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Introduction One of the adopted measures during the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in education is the online modality, which can impact students' quality of Life (QoL) and their academic performance. Methods This cross-sectional study aims to assess the impact of online education on health-related QoL in a sample of 401 medical students. Results Most students attended all the online sessions, and around 32% participated in some of them. Only 16.2% reported high satisfaction from the online sessions, and almost 39% reported low satisfaction. Overall, medical students had moderate QoL. Online education affected medical students psychologically more than physically, translated by higher scores for the physical components than the mental ones. Students who preferred online over in-person education had significantly lower scores for the mental domains, namely lower social functioning and emotional role scores. Academic satisfaction did not influence any SF-36 scores, and students' preferences (online or in-person education) did not affect any of the physical component scores. Conclusion The pandemic directly impacted the QoL of medical students, namely their mental health. Medical students in Lebanon had a higher preference for in-person education, possibly due to its novelty and to other technological, technical, or personal challenges. Future research exploring the reasons and viable solutions should be performed to maintain a steady level of education during unanticipated situations. Resumen Introducción Una de las medidas adoptadas durante la pandemia de la enfermedad por Coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) en la educación es la modalidad en línea, la cual puede impactar la calidad de Vida (CdV) de los estudiantes y su rendimiento académico. Métodos Este estudio transversal tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto de la educación en línea en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en una muestra de 401 estudiantes de medicina. Resultados La mayoría de los estudiantes asistieron a todas las sesiones en línea y alrededor del 32% participó en algunas de ellas. Solo el 16,2 % reportó una alta satisfacción con las sesiones en línea y casi el 39 % reportó una baja satisfacción. En general, los estudiantes de medicina tenían una CdV moderada. La educación en línea afectó a los estudiantes de medicina psicológicamente más que físicamente, lo que se traduce en puntajes más altos para los componentes físicos que para los mentales. Los estudiantes que preferían la educación en línea a la presencial tenían puntajes significativamente más bajos en los dominios mentales, es decir, puntajes más bajos en el funcionamiento social y el rol emocional. La satisfacción académica no influyó en ningún puntaje del SF-36, y las preferencias de los estudiantes (educación en línea o en persona) no afectaron ninguno de los puntajes del componente físico. Conclusión la pandemia impactó directamente en la CdV de los estudiantes de medicina, es decir, en su salud mental. Los estudiantes de medicina en el Líbano tenían una mayor preferencia por la educación presencial, posiblemente debido a su novedad y a otros desafíos tecnológicos, técnicos o personales. Se deben realizar investigaciones futuras que exploren las razones y las soluciones viables para mantener un nivel constante de educación durante situaciones imprevistas.
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Introduction One of the adopted measures during the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in education is the online modality, which can impact students' quality of Life (QoL) and their academic performance. Methods This cross-sectional study aims to assess the impact of online education on health-related QoL in a sample of 401 medical students. Results Most students attended all the online sessions, and around 32% participated in some of them. Only 16.2% reported high satisfaction from the online sessions, and almost 39% reported low satisfaction. Overall, medical students had moderate QoL. Online education affected medical students psychologically more than physically, translated by higher scores for the physical components than the mental ones. Students who preferred online over in-person education had significantly lower scores for the mental domains, namely lower social functioning and emotional role scores. Academic satisfaction did not influence any SF-36 scores, and students' preferences (online or in-person education) did not affect any of the physical component scores. Conclusion The pandemic directly impacted the QoL of medical students, namely their mental health. Medical students in Lebanon had a higher preference for in-person education, possibly due to its novelty and to other technological, technical, or personal challenges. Future research exploring the reasons and viable solutions should be performed to maintain a steady level of education during unanticipated situations.
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Background: Despite the efforts of the health system to improve access to medications during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, such as online consultations, encouraging generic prescriptions, and other measures to limit the storage of medication, psychotropic patients faced significant challenges in accessing their medications. Objectives: This study aimed (1) to compare the consumption of psychotropics before and during the pandemic, (2) to assess the association between having difficulties finding the medications and the general characteristics of the patients, and (3) to assess the predictors of these difficulties. Design: A case-control study was performed in which 128 patients (cases) were recruited during the pandemic (July-October 2021), and 256 patients (controls) using psychotropics before the pandemic were matched for age and sex. Methods: Data were collected using a uniform survey given to patients using psychotropics and filled out at their time and place preferences. Results: More patients used antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications before the pandemic, while antidepressants were used more during the pandemic. Almost half of the patients reported facing difficulties finding their medications in both time frames. Before the pandemic, these difficulties were noted per increase in age and being employed and were less faced if patients had medical assistance or lived in the north of Lebanon. However, more patients reported having difficulties accessing their medication during the pandemic, with no significant differences. Conclusion: The consumption of psychotropic drugs was higher among cases. All patients faced challenges in accessing their medication throughout the pandemic, while older and employed patients had more limitations before the pandemic. Further investigations exploring viable solutions are recommended in order to maintain sustainable access to treatment.
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Background: Community pharmacists played an essential role in the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic; both pharmaceutical care and community pharmacists were affected, given that, patients' needs and demands increased due to the fear of lockdowns and shortage of medication throughout the pandemic. Objectives: This study was based in Lebanon and aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) pharmacists, including infection rates, pay, and working hours, and (2) pharmacy practice, including medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. Design: A cross-sectional study involving 120 community pharmacists was carried out between August and November 2021. Methods: Data were collected using an online survey filled out by pharmacists working in Lebanon. Results: Most participants (71.7%) reported an increase in their income during the pandemic, and 60% reduced their working hours. A significant association was noted between being previously infected and marital status, level of education, work position, and salary of the participants. Most participants (95.8%) encountered a shortage of medications during the pandemic leading to high home storage of medication, searching for other sources of medicines, and decreased patient/pharmacist interactions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed new challenges on pharmacists and the provision of pharmaceutical care. It affected pharmacists' daily routines, putting them at risk of infection with limited availability of medicines and PPE. This study suggests that establishing effective crisis management plans to increase community pharmacists' resilience during similar outbreaks.
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Introduction The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed several challenges leading to the shortage of medications due to the disruption of their supply chains. Among others, patients using psychotropics encountered difficulties finding their medication despite the efforts of investing in local production. Encouraging patients to use generic drugs can be an effective strategy to ensure sustainable access to medication. Objectives This study aimed to describe the consumption of psychotropic medications during the COVID-19 pandemic and the willingness together with the reasons for using generic drugs. It also assessed the association between generic drugs and the general characteristics of the patients. Design A cross-sectional study was performed over a period of 4 months (July–October 2021) targeting 128 patients using psychotropic drugs. Results The sample included more women than men with a mean age of 38 years. Antidepressants were the psychotropic medications mostly consumed followed by anti-anxiety medications. Almost 13% of the patients started using psychotropics either through self-prescription or a friend's advice and 73.4% used generic drugs. Fear of dependence, unavailability of the brand drug, and pharmacist's recommendation were the main reported reasons for using generic drugs. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of psychotropics increased due to new prescriptions and self-medication. No differences were noted between using generics and the characteristics of the patients in contrast to previous studies which support the implementation of generic prescription and substitution policies.