Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To assess levels and predictive factors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among stroke patients. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional predictive correlational design. Levels of HRQOL were assessed using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was employed to assess psychological aspects among 209 Saudi stroke patients. The analysis included demographic and medical variables to comprehensively explore influencing factors. RESULTS: A two-step hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. The overall SS-QOL summary score (49 items) showed a mean score of 94.4 (SD = 8.1), indicating poor functioning. Nine predictor variables were found to significantly predict HRQOL levels, including age (ß = -0.212, p ≤ .001), female (ß = -5.33, p ≤ .001), unmarried (ß = 2.48, p ≤ .001), low gross monthly income (GMI) (ß = -9.02, p ≤ .001), medium GMI (ß = -8.36, p ≤ .001), having a medical history of hypertension (ß = 2.7, p ≤ .01), time since stroke (ß = 3.26 p ≤ .001), and being a probable case of anxiety (ß = -4.29, p ≤ .001) and/or depression (ß = -2.75, p ≤ .001). These variables collectively explained ~76% of the variance in HRQOL scores (adjusted R2 = .762, F (16,192) = 42.6, p ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke patients exhibited poor HRQOL levels influenced by various factors. Clinicians should consider these predictors and intervene early to enhance HRQOL among patients at risk, emphasizing the importance of optimizing patient outcomes.

Assessing Anxiety and Depression Among Students Post-COVID-19: Exploring Associating Factors.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a large impact on global mental health including anxiety and depression rates, many factors affected the vulnerability to these psychological conditions amongst university students. Aim: To explore the level of anxiety and depression of university students living in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted in which an electronic survey was created and distributed, university students residing in Jordan participated in the study. Results: A total of 1241 students were enrolled in the study. The mean anxiety score among males and females was (9.68 (SD = 4.10)) and (10.46 (SD = 4.14)), respectively. 42.1% of males had "abnormal" anxiety score compared to 48.4% females. The mean depression score among males (7.77 (SD = 4.31)) was similar to that for the females (7.64 (SD = 4.14)), and 26.0% of the males had "abnormal" depression score compared to 22.6% of the females. Factors affecting anxiety scores included younger age, being a female, taking medication/s, or drinking two cups of coffee or more a day. Conclusion: With 46% and 24% of students suffering from abnormal anxiety and depression respectively, it is important for education policy makers to take immediate measures to allocate students in need of psychological assessment and help to deliver suitable interventions.

Assessing the Pharmacist's Role in Counseling Asthmatic Adults Using the Correct Inhaler Technique and Its Effect on Asthma Control, Adherence, and Quality of Life.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess inhaler technique skills, asthma control level, adherence, and quality of life scores amongst asthmatic patients living in Amman, Jordan, investigating the role of pharmacist's educational intervention. Patients and Methods: This single-blinded randomized parallel-group active-controlled study was conducted at the Jordan University Hospital (JUH) clinic in 2019. Patients were assessed at baseline and follow-up (after three months) on their inhaler technique (based on validated published checklists), asthma control based on the asthma control test (ACT) questionnaire, adherence to treatment, and quality of life (QoL). Patients in the active group were counseled on correct inhaler technique and administration skills, orally and using inhaler adhesive labels delivered by the clinical pharmacist. Results: Asthma patients (n = 157; active, n = 79, and control, n = 78) were recruited into the study and grouped based on the controller inhaler they were using (Turbohaler (TH) and Accuhaler (ACC). There was no statistically significant difference between both groups at baseline for inhaler technique, adherence, ACT, and QoL. At follow-up, 93.7% of the active group patients used their inhalers correctly, while only 16.7% of the control group used them correctly (P-value <0.001). Also, the ACT mean score was significantly higher for the active group (21.21±5.27) versus the control group (15.92±7.31; P-value <0.001). The QoL mean score was significantly improved for the active group compared with the control group (active = 63.85±24.78, Control = 38.746±3.23, P-value <0.001). Improvement in adherence for the active group was noticed compared with the control group but did not reach a significant level (P-value=0.691). Conclusion: Through a practical educational intervention, pharmacists were found to significantly improve patients' asthma inhaler technique, ACT scores, and QoL scores for patients with asthma.

