Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 254 in total

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  1. Fulltext Challenges and future directions for public health pharmacy education in developing countries
    Hassali MA
    Am J Pharm Educ, 2011 Dec 15;75(10):195.
    PMID: 22345714 DOI: 10.5688/ajpe7510195
  2. The need of sociology in health education
    Hassali MA, Saleem F
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2014 08 01;10(6):923.
    PMID: 25176322 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2014.07.005
  3. The true picture of dispensing separation in Malaysia
    Saleem F, Hassali MA
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2016 Jan-Feb;12(1):173-4.
    PMID: 26342241 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.08.005
  4. Travellers take heed: Outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid fever in Pakistan and a warning from the US CDC
    Saleem Z, Hassali MA
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2018 10 16;27:127.
    PMID: 30339826 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.10.013
  5. Fulltext A cross-sectional assessment of shared-decision making among patients visiting public healthcare institute of Quetta city, Pakistan
    Waheed, Hira, Haider, Sajjad, Iqbal, Qaiser, Khalid, Adnan, Hassali, Mohamed Azmi, Bashaar, Mohammad, et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 2020;18(1):15-29.
    MyJurnal
    Shared-decision making (SDM), occasionally called “participatory governance” is the approach in healthcare to ensure that patients have the right to participate effectively in the decision-making (DM) process. The aim of this research was to discuss the external aspect of SDM and put forward applicable solutions to ensure SDM at both patient and physician levels. A standardised validated nine-item SDM questionnaire (patient version SDM-Q-9) was employed. SPSS version 25 was used to perform data analysis. Multiple tests such as Mann-Whitney U and Jonckheere-Terpstra were used. Kendall’s Tau coefficient was used for interpretation of the significant relationship among all items of SDM-Q-9 and education. A total of 465 chronically ill patients took part, where majority (63.4%) of patients was above the age of 47. The cohort was dominated by females (67.5%) with 92% of the sample was married. Majority (86.9%) of the patient reported not involved in any decision. During analysis, considerable association was reported between gender and all items of SDM-Q-9, where more men were involved in SDM when compared with women. Our findings did produce significant association between education and SDM-Q-9, which reveals that increase in education can improve the SDM. SDM should not be limited to chronic or emergency in practice. Specific and tailored shared medical DM programmes must be developed for low literacy population implementation. SDM is to be supported at policy and operation levels.
  6. Fulltext Current status and future prospects of pharmacovigilance in Pakistan
    Hussain R, Hassali MA
    J Pharm Policy Pract, 2019;12:14.
    PMID: 31139421 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-019-0178-x
    Countries all around the globe are working to establish robust pharmacovigilance systems. Whereas the majority of the developed countries have established well-organized pharmacovigilance systems, the developing countries still lack the basic infrastructure to establish such systems. This commentary focuses on the need of pharmacovigilance and its current status and future trends in Pakistan.
  7. Modified labels for long-term medications: influences on adherence, comprehension and preferences in Malaysia
    Chan HK, Hassali MA
    Int J Clin Pharm, 2014 Oct;36(5):904-13.
    PMID: 25135804 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-014-0003-1
    BACKGROUND: Inability to read instructions on drug labels has been identified among the Malaysian population since 1990's.
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of font-enlarged and pictogram-incorporated labels used for long-term medications on patients' adherence, comprehension and preferences.
    SETTING: Outpatient pharmacy in one of the major general hospitals across Northern Malaysia.
    METHOD: This was a three-arm, randomized controlled trial. Outpatients with refill prescriptions of selected oral antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications were screened for eligibility. They were randomly allocated with standard (n = 35), font-enlarged (n = 40) or pictogram-incorporated (n = 35) labels. Assessment of baseline adherence scores using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, comprehension scores using a structured questionnaire and preferences was conducted upon recruitment. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted after 4 weeks.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The changes of patients' adherence and comprehension scores and their preferences.
    RESULTS: Within-group comparisons demonstrated an increase of total adherence scores after 4 weeks in all three groups (mean changes 0.35, 0.58 and 0.67; p = 0.029, 0.013 and 0.011, respectively). The repeatedly measured total comprehension score of pictogram-incorporated label group was significantly higher than baseline (mean change 0.37, p = 0.010). Two intervention groups obtained significantly higher scores for few items in both adherence and comprehension measurements after 4 weeks as compared with baselines. As indicated by F tests, three groups did not significantly differ in the changes of both total adherence and comprehension scores (p = 0.573 and 0.069, respectively) with the subjects' age adjusted. Elderlies and those with a higher number of morbidity preferred pictogram-incorporated label over font-enlarged label.
    CONCLUSION: We did not find a significant change of both adherence and comprehension levels after the introduction of modified medication labels. However, on the basis of within-group comparisons, they may have positive influences on certain aspects of patients' adherence and comprehension. Variations in preferences may reflect the unique need of different subgroups in receiving written medication instructions.
    Study site: Outpatient pharmacy, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
  8. Consumer perception on generic medicines in Basrah, Iraq: preliminary findings from a qualitative study
    Sharrad AK, Hassali MA
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2011 Mar;7(1):108-12.
    PMID: 21397885 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.12.003
