Colleges Of Pharmacy Research Articles

Experimental Study of Hypolipidemic Effect of Manjal Noiku Kudineer

Hyperlipidemia, is a major stake for the development of serious diseases like atherosclerosis, Coronary Artery Diseases, Stroke. Siddha system of Medicine with the numerous combination of medicines has Manjal Noiku Kudineer(MNK), a Siddha poly herbal formulation indicated for Manjal Noi. This study deals with the Hypolipidemic activity of Manjal Noiku Kudineer on atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemia in experimental Wistar Albino Rats Place of Study: The study was conducted at Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Virudhunagar. Methodology: The study protocol for MNK was reviewed and approved by Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC), Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Virudhunagar, with the IAEC number AKCP/IAEC/10/24-25. The experimental hyperlipidemic diet consists of well-pulverized 400 mg/kg cholesterol, 50 mg/kg cholic acid, and coconut oil. All groups other than the control group were fed the prepared atherogenic meal in lieu of the regular pellet diet. Group I served as normal control, Group II represented hyperlipidemic control rats given an atherogenic diet, Group III and IV represented test groups given MNK 200 mg/kg and MNK 400 mg/kg, respectively, and Group V represented standard-administered atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day). All groups were compared, observations were noted and the observations were statistically evaluated. Results: The study shows the results of reduction in body weight, blood lipid profile, liver lipid profile of hyperlipidemic rats on treating with the study medicine, which possess hypolipidemic activity. Histopathologic images of rat liver also shown normal parenchyma and parenchyma with minimal necrosis and minimal inflammatory changes on treating with the study medicine MNK. Conclusion: The results stands as a support for MNK hypolipidemic activity, which in turn can be used as a antihyperlipidemic therapeutic agent from the Siddha System of Medicine.

Basic Family Health Survey Report Analysis Conducted by Pharm D Students of Talla Padmavathi Pharmacy College and Medical Students of Chalmeda Rao Institute of Medical Sciences

Basic Family Health Survey Report Analysis Conducted by Pharm D Students of Talla Padmavathi Pharmacy College and Medical Students of Chalmeda Rao Institute of Medical Sciences

Prioritizing Faculty Well-Being: Why it Matters, What Schools Can Do, and a Call for Action

Previous studies have identified high rates of burnout among healthcare workers and health professions faculty. Despite interventions being showcased at national meetings in both posters and platform presentations, there is minimal peer-reviewed published research focusing on professional well-being interventions and their assessments specific to pharmacy faculty. This commentary serves as a call to action to design and publish research related to work-system interventions to decrease burnout and promote professional well-being among all academic pharmacy faculty, and particularly subgroups who may be most at risk, such as women and assistant-level faculty. Leaders across colleges of pharmacy may consider implementing strategies suggested in the AACP Creating a Culture of Wellbeing guide.

Современные биоэтические проблемы в контексте основных принципов буддийской этики

The relevance of this research consists in reconsideration of the main approaches to solving bioethical problems based on the religious and ethical principles of Buddhism. The purpose of this research is to analyze Buddhist principles that can be consistently applied to a range of biomedical problems (euthanasia, biomedical experiments with animals, etc.). The subject of our research is ethics in the context of medicine, namely the relationship between Buddhism and medical practice. The research materials are based on many years of teaching the bioethics course at St. Petersburg State University of Chemistry and Pharmacy and Tyumen State Medical University, as well as on the results of research related to the development of scientific research of bioethical issues. The central question of modern bioethics about the nature and status of the moral subject in Buddhism is based on the principle of the moral dignity of all living beings: from human life to the life of animals and, perhaps, even plants. Belief in interspecific rebirth and respect for animal life are typical of Buddhist ethics. In modern ethics, Buddhism is a teleological ethics of virtue, which postulates a certain end result of life as the implementation of human potential and asserts that this goal should be realized through cultivation of certain spiritual practices, which implies the rejection of euthanasia, abortion, artificial insemination and other dvanced medical technologies.

Is access to leadership roles contributing to the gender pay gap in the pharmaceutical sciences?

