Assessing public acceptance and perceived need for a "Family Pharmacy" model in South Korea: a cross-sectional web-based survey.

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists confronted dual burdens in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding the scope of pharmaceutical practices.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the perceived roles and functions of community pharmacies during the pandemic and to explore their updated roles after the pandemic began.MethodsWe conducted a self-reported web-based survey in October 2022. Based on Korean census data, we recruited the study participants (n=1000) through quota sampling stratified by age, sex, and region, yielding a 7.45% (1000/13,423) response rate. The questionnaires were composed of 3 sections: demographics, the roles and functions of community pharmacies during the pandemic, and the updated roles of community pharmacies during disasters. Each question in the second and third sections was rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), and each item’s mean scores and SDs were reported. The study participants were categorized into 2 groups: individuals who had a family pharmacy and those who did not. A chi-square test and ordered logistic regression analyses were conducted.ResultsOut of 1000 respondents, 418 (41.8%) had a history of COVID-19, and 639 (63.9%) had a family pharmacy. Assigning specific roles and functions to community pharmacies during the pandemic contributed to positive assessments. Respondents gave higher scores to community pharmacies that had responded appropriately (a mean Likert score of 3.66, SD .077 out of 5) and provided continuous pharmaceutical services (mean 3.67, SD 0.87) during the pandemic. The pandemic served as an opportunity to positively recognize the role of community pharmacies (mean 3.59, SD 0.83). In the ordered logistic model, having a family pharmacy was consistently associated with positive perceptions. Respondents perceived that community pharmacies collaborated with general practitioners and health authorities. However, community pharmacies need to function appropriately in terms of knowledge. The mean score of the 4 domains of community pharmacy functions was the highest for collaboration (mean 3.66, SD 0.83), followed by communication (mean 3.57, SD 0.87), responsiveness (mean 3.54, SD 0.87), and knowledge (mean 3.41, SD 0.91).ConclusionsThe pandemic resulted in interprofessional collaboration between community pharmacists and general practitioners. Family pharmacies could be a valuable asset to the comprehensive case management of patients. However, community pharmacists should have the expertise to build solid interprofessional collaborations and fulfill their expanded and updated roles.

Little is known about how social networks among women who inject drugs (WWID) can be leveraged to increase awareness about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We tested the hypothesis that interpersonal characteristics influence willingness of WWID to communicate PrEP information with peers. Forty WWID ≥ 18years completed social network surveys. Participants named on average 9.3 (SD = 3.3) network members, resulting in 375 unique relationships. WWID were willing to share PrEP information with 83% of network members. Participants had higher odds of willingness to share information within relationships when the network member was female, homeless and perceived to be at risk for HIV. Among relationships with family members and transactional sex clients, stronger emotional closeness was associated with higher odds of willingness to share information. Peer interventions where WWID share PrEP information with peers may be an efficient approach to increase PrEP awareness among this vulnerable population.

ABSTRACTBackgroundBlack and Hispanic communities are under-represented in cognitive ageing research. MindCrowd is an online platform that offers interactive cognitive games and facilitates research. We sought to assess participation in MindCrowd and willingness to be contacted for future studies by race, ethnicity and other demographic variables.MethodsAdults were recruited into MindCrowd through national media campaigns and enhanced local engagement (ELE) in and around four cities with robust black (Atlanta and Baltimore) and Hispanic (Miami and Tucson) populations. Recruiting in ELE regions involved direct contact with potential participants via community forums or established research cohorts. Participation was defined as completing two 5-minute cognitive games and a demographic questionnaire, and participation incidence was calculated per 100 000 adults using census data and was compared by region using incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Willingness to be contacted for future research was defined as participants submitting an email address for researcher follow-up and was modelled as a binary outcome using logistic regression to generate adjusted ORs (aORs) for age, sex, region, race and ethnicity.ResultsFrom 17 June 2022 to 28 December 2023, 49 934 adults participated in MindCrowd. Nationwide, the majority were female (87.2%) and >50 years old (75.2%). In ELE regions, 8.4% of participants were black versus 2.3% in non-ELE regions; 21.8% were Hispanic in ELE regions versus 16.4% in non-ELE regions. MindCrowd participation incidence was higher in ELE than non-ELE regions (32.4 vs 17.9 per 100 000 adults; IRR=1.78, 95% CI, 1.73 to 1.83). Overall, 42.1% of participants nationwide were willing to be contacted for future research, with elevated odds for all ELE regions (vs collective non-ELE regions). Compared with white participants, black participants had 23% higher odds of willingness to be contacted (aOR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.36); compared with non-Hispanic participants, Hispanic participants had 20% higher odds (aOR=1.20; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.27).ConclusionsFollowing nationwide and regional efforts to recruit a diverse participant pool into the online platform MindCrowd, regions with ELE had higher rates of participation than the rest of the nation across race and ethnicity categories. Controlling for region, black and Hispanic individuals showed marginal but statistically elevated willingness to be contacted for future research.

