Antimicrobial use in animal farms in Egypt: rates, patterns, and determinants.

Background: While antimicrobial use (AMU) in human healthcare has received significant attention as a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), less emphasis has been placed on AMU practices and attitudes in animal husbandry. To address this gap, this study examines the patterns and underlying drivers of AMU on animal farms.

Methods: A survey instrument was distributed to farm staff in 150 animal farms across 15 Egyptian governorates.

Ramadan fasting intentions among pregnant women in Lebanon.

Background: According to Islam's teachings, women are religiously exempt from fasting during pregnancy if a woman is concerned about her health or that of the fetus. This study assesses the intentions of pregnant women to fast during Ramadan and evaluates the contribution of items derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting these intentions.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Arabic on a convenience sample of 181 pregnant women in Lebanon using a mixture of in-person (46), telephone (31), and online recruitment (104) techniques from February to April 2020.

Egyptian community pharmacies and self-care: Context, challenges and opportunities.

Community pharmacists are ideally positioned to play a key role in promoting self-care behaviors through judicious use of self-care interventions. As highlighted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, supporting effective self-care is a key strategy for pharmacists to contribute to the sustainability of healthcare systems. Despite recent positive developments in national health policies, Egypt does not have a clear self-care strategy and policy.

Translation and validation of the medication management patient satisfaction survey: The Lebanese Arabic version.

No Arabic translation exists for the medication management patient satisfaction survey (MMPSS), a 10-item psychometrically valid patient satisfaction survey tool developed to assess patient satisfaction for comprehensive medication management. The objective of this study is to translate the medication management patient satisfaction survey into Lebanese Arabic while culturally adapting and assessing the psychometric properties of the translated survey in the outpatient setting. Guidelines for translation, adaptation, and validation of instruments for cross-cultural healthcare research were followed.

A pharmacist-led medication review service with a deprescribing focus guided by implementation science.

Little research addressed deprescribing-focused medication optimization interventions while utilizing implementation science. This study aimed to develop a pharmacist-led medication review service with a deprescribing focus in a care facility serving patients of low income receiving medications for free in Lebanon followed by an assessment of the recommendations' acceptance by prescribing physicians. As a secondary aim, the study evaluates the impact of this intervention on satisfaction compared to satisfaction associated with receiving routine care.

An objective evaluation of fundamental pharmacogenomics knowledge among pharmacists and pharmacy students.

Introduction: Possessing a correct and comprehensive foundation on the science of pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an important prerequisite for pharmacists to successfully apply pharmacogenomic testing to patient care. While some work has addressed general PGx knowledge among pharmacists, little research has specifically focused on PGx foundational knowledge. This study examines the level of foundational knowledge of PGx and interest in learning about PGx among community pharmacists and first-year pharmacy students at Beirut Arab University (BAU), Beirut, Lebanon.

Comprehensive care for patients with diabetes in Ramadan: A module for pharmacy students and pharmacists.

Introduction: Prior studies show that many patients with diabetes whose health maybe impacted by fasting, choose to fast during Ramadan. This study describes the implementation and evaluation of an online module targeting bachelor of pharmacy (BPharm) and doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students that aims to improve participants' knowledge, communication, and self-efficacy concerning proper care for patients with diabetes in Ramadan.

Methods: An online module consisting of two phases targeting both BPharm and PharmD students was implemented over two semesters in fall 2020 and spring 2021.

Pharmacy-related research for health in the Arab region: An analysis informed by WHO's global strategy on research for health.

In 2012, WHO (the World Health Organisation) published a strategy on research for health based on the premise that policies and practices in support of health worldwide should be grounded in the best scientific knowledge derived from high-quality research. This strategy focuses attention on five interrelated goals: organisation, capacity, priorities, standards, and translation. Whilst knowledge production and publication in many Arab countries have been on the rise, the overall global share of the Arab region in health research publication is smaller than its global share of population or wealth.

Construction and evaluation of an online module addressing counseling patients with diabetes observing religious fasting.

Introduction: Little research has been conducted on training students of different health professions to deliver culturally appropriate care to patients observing religious fasting. This study aimed to formulate an online educational module on caring for patients with diabetes observing religious fasting and evaluate the module's impact.

Methods: Third-year doctor of pharmacy students participated in an online module at the end of their core pharmacist-patient communication class.

Addressing cultural competence and bias in treating migrant workers in pharmacies: Pharmacy students learning and changing norms.

Objective: Little research addressed training pharmacy students on bias towards vulnerable patients such as migrant domestic workers (MDWs). This study evaluates a module addressing bias and cultural competence when working with MDWs in community pharmacies.

Methods: Two cohorts of Lebanese Bachelor of pharmacy students completed this module as part of a core Public Health class.

Assessment of pharmacy students' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward herbal dietary supplements.

Although there has been an expanded use of herbal supplements worldwide, data concerning their consumption patterns and knowledge are limited. Consequently, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Lebanese pharmacy students toward herbal dietary supplements. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted by administering a 23-items' survey to a convenient sample of pharmacy students.

Development and validation of a theory-based instrument to predict community pharmacists' intention to provide pharmaceutical care services.

