The role of Lesotho community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases: The perceived facilitators and barriers.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally. The impact of cardiovascular diseases can be minimized by addressing modifiable risk factors at primary health care level. Community pharmacists are well-positioned to identify patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases for early detection and initiation of treatment. However, the role of Lesotho community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to explore the Lesotho community pharmacists' role in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: The methodological reporting of this study was guided by the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies. A list of registered community pharmacists was obtained from the Ministry of Health. Pharmacists were selected based on their close proximity to the researcher and invited to participate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Five themes were identified namely: 1) Current roles 2) Future role 3) Facilitators, 4) Barriers, and 5) Community pharmacists' perceptions of their roles. Generally, community pharmacists were involved in medication counselling, health promotion, and referral of patients. Lack of support from government, patients' lack of adherence, poor interprofessional relationship, and lack of clear community pharmacy practice guidelines were identified as barriers. Despite the challenges, community pharmacists are motivated by patients' gratitude for their services. CONCLUSIONS: Lesotho community pharmacists can potentially improve cardiovascular diseases' health outcomes at primary healthcare level through early detection of CVD risk factors, and health promotion.

Factors influencing medication adherence in co-morbid hypertension and diabetes patients: A scoping review.

Introduction: Interest in medication adherence has expanded significantly, especially in relation to the management of hypertension or diabetes in recent years. A scoping review that focuses on medication adherence in the co-morbidity of hypertension and diabetes provides crucial guidance for effective management of these interrelated diseases. Aim: To conduct a scoping review of factors associated with medication adherence among individuals with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes. Methods: The evaluation was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to ensure the quality of the study. We searched three databases (Scopus, CINAHL, Medline) and one search engine (Google Scholar) from April 2023 to July 2023 on studies related to medication adherence in co-morbid hypertension and diabetes. Except for reviews there were no restrictions on design, location, and time of study. Results: In total, 972 studies that were not duplicated were obtained. After eligibility and screening procedures were completed, 31 articles were ultimately included in the scoping review. Medication adherence was significantly affected by patient, condition, therapy, socio-economic and health related factors. Intervention trials revealed that education and counselling by pharmacists, nurses, physicians, diabetes educators, community health workers and the use of telephone to motivate patients significantly improved medication adherence. Conclusion: This review shows the intricate factors influencing medication adherence in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers.

Utilisation of traditional medicine among women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ghana: a descriptive phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Women living with breast cancer (BC) rely on traditional medicine (TM) in addition to orthodox medicine. There is a need to understand how and why women diagnosed with BC utilise TM. This study explored and described the lived experiences of women living with BC in terms of their utilisation of traditional medicine. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenology design was used to purposively conduct 20 face-to-face in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed using NVivo-12 based on Collaizzi's framework for thematic data analysis. RESULTS: Overall, five main themes emerged, namely: sources of knowledge on TM, motivations for using TM, treatment modalities, timing for the initiation of TM, the reasons for discontinuing use of TM, and the decision to seek orthodox medicine. Under the category of motivations for using TM, four themes emerged: financial difficulties and perceived cost effectiveness of TM, influence of social networks, including family and friends, assurance of non-invasive treatment, delays at the healthcare facility, and side effects of orthodox treatment. Non-invasive treatments included herbal concoctions, natural food consumption, and skin application treatments. Regarding the timing of initiation, TM was used in the initial stage of symptom recognition prior to the decision to seek orthodox medicine, and was also used complementarily or as an alternative after seeking orthodox medicine. However, patients eventually stopped using TM due to the persistence of symptoms and the progression of cancer to a more advanced stage, and disapproval by orthodox practitioners. CONCLUSION: Women living with BC in Ghana utilise traditional medicine (TM) for many reasons and report their family, friends and the media as a main source of information. A combination of herbal concoctions and skin application modalities is obtained from TM practitioners to treat their BC. However, they eventually discontinue TM when symptoms persist or when disapproval is expressed by their orthodox healthcare providers. We conclude that there is an opportunity to better integrate TM into the standard of oncological care for BC patients.