Although low rates of cadaveric organ donation have been attributed to potential cadaveric donors' concerns regarding their religious beliefs and mistrust of the health care system, it is unclear whether similar concerns are important to potential living related donors. It is also not known which factors might be most responsible for low rates of cadaveric and living related donation among the general public. We conducted a cross-sectional study of households in Maryland, using a standardized telephone questionnaire, to assess factors associated with willingness to donate cadaveric and living related organs. We compared factors (demographic, cultural, attitudinal, and clinical) related to willingness to donate cadaveric organs with factors related to willingness to donate living related organs. In multivariate analyses, we assessed the independent relation of factors to willingness to donate cadaveric and living related organs, and we assessed the relative importance of these factors in explaining variation in the general public's willingness to donate. Of 385 participants (84% of randomized homes), 254 (66%) were extremely willing to donate to a sibling but only 179 (47%) had designated themselves a cadaveric donor on their drivers' licenses. In bivariate analysis, older age, comorbid conditions, mistrust in hospitals, and concerns about discrimination in hospitals were statistically significantly associated with less willingness to donate living related organs, although African-Americans, older age, lower education, lack of insurance, unemployment, comorbid conditions, and religion/spirituality were associated with less willingness to donate cadaveric organs. After adjusting for potential confounders, only mistrust in hospitals and concerns about discrimination remained strongly and independently associated with 50 to 60% less odds of willingness to donate living related organs [[relative odds [95% confidence intervals (CI)]: 0.4 (0.2-0.7) to 0.5 (0.3-1.0) and 0.4 (0.2-0.9), respectively]] although presence of dependents was associated with 70% higher odds of willingness to donate living related organs [relative odds (95% CI): 1.7 (1.0-3.0)]. In contrast, older age, employment status, religion/spirituality, and mistrust in hospitals were associated with 50 to 90% less odds of willingness to donate living related organs cadaveric organs [relative odds (95% CI): 0.3 (0.1-0.8), 0.4(0.2-0.8), 0.1 (0.1- 0.5) to 0.5 (0.2-0.9), and 0.3 (0.2-0.6), respectively]. Mistrust in hospitals and concerns about the surgical donation procedure contributed most to the variation in willingness to be a living related donor, although race contributed most to the variation in willingness to be a cadaveric donor. Many factors affect the general public's willingness to donate organs, but their relative contribution is different for living related versus cadaveric donation. Efforts to improve organ donation rates should be directed toward factors that are most important in explaining the existing variation in willingness to donate.

BackgroundLong-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) is a new, appealing substitute for oral PrEP especially among individuals for whom daily medication adherence is challenging. However, there are no available data on willingness...