Gender disparity in the pharmaceutical sciences contributes to the overall gender pay gap. The gender pay inequity is worse at later career stages. Salary data for pharmaceutical scientists has been reviewed from both the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS) Salary Survey and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Pharmacy Faculty Demographics and Salaries report. We share some potential causes of the pay inequity, including implicit bias, pipeline issues, family responsibilities, and others. We suggest how organizations can put processes in place to help narrow the gender pay gap. Additionally, we share suggestions for how women must take a proactive role to ensure they reach their full potential and pay equity.

Factors predicting menstrual irregularity among university students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A cross-sectional study.

University students often face menstrual irregularities, particularly among healthcare students, due to rigorous study environments, such as night duties resembling professional staff responsibilities. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of and factors predicting menstrual irregularities among female students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2023 at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires comprising sections on personal background, menstrual cycles, sleep duration, and academic stress. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were employed for data analysis. Approximately 48.3% of participants experienced menstrual irregularities. Overweight or obese students were more likely to experience irregularities compared to those of normal weight (AOR = 7.56, 95% CI = 1.34, 80.8). Nursing majors (including nursing, midwifery, and anesthesia resuscitation nursing) showed a higher likelihood of irregularities compared to other majors (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.35, 4.13). This study highlights a significant prevalence of menstrual irregularities among female students. Interventions in nursing education should focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and regular physical activity to manage weight and mitigate menstrual irregularities.

Building the PharmD Pipeline With a Pre-Pharmacy Track for Working Adults Marketed to Pharmacy Technicians

ObjectiveTo describe the activities undertaken at Mercer University (MU) to establish a complete pre-pharmacy curriculum for working adults and market the program to pharmacy technicians in metropolitan Atlanta. To document post-implementation, the yield of students to the pre-pharmacy program and subsequent yield of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students to the MU College of Pharmacy. MethodsThe level of retrospective interest in the pre-pharmacy program was measured by a survey questionnaire administered to MU PharmD students who had completed their pre-pharmacy courses in metropolitan Atlanta colleges and universities. A traditional marketing funnel approach was used to achieve awareness, interest, desire, and action in the target market: metropolitan Atlanta pharmacy technicians. The pre-pharmacy program was established as a curricular track within the MU College of Professional Advancement for working adults. Enrollment and matriculant data were reported using frequency counts. ResultsA total of 185 pre-pharmacy program matriculants from the Spring semester 2019 through the Summer semester 2023 accounted for 1222 pre-pharmacy course enrollments. Of these students, 38 applied for the PharmD program at the MU College of Pharmacy, and 27 were accepted and matriculated. ConclusionOffering a pre-pharmacy track for working adults marketed to pharmacy technicians is one potential avenue for building the pipeline to pharmacy school while adding to the overall enrollment of the university.

Practice outcomes for the first decade of Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program graduates

BackgroundThe maldistribution of pharmacy services in underserved areas is a national issue. Analysis of data from the 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Study indicated that 13.9% of pharmacists were working in a rural community. However, the percentage of people living in rural communities in the United States is 20.0%. Currently, there are 20 rural pharmacy programs in the United States, including the Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy, which contain both didactic and experiential rural components. This research project examines the practice outcomes of the RPHARM Program graduates.MethodsDescriptive analysis was used to examine the practice outcome characteristics of RPHARM Program graduates between 2014 and 2023. The characteristics of the RPHARM graduates included the rurality of hometowns, practice locations and populations, and distance of practice locations to hometowns. Rural practice outcomes were described utilizing frequently used rural definitions. The practice locations of 54 of the 61 RPHARM graduates were used in the analysis.ResultsApproximately 41% of the practicing RPHARM graduates were from rural hometowns and two-thirds were female. RPHARM graduates mostly work in either a community setting (44.4%) or a hospital setting (37.0%). Approximately 11% worked in a federal government organization and 5.6% worked in a long-term care pharmacy. When examining job location, 42.6% were working in a rural location based on Rural–Urban Commuting Area Version 3.0 and 35.2% of RPHARM graduates had always worked in a rural location. Approximately 57% of practicing RPHARM graduates are working in a location < 50 miles from their hometown, and 13% are working 50 to 100 miles from their hometown. Approximately 74% of RPHARM graduates are practicing in Illinois.ConclusionsApproximately 40% of RPHARM graduates practice in rural locations. A significant portion (35.2%) of RPHARM graduates have always practiced in rural locations, and many (57.4%) are practicing near their hometowns. Results indicate that the RPHARM Program is making meaningful contributions to increasing the rural pharmacy workforce. Due to the lack of information on rural pharmacy practice outcomes, all programs with rural pharmacy content are encouraged to track graduates’ practice locations.