The battle against COVID-19 in Jordan: A cross-sectional study assessing the experience of Jordanians who have been infected with COVID-19.

Background: Patients infected with coronavirus have new experiences and hence needs from the healthcare sector. Pharmacists can play vital roles in adopting innovative strategies to meet such needs. Objectives: To assess the experience of people who have been infected with coronavirus, and to assess the roles played by pharmacists to meet their new needs. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional online survey was developed based on previous literature, validated, and conducted in Jordan (3-13 May 2021). Results: The mean age of the study participants (n=470) was 34.31 years (SD=11.75). About three-quarters were females. Out of the study participants, 24.0% reported to having been infected with the coronavirus previously, and 48.9% of them were infected after contacting an infected family member/friend. Only 36.0% ranked their commitment to the preventative measures as "very committed" before getting infected. The most reported symptom was fatigue (77.1%). The most used medicine/supplement was vitamin C (85.3%), followed by pain relievers (77.7%), and zinc tablets (75.3%). More than half of the participants (66.4%) documented that their anxiety and stress levels increased during their infection. More than half of the participants (53.7%) strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacists had an important and effective role during their infection. Conclusion: The experience of individuals who contracted the coronavirus indicated that few were very committed to preventative measures before getting infected. Fatigue was the main experienced symptom, while vitamin C was the supplement used the most. About half of the participants believed that pharmacists have an important role in managing their needs during their COVID-19 infection.

Effect of post-COVID-19 condition on sleep: A case report.

Post-COVID-19 condition affects patients on various aspects. This 41-year-old female presented to the outpatient clinic complaining of severe insomnia characterized by inconsistent 2 h of sleep per day despite taking sleep aid pills after being infected with COVID-19 and persisting for 6 months after recovery.

Alteration of the Respiratory Microbiome in Hospitalized Patients with Asthma-COPD Overlap during and after an Exacerbation.

The immediate aim of this study was to comparatively examine the bacterial respiratory microbiome of patients in a stable state and during an exacerbation of asthma-COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) overlap (ACO). This prospective observational study took place in Jordan between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022. Sputum samples from patients with recognized ACO were acquired within 48 h of the exacerbation onset and again at 3 weeks following the exacerbation. The next-generation sequencing Illumina MiSeq was employed and uncovered significantly high bacterial diversity in the sputa. The results showed a significant decrease in the taxonomic richness in the sputum samples collected during the exacerbation episodes compared with those collected from patients in a stable state (p = 0.008), with an increase in the taxonomic evenness (p < 0.005). This change in the composition of the airway bacterial community suggests that the replacement of a significant portion of the airway microbiome with certain microorganisms may play a role in the decrease in microbial diversity observed during an ACO exacerbation. Greater knowledge of this link could allow for a more focused administration of antibiotics, especially during exacerbations, improving clinical efficacy and patient outcomes.

The Battle against COVID-19 in Jordan: A cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Experience of Jordanians who have been Infected with COVID-19

Background: Patients infected with coronavirus have new experiences and hence needs from the healthcare sector. Pharmacists can play vital roles in adopting innovative strategies to meet such needs. Objectives: To assess the experience of people who have been infected with coronavirus, and to assess the roles played by pharmacists to meet their new needs. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional online survey was developed based on previous literature, validated, and conducted in Jordan (3-13 May 2021). Results: The mean age of the study participants (n=470) was 34.31 years (SD=11.75). About three-quarters were females. Out of the study participants, 24.0% reported to having been infected with the coronavirus previously, and 48.9% of them were infected after contacting an infected family member/friend. Only 36.0% ranked their commitment to the preventative measures as “very committed” before getting infected. The most reported symptom was fatigue (77.1%). The most used medicine/supplement was vitamin C (85.3%), followed by pain relievers (77.7%), and zinc tablets (75.3%). More than half of the participants (66.4%) documented that their anxiety and stress levels increased during their infection. More than half of the participants (53.7%) strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacists had an important and effective role during their infection. Conclusion: The experience of individuals who contracted the coronavirus indicated that few were very committed to preventative measures before getting infected. Fatigue was the main experienced symptom, while vitamin C was the supplement used the most. About half of the participants believed that pharmacists have an important role in managing their needs during their COVID-19 infection. (AU)

The Effects of Medications and the Roles of Pharmacists on the Recovery of Patients with COVID-19 Infection: An Epidemiological Study from the United Arab Emirates.

