An evaluation of the psychological impact of COVID-19 and the precautionary measure of social isolation on adults in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak is worrying for people and society. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measure of social isolation on adults in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was carried out in the Asir region for a period of 5 months from May 2020 to September 2020 to assess the psychological response of the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic using an anonymous online questionnaire. The questionnaire was adapted from previous research and involved three sections, namely sociodemographic data, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7 Scale). A total score of ≥10 indicates depression and anxiety. Data were analysed using SPSS V.25. RESULTS: Females had higher rates of COVID-19 depression than males. There was a significant correlation between age and home setting and anxiety, and a significant association between marital status and the level of education and depression. There was a significant association between gender and depression and anxiety, while there was no significant association between occupation and income, and depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study clearly show that depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among adults. Females had higher rates of COVID-19 depression and anxiety than males. The findings from this study show that implementing a strategy for the prevention and management of depression and anxiety is highly recommended to minimise the impact of these disorders.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Pharmacy Students' Career Choices in the Light of Saudi Vision 2030: Will Community Pharmacy Continue to Be the Most Promising, but Least Preferred, Sector?

INTRODUCTION: The Saudi Arabian healthcare divisions that recruit and hire pharmacists include hospital pharmacy, community pharmacies, universities, and research centres. Local studies showed that hospital pharmacy is the most preferred sector, while community pharmacy is the least preferred. However, jobs in hospital pharmacy are limited compared to community pharmacy. Hence, to accommodate the increasing numbers of pharmacy graduates and to facilitate the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, which promotes primary healthcare and the participation of both private and non-governmental organisations in healthcare delivery, community pharmacy ought to be Saudised. This study was conducted to assess the career choices made by Saudi pharmacy students and the enablers that influence their career choice, especially in community pharmacy. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional approach was used. A total of 437 final year pharmacy students were recruited from 15 pharmacy schools around the country. RESULTS: Salary and advancement opportunities as well as geographical location, benefits, and work environment were found to be "very important" enablers when making career decisions. Hospital pharmacy was selected as the most preferred sector by 242 (55.4%) of the participants, while community pharmacy was the least favoured pharmacy sector (17% or 6.2%). The enablers that might influence the consideration of a job in community pharmacy included career aspiration and social accountability. On the other hand, the barriers were personal beliefs about the sector and the nature of the work. CONCLUSIONS: The community pharmacy sector was found to be the least preferred sector to work in. The study revealed a list of enablers that the participants found to be relevant or of high relevance when choosing community pharmacy as a career pathway. Some of the enablers contribute to the role of the pharmacist towards the local community, social accountability, and towards the country's Vision, such as interaction with the general public and educating them. Other enablers are related to the pharmacists' career aspirations, such as owning a business. Some of the barriers that were found relevant include high workload, inflexible working hours, and limited opportunities for professional development. Localisation of community pharmacies would help to create more jobs for national pharmacists, increase the participation of female pharmacists in the workforce and support the achievement of Vision 2030. The barriers should be tackled on several levels: undergraduate curriculum, regulatory, and actual practice. Undergraduate education needs to include primary pharmaceutical care services in its curriculum. Regulatory changes include enforcing the renationalisation of the community pharmacy sector and permitting females to work in community pharmacies without location restrictions.

Review on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: Its outbreak and current status.

BACKGROUND: In late December 2019 and on 1st January 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) infecting humans was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Later cases have also been confirmed worldwide. Coronaviruses are RNA viruses that are phenotypically and genotypically diverse. Globally, as of 6th April 2020, laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) amounted to 1 211 214, including 67 666 deaths. AIM: In the current study, we performed a literature review on coronavirus outbreak to summarise details about the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis and the management strategies for the disease control. PATHOGENESIS: Coronaviruses are tremendously precise and mature only in differentiated respiratory epithelial cells, as seen in both organ cultures as well as human volunteers. This virus will cause the antiviral T-cell response to be erratic, owing to the T-cell apoptosis activation, triggering the immune system to collapse. TRANSMISSION: The understanding of the transmission of COVID-19 risk is incomplete. The transmission mainly occurs through the respiratory droplets once an infected person sneezes, like the spread of flu and other respiratory infectious agents. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Presentations of COVID-19 includes fever, cough, shortness of breath, malaise and respiratory distress. TREATMENT: There have been no approved vaccines available for COVID-19 until today. The Ministry of Science and Technology in the People's Republic of China declared three potential antiviral medicines suitable for treating COVID-19. Those three medicines are, namely, favilavir, chloroquine phosphate and remdesivir. Hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin enhances the reduction of the viral load in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: The corona virus transmits quicker than its two predecessors the MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, but has reduced casualty. The global effects of this latest pandemic are still unclear. Nevertheless, considering that so far no vaccine has been available; preventive approaches are the best way to fight against the virus.