Correlation between students’ traditional medicine body constitution types and their quality of life

ObjectivesEvaluating the physical health, mental health, and Quality of life (QoL) in relationship to body constitution (BC) types in students of the Faculty of Traditional Medicine (FTM) in the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP). MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study on 717 students of FTM through face-to-face interviews used three questionnaires to investigate the following sections: general demographic information questionnaire; physical health (PCS), mental health (MCS), and QoL (Vietnamese version of SF-36 questionnaire); BC types (Vietnamese version of the CCMQ questionnaire). We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess the associations between BC types and each of the QoL domains’ scores. The dependent variables are the scores of eight QoL domains and integration scores in PCS and MCS. ResultsMost students had Unbalanced BC types (87.03 %). Qi-depression, Qi-deficiency, and Blood-stasis had the three highest percentages (48.1 %, 33.2 %, 26.9 %). There were relationships between BC types and students’ physical health, mental health, and QoL. The SF-36 resulted in “high” scores in most of the Neutral-type students, while the majority of students with Unbalanced BC types had “poor” scores in both physical health, mental health, and QoL (p < 0.01). The estimated impact of 8 Unbalanced types on SF-36 scales was significantly negative. The impact was most remarkable for Qi-stagnation, followed by Blood-stasis. Conclusion87.03 % of students had Unbalanced BC types, which in turn can increase the likelihood of disease. Research results also initially showed that adjusting these types to the Neutral type can help improve FTM students’ health.

Description and Evaluation of a Pharmacy Graduate Health Services Research Methods Course.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a description and evaluation of a graduate-level Health Services Research Methods course offered at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. This three-credit, round-table discussion-style course introduces students to fundamental concepts in healthcare study design and teaches them how to design and critique example studies for a variety of commonly encountered study designs. The course is assessed through essay-style examinations, development of a research proposal, and low-stakes weekly assignments. Twenty-seven students have completed the course in the past five years. Feedback from student course surveys was almost unanimously positive, with few meaningful suggestions for improvement. The description and evaluation of a graduate-level Health Services Research Methods course at one institution indicates that students had a largely favorable experience with the course. Considerations for future revisions to the course are discussed alongside other lessons learned.

Predictors of Success in Obtaining Postgraduate Residency or Fellowship

ObjectiveAs more pharmacy students are pursuing postgraduate training, colleges of pharmacy are investigating ways to predict success in matching for residency or fellowship. While data have been published about characteristics predictive of matching, we sought to study student scores, rotation types, and rotation evaluations as predictors of success. MethodsData were collected from students in the graduating classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023. Students were surveyed on participation in mock interviews, numbers of programs to which they applied, and number of interviews received. In addition, data were collected on impostor phenomenon, grit, perceived stress, anxiety, grade point average (GPA), types of patient care rotations, and preceptor evaluations. ResultsOverall, 295 students were included, with 69 unsuccessful and 226 successful students. Successful students were more likely to have lower Perceived Stress Scale-10 scores in the final 3 semesters of school, a higher GPA, more elective patient care rotations, and more preceptors who answered “Yes” to “Would you hire this student?” after graduation. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, final GPA and preceptors answering affirmatively to “Would you hire this student?” were independent predictors of success in obtaining a postgraduate position. ConclusionAs colleges of pharmacy prepare students for postgraduate residencies or fellowships, in addition to GPA, stress levels during the final 3 semesters of pharmacy school may be areas on which to focus. Given that willingness of a preceptor to hire a student after graduation was a predictor of success in securing a postgraduate position, this should be explored in future research.

