Introduction: As per the WHO reports dated July 7, 2021, 184,324,026 confirmed cases of COVID-19 ... more Introduction: As per the WHO reports dated July 7, 2021, 184,324,026 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found in the world and 196,894 cases were found in Libya. Healthcare workers (HCWs), pharmacists, in particular, have been affected a lot because of COVID-19. Community pharmacies are considered workplaces with elevated exposure risk to COVID-19. Method: This study aims to roughly estimate the risk of COVID-19 exposure among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants working in pharmacies in Libya. An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants working in hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies. Between November 11th, 2020 and January 7th, 2021, a Google Form questionnaire was delivered through social media and instant messaging platforms, to certified community pharmacists and pharmacy assistants residing in Libya. Results: Out of 207 respondents, the majority (72.4%) reported having at least one or more flu-like symptoms. In additi...
Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disease that comes third after cerebrovascular and Alzheimer&... more Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disease that comes third after cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Anti-epileptic drugs may affect certain hematological parameters of epileptic patients. Few researches investigated hematological adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs in Libya. Thus, the aim was to evaluate hematological parameters in epileptic children who are on antiepileptic drugs. This retrospective study included 83 pediatric patients with epilepsy recruited from Benghazi Children Hospital, Department of Neurology, from December 2017 to April 2018. Data collected included demographic characteristics, types of epilepsy, anti-epileptic drugs and serum hematological parameters. Hematological parameters recorded included: hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell count. In all treated patients, regardless of the number of antiepileptic drugs therapy used, the average levels of hematological parameters were significantly lower in treated group compared to control group (11.64 gm per dl, 34.53%, 27.74 pg and 33.13 gm per dl, respectively). A significant increase (12.1210 9 per l) in white blood cell counts in treated group was found. Average hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean cell hemoglobin concentration levels were significantly lower in patients on poly-therapy compared to mono-therapy and control groups. Average white blood cell counts were significantly increased in patients on anti-epileptic drugs. In sodium valproate users, levels of hematological parameters were significantly decreased but significantly increased in white blood cell counts. In diazepam users, significant increases in white blood cells and platelet but no difference in other parameters observed. There were no differences in all hematological parameters among patients using carbamazepine except for platelet counts (significantly decreased). In conclusion, there is substantial effect of the anti-epileptic drugs, especially sodium valproate, on hematological parameters of children despite the effects were not critical as the changes were still in the normal range.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of fourth-year pharmacy students
a... more OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of fourth-year pharmacy students and graduated pharmacists to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs). METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was distributed to both fourth-year pharmacy students (n = 89) in a school of pharmacy and graduated pharmacists(n=65) in community pharmacies and hospitals. RESULTS: The question that examine the ability of respondents to recognize the DDI mechanisms, showed that (38.2%) of 4th- year students selected the right responses, while (48.5%) of pharmacy graduates selected the correct one. However, the knowledge of respondents regarding drug pairs interactions showed that 4th- year pharmacy students and graduates correctly categorized an average of 32.99% and 25.125% of DDI pairs respectively. In a question that examined the knowledge of 4th-year pharmacy students and graduates concerning drugs with low therapeutic index interactions with two groups of drugs, the correct answers regarding increasing digoxin serum level were (62.9% and 87.9%) respectively, while the correct answers regarding increasing warfarin serum level were (66.3% and 86%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students’ ability to identify important DDIs is generally poor except that for interactions of drugs with low therapeutic index. However, of the 4 interactions categorized as contraindicated, the students showed better significant responses in compare to graduates. However, this finding does not showed any significant difference between 4th-year pharmacy students and pharmacy graduate regarding identifying drugs pairs that may be used together with monitoring or categorized as safe. KEY WORDS: Pharmacy students, pharmacy graduates, drug-drug interaction, knowledge.
Introduction: As per the WHO reports dated July 7, 2021, 184,324,026 confirmed cases of COVID-19 ... more Introduction: As per the WHO reports dated July 7, 2021, 184,324,026 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found in the world and 196,894 cases were found in Libya. Healthcare workers (HCWs), pharmacists, in particular, have been affected a lot because of COVID-19. Community pharmacies are considered workplaces with elevated exposure risk to COVID-19. Method: This study aims to roughly estimate the risk of COVID-19 exposure among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants working in pharmacies in Libya. An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants working in hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies. Between November 11th, 2020 and January 7th, 2021, a Google Form questionnaire was delivered through social media and instant messaging platforms, to certified community pharmacists and pharmacy assistants residing in Libya. Results: Out of 207 respondents, the majority (72.4%) reported having at least one or more flu-like symptoms. In additi...
Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disease that comes third after cerebrovascular and Alzheimer&... more Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disease that comes third after cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Anti-epileptic drugs may affect certain hematological parameters of epileptic patients. Few researches investigated hematological adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs in Libya. Thus, the aim was to evaluate hematological parameters in epileptic children who are on antiepileptic drugs. This retrospective study included 83 pediatric patients with epilepsy recruited from Benghazi Children Hospital, Department of Neurology, from December 2017 to April 2018. Data collected included demographic characteristics, types of epilepsy, anti-epileptic drugs and serum hematological parameters. Hematological parameters recorded included: hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell count. In all treated patients, regardless of the number of antiepileptic drugs therapy used, the average levels of hematological parameters were significantly lower in treated group compared to control group (11.64 gm per dl, 34.53%, 27.74 pg and 33.13 gm per dl, respectively). A significant increase (12.1210 9 per l) in white blood cell counts in treated group was found. Average hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean cell hemoglobin concentration levels were significantly lower in patients on poly-therapy compared to mono-therapy and control groups. Average white blood cell counts were significantly increased in patients on anti-epileptic drugs. In sodium valproate users, levels of hematological parameters were significantly decreased but significantly increased in white blood cell counts. In diazepam users, significant increases in white blood cells and platelet but no difference in other parameters observed. There were no differences in all hematological parameters among patients using carbamazepine except for platelet counts (significantly decreased). In conclusion, there is substantial effect of the anti-epileptic drugs, especially sodium valproate, on hematological parameters of children despite the effects were not critical as the changes were still in the normal range.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of fourth-year pharmacy students
a... more OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of fourth-year pharmacy students and graduated pharmacists to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs). METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was distributed to both fourth-year pharmacy students (n = 89) in a school of pharmacy and graduated pharmacists(n=65) in community pharmacies and hospitals. RESULTS: The question that examine the ability of respondents to recognize the DDI mechanisms, showed that (38.2%) of 4th- year students selected the right responses, while (48.5%) of pharmacy graduates selected the correct one. However, the knowledge of respondents regarding drug pairs interactions showed that 4th- year pharmacy students and graduates correctly categorized an average of 32.99% and 25.125% of DDI pairs respectively. In a question that examined the knowledge of 4th-year pharmacy students and graduates concerning drugs with low therapeutic index interactions with two groups of drugs, the correct answers regarding increasing digoxin serum level were (62.9% and 87.9%) respectively, while the correct answers regarding increasing warfarin serum level were (66.3% and 86%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students’ ability to identify important DDIs is generally poor except that for interactions of drugs with low therapeutic index. However, of the 4 interactions categorized as contraindicated, the students showed better significant responses in compare to graduates. However, this finding does not showed any significant difference between 4th-year pharmacy students and pharmacy graduate regarding identifying drugs pairs that may be used together with monitoring or categorized as safe. KEY WORDS: Pharmacy students, pharmacy graduates, drug-drug interaction, knowledge.
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and graduated pharmacists to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs).
METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was distributed to both fourth-year
pharmacy students (n = 89) in a school of pharmacy and graduated pharmacists(n=65) in community
pharmacies and hospitals.
RESULTS: The question that examine the ability of respondents to recognize the DDI mechanisms,
showed that (38.2%) of 4th- year students selected the right responses, while (48.5%) of pharmacy
graduates selected the correct one. However, the knowledge of respondents regarding drug pairs
interactions showed that 4th- year pharmacy students and graduates correctly categorized an average of
32.99% and 25.125% of DDI pairs respectively. In a question that examined the knowledge of 4th-year
pharmacy students and graduates concerning drugs with low therapeutic index interactions with two
groups of drugs, the correct answers regarding increasing digoxin serum level were (62.9% and 87.9%)
respectively, while the correct answers regarding increasing warfarin serum level were (66.3% and 86%)
respectively.
CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students’ ability to identify important DDIs is generally poor except that for
interactions of drugs with low therapeutic index. However, of the 4 interactions categorized as
contraindicated, the students showed better significant responses in compare to graduates. However,
this finding does not showed any significant difference between 4th-year pharmacy students and
pharmacy graduate regarding identifying drugs pairs that may be used together with monitoring or
categorized as safe.
KEY WORDS: Pharmacy students, pharmacy graduates, drug-drug interaction, knowledge.
and graduated pharmacists to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs).
METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was distributed to both fourth-year
pharmacy students (n = 89) in a school of pharmacy and graduated pharmacists(n=65) in community
pharmacies and hospitals.
RESULTS: The question that examine the ability of respondents to recognize the DDI mechanisms,
showed that (38.2%) of 4th- year students selected the right responses, while (48.5%) of pharmacy
graduates selected the correct one. However, the knowledge of respondents regarding drug pairs
interactions showed that 4th- year pharmacy students and graduates correctly categorized an average of
32.99% and 25.125% of DDI pairs respectively. In a question that examined the knowledge of 4th-year
pharmacy students and graduates concerning drugs with low therapeutic index interactions with two
groups of drugs, the correct answers regarding increasing digoxin serum level were (62.9% and 87.9%)
respectively, while the correct answers regarding increasing warfarin serum level were (66.3% and 86%)
respectively.
CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students’ ability to identify important DDIs is generally poor except that for
interactions of drugs with low therapeutic index. However, of the 4 interactions categorized as
contraindicated, the students showed better significant responses in compare to graduates. However,
this finding does not showed any significant difference between 4th-year pharmacy students and
pharmacy graduate regarding identifying drugs pairs that may be used together with monitoring or
categorized as safe.
KEY WORDS: Pharmacy students, pharmacy graduates, drug-drug interaction, knowledge.