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This study aimed to evaluate Jordanian pharmacy postgraduate students' knowledge, behavior and perception about plagiarism and why do they commit such research misconduct. This is a cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Jordan during the period between June-July 2019. The study targeted postgraduate pharmacy students from all Jordanian universities. Recruited students were asked to fill out the study questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge, behavior, and perception about plagiarism. A total of 103 postgraduate students participated in this survey, most of them (n = 93, 90.3%) were enrolled in masters programs. Most of them (n = 72, 69.9%) reported that they have committed plagiarism during their studies, but this work was unintended for about 76.4% (n = 55) of the plagiarist. Students were asked about 12 items that represented plagiarism actions and most of postgraduate students were able to identify most of the actions as plagiarism (> 60% for most items). Overall, the mean knowledge score for students about plagiarism was 8.6 ± 2.6 (out of 12). Regarding students' perceptions towards plagiarism, many students (n = 99, 96.1%) believed that plagiarizing is as bad as to steal from someone and 92.2% (n = 95) reported that plagiarism is considered against their ethical values. This study found a high rate of plagiarism among postgraduate pharmacy students in Jordan despite their awareness and understanding of the concept and its different forms. Academic institutions must establish formal policies to raise awareness about plagiarism, enforce and implement penalties for those who commit plagiarism.

This study investigated parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination in Jordan, focusing on acceptance, concerns, and perceptions. A cross-sectional survey conducted from January to February 2024 included 939 parents. Findings indicated that 85.4% (n = 802) of respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine, while only 25% (n = 229) vaccinated their children. Concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy were prevalent, with 63.9% (n = 600) expressing worries about side effects and 46.9% (n = 440) trusting immunization programs. Post-pandemic, 34% (n = 319) reported a more negative attitude. Logistic regression showed parents not vaccinating their children against COVID-19 were significantly less likely to exhibit positive attitudes toward childhood vaccination (OR = 0.412, p < 0.001). Older participants were more inclined toward negativity post-pandemic (OR = 1.031, p = 0.007). In conclusion, parental attitudes shifted post-COVID-19, reflecting hesitancy and decreased trust. Addressing concerns and restoring confidence are crucial, especially for children's health. Education through healthcare providers and dispelling social media misinformation are essential. Implementing strategies to enhance post-pandemic vaccine acceptance is imperative for preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gabapentin is increasingly recognised for its potential for abuse, raising concerns within healthcare communities. Community pharmacists are on the front lines in identifying and addressing instances of gabapentin abuse, making their insights invaluable. This study aims to assess community pharmacists' experiences and perceptions regarding gabapentin abuse in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2024 using a questionnaire-based approach. The questionnaire, developed in English, was uploaded to Google Forms and distributed through social networking platforms. It consisted of four sections: demographic information, pharmacists' experiences with gabapentin abusers, strategies to limit access to gabapentin, and perceptions of gabapentin abuse, which were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. A Chi-square test was employed to analyze the association between categorical variables. Results: The study included 209 pharmacists (median age 29.0 years, IQR 8.0 years). Concerning gabapentin, 72.7% of pharmacists received requests to sell it in the past 6 months. Of these, about 75.7% encountered suspected gabapentin abusers, noting behavioural changes (95.9%), frequent refill requests (90.4%), and inconsistent medical histories (87.8%) as key indicators. Most suspected abusers were male (81.7%) and aged 21–30 years (74.8%). Common reasons cited by suspected abusers for requesting gabapentin included neuropathic pain (93.0%), low back pain (89.6%), and mood instability (73.0%). Pharmacists perceived an increase in gabapentin abuse (74.5%) and expressed a need for additional training (83.3%). Additionally, 83.7% recognised their pivotal role in identifying and addressing gabapentin abuse. Finally, significant associations were found between working in chain pharmacies and receiving gabapentin requests (χ² = 9.159, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Pharmacists have an important role in detecting gabapentin abuse which necessitates adequate education. Pharmacists have concerns regarding this issue and believe stricter regulations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotics have significantly reduced mortality and improved outcomes across various medical fields; however, the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a major challenge, causing millions of deaths annually. Deprescribing, a process that involves discontinuing unnecessary antibiotics, is crucial for combating this threat. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of physicians regarding antibiotic deprescribing in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January-February 2024 to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of physicians regarding antibiotic deprescribing in Jordan. An electronic questionnaire served as the data collection tool. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify independent factors associated with physicians' willingness to deprescribe antibiotics. Results: The study involved 252 physicians, primarily male (n = 168, 67.7%), with a median age of 33 years. Regarding antibiotics deprescribing, 21.8% (n = 55) expressed willingness to deprescribe inappropriate antibiotics. High awareness of deprescribing was evident, with 92.9% (n = 234) familiar with the concept, 94% (n = 237) knowledgeable about appropriate situations, and 96.8% (n = 244) recognising its potential benefits. Furthermore, 81.8% (n = 205) reported having received formal training in antibiotics deprescribing, and 85.3% (n = 215) were informed about the availability of deprescribing tools. Physicians highlighted challenges including insufficient time (44.4%, n = 112) and resistance from patients (41.3%, n = 104) and colleagues (42.1%, n = 106). Despite challenges, a significant proportion regularly assessed antibiotic necessity (46.9%, n = 117) and educated patients about antibiotic-related harms (40.5%, n = 102). Logistic regression analysis revealed no significant demographic factors influencing physicians' willingness to deprescribe antibiotics (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Physicians in Jordan exhibit high awareness of antibiotics deprescribing and recognise its benefits. Challenges such as time constraints and communication barriers need to be addressed to facilitate effective deprescribing practices. Comprehensive guidelines and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for promoting judicious antibiotic use and combating antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT into medical education is expanding, offering benefits such as efficient information synthesis. However, concerns about the accuracy, reliability, and proper use of these tools persist. Understanding medical students' perceptions of ChatGPT is crucial for optimising its use in educational settings. Objectives: To evaluate how medical students perceive ChatGPT for educational purposes and to assess its perceived advantages and disadvantages. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire with five main domains to explore Jordanian medical students' perceptions, practices, and concerns regarding the ChatGPT. This study was conducted from May to July, 2023, and the data were collected using the convenience sampling technique through Google Forms shared within medical students' Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics summarised participant demographics, while logistic regression identified factors influencing ChatGPT usage. Variables with a P-value ≤ 0.05 in multiple regression were considered statistically significant. Results: Nearly two-thirds (N = 136, 61.5%) claimed to have knowledge of AI but not in clinical settings. Most participants (88.5%, N = 216) were aware of ChatGPT, with 86.9% (N = 212) agreeing that 'Medical students can benefit from using ChatGPT.' Additionally, 83.2% (N = 203) felt that 'ChatGPT helps students quickly and easily summarize complex information.' Conversely, 78.3% (N = 191) expressed concerns about ChatGPT's potential inaccuracies, with accuracy and reliability cited as primary concerns. Multiple logistic regression showed that younger students (OR = 0.902, P = 0.025) and those with lower proficiency (OR = 0.487, P = 0.007) used ChatGPT more frequently than others. Conclusion: Although the use of the ChatGPT could be more beneficial for aiding students in developing medical knowledge, evidence-based academic regulations should guide its use. Future research should be conducted to examine the enablers and barriers to ChatGPT use in medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aims to analyse adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting patterns at Jordan University Hospital to enhance pharmacovigilance practices. Methods: Retrospective analysis of ADR data from February to August 2023 was conducted. Data included patient demographics, drugs implicated, seriousness criteria, and system organ classes affected. Results: Among 1340 ADR reports analysed, females accounted for 67.4% of cases, with adults aged 18 to less than 65 years comprising 95.3% of reports. The majority of ADRs were non-serious, with only 2.1% resulting in hospitalisation or prolonged hospital stay. The most frequently reported ADRs included abdominal pain (8.3%), nausea (6.9%), headache (4.7%), and dizziness (4.7%). Notably, cardiovascular system drugs (16.4%) and alimentary tract and metabolism drugs (16.2%) were commonly associated with ADRs, followed by musculoskeletal system drugs (9.0%). Additionally, among all reported drugs, 99.9% were considered suspects, (suspected ADR cases include patient treatment cases for which a likelihood of being related to a drug therapy was scored as 'possible', 'probable', or 'certain' after causality assessment (by the WHO-UMC system in 2017), with oral administration being the predominant route (89.5%). Conclusion: The study highlights a notable increase in ADR reporting during the study period compared to historical data, indicating heightened awareness and understanding among healthcare providers. Enhanced pharmacovigilance practices, particularly involving pharmacists, are essential for detecting and reporting ADRs effectively. Further investigation into factors contributing to prevalent serious ADRs is warranted to improve patient safety and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to assess physicians' adherence to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines in managing and treating adult patients (≥ 18 years old) admitted with suspected cases of meningitis and to investigate any associations between guideline adherence and hospital length of stay (LOS) as well as all-cause mortality among these patients. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Jordan, focussing on adult patients admitted with suspected meningitis between 1 January 2019 and 30 September 2022. The study aimed to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions before culture results according to IDSA guidelines and calculate the overall adherence rate. Additionally, the study observed hospital LOS and all-cause mortality among the enrolled patients. Key findings Of the enrolled adult patients (n  = 118), 14.4% (n  = 17) were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Notably, only five patients (4.2%) were treated appropriately, adhering entirely to the IDSA guidelines, whereas the remaining 95.8% (n  = 113) showed various forms of non-adherence to these recommendations. The highest adherence to IDSA recommendations was observed in performing cerebrospinal fluid culture (100%), whereas the lowest adherence was noted in selecting appropriate doses and durations for the empiric antibiotics (n  = 18, 26.5% and n  = 21, 30.9%, respectively). No significant associations were found between adherence to IDSA treatment guidelines and hospital LOS (P  = .100) or all-cause mortality (P  = .332) among these patients. Conclusion This study revealed low overall adherence to IDSA guidelines among adult patients. Key areas for improvement in management include promptly selecting appropriate empiric antibiotics with correct dosing and duration to mitigate adverse effects and prevent bacterial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is not currently included in the national immunization program in Jordan. The rising prevalence of cervical cancer in Jordan highlights the necessity for a novel approach to boost HPV vaccination rates. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and potential barriers concerning HPV and HPV vaccine administration in community pharmacies. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted in Jordan between July and September 2023, involved community pharmacists. Using a convenience sampling approach, one author visited various community pharmacies to distribute and collect questionnaires. A total knowledge score, out of a possible 10 points, and a belief score out of 40 were calculated for each pharmacists. Additionally, the study examined factors that may influence participants' knowledge and belief levels. Results A total of 302 community pharmacists took part in the survey, with approximately two-thirds of the participants being female (n = 230, 76.2%). The average knowledge score about HPV was 2.7 out of 10 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.8), and linear regression analysis indicated no significant relationship between pharmacists' knowledge about HPV and the factors studied, such as age, gender, area of pharmacy, and the acquired degree. In terms of beliefs, findings revealed that 63.2% supported an expanded role for community pharmacists in HPV vaccination. Three main barriers were identified: lack of parental knowledge (n = 218, 72.2%), insufficient educational materials for parents (n = 206, 68.2%), and inadequate provider knowledge (n = 201, 66.6%). Conclusions In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the knowledge, beliefs, and challenges surrounding HPV and HPV vaccination among community pharmacists in Jordan. To enhance the involvement of community pharmacists in promoting HPV vaccination and aiding in the prevention of HPV-related illnesses, it is crucial to address the identified knowledge gaps and obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Differential effects of linagliptin and vildagliptin may help us personalize treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The current study compares the effect of these drugs on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in an artificial neural network (ANN) model. Methods: Patients with T2DM who received either vildagliptin or linagliptin, with predefined exclusion criteria, qualified for the study. Two input variable datasets were constructed: with or without imputation for missing values. The primary outcome was HbA1c readings between 3 to 12 months or the reduction in HbA1c levels. Results: The cohort comprised 191 individuals (92 vildagliptin and 99 linagliptin). Linagliptin group had significantly higher disease burden. For imputed dataset, HbA1c was lower with linagliptin at 3 to 12 months (7.442 ± 0.408 vs. 7.626 ± 0.408, P < 0.001). However, there was a small yet significant difference in HbA1c reduction favoring vildagliptin over linagliptin (-1.123 ± 0.033 vs. -1.111 ± 0.043, P < 0.001). LDL level, uric acid, and the drug group were identified as predictors for HbA1c levels. In the non-imputed dataset HbA1c at 3 to 12 months was lower with linagliptin (median ± IQR: 7.489 ± 0.467 vs. 7.634 ± 0.467, P-value < 0.001). However, both linagliptin and vildagliptin exhibited similar reductions in HbA1c levels (both median ± IQR of -1.07 ± 0.02). Predictors for HbA1c levels included eGFR level and the drug group. Conclusion: Linagliptin effectively lowers HbA1c levels more than vildagliptin including in patients with comorbidities. DPP4-I choice is a constant predictor of HbA1c in all models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]