    BACKGROUND: The use of generic medicines has been increasing steadily internationally, primarily because of cost concerns. Knowledge and use patterns of generic medicines in Iraq have not yet been measured.
    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore consumers' perception and knowledge on issues relating to generic medicine use in Basrah, Iraq.
    METHODS: A qualitative approach was used to gather information from consumers in Basrah, Iraq. A purposive sample of 14 consumers in Basrah was interviewed face-to-face using a semistructured interview guide.
    RESULTS: Thematic analysis of the interviews identified 5 major themes: understanding of the term "generic medicine," preference for generic medicine, refusal of generic medicine, generic substitution, and education on the use of generic medicines. Not all the consumers were familiar with the term "generic medicine;" they were familiar with the term "commercial medicine." Most of the participants understood that generics cost less compared with their branded counterparts. Most of the consumers said that their physicians and pharmacists had given them information on generics.
    CONCLUSION: Knowledge of generic medicines may be lacking among consumers in Iraq. Development of consumer education on generics by health care providers is required to support the implementation of the policy on generic medicines in Iraq.
  9. Limitations in contemporary self-reported medication adherence questionnaires: the concept and design of the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) originating from a developing country
    Naqvi AA, Hassali MA
    Curr Med Res Opin, 2019 Jan;35(1):1-2.
    PMID: 30229674 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2018.1526169
  10. Fulltext Post-COVID-19 Outbreak of Severe Kawasaki-like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
    Shakeel S, Ahmad Hassali MA
    Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Feb;28(1):109-116.
    PMID: 33679227 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.1.14
    With the continuation of the second wave of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is likely to be even more devastating, there are several associated health problems. COVID-19 is usually mild and non-fatal in children. However, in rare cases, children could severely be affected, and clinical manifestations may differ from adults. A multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious complication associated with COVID-19, initiated by an overactive immune response in kids that usually hits weeks after exposure to the COVID-19. MIS-C is a disorder in which inflammation could occur in different parts of the body. The disease puts pressure on the heart, as blood vessels leading towards the heart get inflamed and incapable of carrying adequate blood, hence producing cardiac complications in children hospitalised with MIS-C. The problem seems to be associated with COVID-19 in children; however, the association between MIS-C and COVID-19 is still unidentified. There is very little understanding of what triggers the MIS-C, which necessitates a rigorous mapping of the disease and associated risk elements for better disease management and navigating through this crisis.
  11. Fulltext The role of pharmacists in developing countries: The current scenario in the United Arab Emirates
    Rayes IK, Hassali MA, Abduelkarem AR
    Saudi Pharm J, 2015 Oct;23(5):470-4.
    PMID: 26594111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2014.02.004
    Pharmacy practice has passed several rounds of advancements over the past few years. It had changed the traditional positioning criteria of pharmacists as business people into patient-centered healthcare professionals. This worldwide shift is increasingly accumulating pressure on UAE pharmacists to turn up into better level of service providing accompanied with higher demand of inter-personal skills and intellectual capabilities. This can be accomplished through stressing the significance of continuing pharmacy education in basic sciences as well as social and administrative pharmacy techniques and its collaboration in elevating the quality of pharmacy practice in the UAE.
  12. Fulltext Prescribing errors incidence in hospitalized Saudi patients: Methodology considerations
    Mahmoud MA, Aljadhey H, Hassali MA
    Saudi Pharm J, 2014 Sep;22(4):388-9.
    PMID: 25161386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2014.04.003
  13. Fulltext A qualitative study exploring public perceptions on the role of community pharmacists in Dubai
    Rayes IK, Hassali MA, Abduelkarem AR
    Pharm Pract (Granada), 2014 Jan;12(1):363.
    PMID: 24644519
    BACKGROUND: The role of community pharmacists is very important due to their access to primary care patients and expertise. For this reason, the interaction level between pharmacists and patients should be optimized to ensure enhanced delivery of pharmacy services.
    OBJECTIVE: To gauge perceptions and expectations of the public on the role of community pharmacists in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
    METHODS: Twenty five individuals were invited to participate in 4 separate focus group discussions. Individuals came from different racial groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, two reviewers coded all transcripts to identify emerging themes. Appropriate measures were taken to ensure study rigor and validity.
    RESULTS: All facilitators and barriers that were identified were grouped into 5 distinct themes. The pharmacist as a healthcare professional in the public mind was the most prominent theme that was discussed in all 4 focus groups. Other themes identified were, in decreasing order of prevalence, psychological perceptions towards pharmacists, important determinants of a pharmacist, the pharmacy as a unique healthcare provider, and control over pharmacies by health authorities.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study provided insight into the way that the public looks at the role of community pharmacists in Dubai. Determinants that influence their perception are the media, health authorities, pharmacist's knowledge level, attire, nationality, age, and pharmacy location.
    KEYWORDS: Community Pharmacy Services; Consumer Satisfaction; Focus Groups; Pharmacies; Professional Practice; United Arab Emirates
  14. Fulltext A study assessing the impact of different teaching modalities for pharmacy students in a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course
    Khan TM, Hassali MA, Rasool ST
