METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 1280 randomly selected participants. Respondents were sent a web-based electronic link to the survey via email. Content validity, factor analyses and known group validity were used to develop and validate a new scale to identify falsified hand sanitizer. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, item internal consistency (IIC), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess the reliability of the scale. SPSS version 24 was used to conduct data analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 1280 participants were enrolled in the study. The content validity index (CVI) was 0.83 with the final scale of 12 items. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value was 0.788, with the Bartlett test of sphericity achieving statistical significance (p
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate UAE community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) concerning metformin XR.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional research study conducted amongst licensed community pharmacists. The survey took place via a questionnaire and physical interviews were held. The survey used in this study included questions on demographics and questions on the participants' attitudes, knowledge and practices concerning metformin XR. The factors influencing KAP regarding metformin XR were examined via simple logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: Threehundred fifty-three (n = 353) participants were recruited in the study. Independent pharmacies constituted 57.5% of this study sample and 42.5% were chain pharmacies. The average knowledge score about metformin XR tablets was 42.5% with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% [37.3%, 47.4]. Better knowledge scores on metformin XR tablets was observed in respondents aged ⩾40 years (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.63-5.4), having greater than 10 years in terms of experience (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.25-4.16) and pharmacist graduated from Regional or international universities (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.34-3.24). About 78% (n = 275) of the participants believed that metformin XR tablets have better efficacy and 63.2% (n = 233) indicated that metformin IR was associated with greater adverse effects.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a distinct gap in knowledge, attitude and practice pertaining to metformin XR among community pharmacists in the UAE. The community pharmacists need to enhance their practice by receiving accurate and reliable data to support their decision-making on the prescribing of metformin XR. The implementation of novel guidelines and evidence dissemination strategies may help bridge this gap.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the benefits and risks associated with the application of ChatGPT in managing diabetes and metabolic illnesses by exploring the perspectives of endocrinologists and diabetologists.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study employed a qualitative research approach. A semi-structured in-depth interview guide was developed. A convenience sample of 25 endocrinologists and diabetologists was enrolled and interviewed. All interviews were audiotaped and verbatim transcribed; then, thematic analysis was used to determine the themes in the data.
RESULTS: The findings of the thematic analysis resulted in 19 codes and 9 major themes regarding the benefits of implementing AI and ChatGPT in managing diabetes and metabolic illnesses. Moreover, the extracted risks of implementing AI and ChatGPT in managing diabetes and metabolic illnesses were categorized into 7 themes and 14 codes. The benefits of heightened diagnostic precision, tailored treatment, and efficient resource utilization have potential to improve patient results. Concurrently, the identification of potential challenges, such as data security concerns and the need for AI that can be explained, enables stakeholders to proactively tackle these issues.
CONCLUSIONS: Regulatory frameworks must evolve to keep pace with the rapid adoption of AI in healthcare. Sustained attention to ethical considerations, including obtaining patient consent, safeguarding data privacy, ensuring accountability, and promoting fairness, remains critical. Despite its potential impact on the human aspect of healthcare, AI will remain an integral component of patient-centered care. Striking a balance between AI-assisted decision-making and human expertise is essential to uphold trust and provide comprehensive patient care.
METHODS: The terms "Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" and "NAFLD" were used in a search of ClinicalTrials.gov on August 24, 2023. Two evaluators independently examined the trials using predetermined eligibility criteria. Studies had to be interventional, NAFLD focused, in Phase IV, and completed to be eligible for this review.
RESULTS: The ClinicalTrials.gov database was searched for trials examining pharmacotherapeutics in NAFLD. The search revealed 1364 trials, with 31 meeting the inclusion criteria. Out of these, 19 were finalized for evaluation. The dominant intervention model was Parallel. The most prevalent studies were in Korea (26.3%) and China (21.1%). The most common intervention was metformin (12.1%), with others like Exenatide and Pioglitazone accounting for 9.1%.
CONCLUSION: Therapeutics used to manage NAFLD are limited. However, various medications offer potential benefits. Further investigations are definitely warranted.
AIM: To provide a review of clinical trials investigating the use of herbal remedies and dietary supplements in NAFLD management, utilizing the ClinicalTrials.gov database.
METHODS: This review evaluates the current evidence by examining completed phase III and IV clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. An exhaustive search was performed on April 17, 2023, using the terms "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" and "NAFLD." Two independent reviewers appraised eligible trials based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS: An initial search yielded 1,226 clinical trials, with 12 meeting the inclusion criteria after filtration. The majority of trials focused on Omega-3 fatty acids (20.0%) and vitamin D (26.7%), followed by caffeine, chlorogenic acid, ginger, phosphatidylcholine, Trigonella Foenum-graecum seed extract, vitamin C, and vitamin E (each 6.7%). Most studies were Phase 3 (75.0%) and used a parallel assignment model (91.7%). Quadruple masking was the most prevalent technique (58.3%), and Iran was the leading country in terms of trial locations (25.0%). These interventions constitute two herbal interventions and nine supplement interventions.
CONCLUSION: This reveals a diverse range of nutraceuticals, with Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D being predominant in the management of NAFLD. The global distribution of trials highlights the widespread interest in these therapeutics. However, more rigorous, large-scale trials are needed to establish safety, efficacy, and optimal dosages.
