Colleges Of Pharmacy Research Articles

Clinical and paraclinical approach to community-acquired pneumonia in obese individuals

Introduction. Obesity is a metabolic disease that presents a real challenge for the medical system due to the significant increase in the number of obese people in recent decades. Currently, 38% of the global population is overweight or obese. Obesity is an important risk factor for multiple chronic pathologies and lung infections, especially pneumonia. For obese subjects, chronic proinflammatory status due to an excess of fat cells is characteristic. Material and methods. This prospective cohort study is based on clinical and laboratory examinations of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia in the Department of Internal Medicine at Holy Trinity Municipal Hospital, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. The study included 210 patients with community-acquired pneumonia, divided into two groups: the base group (group 1) consisted of 105 patients with varying degrees of obesity, and the control group (group 2) consisted of 105 normal-weight patients. The research was conducted according to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration - WMA Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Nicolae Testemiţanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, with the issuance of favorable opinion no. 46 from March 27, 2018. All patients were examined clinically and paraclinically (radiological examination, pulse oximetry screening, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, LDH, C-reactive protein, oxidative stress markers). The obtained data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results. According to the obtained data, the most common comorbidities associated with obesity were cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The main symptom that prevailed in the obese was dyspnea (97%). Obese subjects showed more frequent signs of acute respiratory failure (86.7%), required oxygen therapy with an average duration of 7.62±6.23 days, showed increased serum levels of LDH (286.31±94.66 U/L) and C-reactive protein (66.08±71.44 mg/l), data that influenced the clinical course of pneumonia. Conclusions. Patients with obesity and community-acquired pneumonia presented with infectious symptoms and acute respiratory failure, increased values of inflammatory markers, and required oxygen therapy more frequently compared to those of normal weight.

An evaluation of correlation between the clinical width of maxillary anterior teeth and facial measurements

Background: This study aimed to determine the possible relationship between the width of the maxillary anterior teeth and facial measurements. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study design was used with a sample size of 92 students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, meeting the sampling criteria. The measurements were measured using AutoCAD. We used Pearson coefficients to determine the possible correlation between these measurements. Results: A weak positive correlation existed between maxillary central incisor width and facial measurements (p < 0.05). The inter-canine distance was not correlated with the inner canthal distance (p > 0.05); but had a moderate positive correlation with the nasal width and the inter-commissural width (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggested that inner canthal distance, nasal width, and inter-commissural width can be respectively used as a preliminary guide for determining the width of the maxillary central incisor and the inter-canine distance through the biometric ratios or the correlation equations. Key words: Maxillary central incisor width, facial measurement.

Impact of maternal age on oxidation-reduction potential in follicular fluid and assisted reproductive technology treatment outcomes

Background: Maternal age influenced the quantity and quality of oocytes. The composition of follicular fluid was changed in advanced maternal age. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in redox potential and blastocyst formation potential in older women. Methods and materials: Retrospective study collected data from December 2020 to October 2023 on patients treated with in vitro fertilization with follicular fluid surveyed at the Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (HUECREI), Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue. Results: Two cohorts comprised the 456 patients: Group 1, consisting of individuals younger than 35 years of age, and Group 2, comprising those 35 years or older. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), initial follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and total FSH dose utilized differed significantly between Groups 1 and 2, with median values of 3.79 versus 2.10 ng/mL (P value < 0.001), 225.00 versus 277.50 IU/L (P value < 0.001), and 2025.00 versus 2325.00 IU/L (P value < 0.001), respectively. However, there were no significant differences in ORP, maturation rate, fertilization rate, or blastocyst formation rate between the two age groups. Variations in ORP were only observed among subgroups of patients with the ability to achieve an expected fertilization rate of ≥ 70% in Group 1. Specifically, the subgroup meeting expectations had a lower ORP of 83.00 ± 83.00 mV, in contrast to the non-expectation group which had an ORP of 96.14 ± 83.00 mV, accompanied by a P value of 0.005. The difference of ORP was not observed in the group that reached and did not reach the benchmark embryo formation ≥ 60% in the two age groups. Conclusion: Advanced maternal age have declined in ovarian function but no statistically significant difference in redox potential in follicular fluid has been observed. The fertilization rate and blastocyst formation rate were equivalent across the two age groups of women. The redox potential of follicular fluid was not statistically significant difference between cycles that reached and did not reach the benchmark of blastocyst formation ≥ 60% in the two age groups of women. Key words: Blastocyst, advanced maternal age, oxidative-reduction potential (ORP), in vitro fertilization.

Knowledge, attitude and practice on diphtheria prevention of mothers with children aged 6 - 48 months in Dak To district - Kon Tum province

Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices about diphtheria prevention of mothers of children aged 6 - 48 months in Dak To district, Kon Tum province in 2022 and identify some associated factors with knowledge, attitudes and practices about diphtheria prevention on this target group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 mothers with children from 6 to 48 months old from November 2022 to January 2023. We performed face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires to investigate mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on diphtheria prevention. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 20.0) software. The research has received ethical approval from the University Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University. Results: The percentage of the mothers with good knowledge, good attitudes, and good practices on diphtheria prevention were 78.1%, 79.0%, 35.2%, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression model identified the associated factors with knowledge about diphtheria prevention as follows: residing in region I (OR = 3.58; 95% CI: 1.04 - 12.35), high school education or above (OR = 71.68; 95% CI: 21.27 - 241.64), other occupations than farmers (OR = 9.03; 95% CI: 2.83 - 28.76). Factors related to attitude include: residing in region I (OR = 10.06; 95% CI: 2.22 - 53.07), the Kinh (OR = 11.08; 95%CI: 1.81 - 67.71), and good knowledge (OR = 419.14; 95%CI: 84.27 - 2084.69). Being of the Kinh (OR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.01 - 3.68), having high school education or above (OR = 6.39; 95%CI: 1.92 - 21.21), others occupations than farmers (OR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.36 - 4.82), and having good knowledge (OR = 12.96; 95%CI: 2.52 - 66.89) were associated with practice on diphtheria prevention. Conclusion: The percentage of mothers with good knowledge and attitudes about diphtheria prevention is quite high, but the percentage of those having good practice is still low. Therefore, it is necessary to review vaccination rates and proactively develop plans to deploy vaccinations and supplementary vaccinations within the month for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals. Strengthen communication and health education for people about diphtheria prevention, pay attention to communication in difficult areas are other recommendations. Key words: diphtheria, knowledge, attitude, practice, central highland region of Vietna

