Doping Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacists in Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Doping includes tampering, possession; trafficking; administration, assisting, encouraging, aiding, conspiring a prohibited substance, and an anti-doping rule violation. Doping in sports is increasing and diversifying involving physiological, mechanical, and pharmacological techniques and becoming a serious public health problem. Pharmacy professionals have a vital role in the fight against doping. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacists on the use of doping agents by sportsmen and women. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was done targeting community pharmacists of Dessie city, Northeast Ethiopia. Structured questionnaires were distributed and collected between April and March of 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Linear regression was used and the level of statistical significance was set at a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: Of the 61 pharmacy professionals who participated in the study, 46 (75.4%) were males and 15 (24.6%) were females. Only 25 (41.0%) and 13 (21.3%) of the respondents said they watch and play sport regularly, respectively. The majority of the participants, 50 (82%), supported the prohibition of performance-enhancing drugs in sport. The majority of the respondents, 55.7%, agree that pharmacists are a potential source of doping agents. Only 27.9% of them mentioned World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) as the source of information about doping agents. Regarding identifying the WADA status of 13 agents, the average score out of 13 was 4.95, while 80.3% of them scored less than or equal to seven. Factors associated with knowledge of participants were being male (ß = 4.48, p= 0.02) and regularly watching sport (ß = 2.64, p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: Even though the pharmacists' low knowledge score revealed that they need further specialized training on doping and anti-doping, majority of them support banning doping substances from sport. Pharmacy curriculum developers should consider incorporating specific topics or courses about doping agents.

Evaluation of Aloe weloensis (Aloeacea) Mucilages as a Pharmaceutical Suspending Agent.

Natural polymers, specifically mucilages, have been used as a suspending agent for a long period of time. Natural excipients can serve as an alternative to synthetic products since they are less expensive, less toxic, and devoid of environmental pollution. There are many species of Aloe found in Ethiopia which can be used as a source of mucilage. In this study, mucilage from Aloe weloensis, which is found in Wollo floristic region, was extracted and tested as a suspending agent at different suspending agent concentrations and compared with standard suspending agents (acacia and sodium carboxy methylcellulose (NaCMC)) by formulating zinc oxide suspension. The mucilage obtained from Aloe weloensis leaves has shown comparable suspending agent ability with acacia. The rate of sedimentation and viscosity was higher at 1% and 4% mucilage concentrations than acacia though the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The suspension was slightly basic and easily dispersible than NaCMC. Suspensions formulated from NaCMC were superior in terms of viscosity and sedimentation volume which was significantly different (p < 0.05) accompanied by lower flow rates than suspensions formulated from acacia and Aloe weloensis mucilages. The results suggested that Aloe weloensis mucilage could be used as an alternative suspending agent.

Knowledge and Practice on Diabetic Foot Self-Care and Associated Factors Among Diabetic Patients at Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: Mixed Method.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious and disabling complication of diabetes mellitus that consists of lesions in the deep tissues resulting in lower extremity amputations. The incidence of diabetic foot ulcers has increased due to an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus. This study assessed the knowledge and practice of diabetic foot self-care among diabetic patients attending Dessie referral hospital. METHODS: A facility-based explanatory sequential mixed method was used from April 03/2019 to May 09/2019. The quantitative method employed an institutional-based cross-sectional study design using a structured questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were made using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. Then, a phenomenological study was employed among key informants and content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Sixty-eight (19.8%) of patients with diabetes developed complication, among them 97 (28%) had foot ulcer. Nearly two-third (217 (61.3%): 95% CI (57.6-68.3%)) and 134 (39%; 95% CI:34.3-45.1%) of patients with diabetes had good knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care, respectively. Diabetic nephropathy ((AOR): 0.03, 95% CI (0.00-0.27)) was associated with knowledge on foot self-care. Practice of foot self-care was associated with female ((AOR: 2.07, 95% CI (1.04-4.12)), age 21-30 ((AOR: 6.42, 95% CI (1.54-26.8)), 31-40 years ((AOR: 7.4, 95% CI (1.42-39.05)), 41-50 years ((AOR: 8.4, 95% CI (1.4-50.6)), single ((AOR: 0.35, 95% CI (0.150-0.81)), living in rural ((AOR: 0.31, 95% CI (0.18-0.545)) and no comorbidity ((AOR: 0.406, 95% CI (0.18-0.88)). Key informants were not compliant, confused and negligent to foot self-care. CONCLUSION: Nearly two-third and more than one-third of patients with diabetes had good knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care, respectively. Patients lack proper knowledge regarding self-care and how it is practiced. Patient education and proper management of diabetic foot ulcers are recommended to reduce, delay, or prevent complications.

