The Health Status of Lebanese Community Pharmacists: Prevalence of Poor Lifestyle Behaviors and Chronic Conditions

Youth Mental Health in Crisis: Understanding the Relationship Between Mental Health and Physical Pain in Lebanon's Youth - A Scoping Review

Objectives

The mental health crisis among young adults in Lebanon, worsened by events like the Beirut Blast and economic instability, requires urgent attention. Globally, 10%-20% of individuals aged 18-29 face mental health challenges, with many also experiencing physical pain. Despite growing evidence of the bidirectional relationship between mental health and pain, this intersection remains underexplored in Lebanon, especially compared to WEIRD countries. This scoping review examines the relationship between physical pain and mental health issues-anxiety, depression, and stress-among Lebanese youth.

Methods

A systematic review of studies from January 2014 to February 2024 was conducted by screening PubMed, PsychInfo, and ScienceDirect. A total of 33 studies were included.

Results

The findings indicate a bidirectional link between mental health and physical pain. University students (36.1% of studies) were particularly impacted, and 81% of studies reported higher pain prevalence among females. Additionally, mindfulness meditation was identified as a potential protective factor, although it remains underexplored in Lebanon.

Conclusion

Addressing these gaps supports tailored interventions for Lebanese youth and enriches our understanding of mental health in non-WEIRD contexts.

Work-life balance and health among pharmacists: physical activity, sleep quality, and general health

BACKGROUND

Pharmacists face unique occupational challenges that can impact their health and well-being. This study examines the relationships between work-life balance factors, physical activity, sleep quality, and general health among pharmacists in Shiraz, Iran.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 7 August 2021 to 21 November 2021 among 136 pharmacists working in community and hospital pharmacies in Shiraz. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. The Persian versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (P-IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (P-PSQI), and General Health Questionnaire (P-GHQ-28) were used to assess physical activity, sleep quality, and general health status, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Low physical activity was reported by 35.3% of pharmacists, with longer work hours significantly associated with lower physical activity (p = 0.009). Poor sleep quality was prevalent in 57.4% of participants, with no significant associations with demographic variables. General health was categorized as unhealthy for 50.7% of pharmacists, with female pharmacists more likely to be in this category (χ2 = 4.383, p = 0.036). Older pharmacists reported better general health status (Mann-Whitney U = 1792.500, p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacists face significant challenges in maintaining work-life balance, evidenced by low physical activity, poor sleep quality, and compromised general health. Targeted interventions, including workplace exercise programs, optimized schedules, and comprehensive wellness initiatives, are needed to support pharmacists' well-being and enhance patient care quality.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between long working hours and hypertension risk

BACKGROUND

Hypertension, a major public health problem worldwide, has been linked to lifestyle factors and work conditions, with conflicting evidence on the association between long work hours and risk of hypertension.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to investigate the relationship between working hours and hypertension or blood pressure, assessed the risk of bias and performed subgroup analyses. The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.

RESULTS

The pooled OR for the association between long working hours and risk of hypertension was 1.09 (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.35) in the 15 studies that used hypertension as the outcome. In the three studies that used blood pressure as the outcome, diastolic blood pressure was higher among those with long working hours compared with those with non-long working hours (1.24 mm Hg, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.29). In subgroup analysis, the pooled OR for the association between long working hours and risk of hypertension was 1.28 (95% CI: 1.14 to 1.44) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.64 to 1.56) in women and men, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study could not clearly confirm the relationship between long working hours and hypertension, the subgroup analysis suggests that long working hours may be associated with hypertension, particularly among women. More reliable research is needed to establish causality.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023406961.

Pharmacy education and workforce: strategic recommendations based on expert consensus in Lebanon

Pharmacy in Lebanon has been taught for years, and the profession has known the golden ages in previous years. However, with the recent graduation of hundreds of pharmacists, without prior workforce planning, the oversupply of non-specialized pharmacists caused a mismatch with the needs of the market. The context of severe socioeconomic and sanitary crises has further exacerbated the situation, with hundreds of pharmacists leaving the country. A group of pharmacy experts joined to suggest strategic solutions to face such challenges, suggesting a clear strategy for education and the workforce, overarched by educational and professional values and based on six main pillars: (1) implement a national competency framework (including the core and specialized competency frameworks) to be used as a basis for licensure (colloquium); (2) implement a national pharmacy program accreditation, encompassing standards related to competencies adoption and assessment, curricula, teaching methods, research and innovation, instructors' and preceptors' skills, and experiential training; (3) organize training for students and early-career pharmacists; (4) optimize continuing education and implement continuous professional development, fostering innovation and specialization among working pharmacists; (5) develop and implement a pharmacy workforce strategy based on pharmacy intelligence, job market, and academic capacities; (6) develop and implement a legal framework for the above-mentioned pillars in collaboration with ministries and parliamentary commissions. Under the auspices of the relevant authorities, mainly the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the suggested strategy should be discussed and implemented for a better future for the pharmacy profession.