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Al-Qerem W, Jarab A, Jarrar Y, Al-Zayadneh E, Al-Iede M, Ling J, Abu Hammour K, S Alabdullah S, Saad Alabdullah A, Al Refaie Y, Lubbad D, Alassi A, Ibrahim S, Al-Ibadah M, Al Bawab AQ. Correlation of vitamin D receptor genotypes, specific IgE levels and other variables with asthma control in children. J Asthma 2024; 61:105-118. [PMID: 37530048 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2244580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asthma is a common condition affecting millions of children globally. The main goal of this study is to assess factors related to asthma management, particularly atopy level and the impact of genetic variants of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. METHODS Asthmatic children were enrolled in an outpatient respiratory clinic. Information on patients' medication adherence, medical and medication factors, and sociodemographic were gathered. Spirometry FEV1% and FVC% measurements, and the asthma control test were used to evaluate the severity of asthma, and genotyping of the VDR gene and radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were conducted. Regression analyses were conducted to evaluate variables associated with asthma control and spirometry measures. RESULTS A total of 313 participants (67.4% males) were recruited in the current study. The mean age was 9.37 (±3.45) years. The mean score for adherence was 4.26 (±2.52), and only 46% of the participants had controlled asthma. Forward conditional stepwise binary regression showed that low and moderate Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) dose (OR= 0.42 (95% CI 0.20-0.90), p = 0.026; OR = 0.371 (95% CI 0.2-0.72), p = 0.003, respectively) decreased the odds of being in the controlled asthma group, while higher inhaler score (OR = 2.75 (95% CI 2.17-3.49, p < 0.001)) increased the odds of being in the controlled asthma group. However, results found no association between VDR genotype and asthma control, spirometry values or hospitalization due to asthma. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that many of the asthma patients had poorly controlled asthma. Factors that were associated with poor asthma control included poor inhaler technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Anan Jarab
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Yazun Jarrar
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, As-salt, Jordan
| | - Enas Al-Zayadneh
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Montaha Al-Iede
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jonathan Ling
- Faculty of Science and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | | | | | | | - Yamam Al Refaie
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Dina Lubbad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ameen Alassi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sarah Ibrahim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mahmood Al-Ibadah
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Al-Qerem W, Eberhardt J, Jarab A, Al Bawab AQ, Hammad A, Alasmari F, Alazab B, Husein DA, Alazab J, Al-Beool S. Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards artificial intelligence among health professions' students in Jordan. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2023; 23:288. [PMID: 38098095 PMCID: PMC10722664 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02403-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical education and practice is a significant development. This study examined the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of health professions' students in Jordan concerning AI, providing insights into their preparedness and perceptions. METHODS An online questionnaire was distributed to 483 Jordanian health professions' students via social media. Demographic data, AI-related KAP, and barriers were collected. Quantile regression models analyzed associations between variables and KAP scores. RESULTS Moderate AI knowledge was observed among participants, with specific understanding of data requirements and barriers. Attitudes varied, combining skepticism about AI replacing human teachers with recognition of its value. While AI tools were used for specific tasks, broader integration in medical education and practice was limited. Barriers included lack of knowledge, access, time constraints, and curriculum gaps. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the need to enhance medical education with AI topics and address barriers. Students need to be better prepared for AI integration, in order to enable medical education to harness AI's potential for improved patient care and training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, 11733, Amman, Jordan.