Effects of chlorophytum borivilianum extract against high-fat diet-induced obesity in male Wistar albino rats

The effect of Chlorophytum borivilianum extract against high-fat-diet-induced obesity is unknown. Therefore, this study investigates activity of 250 & 500 mg/kg/day of Chlorophytum borivilianum extract in male Wistar Albino rats, on parameters like weight gain, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing hormone, and Testosterone. The objective is to determine the effects of Chlorophytum Borivilianum extract against high-fat-diet-induced obesity in male Wistar Albino rats. It is an interventional, comparative, animal study of 60 days, conducted at KMCH College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore. 20 male Wistar Albino rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups with 6 rats per group. At the end of experimental period, all rats were fasted overnight, weighted, and sacrificed within 24 hours by the mode of decapitation, and the blood was collected. Later, the organs were dissected out and fixed with formalin. The post-fixed tissue, slides were stained. Ethics committee approval was obtained initially. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. The Obese group showed an increase in body weight due to high-fat diet administration, whereas the Treatment group receiving Chlorophytum borivilianum extract showed reduction in body fat and improvement in the semen analysis when compared to control group. When treated with Chlorophytum borivilianum, body weight as well as sperm function of the animals were significantly improved mediated through enhanced spermatogenesis, steroid genesis, and antioxidant mechanisms with histological studies. Thus, findings reinforce the advice recommending consumption of Chlorophytum borivilianum extract to modulate obesity and sperm morphology.

Influenza Vaccination of Romanian Medical Students during COVID-19 Times: From Knowledge to Behavior.

In Romania, influenza vaccination uptake among healthcare workers decreased over time despite access to the vaccine being constantly improved. The aim of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the knowledge and attitudes of Dental Medicine and Medicine students towards recommended vaccinations for healthcare workers, focusing on influenza vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the entire 2021-2022 academic year. Data were collected using 2 electronic questionnaires which were applied to the students from the Faculty of Medicine (n = 883) and, respectively, the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. The questionnaires were offered to 1187 students and completed by 911 students (response rate = 77%). Out of these, 85% (n = 778) identified the influenza vaccine as recommended; 35% (n = 321) reported getting an annual influenza vaccination; and 37% (333) reported getting an influenza vaccination in the previous season. Overall, 45% (n = 222) of the respondents who completed the questionnaires from October 2021 to February 2022 reported that they intend to get vaccinated against influenza in the 2021-2022 season and approximately 8% (n = 39) reported that they had already been vaccinated. The multivariable analysis showed that the habit of getting annually vaccinated against influenza as well as the knowledge that influenza vaccine is recommended for all healthcare workers were associated with a higher probability of intending to get vaccinated. The current study emphasizes the need to raise awareness among medical students regarding influenza vaccination and to involve medical education institutions, public health authorities, and healthcare facilities in promoting this vaccination among students since the influenza vaccine uptake rate among medical students included in this study was suboptimal.

For the rural curious: mixed methods evaluation of a rural pharmacy practice elective

BackgroundAs of 2020, 20% of people residing in the United States of America (U.S.) lived in rural communities. Despite rural residents tending to be older, poorer, and having greater disease burden than their urban counterparts, the number of rural primary care providers continues to decline. Nearly 66% of U.S. Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas are designated as rural. Pharmacists can help address this shortage of rural primary care providers, often serving as providers of first-contact care; however, only 12% of U.S. pharmacists practice in rural communities. To help address this gap, in 2022 an elective Rural Pharmacy course was created at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy by a faculty member who has rural practice experience.MethodsThe course combines formal lectures, guest presentations by rural pharmacists and student interviews with additional rural pharmacists. For the 42 students enrolled in the course in 2022 and 2023, non-parametric statistics were used to compare the percentage of students who were raised in rural communities or who otherwise had extensive exposure to rural, and compare student interest ratings (1 to 7) about practicing/living rural at the beginning and end of the course. Students also wrote end-of-course reflection papers, commenting on the course and their interviews with rural pharmacists.ResultsAcross both years, 45% of the enrolled students had previous experience in rural communities. The net change in Rural Interest scores among students completing both questionnaires was + 5 in 2022 and + 2 in 2023, both non-significant differences. The largest shifts in student interest were from “Not Sure” at the start of the course to “Interested” or “Not Interested” at the end of the course, and from “Interested” to “Very Interested.” In their reflection papers nearly 60% of students reported being most impressed by their interviews with rural pharmacists.ConclusionsA course addressing the benefits and challenges of practicing pharmacy in rural communities was well-received by pharmacy students. Even students who have little interest in living in a rural community can benefit from being introduced to rural culture, enabling them to provide more culturally-responsive care for patients from rural communities.

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.