A Snapshot of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Program Characteristics

ObjectiveTo provide schools and colleges of pharmacy a snapshot of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) program characteristics to generate and share ideas for IPPE program modifications to improve student learning outcomes and comply with Standards 2025. MethodsA 41-item electronic survey was distributed to 140 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education fully accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy in 2023. IPPE program characteristics such as structure, learning activities, assessments, and requirements were described. ResultsEighty-seven programs participated in the survey (62.1% response rate). Notable findings included 64.4% of programs starting IPPEs during the first professional year, 78.6% did not count simulation hours toward Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education hour requirements, 24.1% incorporated patient care electives, over 90% incorporated various patient care activities, 40.2% exceeded a 2:1 student-to-preceptor ratio, 15.7% incorporated layered learning, 50.0% incorporated interprofessional education, 57.5% used summative assessment rubrics based on Entrustable Professional Activities, and 77.0% used pass/fail grading. ConclusionOwing to evolving accreditation standards, the study provided valuable information about the current state of IPPEs. The study results included examples and components that programs can use to ensure that they comply with Standards 2025.

The importance of coaching pharmacy students beyond their emotional intelligence assessment scores

The teaching of emotional intelligence (EI) in pharmacy curriculums is an important part of a pharmacy learners’ professional development and is crucial to improving interactions with health care providers and patients. However, the coaching of students to understand strengths and weaknesses related to their EI scores and how to facilitate these opportunities for personal growth is often the missing link from the teaching process. This commentary explores a college of pharmacy’s experience with the incorporation of EI into the curriculum, with a focus on coaching students beyond the assessment numbers they receive. This requires placing emphasis on the broad applicability of EI, its personalization, and the actionable potential for growth. Guided reflections and individualized coaching, which differ from general teaching practices in pharmacy curricula today, can be used to promote the application of results as drivers for personal and professional success. Colleges/schools of pharmacy should consider investing resources in not only teaching students about EI but also coaching students as part of their professional journey.

Personal and professional development activity tracking in a pharmacy curriculum

Background and purposePersonal and professional development (PPD) is an essential focus of pharmacy school curriculum in developing future pharmacists. This manuscript describes the creation, implementation, and data collection of a PPD Activity Tracker in a pharmacy curriculum. Educational activity and settingPreviously, in “Standards 2016” and currently in “Standards 2025”, colleges of pharmacy are tasked with documenting how students achieve PPD throughout their academic careers. Therefore, the PPD course directors developed a PPD Activities Tracker to provide student pharmacists a central location to document curriculum and co-curricular activities as they matriculate through the pharmacy program. The tracker was created using an electronic survey platform. Eleven activity categories were established, and students noted whether the activity was directed toward personal and/or professional development. The purpose of the tracker was to create a repository for student documentation of their PPD-promoting experiences and to provide a mechanism for individual and cohort reporting for assessment and accreditation. FindingsStudent pharmacists from two class cohorts entered 3254 PPD activities into the tracker over a two-year period. All PPD categories were tracked with the highest attended activities, including personal development & self-care (19%) and self-reflection (19%); the next highest category was interprofessional education/collaboration (15%). Students noted that most PPD activities enhanced their personal and professional development (49%), while personal development only and professional development only were 31% and 19%, respectively. The students “highly recommended” (72%) most tracked PPD activities, while 26% of activities were “recommended.” Individual student and class cohort data were also readily accessible. SummaryThe PPD tracker created a central, easily accessible, and organized storehouse for successfully collecting curricular and co-curricular PPD activities throughout the student pharmacist's career. The data from this tracker could easily be collected and sorted individually as a class cohort or for an individual student pharmacist.

Assessing Weight Stigma: Validating Attitudes and Beliefs Questionnaires Among Future Healthcare Professionals.