| | - Judith Eberhardt
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Department of Psychology, Teesside University, TS1 3BX, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Anan Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, 64141, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 22110, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, 11733, Amman, Jordan
| | - Alaa Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, 11733, Amman, Jordan
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, 12372, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badi'ah Alazab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, 11733, Amman, Jordan
| | - Daoud Abu Husein
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, 11733, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jumana Alazab
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, 11910, Amman, Jordan
| | - Saed Al-Beool
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, 11910, Amman, Jordan
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Al-Qerem W, Jarab A, Bawab AQA, Hammad A, Ling J, Alasmari F, Oweidat KA, Ibrahim S. Assessing the validity and reliability of the Arabic versions of Mini Asthma Quality of life questionnaire and Asthma Control Test in adult patients with asthma: A factor analysis study. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:101878. [PMID: 38192282 PMCID: PMC10772248 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and objective Asthma is a common disease that has a significant influence on patients' quality of life. Although Arabic tools for assessing symptom control and quality of life in individuals with asthma are available, no sufficient studies have evaluated the validity of these tools. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to validate the Arabic version of these tools. Methods Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted on the Arabic versions of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini AQLQ). Results A total of 314 participants (70.1 % females) were enrolled in the current study. The mean age of the participants was 51.47 (±16.37). EFA suggested a three-factor model for Mini AQLQ and a one-factor model for ACT, which was confirmed by CFA analyses. High correlations were found between spirometric values and ACT and Mini AQLQ scores, indicating good concurrent validity. The area under the curve produced by the Roc curve was 0.861 (p < 0.001), and the most suitable cut-off point was 4.741. Conclusion All analyses conducted showed that the Arabic versions of both Mini AQLQ and ACT are reliable and valid and can be administered to adults with asthma. The application of these validated instruments will improve the management and diagnosis of asthma in Arab countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, AlZaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Anan Jarab
- Collage of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, Jordan
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Alaa Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, AlZaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jonathan Ling
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Chester Road, Sunderland, United Kingdom
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Saudi, Riyadh
| | - Khaled Al Oweidat
- Pulmonary and Sleep Department, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sarah Ibrahim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Al-Qerem W, Alassi A, Jarab A, Al Bawab AQ, Hammad A, Alasmari F, Alazab B, Abu Husein D, AL Momani N, Eberhardt J. Examining Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among Young Adults with Asthma: Insights into Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:2899-2913. [PMID: 38027079 PMCID: PMC10644889 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s436622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Asthma is a major chronic disease of all ages, globally. Exacerbations are a significant problem for asthmatic patients. Despite advances in asthma management and efforts to identify asthma triggers, viral infections of the respiratory tract remain the most frequent triggers of asthma exacerbations. This study explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of asthmatic patients towards receiving the influenza vaccine. Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 397 adult asthmatic patients visiting the outpatient respiratory clinics of three Jordanian medical facilities. Results The research included 66.4% females, with a median age of 32 years. The results showed that 42.4% of enrolled asthmatics had never received the flu vaccine and only 51.1% reported that they intended to take the vaccine in the current year. Most of those who had been vaccinated at least once in their lifetime reported that the side effects were mild (61.8%). Variables that decreased refusal/hesitancy towards receiving the flu vaccine in the current year included having well-controlled asthma (RRR = 0.193, 95% Cl (0.053-0.698), p =0.012), and high knowledge about asthma and flu (RRR= 0.916, 95% Cl (0.847-0.990), p =0.028, respectively). Conclusion A small number of the participants adhered to vaccinating against the flu which is due to lack of knowledge about the asthma, flu, and the vaccine. To address this challenge, we propose targeted health education campaigns, collaboration with healthcare providers, and utilization of digital platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Ameen Alassi
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Anan Jarab
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Alaa Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badi’ah Alazab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Daoud Abu Husein
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan
| | - Nadeen AL Momani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Judith Eberhardt
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Department of Psychology, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX, UK