Management of sexually transmitted infections: a qualitative assessment of community pharmacy practices in the Ho Municipality, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Effective management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is crucial in the control and spread of these infections in health systems. Community pharmacies are usually the first port of call in Ghana for most people who contract STIs for therapy. Delayed and inappropriate treatment contributes significantly to treatment failures, drug resistance and complications. However, the community pharmacies may not have diagnostic tools and trained personnel for prompt case detection and appropriate therapeutic action. Thus, posing a higher risk for inappropriate therapy with consequences of worsening symptoms and poor treatment outcomes. This study explored the STI management practices in community pharmacies in the Ho Municipality. METHODS: Purposively selected study participants were community pharmacy staff including Pharmacists (n = 6), Pharmacy Technicians (n = 2) and Dispensing Assistants (n = 10) in outlets in Ho Municipality of the Volta region, Ghana. Data collection was carried out from December 2020 to January 2021. In-depth interviews of the participants using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted and recorded. Data obtained was transcribed and analyzed using NVivo version 12 using the thematic framework. RESULTS: Some of the pharmacy staff were unaware of National Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) and its recommendations for STI management. More than half of the participants believed the STG recommendations were important for therapy but few thought the STG recommendations were ineffective sometimes. Appropriate STI management practices observed included infection treatment based on laboratory data, and STG protocols that recommend syndromic approach. Negative STI management practices included disregarding the presence of possible mixed infections and treating all symptoms observed empirically as a single infection without laboratory confirmation. CONCLUSION: The STI management practices in the community pharmacies had many gaps that risk infective therapy, treatment failures, STI complications, and antibiotic resistance. Efforts should be invested into the training of practitioners in community pharmacies for safe and effective practices for STI management, and encouraged to have diagnostic kits or work with laboratory facilities for testing to inform definitive therapy for optimal outcomes.

Impact of childhood and adolescence cancer on family caregivers: a qualitative analysis of strains, resources and coping behaviours.

BACKGROUND: The physical demands of caring for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, over a lengthy period, exert significant strain on the health and well-being of family caregivers. The capacity of family caregivers to surmount and cope with the various strains they experience due to the diagnosis and treatment trajectory is essential to the quality of life of the child and adolescent who has been diagnosed with cancer. However, the experiences of family caregivers have been under-explored. This study explored the strains, resources, and coping strategies of family caregivers of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Ghana. METHODS: Guided by a descriptive phenomenological design, 20 semi-structured interviews with family caregivers were conducted at a tertiary health facility that provides paediatric oncology services. The study was conducted between June and October 2022. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated and coded using NVivo software. An inductive thematic analysis approach using Vaismoradi et al.'s thematic analysis framework was followed in analysing the data. RESULTS: The study revealed that family caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer experienced three main strains: somatic strains (poor sleep quality, loss of appetite, and unintended weight loss), economic strains (financial burden and loss of economic livelihood), and psychosocial strains (isolation from social activities and network, frustration and helplessness, and balancing multiple family needs). The following themes emerged as coping resources: family cohesiveness, community support, and support from health care providers. Coping strategies that emerged included trusting in God and being self-motivated. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that family caregivers experience somatic, economic, and psychosocial strains. However, they can leverage available resources (family cohesiveness, community support, and support from healthcare providers) to cope with these strains. There is a need to educate and sensitize family caregivers about the potential strains that they are likely to experience prior to the assumption of care roles. Also, the formal inclusion of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies will ensure that family caregivers receive sufficient community support to cope with the strains of caregiving.

Expectations and barriers to the utilization of specialist palliative care services among persons living with cancer in Ghana: an exploratory qualitative study.

