ABSTRACT
Background: Pharmacy profession requires pharmacists to have leadership qualities to respond the challenges in healthcare system to meet the patient’s medication-related needs. Therefore, to build leadership qualities among pharmacists, it is essential to discuss it during the early training of the future pharmacists. Aim: The study aims to evaluate leadership attitudes and beliefs of pharmacy students at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive survey. All undergraduate pharmacy students (n=478) were targeted for the study. The Leadership Attitudes and Beliefs Scale was usedResults: Three hundred and forty-five students responded to the survey (response rate = 72.1%). The mean scores for hierarchical and systemic thinking were 25.7±6.56 and 30.7±6.88 respectively. It indicates that most of the students believe in a high hierarchical-high systemic thinking. Significant associations observed in a comparison between ethnicity and leadership aspects: leader being responsible of controlling, keeping authority, and charge of the organization (p=0.002,p=0.024and p=0.047respectively). Gender was reported to have a significant association with factors of participation (p=0.035) and security of the organization (p=0.014).Conclusion: The study findings suggest that pharmacy undergraduates prefer a high hierarchical thinking and high systemic thinking approach to leadership. Therefore, specialized programs about leadership are suggested to be included as part of the students activities and training. In these programs, more emphasis on systemic thinking is needed rather than overly depending on hierarchical thinking. Moreover, students should be equipped with knowledge necessary to decide which style of leadership to adapt to promote the well-being of the organization.
ABSTRACT
Despite lack of scientific evidence about the safety of some medications, the reported use of medications during pregnancies has increased. This may lead to adverse reproductive outcomes, due to potential risk to the mother and the fetus. In contexts of most developing countries including Ethiopia, it is difficult to elucidate medications use prevalence during pregnancy and their relative contributions to birth defects for several reasons. Institutionbased cross sectional study was conducted in Tertiary care hospital Ethiopia. Current medication use data were collected by reviewing patients' charts in the antenatal care follow up clinic, chronic care (internal medicine) as well as psychiatry clinic and by interviewing pregnant women using semi-structured questionnaire. Medications were classified using the United States Food and Drug Administration pregnancy risk classification system. A total of 339 women were included in the study; of which 187 (55.2%) had used at least one prescription and 162(52.2%) had used over the counter medications during pregnancy. The majority of the medications were antibiotics (42.5%) and analgesics (40.1%). 57(16.8%) and 24(7.1%) of medications were prescribed from category D and X respectively. Out of 187 (55.2%) prescription medications used, 51 (15.0%) were obtained without prescribers order. Majority (70.8%) of the women did not have awareness regarding risks associated with self medication. Prescription medications use was 0.08 times less among women with a co-morbidities (AOR 0.08(.05, 0.13), p=0.001) and 2.5 times higher among women from rural areas (AOR 2.53 (1.15, 5.56); P=0.02). Compared to employed women, over the counter medications use were 1.9 times more among house wife women (AOR1.87 (1.12, 3.09), p= 0.02) and about thrice higher among merchant women (AOR 2.88(1.10, 7.55), p= 0.03). Likewise, presence of medical problems was found to have 60% protective against OTC medications use (AOR 0.40 (.26, 0.64), p=0.01). The overall medications use during pregnancy was found to be high. Medications use without prescribers order was common and potentially harmful medications (category-D and X) use appeared to be higher in all trimesters. The findings of this study argue in favor of prescribing some potentially harmful medications which could have been avoided during pregnancy. Majority of the women lacked awareness about the potential risks associated with medications use in pregnancy without prescribers order.
ABSTRACT
Generic substitution is the act of switching from a branded drug to its therapeutically equivalent generic version. This study aims to systematically review the literature with regards to generic substitution around the globe. Studies compared generic and brand-name drugs for clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness. The current findings show that the new policies are aimed at supporting the development of the generics industry in the respective countries. Further investigation is needed to explore the implementation of the current generic substitution policies and how to increase their accessibility to the general population. Generic substitution policies comparison between countries were conducted among 9 countries, that is, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, Indonesia, United State and United Kingdom. From 27 journals that were reviewed, only 14 were selected based on the fulfilled criteria appropriate to the journals that we had searched. All these policies were then studied to propose recommendations for generic substitution.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to evaluate the level of Tuberculosis (TB) related knowledge among general public in North East Libya. A cross sectional study was undertaken in 2009. A prevalidated questionnaire consisting of 23 items was sent to 1500 residents among five cities in North East Libya. In addition to the demographic details, the survey instrument was designed to collect information relating to transmission, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment and prevention of TB. Descriptive analysis was used to elaborate demographic information. Inferential statistics (Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA) were used whenever appropriate. P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. All data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. The overall knowledge towards TB among general population was measured as low. Mean knowledge score was 11.4±3.9 which was significantly higher among Libyans (11.7±3.8) than non Libyans (9.7±4.7, t=26.13) (P<0.001). In addition, respondents with tertiary education had significantly higher knowledge scores (11.8± 3.5) compared to those of intermediate (11.6± 4.4) and illiterate (7.7±5.5), [F=19.34, P=0.001]. This study reveals that knowledge towards TB within the population is poor. It is therefore suggested that specialized educational programs should be developed for community members to promote awareness towards TB.