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Sunoqrot S, Alkurdi M, Al Bawab AQ, Hammad AM, Tayyem R, Abu Obeed A, Abufara M. Encapsulation of morin in lipid core/PLGA shell nanoparticles significantly enhances its anti-inflammatory activity and oral bioavailability. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:845-853. [PMID: 37228320 PMCID: PMC10203777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Morin (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone; MR) is a bioactive plant polyphenol whose therapeutic efficacy is hindered by its poor biopharmaceutical properties. The purpose of this study was to develop a nanoparticle (NP) formulation to enhance the bioactivity and oral bioavailability of MR. The nanoprecipitation technique was employed to encapsulate MR in lipid-cored poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) NPs. The optimal NPs were about 200 nm in size with an almost neutral surface charge and a loading efficiency of 82%. The NPs exhibited sustained release of MR within 24 h. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that MR encapsulation did not affect its antioxidant activity. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory assays in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages revealed a superior anti-inflammatory activity of MR NPs compared to free MR. Furthermore, oral administration of MR NPs to mice at a single dose of 20 mg/kg MR achieved a 5.6-fold enhancement in bioavailability and a prolongation of plasma half-life from 0.13 to 0.98 h. The results of this study present a promising NP formulation for MR which can enhance its oral bioavailability and bioactivity for the treatment of different diseases such as inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhair Sunoqrot
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Malak Alkurdi
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Alaa M. Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan
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Al-Qerem W, Al Bawab AQ, Hammad A, Jaber T, Khdair SI, Kalloush H, Ling J, Mosleh R. Parents' attitudes, knowledge and practice towards vaccinating their children against COVID-19: a cross-sectional study. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2044257. [PMID: 35240943 PMCID: PMC9225601 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2044257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The question of whether children should be vaccinated against COVID-19 is currently being argued. The risk-benefit analysis of the vaccine in children has been more challenging because of the low prevalence of acute COVID-19 in children and the lack of confidence in the relative effects of the vaccine and the disease. One of the most convincing arguments for vaccinating healthy children is to protect them from long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess Jordanian parents' intention to vaccinate their children. This is an Internet-based cross-sectional survey. The researchers prepared a Google Forms survey and shared the link with a number of Jordanian Facebook generic groups. Data were gathered between September and November 2021. In this study, convenience sampling was used. Knowledge about COVID-19 and preventive practices against COVID-19 were calculated for each participant. A total of 819 participants completed the survey (female = 70.9%). Of these, 274 (30.2%) participants intended to vaccinate their children, whereas the rest were either unsure 176 (21.5%) or intended not to vaccinate their children 396 (48.4%). The variables that increased the odds of answering "No" vs "Yes" to "will you vaccinate your children against COVID-19" included not willing to take the vaccines themselves (OR 3.75; CI, 1.46-9.62) and low protective practice group (OR 1.73;CI, 1.12-2.68). Participants had significant levels of refusal/hesitancy. Several barriers to vaccination were identified; attempts to overcome these should be stepped up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Alaa Hammad
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tasneem Jaber
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sawsan I Khdair
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Haneen Kalloush
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jonathan Ling
- School of Health Sciences & Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | - Rami Mosleh
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Hajjo R, Sabbah DA, Abusara OH, Al Bawab AQ. A Review of the Recent Advances in Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Utilization of Network Biology Approaches for Prioritizing Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12122975. [PMID: 36552984 PMCID: PMC9777434 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12122975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a polygenic multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that, after decades of research and development, is still without a cure. There are some symptomatic treatments to manage the psychological symptoms but none of these drugs can halt disease progression. Additionally, over the last few years, many anti-AD drugs failed in late stages of clinical trials and many hypotheses surfaced to explain these failures, including the lack of clear understanding of disease pathways and processes. Recently, different epigenetic factors have been implicated in AD pathogenesis; thus, they could serve as promising AD diagnostic biomarkers. Additionally, network biology approaches have been suggested as effective tools to study AD on the systems level and discover multi-target-directed ligands as novel treatments for AD. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology to provide a better understanding of disease pathogenesis hypotheses and decipher the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in disease development and progression. We also provide an overview of disease biomarkers and drug targets and suggest network biology approaches as new tools for identifying novel biomarkers and drugs. We also posit that the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to mining Alzheimer's disease multi-omics data will facilitate drug and biomarker discovery efforts and lead to effective individualized anti-Alzheimer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Hajjo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- National Center for Epidemics and Communicable Disease Control, Amman 11118, Jordan