Background This study aimedto establish the reliability and validity of the Anti-Fat Attitudes (AFA) questionnaire and the Beliefs About Obese Persons (BAOP) scale. Methodology A convenience sample of 257 students from three distinct sections of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" Iasi (Medical Faculty, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Nursing) participated in an observational study. Construction validity was tested with exploratory factor analysis. The students completed a form containing sociodemographic data, the AFA questionnaire, and the BAOP scale. Weight and height were self-reported and used to determine the body mass index. Results The value of the Cronbach alpha coefficient for the AFA questionnaire indicated adequate internal consistency (0.862). The exploratory factor analysis identified the following three factors corresponding to the original questionnaire: Dislike, Fear of Fat, and Willpower. We validated a single-factor structure of the BAOP scale, which had adequate internal consistency (0.781). There were statistically significant differences (AFA: p = 0.02; BAOP: p = 0.03) between the scores of the students from Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, and General Medicine. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the AFA questionnaire and the BAOP scale could be used to evaluate weight stigma in healthcare students, providing a useful tool to assess the effects of weight stigma awareness interventions in this population.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of medical university students towards vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious health problem that is associated with many health consequences. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, regarding vitamin D deficiency. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Unaizah Colleges of Pharmacy (UCP) and Medicine (UCM) at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, over a period of 3 months. A well-structured self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Statistical analysis was applied by using SPSS version 22. A 0/1 scoring process was employed to assess the KAP of the participants. The midpoint is considered the cutoff point. A total of 337 complete responses were received. The majority of participants (62.3%) were female. 291 (86.3%) were considered to have good knowledge, with a mean score of 6.326 out of 9. Moreover, 220 (65.2%) of participants had positive attitudes, with a mean score of 4.077 out of 7. Unfortunately, only 9 (2.6%) participants demonstrated satisfactory practices, with a mean score a 0.911 out of 6. Female participants were significantly better than male participants in terms of knowledge and attitudes, but worse in terms of practices. Sun exposure during safe daytime hours is considered the main cause of vitamin D deficiency. Nearly 60% confirmed that KSA indoor activities and the COVID-19 lockdown might maximise vitamin D deficiency. The study reveals a gap in vitamin D knowledge among participants influenced by gender and study year. It suggests educational initiatives for male students to enhance their knowledge regarding vitamin D, while female students are encouraged to prioritise safe sun exposure, minimising the use of umbrellas and sunscreen. It also highlights the role of educational institutions as reliable sources of information and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' attitudes and practices towards vitamin D.

Comparative analysis of nutritional quality and microbial contamination in camel milk: Evaluating safety and public health risks between camel milk obtained from street vendors and farms in Saudi Arabia.

To evaluate the nutritional quality and microbial contamination of raw camel milk sourced from street vendors and compare it with milk obtained from farms, with a particular emphasis on pathogenic organisms. Twenty samples were systematically collected from street vendors and farms between July 2022 and February 2023 and analyzed at King Fahad Medical Research Centre and the Pharmacy College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The microbial analysis employed culture-dependent techniques for colony-forming unit analysis and isolation of microbial colonies from milk samples. Microbial identification utilized advanced methods, including VITEK-MS equipment and the MALDI-TOF technique. The chemical composition was analysed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The findings revealed significant differences in microbial loads, with milk sourced from street vendors exhibiting considerably higher microbial counts than farm-sourced milk, including pathogenic species like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results indicated that camel milk from street vendors possessed a higher level of microbial contamination, suggesting potential health risks associated with its purchase and consumption from these sources. This study highlights the urgent need for stringent food safety practices in handling, selling, and distributing camel milk to reduce microbial risks to safe levels, thereby mitigating potential health hazards.