Shared decision making and an integrative approach is expected to result in better outcomes, but might require more time. While ensuring that sufficient consultation time is essential to quality cancer care, it is not clear whether cancer patients feel that the amount of consultation time with their oncologists is sufficient. Data were collected from 2,556 cancer patients on their perceived and preferred consultation time, and included potential predictors, such as socio-demographics, clinical, behavioral, and quality-of-life factors, as well as potential outcomes, including unmet patient needs, trust in doctor, and satisfaction. The feeling of insufficient consultation time was defined as the perception that consultation time is less than the preferred consultation time; multivariate analyses were used for identification of predictors and comparison of outcomes. Overall, 37.1% felt that consultation time was less than preferred. Younger age, female sex, higher education level, having national health insurance, having been diagnosed with less common cancers, and having anxiety/depression were significantly associated with feelings of insufficient consultation time. Subjects with a feeling of insufficient consultation time reported higher current needs for information, physical symptoms, and psychological problems. They also reported less trust in their physician, lower overall satisfaction, and lower intention to continue treatment at the current cancer center. This study illustrated that high-quality cancer care, characterized by shared decision making and an integrative approach, seems to be related to sufficient consultation time that meets the individual's subjective needs, and measures should be taken to ensure sufficient consultation time.

there is a paucity of community-based studies on the acceptability of female permanent contraception (FPC), particularly among men. We examined the willingness of married women to use FPC and their male partners to support its use in Nigeria. we conducted a cross-sectional study among pregnant women and their male partners who participated in the Healthy Beginning Initiative (HBI) program in Benue, Nigeria. The HBI was an integrated, feasible, and culturally adaptive platform for screening, linkage, and follow-up of pregnant women attending churches. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive intentions were collected from 10,168 pregnant women and 6,766 male partners independently through pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine factors associated with the willingness to use FPC among women and male partners to support the use of FPC. Our analysis was restricted to married participants. of the 10,046 married women and 6,759 men included in this study, 80% and 87% indicated willingness to use and support the use of FPC, respectively. In the adjusted model, women with no formal, primary, and secondary education (vs tertiary education) and those with an income level of ≤ ₦20,000 (vs > ₦50,001) had significantly higher odds of willingness to use FPC, while women with no living children (vs ≥ 5) and 0-2 desired children (vs ≥ 5) had significantly lower odds of intending to use FPC. Except for no formal education and the number of living children, similar factors were associated with the willingness of married men to support the use of FPC. there was a high willingness to use or support the use of FPC among married women and men in this study. Increasing access to FPC services in this setting may improve its informed and voluntary uptake.

Women who inject drugs (WWID) remain a population at risk for HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a user-controlled biomedical HIV prevention tool that could decrease HIV risk among WWID. However, PrEP uptake among WWID is low, which can be attributed in part to low awareness. Interventions that incorporate interpersonal communication between WWID and their network members could play an important role in the diffusion of PrEP information. However, little is known about who WWID would be willing to diffuse PrEP information to in the context of a peer intervention, nor characteristics of relationships that motivate willingness to share information. The objective of this dissertation is to identify how characteristics of relationships impact interpersonal communication about PrEP between WWID and members of their social network. This dissertation used a sequential mixed-methods exploratory design. In Phase 1 (aim 1) in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 WWID to explore the context and content of previous communication about PrEP with network members. In phase 2 (aims 2 and 3), a quantitative social network survey was administered to 40 WWID and elicited information about 375 social network members in order to identify factors associated with willingness to share information about PrEP within dyads in the context of a peer intervention. Findings from each of these studies were compared and contrasted through triangulation to identify key themes and areas for future research and practice. Aim 1 findings demonstrate that WWID initiated PrEP-related conversations with over half of network members elicited. Reasons included to educate other WWID perceived to be at risk for HIV about PrEP, to receive social support from peers with whom they are emotionally close, and to disclose PrEP use to control the narrative of why they take PrEP. Findings from aim 2 show that WWID were willing to share PrEP information with 83% (m=312) of network members in the context of a peer intervention. In a multivariable model, participants had higher odds of willingness to share PrEP information within relationships where the network member was female, homeless, and perceived by respondent to be at risk for HIV. Aim 3 results show that constructs related to the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control of sharing information about PrEP) vary between relationships and are significantly associated with willingness to share PrEP information. This dissertation highlights that WWID have previously shared PrEP information with network members and are also willing to share PrEP information with most network members in the context of an intervention. Characteristics of relationships, as well as constructs of TPB operating within dyads, impact WWID's willingness to share information with network members. Formatting TPB be used within ego-centric social network analysis expands the utility of TPB to encompass interpersonal processes and has application to predicting intention to engage in other dyadic behaviors. Peer interventions where WWID share PrEP information with network members may be a feasible approach to increasing PrEP awareness among highly vulnerable populations.