- Correspondence:
| | - Dima A. Sabbah
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Osama H. Abusara
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
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Al-Qerem W, Al Bawab AQ, Abusara O, Alkhatib N, Horne R. Validation of the Arabic version of medication adherence report scale questionnaire and beliefs about medication -specific questionnaire: A factor analysis study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266606. [PMID: 35413086 PMCID: PMC9004743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Medication Adherence Report Scale questionnaire (MARS-5) and the Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire-specific (BMQ-specific) are well known tools to assess adherence to medication and beliefs of chronic patients. However, validated Arabic versions of such questionnaires are lacking. We aim to validate the Arabic versions of BMQ-specific and MARS-5. In this study, a cross-sectional study was performed between November 2019 and March 2020. Participants were reached from secondary and tertiary care clinics in Jordan. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to validate the employed questionnaires on the tested sample. The internal consistency of the questionnaires was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha, and Cronbach’s alpha if item is deleted. A total of 485 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 57.14 years (22–82 years); and 39% of the participants were older than 65 years. The most common chronic diseases reported by participants were hypertension and diabetes mellitus, 35.7 and 32.2% respectively. EFA suggested two-factor model for BMQ-specific and one-factor model for MARS-5 which was confirmed by CFA analyses. The resulted Cronbach’s alphas of the questionnaires ranged from 0.89–0.93. Both analyses showed that the Arabic versions of both MARS-5 and BMQ-specific are valid and can be used for the suggested study population. Further validation-based research may enhance the transcultural adaptation of such questionnaires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- * E-mail:
| | - Osama Abusara
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Nimer Alkhatib
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Al-Zaytoonah Health Technology and Innovation Office, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Robert Horne
- Centre for Behavioral Medicine, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Halloush S, Alhifany AA, Alkhatib NS, Al Bawab AQ, Al-Qawasmeh B, Al Shawakri E, Koeller J. Cost-effectiveness of palonosetron and dexamethasone-based triple and quadruple regimens in preventing highly emetogenic chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:571-577. [PMID: 35068277 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2033011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cost-effectiveness analyses that consider all currently used antiemetics in the case of emetogenic chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) have not been performed yet. We aim to compare the cost-effectiveness of olanzapine (OLA), or/and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists (NK-1-RAs), in combination with palonosetron (PAL) and dexamethasone (DEX) in preventing highly emetogenic CINV. METHODS Two decision analytic models were constructed. The first model was based on overall complete response (CR); the second model was based on rate of absence of nausea. Four antiemetic regimens PAL + DEX, NK-1-RAs + PAL + DEX, OLA + PAL + DEX, and PAL + NK-1-RA + DEX + OLA were compared in terms of cost, overall CR and rate of absence of nausea. Base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimates were calculated. The study was from the US payer perspective. RESULTS In terms of CR, the PAL + NK-1-RA + DEX + OLA was associated with the highest gains in the percentage of CR among all treatment regimens at base case ICERs of $4220 versus PAL + DEX, $4656 versus NK-1-RA + PAL + DEX, $16,471 versus OLA + PAL + DEX. In term of rate of absence of nausea, the PAL + NK-1-RA + DEX + OLA was associated with the highest rate of absence of nausea among all the treatment regimens at base case ICERs of $2291 versus PAL + DEX, $1304 versus NK-1-RA + PAL + DEX, $2657 versus OLA + PAL + DEX. CONCLUSION from an economic perspective, our study revealed that whether to use overall CR or/and rate of absence of nausea as determinants in the antiemetic decision for the CINV patients, the CR-based-, and rate of absence of nausea-based cost-effectiveness analyses, showed negotiable ICER estimates for the treatment PAL + NK-1-RA + DEX + OLA over the combinations PAL + DEX, NK-1-RA + PAL + DEX, and OLA + PAL + DEX regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Halloush
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdullah A Alhifany
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nimer S Alkhatib
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic Evaluation, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Batool Al-Qawasmeh
- College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Jim Koeller
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center, UT Health, TX, USA
