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Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and investigate the variables contributing to reduced HRQOL in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at two teaching hospitals in Jordan using a convenience sampling technique. The participants were interviewed face-to-face during the scheduled appointment at the outpatient rheumatology clinic. The HRQOL was evaluated by the validated EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, which included the EQ-5D utility index that evaluated HRQOL in terms of 5 domains, including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, and the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5DVAS), which evaluated HRQOL on a vertical scale ranging from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health). The validated short version of the 19-item Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR-5) was used to evaluate medication adherence. The Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used to assess disease activity among the study participants. A stepwise quantile regression model (q = 0.5) was conducted to explore the factors associated with the EQ-5DUtility Index and EQ-5DVAS scores. Results: In total, 261 patients with RA participated in the study. The median (interquartile range) of the EQ-5DUtility Index and EQ-VAS scores was 0.552 (0.006–0.726) and 0.506 (0.233–0.690), respectively. Regression analysis results demonstrated that medication non-adherence (regression coefficient (β) = -0.348, P<0.01), not performing regular physical activity (β = -0.209, P<0.01), and higher disease activity as measured by the CDAI score (β = -0.015, P<0.01) were significant predictors of a lower EQ-5DUtility Index score. In addition, medication non-adherence (β = -0.199, P<0.01), not performing regular physical activity (β = -0.117, P<0.01), increased body mass index (BMI) (β = -0.009, P<0.01), and higher CDAI score (β = -0.009, P<0.01) were significant predictors of low EQ-5DVAS score. Conclusions: Patients with RA experienced significantly impaired HRQOL. Medication non-adherence, not performing regular physical activity, increased body weight, and increased disease activity were identified as determinants of poor HRQOL among patients with RA in the present study. Treating physicians should encourage regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, and controlling disease activity to improve HRQOL in patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate pharmacists' attitude and willingness to provide extended community pharmacy services (ECPS), the barriers to ECPS, and the factors associated with attitude and willingness to implement ECPS. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a validated, self-administered questionnaire was distributed online to community pharmacists across the United Arab Emirates between September and November 2023. In addition to sociodemographic data, the questionnaire evaluated attitudes toward ECPS, willingness to provide ECPS, and barriers to its implementation. Binary logistic regression was conducted to explore the factors associated with attitude and willingness to implement ECPS. Results: The study included 409 pharmacists. Over half of the participants reported below the median attitude (58.7%) and willingness (59.4%) scores. Female pharmacists had a lower attitude towards ECPS (OR = 0.425, 95%CI: 0.242–0.747). Higher number of daily prescriptions (OR = 1.066, 95%CI: 1.029–1.105) and being a Pharm D graduate (OR = 2.664, 95%CI: 1.439–4.932) were associated with higher willingness to provide ECPS, while an increased number of employed pharmacists (OR = 0.518, 95%CI: 0.397–0.676) was associated with a lower willingness (OR = 0.049, 95%CI: 0.004–0.660). Patients' preoccupation (76.5%), lack of specific training (76.3%), lack of clinical problem-solving skills (74.6%) and lack of a private consultation room (74.6%) were the most commonly reported barriers to ECPS. Conclusions: Community pharmacists demonstrated unsatisfactory levels of attitude and willingness towards ECPS provision. Therefore, providing training and education programs that enhance pharmacists' perception and willingness to implement ECPS and emphasize improving clinical problem-solving skills, as well as setting up specific private consultation rooms, is deemed necessary. Female pharmacy graduates, pharmacists dispensing fewer daily prescriptions, and those working with a higher number of employed pharmacists should be specifically targeted when implementing these strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is putting a lot of strain on hospitals in order to stop SARS-CoV-2 from spreading. Stopping the COVID-19 outbreak requires equitable access to effective and safe COVID-19 vaccinations. The aim of this study was to study the global trend of deaths, cases, and vaccinations related to COVID-19. This was an ecological descriptive study that was conducted using publicly available data on deaths, cases, and vaccinations related to COVID-191 for the duration between February 2021 and February 2022 from the Our World in Data portal. A total of 437, 091, 587 COVID-19 cases were reported in the world until the 28th of February 2022. The prevalence rate of COVID-19 increased by 2.82-fold. The incidence rate of New COVID-19 cases increased by 4.15-fold. The overall COVID-19 