RESUMO
Objectives The current work seeks to explore the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards the concept of pharmacoeconomics fundamental propositions and evaluation methodologies, among pharmacists and other healthcare providers in the UAE as the health expenditure is increasing. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst the licensed physicians in all specialties, all pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with a minimum of three months of experience those registered with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and those working in the private sector in the UAE. Participants are sent an email containing a validated web-based electronic link to access the questionnaire. The questionnaire composed of three sections is used to assess the healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding the concept, principles and methodology evaluation of pharmacoeconomics. Regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting healthcare providers' knowledge and attitude regarding the criteria used in methodology evaluation of pharmacoeconomics. Key findings A total of 866 respondents participated. The average age of respondents was 42.1 +/- 8.8 SD. The average knowledge score on the principle of pharmacoeconomic was 40.4% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [38.9%, 41.8%]. Of the total participants, 663 (76.6%) had poor knowledge on the principle of Pharmacoeconomic, 172 (19.9%) had moderate knowledge and only 31 (3.6%) had good knowledge. The average attitude score about criteria used in pharmacoeconomic methodology evaluation was 82.3% with a 95% CI of [81.9%, 83.7%]. Conclusions There is a need to raise their awareness on pharmacoeconomics fundamentals and evaluation methodologies by including pharmacoeconomics course in curriculum and continuous workshops and training.
RESUMO
Objectives: Early investments in new diagnostic technologies that allow for rapid and decentralized testing were critical in reducing SARS-CoV-2's detrimental health and economic effects. This study evaluates public knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. Methods: An online descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire was used in this study. The final study population included all contacted national and resident adults, age 18 and over, who were willing to engage in the study. The survey was divided according to participants' demographic information and 11 questions assessed the respondents' understanding of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify the factors influencing respondents' knowledge of and attitudes toward the acceptability of self-testing kits for COVID-19 and their willingness to use these kits. Key findings: A total of 876 respondents participated in the study and completed the whole questionnaire. The average knowledge score on the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19 was 70.2%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [69.1%, 71.4%]. Participants who were postgraduate, female and vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as employees and older participants, were jointly highly associated with higher levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Moreover, participants who had been infected with COVID-19, were vaccinated against COVID-19 or were female, employees, older, Western or Arabic were jointly highly associated with positive attitudes about the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Conclusions: The majority of the respondents have acceptable levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Nonetheless, future studies should consider the issues of pre- and post-test counselling, false negative results and the sale of unregulated testing kits. Additional information should be communicated so that people can make informed decisions and be protected from possible abuse of COVID-19 self-testing kits when they become available in pharmacies.