Colleges Of Pharmacy Research Articles

Pharmacists’ awareness and confidence in performing Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process–related activities

BackgroundThe Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) is a 5-step approach for patient-centered evidence-based pharmaceutical care. The PPCP was developed by the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners in 2014; however, little is known about PPCP terminology and process uptake across the profession. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore practicing pharmacists’ awareness of and confidence in performing PPCP-related activities in various practice settings. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional observational study of practicing pharmacists using a multiphase quantitative survey research design. A previously validated instrument, the PPCP Self-Efficacy Scale, was revised and distributed. The 28-item instrument addressed activities mapped to each of the 5 PPCP components (Collect, Assess, Plan, Implement, and Follow-Up). The survey was distributed via Qualtrics to an IQVIA pharmacist e-mail listserv in 2021 and to pharmacist state license rosters containing e-mail addresses in 2022. ResultsA total 853 practicing pharmacists completed the survey. Most participants identified as female (62.5%) and white (74.6%). Almost 60% of participants reported practicing for 16 or more years. Forty-four percent practiced in a community pharmacy setting, whereas 23.6% and 15.4% practiced in a health-system setting and ambulatory care setting, respectively. Sixty-two percent indicated they had no previous knowledge of the PPCP, and 12.5% were unsure. Overall participants had relatively high self-efficacy mean scores for each of the PPCP components. Participants working in an ambulatory care setting had the highest mean self-efficacy scores across all PPCP components (P < 0.05). Participants who were affiliated with a college or school of pharmacy (e.g., faculty, preceptor) had higher mean self-efficacy scores than participants who were not affiliated (P < 0.01). ConclusionMost of practicing pharmacists are unaware of PPCP terminology. Their confidence in performing tasks associated with PPCP components is relatively high and varies based on PPCP component and practice setting.

STUDY ON THE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS AT CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY HOSPITAL IN 2022-2023

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a common disease in the group of bone and joint diseases. The incidence of the disease increases with age, commonly occurs in elderly patients or can also occur in young people. Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis is mainly based on clinical symptoms combined with radiographs. Currently, ultrasound can be used to examine the damage that occurs in early-stage knee osteoarthritis. In addition, it has the ability to evaluate joint cartilage thickness, detect synovitis, joint effusion,... and abnormal features in other joint diseases of the knee, especially when there are no clinical manifestations or no damage on X-ray images. Objectives: To describe and compare ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in osteoarthritis-affected knee joints. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients and 62 knee joints diagnosed with osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1991 criteria. General characteristics, radiographic findings, and ultrasonographic findings in osteoarthritis-affected knee joints of participants were collected at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy from May 2022 to April 2023. Results: Radiographs showed the most common finding was grade 1 osteophytes. The most common feature found on ultrasound was also grade 1 osteophytes. Medial condyle osteophytes and lateral condyle osteophytes: Grade 1 was the most common finding, with 53.2% and 58.1%. Medial tibial plateau osteophytes and lateral tibial plateau osteophytes: Grade 1 was the most common finding, with 54.8% and 50.0%. Medial compartment joint space narrowing: grade 1 was the most common (41.9%). Lateral compartment joint space narrowing was not found (grade 0) in 64.5%. In addition, ultrasound detected synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis, accounting for a fairly high rate of 87.1%. There was moderate agreement between osteophyte and joint space narrowing grading on ultrasound and radiographs. Conclusion: There was moderate agreement between osteophyte and joint space narrowing grading on ultrasound and radiographs. Ultrasound can also detect and evaluate synovitis that may not be seen on radiographs. We recommend using the ultrasonography atlas created for knee osteophyte detection in routine knee ultrasound.

Knowledge of Undergraduate Students About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Aims Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. This study assesses the level of knowledge about COPD among undergraduate students that makes it different from other respiratory illnesses. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). The Bristol Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) was used to evaluate the knowledge about COPD, epidemiology, symptoms, exercise, smoking, and breathlessness domains. The questionnaire was distributed among the different male colleges. Results There were 304 respondents from five colleges. The overall BCKQ mean score was 15.16±4.52 (maximum 30). The mean score was highest for the Colleges of Pharmacy (18.89±2.17) and Medicine (18.00±3.84), and the College of Science and Health Professions had the lowest score (11.56±5.58). The highest overall means for the different domains (max=5) were for smoking (2.19±1.2), and epidemiology (2.83±1.27), while symptoms of COPD (2.23±1.06) and breathlessness (1.96±1.13) were the lowest among the domains. Conclusions There was a low level of understanding among undergraduate students in general, but the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy had better knowledge. On the other hand, the College of Science and Health Professions had a lower score. This indicates some areas for improvement in the education program. Appropriate development in the education program is recommended, such as increasing the awareness of symptoms of COPD and other aspects of the disease.