Assessment of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions and Their Predictors in Chronic Outpatient Department of Dessie Referral Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and predictors of Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) at the chronic outpatient department of Dessie Referral Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the medical records of patients treated in the chronic ambulatory department of Dessie Referral Hospital (DRH), from March 1/2019 to May 30/2019. Ethical clearance was granted from the department of pharmacy, college of medicine, and health sciences, Wollo University. Lexi-comp computer program database was used to detect pDDIs. SPSS version 22 was used to produce a descriptive analysis of the background data and logistic regression to identify predictors of pDDIs. RESULTS: In this study, the medical record of 300 patients has been reviewed and 489 pDDIs have been identified. The prevalence of pDDIs per patient was 1.63. Of all the identified pDDIs, the moderate severity interactions were the majority, 88.55% (n=433) followed by 8.38% (n=41) of minor, 2.66% (n=13) of major, and 0.41% (n=2) of contraindicated drug interactions. Taking three or more drugs at a time has been found as a statistically significant predictor of the occurrence of pDDIs. CONCLUSION: A high rate of moderate severity pDDIs have been recorded. A system of checks and balances should be developed and executed for all those who are involved in prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medications for effective identification and prevention of pDDIs.

Self-Medication and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Kemisie General Hospital, North East Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication is an important part of daily self-care, without the supervision of health professionals. It is commonly practiced by pregnant women all over the world and may result in maternal and fetal risks. Hence, this study assessed self-medication practices and associated factors among pregnant women attending Kemisie General Hospital. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire on pregnant women who were attending antenatal care at Kemisie General Hospital. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. RESULTS: Among 223 pregnant women, 60 (26.9%; 95% CI: 20.9%, 32.9%) and 111 (48.9%; 95% CI: 43%, 58%) practiced self-medication on conventional and herbal medicine, respectively. The predictors of self-medication of conventional medicine among pregnant women were prior experience to the drug (P-value: 0.00, AOR=126.04, 95% CI: 32.55-488.04) and no pervious history of abortion (P-value: 0.00, AOR=0.01,95% CI:0.002-0.04), while college educational level (P-value: 0.00, AOR=13.45,95%, CI: 3.58-50.5), history prior herbal medicine use (P-value: 0.00, AOR=9, 95% CI: 3.32-24.39), Ruta chalepensis (P-value:0.001,AOR=193.7,95% CI:8.64-4342.1) and Ocimum lamiifolium type of herb use (P-value: 0.004, AOR=12.72, 95% CI: 2.27-71.38), and 5-10km health facility distance (P-value:0.022, AOR=0.1, 95% CI: 0.01-0.73) were predictors for self-medication practice of herbal medicines among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third and two-third of pregnant women practiced self-medication on conventional and herbal medicine, respectively. Prior experience to the drug and no previous history of abortion associated with self-medication of conventional medicine, while college educational level, history prior herbal medicine use, Ruta chalepensis and, Ocimum lamiifolium type of herb use, and 5-10km distance were predictors for self-medication practice of herbal medicines. Improving health service coverage and awareness creation on rational medication use is recommended to prevent fetal and maternal risks.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice of Pharmacy Professionals regarding the Risk of Medication Use during Pregnancy in Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The developing organism is unique in its responsiveness to drugs and predictability of therapeutic effectiveness based on the adult which can lead to grave consequences in the neonate and child. Moreover, uncertainty about the risks of drug use in pregnancy could result in restrictive attitudes towards prescribing and dispensing medicines and their use. Pharmacists have huge duties to improve medication use, especially among pregnant women. The objective of this study is, hence, to assess the knowledge and practice of pharmacy professionals (PPs) towards the risk of medication use during pregnancy. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out over practicing community and hospital pharmacy professionals in Dessie town. They were asked about the safety of common drugs during pregnancy. It involves both prescription-only medications (POM) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Secondly, they were asked about their practice towards the risk of medication use during pregnancy. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were utilized. For descriptive analysis, results were expressed as numbers, percentages, and mean (± SD and 95% CI). RESULT: Seventy-six pharmacy professionals in Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia, took part in the study. Most of the respondents (64.5%) believed that amoxicillin is safe in all trimesters. 26 (34.2%) of participants knew that isotretinoin is unsafe for use by pregnant women. About dietary supplements, 32.9% of PPs reported that Vitamin A supplements are safe in all trimesters. There was a significant difference observed for study college and years of experience of the PPs in their score of knowledge test (p=0.020 and p=0.024, respectively). Additionally, there was a difference seen for gender (p=0.030), study college (p=0.036), and working institution (p=0.013) in their advice to pregnant women. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Overall, PPs exhibited very low knowledge about drug safety during pregnancy. The absence of obligatory continuing pharmacy education for pharmacists is expected to have negatively affected the level of medication knowledge and consequently the pharmaceutical care services delivered in community and hospital pharmacies. As medication knowledge of PPs is poor, a multitude of strategies (educational, economic, managerial, and regulatory) should be designed by the government, universities, and pharmaceutical associations to improve the pharmacy professionals' role in the healthcare system by providing them with continuous and up-to-date medication knowledge.