    Saudi Pharm J, 2013 Oct;21(4):375-8.
    PMID: 24227957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2012.11.002
    The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of different teaching methods adopted for the practical session of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). CPR training is one of the compulsory modules of the Public Health Pharmacy (PHP) course at Universiti Sains Malaysia. CPR training comprises of 10% of total marks of the PHP course. To test the effectiveness of the different teaching strategies, three groups were defined using a two-stage cohort distribution-i.e. based on grade point average (GPA) and different teaching modalities. Group One was instructed using images and PowerPoint lecture slides. Group Two was instructed using videos and PowerPoint lecture slides. Group Three was instructed using PowerPoint slides with white boards and videos. Students in Group Three were not provided with a hard/soft copy of the PowerPoint slides and were encouraged to write down all the information on their personal notebooks. A 20-item questionnaire was used to assess the students' understanding toward the CPR session. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Students, SPSS version 13®. Based on the response attained, the comparison of the final score among the groups was undertaken using one way ANOVA. Twenty-seven students have participated in this study. Final evaluation using the questionnaire revealed that student's in Group Three had a better understanding of CPR (18.1 ± 1.5, p <0.001) than the other two. Students' note taking during the lecture and use of traditional chalkboard teaching were found significant to improve the students' understanding and learning in the CPR session.
  15. A qualitative exploration of the reasons for the discontinuation of smoking cessation treatment among Quit Smoking Clinics' defaulters and health care providers in Malaysia
    Lee ML, Hassali MA, Shafie AA
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2013 Jul-Aug;9(4):405-18.
    PMID: 22835711 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2012.05.010
    BACKGROUND: Treatment default among the smokers hinders the effectiveness of the delivery of cessation services. While many studies have predicted the defaulters' characteristics, the reasons why these smokers dropped out and continued smoking are seldom explored.
    OBJECTIVES: This study examined the barriers encountered by such smokers and their respective health care providers (HCPs) in relation to the discontinuation of cessation treatment.
    METHODS: From May 2010 to March 2011, 15 current adult smokers and 9 HCPs from 2 Quit Smoking Clinics (QSCs) in the Melaka Tengah District, Malacca, Malaysia were interviewed on smoking, cessation, and the QSC. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were subsequently translated into English and analyzed using thematic analysis.
    RESULTS: The barriers encountered were categorized as Individual- and Clinic-level. Both smokers and HCPs acknowledged that the smokers' low intrinsic motivation was the individual-level barrier. The clinic-level barriers were the mismatched perceptions of smokers and HCPs regarding the HCPs' roles, skills, and attitudes, as well as the availability and efficacy of smoking cessation aids (SCAs). While the smokers viewed the program as not helpful, the HCPs cited the lack of organizational support as their main barrier.
    CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for treatment default centered on the overall dissatisfaction with the treatment (due to the program, HCP, and SCA factors) combined with the smokers' low intrinsic motivation. Optimizing the interplay of the extrinsic motivational cues, such as the HCP and SCA factors, would complement the smoker's low intrinsic motivation and thus encourage treatment retention. However, it is necessary to strike a balance between the individual smoker's needs and the availability of organizational support.
    KEYWORDS: Qualitative; Smoking cessation; Treatment discontinuation
    Study site: Quite smoking clinics, Klinik Kesihatan Ayer Keroh, Hospital Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia
  16. A cross-sectional assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among hypertensive patients in Pakistan
    Saleem F, Hassali MA, Shafie AA
    Health Expect, 2014 Jun;17(3):388-95.
    PMID: 22390260 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2012.00765.x
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) profile of hypertensive population in Pakistan.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken with a cohort of 385 hypertensive patients attending two public hospitals in Quetta city, Pakistan. The EuroQoL EQ-5D scale was used for the assessment of HRQoL. EQ-5D is a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcome and is used in the clinical and economic evaluation of health care as well as population health surveys. The HRQoL was scored using values derived from the UK general population survey. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant.
    RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-five (68.85%) respondents were men with 3.01 ± 0.939 years of history of hypertension. Majority (n = 186, 48.3%) were categorized in age group of 28-37 years with mean age of 39.02 ± 6.596. Education, income and locality had significant relation with HRQoL score. HRQoL was measured poor in our study patients (0.4674 ± 0.2844).
    CONCLUSION: Hypertension has an adverse effect on patients' well-being and HRQoL. Results from this study could be useful in clinical practice, particularly in early treatment of hypertension, at point where improving HRQoL is still possible.
    KEYWORDS: educational level; health-related quality of life; hypertension
  17. A cross-sectional validation study of EQ-5D among the Malaysian adult population
    Shafie AA, Hassali MA, Liau SY
    Qual Life Res, 2011 May;20(4):593-600.
    PMID: 21046257 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-010-9774-6
    PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the construct validity of the EQ-5D instrument among the Malaysian population.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among Malaysian adults in three northern states of Malaysia. A pre-developed questionnaire consisting of both the EQ-5D and SF-12 items was used for data collection. Concurrent, convergent, and known group validity of EQ-5D were assessed against SF-12 and several known relationships with participants' demographic and illness characteristics.