Background: The need for palliative care among patients living with cancer is increasing globally. This need is far greater in resource-constrained settings like Ghana where there is a high unmet need for palliative care services. Consequently, there are lapses in the current palliative care regime, thus, resulting in suboptimal utilization. Objective: The study aims to explore patients living with cancer's expectations of palliative care services and examine the barriers that impede palliative care utilization. Design: Descriptive exploratory qualitative design. Methods: A total of 15 patients living with cancer and receiving treatment in a tertiary health facility were purposively sampled to participate in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were transcribed and inductively analysed following Collaizi's qualitative analysis framework. Results: From the analysis, the findings were grouped under two main categories: perceived expectations and barriers to utilizing palliative care. The participants expected to receive meaningful communication about their condition and prognosis; they also expected to be actively involved in palliative care decision-making. Regarding the barriers, the following themes emerged: financial constraints, unfavourable health appointment schedules, problems with the distance to the health facility, poor referral and follow-up from oncology specialists and being unaware of the availability of palliative care services. Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a need to actively involve patients and their families in all decision-making along the continuum of palliative care service delivery. The study underscores the need for Ghana to implement an integration of palliative care services in primary healthcare facilities to avert the challenges that distance to tertiary healthcare facilities poses to palliative care utilization. Service providers must implement awareness programmes to enable patients to better comprehend palliative care services.

Impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative analysis of strains, resources and coping strategies among elderly patients in a rural setting in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Rurality is fraught with numerous difficulties including a lack of advanced health facilities to provide health services, and an absence of specialist cancer services, and qualified personnel, among others. These factors exacerbate the challenges of elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and further pose limitations to activities/instrumental activities of daily living. Yet, there is limited scholarship on the strains that affect elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and the resources that helps them to overcome them. This study explores the strains, resources, and coping strategies of elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment in rural Ghana. METHODS: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 individuals to participate in in-depth interviews. The collected data was analysed inductively using Collaizi's framework. QSR NVivo-12 was used in managing the data. RESULTS: The results were grouped into two main categories, namely: strains and resources. Within the category of strains, three main themes with their corresponding sub-themes emerged: cancer-related strains (systemic side effects from treatment, altered physical appearance and body image, and experience of pain), elderly strains (altered functional ability, limited social interactions and participation, psycho-emotional reactions, limited/restricted economic participation, and financial strains), and health system strains (negative attitude and insensitive communication, delay in diagnosis, lack of geriatric oncology care, lack of community-based specialist cancer centre and long travel distance to access care, and limited availability of essential cancer medicines and other radiations services). Four types of resources were available to cancer patients: personal resources, family resources, community resources, and healthcare systems resources. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, elderly patients diagnosed with cancer experience physical, economic, psychological, and emotional strains that threaten their health and well-being. However, they are able to leverage family, community, and health system-related resources to navigate through the strains. There is, therefore, a need to expand advanced health facilities with geriatric oncology units and specialists to improve access to cancer care in rural areas. The government needs to assist elderly persons with costs associated with their diagnosis and treatment through the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme to include this as part of the benefits package.

A systematic review of the role of community pharmacists in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases: the perceptions of patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally. The modifiable risk factors can be measured and identified early at primary healthcare facilities. Community pharmacists present an opportunity for improved management of cardiovascular diseases and health outcomes. The systematic review aims to identify the roles of community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases and patients' perceptions towards such functions. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The team searched MEDLINE, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science from January 2001 to December 2021 with a focus on studies reporting the role of community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases, and patients' perceptions of such roles. Search terms included were ''interventions,'' ''community pharmacists,'' ''patients,'' ''cardiovascular diseases,'' ''risk factors,'' and "perceptions". The quality of studies was appraised using the Joanne Briggs Institute checklist. RESULTS: A total of 45 studies met the inclusion criteria: 35 (78%) and 10 (22%) reported community pharmacists' preventive and control roles, respectively. Generally, drug therapy monitoring, medicine and lifestyle counselling, and health education were most common roles, with pharmacist-initiated prescribing and social support least common. A total of 11 (24%) studies reported patients' perceptions of community pharmacists' contribution in preventing (73%, n = 8) and controlling (27%, n = 3) cardiovascular diseases. Patients were satisfied with community pharmacists' services in 10 of 11 studies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight community pharmacists' capability of providing primary healthcare services in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases and provide evidence for their inclusion in primary healthcare frameworks. Future research should assess the effectiveness of these roles and provide a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework (OSF) registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WGFXT .

Socio-Demographic Factors and Other Predictors of Pap Test Uptake Among Women: A Retrospective Study in Ghana.