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among Pharmacy Students in Libya

Depression and anxiety are among the common mental health problems among medical students and are associated with poor academic performance. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Libyan pharmacy students using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted targeted pharmacy students in both public and private universities in Libya. A web-based self-reported survey was administered to students. The survey link was distributed online to a convenience sample of students at colleges of pharmacy between July and October 2023. Depression and anxiety were measured using the HADS questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among the participants. In this study, the sample size was determined and found to be 1197 subjects which received surveys. Approximately 42.8% of the participants had depression symptoms and 44.5% had depression borderline symptoms. On the other hand, 39% of the participants had anxiety symptoms, while 33 % reported borderline anxiety symptoms. This study shows high prevalence of depression and anxiety among pharmacy students in Libya. Pharmacy students may be vulnerable to depression and anxiety because of long study hours. To reduce their levels of anxiety and depression, they need longer sleep hours, and a lower academic workload.

KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS HPV INFECTION AND RELATED FACTORS AMONG MALE STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF NURSING, CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY IN 2023

Background: The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been recognized as a major and common sexually transmitted infection associated with various types of cancer in both men and women. More than 200 genotypes of HPVs were identified, each exhibiting distinct specificity for tissues and infection. In addition, the rate of HPV infection has gradually increased in both males and females. According to research conducted in Vietnam and around the world, men diagnosed with HPV infection may experience various complications, including those affecting the coronal sulcus, semen, as well as the scrotal, perianal, and anal regions. However, there is still limited research on HPV knowledge, especially among male students. In particular, there have been few studies conducted among male healthcare students in Vietnam. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge of HP and to identify relevant factors influencing HPV knowledge among male students at the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Technology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 174 male students of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Technology from July to September 2023 using convenience sampling methods. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire established by Susan Mary Sherman in English n and Tran Luong Xuan Phuoc in Vietnamese was used in this study to investigate the demographic information, and knowledge toward HPV. Results: Overall, 174 surveys were completed, representing a response rate of 94.57%. Among male students, 68.39% demonstrated a "good knowledge" of HPV. Academic year was identified as the main factor influencing HPV knowledge, with a significantly higher proportion of fourth-year male students exhibiting greater knowledge compared to other academic levels (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: While the majority of male students demonstrated a high level of knowledge about HPV, there is still a need for strengthening health education and policies related to HPV knowledge.

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS USAGE BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF MEDICAL GROUP IN BASRA, IRAQ

Background: Psychological disease is strongly prevalent among college and university students worldwide with negative impacts on students’ life. Specifically, medical group students have long time of study with suffer from competitive ambience and sleep privation, that lead to out of the way from perfect learning environment. When medical students are abused psychotropic drugs that lead to defect on performance, health, life style and interpose with their concentration. Aim: to investigate the prevalence rate of depression and anxiety in university students of medical group in Basra, and estimate the rate and type of psychotropic drugs consumption by them. Method: The study data was collected from 376 students of medical group at College of Medicine, College of Dentistry and College of Pharmacy of Basra University by questionnaire forma. Results: The prevalence rate of mental disorders was low about and many factors that affected on psychiatric state of them like gender, age, Family and friends Relation, missing one of parents etc. Among medical group students that used sedatives and hypnotics about (46%) than other psychotropic drugs like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) (42.9%) tricyclic antidepressants (21.4%), and atypical antipsychotic (7.1%). Conclusions: Medical group students are more likely to consumption antipsychotic drugs by physician prescription or self-medications. Therefore, there are required more interesting and pursuits for college students especially medical college students for amelioration their college and social lives. Peer Review History: Received 6 February 2024; Revised 15 March 2024; Accepted 26 April; Available online 15 May 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye

A Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination-Related Education in Pharmacy Programs in the Middle East