mortality rate increased by 1.28-fold. The overall COVID-19 vaccination rate increased by 38.92-fold. The rate of COVID-19 vaccination increased during the study period. This was accompanied by a decrease in the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the rate of COVID-19-related mortality. Vaccination rates varied across continents and according to country income. COVID-19 vaccination must be made more acceptable by public awareness campaigns. This is likely to reduce the disease's incidence and related mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On July 23, 2022, the growing global monkeypox outbreak was deemed a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Since early May 2022, there has been an increase in monkeypox cases. The aim of this study was to explore the global epidemiology of monkeypox cases. This was a retrospective epidemiological study that reported all confirmed cases of monkeypox worldwide between May 6, 2022, and July 21, 2022. We extracted data from the publicly available Global Health platform. A total of 15, 510 confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported worldwide until July 21, 2022. The daily confirmed cases of monkeypox increased by 205-fold [from 1 case on May 6, 2022, to 206 cases on July 21, 2022]. The highest number of confirmed cases of monkeypox was seen in Spain which has reached 3, 125 cases on July 21, 2022, followed by the United States with 2, 316 cases, Germany with 2, 191 cases, the United Kingdom with 2, 142 cases, and France with 1, 448 cases. Monkeypox outbreak is on the rise and the regulations adopted so far are not proving effective enough to tackle the problem. To improve public understanding of this illness and their capacity for prevention, awareness campaigns should be intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telepharmacy, utilizing telecommunications to dispense pharmaceutical products and deliver patient care, offers numerous benefits for both the public and pharmacists. Previous research on exploring attitudes and willingness to use telepharmacy services has primarily focused on pharmacists rather than the general population. Aim: This study is aimed at assessing the attitudes and willingness of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population to utilize telepharmacy services and identifying the factors influencing their inclination to use these services. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, a survey was distributed using convenience and snowball sampling to individuals aged 18 or older across the UAE through various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The survey domains included sociodemographics, attitudes, and readiness to utilize a telepharmacy service. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the variables associated with participants' willingness to utilize telepharmacy in the future. Results: In total, 963 individuals participated in the study. Participants showed overall positive attitudes towards telepharmacy, with 70.9% believing that telepharmacy saved time and effort. While only 32% of the participants acknowledged that numerous telepharmacy services were available for use in the UAE, most were interested in using telepharmacy services in the future (79.2%). Participants who had higher attitude scores (AOR = 1.147, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.18) and those who had used these services previously (AOR = 3.270, 95% CI: 1.692–6.320) were more interested in using telepharmacy services in the future. Conclusion: Forthcoming healthcare strategies should focus on expanding the availability of telepharmacy services throughout various regions of the country. This expansion will facilitate the broader utilization of these services and ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-Food Interaction (DFI) can potentially lead to treatment ineffectiveness and adverse health outcomes. This study investigated knowledge and attitude towards DFI and the associated factors. A validated questionnaire was distributed to 2040 participants across Jordan. The participants had moderate knowledge and attitudes regarding DFIs. Regression results revealed that male gender, lower education level, not working in the healthcare sector, and utilizing non-scientific sources of information about DFIs were associated with lower knowledge about DFI. Furthermore, male gender, being unmarried, having a low or moderate education level, not working in the healthcare sector, not having a family member with chronic disease, and having low knowledge of DFI were significantly associated with negative attitudes towards DFIs. Future health education programs should emphasize using reliable scientific sources to enhance awareness about DFIs'. Additionally, healthcare professionals should counsel patients on avoiding DFIs and provide guidance accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC)1 screening tests help in early detection of CRC and improve disease prognosis. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and barriers to CRC screening and the associated factors among the general population in Jordan. A validated self-administered online survey was distributed on 1542 individuals in Jordan. The participants (n = 1542) reported several barriers and demonstrated insufficient knowledge but positive attitude towards CRC screening. Older age (OR = 1.021, 95% CI = 1.010–1.032, P < 0.001), working in medical field (OR = 3.198, 95% CI = 2.499–4.092, P < 0.001), family history of cancer (OR = 1.248, 95% CI = 1.002–1.555, P < 0.05), and knowing someone with CRC (OR = 1.601, 95% CI = 1.186–2.161, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with higher knowledge. Personal history of CRC (OR = 3.157, 95% CI = 1.188–8.387, P < 0.05), and high knowledge of CRC (OR = 2.795, 95% CI = 2.242–3.484, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the positive attitude. Future healthcare programs should devise effective techniques to improve public understanding and perception of CRC screening and overcome the identified barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: This study aimed to assess the confidence, attitude, and scientific research practices of undergraduate students of different health profession specialties. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an online-based questionnaire was distributed as a Google Form via groups and pages of medical universities available on social media sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to the second- to sixth-year students of different health profession specialties in different universities across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the period from October through December 2023 using the convenience sampling technique. The questionnaire included four parts that assessed socio-demographics and custom-designed research-related questions (6 items), perceived confidence (8 items), attitudes (14 items), and the practice in the context of scientific research and its implementation (9 items). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the variables associated with the study outcomes, including confidence, attitudes, and practice levels. Results: The study included 522 undergraduate students. The participants reported low confidence, a negative attitude, and low scientific research practice. Regression results revealed that individuals without prior research experiences were less likely to have high confidence and practice compared to those with previous research experience (OR = 0.634, 95% CI: 0.426–0.945, p = 0.025; and OR = 0.139, 95%Cl: 0.090–0.216, P<0.001, respectively). Additionally, participants who reported difficulty in differentiating between various literature resources were less likely to have high confidence and practice compared to those who reported the ability to differentiate (OR = 0.627, 95% CI: 0.42–0.935, p = 0.022, and OR = 0.370, 95%Cl: 0.237–0.579, p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, individuals who had not taught research methods in their undergraduate studies were less likely to have high practice (OR = 0.505, 95%Cl: 0.309–0.823, p = 0.06). Conclusions: Undergraduates of different medical specialties in the UAE demonstrated acceptable levels of confidence and attitude toward scientific research, with several areas for practice improvement. Education and training courses focusing on various aspects of scientific research should be incorporated into the medical curricula in order to enhance students' confidence and practice of scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization has estimated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Jordan is up to 70% and 40% respectively. Identifying the community pharmacist's role is required to develop effective interventions for weight management. Objective: To evaluate practice, competence, and attitudes toward weight management service (WMS), and to explore the barriers associated with its implementation at the community pharmacy setting. Methods: The present cross-sectional study utilized a validated Face to face self-administered questionnaire, which was completed by community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in different areas across Jordan. In addition to the socio-demographic variables, the study questionnaire evaluated pharmacists' practice, competency, attitudes, and the barriers for weight management services provision. Results: The participants showed inadequate practice and competency, but positive attitude towards WMS. Regression results revealed that having one to five years of work experience (OR= 2.419, 95% CI: 1.032:5.671, P<0.05), positive attitude (OR= 2.168, 95% CI: 1.285:3.656, P<0.01), and high competency (OR=3.377, 95% CI: 2.011:5.671, P<0.01) were associated with improved practice. On the other hand, having a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (OR=3.830, 95% CI: 1.259:11.649, P<0.05), and positive attitude (OR=3.590, 95% CI: 2.162:5.962, P<0.01) were associated with increased competency. Male participants showed unfavourable attitude towards the provision of WMS when compared to females (OR=0.597, 95%CI: 0.366:0.975, P<0.05), while having more than 6 years of work experience (OR=2.419, 95%CI: 1.032:5.671, P<0.05) was associated with improved attitude. Lack of patients' recognition of obesity as a disease (55.8%), lack of private consultation area in the pharmacy (53.1%), and inability to follow-up the patients (53%) were the most reported barriers to implement these WMS. Conclusion: Despite the frequent provision of WMS and the positive attitudes toward this service, the study participants did not demonstrate enough competency and reported several barriers to provide WMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]