Potentially Inappropriate Use of Medication and Its Determinants Among Ambulatory Older Adults in Six Community Chain Pharmacies in Asmara, Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the 2023 American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria.

Background: Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is one of the main drug-related problems encountered in older adults. It is associated with adverse drug events, morbidity, mortality, increased economic costs, and negative effects on the quality of life that requires strict monitoring of prescriptions in older adults. Thus, the study aimed to assess potentially inappropriate medication use and its determinants among older adults.

Isolation and characterization of pure cultures for metabolizing 1,4-dioxane in oligotrophic environments.

1,4-Dioxane concentration in most contaminated water is much less than 1 mg/L, which cannot sustain the growth of most reported 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing pure cultures. These pure cultures were isolated following enrichment of mixed cultures at high concentrations (20 to 1,000 mg/L). This study is based on a different strategy: 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing mixed cultures were enriched by periodically spiking 1,4-dioxane at low concentrations (≤1 mg/L).

A cross-sectional study on the proper administration of eye medications and its determinants among outpatients attending Brhan Aini Ophthalmic National Referral Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the administration technique of eye medications, its determinants and disposal practices among ophthalmic outpatients.

Design: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted.

Setting: Brhan Aini Ophthalmic National Referral Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea.

Do NO, NO, N and CO fluxes differ in soils sourced from cropland and varying riparian buffer vegetation? An incubation study.

Riparian buffers are expedient interventions for water quality functions in agricultural landscapes. However, the choice of vegetation and management affects soil microbial communities, which in turn affect nutrient cycling and the production and emission of gases such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (NO), nitrogen gas (N) and carbon dioxide (CO). To investigate the potential fluxes of the above-mentioned gases, soil samples were collected from a cropland and downslope grass, willow and woodland riparian buffers from a replicated plot scale experimental facility.

Quantifying the Impact of Different Dietary Rumen Modulating Strategies on Enteric Methane Emission and Productivity in Ruminant Livestock: A Meta-Analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted with an aim to quantify the beneficial effects of nine different dietary rumen modulating strategies which includes: the use of plant-based bioactive compounds (saponin, tannins, oils, and ether extract), feed additives (nitrate, biochar, seaweed, and 3-nitroxy propanol), and diet manipulation (concentrate feeding) on rumen fermentation, enteric methane (CH) production (g/day), CH yield (g/kg dry matter intake) and CH emission intensity (g/kg meat or milk), and production performance parameters (the average daily gain, milk yield and milk quality) of ruminant livestock. The dataset was constructed by compiling global data from 110 refereed publications on in vivo studies conducted in ruminants from 2005 to 2023 and anlayzed using a meta-analytical approach..

Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey.

Background: The circulation of falsified medical products is a global threat and is expected to be higher in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the understanding, readiness, and response of Eritrea's healthcare professionals (HCPs), and identify potential areas of intervention to combat circulation of falsified medical products.

Design: This was a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey, conducted in December 2021.

Simultaneous biodegradation kinetics of 1,4-dioxane and ethane.

Biodegradation of 1,4-Dioxane at environmentally relevant concentrations usually requires the addition of a primary electron-donor substrate to sustain biomass growth. Ethane is a promising substrate, since it is available as a degradation product of 1,4-Dioxane's common co-contaminants. This study reports kinetic parameters for ethane biodegradation and co-oxidations of ethane and 1,4-Dioxane.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Supplemental Iron and Folic Acid Amongst Women Delivering in Edaga-Hamus Community Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study in Asmara, Eritrea.

Purpose: In Eritrea, every pregnant woman is provided with a supplemental iron and folic acid (IFA) tablet starting from the first antenatal visit throughout the end of pregnancy. In Zoba Maekel, two-third of first antenatal visits have been at either the second or third trimesters. This practice could limit pregnant women's timely access to the nutritional supplement and its benefits.

Awareness, Perception, and Utilization of Skin Lightening Agents Among Females of Asmara, Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The use of skin lightening agents (SLAs) is common among African females with black skin color. Although they usually contain harmful ingredients and can cause complications, their use remains to be a common practice. This study was conducted to assess the awareness, perception, and utilization of SLAs among females residing in Asmara, Eritrea.

Effect of triage training on the knowledge application and practice improvement among the practicing nurses of the emergency departments of the National Referral Hospitals, 2018; a pre-post study in Asmara, Eritrea.

Background: Triage starts at the front door of the Emergency Department (ED), and repeatedly performed by the responsible duty nurses with the aim of facilitating a timely and appropriate treatment of patients. A triage system called the Orotta Triage System was implemented in the emergency settings of the selected hospitals in 2006, with the emergency nurses trained to triage using the system. Since the introduction, a majority of nurses have been replaced by new untrained nurses.

Self-medication with ophthalmic drugs and its associated factors among ophthalmic patients attending three hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and practice of self-medication and its associated factors among ophthalmic patients.

Design: An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed.

Setting: Three hospitals inAsmara, Eritrea.