ObjectivePharmacists play pivotal roles in improving vaccination rates. However, absence of vaccination-related undergraduate education impedes their ability for these roles. The study aims were to scope vaccination-related education in pharmacy colleges in the Middle East (ME) and to describe potential facilitators and barriers to vaccination administration education using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. MethodsA multinational survey of pharmacy faculty across 14 Arabic-speaking ME countries, involving 132 colleges, examined vaccination education. Data collection involved contacting deans for faculty nominations. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. ResultsThe questionnaire response rate was 64.7% (89/132), with 89.9% of colleges including vaccination in their curricula. The topics commonly covered included vaccine development (n = 44, 97.8%), vaccine routes of administration (n = 43, 97.7%), and vaccine indications (n = 38, 95%). Planning and marketing vaccination programs (n = 35, 77.8%), documentation and record-keeping of vaccinations (n = 33, 75.0%), and legal and regulatory issues related to vaccinations (n = 32, 69.6%) were the least adequately covered topics. Most common methods used in teaching were didactic lectures (n = 74, 92.5%). Overall, 53 of 87 respondents (60.9%) responded that their college does not currently teach “vaccination administration”. Lack of resources, attitudes of other health professionals and not prioritizing vaccination were considered as barriers for implementing vaccination administration. ConclusionMost pharmacy colleges in the ME cover vaccination-related topics in undergraduate curricula, yet they underemphasize vaccination administration and lack experiential learning methods. Implementing vaccination administration education requires addressing barriers related to the outer and inner settings, and planning, with stakeholder engagement.

NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND SOME RELATED FACTORS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Background: Today, the global challenge of malnutrition encompasses both undernutrition and overweight, particularly prevalent in low and middle-income nations. Excessive body fat accumulation poses health risks for overweight and obese individuals. Objectives: To assess nutritional status and identify related factors among Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP) medical students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 137 first-year medical students at CTUMP to evaluate their body fat percentage using the Harpenden Skinfold Caliper. Skinfold measurements were taken from the bicipital, tricipital, subscapular, and suprailiac sites. Furthermore, physical activity levels were classified using the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) consisting of 16 questions on 4 domains. The research was carried out at CTUMP from December 2022 to June 2023. Results: Compared to urban areas, a higher percentage of male students engage in physical activity in rural areas; however, this trend is not observed among female students. Additionally, female students exhibited thicker skin folds in four areas (biceps, triceps, suprailiac, and subscapular) compared to male students. Conversely, the fold thickness in the suprailiac region was greater in female students. The mean body fat percentage was 20.40±4.61% in male students and 30.48±4.32% in female students. Non-obese students comprised the majority in this study, with 84.3% of male students being non-obese. Among female students, 53.7% were classified as obese and 46.3% as non-obese. There was insufficient evidence to indicate differences between residential student groups and physical activity levels. Conclusions: The study reveals that the majority of participating students are non-obese. Furthermore, the average body fat percentage among women is found to be higher compared to both men and the general population. However, there is inadequate evidence to show variances among student groups residing in diverse areas or partaking in varying levels of physical activity.

HEALTHCARE STUDENTS' READINESS OF INTERPROFESSIONAL LEARNING IN CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: The World Health Organization emphasizes the significance of interprofessional collaboration and education. Being aware of the value of collaboration among professionals within the healthcare team, the university in Vietnam has tended to prepare students for teamwork through interprofessional education. However, the success of interprofessional education is contingent upon the students' attitudes. Objectives: To identify students' attitudes at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy toward interprofessional learning and explore factors affecting their readiness for the program. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study on 301 Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy students in ten majors, responding to an online survey from May to July of 2023 using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Besides, we collected demographic information including age, gender, ethnicity, major, academic years, and info learned/experienced in the interprofessional education of students. Multivariate regression was used to explore factors affecting students' readiness for interprofessional learning. Results: Students replied to the questionnaire. All of them had no experience in interprofessional education (100%); almost all participants were Kinh ethnicity (91.7%), and female (72.8%). The average age was 19.9 ± 0.7 years old. Students studying in the 2nd year were 65.8%. Nursing students account for the highest proportion (21.3%). The total score on the 19item Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale rated by 301 students was 72.2 ± 8.2. The Positive professional identity subscale scored 4.1 ± 0.6 while the Teamwork and collaboration subscale scored 4.2 ± 0.5. The subscales measuring Negative professional identity and Roles and responsibilities had mean scores of 2.7 ± 1.1 and 3.4 ± 0.8, respectively. The study found an association between the subscale's score and the profession and ethnicity of students. Conclusion: Most students are ready for interprofessional learning, educators need to study how to build and introduce interprofessional education for them.

