ABSTRACT
The global burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted healthcare delivery but has also compromised patients' access to healthcare on account of the scarcity of medications and trained healthcare professionals. COVID-19 has been particularly challenging for patient subpopulations constituting immunocompromised individuals, geriatric patients, and those afflicted by chronic ailments. Reports indicate that diminished kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) renders patients highly susceptible to complications during COVID-19 treatment. Pharmacists, being medication experts, have a significant role in making treatment decisions during COVID-19 infection. This article describes pharmacists' interventions for monitoring and managing COVID-19 in patients with CKD. Given the massive increase in off-label use of medications to treat COVID-19, pharmacists can contribute substantially towards dosing decisions, reporting adverse medication events, and managing drug-drug interactions in COVID-19 patients suffering from CKD. In addition to traditional methods of delivering their services, the pharmacist should also adopt innovative tele-health systems to optimize patient care and ensure that patients receive safe and effective therapy during the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Background The education system has reformed to a new era of virtualization. Students once on-campus had to shift their academic learning to their houses. Methods A web-based questionnaire was prepared and circulated among pharmacy students in Southern India (n = 482) to assess the quality of virtual education and their attitude and acceptance towards the new system during the second wave of COVID 19. Results Students (n = 183,65.1%) claimed of appreciable quality in the online education system (p < 0.01) and they had improved communication (n = 315,65.3%), presentation (n = 383,79.4%), writing (n = 343,71.1%), computer handling (n = 424,88%) and reading (n = 281,58.1%) skills facilitated by their institution's orientation program. However, 21.6% had poor academic performances triggered by their (n = 147, 30.5%) inability to focus and being inactive (n = 390, 80.9%) the whole day. Moreover, poor internet connectivity (n = 320) and lack of functioning gadgets (n = 198,41%) were the other hindrance factors. Female participants (82.6%), those pursuing a B Pharm degree (50.9%), and those who did not avail financial assistance (73%) were quite satisfied with the current education system (p < 0.05). On the other hand, limited hospital training during the pandemic have led PharmD respondents (n = 86,48.3%) to poor acceptance of the system. Despite these challenges, a large percentage of surveyed participants were keen to collect data from missed online classes, responded well to faculties, were punctual in online classes and academic submissions and marked satisfaction with their institutional attendance criteria (73.5%). Conclusion A proper educational system with an advanced student monitoring portal, periodical motivation programs, workshops and extra-curricular activities shall keep students focused on their online academic responsibilities.