Epidemiological evidence has shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most frequent cause of sexually transmitted infection, and vaccination is an essential measure to prevent associated diseases and complications. This study aimed to assess the HPV vaccine uptake and its associated factors as well as HPV vaccine hesitancy by female healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. This online, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study involved female HCWs in Saudi Arabia between July and October 2022. The study tool included questions about sociodemographic, occupational, and reproductive characteristics, uptake of HPV vaccination, and reasons of hesitancy. Chi-squared and t-tests were used for bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. The total number of participants was 1857. Around 20% of HCWs received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and around 45% were willing to take it this year. Lower odds of vaccine uptake were reported among older participants and those with a higher level of education. However, nurses, HCWs with a previous HPV infection, those with a family history of cervical cancer, or those with a previous cervical cancer screening test had higher odds of receiving the vaccine. On the other hand, older participants and diploma degree holders were less willing to take the HPV vaccine. Higher odds of willingness were reported in married HCWs, those with a previous HPV infection, those who received a previous HPV vaccine dose, or those who were screened for cervical cancer. Lack of knowledge and some misconceptions were the most reported reasons for hesitancy. Certain factors that affect HCWs personal decisions to take the vaccine were identified. By targeting these issues, epidemiologists, public health officialsand women's health care providers can work to increase HPV vaccine uptake and reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases in this population.

Background Personality traits may play a role in the likelihood of success in training and careers.Identifying personality characteristics associated with a preference for community-oriented medicine, defined as medical practice that integrates clinical care with the public health needs of a local area, may help reduce mismatches in regional quota programs (RQPs) during medical school admissions.Few studies have examined the relationship between personality traits and medical students' intentions to engage in community health care. Moreover, no studies have examined this relationship under the RQPs, which account for a considerable proportion of medical school enrollment in Japan. The objective of this study was to examine the personality characteristics associated with medical students' aspirations toward community-oriented medicine. Methods This study analyzed the personality tendencies of community medicine-oriented students. All medical students in a medical school in Japan (n=750), who were selected into the RQP, RQP without loan (RQPWL), or standard program, were asked to complete the validated psychometric questionnaire (the shortened Japanese version of the 'big five' personality traits)to investigate the five major personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between personality traits and willingness to engage in community health care. We also assessed the association between personality traits and admissions programs. Results In total, 591 students completed the questionnaire. The RQPWL was associated with grade (odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.94, p=0.011) and gender (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.48-5.96, p=0.002). The RQP was associated with gender (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.92, p=0.028), extraversion (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.98, p=0.012), and conscientiousness (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10, p=0.0496). There were differences in the willingness to engage in community health care concerning gender (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.04-2.36, p=0.031), admission programs (OR 4.32, 95% CI 2.16-8.90, p<0.001 for the RQPWL; OR 20.69, 95% CI 10.65-44.38, p<0.001 for the RQP). Higher openness to experience was associated with increased willingness to engage in community health care (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11, p=0.027), whereas higher extraversion was inversely associated (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-1.00, p=0.046). A significant gender-by-RQPWL interaction was detected; compared to the general admission program (GAP), women admitted through RQPWL showed markedly higher odds of willingness to engage in community health care (OR 17.66, 95% CI 3.83-81.5, p<0.001). Conclusion Female students tended to be willing to engage in community-oriented medicine, and gender diversity can improve medical staff recruitment in rural areas. Fundamental differences were observed between the RQP and community medicine-oriented groups, demonstrating that the RQP may not adequately select students who want to engage in community-oriented medicine. A solution can be found by adjusting admissions to accept applicants with lower extraversion scores and enhancing openness to experience and agreeableness by providing cooperative learning education in medical schools.

