ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is a newly emerging human infectious disease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) origin described as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11, 2020. There is currently no definitive cure for COVID-19;however, among the many treatment strategies, hydroxychloroquine has been suggested as a potential treatment. The purpose of this article was to review the pharmacological properties and mechanism of COVID-19 treatment with hydroxychloroquine and its potential use on the current COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Given the many medications used to treat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its comorbidities and complications, the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and resulting patient harm is concerning. This study aimed to shed light on physicians' knowledge of potential DDIs related to COVID-19 treatment, to determine the effect of an information brief about these DDIs on their correct response rates, and to identify factors associated with higher levels of knowledge about these DDIs. METHODS: The knowledge of physicians regarding the clinical significance and intervention of 7 common potential DDIs during COVID-19 treatment was evaluated via an online survey. Using a pretest-posttest design, the physicians completed a multiple-choice questionnaire first using their existing knowledge, then received an information brief about the DDIs and completed the same questionnaire again. Pretest and posttest scores were evaluated and factors affecting correct response rates were determined using correlation, regression, and post-hoc analyzes. RESULTS: A total of 244 physicians participated in the survey, 147 (60.2%) of whom were involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. After the information brief, there were significant increases in the number of correct responses for both clinical significance and interventions (p < 0.0001). In comparisons of pretest knowledge, physicians involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients showed significantly higher correct response rate for interventions compared to physicians who had not treated COVID-19 patients (p = 0.003). Post-hoc analysis to compare pretest correct intervention responses among all medical specialties revealed significant differences between infectious diseases and family practice (mean difference: 1.059; p = 0.005) and between internal medicine and family practice (mean difference: 1.771; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Physicians involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients had more knowledge regarding clinical significance and appropriate management of potential DDIs than those not involved. Therefore, it may be beneficial to organize trainings and issue guidelines about potential DDIs for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Drug Interactions , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pandemics , Physicians/standards , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Antiviral Agents/pharmacokinetics , Betacoronavirus/drug effects , Cardiovascular Diseases/drug therapy , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacokinetics , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , Antiviral Agents/blood , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Betacoronavirus/immunology , COVID-19 , Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Cardiovascular Diseases/virology , Coronavirus Infections/blood , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Dosage Calculations , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/blood , Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/blood , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , SARS-CoV-2 , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths related to the virus have been reported all over the world. Pharmacists play an important role in conveying accurate information about COVID-19 to the community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes among hospital pharmacists about COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to pharmacists participating in the 7th National Hospital and Institution Pharmacists Congress. The questions included in this questionnaire were created using the Turkish COVID-19 Scientific Committee guideline (COVID-19 Guideline). RESULTS: Analysis of 237 questionnaires (72.6% completed by women) showed that the media (television, newspaper), internet (nonscientific resources), internet (scientific resources), and social media were the most popular sources of information (60.3%, 53.6%, 53.2%, and 41.4%, respectively). The participants' age and the source of information that they used had an important influence on their knowledge of and attitudes towards COVID-19 infection. The majority of the participants (72.6%) stated that they were not wearing any kind of mask. Transmission of the disease by airborne route was well known by the participants (91.1%), as well as the main symptoms such as fever (92.4%), cough (84.4%), and dyspnea (60.3%). The participants were aware of the risk groups for COVID-19 infection such as advanced age (84.8%) and having comorbidities (80.2%). Washing hands with soap (92.0%), using hand disinfectants (80.6%), and avoiding contact with sick people (81.9%) were popular answers for protection from the disease, but wearing an N95 mask was also mentioned by 59.1% of the participants. Prevention of the disease by rinsing the nose with saline solution was believed in by 43.9% of the participants. CONCLUSION: Classical media and social media affect the attitudes of both the public and health professionals. Using media tools for accurate information is one of the basic conditions for preventing and controlling the spread of the disease.