MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted among first to fifth semester students during February 2015. A previously developed instrument was used. Basic demographic information was collected. Respondent's agreement with a set of statements was noted using a Likert-type scale. The calculated total score was compared among subgroups of respondents. One sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to study the normality of distribution, Independent samples t-test to compare the total score for dichotomous variables, and analysis of variance for others were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Fifty-six of the 85 students (65.8%) participated. Around 55% of respondents were between 20 and 25 years of age and of American nationality. Only three respondents (5.3%) provided the correct value of the regulatory bioequivalence limits. The mean total score was 43.41 (maximum 60). There was no significant difference in scores among subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant knowledge gap with regard to the regulatory bioequivalence limits for generic medicines. Respondents' level of knowledge about other aspects of generic medicines was good but could be improved. Studies among clinical students in the institution and in other Caribbean medical schools are required. Deficiencies were noted and we have strengthened learning about generic medicines during the basic science years.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 February 2022 to 15 November 2022. Community pharmacists working in Klang Valley were given a self-administered questionnaire. This survey instrument facilitated the collection of information about their sociodemographic attributes, training background, and knowledge and attitude concerning medical marijuana. Through rigorous analysis of the accumulated data, discernible factors correlating with the levels of knowledge and attitudes surrounding medical marijuana were identified.
RESULTS: The majority (n=149, 53.8%) of participants had low knowledge of medical marijuana. Participants with lower knowledge of medical marijuana tend to have a negative attitude toward medical marijuana. Besides that, male participants showed higher knowledge of medical marijuana than female participants. Furthermore, it was found that atheists had the most negative attitude among other religions toward medical marijuana.
CONCLUSION: Most community pharmacists in Malaysia lack sufficient knowledge about medical marijuana. This indicates that Malaysian pharmacists are not future-ready and need to equip themselves with adequate knowledge of the indications and adverse effects of medical marijuana if it is to be legalised one day. Thus, there is a need for improved training and education of pharmacists around cannabis-based medicines.
METHODS: All Year 1 to Year 5 dental students (n = 413; response rate = 72.9%) were invited to participate in an online, self-administered survey, which was based on a validated questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed via chi-squared test (p
METHODS: This cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted nationwide among 627 HCPs in Malaysia using the Acute Stroke Management Questionnaire (ASMaQ). Multiple logistic regression was used to predict the relationship between the independent variables (age, gender, years of service, profession, work setting, work sector, seeing stroke patients in daily practice, and working with specialists) and the outcome variable (good vs poor knowledge).
RESULTS: Approximately 76% (95% CI [73-79%]) of HCPs had good overall knowledge of stroke. The highest proportion of HCPs with good knowledge was noted for General Stroke Knowledge (GSK) [88.5% (95% CI [86-91%])], followed by Advanced Stroke Management (ASM) [61.2% (95% CI [57-65%])] and Hyperacute Stroke Management (HSM) [58.1% (95% CI [54-62%])]. The odds of having poor knowledge of stroke were significantly higher among non-doctor HCPs [adjusted OR = 3.46 (95% CI [1.49-8.03]), P = 0.004]; among those not seeing stroke patients in daily practice [adjusted OR = 2.67 (95% CI [1.73-4.10]), P < 0.001]; and among those working without specialists [adjusted OR = 2.41 (95% CI [1.38-4.18]), P = 0.002].
CONCLUSIONS: Stroke education should be prioritised for HCPs with limited experience and guidance. All HCPs need to be up-to-date on the latest AIS management and be able to make a prompt referral to an appropriate facility. Therefore, more stroke patients will benefit from advanced stroke care.
METHODS: Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted between June 2019 and February 2020.