Patients infected with coronavirus have new experiences and hence new needs from the healthcare sector. Acknowledging patients' experiences can exhibit promising outcomes in coronavirus management. Pharmacists are considered a vital pillar in managing patients' experiences during their infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the experiences of COVID-19-infected individuals and the roles of pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates. The survey was face- and content-validated after being developed. Three sections were included in the survey (demographics, experiences of infected individuals, and the roles of pharmacists). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The study participants (n = 509) had a mean age of 34.50 (SD = 11.93). The most reported symptoms among participants were fatigue (81.5%), fever (76.8%), headache (76.6%), dry cough (74.1%), muscle or joint pain (70.7%), and sore throat (68.6%). Vitamin C was the most used supplement (88.6%), followed by pain relievers (78.2%). Female gender was the only factor associated with symptom severity. About 79.0% agreed that the pharmacist played an important and effective role during their infection. The most reported symptom was fatigue, with females reporting more severe symptoms. The role of the pharmacist proved to be vital during this pandemic.

Post-traumatic stress disorders among Syrian refugees residing in non-camp settings in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence and severity of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) among Syrian refugees and explore its association with various factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among a convenience snowball sample of Syrian refugees residing in non-camp settings in Jordan in 2019. A 4-part self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Part one included socio-demographic data, part 2 included an Arabic version of Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) (part I: trauma event and part IV: trauma symptoms), part 3 was related to participants' physical symptoms, and part 4 to participants' satisfaction with the healthcare they received. RESULTS: Study participants (n=279; mean age 32 years (SD=10.45), 52% were males) reported high prevalence of traumatic symptoms (86.2%); of these, 68.5% were considered symptomatic for PTSD (HTQ-16 sub-scale or the entire symptom scale HTQ-45 mean item score of >2.5), regardless of the type of trauma. Those who were middle-aged, a female, unemployed, sexually abused or raped, had a family member who died in the conflict, witnessed catastrophic events like burning, or razing of residential areas, and have received the body of a family member while being prohibited from expressing grief and doing funeral rites, were more likely to be considered as a case of PTSD. CONCLUSION: Majority of the refugees residing in non-camp settings in Jordan suffer from PTSD. Refugees have low satisfaction with the healthcare services provided.

Effect of COVID-19 vaccine on menstrual experience among females in six Arab countries: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There have been varying reports on the potential occurrence and severity of changes to menstruation including the median cycle length, days of bleeding, bleeding heaviness, and menstrual pain, following receipt of COVID-19 vaccinations. We aimed to assess potential postvaccination menstrual changes in women residing in the Middle East. METHODS: We implemented a cross-sectional online survey-based study. Data about the participants' demographic characteristics, menstruation experience, and vaccination status were collected and analyzed among six Arab countries. RESULTS: Among 4942 menstruating females included in this study, females who had received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccination reported a higher frequency of back pain, nausea, tiredness, pelvic pain with periods, unprescribed analgesics use, and passage of loose stools. They also reported higher scores describing average and worst menstrual pain. Fully vaccinated females reported heavier flow and more days of bleeding. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccine may have an effect on menstruation in terms of menstrual pain and bleeding heaviness. The evidence needs to be further investigated in longitudinal studies.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among stroke survivors in Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of poststroke depression (PSD) in Saudi Arabia and its association with socio-demographic and clinical factors. DESIGN: A predictive correlational cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study adopted a non-probability convenience sampling method to recruit 211 stroke survivors between April and October 2021 from the neurology outpatient departments of two main governmental hospitals in Saudi Arabia. PSD was measured using a self-assessment reliable and valid scale (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). RESULTS: More than two-thirds (70.6%) of the study sample (Mean age = 53 years, SD = 8.5, 51.2% were males) experienced some degree of depression (Score ≥8); of these, approximately half (48.8%) were in severe depression. The final prediction model was statistically significant (χ2 [15] = 31.39, p Ë‚ .01). PSD is a statistically significant health issue and requires immediate attention by healthcare providers to improve the health outcomes of stroke survivors.