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Al Bawab AQ, Al-Qerem W, Abusara O, Alkhatib N, Mansour M, Horne R. What Are the Factors Associated with Nonadherence to Medications in Patients with Chronic Diseases? Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1237. [PMID: 34575011 PMCID: PMC8469667 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9091237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Adherence to medications is very crucial for an optimized clinical outcome in the management of chronic diseases. Beliefs about medications and other factors can significantly affect adherence to chronic medications. The objective of the present research was to identify the associated factors of adherence to medication in Jordanian patients with chronic diseases utilizing a stepwise binary logistical regression model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2018 and March 2020. The participants were reached from secondary and tertiary care setting clinics in Jordan. The recruited patients were asked to report their attitudes of adherence to medications and beliefs about medications via filling out the MARS-5 and BMQ-specific tools. Sociodemographic data were also collected from the recruited patients and included in the regression model. A stepwise binary logistical regression model was applied to identify the associated factors of adherence to chronic medications in the tested sample. Results: A total of 485 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 57.14 (age ranged from 22 to 82 years). Around 39% of the participants were older than 65 years. Most of the patients were either hypertensive or diabetic (35.7% and 32.2%, respectively). The logistic regression model indicated that necessity beliefs are strongly associated with adherence (OR 4.22), while concerns beliefs, dosage frequency and having medical insurance were negatively associated with adherence (OR 0.73, 0.74 and 0.26, respectively), with a p-value ≤ 0.05. Conclusions: Both the MARS-5 and BMQ-specific questionnaires were applied successfully on the tested sample. Better attention should be paid to the logistic regression model variables that were associated with adherence in order to guarantee optimal treatment outcomes in the treatment of chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (W.A.-Q.); (O.A.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Walid Al-Qerem
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (W.A.-Q.); (O.A.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Osama Abusara
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (W.A.-Q.); (O.A.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Nimer Alkhatib
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (W.A.-Q.); (O.A.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Maha Mansour
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (W.A.-Q.); (O.A.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Robert Horne
- Centre for Behavioral Medicine, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1H 9JP, UK;
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Jarrar Y, Zihlif M, Al Bawab AQ, Sharab A. Effects of Intermittent Hypoxia on Expression of Glucose Metabolism Genes in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 20:216-222. [PMID: 31738135 DOI: 10.2174/1568009619666191116095847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxic condition induces molecular alterations which affect the survival rate and chemo-resistant phenotype of cancer cells. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of intermittent hypoxic conditions on the expression of glucose metabolism genes in breast cancer MCF7 cell line. METHODS The gene expression was analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-array method. In addition, the cell resistance, survival and migration rates were examined to assure the hypoxic influence on the cells. RESULTS 30 hypoxic episodes induced the Warburg effect through significant (p-value < 0.05) upregulation of the expression of PCK2, PHKG1, ALDOC, G6PC, GYS2, ALDOB, HK3, PKLR, PGK2, PDK2, ACO1 and H6PD genes that are involved in glycolysis, were obtained. Furthermore, the expression of the major gluconeogenesis enzyme genes was significantly (ANOVA, p-value < 0.05) downregulated. These molecular alterations were associated with increased MCF7 cell division and migration rate. However, molecular and phenotypic changes induced after 30 episodes were normalized in MCF7 cells exposed to 60 hypoxic episodes. CONCLUSION It is concluded, from this study, that 30 intermitted hypoxic episodes increased the survival rate of MCF7 breast cancer cells and induced the Warburg effect through upregulation of the expression of genes involved in the glycolysis pathway. These results may increase our understanding of the molecular alterations of breast cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazun Jarrar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Malek Zihlif
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Sharab
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Al Bawab AQ, Alkhalidi BA, Albarahmieh E, Qassim SMA, Al-Saifi MAD, Al-Saifi B, Ling J, Al-Qerem W. Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence Estimation of Two Formulations of Alfuzosin Extended-Release Tablets. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2020; 9:780-784. [PMID: 32770667 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alfuzosin is a medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms. Bioequivalence studies are demanded by regulatory authorities to evaluate the expected in vivo biological similarity of 2 formulations of a medication. The aim of this study is to assess the bioavailability of the generic (test) and branded (reference) formulations of 10-mg alfuzosin extended-release tablets after oral administration to healthy adults under fed conditions. The study used a comparative randomized, single-dose, 2-way crossover open-label study design. Thirty-three participants were recruited and completed the clinical assessment. The pharmacokinetic parameters maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t ), AUC extrapolated to infinity (AUC0-∞ ), time to maximum concentration, and elimination half-life were estimated to prove bioequivalence. The confidence intervals for the log-transformed test/reference ratios for alfuzosin 110.7% (98.0-124.9) and 112.0% (101.9-123.1) for Cmax and AUC0-t respectively, which are within the allowed limits specified by the regulatory authorities (80-125% for Cmax and AUC0-t ). The test formulation can therefore be prescribed as an alternative to the reference for symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Esra'a Albarahmieh
- School of Applied Medical Sciences, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
| | | | | | | | | | - Walid Al-Qerem