Patient-Centered Communication Among Pharmacy Professionals Working in Hospitals and Drug Retail Outlets in Asmara, Eritrea: Knowledge, Attitude, Self-Efficacy and Barriers.

Background: Globally, preventable medication-related problems are increasing constantly. Patient-centered communication (PCC) is essential to identify and reduce the occurrence of drug-related problems such as inappropriate use of medications, adverse drug reactions and non-adherence. In Eritrea, personal observations and anecdotal reports showed that pharmacy professionals' practice towards PCC was unsatisfactory.

Soil CO emissions in cropland with fodder maize ( L.) with and without riparian buffer strips of differing vegetation.

Vegetated land areas play a significant role in determining the fate of carbon (C) in the global C cycle. Riparian buffer vegetation is primarily implemented for water quality purposes as they attenuate pollutants from immediately adjacent croplands before reaching freashwater systems. However, their prevailing conditions may sometimes promote the production and subsequent emissions of soil carbon dioxide (CO).

Soil NO and CH emissions from fodder maize production with and without riparian buffer strips of differing vegetation.

Purpose: Nitrous oxide (NO) and methane (CH) are some of the most important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the 21st century. Vegetated riparian buffers are primarily implemented for their water quality functions in agroecosystems. Their location in agricultural landscapes allows them to intercept and process pollutants from adjacent agricultural land.

Drug prescribing and dispensing practices in regional and national referral hospitals of Eritrea: Evaluation with WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators.

Rational use of medicine (RUM) for all medical conditions is crucial in attaining quality of healthcare and medical care for patients and the community as a whole. However, the actual medicine use pattern is not consistent with that of the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline and is often irrational in many healthcare setting, particularly in developing countries. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate rational medicine use based on WHO/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) core drug use indicators in Eritrean National and Regional Referral hospitals.

Herbal Medicine (HM) among pharmacy professionals working in drug retail outlets in Asmara, Eritrea: knowledge, attitude and prevalence of use.

Background: Globally, the usage of herbal medicines (HMs) is increasingly growing in treating and preventing various ailments. Although, HMs play a vital role in healthcare, concerns have been raised over their safety. Since pharmacy professionals are at the right position to provide patients with evidence-based information on herbals, they should be knowledgeable enough on the subject matter.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Nurse Practitioners on Adverse Events Following Immunization and Barriers to Reporting in the Central Region, Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Though vaccines are generally considered extremely safe and effective, they have been associated with some serious adverse events following immunization (AEFIs). AEFIs might be related to either the vaccine, immunization error, anxiety related to immunization, and/or coincidental events. If they are not reported and investigated in timely fashion, they can create rumors and confidence gaps.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotics and their determinants in Eritrea: an urban population-based survey.

Objective: To measure knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance (ABR) and their determinants in the Eritrean urban population.

Design: A population-based, nation-wide, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Urban settings of Eritrea.

Determinants of dispensing antibiotics without prescription in Eritrea: a mixed-method qualitative study on pharmacy professionals' perspective.

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health challenge. Dispensing of antibiotics without prescription (DAWP), a major contributor to antibiotic resistance, is extensive in Eritrea. This study was, therefore, aimed at deeply understanding, qualitatively, the pharmacy professionals' perspective on the factors that trigger DAWP and how this practice could be mitigated.

Impact of adverse reactions to first-generation antipsychotics on treatment adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Antipsychotics are well-known to cause potentially serious and life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that have been reported to be also one of the major reasons for non-adherence. In Eritrea, shortage of psychiatrists and physicians, inadequacy of laboratory setups and unavailability of second-generation antipsychotics in the national list of medicines would seem to amplify the problem. This study's objective is to determine the impact of adverse effects of first-generation antipsychotics on treatment adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia at Saint Mary Neuro-Psychiatric National Referral Hospital.

Magnitude, Nature, and Risk Factors of Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with First Generation Antipsychotics in Outpatients with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: ADRs to antipsychotics are amongst the major challenges in the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. The extent of patient-reported ADRs assessed in many studies using standardized scales is found to be inconsistent. However, there is a paucity of such research in Eritrea.

Utilization of non-pharmacological methods and the perceived barriers for adult postoperative pain management by the nurses at selected National Hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea.

Background: Pharmacological methods are widely used for postoperative pain management however, poorly controlled pain continues to pose a significant challenge. Non pharmacological methods could contribute to the unresolved postoperative pain management in assisting nurses' routine care and reducing the need for medication. This study aimed to assess nurses' utilization of non-pharmacological methods in postoperative pain and the perceived barriers for their implementation at the National Hospitals.

Effect of Health Education on Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity among Female Teachers Aged 40-60 Years in Asmara, Eritrea: A Quasiexperimental Study.

Background: Middle age is a period in women's life where many changes occur in their bodies due to the decline of gonadotropins. As a result, they face various vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms. Moreover, chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and osteoporosis are prevalent at this time.