Building a robust pharmacy research program: Reflections from a large healthcare system not affiliated with a college of pharmacy

AbstractProfessional standards for academic health care system pharmacy departments and clinical pharmacists advocate for research and scholarly activities. Developing and sustaining a research program in a clinical pharmacy department is challenging. Over the span of a decade, a robust pharmacy research program was developed in an academic medical center not affiliated with a college of pharmacy. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a framework suitable for scaling research in pharmacy departments within an academic medical center. Objectives to accomplish the aim includes describing the structure and evolution of the clinical pharmacy department research program, listing measurable outputs and achievements of the pharmacists and the program and describing the barriers encountered and solutions that were enacted to overcome them. Elements critical to building and sustaining a research program in the pharmacy department included long‐term commitment from within the department, a departmental research infrastructure, support from institutional leadership, research funding from the institution, and a growth mindset in accordance with company initiatives to support evolving research needs. A research curriculum was developed for pharmacy residents and pharmacists, created electronic tools for research proposal scientific reviews and allocation of funds, and established departmental research career development awards that allowed for protected time to pursue research and professional development. Over the first 10 years of the program, publication rates grew more than three‐fold, faculty appointments and promotions increased approximately five‐fold, and pharmacist investigators obtained extramural federal funding. Further offsetting clinical workload relative to dedicated research time remains a challenge. The experience and success at this academic medical center suggest it is feasible to develop a robust, sustainable clinical pharmacy department research program.

SURVEY ON SLEEP QUALITY AND RELATED FACTORS AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY IN 2023

Background: Sleep quality is commonly defined in terms of total sleep time, onset latency, sleep efficiency and others. Sleep disturbances are a common health complaint that is expected to surge and have more important consequences in adults, especially in health science students, namely nursing students and midwifery students. Moreover, we have recorded a few studies that have been carried out on sleep quality. Objectives: This study aims to survey the current level of sleep quality among nursing students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy and determine factors affecting students' sleep quality. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted on 294 nursing students at the Faculty of Nursing - Medical Technology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy from June to August 2023 through a self-report questionnaire. The participants were 294 nursing students, including nursing and midwifery students. The selfreport questionnaire included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and some questions about the characteristics of research subjects such as the features of external environments, learning activities, and personal activities. The PSQI in the study was used in the Vietnamese, and the reliability was evaluated by Trinh My Linh and colleagues with Cronbach's alpha reliability of 0.67. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: Our study involved 189 students (64.29% response rate). The total students' sleep quality score was 7.18 ± 3.63, which indicated 71.43% of students had sleep disorders. The major factors were self-study time, being disturbed by light in the bedroom and using mobile devices before bed, which were factors related to students' sleep quality (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The portion of sleep disorders among nursing students reached large figures. Henceforth, training institutions need to develop health education programs about enhancing the quality of sleep as well as personal lifestyles and self-study methods to help orient and improve the quality of training and quality of life of students.

The Role of Consumerism in Pharmacy Education

The notion of consumerism and that students are customers of pharmacy colleges was explored by proponents and opponents of the idea. First, a working definition of a “customer” in pharmacy education is pondered with respect to the roles and responsibilities of students and schools/colleges of pharmacy. Second, the pros and cons of “student-centered” education are considered in the light of students and their families being consumers of the educational experience. Third, the duality of student-centered education is discussed including student engagement/disengagement in their learning, professional/unprofessional behaviors, and shared/individual responsibilities. Lastly, learning and teaching environment dynamics are discerned when higher education becomes more student-centric and how that may affect the overall outcome of the student and the goals of pharmacy educational programs.

The 1st International Babylon Conference on Clinical and Experimental Pharmacological Research: mapping the Iraqi pharmacological research activity and priorities

The proceedings of the 1st International Babylon Conference on Clinical and Experimental Pharmacological Research (taking place at the College of Pharmacy of the University of Babylon, in Hillah, Iraq; May 4-5, 2024) are hereby hosted by the Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics – International Edition; a journal that has provided a significant service to the international pharmacological community since 1987. These proceedings include a total of 50 papers (including this editorial) and provide a representative overview of the conference’s rich scientific pro¬gramme. The latter has served two objectives: (i) to facilitate the mapping of the Iraqi pharmacological research and priorities, and (ii) to enable the establishment of international collaborations in the field. In that respect, the proceed¬ings host the inspiring messages of several conference keynote speakers from abroad, and feature a variety of clinical and experimental studies that well relate to the priorities currently set by the Iraqi pharmacological community.