Bovine Colostrum Treatment of Specific Cancer Types: Current Evidence and Future Opportunities.

Worldwide, the incidence of cancer is on the rise. Current cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment are typically associated with severe adverse effects and a decline in patients' quality of life. Anti-cancer substances derived from plants and animals need to be evaluated therapeutically as it is cost-effective, have fewer side effects, and can improve cancer patients' quality of life. Recently, bovine colostrum (BC) has attracted the interest of numerous researchers investigating its anti-cancer potential in humans. Dressings loaded with BC are beneficial in treating chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein with potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial effects, is abundant in BC. The BC pills successfully promote the regression of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia when administered intravaginally. The biological, genetic, and molecular mechanisms driving BC remain to be determined. Oral BC supplements are generally well-tolerated, but some flatulence and nausea may happen. To evaluate the therapeutic effects, long-term safety, and appropriate dosages of BC drugs, well-designed clinical trials are necessary. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the anti-cancer potential of BC and its constituents.

Improving Syrian refugees' knowledge of medications and adherence following a randomized control trial assessing the effect of a medication management review service.

BACKGROUND: Syrian refugees living in Jordan have many chronic conditions and use many medications. Pharmacists delivering the Medication Management Review (MMR) service can have a role in improving this growing global refugees' problem. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of the MMR service on adherence to treatment therapy and knowledge of chronic medications for Syrian refugees residing in Jordan. METHODS: This randomized intervention control single-blinded study was conducted in Jordan. Syrian refugees were recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. Two home visits were delivered to each participant, at baseline and three months later. All participants completed questionnaires regarding adherence and knowledge. As a part of the MMR service, treatment-related problems (TRPs) were recognized for all patients; recommendations to resolve these TRPs were only delivered to intervention group refugees' physicians; TRPs were corrected. At follow-up, TRPs assessment, adherence and medication knowledge were assessed for all refugee participants. RESULTS: Participants (n = 106; intervention n = 53, control n = 53) had a number of medications and diagnosed chronic diseases of 5.8 ± 2.1 and 2.97 ± 1.16 per participant respectively. A significant improvement in the adherence and knowledge scores were noted in the intervention (P < 0.001 for both) but not the control group (P = 0.229, P = 0.07 respectively). CONCLUSION: The MMR service can significantly improve refugees' TRPs, adherence to therapy and knowledge of chronic medications. If this approach was extended to the large scale, many refugees in need would be able to access a quality essential health-care service; a step towards achieving universal health coverage. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04554810.

Assessing adherence to medications: Is there a difference between a subjective method and an objective method, or between using them concurrently?

Background: Patients’ adherence to medication can be assessed by several subjective or objective methods. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has recommended the use of both measures simultaneously. Objective: To assess patients’ adherence to medication using a subjective or an objective method separately, and via using a combination of both methods. As well as identifying the degree of agreement between the two methods. Methods: Participants who met the study inclusion criteria completed the Adherence to Asthma Medication Questionnaire (AAMQ). A retrospective audit was conducted in order to extract pharmacy refill records for the previous twelve months. The patients’ pharmacy refill records were expressed using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. The degree of agreement was determined by Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ). Results: In terms of the difference in the ability of each method to identify non-adherent patients, a higher percentage of non-adherent patients were identified using the self-reported AAMQ (61.4%) compared to the pharmacy refill records (34.3%). When both methods, in combination, were used to assess adherence, the percentage of non-adherent patients was 80.0%, which is higher than each method when used separately. Twenty percent of the patients were considered adherent on both assessment methods, while 15.7% were considered non-adherent via both methods. Consequently, the AAMQ and pharmacy refill records agreed on 35.7% of the patients. The degree of agreement analysis showed a low correlation between the two methods. Conclusion: The combination strategy resulted in a higher percentage of non-adherent patients, compared to using a subjective (the AAMQ) or an objective (the pharmacy refill records) method. The GINA guideline proposition may be supported by the present study’s findings. (AU)

Medications adherence and associated factors among patients with stroke in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Stroke is one of the most significant neurological problems around the world, and is considered a leading cause of death. Due to polypharmacy and multimorbidity, stroke patients are susceptible to have lower levels of adherence to their medications and self-care activities. Methods: Patients who have suffered a stroke and had recently been admitted to public hospital were approached for recruitment. Patients’ adherence to their medications was examined using a validated questionnaire during an interview between the principal investigator and the patients, where patients’ adherence to their selfcare activities was assessed using a developed, validated and previously published questionnaire as well. Reasons for lack of adherence was explored from the patients. Verification of patient’s details and medications was done via the patient’s hospital file. Results: The mean age of the participants (n=173) was 53.21 (SD= 8.61) years. Assessing patients’ adherence to medications showed that more than half of them stated that they sometimes/often forgot to take their medication/s, while 41.0% sometimes/often stopped their medication/s from time to time. The mean adherence to medications score (out of 28) was 18.39 (SD=2.1), with 83.8% having a low adherence level. It is found that patients who did not take their medications were due to forgetfulness (46.8%) and complications from taking the medications (20.2%). Better adherence was associated with higher educational level, higher number of medical conditions, and higher frequency of glucose monitoring. Adherence to self-care activities showed that majority of patients performed correct self-care activities three times a week. (AU)

Computational medicinal chemistry role in clinical pharmacy education: Ingavirin for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) discovery model

Objective: Given the major shift to patient-directed education, novel coronavirus (nCoV) provides a live example on how medicinal chemistry could be a key science to teach pharmacy students. In this paper, students and clinical pharmacy practitioners will find a stepwise primer on identifying new potential nCoV treatments mechanistically modulated through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Methods: First, we identified the maximum common pharmacophore between carnosine and melatonin as background ACE2 inhibitors. Second, we performed a similarity search to spot out structures containing the pharmacophore. Third, molinspiration bioactivity scoring enabled us to promote one of the newly identified molecules as the best next candidate for nCoV. Preliminary docking in SwissDock and visualization through University of California San Francisco (UCSF) chimera made it possible to qualify one of them for further detailed docking and experimental validation. Results: Ingavirin had the best docking results with full fitness of −3347.15 kcal/mol and estimated ΔG of −8.53 kcal/mol compared with melatonin (−6.57 kcal/mol) and carnosine (−6.29 kcal/mol). UCSF chimera showed viral spike protein elements binding to ACE2 retained in the best ingavirin pose in SwissDock at 1.75 Angstroms. Conclusion: Ingavirin has a promising inhibitory potential to host (ACE2 and nCoV spike protein) recognition, and hence could offer the next best mitigating effect against the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. (AU)

Development and validation of the Adherence to Asthma Medication Questionnaire (AAMQ).

Background: Adherence to medication is the cornerstone to achieve the best treatment outcome. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals found in a pivotal position to assess asthmatic patients' adherence to medication. A brief, reliable, and valid measure of patients adherence to mediations is useful to enable the pharmacists to deliver that vital service. Objective: To develop a reliable and valid adherence assessment tool for asthmatic patients. Methods: The Adherence to Asthma Medication Questionnaire (AAMQ-13) was developed based on an extensive literature review, followed by applying the Delphi technique, and then it was pilot-tested by 55 patients. The final AAMQ-13 was completed by 213 patients. Psychometric evaluation was assessed including reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results: The AAMQ-13 is a feasible 13-item questionnaire, as it can be completed within an average of two minutes. It has high reliability (Cronbach's alpha= 0.87). Criterion-concurrent validity was established by comparing the AAMQ-13 to the Test of the Adherence to Inhaler (TAI) and the pharmacy refill records. Criterion-convergent validity was established by comparing the AAMQ-13 to the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire and the Positive Health Behaviors Scale (PHBS). Construct validity was established through AAMQ-13 factor analysis which revealed two factors explaining 51.76% of the total variance. Conclusion: The AAMQ-13 is a reliable and valid questionnaire with several desirable characteristics as it has high reliability, good criterion validity, and strong construct validity. The AAMQ-13 is a suitable questionnaire that can identify non-adherent patients and reveal the reasons behind their non-adherence : Asthma; Adherence to medication; Compliance; Questionnaire; Self-report; Scale; Survey.

Short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study in Jordan.