    RESULTS: A total of 596 Malaysians participated in the study. The mean EQ-5D score was 0.93 (SD = 0.13), while the mean physical component score (PCS-12) and mental component score (MCS-12) scores were 48.9 (SD = 7.4) and 49.1 (SD = 8.0), respectively. Participants with a current medical problem had lower PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores and reported more problems with all of the EQ-5D dimensions; they also had lower EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores (P < 0.05). Convergent validity was supported by a moderately positive correlation between EQ-5D and EQ-VAS with MCS-12 and PCS-12 scores; moreover, the stronger effect sizes between PCS-12 and the physical dimensions of EQ-5D as well as between MCS-12 with anxiety/depression scores further supported the convergent validity of EQ-5D. Responses to the EQ-5D dimensions only supported two of the four known group validity hypotheses of higher quality of life among individuals who are better educated and no medical problem. No association was found between income and gender with EQ-5D score.

    CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated acceptable construct validity of the EQ-5D among the Malaysian population.

  18. An assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of pharmacy students regarding HIV/AIDS
    Ahmed SI, Hassali MA, Aziz NA
    Am J Pharm Educ, 2009 Feb 19;73(1):15.
    PMID: 19513153
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of University Sains Malaysia final-year pharmacy students regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunity deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

    METHOD: A cross-sectional study among pharmacy students. Data were analyzed with Chi-square to find difference at p value < 0.05.

    RESULTS: The majority of students (83.07%) responded showing a difference in gender and race. Students showed low willingness (9.2%) to assist patients and low confidence (36.1%) in their education about HIV/AIDS patients. Students recommended HIV testing for health care professionals (69.4%) and patients (75.9%) before surgical procedures. Students knew little about Post Exposure Prophylaxis (18.5%) or about the time for HIV to develop into AIDS (57.4%). About 40% of students were unaware of the inability of antivirals to treat HIV/AIDS. Students had low awareness for opportunistic infections (18.5%), and low agreement on competency to treat and counsel HIV patients (12.9%).

    CONCLUSION: The study highlighted students' misconceptions, negative attitudes, and risk perceptions towards HIV/AIDS.

  19. A pilot study on generic medicine substitution practices among community pharmacists in the State of Penang, Malaysia
    Ping CC, Bahari MB, Hassali MA
    Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 2008 Jan;17(1):82-9.
    PMID: 17879323
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the generic substitution (GS) practices undertaken by community pharmacists in the State of Penang, Malaysia with a focus on the extent of communication between pharmacists and prescribers on issues related to GS, consumer's acceptance on the GS and estimation of cost saving achieved for patients opted for GS.
  20. A comparison between senior medical students' and pharmacy pre-registrants' knowledge and perceptions of generic medicines
    Hassali MA, Kong DC, Stewart K
    Med Educ, 2007 Jul;41(7):703-10.
    PMID: 17614892
    To ascertain any differences in knowledge and perceptions of generic medicines between senior (final year) medical students and pharmacy pre-registrants in Australia.
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