Background: Predicting pharmacists' intention to provide Pharmaceutical Care (PC) and identifying modifiable factors associated with their intention can aid in the design and tailoring of behavior-based interventions to promote the adoption of PC as a standard of pharmacy practice. There is a need for valid and reliable instruments that are theoretically grounded to measure these factors.

Objective: To develop and test the psychometric properties of the "Pharmaceutical Care Intention (PCI) scale" to identify socio-cognitive factors associated with community pharmacists' intention to provide PC services to patients with chronic conditions.

Perspectives on an amended law addressing pharmacists' availability in community pharmacies.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: Little attention has been given to perceptions of pharmacist availability and role in the community setting following policy changes. The Pakistani model is particularly interesting as it encompasses three different pharmacy practice licensure types with major differences in credentials, training, and role. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study examined factors associated with the availability of pharmacists in the community setting in Pakistan following the implementation of a new policy regulating pharmacist presence in community pharmacies.

Establishing trustworthiness and authenticity in qualitative pharmacy research.

Spurred by the value it can add, the use of qualitative research methods has been steadily growing by social pharmacy researchers around the globe, either separately or as part of mixed methods research projects. Given this increase, it is important to provide guidance to assist researchers in ensuring quality when employing such methods. This commentary addresses both theoretical fundamentals as well as practical aspects of establishing quality in qualitative social pharmacy research.

RAMCOM: A qualitative study of clinicians' viewpoints on a tool for communication with Muslim patients considering fasting during Ramadan.

Objectives: Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a basic pillar of Islam. While patients may be religiously exempted from fasting, literature indicates that the majority decide to fast. Caring for millions of Muslim patients who decide to fast during Ramadan can be challenging for clinicians around the globe.

Communicating with Clinicians on Fasting during Ramadan: The Patients' Perspective.

Caring for millions of Muslim patients who decide to fast during Ramadan can be challenging for clinicians. Using a theory-guided approach, this study explores Muslim patients' perspectives on factors influencing communication with clinicians in relation to fasting during Ramadan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of patients in Egypt (9) and the USA (8).

Clinicians' Perspectives on Caring for Muslim Patients Considering Fasting During Ramadan.

This study explores clinicians' perspectives on factors affecting care provided to Muslim patients who decide to fast during Ramadan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of clinicians in Egypt (11) and the USA (10). Framework analysis was conducted through mapping data to constructs within social cognitive theory.

Assessment of a Pharmaceutical Advertisement Analysis Module in a Drug Literature Evaluation Course.

To evaluate the impact of an educational module on students' self-efficacy when analyzing the content of promotional drug brochures (PDBs) and to assess the students' value of PDBs' as an educational tool. Third-year bachelor of pharmacy students participated in a one-hour lecture and a two-hour laboratory. Students completed a survey before and after participating in the module.

Perspectives of pharmacy staff on dispensing subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics: a theory informed qualitative study.

Background Injudicious dispensing of antibiotics in subtherapeutic doses is common in many developing countries. In Egypt, as in many developing countries, a few pills of common cold products are offered under the name cold group (CG). A cold group may contain one or more pills of antibiotics.

Pharmacist-patient communication about medication regimen adjustment during Ramadan.

Objectives: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset while abstaining from food and drink. Although Muslim patients may be aware of their religious exemption from fasting, many patients still choose not to take that exemption and fast. This study examines pharmacists' initiation and timing of communication about medication regimen adjustment (MRA) with patients related to Ramadan.

Pharmacists' knowledge and interest in developing counseling skills relating to oral contraceptives.

Background: Possessing correct therapeutic information on oral contraceptives is an important prerequisite for the provision of sound advice to women who are using these products.

Objectives: This study examines Egyptian pharmacists' knowledge of pharmacotherapeutic aspects of oral contraceptives as well as interest in developing skills in providing counseling on oral contraceptive pills.

Setting: Community pharmacies throughout Alexandria, Egypt.

Pharmacists' counseling on oral contraceptives: A theory informed analysis.

Background: Providing correct and complete counseling on the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) is central to securing the autonomy of women in child-bearing age and is a powerful, proven tool of social change. Pharmacists in many developing countries such as Egypt are involved in dispensing and at times prescribing pharmaceuticals, including oral contraceptives that are readily available without a prescription.

Objectives: To predict Egyptian community pharmacists' counseling on oral contraceptives while utilizing a theoretical framework guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Community pharmacists' knowledge of diabetes management during Ramadan in Egypt.

Background: Although Muslim diabetic patients may be aware of their religious exemption from fasting, many still fast and adjust their medication regimens accordingly. Pharmacists have a significant potential to identify and prevent harm from medication misuse in Ramadan.

Objectives: This study examines Egyptian pharmacists' knowledge regarding management of diabetes during Ramadan.

Predicting pharmacists' adjustment of medication regimens in Ramadan using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Background: During Ramadan, many Muslim patients may choose to abstain from food, drink and oral medications from dawn to sunset.

Objectives: This study explored the utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model in predicting community pharmacists' Medication Regimen Adjustment (MRA) behavior for patients during Ramadan.

Methods: A sample of pharmacists was drawn from a recent list of community pharmacies in the Alexandria governorate.