The rapid manufacturing of vaccines has increased hesitancy toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. Clarifying what to expect after vaccination and revealing the possible side effects will lower hesitancy toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and increase public awareness. This descriptive cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Jordan (August 2021) to collect data on the short-term side effects following the COVID-19 vaccines. An extensive literature review was conducted by the research team to assist in developing the first draft of the survey. The survey was tested for face and content validity and piloted test to improve readability and clarity. The survey was organized into two sections (demographics and perceived COVID-19 vaccines' side effects). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). A total of 1,044 participants were enrolled in the study. The most received vaccine among the participants was Pfizer-BioNTech (51.1%). The most frequently reported side effects were sore arm at the injection site (84.65%), fatigue (84.48%), discomfort (65.43%), muscles/joint pain (61.38%), drowsiness (58.73%), and headache (58.38%). More side effects were significantly associated with being older (p = 0.046), having an allergy (p = 0.024) or rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.023), and participants who take NSAIDs regularly (p = 0.029). Short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines seem to be mostly local or transient in nature. Older age and certain comorbidities may increase susceptibility to side effects.

COVID-19 and role of pharmacists: Knowledge and perceptions of pharmacists from Iraq and Syria.

Objectives: To assess pharmacists from Syria and Iraq on their knowledge, readiness, and perspectives on their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to investigate pharmacists' perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers' responsibilities. Methods: This cross-sectional study design was conducted in Iraq and Syria during COVID-19 outbreak over one month (April 2020). The study objectives were addressed through a validated online questionnaire. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Results: A total of 916 individuals participated in this study (447 from Iraq and 439 from Syria). Most of Iraqi participants were students while most of Syrian participants were graduates and technicians. The mean age for the Iraqi participants was 22.5 (SD= 4.1) while the mean age for the Syrian participants was 28.7 (SD= 9.1). A significant difference (p< 0.001) was found in following the latest coronavirus updates on management among pharmacy graduates and technicians and undergraduate students. Media was reported as the most used source for knowledge about epidemics/pandemics among the Iraqi and the Syrian participants. Around 72% strongly agreed/agreed that the faculties of pharmacy have a role in preparing them to deal with epidemics/pandemics. In addition, 64.3% strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacist associations and societies have a role in preparing them to deal with epidemics/pandemics such as the coronavirus. Moreover, 82.9% believed that pharmacists should receive training programs on how to provide mental health support for people during epidemic and pandemic outbreaks. Conclusion: Tertiary pharmacy education providers and pharmacy professional bodies have a strong role in preparing pharmacists to deal with pandemics. Therefore, the importance of providing beforehand training programs on epidemics/pandemics management, workshops, lectures, and online information resources for such circumstances is crucial for pharmacists.

COVID-19 infected patients' experiences in Syria, and the role of the pharmacists during their infection.

Background: Patients infected with coronavirus have new experiences and hence new needs from the healthcare sector. Acknowledging patients' experiences can exhibit promising outcomes in coronavirus management. Pharmacists are considered a vital pillar in managing patients' experiences during their infection. Objective: To assess the experience of individuals who have been infected with coronavirus and the roles played by pharmacists to meet their new needs. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey was developed based on previous literature, validated, and conducted in Syria. The survey included items related to participants' COVID-19 experiences, and items concerning the roles played by pharmacists when participants were infected. Items were tested for face validity. Data collection was conducted in May and June 2021. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The study participants (n=576) had a mean age of 37.99 years. Fatigue was the most reported symptom by the participants. Vitamin C was the most used supplement (76.4%), and 66.5% of the participants used herbs during their infection. More than 60.0% of the participants stated that their anxiety and stress levels increased during their infection. Around 40.0% of the participants needed to visit a specialist doctor. Only 5.4% needed to use an artificial respiration apparatus. The mean of the participants' infection severity was 4.97 (SD=2.30) out of 10. The severity of the infection was significantly affected by being older, female, smoking, and having a chronic condition. Doctors followed by pharmacists were the healthcare providers who advised participants to take certain medications/herbs. More than one-third of the participants strongly agreed/agreed that the pharmacist played important and effective roles during their infection. Conclusion: Patients' experiences indicated that fatigue was the most reported symptom by the participants diagnosed with coronavirus infection, while vitamin C was the most used supplement. Pharmacists have a major role in helping participants manage their infection and are considered a vital pillar in patients' experiences since they provided patients with the needed medications.