Introduction: The World Health Organization has reported a rise in cervical cancer in Ghana. Ghanaian women predominantly undergo opportunistic Pap smear screening for cervical cancer. Numerous studies have documented differences in the sociodemographic traits of participants undergoing Pap smear testing or screening, which correlates with their screening habits. This study aims to assess sociodemographic variables, including others that determine Pap test utilization at a single center in Ghana. Methods: A single-center survey was conducted by extracting data from the records of women who walked in for Pap smear testing. A telephone survey was also conducted among these women to document their barriers to utilizing the center. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and chi-square were utilized. Results: A total of 197 participants' records were retrieved for the study. Most participants were market women (69.4%) and uneducated (71.4%). Their Pap smear screening records indicate that the majority (86%) had no history of cervical cancer screening, and only 3% tested positive for Pap smear test. Educational level, occupation and family history of cancer significantly correlated with participants' Pap smear history (p<0.05). However, most sociodemographic factors were not significant with the Pap test results of the participants (p>0.05). The perceived barrier identified by most participants was the need for more information (67.40%) on the test. Conclusion: This study revealed that sociodemographic and gynaecological factors do not correlate with Pap test results. However, education level, occupation, and family history of cancer were significantly associated with the history of Pap smear uptake. The most significant barrier hindering Pap smear services was the need for more information.

Assessment of adherence to pre-vaccination precautions and AEFI reporting practices during BCG vaccination in 4 hospitals in Ghana.

The BCG vaccine, like all other vaccines, is associated with adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Reducing the incidence of AEFI is crucial in reposing confidence in BCG vaccination and reducing hesitancy associated with the vaccine. This requires safety precautions before and during vaccinations, as well as reporting AEFIs after vaccination. This study assessed the adherence of health-care professionals to pre-vaccination precautions and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reporting practices during BCG vaccination in four hospitals in Ghana. It is hoped that the findings of the study will serve as a baseline to identify gaps for further studies to generate a stronger evidence for policy formulation aimed at improving BCG vaccine safety in Ghana and other tuberculosis endemic countries. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and Statistical Package for Social Sciences, IBM® SPSS version 25 (SPSS Inc. USA) software was used for analysis. Chi-square and binary logistic regression tests were used to test the association between categorical variables and predictors of adherence to pre-BCG vaccination precautions, respectively, and a p-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. The AEFIs commonly reported by mothers included abscess, injection site pain, injection site redness, fever, rash, muscle weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and rhinitis. Ninety-three participants (73.2%) were adherent to pre-BCG vaccination precautions. Ninety-two participants (72.4%) informed mothers to report all AEFIs encountered. Adherence to pre-BCG vaccination precautions and AEFI reporting were generally good; however, there is still room for improvement.

A pilot study to explore societal, patient, and public authority perception on 'Value-Added Tax' system for healthcare financing in Zimbabwe: A case for cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Many of the cancer cases in Zimbabwe are HIV related, making it a significant health concern in the country. This concern requires innovative ways, such as implementing Value-Added Tax (VAT) to finance cancer management through health insurance. The study explores the general public, cancer patients, and public authorities' perception regarding using the VAT system for financing cancer treatment. METHOD: A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the perception of study participants on 'Value Added Tax' as a source of healthcare financing in Harare. This was done through the use of in-depth interview guides. A total of 25 participants took part in the study. Fifteen were members of the general public, 5 were cancer patients, and 5 were key informants representing public authority. Members of the general public and cancer patients were conveniently selected, while key informants were purposively selected. Data were analyzed descriptively and by grounded theory whereby codes were developed by induction. RESULTS: The general public and cancer patients perceived cancer treatment as generally unaffordable and showed readiness to pay for a cancer levy through VAT. Cancer patients expressed disappointment at the low support for cancer treatment compared to HIV treatment concerning the already established AIDS levy. Public authorities also perceived the VAT system as an appropriate programme for health care financing. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study found that a 'Value-Added-Tax' system could potentially be an acceptable model to finance public healthcare, including cancer treatment in highly informal settings like Zimbabwe.

Breast cancer screening pathways in Ghana: applying an exploratory single case study methodology with cross-case analysis.

