Background: Adherence to medication is the cornerstone to achieve the best treatment outcome. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals found in pivotal positions to assess asthmatic patient’s adherence to medication. A brief, reliable, and valid measure of patient adherence is useful to enable the pharmacists to deliver that vital service. This study aims to develop a reliable and valid adherence assessment tool for asthmatic patients. Methods: The Adherence to Asthma Medication Questionnaire (AAMQ-13) was developed based on an extensive literature review, followed by applying the Delphi technique, and then it was pilot-tested by 55 patients. The final AAMQ-13 was completed by 213 patients. Psychometric evaluation was assessed including reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results: The AAMQ-13 is a feasible 13 item questionnaire, as it can be completed within an average of two minutes. It has high internal validity (Cronbach’s alpha= 0.87). Criterion-concurrent validity was established by comparing the AAMQ-13 to the Test of the Adherence to Inhaler (TAI) and the pharmacy refill records. Criterion-convergent validity was established by comparing the AAMQ-13 to the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire and the Positive Health Behaviors Scale (PHBS). Construct validity was established through AAMQ-13 factor analysis which revealed two factors explaining 51.76% of the variance. Conclusion: The AAMQ-13 is a reliable and valid questionnaire with several desirable characteristics as it has a high internal validity, good criterion validity, and strong construct validity. The AAMQ-13 is a suitable questionnaire that can identify non-adherent patients and reveal the reasons behind their non-adherence (intentional or unintentional non-adherence).

Introduction: Patient adherence is a cornerstone in successful management of psychiatric disorders and is affected by patient perspectives and barriers, differing from rural to urban areas. In this perspective, pharmacists have a vital role in identifying patients in need of help and in dealing with barriers to adherence. This paper investigates perspectives of patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, living in rural areas in Jerash, Jordan, regarding their awareness about their psychiatric conditions, including religious and cultural factors, adherence to their treatment and related barriers, with special focus on pharmacist’s role. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Jordan from August to November 2019. A validated questionnaire was administered by two pharmacists, asking patients as they were waiting in the psychiatric clinic (following the specialists’ approval). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Results: Most patients (n= 120, age 39.4±9.5, 66.7% males) reported that they always/usually adhere to their medications (71.0%), and 47.5% of them reported complete control of their symptoms after treatment. Most patients (69.2%) reported that they perceive their psychological illness in terms of religious faith as being counted for their favor in the Hereafter, and 52.5% of them always/usually looked at themselves positively and unaffected by the existence of their illness; with both factors correlating significantly with better treatment adherence (p < 0.045 and p < 0.001; respectively). Barriers affecting adherence included mainly suffering from adverse effects (31.9%) and being unconvinced that they needed a medication (23.3%). Only 14.2% of patients reported that they refer to the pharmacist to get information about their medications. Conclusion: Most psychiatric patients reported suboptimal control of their symptoms. Nonadherence is one reason, with barriers identified. Positive religious and cultural perspectives are associated with better adherence, and most patients do not refer to pharmacists for medication informatio

Background: The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was declared in January 2020 as a public health emergency of international concern. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA), like other parts of the world, suffered from several epidemics over the years. Pharmacists have vital roles to play to prevent the spread of this virus. Objectives: To assess the awareness of COVID-19 amongst pharmacists from countries located in the MENA countries, and to assess their perspectives of their role, barriers, and roles of the educational institutions and pharmaceutical associations in preparing them for their roles during the pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted to run a descriptive cross-sectional study in Jordan from 12th to 22th April 2020. The questionnaire was validated and put on Facebook for pharmacists’ recruitment and assessment of their awareness (20 questions with a score out of 20) about epidemics/pandemics and COVID-19, their perceived roles and barriers, and roles of the educational institutions and pharmaceutical associations. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Results: Study participants (n= 2589) had a mean age of 29.3 (8.2) years and 1329 (51.5%) were females. Most of the participants were from Egypt 819 (40.8%), Followed by Jordan, Algeria, and Syria. As for the sources of information about coronavirus treatment among the study participants, 60.8% got their information from the social media. Fear as a consequence was identified by the majority of participants (87.7%). The majority of pharmacists identified positive roles for the pharmaceutical association and pharmaceutical associations. Conclusion: Pharmacists from the MENA countries believe they got enough education previously about epidemics/pandemics, and the majority follow on the latest coronavirus updates from social media. Fear was reported as the major barrier that requires resolution by the policymakers. Certain gaps in the awareness about COVID-19 were identified.

Novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to sweep various nations causing more than 4.5 million confirmed cases and close to 300,000 deaths. Current pharmacotherapy largely fall short of controlling the pandemic. In this letter, we critically appraise the hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin regimen recommended by Gautret et al and provide rationale for new treatments.

Rational: In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus infectious disease as a pandemic referred to as COVID-19. As an essential service, community pharmacists have been enacting a key role in patient counseling and supply of essential medicines and protective equipment. Objectives: To investigate pharmacists’ perspectives of the role of educational institutes and professional pharmacy organizations in supporting them to take on roles during COVID-19 pandemic and to identify barriers to be able to support themselves and their patients. Methods: This descriptive mixed-method study was conducted via a cross-sectional online survey distributed to pharmacists/pharmacy students in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak (15-30 March 2020) using an online questionnaire, followed by an online focus group. Questionnaire items related to participants’ perspectives in being prepared for and supported in their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and items were tested for face validity. Data were descriptively analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and triangulated with focus group findings. Results: Considering that fear and anxiety are a consequence of mass social distancing/quarantine, study participants (n=726, age=26.9 (SD=8.0) years, 71.9% females), reported needing training on mental healthcare to be able to support themselves and people during pandemics (90.2%). Most respondents agreed/strongly agreed (59.7%) with the statement around pharmacy educators/educational institutes having a key role in preparing pharmacists for practice during epidemics/pandemics, and agreed that their faculties should add a course regarding pandemic preparedness in their curriculum (89.9%). Results were similar regarding roles for the pharmaceutical associations. Focus group findings (n=7) mirrored the survey findings to a large extent. Conclusions: Most participants believed that Pharmacy Educators and pharmaceutical associations have a role in preparing them to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic through online educational workshops/webinars. Online education on mental healthcare is specifically needed.

Early detection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in pregnant females starts by a request of the gynecologists, which is based on their knowledge and awareness of the guidelines on conducting these tests. This is an observational cross-sectional study that investigated the gynecologists’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding HBV during pregnancy across Jordan. A random sample of 150 gynecologists were approached, from 3 major cities in Jordan, and asked to fill a questionnaire that assessed their knowledge, attitude and practice. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. One hundred and seven gynecologists have participated in the study. Most of the respondents were females, residents, and less than thirty years old. Although 97.2% of the practitioners agreed on the importance of the pregnant females on HBV, only 43% were aware of the obligatory protocol in Jordan regarding HBV screening, and only 55% would screen the pregnant females to HBV in-practice. Significant association was found between screening rates to HBV and both, level of specialty and experience of practitioners. Approximately 60% of practitioners were aware of HBV perinatal transmission risk. Only 19.6% always referred the infected pregnant females to other specialists regardless of the viral load. While 47.7% of practitioners agreed on recommending antiviral therapy for third trimester pregnant females, only 12.1% would always/often prescribe them. A noteworthy lack of Hepatitis B knowledge and screening practice among gynecologists in Jordan have been observed. A national program designed to increase the awareness of HBV testing in Jordan for both patients and gynecologists is called for.