KNOWLEDGE OF HPV VACCINES AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG FULL-TIME SECOND-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with over 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 50% mortality rate in Asia. All women are at risk for cervical cancer, most often from 42 to 58 years old. However, we can prevent it by screening tests and the HPV vaccines (HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer). When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable (about 90-100%). As one of the directly involved people in the prevention and treatment of this disease in the future, a medical student needs to grasp the basic knowledge to properly advise patients about the benefits of HPV vaccination as well as perform cervical cancer screening tests according to different ages. Therefore, the topic "The knowledge of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening among full-time second-year medical students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy" was conducted to determine the acquainted rate of HPV vaccines and cervical screening. Objectives: to determinine the ratio of knowledge among students on HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening. Materials and methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design to assess full-time medical secondyear students’ knowledge. A pre-test questionnaire was administered to students. Research conducted from January 12th, 2022 to July 1st, 2022 including 234 students. Results: Participants were mainly students under the age of 20, accounting for 56%. Most students received information about HPV vaccination from the internet, accounting for 72.2%; from friends and relatives accounting for 66.7%, from hospitals and medical centers accounting for 31.5%. Research results show that the rate of well-informed about HPV vaccination was 67.9%; the rate of well-informed about cervical cancer screening was 8.2%. The rate of knowing the total injection dose is 3 doses accounting for 55.6%. Most students (90.2%) answered that cervical cancer can be screened; about 35.9% of students answered the age to start cervical cancer screening correctly. The percentage of students who knew the conditions to stop cervical cancer screening was 20.9%. Conclusion: The knowledge of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening among full-time second-year medical students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy was thoroughly knowledgeable.

Perception of online interprofessional education among pharmacy and medical students in tertiary university

Background: The COVID-19 crisis impacted the educational system worldwide, which shifted from face-to-face sessions to online learning modes. However, online delivery should not jeopardise the outcome of students learning from interprofessional education (IPE) and should integrate students from different professional backgrounds closer. Objective: To identify the perception of medical and pharmacy students towards online IPE activity at Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Method: An online cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to second and fourth-year students from the medical and pharmacy programmes. Students were considered to have a positive perception if their total score was above the median score. Result: More than half of the students (53.6%) showed positive perceptions towards the online IPE programme. Medical students had the highest percentage of students (54.9%) showing greater positive perceptions compared to pharmacy students (52.7%). Both health sciences students possessed the highest score on all the SPICE instrument’s domains. Conclusion: This discovery offers valuable insights into the interprofessional competency of students engaged in online IPE activities at their current academic level. It underscores the imperative of integrating online IPE activities into the curriculum design to equip students with the competence necessary for effective collaboration within an interprofessional team.

Teeth segmentation and carious lesions segmentation in panoramic X-ray images using CariSeg, a networks' ensemble

BackgroundDental cavities are common oral diseases that can lead to pain, discomfort, and eventually, tooth loss. Early detection and treatment of cavities can prevent these negative consequences. We propose CariSeg, an intelligent system composed of four neural networks that result in the detection of cavities in dental X-rays with 99.42% accuracy. MethodThe first model of CariSeg, trained using the U-Net architecture, segments the area of interest, the teeth, and crops the radiograph around it. The next component segments the carious lesions and it is an ensemble composed of three architectures: U-Net, Feature Pyramid Network, and DeeplabV3. For tooth identification two merged datasets were used: The Tufts Dental Database consisting of 1000 panoramic radiography images and another dataset of 116 anonymized panoramic X-rays, taken at Noor Medical Imaging Center, Qom. For carious lesion segmentation, a dataset consisting of 150 panoramic X-ray images was acquired from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Radiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca. ResultsThe experiments demonstrate that our approach results in 99.42% accuracy and a mean 68.2% Dice coefficient. ConclusionsAI helps in detecting carious lesions by analyzing dental X-rays and identifying cavities that might be missed by human observers, leading to earlier detection and treatment of cavities and resulting in better oral health outcomes.

