Oral medications administration through enteral feeding tube: Clinical pharmacist-led educational intervention to improve knowledge of Intensive care units' nurses at Jordan University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Medication administration through enteral feeding tubes is a practice that is commonly encountered in hospital settings, particularly in critically ill patients. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge of intensive care unit nurses regarding enteral medication administration and evaluate the effect of an educational intervention led by a clinical pharmacist that would improve nurses' knowledge regarding the subject. METHODS: A pre/post interventional study was conducted. Improvement in nurses' knowledge regarding medication administration through an enteral feeding tube was assessed using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Data were coded, entered, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS statistics 22). Independent samples t-test and paired t-test were used to detect any statistically significant differences in the mean total knowledge scores both between and within each group respectively. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean total knowledge score for nurses in the intervention and control group at the pre-interventional phase of the study was inadequate. There was a statistically significant improvement in the mean total knowledge score for the interventional group at the post-interventional phase of the study, while that of the control group remained inadequate (Intervention group total mean knowledge score at baseline 12.11 ± 3.75, post-intervention 21.50 ± 2.36, p-value <0.001; Control group total mean knowledge score at baseline 12.05 ± 3.12, post-intervention 12.60 ± 3.76, p-value 0.96). CONCLUSION: Incorrect drug preparation and administration for patients with feeding tubes can affect patients. The knowledge of nurses regarding the subject can be improved significantly via an educational intervention. The activation of clinical pharmacists' role and collaboration between pharmacists, physicians, and nurses is highly recommended in this clinical setting.

Parallel discourses: leveraging the Black Lives Matter movement to fight colorism and skin bleaching practices.

OBJECTIVES: The 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) movement in 2020 exemplifies efforts to counter prejudices and the colourist narrative. Harmful use of topical skin lightening agents continues worldwide despite interdiction or restricted use under domestic, European and international regulations. STUDY DESIGN: Commentary. METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: In this Short Communication, we consider the significance of societal perspectives of skin colour, glocalized whiteness, efforts to attain self-esteem and social mobility through skin lightening practices, and the role of cosmetic products in fuelling this phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the inadvertent (or indeed conscious) vehicles of systematic racism and sustaining of skin colour prejudices and stereotypes of fair skin beauty by cosmetic companies is warranted. Targeted health messaging is an imperative.

Physicians' knowledge, attitude and practices regarding management of medications in Ramadan.

To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of physicians regarding the management of medications in Ramadan we used a self-administered questionnaire on a target sample of 381 physicians at Jordan University Hospital, King Abdulla University Hospital and a number of private clinics in Amman, during September and October of 2008. A total of 297 questionnaires were returned. Physicians' KAP about management of medications in Ramadan was generally insufficient. The main factors that affected KAP were age, nationality, specialty, and country and year of last qualification (P < 0.05). Female physicians scored better than males, and fellows scored better than other groups for knowledge. Most physicians' attitudes and practices were in line with religious opinion in regard to which routes of drug administration can nullify fasting, indicating that physicians have adequate knowledge in this area.

Physicians' knowledge, attitude and practices regarding management of medications in Ramadan

To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices [KAP] of physicians regarding the management of medications in Ramadan we used a self-administered questionnaire on a target sample of 381 physicians at Jordan University Hospital, King Abdulla University Hospital and a number of private clinics in Amman, during September and October of 2008. A total of 297 questionnaires were returned. Physicians' KAP about management of medications in Ramadan was generally insufficient. The main factors that affected KAP were age, nationality, specialty, and country and year of last qualification [P < 0.05]. Female physicians scored better than males, and fellows scored better than other groups for knowledge. Most physicians' attitudes and practices were in line with religious opinion in regard to which routes of drug administration can nullify fasting, indicating that physicians have adequate knowledge in this area

Knowledge and attitude of school children in Amman/Jordan toward the appropriate use of medicines: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the knowledge, practice, and attitude toward medications of different primary school children at age group (7-9) years. METHODS: This cross sectional study adopted the form of structured interviewing technique using a validated and pre-piloted questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a mixture of multiple choice and open-ended questions, 15 USP pictograms and six dosage form demos. A randomized stratified target sample of 200 students (n = 100 of each gender), of the first, second and third grades from the four Amman Education Directorates was recruited. School children were interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitude and the way they think medicines should be used. RESULTS: The mean score value achieved by children in all the knowledge questions was 23.26 ± 0.25 out of 32, which was considered as satisfactory knowledge by the research team. The most significant factors affecting children's knowledge (including: multiple choice questions, pictograms and dosage forms) were: age, school/area of residency, and the presence of a first-degree relative working in a medical job. The majority of participants (79%) stated that the taste of the medication was the main factor to prevent them from taking their medication. CONCLUSION: In general, school children in our sample have satisfactory knowledge and a generally positive attitude toward medicines. However, school curricula in Jordan should include more education regarding the effective and safe use of medicines.

Prevalence of over-the-counter drug-related overdoses at Accident and Emergency departments in Northern Ireland--a retrospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One major concern associated with misuse/abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) products is the potential for over-dosage. The aim of this research study was to evaluate, over a 3-month period, OTC medicine-related overdoses (those involving OTC drugs only and OTC drugs in combination with other drugs) that led to patients presenting at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) departments in four Belfast hospitals. METHODS: A data collection sheet was designed to capture the information required from the A & E records in each hospital. A retrospective week-by-week data collection, reviewing A & E records, took place over a 3-month period (starting on 1 December 2002). All data related to cases presenting at the A & E departments because of drug overdoses (either accidental or deliberate according to Read Clinical Classification) were included in the study. Data were coded and entered into a custom designed SPSS database for analysis, using Chi square and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: OTC drug-related overdoses comprised 40.1% of all overdoses, of which 24.0% were OTC-only overdoses. Those who overdosed on OTC drugs (solely or combined with other drugs) were mainly female (62.3%) and in the age category 31-50 years (44.9%; P <0.05). The majority (n=215) of OTC-related overdoses were intentional, whereas only 28 were accidental. Of those who attended the A & E departments and had an overdose history, one-third overdosed on OTC-related products and two-thirds overdosed on OTC drugs only. CONCLUSIONS: OTC drugs accounted for a significant proportion of overdose presentations at the A & E departments in Northern Ireland. Higher awareness of the potential of OTC product use in overdose cases (intentional or accidental) is recommended for both the public and health care professionals.