Physicians' attitude towards community pharmacists' contribution in the treatment decision making

Abstract A collaborative physician-pharmacist relationship is a fundamental component of a patient's primary care. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitude of physicians toward collaborative work with community pharmacists in Sulaimani City, Iraq. A cross sectional design was utilized, and a questionnaire was sent to 60 physicians, of whom 47 completed the questionnaire. A total of 26 (55.3%) physicians stated that they had a history of collaboration with pharmacists in their routine daily work. During/before the treatment process, more than one-third of the physicians "rarely" practiced collaboratively, and one-fifth "never" collaborated. There was little agreement on the community pharmacist's recommendations; however, after the treatment decision by the physician, a higher degree of agreement was reported, and the number of physicians who were "rarely" or "never" practiced collaboratively decreased to less than 5%. Furthermore, the physicians' perspective on the pharmacists' role showed that advising patients on drug administration (85.1%) and preventing drug interactions (76.6%) were the most common duties of the community pharmacists. Physicians agreed on several barriers with respect to collaboration with pharmacists. In conclusion, the physicians' perspective on the engagement of the community pharmacist in the management of patients was relatively limited. The pharmacist's recommendation was more accepted after medications were prescribed than before or during decision making on the treatment.

Clinical efficacy of resveratrol as an adjuvant with meloxican in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis patients: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the adjuvant use of resveratrol with meloxicam on the clinical scores of knee OA patients. This was a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial involving 100 patients with knee osteoarthritis performed at the Shar Teaching Hospital, Sulaimani General Hospital and Specialised Rheumatology Center, Sulaimani City from December 2016 to September 2017. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by measuring the changes from baseline in the KOOS score, WOMAC index, and VAS-100 score after 90 days of treatment. Resveratrol significantly improves the knee OA pain and associated symptoms compared with placebo, and both clinical scores were found to be eligible for following treatment outcomes. In conclusion, resveratrol, when used in combination with meloxicam, improves pain and symptom scores in patients with mild-to-moderate knee OA compared with placebo. The intervention with a dietary supplement may significantly impact the pain and overall quality of life in patients with knee OA.

study of relationship between perceived parental marital conflict and deviance in male adolescents

The present study aimed to explore the role of parental marital conflict in development of delinquent tendencies among adolescents. For this purpose perceived parental marital conflict and self reported delinquency was assessed by Urdu version of Marital Conflict Scale [Azam, 2006] and Self-Reported Delinquency Checklist [Rifai and Tariq, 1997] respectively. Our findings reveal a significant correlation between the two variables [r =.877]. Linear Regression analysis was also computed with parental conflict as predictor variable and delinquent tendencies among adolescents as an outcome variable. The analysis indicates that 29.8% variance in the dependent variable can be accounted for, by the predictor. The adolescents with high scores on Self-Reported Delinquency Checklist [SRD] obtained high score on Parental Marital Conflict Scale as compared to adolescents rated medium and low on delinquent tendencies. Results further indicate that self reported delinquency is highest among low socio economic class students as compared to middle and high SES groups. The study highlights the significance of parental relationship for optimal psychological development and mental health of adolescents

Relationship between organizational communication climate and interpersonal conflict management styles

Relation between different styles of interpersonal conflict management and dimensions of organizational communication climate was looked into; employing a sample of 160 bank employees. Sample included men and women employees having age range of 27 to 55 years [M=38.07 and SD=1.44] and education ranges from graduation to post graduation. Organizational Communication Climate Inventory developed by Costigan and Schmeidler [2004] and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory II [1983] were administered to assess the communication climate within the organizations and different styles of handling interpersonal conflict. The correlation analysis revealed that supportive [r=.41; p<.000] and defensive [r=.32; p<.001] communication climate dimensions showed positive relationship with total scores of conflict management inventory. The results further showed that integrating [r=.44; p<.001], obliging [r=.46, p<.001] and compromising [r=.26, p<.01] styles of handling conflict has significant positive correlation with supportive communication climate. Dominating [r=.38; p<.01] and avoiding [r=.36, p<.01] styles of handling conflict has significant positive correlation with defensive communication climate. Findings, revealed non significant differences with respect to gender on communication climate; women are found to use more comprising and avoiding styles of conflict management. On education non significant differences existed on communication climate, however less educated people were found to he compromising and obliging on styles of conflict management and highly educated people showed dominating styles of conflict management. Moreover, younger employees are found to be highly endorsed on supportive communication climate than old age employees and old age employees are also found to be more obliging

Role of individual and organizational factors in decision making

The present study was conducted to examine the role of various individual and organizational factors in decision making styles including rational, intuitive, dependant, avoidant, and spontaneous. Urdu-translated version of General Decision Making Style Questionnaire [Scott and Bruce, 1995] was used to collect the data from the participants. A total of 300 bank managers were included in the current research. Purposive convenient sampling technique was employed in the present study. In order to investigate the mean differences, ANOVA and t-test were used in this research. Significant mean differences were found with respect to organizational and individual factors in decision making styles. Highly experienced managers were more intuitive decision makers as compared to relatively low experienced managers. Young and middle-aged adults were more rational decision makers than older adults. Managers belonging to public sector banks were more rational decision makers in comparison to private sector banks. No significant mean differences in decision making styles were found with respect to gender and management level Finally, implications and limitations were discussed

Role of individual and organizational factors in leadership

The present study was carried out to examine the role of various individual and organizational factors in leadership styles including transformational, transactional, and laissez faire leadership style. Urdu-translated version of Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire [MLQ] was used to collect the data from the participants. A total of 300 bank managers were included in the current research. Purposive convenient sampling technique was employed in the present study. In order to investigate the mean differences, one way ANOVA and t-test were used in this research. Significant mean differences were found with respect to individual and organizational factors in leadership styles. Middle level managers were found more transformational and transactional in comparison with top and lower level managers. Male bank managers were more transformational than their female counterparts. Public sector bank managers were more transformational than private sector managers. Managers with soft skills training were more transformational than managers without soft skills training. Finally, implications, limitations, and suggestions were discussed