RESULTS: There are gaps in knowledge about the symptoms, mode of transmission, and risk of microcephaly. The mean for the Zika-related knowledge score was 5.9 (SD ± 4.4) out of a possible score of 14. The majority perceived little or no risk of getting ZVD (75.0%) and 75.5% were a little or not at all worried about ZVD. A high proportion reported the use of insect sprays or mosquito coils to prevent mosquito bites; however, a relatively lower proportion of people reported fixing mosquito netting on doors and windows, and using mosquito bed nets. The mean for the mosquito prevention practices score was 11.9 (SD ± 4.7) out of a possible score of 27. Important factors influencing mosquito prevention practices include household income, environment factors, risk perception, and Zika-related knowledge.
CONCLUSION: Zika prevention measures should be targeted in priority toward residents in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. Campaigns should focus on messages highlighting the high risk of getting dengue.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to eligible participants using convenience sampling.
RESULTS: A total of 1,396 participants completed the questionnaire. The respondents showed a median knowledge score of influenza of 11.0/15.0, and most of them (70%) were able to recognize its modes of transmission. However, only 11.3% of the participants reported receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine. Physicians were the respondents' most preferred information source for influenza (35.2%), and their recommendation (44.3%) was the most cited reason for taking its vaccine. On the contrary, not knowing about the vaccine's availability (50.1%), concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine (17%), and not considering influenza as a threat (15.9%) were the main reported barriers to getting vaccinated.
CONCLUSION: The current study showed a low uptake of influenza vaccines in Yemen. The physician's role in promoting influenza vaccination seems to be essential. Extensive and sustained awareness campaigns would likely increase the awareness of influenza and remove misconceptions and negative attitudes toward its vaccine. Equitable access to the vaccine can be promoted by providing it free of charge to the public.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consists of two parts. First, a cross-sectional study on the knowledge of and attitude towards leprosy using an online quesitonnaire was conducted among doctors working in the primary care clinics and hospitals in Sabah and Labuan. Subsequently, the participants were asked to watched an online prerecorded video lecture on leprosy and to answered the same questionnaire.
RESULTS: Of the 310 participants, one fifth (20.6%) had good knowledge and 36.5% had positive attitude towards leprosy. Being a specialist (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.17-9.57, p < 0.001), managed ≥ 5 leprosy cases (aOR 3.37, 95% CI 1.52-7.47, p = 0.003), and involved in educational activities related to leprosy within last year (aOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.69-13.04, p < 0.001) were the significant predictors of good knowledge. Working in tertiary care was significantly associated with good attitude towards leprosy (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.22-3.94, p = 0.025). There was a significant improvement in participants' knowledge post-intervention (87.0% participants post-lecture vs 20.6% participants pre-lecture with good knowledge, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The proportion of doctors in Sabah and Labuan with good knowledge and attitude towards leprosy was low. Knowledge of leprosy improved significantly postintervention. This highlights the need for educational and training programmes to improve doctors' knowledge of leprosy.
METHODS: A questionnaire was used to explore context, characteristics, and success factors or obstacles to intervention success based on participant input. The context was analyzed using the AMR-Intervene framework, and success factors and obstacles to intervention success were identified using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Of the 77 interventions, 57 were implemented in HICs and 17 in LMICs. Interventions took place in the animal sector, followed by the human sector. Public organizations were mainly responsible for implementation and funding. Nine themes and 32 sub-themes emerged as important for intervention success. The themes most frequently reported were 'behavior', 'capacity and resources', 'planning', and 'information'. Five sub-themes were key in all contexts ('collaboration and coordination', 'implementation', 'assessment', 'governance', and 'awareness'), two were key in LMICs ('funding and finances' and 'surveillance, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and preventive screening'), and five were key in HICs ('mandatory', 'multiple profiles', 'personnel', 'management', and 'design').
CONCLUSION: LMIC sub-themes showed that funding and surveillance were still key issues for interventions, while important HIC sub-themes were more specific and detailed, including mandatory enforcement, multiple profiles, and personnel needed for good management and good design. While behavior is often underrated when implementing AMR interventions, capacity and resources are usually considered, and LMICs can benefit from sub-themes captured in HICs if tailored to their contexts. The factors identified can improve the design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions.