Exploring the Intention and Hesitancy to Receive a Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine among Patients with Comorbid Disease Conditions Using a Health Belief Model.

Despite the fact that the WHO recommends that adults over the age of 18 have to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The willingness and intention to accept a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine remain major issues among the general population, particularly patients with comorbid disease conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns regarding COVID-19 infection and vaccination, along with the intention and hesitancy to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine among patients with comorbid disease conditions in Istanbul, Türkiye. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among patients with comorbid disease conditions using a three-part, structured, validated questionnaire. Vaccine hesitancy from a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was assessed using the Health Belief Model (HBM), based on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Results: The study enrolled 162 participants with a mean age of 57.2 ±â€¯13.3 years. 97% of the respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost half of respondents (51.2%) reported receiving information about a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. HBM among the participants with comorbidities showed a significant agreement regarding the perceived susceptibility (P < 0.0001), perceived severity (P < 0.0001) and perceived benefits (P < 0.0001) to receive a booster vaccine dose. There was a statistically significant correlation between the intention to receive a booster vaccine dose and education level (university education; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A vast and significant majority of patients with chronic comorbid disease conditions who received the COVID-19 vaccine reported an intention to receive a booster dose.

Introducción: A pesar de que la OMS recomienda que los adultos mayores de 18 años reciban una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna contra el COVID-19. La voluntad y la intención de aceptar una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna COVID-19 siguen siendo problemas importantes entre la población general, en particular los pacientes con enfermedades comórbidas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los patrones con respecto a la infección y vacunación de COVID-19, junto con la intención y la indecisión de recibir una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna COVID-19 entre pacientes con enfermedades comórbidas en Estambul, Turquía.Métodos: Este fue un estudio descriptivo transversal realizado entre pacientes con enfermedades comórbidas utilizando un cuestionario validado, estructurado y de tres partes. La vacilación de la vacuna de una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna COVID-19 se evaluó utilizando el Modelo de creencias de salud (HBM), basado en una escala tipo Likert de 5 puntos.Resultados: El estudio inscribió a 162 participantes con una edad media de 57,2 ±â€¯13,3 años. El 97% de los encuestados recibió la vacuna COVID-19. Casi la mitad de los encuestados (51,2%) informaron haber recibido información sobre una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna contra la COVID-19. HBM entre los participantes con comorbilidades mostró un acuerdo significativo con respecto a la susceptibilidad percibida (P < 0,0001), la gravedad percibida (P < 0,0001) y los beneficios percibidos (P < 0,0001) para recibir una dosis de vacuna de refuerzo. Hubo una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre la intención de recibir una dosis de vacuna de refuerzo y el nivel educativo (educación universitaria; P < 0,0001).Conclusión: Una gran y significativa mayoría de los pacientes con enfermedades comórbidas crónicas que recibieron la vacuna contra el COVID-19 informaron tener la intención de recibir dosis de refuerzo.

Insights into disease and pharmacotherapy knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among community pharmacists: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge level and awareness of Alzheimer's disease, including knowledge about the disease, pharmacotherapy, provision of patient education and associated factors among community pharmacists across Turkey and Northern Cyprus. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists working in Turkey (Group A) and Northern Cyprus (Group B). Disease and pharmacotherapy knowledge of AD were assessed using AD Knowledge Scale (ADKS), and drug treatment (KADT) scale, respectively. RESULTS: Both groups reported a moderate level of knowledge of AD, especially medically-oriented domains, with no significant difference regarding the mean ADKS domains (18.8 ± 2.8 vs. 18.9 ± 3.4; p = .98). Nevertheless, participants from both groups reported a good level of KADT knowledge about AD treatment (p = .03). Group A reported a statistically significant higher level of knowledge about drug interactions compared with Group B (54.6% vs. 45.8%; p = .01), and knowledge about proper information (79.6% vs. 31.8%; p = .02). There was a statistically significant KADT difference correlated with gender, those having a Master degree, more than 5 years of work experience, and those taking AD training courses. CONCLUSION: There is still a lack of knowledge regarding AD reported by moderate ADKS score, especially in medically-oriented domains, which creates a barrier to early provision of care and preventing AD, noted with no difference among community pharmacists across Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

Evaluation of online counselling services based on Turkish web-based pharmacy care setting: A retrospective observational study.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: To determine the types of online pharmacy care services provided by the clinical pharmacists regarding identification of medication-related problems, provision of counselling services for health and disease conditions alongside medications' counselling for patients seeking online consultation about health, medication and lifestyle concerns based on Turkish web-based pharmacy care setting(WPCS). METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive cohort study carried out on patients during their online visiting of Turkish WPCS seeking consultation for diverse kinds of concerns from September 2015 to March 2016. Patients' health and medication data were gathered for assessment of health-, medication- and lifestyle-related concerns. Descriptive analysis and Chi square test were used to analyse study data. Study outcomes included personalised online pharmacy care services regarding identification of medication-related problems, counselling services for health and disease conditions and medications' counselling alongside associations with counselling-related concerns by the WPCS. RESULTS: A total of 350 participants enrolled in this study and the majority of them were women (62.6%). Dermatological and gynaecological conditions represented the majority of disease conditions (51.4%, 44.6%), respectively. Within 1 year, 63.7% of the study participants visited the Turkish WPCS more than three times. Medication- and health-related concerns were reported by 90.8% and 68.3% of the study participants, respectively. Medication side effects (44.1%) and an inappropriate medication timing (31.4%) were the major medication-related problems identified. A total of 477 different counselling services regarding health conditions and 990 counselling regarding medications were provided by the clinical pharmacist through the Turkish WPCS. CONCLUSION: The WPCS could be considered as an additional option for the clinical pharmacist to provide care services regarding identification of medication-related problems, provision of counselling about health and disease conditions alongside different medication counselling to improve health conditions and proper pharmacotherapy management.

Evaluation of satisfaction and internet self-efficacy of inquirers using an internet-based drug information centre.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction level of inquirers of an internet-based drug information centre along with the internet usage abilities and habits of individuals who had previously utilised services from an internet-based drug information centre in Turkey. METHODS: The first 100 individuals who received medication consultancy from the webpage entitled "www.ilacpedia.com" and consented to participate in the study were included in this study. This website is an internet-based drug information centre. Participants' data were collected using a participant data form and the Internet Self-efficacy Scale. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 37.92 ± 12.32 years (71 female). It was found that 89% of the individuals who received pharmaceutical consultation from the internet-based drug information service believed that the information that they received was enough to solve their problem. The internet self-efficacy scale scores indicated the highest score on the decomposition subscale (20.94 ± 6.18) and the lowest on the communication subscale (9.77 ± 3.57). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the internet-based drug information service provided by clinical pharmacists contributed positively to users' satisfaction, thus indicating the importance of the involvement of clinical pharmacists in this process.