OBJECTIVES: To assess UAE community pharmacists' knowledge, toward women's issues in epilepsy.
METHODS: a cross-sectional research method was employed. A team of seven pharmacy students in their final year visited a randomly selected sample of community pharmacies in the UAE and face-to-face interviews were conducted with the pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire includes two parts; Eight questions designed to elicit data about the demographics of the study participants and 12 questions eliciting insights into the participants' knowledge of women's issues in epilepsy.
RESULTS: A total of 412 community pharmacist were recruited in the study. The overall level of knowledge about women's issues in epilepsy was good and the average knowledge score was 81% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [79.1, 82.7%]. The results of multivariate analysis showed higher knowledge scores in chain pharmacies (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.12-1.67), Chief pharmacists (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.01-2.06), Pharmacists in charge (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.7-4.45), pharmacists with 1-5 Years of experience (OR 2.87; 95% CI 1.71-4.82), pharmacists with 6-10 Years (OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.58-4.38), pharmacists with >10 years (OR 3.13; 95% CI 2.03-4.83), graduation form regional universities (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.12-1.67), graduation form international universities (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.36-2.20) and receiving a training on epilepsy (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.12-1.67).
CONCLUSION: While the findings reveal an overall promising level of knowledge among community pharmacists regarding the issues faced by women with epilepsy, pinpointing which clinical and demographic factors have the most significant impact on this knowledge would permit the implementation of tailored educational interventions. Workshops and modules targeting the issues faced by women with epilepsy would further raise the knowledge and competence among community pharmacists in this area, ensuring better pharmaceutical care for this population.
METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess Al Ain University students' knowledge of Human Monkeypox. A validated questionnaire was distributed to students between lectures. The respondents' knowledge of human Monkeypox was assessed by 21 questions that examined the participants' knowledge of Monkeypox as follows: 5 items examined knowledge of the source, definition, and incubation time; 2items assessed the mechanism of transmission of human Monkeypox, 7 items assessed the signs and symptoms; 7 items assessed the preventative measures; and 6 items assessed the treatment modalities. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors influencing respondents' knowledge of human Monkeypox among university students.
RESULTS: A total of five hundred and fifty-eight (558) students participated in the study. The average knowledge score was 70.1%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 68.9 - 71.3. Of the total participants, 111 (19.9%) had poor knowledge about human Monkeypox, 320 (57.3%) had moderate knowledge, and 127 (22.8%) had good knowledge. The results of the statistical modelling showed that Old age (OR 0.681; 95% CI 1.005-1.016), female gender (OR 1.26; 95% CI 0.813 -0.961), participants from medical colleges (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.13 -1.32) having a history of human chickenpox infection (OR 2.6; 95% CI 2.3-2.9) and receiving information on human Monkeypox during education (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.05-1.2) were strong determinants for good knowledge about human Monkeypox.
CONCLUSION: knowledge of Monkeypox among the participants is relatively low, particularly regarding the epidemiology, symptoms and treatments. Therefore, increasing knowledge of Monkeypox will be key to enhancing the capacity to respond to human monkeypox cases and to relay pertinent data to a disease surveillance system.
Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study undertaken among a convenient sample of medical and non-medical colleges of Ajman University using a self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic data as well as assessing knowledge of COVID-19, attitudes and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.
Results: A total of 467 students participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. A total of 181 (38.8%) participants reported that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 virus, principally with the Sinopharm vaccine (84%). Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus was less prevalent among Arabic nationalities compared to other nationalities, but more prevalent among students from health science colleges compared to those from non-health science colleges. The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine among study participants was 56.3%, exacerbated by worries regarding unforeseen problems (65.5%, 306), general mistrust (47.3%, 221) and unforeseen impacts (35.1%, 164). The average knowledge score was 60.1%, with 142 (30.4%) having poor knowledge, 127 (27.2%) acceptable knowledge and 198 (42.4%) good knowledge. There were common misconceptions about symptoms including nausea and diarrhoea, as well as the route of transmission, with half believing antibiotics are effective treatment.
Conclusion: There was variable knowledge of COVID-19 among students. Misconceptions need addressing going forward. To enhance COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the country and worldwide, health education targeting diverse sociodemographic categories should be prioritized.
OBJECTIVE: To assess students' knowledge and attitudes about risks and prevention of consanguineous marriage.
METHODS: Demographic details of the participants and data on knowledge and attitudes concerning the risks and prevention of consanguineous marriage were obtained using an online self-administered questionnaire. The factors associated with good knowledge and attitude toward consanguineous marriage were investigated by logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 667 participants enrolled in the study. The average knowledge score about consanguineous marriage risk and prevention was 78.6% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [77.3, 79.8], and the average attitude was 79.7% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [79, 80.6]. A better knowledge score was observed in older participants (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.004-1.024), females (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.48-1.94), participants with parental history of consanguinity (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.17-1.52), participants with family history of consanguineous marriage (OR 5.18; 95% CI 2.19-7.10), and participants with family history of inherited disease (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.25-1.86).
CONCLUSION: In general, the overall level of knowledge and attitudes toward consanguineous marriage risk and prevention was good among university students. To efficiently control and manage the adverse health impacts associated with consanguineous marriage, there is an urgent need to develop and implement evidence-based counseling and screening programs for consanguineous marriage that would significantly reduce the number of at-risk marriages.