PurposeThe Ethiopian health system has been challenged by a shortage of funds and is heavily reliant on foreign donation. However, voluntary community-based health insurance (CBHI) has been implemented to reach and cover the very large agricultural sector since 2010. Thus, the level of acceptability of the scheme needs to be regularly assessed through households’ willingness to join before the nationwide rollout of the scheme. This study was intended to assess the level of willingness to join in community-based health insurance and associated factors in northwest Ethiopia.Patients and MethodsUsing a pretested structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in 2017 in Amhara Region, northwest Ethiopia. Using a multi-stage sampling method, from 15 clusters in which CBHI was implemented, 1,179 households without CBHI membership were included as a sample for the study. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between predictor variables and the outcome of interest.ResultsOut of the total (1,179) participants, 60.5% (713) were willing to join the scheme. Households’ occupation (AOR=2.26; 95% CI:=1.12–5.07), perceived good (AOR=2.21; 95% CI:=1.53−3.21), and medium (AOR=1.44; 95% CI=1.22–2.0) healthcare quality and richer wealth status (AOR=1.72; 95% CI=1.08–2.73) were associated with higher odds of willingness to join the scheme.ConclusionAs The study revealed that level of willingness to join is lower compared to other studies. Therefore, social protection activities for the low-income population and enhancement of the capacity of health facilities are crucial.

Objective: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and related lockdown periods generated an increase in the use of virtual care for mental health (MH). This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with Telemental Health services (TMH) during first lockdown and factors related to their willingness to continue using this service. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 364 MH outpatients from 9 centers in the Barcelona region (Spain), who received TMH between April 20 and May 22, 2020. We assessed sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, prior experience, and familiarity with technologies and satisfaction with TMH. Willingness to receive TMH after the lockdown was measured separately for telephone and videoconferencing. We performed descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate regression models to predict TMH willingness. Results: From 450 patients contacted, 364 were interviewed. Satisfaction with TMH was high (mean 9.24, standard deviation 0.07); 2.47% preferred only TMH visits after lockdown, 23.08% preferred mostly TMH visits, 50.82% accepted some TMH visits, and 23.63% would prefer in-person consultations. Female patients and those having received TMH during lockdown showed higher odds of willingness to receive TMH in the future, while patients unfamiliar with technologies showed lower odds. Concerning TMH through telephone, willingness was more likely in patients living with more persons. Videoconferencing willingness was more likely for people living with depression. Conclusions: TMH was well accepted during the first lockdown and patients were willing to maintain it after lockdown. Low familiarity with new technologies is an important barrier to TMH willingness, which needs to be addressed for appropriate implementation going forward.

Urban sanitation challenges persist in Ghana, prompting Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to explore innovative funding mechanisms such as surcharges to fund sanitation services. This study assesses property owners' attitudes toward the imposition of sanitation surcharge for pro-poor sanitation improvement in the Kumasi Metropolis. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 property owners in the Kumasi metropolis. Structured questionnaires were utilized to solicit information from respondents using multi-stage sampling techniques. Findings indicated that 36.1% of respondents were willing to pay the sanitation surcharge, while 63.9% opposed its implementation in the Metropolis. Property ownership and support for a sanitation surcharge were associated with higher odds of willingness to pay. Participants paying property rates had decreased odds of supporting the sanitation surcharge. Factors associated with pro-poor spending support included age (61-80 years) [AOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.60-3.82] and willingness to pay sanitation surcharge [AOR = 11.07, 95%CI = 6.63-18.49]. Protective factors against supporting pro-poor spending included residing in medium-class communities [AOR = 0.25, 95%CI = 0.08-0.81], perceiving improvement in sanitation status [AOR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.21-0.81) and having a home toilet facility (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.36-0.95). The study revealed a nuanced landscape where concerns about fund utilization, perceived tax burdens, and trust in local institutions significantly shape public sentiment. To enhance public acceptance and participation, policymakers should prioritize transparent communication to build trust and convey the effective utilization of funds from the sanitation surcharge.

US oral health students' willingness to train and administer the HPV vaccine in dental practices.

A Survey Study to Examine Willingness to Travel for Transplantation and Consider Commercial Transplantation Among a Multiethnic Cohort of Canadians