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Elhajji FD, Al-Taani GM, Anani L, Al-Masri S, Abdalaziz H, Qabba'h SH, Al Bawab AQ, Scott M, Farren D, Gilmore F, Versporten A, Goossens H, Aldeyab MA. Comparative point prevalence survey of antimicrobial consumption between a hospital in Northern Ireland and a hospital in Jordan. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:849. [PMID: 30419895 PMCID: PMC6233602 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3656-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To assess antimicrobial prescribing in a Northern Ireland hospital (Antrim Area Hospital (AAH)) and compare them with those of a hospital in Jordan (Specialty Hospital). Methods Using the Global-PPS approach, the present study surveyed patients admitted to the hospital in 2015, the prescribed antibiotics, and a set of quality control indicators related to antibiotics. Results Ultimately, 444 and 112 inpatients in the AAH and the Specialty Hospital, respectively, were surveyed. For the medical group, 165 inpatients were prescribed 239 antibiotics in the AAH, while 44 patients in the Specialty Hospital were prescribed 65 antibiotics. In relation to the surgical group, 34 inpatients treated for infection were prescribed 66 antibiotics in the AAH, while 41 patients in the Specialty Hospital treated for infection were prescribed 56 antibiotics. For the medical patients, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the AAH were a combination of penicillins (18.8%) and penicillins with extended spectrum (18.8%). For the surgical patients, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the AAH were imidazole derivatives (24.2%). For the medical and surgical patients in the Specialty Hospital, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins (26.2 and 37.5%, respectively). In medical patients, compliance to guidelines was 92.2% in the Specialty Hospital compared to 72.0% in the AAH (p < 0.001). In surgical patients, compliance to guidelines was 92.7% in the Specialty Hospital compared to 81.8% in the AAH (p = 0.012). Conclusions The present study highlighted differences in the utilisation of antimicrobials between two hospitals in two distinct regions and benchmarked antibiotic prescriptions across two hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feras Darwish Elhajji
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
| | | | - Lana Anani
- The Pharmacy Department, The Specialty Hospital, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sahar Al-Masri
- Quality & Medication Management, The Specialty Hospital, Amman, Jordan
| | - Haneen Abdalaziz
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | | | | | - Michael Scott
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David Farren
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Fiona Gilmore
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Ann Versporten
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herman Goossens
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mamoon A Aldeyab
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
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Al Bawab AQ, AlQahtani F, McElnay J. Health Care Apps Reported in Newspapers: Content Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2018; 6:e10237. [PMID: 30348632 PMCID: PMC6231802 DOI: 10.2196/10237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Newspapers are considered one of the most viewed and influential media sources in both the United Kingdom and United States. However, information about how newspapers portray health care apps to the readers has been lacking. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the reporting on health care apps in newspapers published in the United Kingdom and United States. METHODS The Nexis UK database was used to identify and select relevant articles. Systematic content analysis of the articles that met the inclusion criteria (articles of any format that contained reference to health care apps or medical apps) within the highest circulated newspapers in the United Kingdom and United States over a period of 10 years (2006-2015) was conducted. Interrater reliability of coding was established using a 10% sample of the chosen articles. RESULTS A total of 220 (151 UK and 69 US) relevant newspaper articles were retrieved. Health care apps were most frequently reported on in the Daily Mail and The Guardian (UK newspapers) and in the New York Times and the Washington Post (US newspapers). An exponential rise in published scientific articles (PubMed) on health care-related apps was noted during the study period. A total of 26.4% (58/220) and 19.1% (42/220) of the retrieved newspaper articles appeared in the features and main news sections, respectively. General information about health care apps was the main theme coved by the newspapers (45.9%, 101/220). Most of the articles represented a societal point of view (72.3%, 159/220). The main focus of the articles was on general health matters (48.2%, 106/220) and specific disease matters (36.8%, 81/220). Diabetes was the most frequently mentioned disease in the articles. A high proportion (91.4%, 201/220) of the articles mentioned benefits of using health care apps mainly for personalized care, whereas 24.1% (53/220) of the articles commented on related risks such as anxiety and confidentiality issues. Almost half (45.9%, 101/220) of the articles mentioned potential facilitators to the use of apps; less than 10% (16/220) discussed barriers. Most of the articles (83.6%, 184/220) were judged as having balanced judgment on the present topic and more than half (60.0%, 132/220) of the articles were judged to be of generally low quality. CONCLUSIONS Health care apps were not widely reported in newspaper articles in the United Kingdom and United States over the study period; however, there appeared to be much more recent interest. Characteristically, the articles focused more frequently on societal impact and on general health rather than on disease-specific apps.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fahad AlQahtani
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - James McElnay
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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