Navigating parental attitudes on childhood vaccination in Jordan: a cross-sectional study.

This study investigated parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination in Jordan, focusing on acceptance, concerns, and perceptions. A cross-sectional survey conducted from January to February 2024 included 939 parents. Findings indicated that 85.4% (n = 802) of respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine, while only 25% (n = 229) vaccinated their children. Concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy were prevalent, with 63.9% (n = 600) expressing worries about side effects and 46.9% (n = 440) trusting immunization programs. Post-pandemic, 34% (n = 319) reported a more negative attitude. Logistic regression showed parents not vaccinating their children against COVID-19 were significantly less likely to exhibit positive attitudes toward childhood vaccination (OR = 0.412, p < 0.001). Older participants were more inclined toward negativity post-pandemic (OR = 1.031, p = 0.007). In conclusion, parental attitudes shifted post-COVID-19, reflecting hesitancy and decreased trust. Addressing concerns and restoring confidence are crucial, especially for children's health. Education through healthcare providers and dispelling social media misinformation are essential. Implementing strategies to enhance post-pandemic vaccine acceptance is imperative for preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Quantitation of the impact of CYP3A5 A6986G polymorphism on quetiapine pharmacokinetics by simulation of target attainment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether genetic polymorphisms in CYP3A5 and ABCB1 are responsible for the interindividual variability observed in quetiapine pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetic data from a randomized crossover study evaluating 2 quetiapine 25 mg immediate-release tablets after single oral dose were used to develop a population pharmacokinetic model. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) evaluated for the genotype effects of quetiapine pharmacokinetics were CYP3A5 A6986G and ABCB1 C3435T, along with other demographic variables and formulations. A one-compartment distribution model with linear elimination plus four transit compartments for the delayed absorption adequately described quetiapine disposition. CYP3A5 *1/*1 individuals (n = 3) had 29% increased clearance compared to *1/*3 and *3/*3 individuals. The impact of an increased clearance was evaluated by simulations. By computing the probability of target attainment (PTA) of steady-state therapeutic goal at 1-hour and 12-hour time points after 50-400 mg twice-daily regimens, the results indicated that CYP3A5 genotype has minimal impact on the PTA of the 1-hour concentrations but a significant impact on the 12-hour concentrations. The interpretation based on the simulations does not call for a genotype-based dosing scheme and is consistent with consensus guidelines for quetiapine that therapeutic drug monitoring is considered useful. Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development.

Exploring knowledge and attitudes towards counselling about vitamin supplements in Jordanian community pharmacies.

UNLABELLED: The use of multivitamins within a pharmaceutical setting has been the subject of considerable debate. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to provide a platform for assessing and evaluating knowledge, attitudes and professional practices of Jordanian community pharmacists in counselling patients about the safe consumption of vitamins. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2009 and May 2010. Data collection was carried out using a 44-item semi-structured self-administrated questionnaire. SETTING: Community pharmacies in Amman with target sample of 400 pharmacists. RESULTS: A total of 388 pharmacists participated in this study. The majority (77.8%) of pharmacists believed that a balanced diet is more achievable by eating healthily than by vitamins supplements. 78.1% of participants believed that vitamins deficiency would not shorten life spans, while 80.7% agreed that vitamin supplements could be toxic or might contain unlabelled harmful ingredients. Less than half of pharmacists were aware that some antioxidant vitamins have been verified to be of unproven value, or may even cause cancer. While over 80% of pharmacists would recommend vitamins on a regular basis without prescription, the majority agreed that counselling on vitamin supplements is part of their role in pharmaceutical care (93.3%), in addition to providing relevant information to other healthcare professionals (78.4%). Moreover, responses to specific knowledge questions, such as the interactions of vitamins with drugs or the recommended dietary allowance of vitamins for infants, children, and pregnant women, were negative. Furthermore, only a minority of pharmacists would recheck the accuracy of dose regimens in prescriptions and symptoms of true vitamins deficiency or would follow up patients to record any consequences of vitamins consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire revealed satisfactory awareness of community pharmacists about their role in counselling; however, further programmes to update their knowledge are mandatory to emphasise the importance of vitamin supplements as part of complementary medicine, and their exclusion from being considered as merely over the counter (OTC) products.