Background: Breast cancer is steadily increasing in Ghana, with the majority of Ghanaians only seeking care in the advanced stage of the disease. Furthermore, structured breast cancer control strategies are mostly non-existent. This study aimed to examine breast cancer and breast screening pathways in a tertiary healthcare facility within the Kumasi metropolis. Method: We used a single exploratory case-study design to purposefully select one healthcare facility as a case with embedded sub-units of analysis (patients, first-degree relatives of patients, and clinicians) to address the study's aim. In-depth interview was used to generate evidence from 35 participants. Applying Miles and Huberman's thematic strategy, a cross-case analysis was conducted using Morse's analytical framework. Results: Five (5) main themes emerged from the data: description of breast cancer, breast health education in Ghana, breast screening practices among women, the state of breast screening and barriers to breast screening uptake and lastly, the way forward. Malignancy of the breast was described as common, especially among young women who commonly present with advanced disease with poor prognostic outcomes. There were reports of limited breast cancer awareness and knowledge among women. Comparatively, urban educated women were noted to be relatively knowledgeable and more proactive about breast cancer than the less-privileged women in rural communities. Self and clinical-breast examination practices were reported as unusual habits for Ghanaian women. Several provider-related factors, lack of screening facilities, and attitude of women were highlighted as barriers to breast screening practices. Education among health professionals and interventions to promote opportunistic and organized breast screening were cited as the way forward for breast cancer control and early detection in Ghana. Conclusion: This is a confirmatory result of a stark burden of breast cancer in Ghana, inferring a need to address the deficiencies around breast cancer and early detection practices.

The direct cost incurred by patients and caregivers in diagnosing and managing prostate cancer in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, the prevalence of prostate cancer (PCa) has been on the increase. Poor prognosis has been a reflection of increased advance-staged diagnosis and inadequate financial assistance. The prioritization of resources cannot be effective enough to factor in the unexpected economic burden resulting from ill health unless health economic approaches are utilized to estimate the cost of diseases including PCa. With the absence of data on the cost of PCa in Ghana, and the evidence of the benefits of PCa cost-of-illness studies on cancer financing, it has become imperative to investigate the direct health cost of PCa on patients and careers. Hence, we investigate the cost of PCa diagnosis and management, the availability and prices of PCa medications, and the affordability of PCa care in Ghana. METHODS: The prevalence approach to cost-of-illness studies was adopted in this study through a random selection of two (2) hospitals, four (4) private laboratories, and ten (10) private community pharmacies in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The diagnostic and management cost of PCa was investigated through the application of validated data collection instruments to representatives of the selected hospitals and laboratories. The availability and prices of PCa medications were studied with the administration of a validated tool to representatives of the selected pharmacies. The data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and the affordability of care was assessed considering the 2021 Ghana National Daily Minimum Wage (GNDMW). RESULTS: The cost of diagnosing non-metastatic and metastatic PCa were respectively estimated at GHC 1686.00 ($ 290.58) and GHC 6876.00 ($ 1185.09). Radical prostatectomy, as a management option, was estimated at GHC 2150.00 ($ 370.56) higher than Extended Beam Radiotherapy (GHC 2150.00: $ 370.56). The mean PCa drug availability for the sampled pharmacies around the public hospital, all the sampled pharmacies, and around the private hospital were respectively 61.54, 51.54, and 41.54%. None of the sampled drugs at the stated strengths had a 100% availability. A 6-month androgen deprivation therapy employing goserelin was GHC 3000.00 ($ 517.05). The median drug price ratio (MDPR) was 0.72 - 15.38, with generic bicalutamide 150 mg tablets as the cheapest and generic flutamide 250 mg tablets as the most expensive. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic and management cost of PCa currently overwhelms the average Ghanaian because the minimum daily wage in 2021 is GHC 12.53 ($ 0.46). A higher economic burden was associated with metastatic PCa and hence, the need for strategies to improve early detection. Also, the inclusion of PCa management in the National Health Insurance Scheme would lessen the financial burden of the disease on patients and careers, and improve management outcomes.

The incidence of TB and MDR-TB in pediatrics and therapeutic options: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is considered one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB can affect people of all age groups, including children (aged 0-15 years). However, very little is known about the extent of this problem in children. This systematic review aims to investigate the incidence of TB and drug-resistant (DR) TB among the pediatric population. It also reviews the therapeutic options available to treat the condition. METHODS: A comprehensive search for all relevant evidence was conducted. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The searched time frame was limited from January 1990 to December 2020 with a focus on the incidence of TB and MDR-TB among pediatrics and the therapeutic options available. RESULTS: A total of 537 articles were obtained via the selected databases. After title and abstract screening, 418 articles were excluded leaving 119 articles. Full-text screening was conducted on 119 articles, excluding a further 110 articles. Thus, 9 articles were subject to quality assessment and included in this review. The 9 articles represented the age group of 0-15 years and included both males and females. All studies included were of retrospective study design. DISCUSSION: The included studies mentioned a moderate increase in TB cases among pediatrics exacerbated by malnutrition, lack of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. MDR-TB prevalence was especially high in South Africa. Drug therapy for both TB and MDR-TB yielded favorable outcomes among pediatrics. However, one of the biggest challenges with drug therapy includes the dosage forms available. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/G34NF.

Adverse events following immunization associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines: A descriptive analysis from VigiAccess.

This study assessed adverse events following immunizations (AEFIs) reported on COVID-19 vaccines in VigiAccess and determined the reporting trends across all continents of the world. The study was cross-sectional quantitative in design. VigiAccess was searched on 10 November 10 2021 for reported adverse events following the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines. After entering the search term, "COVID-19 vaccines" in VigiAccess, AEFIs associated with nine approved brands of COVID-19 vaccines had been documented in the database. Data were captured among age groups, sex, and continents of the world and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Overall, 2,457,386 AEFIs had been reported in VigiAccess at the time of the search. No causal associations could be established between the vaccines and the AEFIs. The public accessing VigiAccess data should therefore be made aware of this in order to not falsely attribute AEFIs to COVID-19 vaccines when assessing the database.

Adverse drug reactions associated with doxorubicin and epirubicin: A descriptive analysis from VigiBase.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Owing to high toxicity, patients using chemotherapy drugs have a higher risk for developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Pharmacovigilance studies are essential in oncology to evaluate ADRs caused by anticancer drugs and improve patient safety. This study aimed to analyze serious ADRs associated with the use of doxorubicin and epirubicin reported to VigiBase. METHOD: All anonymized data on suspected ADRs for doxorubicin and epirubicin as 'serious' and 'suspected' or 'interacting' drugs between 1968 and 30 August 2021, were extracted from VigiBase. Descriptive statistics were conducted in Microsoft Excel, and data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: A total of 35,620 serious individual case safety reports was analyzed. The majority of reports were from females (Dox = 61.41%; Epi = 86.56%), while the predominant age group was 45-64 years (Dox = 42.06%; Epi = 57.39%). Physicians were the more likely group to report serious ADRs (Dox = 50.03%; Epi = 34.11%). In general, Europe reported the highest for doxorubicin (38.08%), while Asia recorded the highest reports for epirubicin (53.28%). Oceania reported the least for both drugs (Dox = 0.45%; Epi = 0.04%), followed by Africa (Dox = 0.72%; Epi = 0.29%). Blood and lymphatic system disorders were the most reported serious category (Dox = 11053 [44.47%]; Epi = 6659 [61.84%]). The most common manifestations were febrile neutropenia (Dox = 10.52%) and bone marrow failure (Epi = 23.89%). CONCLUSION: This study provides relevant global insights into serious ADRs for doxorubicin and epirubicin. This knowledge may assist in minimizing and proactively managing ADRs. It can also inform policies to improve patients' quality of life.

A pilot study of the knowledge, awareness and perception of prostate cancer in Ghanaian women.

