantify potential determinants of participation in adult vaccination as vaccine administrators, based on the theoretical domains framework (TDF).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a randomly selected sample of community pharmacists in Qatar was conducted using a self-administered validated questionnaire. Items in the questionnaire on potential determinants of participation in adult vaccination were based on TDF.

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.

Assessment of an intensive education program for pharmacists on treatment of tobacco use disorder using an objective structured clinical examination: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Tobacco use is one of the major public health threats globally. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to offer tobacco cessation services owing to their easy accessibility by the public. To prepare Qatar community pharmacists to develop the competencies and skills required to offer smoking cessation services, an intensive tobacco control education program was designed and implemented.

Use of the job demands-resource model to understand community pharmacists' burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Community pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst playing a vital role in medication supply and patient education, exposure to the pandemic demands and prolonged stressors increase their risk of burnout.

Objectives: Using the Job Demands-Resources model, this study aims to understand the factors that led to community pharmacists' burnout and to identify their coping strategies and perceived recommendations on interventions to mitigate burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patient Safety Education in Entry to Practice Pharmacy Programs: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize, summarize, and evaluate the quality of extant quantitative and qualitative literature related to patient safety in pharmacy education. This systematic review included literature that targeted the content, delivery, and outcomes of patient safety in addition to literature that explored the perspectives of pharmacy students and faculty on how patient safety is integrated within their curricula.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted.

The utilization of simulated patients for teaching and learning in the pharmacy curriculum: exploring pharmacy students' and recent alumni's perceptions using mixed-methods approach.

Background: The use of simulated patients (SPs) is considered a significant resource for teaching and assessing clinical and communication skills in health professional education. We conducted this study to explore pharmacy students' perspective towards the utilization of SPs in Qatar and to identify areas that require improvement.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used among students and recent graduates of the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University (QU-CPH).

The role of community pharmacists in depression management: a survey of attitudes, practices and perceived barriers.

Background Community pharmacists play a significant role in depression care. Depression is a health priority in national health strategies around the world, including in Qatar. Objective To describe current practices, attitudes and perceived barriers of community pharmacists towards depression care, and to investigate factors associated with these practices.

Use of the Delphi technique in pharmacy practice research.

Consensus research methods are used in health services research to generate evidence through systematic means of measuring collective agreement and developing consensus from experts of a subject matter. Delphi technique is the most commonly reported consensus research method and is a structured, multistage interaction method to determine consensus using repetitive administration of anonymous questionnaires across two or three rounds. The Delphi technique is increasingly being used in pharmacy practice research.

Exploring the Role of Community Pharmacists in Obesity and Weight Management in Qatar: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Introduction: Obesity is a major public health burden in Qatar. Pharmacists can play an important role in providing weight management services (WMSs). This study aimed to explore their attitudes, practice, perceived competence, and role in WMSs in Qatar.

Developing a Global Community of Practice for Pharmacy Workforce Resilience-Meet GRiT.

Workforce resilience in pharmacy is required to ensure the practice, education, and administrative systems remain viable and sustainable over time and when facing challenges. Whether it is addressing burnout of pharmacists or students, or the structure and policies/procedures of employment and professional organizations, working to increase resilience across all individuals and sectors is essential to relieve pressure and promote better well-being, especially during the recent pandemic. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a community of practice global group focused on development of resilience within the pharmacy workforce that is inclusive of students, pharmacy interns/preregistration and registered pharmacists.

A pharmacist-delivered smoking cessation program in Qatar: an exploration of pharmacists' and patients' perspectives of the program.

Background Tobacco use is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. An intensive pharmacist-delivered smoking cessation program was implemented in eight primary care pharmacies in Qatar. Objective This study aimed to qualitatively explore the perspectives of pharmacists and patients regarding their experiences in the program and their recommendations for improving it.