How new pharmacists handled COVID-19 misinformation: A qualitative study

BackgroundNew pharmacists, PharmD graduates of 2020 and 2021, faced the unique challenge of entering the workforce during the volatile and divisive COVID-19 pandemic. They had to navigate patient-driven misinformation while adapting to evolving roles, including the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Understanding the experiences of new pharmacists during this period is crucial for professional development and patient care. ObjectiveThe study aimed to describe new pharmacists’ experiences of handling COVID-19 vaccine misinformation presented by patients. MethodsSemi-structured Zoom interviews were conducted with PharmD 2020 and 2021 graduates recruited from St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy until saturation was achieved. Interview questions were based on constructs of the Hearing, Understanding, Interpreting, Evaluating, Remembering, and Responding model and World Health Organization (WHO) algorithm on how to respond to vocal vaccine deniers. Data analysis was performed through deductive thematic content analysis, and findings were reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. ResultsA total of 13 interviews were conducted, with 61.5% of participants from St. John’s University and 38.5% from UM. They worked in various pharmacy settings, including independent (30.8%), chain (23.0%), long-term care (15.4%), and ambulatory care/hospital pharmacies (30.8%). The types of COVID-19 misinformation new pharmacists heard during the pandemic align with the techniques and topics of anti-vaccine arguments outlined by the WHO’s algorithm. New pharmacists utilized evaluation skills to identify credible sources and information, interpreted patients' language and sources, and assessed patients' willingness to be corrected. All new pharmacists responded to misinformation regardless of the technique or topic; however, the mechanism of response may have differed depending on whether a technique or topic was presented. ConclusionsThis baseline understanding of new pharmacists’ practices in managing health misinformation can inform the development of recommendations for health misinformation management and assist pharmacy schools in identifying areas for further training for student pharmacists.

Sources of stress, coping strategies and associated factors among Vietnamese first-year medical students.

This study aims to examine the sources of stress among first-year medical students; the frequency of their coping strategies; the factors associated with specific stressors and specific coping strategies adopted by the participants. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 409 first-year students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. The Vietnamese versions of the Higher Education Stress Inventory (V_HESI) and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (V_Brief COPE) were validated and were used as measurement instruments for participants' sources of stress and coping strategies frequencies. The survey comprised questions of socioeconomic status, stress-related issues, the six sources of stress (using the V_HESI), and the nine coping strategies (using the V_Brief COPE). Among the six sources of stress, "Worries about future competence/endurance" had the highest mean score (3.02±0.64), while "Mismatch in professional role expectations" had the lowest score (1.60±0.53). "Financial concerns" and "Academic workloads" were also significant sources of stress. Regarding coping strategies, Self-distraction was most frequently adopted by the participants (2.80 ± 0.68). Problem-solving (2.72±0.53) and seeking Social support (2.62±0.70) were also common adaptive strategies. Avoidance (1.87±0.55) and substance-use (1.27±0.55) were the least frequent strategies. Students who experienced acute stress event were more likely to have financial concerns compared to others. Substance use was positively associated with stressors from "Mismatch in professional role expectations", "Non-supportive educational environment", "Having physical issues" and "Having part-time job". Self-blame was more frequent among students with "Worries about future competence/endurance", "Financial concerns", and "Academic workload". Male student tended to adopt humor strategy (β = 0.19, p = 0.02), while less likely to utilize religious practices (β = -0.21, p = 0.01). Two-thirds of the participants reported moderate to high levels of stress. "Worries about future competence/endurance" was the most concerned stressor, followed by "Academic workload", and "Financial concerns". The first-year medical students reported high frequency of utilization "Self-distraction", "Problem-solving" and "Social support" when confronting stress. The findings may help inform the school management to better support students' well-being.

Mental Disorders, Social Media Addiction, and Academic Performance in Romanian Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate social media addiction in Romanian undergraduate nursing students and its association with academic performance, depression, and anxiety. Methods: We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data among nursing undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMAS-SF), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to assess social media addiction, depression, and anxiety, respectively. Results: A total of 90 nursing students participated in the study, of which 82 (91.1%) were females and 81 (90%) were of Romanian ethnicity. The median age of participants was 21 years (18-40). Males showed higher BDI total scores, SMAS-SF total scores, and STAI scale A state anxiety compared to females, and females showed higher STAI scale A trait anxiety compared to males, although these results were not statistically significant. Also, we found no significant difference in these variables between participants from different study years. Participants with no or mild depression had a significantly higher academic performance (p-value = 0.001), lower SMAS-SF (p-value = 0.004), and lower STAI scores (p-value < 0.001) compared to participants with borderline, moderate, or severe depression after performing multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that depression was significantly associated with social media addiction, anxiety, and lower academic performance in Romanian undergraduate nursing students.