Key role players in health care quality: who are they and what do they think? An experience from Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study in Medina city in 2009 was to identify key role players who influence the healthcare system and to assess their views regarding the improvement of the quality of health care in Saudi Arabia. In a qualitative, cross-sectional study data were collected from focus group discussions and analysed using a content analysis approach. Key role players were chosen based on their previous experience in providing feedback in health care-related areas: representatives from organizations, interest groups, departments, the media, other governmental organizations and members of the public who actively worked with the Department of Health. The topics discussed were: health and community; health and media; planning for health; female staff views; role of the private health sector; and the role of other governmental agencies. The discussions highlighted the importance of improvement of health facility infrastructure, the implementation of staff training and education, the initiation of quality assurance and safety standards and the extension of the scope of primary care and community health educational programmes.

Spectrophotometric determination of mequitazine

Two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric assay procedures were described for the determination of mequitazine. The first was based on the reaction of the drug with aconitic anhydride to give a red colored product measurable at 547 nm. The second depended on the oxidation of the drug with sodium nitroprusside in the presence of concentrated HCl to give a violet color with a maximum absorbance at 569 nm. Optimization of the experimental conditions was described. The proposed methods were applied to the determination of mequitazine in tablet form

Spectrophotometric determination of amoxicillin and cefadroxil using 3-methyl-2bencothiazolone hydrazone hydrochloride

A spectrophotometric method was described for the determination of amoxycillin and cefadroxil. The method was based on the reaction of these drugs with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone hydrochloride [MBTH] in the presence of cerric ammonium sulfate. The colored products were estimated spectrophotometrically at 530 nm and 511 nm for amoxycillin and cefadroxil, respectively. Beer's Law was valid over the concentration range 10-50 mug ml -1. The method was applied successfully to the analysis of dosage forms. Relative st and ard deviations for the assay of both drugs in commercial preparations were less than 1%

New colorimetric method for determination of isoniazid and hydralazine hydrochloride

A simple sensitive and facile colorimetric method for quantitative determination of isoniazid and hydralazine hydrochloride is developed. The method is based on the formation of Tris [o-phenanthroline] iron [II] complex [ferroin] upon reaction of isoniazid or hydralazine with an iron [III]-o-phenanthroline mixture in sodium acetate-acetic acid buffer

Derivative spectrophotometric and colorimetric determination of minoxidil

Two simple sensitive and accurate methods for the quantitative determination of minoxidil in pure and tablet forms are described. One method is based on recording the first and second derivative curves of minoxidil using the peak-height technique. The other is based on the reaction of minoxidil with 7, 7, 8, 8- tetracyanoquinondimethane [TCNQ] with the formation of stable and highly colored product exhibiting maximum absorption at 842 nm. The two methods are applied to the determination of minoxidil in pure and tablet form with a coefficient of variation less than 1%

Volumetric determination of piroxicam in presence of degradation product

An indirect volumetric method for the determination of piroxicam is developed. It depends on the reaction of piroxicam with a measured excess of ammonium-cerric-sulfate in sulfuric acid medium. The excess cerric is back titrated with st and ard ammonium ferrous sulfate using ferroin as indicator. The molar ratio of the reactants was determined to be one drug to four ammonium-cerric-sulfate. The method was successfully applied for the determination of piroxicam in pharmaceutical preparations. The presence of 2-aminopyridine, the degradation drug product, did not interfere with the accurate determination of piroxicam. The validity of the method was checked using the st and ard addition technique

Quantitative determination of cimetidine and ranitidine using n-bromosuccinimide [NBS]

A simple and accurate titrimetric method was developed for the determination of cimetidine and ranitidine. It involved direct titration of the mentioned drugs with NBS using methyl red as indicator. The stoichiometry for each drug was ascertained. The reaction pathways and products between NBS, cimetidine and ranitidine hydrochloride were suggested. The method was applied successfully for the determination of the investigated drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms. The validity of the method was checked by applying the st and ard addition technique. Compared with the official USP XXII assay of cimetidine, the method is simple, rapid and highly sensitive