BACKGROUND: The African prostate cancer epidemiological trend has reported the late detection of the disease and resultant high mortality rate. Considering the economic position of the African continent, which often contributes to high mortality, it has become imperative to investigate cost-effective means of improving the timely detection of prostate cancer. This study, the third developmental phase of a robust Akan tool, aimed at conducting an external pilot survey to investigate the practicability of the tool in studying prostate cancer awareness in women. METHOD: The study was conducted in one of the biggest markets in Ghana employing a quantitative approach and recruiting 400 females from the age of 18 years. Post-ethical approval and study subjects' consent, the participants randomly responded to the Akan tool and the data was electronically entered in the presence of the participants. The data, entered in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, were analysed with the SPSS software (version 25). The results were presented as frequencies and percentages, with an assessment of the tool's reliability. RESULTS: A Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.9030 was calculated. The majority (83.50%) of the participants belonged to the Akan tribe and were fluent in the Akan language. None of the knowledge items on the signs and symptoms, and risk factors of the disease had correct responses from more than 25.00% and 20.00% of the participants respectively whilst knowledge items on the causes of prostate cancer received varied responses. The participants were aware of the disease and had a positive perception. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot survey adequately tested the Akan tool and suggested various modifications to the tool and the study methodology. The tool exhibited acceptable reliability and could be applied to targeted populations to investigate the awareness of prostate cancer in women.

Impact of brief educational intervention on knowledge of cancer among community pharmacists.

INTRODUCTION: Community pharmacists may play a vital role in early detection and prevention of cancer. Findings from our pre-assessment studies showed that the Ghanaian community have inadequate knowledge of cancer. We assessed the impact of a brief educational intervention on knowledge level of cancer among Ghanaian community pharmacists. METHOD: The study was a descriptive interventional study. Knowledge of cancer, signs and symptoms, risk factors and cancer screening tests were assessed before in a pre-assessment study and after a brief online education in our current study. A total of 435 community pharmacists were recruited in both studies. RESULTS: The mean ± SD total knowledge score of cancer increased from 9.03 ± 2.65 to 12.97 ± 1.43 out of a maximum score of 15 points. The mean ± SD total knowledge score of signs and symptoms of cancer increased from 4.15 ± 2.14 to 6.86 ± 0.76 out of a maximum score of 7 points. For the total knowledge score of causes and risk factors of cancer, the mean ± SD score increased from 8.13 ± 3.31 to 11.59 ± 0.87 out of a maximum score of 12 points. Lastly, the mean ± SD total knowledge score of cancer screening tests increased from 9.04 ± 5.01 to 16.39 ± 0.86 out of a maximum score of 18 points. CONCLUSION: There were overall statistically significant improvements of participants knowledge in all aspects of cancer in this study compared to the pre-assessment study. Our study presents evidence of the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention tailor-made for Ghanaian community pharmacists.

Knowledge and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening Methods among Female Community Pharmacists in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Our study is aimed at exploring the knowledge and personal practice of breast cancer screening among female community pharmacists in Jordan. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a nonrandom sample selection method for pharmacists in community pharmacies. RESULTS: A total of 551 female pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The mean age of pharmacists was 29.1 ± 7.3 years (range 21-67), and most have bachelor degrees in pharmacy (89.1%). The mean score of knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms was 4.2 ± 1.5 out of 6 points (range 0-6). The mean score of knowledge of risk factors was 7.6 ± 1.9 out of 12 points (ranging from 2-12). The mean score for knowledge of screening guidelines was 2.8 ± 0.9 out of 4 points (range 0-4). Overall, 452 pharmacists (85.8%) had acceptable knowledge while 75 pharmacists (14.2%) had poor knowledge of breast cancer. Pharmacists surveyed were aware of the different screening methods of breast cancer. The percentage of pharmacists who has performed breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography was 46.6%, 16.5%, and 5.4%, respectively. The most common reason for the lack of BSE and CBE performance was the absence of breast symptoms. Not being at the age recommended for mammography was the most common reason for not undergoing this screening method. Knowledge and practice of screening methods were influenced by age, years of experience, geographic region, personal history of breast cancer, and educational level among community pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed some gaps in the knowledge of breast cancer among female community pharmacists. The practice of the different screening methods was suboptimal, and variable reasons were indicated for the low uptake of these screening methods. Community pharmacists need to practice preventive behaviors to a satisfactory level to encourage women in the community to adopt similar behavior.