Pharmacy faculty experiences with student academic entitlement: a multinational study from the Arab world

Academic Entitlement (AE) is the expectation by students to receive high grades or preferential treatment without significant effort. Exploring AE from faculty perspective has not been investigated in Arab colleges of pharmacy. The aim of this study was to explore experiences and perceptions towards student AE among pharmacy faculty in the Arab World. A cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous, electronic survey was sent to pharmacy faculty across pharmacy colleges in Arab countries. The survey collected demographic data, an AE measure including 17 items reflecting seven AE components, and faculty perceptions and perceived reasons for AE. A total of 345 responses were collected. The AE level was moderate (46.05 ±7.29), and the highest scores among its components were for customer service expectation (62%) and responsibility avoidance (59%). In multiple linear regression, AE showed positive significant association with faculty in clinical pharmacy departments and those having fewer years of experience. Most common complaints heard by faculty from students were requests to turn in assignments late (90%), while the most common communication issues faculty faced with students were unprofessional verbal communication (58%) and unprofessional messages on social media (57%). Poor admission criteria (40%) and existence of multiple private colleges of pharmacy (37%) were the most common perceived reasons for AE by participating faculty. This study reveals moderate AE experienced by pharmacy faculty in the Arab World, as well as common complaints, communication issues, and AE reasons. In collaboration with other stakeholders, faculty play an important role in indicating expectations from students regarding AE, and research is warranted to check if such interventions reduce AE among pharmacy students.

The branching patterns and termination points of the facial artery: a cadaveric anatomical study.

The facial artery is an important blood vessel responsible for supplying the anterior face. Understanding the branching patterns of the facial artery plays a crucial role in various medical specialties such as plastic surgery, dermatology, and oncology. This knowledge contributes to improving the success rate of facial reconstruction and aesthetic procedures. However, debate continues regarding the classification of facial artery branching patterns in the existing literature. We conducted a comprehensive anatomical study, in which we dissected 102 facial arteries from 52 embalmed and formaldehyde-fixed Vietnamese cadavers at the Anatomy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Our investigation revealed eight distinct termination points and identified 35 combinations of branching patterns, including seven arterial branching patterns. These termination points included the inferior labial artery, superior labial artery, inferior alar artery, lateral nasal artery, angular artery typical, angular artery running along the lower border of the orbicularis oculi muscle, forehead branch, duplex, and short course (hypoplastic). Notably, the branching patterns of the facial artery displayed marked asymmetry between the left and right sides within the same cadaver. The considerable variation observed in the branching pattern and termination points of the facial artery makes it challenging to establish a definitive classification system for this vessel. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an anatomical map summarizing the major measurements and geometric features of the facial artery. Surgeons and medical professionals involved in facial surgery and procedures must consider the detailed anatomy and relative positioning of the facial artery to minimize the risk of unexpected complications.

Introduction of antimicrobial resistance education in pharmacy curricula in India: Lessons learned and future direction

IntroductionInsufficient training in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in the pharmacy curricula limits pharmacists’ participation in AMS activities in India. We explored the potential impact of an AMR curriculum implemented as part of a research project in one of the pharmacy colleges in Kerala, India. MethodsData were collected using documentary analysis (minutes of meetings and the AMR curriculum developed) and semi-structured qualitative interviews with key informants face-to-face or via the Zoom platform at the participant's convenience. Anonymized interview transcripts were thematically analyzed aided by NVivo 12 software. ResultsWe interviewed faculty (n = 4), clinical pharmacists (n = 3), and students (n = 6) involved in the design, implementation, and use of the new curriculum. The development and implementation of the new curriculum was conducted through strategically planned and established methodology with equal involvement from the pharmacy college and the research project team. Challenges in this process included a lack of human resources to take classes, time, limited interactions, and motivation of students during the online classes. Despite this, students who attended the classes agreed that the curriculum introduced them to AMS and AMR concepts which helped them during their clinical postings. They agreed that it would be beneficial if a similar curriculum was implemented in other pharmacy colleges. ConclusionLearnings from this study would be beneficial for other pharmacy colleges to implement a similar AMR curriculum for training pharmacy students to take key roles in AMS, especially in countries like India where postgraduate training for pharmacists remains limited.

Students’ Satisfaction on e-Learning at Faculty of Nursing-Medical Technology of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy

This study is conducted to describe the satisfaction on e-learning and identify factors related to the satisfaction on e-learning of students at faculty of Nursing – Medical Technology in a national University of Medicine and Pharmacy. We designed a cross-sectional study with questionnaire collected from 736 nursing students. The participants have high satisfaction with an average mean score of 3.86/5. The criterion with the highest value is Capacity and the lowest is Reliability. Factors related to student satisfaction with e-learning include gender, course, content of course, activities before class, distance education methodology and academic results. This result reinforces previous findings regarding e-learning satisfaction among nursing students in a developing country and contributes to the current systematic studies in this field at the developing countries.